A note on the Internet...

The source of all the world’s knowledge at your very fingertips, the only other thing that comes just as close to doing this are Hodgman’s books. I think that it’s something that we sometimes take for granted -- before the internet we were forced to learn from school and read from books like savages. During the Internet’s inception do you think that it was originally intended for ‘finding out what celebrities you share birthdays with’ and ‘sharing pictures of cats with your friends’. The first concept for the internet, APRANET, was commissioned by the Department of Defense and it was originally intended as a way for computer systems to exchange data between each other over vast distances -- like a network of tunnels of as Hodgman termed it “A Series of Tubes".         

                           

If any of you remember, in my first blog post I talked about how the internet is something that we should trust entirely and while I would like to stand by my original statement I simply cannot. In light of recent events, I come to the harsh reality that the internet is a cold and dark place where the shadiest of people dwell. The things that I was exposed to would leave the burliest of sailors and lumberjacks whimpering in the fetal position. It’s not all fun and cats anymore dear readers, with the creation of Reddit, 4chan, 9gag -- just to name a few -- the internet has now become a forum for the people. Now you may be asking yourself “this doesn't seem like such a bad idea...” and in most cases you may be right, but do you really want to live in a world where someone is telling you that their cat is better than yours. A place where every argument just comes down to some childish cat-measuring contest. 

I say that the internet is dangerous for two reasons (1) because it’s become a disgusting place (2) and because this type of behavior is the classic precursor to a slippery slope. I’m not even going to get into the applications of Rule 34, but it’s out there and we’re all adults...at least in the eyes of the law. It has become the source of slander, deceit, and cats -- it’s like High School but everyone in your class is a faceless bully.  

The internet in it’s current form is only going to grow into a monstrous anthropomorphic blob comprised of tubes, trolls, cat pictures, sex, gambling, and even worse people with opinions. While the internet can also be a valuable source of information, it also has its flaws. Which is why I propose something that Hodgman didn't in his books which are tips for the internet.

Tips for the Internet

1.  Install a heavy duty virus blocker, because you never know when a website or attachment is going to come with a friend. 
1. Note that virus blockers get worse over time, so constantly update them.
2. Wikipedia IS a viable source for information. The reason your teachers say that it isn't, is because they don’t want you fact-checking them.
3. Typing ‘HTTPS’ instead of ‘HTTP’ at the beginning of a URL can be an additional safety precaution against hackers.
4. Hot singles in your area do NOT want to meet you tonight. This is merely a scam to hack your computer or possibly ploy to “meet up” and get your kidneys stolen and put on the black market.
5. Hot single cats in your area DO want to meet you tonight -- I mean what can possibly be unsafe about cats, they just want to be loved and to ‘haz cheezeburgerz’?

*More safety tips to come in later posts

- Always use virus protection, Good Day...

x