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Yes, everyone wanted the internet. It was massively hyped and the uptake was widespread and rapid. Obviously saying “everyone” is hyperbole. There were luddite
by relaxing 1y ago
Yes, everyone wanted the internet. It was massively hyped and the uptake was widespread and rapid.
Obviously saying “everyone” is hyperbole. There were luddites and skeptics about it just like with electricity and telephones. Nevertheless the dotcom boom is what every new industry hopes to be.
- brookst 1y agoI was there. There was massive skepticism, endless jokes about internet-enabled toasters and the uselessness and undesirability of connecting everything to the internet, people bemoaning the loss of critical skills like using library card catalogs, all the same stuff we see today. In 20 years AI will be pervasive and nobody will remember being one of the luddites.
- relaxing 1y agoI was there too. You’re forgetting internet addiction, pornography, stranger danger, hacking and cybercrime, etc. Whether the opposition was massive or not, in proportion to the enthusiasm and optimism about the globally connected information superhighway, isn’t something I can quantify, so I’ll bow out of the conversation.
- watwut 1y agoToasters in fact dot need internet and jokes about them are entirely valid. Quite a lot of devices that dont need internet have useless internet slapped on them. Internet of things was largely BS.
- brookst 1y agoThat’s my point. People are making the same mistake today: hey, there’s this idiotic use case, therefore the entire technology is useless and will be a fad.