Sit, Click, Eat.. Think?

The internet, still rather new, has taken leaps and bounds in the past few years. Not only forming massive internet communities, but exploding into a Home-Shopping-Mom's wetdream.

The internet has 3 general levels, I'll try to go into each as well as I can..

The newbies:

These users are the users that have just recently figured out how to run a computer and locate the internet. Most of these users are forced to put up with services much like AOL, Prodigy, ect, due to the lack of knowledge that the internet is available without such services crammed down your face the minute you purchase a computer.

These users are drawn in from the massive amounts of television ads that are brainwashed into their minds from Big Corporate. They begin to wonder, 'what is this internet crap' and crawl from their tv's to the local outlet store to purchase one of these fanastic machines that link them to the this 'internet thingy' they saw on TV.

The lowest of the low, the most annoying presence, the most outragous things, the everything you wish was not the internet. These users are the one's that fall from the tv to the massive bottomless pit of porn. Or the users that have idlolized ebay.com and amazon.com into the most lazy form of shopping this world has every witnessed. *click-send-deliver proceed to drool.*

Americans are getting fat?! Massive depression sweeping across the nation?! Why shop, walk, or breathe when the internet will deliver every bit of imaginal item TO me! Everything from shampoo to that nifty digital internet camera to the toys we dont want to speak of can be delivered to your doorstep, in complete anonymity. In today's society, the days of going to the mall and putting up with 'everyone' you cant stand to be around, fighting your place in line, or the massive rush for the 'next best toy' are over. Sure you still have a few that still wrestle the social gene of being in public, but these individuals are clearly not using the internet, or just havent realized its potential!

The outspread, massive corporate takeover of the internet has begun. For a long time the internet was just something linux nerds used, or those no life online gamer nerds, or the endless rows of IRC chat channels. And of course, the occasional downloading of "thing's we're just trying out" a la warez. Big Corporate sat down one day in a meeting and tried to figure out a way to not only force their store outlets down your throat via television ads, but to bring the store to the consumer!

The first idea was magazine newspaper ads, where you could send in and have your item delivered to your house. All through mail. No one wanted to do this. Why waste a stamp and the time to fill out this form, put it in an envolope, address it, stamp it and god forbid walk it to my mail box! The newspaper approach was soon realized to be a complete bunk. Hardly anyone used it.

The next idea is working. And working way better then Big Corporate was aiming for. The dot-com era spawned this so called 'internet takeover'. Everyone from their father to brother to cousins tried to get rich quick on this 'internet thingy'. Most obviously failing. They knew very little about the internet and paid massive amounts of money for website creation and intergration into their businesses only to find out their product wasnt selling because, well, no one wanted to buy it. The ones that got lucky are the ones that are now the internet super sites. And building their ideas up for the next massive dot-com takeover.

- Amazon.dot formed a massive campaign to promote it links every outlet store in the nation to your computer, and the couch potatoes came running!
- Ebay.com launched a campaign showing how easy it can be to sell your junk, and the garage sale mom's came running!
- Microsoft with xbox campaigned their internet intergration and online gaming to the millions of kids that sat around playing first person shooters on their playstations, by themselves, alone.. and the greasy 13year olds came running!
- Google and YaHoo! promote their massive search engines that will find ANYTHING you desire! And the slightly less skilled computer nerds came running to learn how to use linux from the pro's!

The list goes on.

The dot-com era may be classified as 'over' in the words of media financial analysists, but its far from done. The era never ended, just a slight setback in small business collapses due to poorly thought out approaches spun the economy into a turmoil. After people got back on their feets and attacked the market again, they began to realize their mistakes. Most of the big internet sites run today are owners of dot-com failures. They had an idea, and promoted it the wrong way. After realizing their mistake, they sat back and waited for everyone else to fail, shrug off the internet, and get back to their mail orders. After the era, or shortly before it was deemed a 'failure', the Big Corporate tried again. This time not only promoting their products and giving people a printable mailing form, they promoted their e-market. Why print that paper out, and mail it in when you can click on the image you want, type in a credit card number, and wallah! instant transaction! .. and it worked.

Today consumers dont leave their house. Only if they have to buy food. Day-after-Thanksgiving marks a less eventful day at the mall, but a slightly larger internet traffic use. (Being careful to not totally ruin your yearly massive money dump for christmas tradition by doing it on its traditional day.)

Consumers in America, and throughout the world are getting worse then coach potatoes. They dont exercise, they dont shop, they just sit, click, and eat.

Depression is soring not because of wars, or politics, or past childhood problems.. but because we all lack that certain something that was needed to mingle with other people. We're lame now... Sheep, dull, and boring. Sit, click, eat.

Sit, click, and eat.

And then theres us.

We found an escape from Big Corporate. We searched the internet a little harder under it's promoted cover, and found a vast world of knowledge, communities, and discussions forums.

