Has the Internet brought more hate or understanding to mankind?

With the ability to communicate with people from around the world instantly on messageboards or via other forms of Internet-based media, have we come closer together as humans, or learned to hate each other more?

In other words, has increased access brought increased understanding or increased hate and conflict?

I'm going to go with "increased hate." Although its not necessarily one or the other, and there are many positive aspects to global Internet penetration (freedom of information, lack of MSM stranglehold, etc.). Despite the many fine positives, I think that on the topic of whether its brought us closer together as a species, the results so far have been negative.

NOTE: To be clear, I'm not asking about the "overall benefits of the Internet to humanity." That's a slightly different question. This is more about closeness/distance between people, and mutual understanding -- especially among people of different cultures, nations, parts of the world, etc.

What do you think?



[edit on 4/9/10 by silent thunder]

reply to post by silent thunder


I respectfully disagree. Hate is merely an emotion belonging to those individuals who choose to feel that way. No one is bound to feel that way, and everyone is capable of choosing their emotional state. Even in a moment of reaction, which can seemingly appear to be spontaneous emotion, we all have the choice to control our emotional state while reacting. Hate is the absence of Love nothing more. It may seem difficult to love those of whom we don't understand or vehemently disagree with, but if we choose to love them anyway, then no amount of electronic text will change that.

Good question.

I think it's exposed hate that was already there.

I think it's spreading knowledge faster than the printing press did and will be remembered by history on that sort of level.

The printing press is credited with starting the Renaissance.

What will start the 2nd Renaissance? The internet.

[edit on 9-4-2010 by muggl3z]

reply to post by silent thunder



I concur that there is increased hate on internet since the last 15 years. The entire world has been deceived by 911 and invasion of Iraq.

There is also increased porn activities. In religious terms, it's sinful for the eyes which lead to adultery in most cases. I wonder if the angels of God will be tempted to reset internet lifestyle by frying the electrical grid or servers .

Thank you for this discussion ! I am sorry you see the hate side of the deal. I am very fortunate in starting my online presence on you tube. I see people working together all the time, and it is good. I have friends from all over the world, some send me vids in another language and I look up how to say thank you, and so forth. Many of these people I would look at and discount as just like my neighbor who is ignorant. But I hear their philosophy and see their conviction on the video month after month, and now we are united.
I belong to several forums now, a crime forum, etc. and everywhere I see people saying "tell me about your custom" or "I do not intend to offend anyone." I see people saying " I love all people, all children, etc. " Plus,
I get a lot of love from all over. So I am saying we are getting together ! Most of the hate posts I see I know are cointelpro, or wackos, so that does not count to me ! I agree with former poster, in this way; the violence and sexual perversion is a bad thing for all.

I think the internet could be a great tool, as all discoveries and inventions have the potential to be great, but people always wreck it.

For example, the internet would be a fantastic way of communicating if people told the truth, but people lie lie and then lie some more.

Not all people, obviously, but a lot.

And the internet has also caused a lot of misery, brought about by lies.

reply to post by silent thunder


Although it seems to bring the world closer via the ability to contact instantly anyone, anywhere who is connected and avalible, what I see is that it desensitizes folks, they say things here that they would never say otherwise, make threats, sling mud and racism, hate of each other's religions, ect. So I would have to say that the internet has increased hate in today's society.

I'm going to have to reject the straw guy and go for a different alternative altogether. We're as a species still caught up awe over the bauble at the moment. There's more hate due to "traffic" - and not really enough time for understanding to set in - we're still in shock from the volume of data.
Culturally, examine this question about virtual communities versus real life: would it have been likely 20 years ago for a 15 year old and a 55 year old to have a serious conversation about anything, unless they were related (maybe)? The point being that all ages are informed or connected in a social setting that limits their ability to judge the messenger without considering the content. The power of that concept hasn't been explored. So we have more info available more often from more sources both active and passive with near-infinite ability for each to share with each other - and the pace is accellerating. We have more communication between and among diverse age groups, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, the list is endless but we are more exposed not only to different ideas, but to different ways of thinking in general. The fact that adults are hearing from "kids" in a setting where voices are more likely equal is quite a shockwave for traditional culture - and likely that accounts for a lot of less-than-polite-and-not-pc online speech we encounter IMO.

