Internet = Serious Business! Do you take the Internet Seriously?

While I was replying to Leeza and Loony BoB in my 'How much do you trust people on Forums' Thread, I was suddenly struck by Devil Man's motivations and desire to cause such harm. Perhaps there are others who are curious as to why a girl would spend so much time as to add over 10,000 disgusting links to a Forum. At least, partly, I can explain. She takes the Internet very seriously. The topic of this thread is: how seriously do you take the internet?

I personally dont. I couldn't care less for the internet. When I come online, I just express my opinions on music and I like reading about other peoples opinions. I like discovering new bands and recommending new bands. If someone disagrees with my opinion on something, then fair enough. I switch off my computer and thats it. I dont think about it. There is more to life then words on a screen. Thats my idea of it.

A girl like Devil Man interests me because of the cruelty of her nature. Reading her threads on different forums is more then chilling. It appears that a couple of years ago when she first joined this Forum there was a debate going on. When she complained to the staff about the treatment she was getting, specifically, from popular members and other staff, in the debate, she was the one that got a rebuke. There appeared to be some kind of personal attachment to the main account she created so she stopped using that. The second account she made was again female and she was more emotionally detached from it. There was again some kind of debate a few weeks or months later and, again, while regular members attacked her beliefs and convictions, nothing happened to them. One day, she argued back with swear words and was instantly banned while nothing happened to the other members. Since then she has regularly alternated accounts and made good friends with many members, both as "male" and "female". Many times, even now, she has made friends with one person as both a guy and a girl. A 2 for 1 special offer! Its as if her only motivation is to get revenge on the staff and the people who claimed to be her friends, but never actually did anything to help her in a debate when she regularly got attacked.

I mention that story because it is one that gets circulated around a lot. I am surprised that someone would take the internet so seriously as to be offended by other people. And I feel sad that someone would make friends with other people as both a guy and girl just to cause them harm as she keeps doing. Its wierd. Do you take the internet so damn seriously and are you attached to it? I think its pointless.

I take the internet "seriously" in the sense that EoFF, as an online community, is a big part of my life. I have a lot of friends here, and it's not just somewhere I come to talk about games or alleviate boredom. I also hope my web experience will help me get a job someday, so I certainly value it.

For someone who doesn't take the internet seriously, you sure seem wrapped up in this whole Devil Man business.

Okay, the Devil Man conspiracy theories are getting pretty old xP

I take the internet seriously, but not too seriously ^_^ I wouldn't say, have an internet relationship. But I'd make friends and have fun and get mad and yell at people >:3

I take the EoEO section very seriously, as that's almost always where people post problems that are really having an effect on them and thus, deserves true and honest respones to help them if possible.

Otherwise, I see the internet mainly as a source of information and of fun and do my best not to get too wrapped up in it.


Take care all.

Yes, because as Azar put it, it's a large part of my life. I don't cry if someone on the internet says something offensive or something small though, if that's what you mean.

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Originally Posted by Rye

Yes, because as Azar put it, it's a large part of my life. I don't cry if someone on the internet says something offensive or something small though, if that's what you mean.

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Same here.

I suppose the real question is whether or not there is a belief that on the internet, certain morals and ethics should exist? Obviously, in an ideal situation, it would, we'd be able to trust one another with various things, but the sheer amount of work that would take in addition to a lot of philosophical questions regarding identity and the amount of power any one site should have would come into play.

At the end of it all, the internet is a tool, something that allows us to communicate and meet other people, find things, learn things etc. However, as a tool, that means it can be used as the user sees fit and thus can be abused. It's the nature of the beast I'd say, because part of the appeal of the internet is its existence outside of real regulation, but that also opens the window for anyone to essentially become anything they wish without real fear of retribution in reality. It's a meta-reality, more than anything else, because we can change who we are to a great degree without consequence, and that has a real appeal to people, for better or worse.


Take care all.

I only take some parts seriously. If a friend of mine asks me for help, I try to help them the best I can. I am in a long distance relationship currently and I take that seriously as well. EOEO is a serious place as well because people who post there genuinely want help and I'm willing to offer mine =]

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Originally Posted by Azar

I take the internet "seriously" in the sense that EoFF, as an online community, is a big part of my life. I have a lot of friends here, and it's not just somewhere I come to talk about games or alleviate boredom. I also hope my web experience will help me get a job someday, so I certainly value it.

For someone who doesn't take the internet seriously, you sure seem wrapped up in this whole Devil Man business.

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I think I answered why I found it interesting in the very first post Azar. Its amusing yet fascinating to see why a person would take a grudge to such extreme levels.

The internet can be very serious. I've been able to use ebay, among other things, to make money on the internet. And when we deal with accounts and business, then the internet can be very serious indeed.

Also, i take seriously the infomation I seek on here. It's annoying that there's so much garbage on the internet with sites that seem relevant that turn out just to be spyware and virus traps or porn links or annoying, useless nonsense.
This is supposed to be an "Information Superhighway" and instead it's a "Spam Superhighway" with some information scattered about on rare and unsigned exits.

The internet would be infinitely cooler if more people took it seriously and used it for something useful instead of crap.

Referring to the first post: I think that Devil Man is an excellent example of NOT TAKING THE INTERNET SERIOUSLY. Don't get confused.

Fun and work are both serious.

Serious harm is the result of a lack of seriousness.

Eh... Sometimes I take things kind of seriously. Once I'm away from the computer I'm onto other things, but when I'm sitting here arguing the opinion I'm putting out there is real, so I take defending it pretty seriously.

But other than that, no. It's all just amusement to me.

I don't even take life outside the internet seriously.

I try to take it in moderation but that does not always work.

I only have one problem though. It is when people are too light hearted about it. They forget that on forums that there are actually people (hiding behind personas or not) on the other end. To that extent you should treat them the same as you would anyone in person (assuming you are actually a half-decent person). There of those who are of a mind that since it is the internet they can do whatever they want to other people. I dunno if I am making sense, maybe I am being too serious, but yeah.

No, I agree. Your point is a most valid one. Far too often, the internet is viewed as just a faceless thing, an ether of voices without feelings when there is almost always someone at the other side. The problem is that you can't often SEE that, and a large part of the human experience revolves around using the senses to help empathize with others and when that is cut off, people can find ways to justify their actions when they'd never do it to someone's face.

Take care all.

Not as much as I used to, but that's down to me not taking life in general as seriously as I used to. Nonetheless, a lot of the emotions shown over the internet are real, simply because people feel more free to express them here, and other feel more free to tear those emotions to shreds. It's a cruel internet, but then, it's a cruel world.