The Internet is a tool and like any tool the internet can be used for positive or negative purposes. Arguments have been made that the internet is dehumanizing and that it debases the English language. But there are also arguments promoting the benefits of the cyber world. The plethora of knowledge available at the click of a button and the almost instantaneous communication are certainly positive aspects. The internet assists while simplifying many aspects of our lives. But whatever ones perspective on the internet may be, the fact remains that the internet has become a necessity in our society. Angelo State University is a prime example of this; every student enrolled at ASU must have an e-mail account.
E-mail is arguably one of the most utilized functions of the internet. Currently, approximately 225 million people can send and receive e-mail (Leonard,p.241). E-mail accounts are available with internet application software such as America On-Line or with internet search engines like Yahoo! or Excite. Subscription to some of these e-mail accounts is free, but usually a subscriber has to pay a monthly fee; as is the case with America On-Line. With an e-mail account a person has to create username and password with which log on to the account and to insure the privacy of their account. Once logged on a user can send letters, pictures and files of every type (audio, video, etc...) to anyone with an e-mail account. Most e-mails a person receives is considered junk mail or "spam" as they call it in the cyber-world. But the e-mail accounts have spam blockers which eliminate many e-mails considered to be invaluable by the user. Like the accounts themselves the spam blocking software is sometimes free, but the more effective programs are priced. Viruses, which are harmful programs written by cyber-criminals called hackers, attach themselves to practically anything a person can download on the internet. Contracting these computer viruses can be avoided by simply not opening any e-mail or downloading from unknown persons. There is also virus scanning software that locates infected files in a computer and removes the virus, sometimes have to delete the whole file. But e-mail accounts make communication and information exchange very efficient if properly utilized and maintained.
On-line dating is a more recreational result of the internet that many indulge in. This virtual dating occurs not only in special interest chat rooms (areas where people of common interests conversed) but also in match making sites like Matchmaker.com and Match.com (Behrens & Rosens,p.267). With on-line dating people tend to be more open with their partner, saying things they normally would not say in person. There is an obscurity of ones true identity that allows them to express themselves freely. This usually results in one finding a partner who shares many commonalities. These virtual relationships stay virtual or result in actual, physical dates. One of the on-line dating services mentioned earlier, Match.com, takes credit for about 1,000 weddings that resulted in couples meeting at this site (Behrens & Rosen,p.267). In reality, many of these face to face meetings end in disappointment because one creates an image of the other in their mind and when the two finally meet their expectations are not met. If engaging in on-line dating, being cautious is a must because the internet has become a hunting ground for sexual predators and other criminals as well.
It is very easy to create a false identity. If a person is convincing enough, they could become a doctor or a lawyer to those on the net. In 2000, a 12-year old boy named Marcus Arnold portrayed himself as a lawyer on a website called AskMe.com (Lewis,p.290). Marcus eventually rose to the number one spot on the sites rankings list with some 125 licensed attorneys under him (Lewis,pp.291, 292). No one knew his true identity and that he was not a licensed attorney until Marcus revealed it. The story is inspiring, but this illustrates how a person can easily be deceived into believing something to be true.
To further illustrate this point, I would like to share a personal experience. An amazing site called E-bay was introduced to me about three years ago. E-bay is a site where registered users can auction off various items. Some people make a living by bidding and buying items then turning around and auctioning it for a profit. About one year ago I came across an amp two 10 inch sub-woofers with a speaker box being auctioned off. I won the bid and sent in the 125 dollars plus the 30 dollars for shipping and handling. Approximately two weeks later I received my car audio system. I spent about two hours on installation and about five minutes uninstalling the system and throwing it in the trash. It turns out that the speakers had no magnets and the amp was practically fried. There was not much I could do besides submit a bad review on the user. Had I been more cautious and took note that there was no description or minimum bid on the item I would have been filled with enough suspicion not to make the bid.
Ultimately, if you take time to educate yourself and familiarize yourself with the internet and take the right precautions the world wide web can be a convenience in a growing age of technology. In the future, however near or far, all business transactions will be done electronically, all communication will be done via a computer network with video capabilities to accompany the audio and biological technologies will enable us to unlock doors or log on to computer networks with the sound of a voice or the scanning of a thumbprint. The internet is not a cause of social decay but rather a promoter of technological advancement. Using new technological tools as they become available will help make our society more convenient and productive. In turn, this action of conforming will pave the way for more advancements and creations of technologies in the Digital Age.
Works Cited
Behrens, Rosen. Writing and Reading Across The Curriculum: We’ve Got Mail-Always. Andrew Leonard. pp.240-243
Behrens, Rosen. Writing and Reading Across The Curriculum: Virtual Love. Meghan Daum. pp.267-274
Behrens, Rosen. Writing and Reading Across The Curriculum: The 15-Year Old Legal Whiz. Michael Lewis. pp.289-294
Behrens, Rosen. Writing and Reading Across The Curriculum. p.267
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