The Age of the Web Hermit

Angelina · July 18, 2006, 08:37 PM

Although not directly aimed at online gamers, most of us tend to be more online orientated that most. Just look at all of us discussing things here. I thought I would post a bit of this article I read today (5 sections long, this is only one section) to hear feedback from my other fellow online friends about their feelings.

To be perfectly honest, I could easily become a hermit. It's only my friends who like to meet out at cafe's along with the mundane life duties of the grocery shopping etc that keep me exiting the front door.

One of the good things though, is that the "nerd" immage is slowly starting to leave the average online user...

Source : bit-tech.net

The last ten years have seen the Internet move from a global porn distribution network to becoming one of the true wonders of the modern world. (And also a much faster porn distribution network). While communication over the internet has always been fast, it has never been as easy to use as it is today. Compatible hardware was never so common, nor had the net generated such obscene amounts of money.

Before the internet it used to take years, decades even, to build a corporation worth billions on the stock market, yet compared to the likes of Google and Amazon even the meteoric rise of Microsoft seems ponderous. The internet has ripped up old notions of time and space, with people now able like never before to exchange ideas, data and, most importantly of all, money. Transactions can happen almost instantly with as much confidence and security as might be present in a day to day physical transaction. Whilst fraud on the internet is always a danger, it is still no more risky than braving a trip to the shops.

So in this world where fortunes are made and lost by trading in nothing more substantial than data; where you can choose your friends and acquaintances not just from the people you meet at work or down the pub, but from all over the world; where you can get almost any item from any where delivered to your door without having to leave your desk; we have to ask ourselves - is there anything that we really need good old fashioned Real Life for any more? Is a life of doing things and meeting people as our primitive ancestors in the late 20th Century knew it becoming redundant?

The Web Hermit

The notion of people living most of their lives in the internet is not a new one. The Centre For Online and Internet Addiction was founded in 1995, so even back then in the days of dial up and Windows 3.1 there were certifiable web addicts. Back then excessive web-usage was seen as an addiction and the chief reason for this is that in those days the web, for the overwhelming number of users, was a diversion. While the internet as a research tool even back then was substantially more convenient and useful than any trip to your average public library, the principle usage was frivolous. The idea that a person could work, shop, chat, play and even find romance on the Internet was an accepted possibility, but people still attached a stigma to it.

As the Internet comes of age we are seeing that stigma removed, as the web becomes less an amusing diversion and more a useful tool which in some fields is practically a necessity. As the first generation born into the Information Age reaches adulthood, we are seeing the possibility for almost the entirety of a persons life to be handled online, where real life and online are effectively the same thing.

It is the era of the Web Hermit.

[ Keep reading ]

Mulk · July 19, 2006, 11:39 PM

I guess I'm proballya web hermit at this point. But in a day and age where 15 dollars won't even get me three gallons of gas I'm not really sure what other options there are. Plus everyday on the news there is some unlucky person getting shot in a bar or after a sporting event.

Overall hitting the bookstore and playing the web is probally the wisest and safest option atm.

*Akasha* · July 20, 2006, 01:15 AM

I could easily become a web hermit – I’m even attempting to start by creating more time to work on this site… if I could do it full time I would be a happy little crab.

In relation to safety in today’s world, last night over here, a 16 year old girl was working the drive through window of a McDonalds when she was shot in the face. Just last Friday I updated my blog with a car accident I saw on my way to work myself, sure it wasn’t large, but it could have been worse. Every day we’re hearing things on the news, in the papers, through the internet of crimes being committed, people being harmed… makes me want to lock my doors and never exit again.

The other side is also the cost… it costs me just under $20 (Australian) for a whole month of WoW. For $20 I could get a pizza and 1 New Release movie… that’s one night entertainment. My partner and I have started looking for things we can do on a weekend to get us out of the house, we’re both prone to spending our entire weekends in front of a computer, be it gaming, me working on the site etc. Problem is, everything costs so much money, and on top of that, the cost of petrol just to get there makes me cry. I’m currently waiting for Spring to roll on in so I can ride my push bike to work just to save $$ a week that I waste on petrol.

For me, $15 for a month of entertainment is money well spent, and it doesn’t even require me to get out of my PJ’s! Web Hermit… where do I sign up?

