Starmen.Net

I learned more from these forums than I could have ever learned from any public school.

The internet has subjected me to numerous different types of people that there are in the world. The thing is that without the internet, we become ethnocentric in a sense, in that we only view the world as being made up of humans we have come in contact with, who are from our own environment. And eventually our perception of that environment becomes reality for all environment, when it isn’t.

Specific environments yield different kinds of people because culture is affected so greatly by environment, even subtle traits. On the internet, there is no bias towards a particular environment (language is one though not super restrictive) because people from all over the world can participate, and so you are subjected to personalities, and therefore ideologies, of all kinds of culture, whether individual or group-like. And that can be a very mind-opening experience. Your world view expands and you can see outside of the box that you once labeled reality, when really it was just perception.

When that happens, you can better fulfill your own ideas of what you feel are a good ideologies/traits/characteristics for yourself now that you’ve been given the opportunity to see so many kinds. Like I said though, the only culturally restrictive barrier on the internet is language, but it’s way less restrictive than location.

which aren’t bad at all

Largely what NIN said. (His first post, not the second.) It was a lot of other factors, obviously, but these forums helped me become who I am. I was raised to be a good little Christian ultra-conservative homophobe, but of course, I never KNEW anyone who was gay (or at least admitted such to themselves) back then. Here I met and conversed with some members who are gay, at which point I realised, “Hey, these are people, not horrible pedophilic monsters, like my church would have me think,” and that started a huge turnaround as I realised that the people I was listening to (my church) were not infallible, but in fact generally bigoted idiots.

oh sweet new avatar

Ffish:

I was raised to be a good little Christian ultra-conservative homophobe, but of course, I never KNEW anyone who was gay (or at least admitted such to themselves) back then. Here I met and conversed with some members who are gay, at which point I realised, "Hey, these are people, not horrible pedophilic monsters, like my church would have me think," and that started a huge turnaround as I realised that the people I was listening to (my church) were not infallible, but in fact generally bigoted idiots.

Not to try to start a debate or anything, but I’m a conservative Christian, and I don’t know WHAT your church was teaching, but mine tells us to love and be kind to gay people just like any other person… I’ve had bisexual friends, etc., I don’t treat them differently than any other people I talk to.

Uh, the internet has kinda made me cynical. xD But through the internet, I’ve also made some of the best friends I’ve ever had. I dunno if it’s made me more mature or what, but I do know that I’d be a very different person without it.

The IF board helped me hone my writing craft. Alas, no more.

the internet has turned me into a sarcastic and bitter troll who likes to hurt other’s feelings and acquire power for the sake of it

yes my friends, I’m John McCain

The Internet has introduced me to new ideas and ideologies. It really has changed the way I view the world. However I never grew up until I left home and experienced the real world first hand. As thankful as I am for the Internet making me who I am today, I am more thankful for my experiences in real life.

^You know I’ve heard McCain is making a special appearance in the next Ubsey Movie as the zombie which stares into your soul.

The internet has taught me to be more argumentative! I don’t know if that’s a good thing, but at least I can be more vocal about things I dislike now!

… within reason, of course. Flame wars are never fun.

Oh, woah… I hardly remember what life was like before everyone had the internet.
I think we just used to play Zoombinis and Chip’s Challenge.

Cafechan:

Nine Inch Nailz:

I don’t think John McCain knows how to use the internet.

You know what I want to see? A president or some important political figure who posts funny videos on YouTube, or something. That’d be awesome.

Your wish is granted

The internet has changed the world as far as communication goes. Everybody is only an IM or an email away, or even a videchat away. Back in the day one’s community consisted of everyone within a 2mile square radius. Mail messengers back in the day would take months to deliver a message. If something goes down somewhere the whole world knows about it the next day, the WHOLE world. That’s insane. My brother has friends in other countries across the Atlantic ocean because of some website called couchsurfing.com He actually has friends all over the planet, which is something that would have seemed impossible only a hundred years ago. Not to mention all the benefits towards global intelligence and happiness. Google news is probably the ultimate source for anything you need to know as far as current events go. And I probably wouldn’t have even been able to play Mother 3 without that search engine either!

Of course it’s also had other effects which I’m not sure are positive or negative. I am basically desensitized to anything that society would deem to be controversial imagery, or disturbing . Also, I’m basically desensitized to attractive women. I mean you would have to be an absolute goddess to get my attention now otherwise I probably wouldn’t look your way- which is probably a good thing since that’s no valid reason to give attention to any woman But yeah, if I didn’t have the internet I’d probably be going crazy with all the women walking around here at college

The Internet gave me a life.

The internet has left me in despair!

The internet has definitely caused me to grow up. If I had never gotten involved with social sites, I would probably still be typing like those Myspace whores. It’s also caused me to mature a lot, as even though you can still remain anonymous through an alias, you can’t run around like a little 10 year old, and still keep a good reputation. I have learned more practical skills through the internet than I’ll ever learn in High School. The internet is full of vast learning resources, for things that schools either don’t teach, or do a bad job at it. The biggest thing to learn about on the Internet is computers themselves. I mean, sure, you could take technology classes, but it’s nothing compared to learning how to do things on your own pace through internet resources.

if my time being a sprite-comic editor, shota-con aficionado and naruto analyst has taught me anything (and it has since the internet teaches many useful skills) its that the internet makes you grow up to OVER 9000 LULZ

(This thread is hilarisad. That’s hilarious and sad at the same time.)

O crap, My bad 12 year old forum memories are coming back to me.

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the influence of these forums, and the people in them, on my life.