How has the internet changed your life?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I hope this hasn’t been asked before, but I was sitting here and thinking about how the internet has changed my life.

I save money because instead of a long distance phone call, I talk in Instant Message with a friend 60 miles away.

Instead of buying a newspaper, I now get my news from the web. Daily I read 3 different Colorado newspapers on line (even though the online versions aren’t the entire text.)

Since I no longer get the newspaper, I don’t get local TV listings, but now I get those on the web. (great site too if you are interested www.gist.com, there is some weeding through it, but once you start it’s a great source.)

When I am interested in finding a new recipe for a family dinner, I look to the web first.

I really don’t do much shopping, web or in a mall, but when I do I check pricing first on the web and combine the shipping charges to see if it worth buying local or on the web.

I don’t use the local phone book, I always turn to my computer. My phone books are elevating a box I use to put my mouse on < haha >

Just a few examples, anyone else?

2

have to redo my link:
www.gist.com/tv

3

I spend far too much time reading and posting to the SDMB.
No, I’m not kidding.

“I don’t just want you to feel envy. I want you to suffer, I want you to bleed, I want you to die a little bit each day. And I want you to thank me for it.” – What “Let’s just be friends” really means

4

I have been able to give up crack for my new addiction…this message board :wink:

I really try to be good but it just isn’t in my nature!

5

I’ve met alot of new people, some in person some online and for the most part they have been wonderful.

I also use it to talk with my sis who lives in the arctic. She’s a bigger yakker than I am so it has saved me a ton of money on long distance bills.

We are, each of us angels with only one wing,and we can only fly by embracing one another

6

I have a wealth of information at my finger tips, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I know what a Libertarian is and became one just over three years ago.

I have gained new friends. Some of them I have met in person and some not yet. They have enriched my life.

Like you, techchick, I rarely, if ever, purchase a newspaper or magazine; price check on the web. I also do occasional shopping on a limited basis.

But the biggest change of all was meeting Libertarian who became the love of my life and will soon be my husband. I feel so blessed!

You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims. -Harriet Woods-

7

Yup! Met my girlfriend online almost a year ago… and I’ve been happy ever since!

I don’t know what I would do without e-mail or ICQ… I absolutely hate talking on the phone or penning letters.

The most rewarding part was when I got my money!
-Dr. Nick Riviera

8

More porno than ever.

Just kidding.

Wait, I’m not.

Studi

When I grow up, I want to be the Minister of Silly Walks.

9

Pretty much quit watching TV – except for Blue, Simpsons, King of the Hill.

Should read more news though – I usually just skim the headlines on the home page – not good.

Keeping in closer touch with the kids in Seattle, Florida and Kentucky – now if Mom would get on-line, I could give up the phone entirely.

10

Mmm… fish.

“If anybody wants a sheep, that is proof that he exists.”

11

Well, professionally, the changes have been enormous–and wonderful. While there’s still so much that isn’t available online, it’s been the greatest, most exciting time ever.

Personally, I’ve learned a lot, but mostly been exposed to so many people and ideas I wouldn’t have otherwise. Damn, it’s been great; I’m like a kid in the candy factory.

But yeah, the biggest is the fast, far ranging easy communication. So damn, flat wonderful, being able to talk w/ my sister and friends I haven’t met yet.

Veb

12

I have to go with Edlyn and Squee…meeting my sweetie. That and being able to talk to all of my friends that I’ve met here for free.

“You are sweet, kind, and considerate… Like a grown up boy scout with tits!”

  • Brian, aka SDMB’s one and only Satan.
13

Add me to the list of those who’ve found their partners on-line. It’s a lot nicer to chat first to see if who you’re chatting with gives the signs of being a decent human being.

Not to mention it also gives me a career. Forget that stuff about money making the world go 'round; these days it’s TCP/IP cranking the globe…

Shared pain is lessened; shared joy is increased.

14

It hasn’t changed my life at all.