Though more and more are finding the vast reaches of the internet on a daily basis, its only a matter of time that big corporate tries to hide, censor, or completely incorporate this 'area' of the internet, as well. You see it now already, the next takeover is underway. The influx of random popups, advertisments on every website(even this one), and shameless trojans and spyware.

What ever happened to running a website because of something you believed strongly in, and paying a little out of your pocket for fees? Long is that day, even this page, makes several hundred dollars (or more) on popup ads to unregistered travelers then it needs to feild bandwidth bills. (Not an attack on this website, just an example. This forum rocks. Also, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about my financial assumption.)

Some say the internet is already at it's limits. That it couldnt get anymore integrated into our lives. I say, this is only the beginning. The dot-com era scared alot of corporations away, but they're slowly realizing their mistakes of giving up and will rape what's left for everything they can. Prepare to be bombarded even harder from big corporate in this nice secluded genre of the internet.. it's only just begun.

Sit, click, eat.. think.

And then theres 'them'

The deep secluded rather unheard of portion of the internet. The 'black market' or the 'hacker' communities. Also known as the Under Ground internet. This is where most of us dont treck, even if we knew how to get their. These people are pissed. They were the linux nerds that sat around playing with code and talking nerd-talk. They watched their precious internet literally explode and nearly ruin thier communities and land a few in jail. They watched a few linux nerds land huge employment deals for Big Corporate.

These guys are Big Corporate's biggest threat. These guys are the ones working on totally "bringing down" the internet. Not so much because they can, but because Big Corporate trecked on their land, and began making rules. Rules that wont be followed. ..



The internet is plugging everyone into the world to a vast library of knowledge. The governments around the world are losing touch of their citizens, rumors, conspiracies, and even secrets are spreading wildly across the internet communities.. a PR's worst nightmare.

Social interaction is near its end, could this be what all the prophecies of doom and gloom or bible predictions be talking about?

Discuss.

The newbies:

These are people who want better prices and easier communication. If you are out of money for a phone call, or don't have stamps, why not send an email if you have it?

Amazon, eBay, pricewatch, etc. are all outstanding places to find lower prices than local retailers. This removes money from the local economy but increases pricing competition which is good for the consumer.

Newbies are brain dead to the real workings of the computer, but fortunitely, or unfortunitely, Microsoft has brought them to the computer to increase capitalism and forward emails.

Normal user:

These are the real 'users'. They know what a search engine does and probably the basics of how it works. They use computers at work or at school to do more than email or etail. They also want competitive prices, but they tend to steal more music and download viruses, even if they know how to use a firewall and antivirus.

The bad part is that these users think they "get it". More than likely, they are still closer to newbies than they know. The system still owns them.

High-End users:

We are talking developers, programmers, system admins, hackers, etc. They "get it". Linux is not the enemy, it is a simple operating system that works like a Multi-User Dungeon (MUD). They probably read Slashdot.org and could hack into some low level system, at least. They understand why Microsoft has so many bugs and why people enjoy using it (i.e. "because it's pretty and brainless").

No, they aren't all evil. No they aren't all good. These people probably do make money, or could if they'd get off their tails and find a job. Not all of these guys go to Everquest conventions. They are real people, with a touch of creativity. In short, "the code makes sense."


If you are really afraid of the internet, just unplug it from the wall-jack.

Originally posted by Protector
The newbies:

These are people who want better prices and easier communication. If you are out of money for a phone call, or don't have stamps, why not send an email if you have it?

Amazon, eBay, pricewatch, etc. are all outstanding places to find lower prices than local retailers. This removes money from the local economy but increases pricing competition which is good for the consumer.

Newbies are brain dead to the real workings of the computer, but fortunitely, or unfortunitely, Microsoft has brought them to the computer to increase capitalism and forward emails.

That's pretty much exactly what I just said, only worded differently.

Normal user:

These are the real 'users'. They know what a search engine does and probably the basics of how it works. They use computers at work or at school to do more than email or etail. They also want competitive prices, but they tend to steal more music and download viruses, even if they know how to use a firewall and antivirus.

The bad part is that these users think they "get it". More than likely, they are still closer to newbies than they know. The system still owns them.

Again, pretty much what I said, just different examples..

High-End users:

We are talking developers, programmers, system admins, hackers, etc. They "get it". Linux is not the enemy, it is a simple operating system that works like a Multi-User Dungeon (MUD). They probably read Slashdot.org and could hack into some low level system, at least. They understand why Microsoft has so many bugs and why people enjoy using it (i.e. "because it's pretty and brainless").

No, they aren't all evil. No they aren't all good. These people probably do make money, or could if they'd get off their tails and find a job. Not all of these guys go to Everquest conventions. They are real people, with a touch of creativity. In short, "the code makes sense."

This is what I should have said.


If you are really afraid of the internet, just unplug it from the wall-jack.

