Sunday, November 13, 2005

Rambling caused by post Internet Withdrawal Syndrome

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My ISP had problems starting yesterday night and I was without broadband for 24 hours. Its feels really weird switching on your PC but not being able to go online. I still had doramas to watch and games to finish but mostly I did neither. I felt restless, didn't know what to do. Played some games here and there, watched jpop vids but always checking my connection and hassling the help line people.

Internet withdrawel is similar to cigarette withdrawal. You don't feel happy and just keep thinking about lighting a fag. There's things to do in the meantime but you don't feel doing it. And after you take your first puff, alls right in world.

Being online is not an addiction. Being online is not just about downloading. Being online is about being connected to the world. In the old days, you get your news from the morning papaer and evening news. Nowadays who watches the news? Its better to go online and read from multiple sources and go to forums/blogs that debate current issues. Being online is about being able to access the wealth of information at your fingertips.

The internet has become more indespensable than radio and television. Its not just the window world, its the freaking huge doorway complete with red carpet. News and the way its reported is skewed to the viewpoint of a paper/news program. People nowadays want to see news reported from multiple viewpoints and form their own opinion.

And of course people want to voice their own opinions. That's what's so great about the net. You don't need to form your own group with similar minded people, get signatures or stand with a speakerphone on parliament. You can do it from the comfort of your own home.

Someone said 'opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one'. That's certainly true but before the net most of the time we had to rely on the media to tell us what everyone was supposedly thinking. Its easier to form our opinions on things based on others' cause they'll do all the arguing for us and we just choose which argument we find stronger/more appealing.

With so much wealth of information, more people are realising the world is not black and white. That issues and politics are never what they seem. That there are always other interests or aims involved. The internet has become a haven for the dissection and debate of information.

The problem now is that there is too much info. We only have 24 hours a day. Its tiring being a cynic and reading up on stuff. A world where everything is shades of gray can get depressing. If the world is so fucked up, what hope is there for the future? Being well informed will not change the world.

Still, once a cynic, forever a cynic. As long as I have my broadband, all's right in the world...

Obviously I have no fucking idea what I'm rambling about. Bloody tired from too much bball and I'm just waiting for ep 4 for Hana Yori Dango to finish so I can watch it and get to sleep.

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