So, my humble adddition is that we're undergoing cultural growth pains due to new players in the social order, but unlike 70's America - the influence wasn't heralded by official announcement. And we're still too caught up in the phenomena at the moment to understand it yet. Understand we will.

gj

Has the Internet brought more hate or understanding to mankind?

I think a lot of BOTH

the more I understand about mankind
the more I hate about it

the evil nature that lives within it

Also, I have to say this.

There are a lot of sad and misguided people creating viruses that wreck computers.

Who are these people?

Can you imagine sitting there and laughing gleefully as you create something that is going to wreck everyone's computers? Also, only computer geeks have the knowledge to create viruses.

These people are here - who are they? And why are they doing this

I think the brains behind the internet are doing it - another lie.

reply to post by catwhoknows


You have to ask yourself: Who has the most to gain from making viruses that attack computers?

Virus protection software companies.

[edit on 4/9/2010 by SonicInfinity]

reply to post by SonicInfinity


Yes, but there are free anti-virus companies available.

I think it is just people who are full of hate.

And because those people exist, humankind will always be sabotaged.

I would say overall the internet has brought people closer together and not hateful. Yes there are those groups out there who hate on someone for whatever reason but thats always been around. The internet has allowed us to come together and break down misconceptions about cultures and ways of life that would not be possible without the ability to travel abroad. I will never have the money to go to other countries but i have been there through the net.

I have made friends from other countries i talk to all the time. I have gotten to see through their eyes how they see me and my culture and my country. Some of it good and some not so good. But thats how things are ya know. I dont agree with everything everyone says and vice versa but i dont hate anyone really. Without the internet i would not have had the opportunities to learn from the people i have met thru it.

I really think the majority of people using the internet are just ordinary folks with no agendas. Just learning and having fun and growing as individuals in their respective societies. The internet has definetly helped break down barriers while at the same time putting some up. It has given us access to information that we otherwise would not have so readilyavailable.

I think it has made people lazier to be sure. I am always finding myself telling someone to go look it up on the net when asked a question about something. I mean people just seem to be dumber the more access they have to knowledge. Its crazy if you ask me. Anything you could ever want to know is right at your fingertips and ono your screen within seconds of searching. How sad is it when most people i know are to lazy to even do a search on yahoo or google lol.

Anyways thats just my take on it. I think the internet has had some great benefits toward mankind and helped bring us together more than it has caused harm.

Originally posted by Jean Paul Zodeaux
reply to post by silent thunder

 

I respectfully disagree. Hate is merely an emotion belonging to those individuals who choose to feel that way. No one is bound to feel that way, and everyone is capable of choosing their emotional state. Even in a moment of reaction, which can seemingly appear to be spontaneous emotion, we all have the choice to control our emotional state while reacting. Hate is the absence of Love nothing more. It may seem difficult to love those of whom we don't understand or vehemently disagree with, but if we choose to love them anyway, then no amount of electronic text will change that.

Completely agree with this. You put it so perfect. This is a great thread. I was just thinking about this today, more specifically this site. I feel like this site brings more hate to those that allow it to come into their lives. This site has good intentions and provides us with alternative views and news but sometimes it can get the best of you. We're all so angry at TPTB but I just feel like some of us (including myself) are little too angry sometimes. When you fight negative with negative actions, even though your intentions might be noble, it doesn't end good. So I decided that I'm just gonna take everyday as it passes from now on and stop worrying about the what if's. I can't stop visiting this site, I'm addicted. I also don't have to let it get the best of me either though. I don't know, does anyone feel like me or am I just the only one?
Especially now a days when it seems like there's never any good news it's hard not to get caught up in all this madness. As for the internet as a whole, my view is just like that of Jean Paul Zodeaux. It depends on the person whether or not they're going to decide to use the internet as a tool to connect with their fellow human being on a higher level. Or they're going to use it as a tool to spread hate and fear.

