Would the world be better without the Internet?

Let's say everything else stays the same, but this mass communication network, along with its application in all phases of technology, goes poof.

Better or worse?

 

If the world didn't have the Internet, we couldn't have this discussion.

 

There's nothing "better" about less information and communication.

But you wouldn't have asked if you didn't think there was argument for "better." Explain?

 

That was some trick, posting this just before SportsJournalists.com vanished for five minutes.

 

I don't have a real argument for "better," but I think some of our fellow members will have interesting ones. I see a lot of griping about all sorts of things that exist foremost because of the Internet, which of course comes on an Internet message board.

The only point I would make toward "better" is the completely selfish one that my career would be less at risk. But even then, my current job has a large Web focus, and my career path has gone pretty damn well despite that darn Internet.

 

I often wonder that myself.

I sometimes think we're in an information overload era, and that there's a lot of misinformation out there that wouldn't be there without Facebook/Twitter/etc.

 

It's like saying the world would be better off if the printing press were never invented.

 

How is it the same? Facebook/Twitter is instant and doesn't require any credibility. Anyone can post anything they want without any real fear.

I'm not saying false information was never printed, but it took longer to get out to people than some bogus report on Facebook.

I think technology is great, so don't confuse me for someone who thinks it was "better back in my days." I'm only saying that technology + stupid, gullible people = turrible.

 

The printing press revolutionized knowledge. It took information out of the hands of the few and put it into the hands of the many. It made it cheaper and more accessible. The Internet has done the same. And of course the printing press allowed mistakes or lies to be mass produced as well.

 

Far worse. The "good ol' days" never existed.

 

It's better overall. In third-world countries especially, people are living who wouldn't be. I just went to an event honoring the founder of Infosys, the Indian company that invented outsourcing. There are literally tens of millions (hundreds of millions?) of people alive today who would not be alive if not for that boost to the economy and all the health and quality-of-life gains that came along with it.

However, the world -- especially the first world -- is a much less happier place because of the Internet, and it always will be.

 

I for one do not want to ponder for one second a world without Ceiling Cat