Is the Internet destroying society?

[PauFerro]

This was a comment that a few people made in the Mentality thread in Band Management. There seemed to be a strong wave of opinion about how the Internet is, as people put it, 'destroying society'.

I am curious what people think of this. Speaking generally, is the Internet hurting society more than it's helping it? If so, why do you think so?

 

[charlie monroe]

Human nature is at fault.

The web is merely a tool.

 

[dwm74]

I do think it hurts society more than it helps, but once again, it's in the eye (or hand) of the beholder. People seem so much quicker to judge (and condemn) others, leaving their remarks and insults and threats, oftentimes behind a cloak of anonymity. Just an overall lack of respect and consideration for others, especially if they have different opinions and viewpoints. And the more people get their feelings hurt or feel insulted, they soon become jaded and start doing the same, and the cycle continues downward endlessly.

Lots of good things come from having the internet, but there's no shortage of bad things either.

 

[blue4]

People are destroying society, not the internet. The internet isn't forcing high schools to build football fields that can seat the entire county while cutting budgets at the same time. It isn't clicking on a news source title Kickassawesomepatriotnews.com and forcing us to believe the nonsense. It isn't allowing idiots and con men to run the show. The internet merely allows people to manipulate the gullible, the stupid and the hateful easier.

 

[elgecko]

It's definitely changing society but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's "destroying" it.

 

[bass12]

Human nature is at fault.

The web is merely a tool.

A tool that encourages people to act like tools. I liked society better pre-internet. It seems like nowadays everyone is in a rush and people are becoming increasingly impatient - and I attribute that to the internet. There's no clear line between working and non-working hours anymore (for many people) and everyone is glued to their phones or tablets (toddlers included). Oh, and the internet has led to an insane diminishment of value where music is concerned. I could go on.

 

[ONYX]

The internet is just another medium--like newspapers used to be. But I don't think it contributes to the destruction of society---there are other factors at work there.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Considering how much the internet has changed our lives and helped our societies in every possible way, arguing against it seems rather vain.
What's an example of bad thing that happened because of the internet?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Human nature is at fault.

As Bernard Trink used to write in the Bangkok Post: human nature

What I have trouble getting my head around is how people go to social media over every little thing, or they need a YT tutorial before they can accomplish even the simplest task.
This hit home for me other day when a person posted a photo of their Strat where the pickup screw had been adjusted too far out & it simply came loose & the pickup dropped down into the body.

Any simpleton could have known that you have to remove the pick-guard to fix it, but of course it took 2 dozen folks commenting that for this person to realize & then he's commenting how grateful he is that the group was able to help.
So, I'm guessing he couldn't have figured this out on his own

 

[pie_man_25]

I'd argue that certain social factors and structures are allowing or even facilitating those with negative traits to consolidate social influence, and that this is ultimately ruining things. But what do I know? It must purely be the thing that allows me to talk to other people that play bass that's at fault.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Considering how much the internet has changed our lives and helped our societies in every possible way, arguing against it seems rather vain.
What's an example of bad thing that happened because of the internet?

The Hamster Dance?

 

[48thStreetCustom]

Yes.

 

[Indiedog]

I happen to be reading an excellent book ("The Shallows") about this very subject (how the internet is changing our brains). Here is a review on it:
'The Shallows': This Is Your Brain Online

 

[denhou1974]

The internet makes people impatient and insensitive. It makes some people feel inadequate and left out.

 

[LBS-bass]

Human nature is at fault.

The web is merely a tool.

Bingo. We are tribal by nature, as a species. The internet has simply sped up the rate at which our tribal disagreements play out, and made it easier for rumors about the out-group to spread. So we have a lot of misinformation feeding our tribal anxiety and anger, and few of us have the natural inclination to check things out before taking things on board.

But it's no different than it ever was. The internet has just accelerated it all.

 

[geeza]

No, cell phones are.

 

[Standalone]

Yes. Especially talkbass

 

[JRA]

Human nature is at fault. The web is merely a tool.

human nature

 

[Mike JV]

I don't like the "big brother" aspect of it. Every key stroke is known. Once I was looking online about some lawn mower repairs and within a week I was getting emails regarding lawn mower sales! I don't own any pets, but once I looked up a particular breed of dog for my brother. A week later in my mailbox was information about pet supply stores!

The internet is a very useful tool. But it has changed things for sure. I am convinced that if the internet was around in the early 60's that Beatlemania never would have happened. There would have been no anticipation, no mystery, no excitement of what was to come because you already viewed it starting with their club days. When I went to concerts in the 70's you didn't know what to expect. Lots of anticipation. Now you can watch some of that concert online before going to see it and......no surprises.

 

[Reedt2000]

It's definitely changing society but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's "destroying" it.

This is my thought too. Technically speaking society is being "destroyed" because modern communication technology has changed it. Whether that change is for good or bad, I don't know but its clear that things will never be as they were.

It helps me in a number of ways. I work in human services and it helps me help others. I'm old enough to remember pre-internet and I like having the access to information and communication methods.