I'd have to say that my experience is largely a positive and joyful one. You just need to check out the worldwide following of people like Jessica Watson and Abby Sunderland to see a global community of support and genuine caring for what these two young girls are doing right now.

For those who aren't familiar with them, both are currently circumnavigating the globe - solo, non stop and unassisted. They're both 16 years old. Jessica is Australian and Abby is American. Jessica has only a few more weeks to go before she completes her circumnavigation, while Abby has only recently started her journey.

I'm not sure of Abby's website address offhand but if you go to www.jessicawatson.com.au you'll encounter hundreds of people commenting on her blogs as well as offering support to each other as they open up with their joy and their problems. It's an amazing process of global goodwill.

I have no doubt that where subjects such as politics and religion are discussed you will find a fair amount of rancour and discord. However, I personally rejoice in the worldwide celebration of indomitable human spirit and individual excellence as evidenced by the followers of these two girls.

Jessica's website

Abby's website

[edit on 9-4-2010 by tangotemper] to provide proper links

[edit on 9-4-2010 by tangotemper]

Me personally it brought me out of ignorance. I found out they where using electronic mind control on me in 1992 when i was at school. I could not understand how it worked until we had the internet. There was no info on mind control on net till at least 2002, and i was searching.

Thx for the info i found, and the people who spoke out helped me alot understand how it works to a large degree, and that helps. There is no defence against such things, but knowing helps.

reply to post by conspiracy88


My truth detector just chimed loudly.
Looking for hate, you find it, looking for acceptance, you don't find it - looking for truth is completely subjective.
It's that nexus of actuality, perceived reality, self expression, self esteem.
All that has change since face-to-face and word-of-mouth have lessened impact in these days of type-and-talk (for want of a catchy phrase, not literally). In a sense, the age of reason is establishing itself versus being mandated/dictated by society. The impact of ideas has more pervasive influence because we're not afforded the convenience of rejecting them out of hand for whatever reason - we must at least evaluate the ideas in order to reject them - so the influence of these ideas is felt more widely and quickly throughout society. I think maybe "empowerment" might apply as a catch phrase.

Thanks for a great thread and exchange of ideas.

gj

not exactly hatred, but i do perceive a lot of fear on the internet. fear of people who are culturally and socially different. fear of projecting themselves as lesser individuals, so they curse and swear and threaten and ridicule and take advantage of others. to the poster who said virus makers are hateful, that's still debatable. perhaps, these people are just motivated by plain old greed.

what i do see is that we, as a race, are still trying to adapt and adjust ourselves to this method of communication. and whether we let hate or love dwell in our hearts and minds through this medium is all up to us. should we let ourselves be manipulated by those who seek to sow hatred, divisiveness, racism and prejudice or should we step beyond our fears, embrace our fellowman and accept that with the dawning of the internet, all of mankind is like a child who is only just learning to talk, and thus may not be able to express itself properly?

[edit on 4.9.10 by toreishi]

reply to post by silent thunder


I think it has created more division, I have posted and read for ten years or more,

More division, more lies, you cannot believe what you see or read,

People will go to great lengths to twist the truth, I am beginning to think you cannot trust anything you read on the internet, people will fall for anything that furthers their agenda and hatred towards a county or entity they hate, it has given people the opportunity to spread hatred.

reply to post by Stormdancer777


We're still dazzled by the display - lets take ten years on the internet as you suggest and I'm sure you'll agree that the level of activity today was unthinkable a decade ago. So as far as lies and deceit it's like going from a few hundred propagandists (for governments) to millions of individuals with the same potential influence in competition for ideas. More ideas, more potential for deceit - my belief is that we ourselves are deceived about our reasoning and we are communicating that most effectively!
No disrespect intended, great observation of actuality, beg to consider alternate causalities. Thanks!

gj