Has the internet finally managed to lose it's "geeky" image?

I remember a time when people had an image of internet users as spotty geeks who had no lives.

Now, I'm not sure the public has this attitude anymore. When people say they met on the internet, people no longer roll their eyes and call them sad.

It seems that the internet - particularly with forums such as this - is now just another form of communication, and dare I say, social activity.

Dont get me wrong, I love going down the pub, but where else could you meet such a broad cross-section of people from around the world with which to debate/chat/argue/remember the good old days etc than on a forum like this?

I dunno about meeting people of the internet. I have done it a few times and they all turned out to be crazy bar stewards.

I am yet to meet anyone off the internet. I'll heed your warning.

I've met literally loads of people off the internet, whether individually or in a group and I'm happy to say that 95% of these people were nice and fun to be around.

The other 5% had 'issues' that needed dealing with......but thankfully none of these issues required a straightjacket. I've managed to escape the psychos so far.

Yay me!

I met a load of people off the net at the last CRB meet a couple of weeks back.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
I dunno about meeting people of the internet. I have done it a few times and they all turned out to be crazy bar stewards.

Was this a bad thing or did you fit right in?


Nomme :P

one word... Cool!

Thats if u use it right...

Sickos make it sad!

Overall its a cool place and i like it!

The internet is a place of infinite strangeness where people often become friends but never meet.

Occasionally, though, people do go on to meet only to wonder, however, why they ever thought they had something in common.

Not entirely true Sam mi ol china potty. I've had a few relationships that started from ladies I met online. Granted I'm single again now but I'm still in touch with a few of them and we're still mates even now. :)

Originally posted by Lickable
Overall its a cool place and i like it!

I like how people call it a 'place'. It's not really a place is it, but we feel like it is.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
Occasionally, though, people do go on to meet only to wonder, however, why they ever thought they had something in common.

Ha ha, it's that worry that's stopped me doing it before! :)

If you're meeting a member of the opposite sex in the hope of something 'more' than friendship then it's best to get a photo of each other first or at least speak to them on the phone. There's nothing more disappointing than having talked to someone on the internet for weeks/months only to find that they just aren't your cup of tea at all.

Brutal but true. :roll:

Hey Phane - hope you dont mean any of us??? HaHa
:rolleyes:

Rich - were you there - i apologise i don't recall - did I speak to you? (In the drunken stupor I was in I may not have made much sense if I did) ;)

I suppose the internet's just more a part of more people's lives - and instead of staring at the tv when get home from work and no one to talk to (except yourself) then keeps your brain working (well - sort of).
It was probably my sisters internet stories that opened my eyes :D - some of you may have heard a few - please don't divulge them. But, saying that - maybe her stories should have put me off.:loopy:

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
I dunno about meeting people of the internet. I have done it a few times and they all turned out to be crazy bar stewards.
Now you know why I never go to the meets :loopy: :twisted:

Don't feel bad Sid. I won't be going to the meet again either. :roll:

Hey Sid - I would take offence at that comment (if I could argue that I'm not mad).

You probably think everyones barking because you see them at their worst .... in the chat room.... what is it about chat rooms that make people talk nonsense???

Oh - what am I talking about, that's what happens when drink alcohol ... Oh ok Sid - point taken!!!

Unfortunately, as one of the mad ones I am obliged to carry on - though I wold prefer less public photographic evidence on the World Wide Web next time please. (You know who you are - the rude boy with the camera!!!)

Originally posted by Pauly
If you're meeting a member of the opposite sex in the hope of something 'more' than friendship then it's best to get a photo of each other first or at least speak to them on the phone. There's nothing more disappointing than having talked to someone on the internet for weeks/months only to find that they just aren't your cup of tea at all.

Brutal but true. :roll:

But in some cases (like mine) it pays NOT to show others your photo :lol:

The internet is still a Geeky place, the newbies mearly scratch the surface, where as the true geek uses it to its full advantage ;)

But in some cases (like mine) it pays NOT to show others your photo

HA! What if the person who saw the photo didn't care what you look like? They may just like talking to you...