Except for this farking site, which I’m addicted to. I wish a lot of the people I’ve met here were my real life friends, because they’re so damn smart. And so caring. And have such a wonderful sense of humour.

Except for the obvious trolls, I’ve got to say that I like everyone here. Even the ones I’ve scuffled with. And of course, I’ve learned tons of stuff.

Everybody relax. How many times have you seen me get sentimental? Hell, I’m still in the running for Crankiest Poster.

I don’t have to do drugs to mess up my head. I went to Catholic school.

15

The things I don’t do with the internet is quicker do discuss.

Yer pal,
Satan

16

I know(of?) and converse with many more people. I type better. I don’t buy computer games any more. I learn a great deal about a wider spectrum of issues. I don’t read less but i read mostly on the net–this is bad. I now want a Webby.

17

I get much less sleep than I did before going on line!

This message board is the main reason I have internet access at this time. I don’t need it for work, for study, or for research (although it is interesting to look things up to see what I can find).
I have become hopelessly addicted to the SDMB (and that took a frighteningly short
mount of time)

My life and my views have not changed all that much since I first logged on. I am still pretty much the same. I imagine the internet will mutate and be refined greatly in the coming years, and will have a profound effect on our children’s lives and educational processes.

C T

18

How do I count the ways?

It is true that I need to spend less time online - not that I am totally addicted, but I’m a PC potato, instead of a couch potato. (But, like I said, I am not quite yet “addicted”. When I went on my latest vacation for 2 weeks, I didn’t miss the damned computer one bit.)

I love the internet. Most of my family/friends are out of state, most of who are online - email is so much more quicker and convenient than snail mail. (I’m not much for phone calls - and I detest ICQ.) But, we all keep in touch pretty well via email.

I feel so cut off from everything in this “Hooterville-esque” town I currently live in. The Internet gives me access to The LA Times, and other periodicals that give me the real news, not the Hooterville version of it.

I can get access to all sorts of information that interests me, without going to the library. And shopping is so much easier now - the Hooterville-esque town I live in now does not have the variety of products available to it that I was accustomed to in LA. So I survive with mail order, and nothing is more convenient than online ordering.

This message board, and others like it, allow me to discuss issues (and learn many new things) from an eclectic group of people that I would otherwise not be able to encounter. Message boards are one of my favorite things on the Internet.

I get to express myself with web pages. I have created web pages for almost every interest I have - Yosemite, Art, Pottery, Six Toed Cats, you name it. And I get email from other people who have seen my pages and who share these interests. Much fun. Plus, I just enjoy making web pages.

19

I’ve gotten to have sex with people in places that I otherwise would not have known existed.

Oh, and I’ve gotten 3 girlfriends out of it. Dating one currently. I find that people are more honest about themselves online than IRL. IRL you tend to put on a show. Online, nope, you tend to be yourself.

I make free long distance calls. ( www.dialpad.com Try it. It’s not great quality, but hey, if you can deal with the slight delay, it makes for a good time. I’ve called people that I’d probably never call if I’d have to pay for it.

News. Entertainment. I pretty much stopped watching TV when I went thru Basic Training. (makes you wonder how you can find time to write all your friends and family in the 5 mins you’re able to make for yourself, but everyone else it ‘too busy’ to sit and write…f**kers.) TV sucks. Info is right there, and if everyone would slack off the MP3 and warez sites, maybe I could not spend as much money either :smiley:

Oh, and you can find interesting sites like www.fufme.com

enjoy

“Rolling with the dopes you know. Rolling with the wrong gun on you”
“I dream that she aims to be the bloom upon my misery”

  • I Miss The Girl Soul Coughing
20

Hmmm… it gave me some way to look like I am working.

You all already mentioned most of the biggies…

But my own personal biggy is… I met my hubby online :smiley: He was in CA and I was in FL. We met in a chat room, met, fell in love, married 3 years later, and have been married for 3 wonderful (well usually anyway) years.

Beth