The Internet: a not-so-brave new world

Nhan Nguyen

Computers are wonderful, aren't they? Through the World Wide Web, you can view and sample the wares millions of other Web users peddle or display. You can bank over the Internet with some degree of security. Businesses can teleconference over thousands of miles for the cost of a local phone call. But as Apu, the Kwik-E-Mart worker from "The Simpsons," would ask: "Where's the love?"

What the hell am I talking about? I'm talking about the lack of personal interaction and growth that results directly from the growing addiction to the Internet, a trend that seems to be spreading like wildfire in today's youth with no end in sight. How do I feel about all this? Well, you could ask me in person, and you'd see I'm none too pleased. Or chat with me on the Internet, and I'll just give you a >:-( to express my feelings.

The Internet should augment people's lives, not run it. Use e-mail to leave a message for a friend you can't locate in person, but don't check your e-mail box all day for a response like some oversexed prostitute trying to find a customer. Play games against other people on the Net, but don't schedule your classes around them. And, damn it, if you're going to have sex, have it with a real live person, not some picture on a screen accompanied with RealAudio grunts and moans!

I've used computers since the early '80s, playing games and doing some basic programming on a Commodore 64. I was used to waiting 10 minutes for a game to load from disk before playing it against a friend. Today I use Amigas, Macs and PCs for 3-D computer graphics, word processing, games and surfing the Net, but still make sure I meet with actual people during the day.

We've all heard stories about people who stay up for days on end in front of their computers, living on cola and junk food, chatting via IRC (Internet Relay Chat, where literally thousands of users can type to each other at the same time) or MUDing (Multi-User Dungeons, a virtual world defined by text where you can meet and interact with other MUDers). These virtual arenas are fine for an hour or so, but junkies need to get a life. Seriously.

The Internet seems to depersonalize today's society. The convenience of e-mail and the IRC is actually preferable to live interaction for some.

Shopping on-line may seem cool at first, but then you'll never get to handle and examine the product you want to buy until it's delivered to your house.

Antisocial perverts long for virtual sex as if it were the Second Coming. Around the world, millions prostrate themselves before their computers like zombies.

Computers are wonderful ... aren't they?

Nguyen is a senior RTV major.