Now you know why I never go to the meets


No Sid you just lurk outside hoping to catch glimpses of people :P

RPG - you are right too.

However - the beauty of the internet is it's there for us all to use in the way that suits us best.

I personally try to avoid too much technology coz I'll probbaly lose myself and become 'Of the order of geekiness' - for me though, I like the fact that everyone's at least a bit geeky about 1 ++++ thing/s, and if they weren't then I wouldn't be able to use their brains for the things that I can't do or don't understand!!!
It's bloomin' marvellous - all of it!!
:D

No it's great -- it means I can keep in touch with Sheff, make a fortune on ebay (more like spend) and look at webcams!

sometimes i feel people get carried away with themselves on forums, saying lots of things they wouldn't dare to say in the day to day world. hiding behind a keyboard makes some aspects of the internet very sad IMO

The internet is cool :)
Though the biggest mystery is why people type in a way that makes them look like a prepubescent :confused:

wot u mean silentstatic?

u iz talkin stoopid.

Originally posted by Killian
sometimes i feel people get carried away with themselves on forums, saying lots of things they wouldn't dare to say in the day to day world. hiding behind a keyboard makes some aspects of the internet very sad IMO

There are some aspects of people's lives that they feel are very difficult to talk about with anyone in the real world, no matter how close they might be to their friends or family.

On the internet however it's a chance to 'unload' a few problems into cyberspace and have it listened to/read by people who they may never meet, see or speak to in the flesh. This can really help sometimes.

If however you're talking about people who lie about their lives online and big themselves up then I'll agree, that does appear a little sad. But this is also a release for these people as well if they are unhappy with their lives and want to escape for a few hours.

Originally posted by Killian
sometimes i feel people get carried away with themselves on forums, saying lots of things they wouldn't dare to say in the day to day world. hiding behind a keyboard makes some aspects of the internet very sad IMO

Now that's a bit OTT isn't it, I bet you haven't the balls to say that to my face!

I certainly haven't got the balls to repeat the previous paragraph to you face-to-face.

Hmm. I'm pretty similar on or off-line, but I know a few people who do sort of 'live' on the net, and it's a bit sad. The only friends they have are on-line and they never meet any of them. Infact I knew somebody who used to send fake pictures and details of himself so he looked cool to his on-line buddies. Very tragic, he would never come to the pub no matter how much we tried to drag him out.

I did have a point with this...

Ah yes, so I do get what Killian is saying...

Originally posted by jackthedog
I'm pretty similar on or off-line

Same here. Although I have in the past divulged info about myself to other internet groups (these were people I actually met in the flesh as well) that only a select few in the real world know about.

Do I have a dark side? :twisted:

what i really mean is something like the FAT PEOPLE discussion in this part of the forum. people seem to be getting very nasty with each other on there. i just wonder if they would be quite so 'brave' if they actually met.

Originally posted by Killian
what i really mean is something like the FAT PEOPLE discussion in this part of the forum. people seem to be getting very nasty with each other on there. i just wonder if they would be quite so 'brave' if they actually met.


I prefer to use the term 'heated'. I come in for lots of abuse though, mainly because some of my opinions have caused offence (although I always thought a forum was a place for expressing opinions on issues - I was wrong. You can but only if it's what others want to hear). There are also others who won't have actually read my posts or chatted to me in the chat room but want to 'fit in' and so jump on the bandwagon, feet first. These are usually the 'newbies' and I can think of a few that fit this description. And finally there are the people that make threats. These are gutless idiots that use the net to make themselves feel big, and would probably never dream of threatening anyone in 'real life'.


On a positive note however I would like to add that most of the people on this forum seem like they're good, decent people, even if they do sometimes over react to what are obviously provocative posts designed to spark debate.

Originally posted by t020
And finally there are the people that make threats. These are gutless idiots that use the net to make themselves feel big, and would probably never dream of threatening anyone in 'real life'.

