The HORROR!

[The Curmudgeon]

Could YOU live without the internet?

First of all, this isn't an admission on my behalf, or a presumption on yours, that we spend every waking moment on the net, or that our lives revolve around the clatter of keys and the gentle hum of a computer.

I know we don't. But dear God I LOVE the internet. Love it. When it comes to greatest inventions ever, I think the internet kicks that damned wheel into second place. No matter what you're into the internet can make it more enjoyable.

Everything I enjoy, everything I'm interested in has been made so much better thanks to the net.

Music? The day I got the internet I managed to track down a Placebo CD single that I just could not get anywhere else, and I had trawled stores, second hand stores and classified ads in newspapers for this record - and I got it from Amazon for the same price as a regular CD single. Then there's websites by and about the artists or bands you like - and buying tickets for gigs (one of my main hobbies) is no trouble at all, whereas in The Olden Days I used to have to travel into town for the one place that sold tickets - if they had any. Yes, the net has increased my music listening tenfold, and that's without getting into discovering new bands and (legal) downloads.

Films - Again, the net has made being into movies far more accessible and enjoyable. I have a literal WORLD of choice about what I can buy now, where it used to be just what the shops in town had. And getting the best version of a DVD (usually Region One, you lucky Americans) is simplicity, thanks to the websites dedicated to informing you of the best choice of disc. Then there's discussion groups, the IMDB, online trailers.. we really are spoiled.

Comic Books - As I've said before, I don't buy a million comics or anything like that, but the set half dozen I do buy I can now catch any issues I may have missed thanks to ebay. And then there's the websites dedicated to Marvel, DC etc and the fan art, screensavers, character databases and the chance to own some older rarer comics that you've have to go to specialist stores for.


I could go on - but you get the idea. The internet makes the important time of your life - your spare time, all the more sweet. You can talk to people who have the same interests as you, find out anything and everything, buy rare and long deleted items, book holidays, gigs, movies - hell, even find love.

The internet ain't perfect. For all it's qualities there's a whole seedy world that we all know about, where race hate, child abuse and God knows what else is bigger than it's ever been, not to mention the threatening domination of piracy which could snuff out pretty much every good thing I just mentioned.

But that's the negative side. As it stands - yeah, I COULD live without the internet but damn I'd miss it. I'm on the net for at least an hour a day and, seriously, I couldn't imagine life without it. Is that sad?

Thoughts?

[InvisibleWolfMan]

That isn't sad one bit. Sad is the guy behind the site below:

geocities.com/CaptNish/main.htm

Ok...it's not THAT sad, with the exception that I've had my eye **gulp** on a few of those during my lifetime.

Uh-oh, awkward situation....uh...uh...

Dammit, I knew I should've gotten that spare tire fixed....

[Norman Bates]

Velma is like the dark side of the Force: You should never underestimate her. I bet you good money that that shy little awkward girl is a fuckin' animal in the sack. She's the kinda chick who would leave claw marks in your back. And you know the poo is clean, probably tighter that a tightrope too. Shit, I bet Shag and Fred fuckin' don't give her the attention that she deserves, but Scooby make her wail and cry out like she was one of his species. I bet he gives her a tongue lashin' that won't stop 'til the sun's a risin'. Damn, how I just wish, one day, Velma would bend over to pick up a clue or somethin' so I could get a little sneaky peaky up that amazing little school girl skirt that she wears. That and those fuckin' socks. Dude, I don't know why, but those socks make me wanna blow a load all over her chubby little ass. Another thing. She's always wearing that huge sweater thing. I bet you underneath, she's got these big juicy titties that I could just fall in love with.

I think I've discovered my soul-mate.

[Norman Bates]

Back to the topic - I dunno man. Yeah I could live without the internet but would I want to? Like The Curmudgeon said, EVERYTHING I'm into is made better by the net. You nailed it right there. Yeah its not going out with friends or going out on a date, but its always there for you, packed with everything else you could ever need.

And the porn. Did we mention the porn?

[The Curmudgeon]

Well, I knew SOMEONE would, Norman - and it looks like it's you. What WOULD mother think?

That site, Wolfman, is as disturbing as it awesome. I haven't seen her yet, but if April O'Neil isn't in there then its a damned disgrace.

[trashcanman]

Took the words right out of my mouth, Curmudgeon. I seldom make it through a week without referring to the internet as "mankind's greatest invention" out loud at least once.

Invisiblewolfman, that site is pretty funny. Heaven forbid that man should discover anime (besides the kiddie shit like "Pokemon" and "Sailor Moon") because if he thinks the Hanna-Barbara chicks are lookin' that good, what's he going to do when he sees shows like "Love Hina" and "Please Teacher!" that are essentially ABOUT hotass animated girls? I especially like the hate mail page. I ask you who is sadder: the guy who puts together the goofy website or the hoard of people who work themselves into a rage over some dude digging cartoon chicks? One guy went all apeshit over the insinuation that two of the Sailor Scouts are lesbians. If only he'd bothered to watch the show before he got all pissed off he may have realized that they actually are! Now there's a loser.