July 18, 2006, 08:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Angelina Member	The Age of the Web Hermit Although not directly aimed at online gamers, most of us tend to be more online orientated that most. Just look at all of us discussing things here. I thought I would post a bit of this article I read today (5 sections long, this is only one section) to hear feedback from my other fellow online friends about their feelings. To be perfectly honest, I could easily become a hermit. It's only my friends who like to meet out at cafe's along with the mundane life duties of the grocery shopping etc that keep me exiting the front door. One of the good things though, is that the "nerd" immage is slowly starting to leave the average online user... Source : bit-tech.net The last ten years have seen the Internet move from a global porn distribution network to becoming one of the true wonders of the modern world. (And also a much faster porn distribution network). While communication over the internet has always been fast, it has never been as easy to use as it is today. Compatible hardware was never so common, nor had the net generated such obscene amounts of money. Before the internet it used to take years, decades even, to build a corporation worth billions on the stock market, yet compared to the likes of Google and Amazon even the meteoric rise of Microsoft seems ponderous. The internet has ripped up old notions of time and space, with people now able like never before to exchange ideas, data and, most importantly of all, money. Transactions can happen almost instantly with as much confidence and security as might be present in a day to day physical transaction. Whilst fraud on the internet is always a danger, it is still no more risky than braving a trip to the shops. So in this world where fortunes are made and lost by trading in nothing more substantial than data; where you can choose your friends and acquaintances not just from the people you meet at work or down the pub, but from all over the world; where you can get almost any item from any where delivered to your door without having to leave your desk; we have to ask ourselves - is there anything that we really need good old fashioned Real Life for any more? Is a life of doing things and meeting people as our primitive ancestors in the late 20th Century knew it becoming redundant? The Web Hermit The notion of people living most of their lives in the internet is not a new one. The Centre For Online and Internet Addiction was founded in 1995, so even back then in the days of dial up and Windows 3.1 there were certifiable web addicts. Back then excessive web-usage was seen as an addiction and the chief reason for this is that in those days the web, for the overwhelming number of users, was a diversion. While the internet as a research tool even back then was substantially more convenient and useful than any trip to your average public library, the principle usage was frivolous. The idea that a person could work, shop, chat, play and even find romance on the Internet was an accepted possibility, but people still attached a stigma to it. As the Internet comes of age we are seeing that stigma removed, as the web becomes less an amusing diversion and more a useful tool which in some fields is practically a necessity. As the first generation born into the Information Age reaches adulthood, we are seeing the possibility for almost the entirety of a persons life to be handled online, where real life and online are effectively the same thing. It is the era of the Web Hermit. [ Keep reading ]

July 19, 2006, 11:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mulk Member Character Info Nivekoo 60 Gnome Warlock Argent Dawn US RP Profile: Blizzard Armory	Re: The Age of the Web Hermit I guess I'm proballya web hermit at this point. But in a day and age where 15 dollars won't even get me three gallons of gas I'm not really sure what other options there are. Plus everyday on the news there is some unlucky person getting shot in a bar or after a sporting event. Overall hitting the bookstore and playing the web is probally the wisest and safest option atm.

July 20, 2006, 01:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Akasha	Re: The Age of the Web Hermit I could easily become a web hermit – I’m even attempting to start by creating more time to work on this site… if I could do it full time I would be a happy little crab. In relation to safety in today’s world, last night over here, a 16 year old girl was working the drive through window of a McDonalds when she was shot in the face. Just last Friday I updated my blog with a car accident I saw on my way to work myself, sure it wasn’t large, but it could have been worse. Every day we’re hearing things on the news, in the papers, through the internet of crimes being committed, people being harmed… makes me want to lock my doors and never exit again. The other side is also the cost… it costs me just under $20 (Australian) for a whole month of WoW. For $20 I could get a pizza and 1 New Release movie… that’s one night entertainment. My partner and I have started looking for things we can do on a weekend to get us out of the house, we’re both prone to spending our entire weekends in front of a computer, be it gaming, me working on the site etc. Problem is, everything costs so much money, and on top of that, the cost of petrol just to get there makes me cry. I’m currently waiting for Spring to roll on in so I can ride my push bike to work just to save $$ a week that I waste on petrol. For me, $15 for a month of entertainment is money well spent, and it doesn’t even require me to get out of my PJ’s! Web Hermit… where do I sign up?