Awww bless. :lol:

Originally posted by t020
...even if they do sometimes over react to what are obviously provocative posts designed to spark debate.

That depends on how aggressively provocative you choose to be. If you behave in real life like you do in the forum it's a wonder you have any teeth left. ;)

Originally posted by t020
And finally there are the people that make threats. These are gutless idiots that use the net to make themselves feel big, and would probably never dream of threatening anyone in 'real life'.
I know some people similar to that t020 ;)

Originally posted by Killian
i just wonder if they would be quite so 'brave' if they actually met.
I imagine that would depend on who you're talking to or about.
I suspect some people would be. Bearing in mind we are all on a SHEFFIELD forum and that most of us live in the same city. So there are chances of bumping into these people. That would make people think about whether to threten or be over abusive on the boards.

Any particular post in mind Killian?

And t020 you are right, about the bandwagon bit. Although you do bring a lot of it on yourself (or have in the past).
Some of your remarks are very unkind and snobbish which makes people take offence, they build up a disliking to you then it's screwed from there on in.
Remember we had a similar such argument in the past. Some of your comment still get 'my back up' but I just think these days... that's his opinion. However there are still times when you can jump on others and be very patronising with no provocation which can cause people to want to give you a hard time.

I have openly said tho that this place wouldn't be the topical place it is, without our token (irritation - controversial poster) now would it.

Space Hopper took that role for a while, but he's not been around for a while. I think sometimes t020, you should think long and hard about things you post, think outside the box, how others will take that and feel about it, then you may think twice sometimes cos it may just cause offence.

It's not just aimed at you tho.... it's aimed at everyone. We all are guilty of this type of post. Some are more forthcoming than others tho at making constant posts like that.

:D

Aww I love how DB steps in and does his bit! It's so nice of you! New members won't know what on earth they're coming to if they get caught up in a slanging match, or should I say a difference of opinions, and its really great that you put them straight on the matter and wag the finger at naughty members who do post argument provoking things...

You're a STAR! :thumbsup:

Cheers Caprice... I'll give you that £10 I paid you for saying that in a bit love :thumbsup: :D :P

On the original point of the internet being sad or cool -

It is as already pointed out, whatever you want it to be...

And it can be a good hiding place or cover for some...

A playground for others...

But also an arena for sharing truth...

And much more...

As for you t020, you offer positive contributions, but think nothing of upsetting and offending others.

You can find what you want, who you want, whenever you want, and if you want it bad enough you can get it whenever.

It's sad, cool, hot, happy - all at the same time.

It's amazing. It brings the ever-shrinking world onto your monitor in an instant. Talk to someone in Japan - real time... Watch the news in Chile...

It makes me Chilly. The hairs stick up on my neck.

It's so awesome.

So necessary.

But so pointless.

Again on the original topic id like to add my valuable two penneth worth - I still think the internet is sad and automatically assume people who use it a lot are geeks. Im not a geek though.

Originally posted by DaBouncer

Any particular post in mind Killian?

:D

i dont really wish to get involved in specifics. i find some of the threads a bit daunting as people get somewhat hostile for my liking. i tend to pick 'safe' discussions for this reason, but then thats just me. of course the internet is a good thing. my dvd collection would be very small if it wasnt for play.com for instance, but there are a lot of sad people out there i think.

Taketh things too silly, Killie. We am not speaking in true seriosity as the tram driver with the sweaty glove (I am sure ) would testify.

It's all down to verbal graphics. It's the sheer colourfulness of specific arguments. It's the soundl of wood-grain, it's the smell of cheese....

the colour of a human sneeze...

...get good, like.

not sure i get any of that but i'll say okay anyway.

