I for one, do. I know that by writing this, I am contributing to this endless net of shit, but meh.

Why become friends with someone online, if you are never going to talk to them in real life? No matter how close they live to you, what is the point? How can you see/hear how they are feeling? Barring the use of emoticons. There can be no physical contact, and as people get hooked to this, they become more and more withdrawn from the real world. It becomes a sick circle, where you even start to feel emotions towards the writing on the screen in front of you.

Someone you  never talk to in real life, writing "X" at the end of a conversation, can make you happy. Wrong. It can make you think you are happy. Where is the emotion from a real kiss? Would they have even given a real kiss?

Social networking sites, linking people together in little chains. Taking bebo for an example, one can become friends with ones worst enemy. All lies. One can act like best friends online with someone, and never talk to them personally. All lies. Why? Why is this so addictive? Is it that humans have become so attached to technology that they are giving themselves to it, moreso than to eachother? Anytime I see someone who has been online for more than 2hours on a social networking site, it makes me cringe. I dont know why, but it just does.

The internet was originally designed as a means of transporting information and displaying it. Now it is becoming more than that. People are become part of it too, almost literally. When one becomes to this state, one forgets how to communicate propperly in social life. Hence, this leads to that person becoming even more withdrawn, leading to depression, and lack of functionability among people. Why? All because of the net.

The creation of these things, Msn, social networking sites, bloggers, all take away from the original plot for life: PHYSICAL social communication.
How can a species reproduce when one is talking to someone by clicking a button 100miles away from them? How can someone fall in love? How can someone make friends? How can someone play a sport? How can someone become healthy? How can one pursue a career?

As telecommunications become more modern, and more and more people become connected to the web, we will see this more and more. And what with future plans being to have everyone and everything connected to the internet 24-7 via small devices such as a mobile phone perhaps, then how is this avoidable?

Its not. Humans are becoming more and more addicted to the internet, and eventually, it probably will take over lives to a complete 100%.

I am almost glad I don't have broadband when I think of it like this.

I'd rather make real friends, rather than "online" ones.

What are your views on social communication decline because of the net?

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They say learning to love yourself is the first step,
that you take when you want to be real...
Just Be - Dj Tiesto

it sort of hinders me personally...

i can say anything to whoever online; my feelings and all

but when it comes to talking to a girl i'm crazy for i can't even sneak a peep out

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I HAVE. THE AGGRO

Children spend more time on the Internet than they used to, and that may be a problem, but it doesn't cease real life socialising. We are living in a modern age and they are adapting to it. Whilst I may not have been on the Internet as much as my little sister when I was her age, but then the Internet wasn't as common then, computers weren't as affordable, etc.

Social networking isn't a replacement for meeting people in real life at all, and it isn't used as such. It's just used to help socialising with others when you may not necessarily be able to meet up with them (and is certainly cheaper than texting or a phone call). I think it just increases the socialising ability of children if anything.

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and victorious in war shall be made glorious in peace.

Of course, I don't think it should be used a replacement to meet new people. Just an aid to do so. I think that's sort of cool.

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Un Día Llegara

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Why become friends with someone online, if you are never going to talk to them in real life? No matter how close they live to you, what is the point? How can you see/hear how they are feeling? Barring the use of emoticons. There can be no physical contact, and as people get hooked to this, they become more and more withdrawn from the real world. It becomes a sick circle, where you even start to feel emotions towards the writing on the screen in front of you.  

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Of course words can evoke emotions.  Words have ALWAYS evoked emotions.  It would be stupid to claim otherwise.  How many cornyass movies have a scene where someone is crying over a letter?

There is value in being friends with someone, EVEN IF you are primarily (or only) friends with them through a nonphysical medium of communication (internet, penpal, etc.)  Saying there is no value in it if you can't meet them in person is silly.  

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so where do you draw the line and tell yourself no more,
is it when your back's against the wall or you're crawlin on the floor?

I think that when the internet replaces all social personal interaction, that can be a concern, but i don't see that happening for most, except in the most extreme of situations.

interaction on the computer is just as valid as real life, just different than what you expect.

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Do not abandon yourselves to despair.
We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.

Pope John Paul II

The fact that you can become 'friends' with your 'worst enemy' on the internet really proves nothing. In the 'real world' it is possible for you to lie to someone straight in the face and have them believe you and you can still become 'friends' with your pretentious 'worst enemy'. There really is no difference, people will be deceptive both on the internet and in 'real life'.

Thanks to social networking sites and MSN I, like a lot of other people have been able to stay in touch with most of my school friends way after we have left school. Some of whom no longer live in this country. It has also helped me to stay in touch with my family from overseas as well and see what they have been up to recently. And I feel 'real emotions' when I see all their photos and how happy they are.

We as humans are where we are today because of our ability to adapt to changes in our behaviour and have been able to evolve to where we are today. You have no proof that the original plot for life is Physical Social Communication.

We can still fall in love, and make friends. The internet has been a great tool in helping people not only pursue a career but help them to further their current ones.


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I think, therefore we have nothing in common

There is only one guarantee in life, and that is NOW.

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I disagree. I don't suddenly not go talk to my friends because I can do it online. I still see them, we still meet up and socialise, do social activities. Internet social networking enhances it, I can keep in touch with my friends from home whilst at university and visa versa. I can plan events (outside the Internet that is) to help us organise when and where we can meet up.

Children spend more time on the Internet than they used to, and that may be a problem, but it doesn't cease real life socialising. We are living in a modern age and they are adapting to it. Whilst I may not have been on the Internet as much as my little sister when I was her age, but then the Internet wasn't as common then, computers weren't as affordable, etc.

Social networking isn't a replacement for meeting people in real life at all, and it isn't used as such. It's just used to help socialising with others when you may not necessarily be able to meet up with them (and is certainly cheaper than texting or a phone call). I think it just increases the socialising ability of children if anything.

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Oh no, I dont mean that everyone is addicted to social networks. What I'm saying is, why do people talk to people that are in the same school as them online like best friends at times, but not in real life? And why do people become friends with people that they never talk to? For example: The guy who sits at the back of maths that seems all mysterious. You see him on bebo, and most people would say: Ohh, I've got to add him as a friend! When clearly they never talk to him.
I know that they're handy, but when you look at them in the sense that I mean, arent they more of a place where you can be spied upon aswell?

And actually, brining to mind that children are being introduced to this from such a young age now, theoretically doesnt addiction to this pose a much higher risk, even if moderation is enforced?

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They say learning to love yourself is the first step,
that you take when you want to be real...
Just Be - Dj Tiesto

Second I completely disagree with you. Thanks to the internet and cell phones and the like we've become even more sociable. Kids now are even more connected than ever before.

I agree that virtual communication should not replace physical communication but it very rarely comes to that. It's more of a supplement in most cases and it opens people up to communication with people that they'd never get to talk to in person.

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  Here force failed my high fantasy; but my
desire and will were moved already-like
a wheel revolving uniformly-by
  the love that moves the sun and the other stars.

Most people don't even consider their online friends as serious friends. As for talking to your actual friends online instead of physical meeting them, I think that is just a matter of convenience.

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Anyone can make great ideas, but it does not make
them a genius; true geniuses proves his ideas works.