December 3, 200619 yr I essentially agree with BlueTear. I watch about 3-5 hours of TV a week (depends if there's a decent movie on). Whereas I'm using my computer (and the Internet, per se) anywhere up to 50 or 60hrs a week (yes that's bad, but it's my job - so pft :P) Rewind about 6 or 7 years and I was watching about 30 hours of TV a week, and using the computer about 10 hours a week. The main reason for the increased hours is that I no longer spent 8 hours at school post-2002, so more time was spent improving my skills and such.
December 3, 200619 yr Another interesting point is, United States aside, one of the top highest internet using countries is Finland. But Finland is also the world's healthiest country, and the world's most technically advanced country. For example, I meet alot of Finnish Runescape players who have very high skills. But that's more of a personal observation on a small scale. Me doing staff.
December 3, 200619 yr Another interesting point is, United States aside, one of the top highest internet using countries is Finland. But Finland is also the world's healthiest country, and the world's most technically advanced country. For example, I meet alot of Finnish Runescape players who have very high skills. But that's more of a personal observation on a small scale. It's a matter of a balanced lifestyle, not just about how much time is spent on an activity. You could even spend 8+ hours a day on a computer and still have a more balanced life than someone who watches 0 hours of TV daily and never uses the computer. Back ages ago, my runescape level of 108 was respectable. Most people would've probably thought I'm some fat nerd with no life. But even then I managed to earn money and go to the gym and socialise. Long ago I learned stereotypes are very bad, and they often turn out to be false.
December 3, 200619 yr Another interesting point is, United States aside, one of the top highest internet using countries is Finland. But Finland is also the world's healthiest country, and the world's most technically advanced country. For example, I meet alot of Finnish Runescape players who have very high skills. But that's more of a personal observation on a small scale. It's a matter of a balanced lifestyle, not just about how much time is spent on an activity. You could even spend 8+ hours a day on a computer and still have a more balanced life than someone who watches 0 hours of TV daily and never uses the computer. Back ages ago, my runescape level of 108 was respectable. Most people would've probably thought I'm some fat nerd with no life. But even then I managed to earn money and go to the gym and socialise. Long ago I learned stereotypes are very bad, and they often turn out to be false. True. I do know a guy who spends 8 hours+ on the computer each day, but is thin as a stick, and has had a 4.0 GPA all through highschool. It would be hard to balance such a lifestyle though. You'd have to take shifts on and off the computer, or something like that. Me doing staff.
December 3, 200619 yr I essentially agree with BlueTear. I watch about 3-5 hours of TV a week (depends if there's a decent movie on). Whereas I'm using my computer (and the Internet, per se) anywhere up to 50 or 60hrs a week (yes that's bad, but it's my job - so pft :P) Rewind about 6 or 7 years and I was watching about 30 hours of TV a week, and using the computer about 10 hours a week. The main reason for the increased hours is that I no longer spent 8 hours at school post-2002, so more time was spent improving my skills and such. Same here actualy. Probaly going to be that way for a while since I will be working on PC's a lot in college next year. (programing and 3D design). I pretty much never watch TV though. Personaly, I don't find the aspect of me playing an MMORPG with my friends (That I do know from other places I used to live) over ventrilo, talking. To be honest I probaly talk to them 6 hours a day over vent. Maybe not constant conversation, but still, thats a lot of talking.
December 3, 200619 yr While I'll admit that too much of anything is a bad thing, of course, I disagree that too much internet is any worse than anything else that's used in excess. Let's say somebody, let's name the them Smith, plays on the computer whenever they do not have school or homework to do. Smith can't drive and has parents that, for whatever reason, aren't available often to take him very many places. He hangs out with friends whenever he can manage and doesn't neglect his responsibilities to play on the computer. So, that being said, he's basically stuck at home due to lack of transportation and has his options narrowed down to whatever he has access to at home. Now, almost anything in his house that would provide entertainment will eventually get boring, as they have no versatility. The exceptions to this are T.V. and internet. Let's weigh the pros and cons here. TV: Pros: - Potentionally many choices of what to watch - An outlet to the outside world Cons: - A very short attention span developed due to entertainment within a (generally) 30 minute timespan. - No effort whatsoever to enjoy it, leading to a subconscious belief that not all good things must be earned - A disillusionment of what life is really like due to 'reality shows' Internet: Pros: (as it applies to MMORPGs) - Logic skills are developed by discovering the most efficient ways to do things - Patience developed by working hard on a skill to reach a gratifying goal - Work ethic developed by realizing that work leads to it's own reward - Access to a social environment at any time that consists of a variety of genders, ethnicities, age, etc. which teaches an acceptance of equality amongst all humans. Cons: (I don't pretend there aren't any) - Health degeneration if used improperly - Immature users who fail to realize the importance of the pros, and so dismiss them - Possibility of overdoing it to the extent the it ceases to be for pleasure and challenge and becomes obsessive In conclusion, the internet is as good or bad as the one who uses it makes it. A mature, responsible player will find it benefits them, while an immature, irresponsible player may find that the pros can not apply to them because they will not allow it. Owner of quest cape since December of 2006
December 3, 200619 yr While I'll admit that too much of anything is a bad thing, of course, I disagree that too much internet is any worse than anything else that's used in excess. Let's say somebody, let's name the them Smith, plays on the computer whenever they do not have school or homework to do. Smith can't drive and has parents that, for whatever reason, aren't available often to take him very many places. He hangs out with friends whenever he can manage and doesn't neglect his responsibilities to play on the computer. So, that being said, he's basically stuck at home due to lack of transportation and has his options narrowed down to whatever he has access to at home. Now, almost anything in his house that would provide entertainment will eventually get boring, as they have no versatility. The exceptions to this are T.V. and internet. Let's weigh the pros and cons here. TV: Pros: - Potentionally many choices of what to watch - An outlet to the outside world Cons: - A very short attention span developed due to entertainment within a (generally) 30 minute timespan. - No effort whatsoever to enjoy it, leading to a subconscious belief that not all good things must be earned - A disillusionment of what life is really like due to 'reality shows' Internet: Pros: (as it applies to MMORPGs) - Logic skills are developed by discovering the most efficient ways to do things - Patience developed by working hard on a skill to reach a gratifying goal - Work ethic developed by realizing that work leads to it's own reward - Access to a social environment at any time that consists of a variety of genders, ethnicities, age, etc. which teaches an acceptance of equality amongst all humans. Cons: (I don't pretend there aren't any) - Health degeneration if used improperly - Immature users who fail to realize the importance of the pros, and so dismiss them - Possibility of overdoing it to the extent the it ceases to be for pleasure and challenge and becomes obsessive In conclusion, the internet is as good or bad as the one who uses it makes it. A mature, responsible player will find it benefits them, while an immature, irresponsible player may find that the pros can not apply to them because they will not allow it. That whole condition is under the premise that the person can't get outside the house though. What about someone whose parents are willing to take him to friends, but because the kid's so sucked into the computer, he doesn't go out of his way to make plans, and instead his addiction gets worse? I don't think the issue is internet vs. tv. It's about internet vs. anything productive.
December 3, 200619 yr Exactly my point. That's the point where it ceases to be used in the way it was designed to be and begins to be twisted into something that becomes bad by the person who chooses to misuse it. There must be a balance. But this does not means that it should be dismissed entirely. Owner of quest cape since December of 2006
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