I'm glad you understand : for example consider this to illustrate my cause:

Those Cup Of Sugar Days






All for each
one for one
those cup-of-sugar-days are gone.
Locked in boxes
self-inflicted
to soaps and tabloids become addicted.
Be the DJ
the landlord
the microwave chef
pour out another as you scream at the ref.
Electronic wallets
cashless
DD’s
pick up the phone ring shoppers TV.
Conversation gone
no need for chat
cosy
warm
just stay where you’re sat.
We’ve sewn the seeds
that strangle the mind
self centered hunger
ravenous
blind.
One for each
all for one
those-cup-of-sugar-days are gone

Originally posted by kittykat
Again on the original topic id like to add my valuable two penneth worth - I still think the internet is sad and automatically assume people who use it a lot are geeks. Im not a geek though.

Sad-you-are indeed, I assume, and admitted well. The internet is a complete lost cause. I admit it. No-one runs it and therefore no-one is accountable. It's God in disguise.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
I'm glad you understand : for example consider this to illustrate my cause:

Those Cup Of Sugar Days


All for each
one for one
those cup-of-sugar-days are gone.
Locked in boxes
self-inflicted
to soaps and tabloids become addicted.
Be the DJ
the landlord
the microwave chef
pour out another as you scream at the ref.
Electronic wallets
cashless
DD’s
pick up the phone ring shoppers TV.
Conversation gone
no need for chat
cosy
warm
just stay where you’re sat.
We’ve sewn the seeds
that strangle the mind
self centered hunger
ravenous
blind.
One for each
all for one
those-cup-of-sugar-days are gone

And let that be a warning to you kids - just say no to drugs! :)

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
I'm glad you understand : for example consider this to illustrate my cause:

Those Cup Of Sugar Days






All for each
one for one
those cup-of-sugar-days are gone.
Locked in boxes
self-inflicted
to soaps and tabloids become addicted.
Be the DJ
the landlord
the microwave chef
pour out another as you scream at the ref.
Electronic wallets
cashless
DD’s
pick up the phone ring shoppers TV.
Conversation gone
no need for chat
cosy
warm
just stay where you’re sat.
We’ve sewn the seeds
that strangle the mind
self centered hunger
ravenous
blind.
One for each
all for one
those-cup-of-sugar-days are gone

And I wrote that before the internet boom

What an odd question.:loopy:

imo it's the people who are sad, cool or something else. I should imagine if terms like sad and cool, in their present usage, were around at the time when the telephone was invented people may have asked the same question. How sad would it be to use the 'phone rather than talk to someone face to face?

The internet is a tool. For instance, I have used it to book holidays for the last few years to places which I would never have found down at Thomas Cooks. I've also used it to send greetings videos to relatives around the world, contacted old friends in NZ and the British Virgin Islands, ordered videos of old TV programs from NZ (my dad was in a couple of episodes) and, not sure about this one, spend too much time of fora such as this.:D

It's also an integral part of my job so it allows me to earn enough to go on those holidays.:thumbsup:

Oh, and phanny, up yours.:mad:

Originally posted by Killian
i dont really wish to get involved in specifics. i find some of the threads a bit daunting as people get somewhat hostile for my liking. i tend to pick 'safe' discussions for this reason, but then thats just me. of course the internet is a good thing. my dvd collection would be very small if it wasnt for play.com for instance, but there are a lot of sad people out there i think.
Killian, no problem mate.

Best thing to do if someone is getting too 'het up' about a subject either give as good as you get or just ignore them.
You have the option to ignore members posts (that way they dont show up).

I know what you mean, as some posts and topics can get very heated at times, however it justs adds to the spice of the forum.
The moderators are always on hand to stop things getting out of control, and they do a very good job and are always on the ball.

However if you feel a post needs looking at, you can always use the 'report this post' button found on every post.
This is done in confidence to the team, and no-one will know!

I'm sure you'll like it round here and soon start enjoying those heated debates as the rest of us.

Welcome the Forum anyway Killian!

And a note to the moderators/admin maybe it's be a good idea to add a flash game to the site (like Yahoo Fighter), so we can vent frustrations in a virtual arena. Might just lighten the mood when things get a little OTT.

