AIBU to feel sad about how the internet's turned out?

I remember when it didn't matter what you searched for, the top answers were always porn sites! And no, that wasn't based on my search history - it was just the way it was. I used to try and search for the most banal things possible, to see if I could find anything that wouldn't result in a porn result - not possible. Edited to add: That's not the case now - safe search filters work well, and it's been years since a search returned any nefarious links for me.

There is so much amazing information on the internet these days - I think it is incredible. I learn languages, watch science and maths videos on YouTube, ask ChatGPT to break down complex subjects for me. I can also attend conferences virtually, which really reduces air miles. In the early days, finding information was difficult, but it's now far simpler. Yes, it has its negatives - I hate the increased commodification of pretty much everything - but overall, I think it is a huge positive.

If you click on posts he’s tagged in you’ll bring up a load more short vids and images too, like this one https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7KG-acxl3C/?igsh=a2hnY3dmOG5uZXBt

And for @Ivyy

https://www.instagram.com/joshuacharow?igsh=a2Y2MW5yZDJhbWhp

His book is called ‘Loft Law: the last of NYC’s artist lofts’ but there’s lots of extracts on his page to dip into

@Alwaysgothiccups
I think you didn't make the most of early internet and that your experiences are not typical.

The point was that pretending that by being pure of heart and never searching for porn and inferring that people who have seen it brought it on themselves is untrue.

You are taking one point there and pretending it is about another.

How 'bad' cell or mobile phones are is a whole other thread.

@FrothyCothy I'd also love to look at the Instagram account you mentioned if you don't mind sharing the name? Sounds fascinating

I stopped because overnight almost every person requesting a new game had a penis as their profile

Yes, it does happen. But plenty of people get sent dick pics, does that mean cell phones are bad?

Same! I've been online since it started, never come across any unwanted porn.

I remember when I used to do Facebook Scrabble.

I stopped because overnight almost every person requesting a new game had a penis as their profile.

By today's standards, the Internet at that time was unreliable and limited, but the rate at which it has progressed is phenomenal

It was unreliable. But it wasn't curated like it is now. Curated by algorithms and memory holes, by people who hide info behind paywalls and of course the trackers which only feed you the same regurgitated shite that they think will help empty your wallet or your head.

Same! I've been online since it started, never come across any unwanted porn.

Of course there is a massive dark side to the internet but there is also a great side- information at your fingertips (information is power) and communities for people to join if they cannot access outside clubs etc etc

The internet is just like anything - it has its uses and its disadvantages.

I remember as a kid walking to school in the 90s being flashed by this perv who was doing it around the area so I dont agree that all was innocent prior to the internet or that there was less harm. Abuse, bullying, and sexual harassment still went on, just in a different format.

Noone is forcing you to go online- it's your responsibility to adjust your behaviours online according to how it makes you feel so if you dont like it then dont use it. I dont know why you'd be continuing to do something thats making you feel so apparently negative.

I agree that it is easier for cultural exchange with the internet

I like to watch videos about artisans in Europe, China, Japan,Australia, South America, Arctic etc
I have learnt lots & intend to learn more

I love looking at art, historical artifacts & science too from all over the world

An improvement on Britannica Encyclopaedia

I remember the days of "Friends Reunited" which was before Facebook

No doubt there is porn, but it is not on my search list

However, some people are too connected to the Internet. Some people are now booking specific unconnected holidays & hobby classes to get away from the Internet

Well, the idea of world-wide communication has been around for a long time. I believe Samuel Morse sent the first telegraph in 1844, and of course there have been postal services of a kind since ancient times.

However, the first idea of the Internet as we know it could be attributed to J.C.R Licklider who talked of a global network of computers in which everyone could access information and data from any site. He referred to this as the 'Galactic Network'. This was in 1962, so it was a pretty radical idea in the middle of the 'Cold War'.

