THE WEEKLY COLUMN
Posted on: Sunday February 27, 2000
Today is: Thursday, January 30, 125

I hope you are enjoying the evening today.
Back to the Weekly Column Archive
Back to the Kids' Zone
Tell me What you Think

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Top

 

What it has become

There have been several articles written to show the power of the internet, and all of them are filled with clichés. This one is as not much different.

The internet is the TV of this generation. Its captivating capabilities and accessibility entrance millions of people, young and old. From the teenage surfers to the middle-aged business man the Internet has something that anyone can use. It has transformed entertainment and research, two seemingly opposite fields. The power of this medium is ever-expanding as it becomes a larger and larger part of our lives.

The internet has been the catalyst behind our rapidly changing society. It has, since its advent into our lives, revolutionized the way we live. It is not only this revolution but the internet has changed us from a static, unchanging society, into dynamic go-getters. The ease with which we can now get what we need is what has been at the core of this revolution. It is not only the fact that we no longer have to toil for information, but also the fact that we can learn from others mistakes that has driven our change into a vibrant society. The internet has finally fulfilled our quest to bring together all societies of the World. This has given us an opportunity to learn from each others mistakes, we have become interdependent on each other for information. For example, if I have trouble deciphering a problem there is always a chance that someone on the internet has a solution that I can use, something that would not have been possible before.

This connection of the world has led to a world without prejudice. The internet has given people a chance to understand each others cultures and to accept them. I was watching NBC yesterday when they talked about two groups of people, one from the city and one from the country, trying to make a mural about their commonalities by learning about each other through the internet. They found out that neither group was much different from the other, a revelation which would have been impossible without the internet. This can be applied to every one on the internet. Recently I was talking to a student from the United Arab Emirates over the internet and I was able to find out some very interesting things about culture there. The internet goes beyond a means of information it is also a means of acceptance.

The internet also offers us life at out fingertips. In recent years the expansion of the internet has lead to groceries, books and practically anything else you can imagine to be sold on the internet. There have been several challenges in the past where people have lived of the internet for a month. This freedom to live life on the internet is what makes it unique. TV could not offer anything like it. Channels like the Home Shopping Network gave consumers to buy from the TV, but not what they wanted when they needed it. There are numerous sites on the internet that offer a variety of means to get what you need without any inconvenience. This makes the internet much more appealing and gives it a sense of personalization, much more so than the TV.

The internet is a wonderful device that has and still continues to change the world so fast that it is impossible to retrace our footsteps. This change has led to various new ideas and concepts that will live on forever. These are ideas that we have embraced.