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Scanning thru the comments here looks like there are two of us who think most of OP's points were and are valid. I guess most of HN readers (including me!) are

by kunley 16y ago

Scanning thru the comments here looks like there are two of us who think most of OP's points were and are valid. I guess most of HN readers (including me!) are living in a comfort zone of carefully selected sites and services, but it doesn't change the fact that most of internet content is a pile of bullshit. And of course, nothing can be a substitute of a human contact, and no, social networking is not a human contact.

dirtyaura 16y ago
most of internet content is a pile of bullshit So are the most of published books, despite the editorial work put into them. And as the internet democratized publishing, it's just natural that there is more crap out there. I see that as a very positive sign of true freedom of expression. social networking is not a human contact This is rather silly point of view. Why isn't anybody discussing how talking in the phone "is not a human contact" ? People discuss, joke, argue, meet their future spouses, cuddle with their current spouses, all this and more in the internet. Of course that's not a substitute for kisses on a romantic dinner or for a good fist-fight at the bar, but that doesn't make communication over the internet any way less valuable.
- kunley 16y ago
  Human contact isn't black & white, and there are tons of small important non-verbal things not only in fist fight or romantic dinner. Actually even a smalltalk carries lots of information of deep psychological value which is mostly beyond words. All this is cut off when you use internet or do a phone talk. It doesn't mean you can't use these media to do business, joke, set things up, but dear gods, please be honest to yourself and observe how many things are cut off and lost. If you do it you will be able to admit that actually internet communication IS less valuable in many ways, despite the fact how much you wouldn't want to think like this right now.
  - kristiandupont 16y ago
    This argument only applies if you replace in-person communication with internet communication. Most of my communication on social networks is with people that I would otherwise not communicate with because they are too far away.I see only gain there.
    - kunley 16y ago
      Yeah that's a gain; besides, that's what we do right now. But! Please look around and check how many people prefer this kind of communication with distant people when in the same time they could communicate in a more valuable way with people around them. That's what I'm trying to condemn here. Social networking can give a more lasting value if someone is consciously treating it as a kind of trampoline to reach those people IRL finally. Which is huh 0.0042% of social networking usage?

by kunley 16y ago

dirtyaura 16y ago

most of internet content is a pile of bullshit So are the most of published books, despite the editorial work put into them. And as the internet democratized publishing, it's just natural that there is more crap out there. I see that as a very positive sign of true freedom of expression. social networking is not a human contact This is rather silly point of view. Why isn't anybody discussing how talking in the phone "is not a human contact" ? People discuss, joke, argue, meet their future spouses, cuddle with their current spouses, all this and more in the internet. Of course that's not a substitute for kisses on a romantic dinner or for a good fist-fight at the bar, but that doesn't make communication over the internet any way less valuable.

kunley 16y ago
Human contact isn't black & white, and there are tons of small important non-verbal things not only in fist fight or romantic dinner. Actually even a smalltalk carries lots of information of deep psychological value which is mostly beyond words. All this is cut off when you use internet or do a phone talk. It doesn't mean you can't use these media to do business, joke, set things up, but dear gods, please be honest to yourself and observe how many things are cut off and lost. If you do it you will be able to admit that actually internet communication IS less valuable in many ways, despite the fact how much you wouldn't want to think like this right now.
- kristiandupont 16y ago
  This argument only applies if you replace in-person communication with internet communication. Most of my communication on social networks is with people that I would otherwise not communicate with because they are too far away.I see only gain there.
  - kunley 16y ago
    Yeah that's a gain; besides, that's what we do right now. But! Please look around and check how many people prefer this kind of communication with distant people when in the same time they could communicate in a more valuable way with people around them. That's what I'm trying to condemn here. Social networking can give a more lasting value if someone is consciously treating it as a kind of trampoline to reach those people IRL finally. Which is huh 0.0042% of social networking usage?