Then there was ARPANET which came to fruition in 1969, and had quite a lot to do with the United States Department of Defense. ARPANET laid down the technological foundations for the Internet, so the driving force behind the Internet was never quite as innocent as it seems.

Yet, the idea for an uncensored medium for free speech and the liberated expression of ideas and sharing of knowledge was embraced by the idealistic 'Hippies' of the seventies. and perhaps somehow, in the very early days of the Internet, we sort of believed that is what the Internet was.

Therefore, ideas about a wonderful information superhighway where art, culture, ideas and knowledge can be shared, and the need to provide and access information quickly for the purpose of defence were around long before the Internet entered the public domain. And of course, porn, dark content and harmful and offensive activities have always been part of society. The Internet, just provided a global audience and less traceable footprint.

By the way, I was introduced to the Internet in about 1995, when I was in my mid-thirties. I was engaged in research at the time, and I loved this new way of working. By today's standards, the Internet at that time was unreliable and limited, but the rate at which it has progressed is phenomenal.

You have a point OP

I think the moment you realise that all the governments and big tech owners used their powers not to crack down on porn and child groomers and traffickers, but to curtail likes and biological facts, and to record bad words and thoughts, is the moment that all hope for the internet dies.

The E-safety lady in Australia gets daily reports not on child abuse or trafficking. But on how many people, and who, across the world, mention her.

I watched one night as a person went on a violent rampage through somewhere in California. Masked up and in black. Half way through they realised the person was a certain type of person and each and every tweet, report, story just disappeared before my eyes. By morning, it didn't exist and was never reported.

I miss the intelligent people. In the actual early days, it was a meeting space for interesting ideas, and for intelligent people to engage in real discussion about specialist topics of interest.

That's one of the snobbiest things I've read in a long time! "The internet has been ruined by people that aren't as bright as me!"

For what it's worth, there's still plenty of places to discuss 'specialist topics of interest'.

Much of the internet is fantastic! I think it has turned out really well for an entity whose existence was originally totally driven by porn

I think you need to see it as a menu or a shopping mall.

I'm not about to start buying my clothes from Dior, so I don't go in. No point. No desire.

I don't like liver, so I don't buy it.

It’s whatever you search for. Maybe stop searching for porn?!!

The tricks that he does are ever so clever.

And hamster dance.

I use it the way I want so I am perfectly happy with it, sure there is bad out there but only for people who chose it that way

Link? That sounds great, @FrothyCothy.

now it's all porn/ red pill /fake news/limited characters angry crap

It's really not.

You’ve nailed my early internet memories 😄 don’t forget magical Trevor!

As others have said, it's what you make of it. A good ad blocker goes a long way, and I mostly stay away from Twitter, Facebook and other sites engineered to make people hate each other. As long as you can identify what the motive is behind things, there's still a lot of decent free content out there.

I'm glad that my age means I came all the way through from having no internet access at all, to having it at school, then dial-up at home, then broadband, then fibre etc. I do feel like I appreciate it more as it wasn't always there. I've experienced what life was like "before the internet" and it gives me greater perspective.

It's also pretty much the entire reason I have my partner, many of my friends, and a very successful career, so I feel like I owe a lot to the Internet.

I love the convenience of Internet shopping and Internet banking, getting quotes for things like insurance & booking activities. I don't have the time to spend queuing in traffic jams or shops, or ringing lots of companies for quotes & information. Although I do have to admit this convenience has contributed to job losses & banks etc being shut down.
I like the fact that it's easier to keep in touch with loved ones through the Internet.
I hate the addictiveness of it all though and that a lot of people would rather doom scroll than connect with the people sitting next to them.
There have always been perverts on it too. I used to go on chat rooms in the early days, around 2002, just to chat to normal people & not to engage in sexual chat. Freeerve chat is my biggest memory. And the amount of men who's opening line was "a/s/l" so they could start with the cybersex as they used to call it in those days was unbelievable 🤣