Originally posted by max
...Oh, and phanny, up yours.:mad:

Like DaBoucer said Killian, Geoff and the mods in here have successfully managed to create a good posting culture, where people don't create aggro by resorting to personal insults :)

As for t'internet being cool or sad - well, it's more than just the web you know, as us oldsters used to have surf t'internet using dinosaur protocols such as Gopher and telnet on our 2400 baud serial modems...and that is, without question, sad.

Nowadays I can videophone my Dad, share pictures and music with friends in japan, buy and download music on demand, and never have to buy any software ever again. That's cool.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme

As for t'internet being cool or sad - well, it's more than just the web you know, as us oldsters used to have surf t'internet using dinosaur protocols such as Gopher and telnet on our 2400 baud serial modems...and that is, without question, sad.


I think you'll find those 'dinosaur' protocols are alive and well. Well telnet for sure.
And what is sad about being a 'pioneer' without whom the 'internet' would not be as it is today?

"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton

Eeeeee lad, - I remember when it was all FTP. Anyone else remember Archie?

Nomme

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
Like DaBoucer said Killian, Geoff and the mods in here have successfully managed to create a good posting culture, where people don't create aggro by resorting to personal insults :)

Such as calling me, Belle, MrHelicopter, Jamie, Ying, etc.... all Bar Stewards? Perhaps, in retrospect, I should have pulled the original post for containing a sweeping and personal insult.

However, with all due modesty, I agree that the forum is well tempered, rather than policed.

As to the dinosaurs of the net I can well remember being chastised for replying to an enquiry while dialled up. The preferred way being to come off-line, type your response, re-dial and send. Ah, kids these days, don't know they're born.

Originally posted by max
Such as calling me, Belle, MrHelicopter, Jamie, Ying, etc.... all Bar Stewards?

A poor choice of words on my part I'm afraid.

As a certain someone correctly suggested, I should have probably added something like this to my Bar Steward comment - please imagine I did so (I will let the original post stand for clarity)

originally not posted by Phanny
:wave: :banana: :headbang: 8) :!: :thumbsup: :wow: :partyhat: :mrgreen: :nod:

- none of you are really bar stewards (well I am technically) - and I should have realised that the fact we have met in person is not necessarily known by everyone who read my post.

Internet is cool in the respect that you can find out and read about whatever you want. I've learnt a hell of a lot from the internet, it's just one massive big library!

Its also cool, for keeping in contact with friends and family through email, video messaging and msn etc.

It's cool if you are bored as you can play games, post on forums, educate yourself, chat to people etc etc

It is sad however, when people let it take over their lives a bit too much to the point that the internet becomes their world and they loose touch with reality and only have friends on the net and not in real life.

I've met quite a few people over the years off the net and not had any bad experiences.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
A poor choice of words on my part I'm afraid.

As a certain someone correctly suggested, I should have probably added something like this to my Bar Steward comment - please imagine I did so (I will let the original post stand for clarity)



- none of you are really bar stewards (well I am technically) - and I should have realised that the fact we have met in person is not necessarily known by everyone who read my post.
:lol:

Originally posted by Phanerothyme

Nowadays I can videophone my Dad, share pictures and music with friends in japan, buy and download music on demand, and never have to buy any software ever again. That's cool.

Right again Phan!

You only have to look at the threads raised on this forum for the answer to that question. Everything that's good and bad about the internet is here. Intelligent discussion often runs a poor second to such burning issues as What's Your Favourite Colour, or Do You Prefer Coke Or Pepsi.

Interesting historical and political points are regularly raised but receive little or no response, while asinine topics regarding mobile phone facia are hotly debated.

So yes, the internet can be (and often is) sad. But it's also probably the greatest advance in popular culture and communication since the introduction of the television. And that must be cool.

Originally posted by nomme
I think you'll find those 'dinosaur' protocols are alive and well. Well telnet for sure.
And what is sad about being a 'pioneer' without whom the 'internet' would not be as it is today?

"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton

Eeeeee lad, - I remember when it was all FTP. Anyone else remember Archie?

Nomme

The fact I know what you are talking about worries me :rolleyes: Must get out more... and spend less time online (not really going to happen...) :rolleyes: :D