Not afraid one bit, just stating an opinion.

[edit on 28-8-2004 by p1]

What gives???

?????

???

Sorry, the mod's deleted the op/ed post. I posted it here first and thought it'd make a good op/ed.. but I was incorrect :x

That last group of pepole reminds me of my uncle he is a crazy computer freek he was doing it since he was like 10 we all call him crazy but he is getting paid alot doing some weird computer job

Have u seen the terminator movies before? Skynet is just around the corner.

[edit on 29-8-2004 by ufo3]

I know this was started as a KISS method of mapping things out, but there is more the merely 3 levels, mostly due to generalizations given the vastness of the internet. It's a wonder in it's own right, Kibo help us, as being a netizen for over 10 years and still finding uses for it.

Would you include peeps in the 3rd category: who make/alter their own hardware(such as a home-made usb hub), their own system level software from an OS to a proggie that plays My Sharona using a noisey floppy drive doing head reads scottserver.net... or even console/old puter system junkies who make assembly language demo's or EEPROM their own cartriges? www.zophar.net... I highly recommend this corner if you were ever curious how the NES 'really' worked, but never had the chance to learn 65C02 asm... nesdev.parodius.com/

Simular to the tracking (google modplug or screamtracker) community, there is also folks who can write music, code it in as data to an audio player written in 65C02 burn it into a modified Mario or Ice climber cart, and expose their art using the little grey box.

Which also reminds me of some who do that in reverse too....
How about folks who make music using 8-bit audio using resoldered sound hardware off of old 8-bit consoles rigged to racks and mixers?
www.nullsleep.com...

These are a couple of treasured corners I've run across to illustrate what is out there!

[edit on 29-8-2004 by Crysstaafur]

I'm pretty much ok with those classifications, except for that last one. While you may be correct in some cases, I don't think the majority of the Hackers/Coders/Underground/etc. are 'pissed off & looking to bring down the Internet'. I'll agree that they are most likely pissed off at the over commercialization and 'Cooperate Spin BS' that has grown like a virus in all areas of the web, but everyone is pissed off at that too, simply because it's annoying and intrusive. (Plus, if anyone is to blame for most of it, it is those very same 'class' of Underground Coders who at one time sold out to big business and provided them with the code that everyone now hates.)

Nor are any of these guys looking to completely wipe out their 'World Wide Playground', although many have decided to help clean up some of the trash, regardless of who's picnic they trample through. But there is a big difference between renovation & desolation. Also, if anyone has the ability to avoid most of the annoying fluff it's them and they do. The only difference is that now the 'Cyber World' is community property they've had to maintain more creative private networks within it on their own, where as before they roamed free and largely unchecked.

IMO, it's like Dr. Frankenstein. He loved his creation, yet it didn't mix so well with the public. However, that didn't mean the Dr. loved his creation any less or that it was something to be destroyed, (even though that is what happens). The real problem, as we all know, was the Public Display of Ignorance in connection with the Dr.'s creation.

Thank you Mojom. The 3rd category is a generalization. Not all peeps in that category would want the net to go down! Not all of them are destructive in nature(which I was trying to illustrate). Many are angry and/or resentfull of the sellouts and the Corporate stranglehold. Many of the folks who will not lower their standards to that of the Corps, chose a different path. Open Source. Very few Corps have the nerve to do the same since profits are involved. The exceptions would probably be 'bundling' services like Caldera.

To include those who do constructive things into the same basket with those who would make trojans/virii/worms is very naive and l@m3.

Please pause before you flame me if you are so inclined.

This is not my original, but came from an internet intructor's wife: "The World Wide Web is a mile wide and an inch deep." [obviously adapted from the Mississippi river]. I think it holds a lot of truth. There are things I have seen and ideas to which i have been introduced on the net. That being said though the net, much like a fluid medium in physics, tends to bring/wash everything up/down to the same level. On ATS there are quite a few different ideas, but after you have seen the basic set, you realize that much of the time 'new' stuff is the same or very similar ideas that get rehashed.

Maybe this would be a good encapsulation: The net is a great connection/communicator of ideas, but is NOT a very good medium for original thought.

I think for original thinking isolation is in order. Books are nice in that they are like a prism, where for each reader depending on their perspective/experiences what they experience in their heads is unique.

The net is probably a good place to bounce around new ideas and have people tear at or contribute to a particular idea, to see how they hold up [like one hopes for in good science]. To me it is the new ideas that are the most interesting. When someone fips, inverts old ideas, or just comes up with some totally alien perspective on [experience about] things.

I'm not here to make a blanket criticism of the web, just trying [for my own sake] to clarify what it is and is good for and what it is not.

My other thought is, are there ideas, information, concepts that never get connected to the web? Are ALL people so driven by ego that they must post/publish/make-others-aware of their ideas/inquiries or are there people who are unaware/humble/secretive about their ideas?

Snack for thought.
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