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> These days, I don't know a single person on the internet Getting to know people is a function of spending time with them. As you get older, you spend less ti

by danneu 11y ago

> These days, I don't know a single person on the internet Getting to know people is a function of spending time with them. As you get older, you spend less time socializing on the internet. The internet, especially a forum, is a really time-consuming and inefficient way to socialize. You meet more of a person saying "hi" to their face than you do after months of reading their posts online. When I was a teen stuck at home with the family and school, I had time for that back when the internet and games were an escape and a way to have some control over my social life. It's me that's changed, not the internet.

hucker 11y ago
I'm going to have to disagree. While is spend less time socializing on the internet now than when I was younger, that is not because I have less time on the internet, but for lack of opportunities. Hell, I spend more of my days on the internet now, whether I'm studying or working. And while the internet can never (for me) become a substitute for socializing in the real world, I don't really find it more efficient than on the internet. If you simply read someone's posts, sure, but from conversing (on e.g. IRC)?
lost_name 11y ago
I don't disagree but it's hard to say the internet hasn't changed. 15 years ago Digg didn't exist, Facebook wasn't even a concept, and no one ever used the term "social media." I wonder if the proxy interactions, things such as likes, karma and retweets, etc. have replaced the desire to get any approval from other people? Maybe we never really cared about the heartfelt appreciation from a person we didn't actually know, but it turned out the number of people we reached was always more interesting. You don't actually have to get to know or interact with other people; you can shout into the void and know someone else heard you from a couple numbers, and maybe we collectively decided that's all we really wanted. edit: I suppose I'm using "we" as "people" in this comment, also I didn't consider how old danneu might actually be; Maybe younger is 5 years ago.
Raphmedia 11y ago
> You meet more of a person saying "hi" to their face than you do after months of reading their posts online. Yes, but that don't stop you from reaching out and saying "hi". I am (mainly) a front-end developper, and I occasionally send emails to the developper of product or websites that I love and simply offer to help them out. I don't work for free, but what I am doing isn't working. It's sharing knowledge. I would email "Hi there! I love your product! I noticed that your X isn't working correctly... did you try Y solution? I had the same problem a while back." Sometime, this email is ignored. Sometime, a developper end up reading it. Sometime, it's some guy who is passionate about his product but has no idea what code even is. Yes, the internet is turning into a mall. That doesn't stop you from becoming friend with the managers of the store next to yours.

by danneu 11y ago

hucker 11y ago

I'm going to have to disagree. While is spend less time socializing on the internet now than when I was younger, that is not because I have less time on the internet, but for lack of opportunities. Hell, I spend more of my days on the internet now, whether I'm studying or working. And while the internet can never (for me) become a substitute for socializing in the real world, I don't really find it more efficient than on the internet. If you simply read someone's posts, sure, but from conversing (on e.g. IRC)?

lost_name 11y ago

I don't disagree but it's hard to say the internet hasn't changed. 15 years ago Digg didn't exist, Facebook wasn't even a concept, and no one ever used the term "social media." I wonder if the proxy interactions, things such as likes, karma and retweets, etc. have replaced the desire to get any approval from other people? Maybe we never really cared about the heartfelt appreciation from a person we didn't actually know, but it turned out the number of people we reached was always more interesting. You don't actually have to get to know or interact with other people; you can shout into the void and know someone else heard you from a couple numbers, and maybe we collectively decided that's all we really wanted. edit: I suppose I'm using "we" as "people" in this comment, also I didn't consider how old danneu might actually be; Maybe younger is 5 years ago.

Raphmedia 11y ago

> You meet more of a person saying "hi" to their face than you do after months of reading their posts online. Yes, but that don't stop you from reaching out and saying "hi". I am (mainly) a front-end developper, and I occasionally send emails to the developper of product or websites that I love and simply offer to help them out. I don't work for free, but what I am doing isn't working. It's sharing knowledge. I would email "Hi there! I love your product! I noticed that your X isn't working correctly... did you try Y solution? I had the same problem a while back." Sometime, this email is ignored. Sometime, a developper end up reading it. Sometime, it's some guy who is passionate about his product but has no idea what code even is. Yes, the internet is turning into a mall. That doesn't stop you from becoming friend with the managers of the store next to yours.