Were we Happier Before the Internet?

[live4life]

By the internet I am of course also referring to the world wide web. I wonder were we happier in a world before all this?

[Essex_boy]

Im pretty miserable anyway so no change here.

[ken_b]

I can't speak for "we", but as for me, I don't think so. I was happy before and I'm happy now.

Could I be "happier", I dunno.

How does anyone measure "happiness" anyhow?

[tangor]

Yes.

[vivalasvegas]

I think generally yes because many of us mistake superficial Internet social contact with real life socializing.

[Fribble]

Not me, I remember back in the day, growing up. When I had a question about something, anything, I would ask my parents. This resulted in much erroneous information being taken to heart. Even when I went to the library to seek answers, finding them was a chore and took quite some time (depending on the question). Now, I jut pull out my phone, or hop on over to the computer, and I can find whatever information I seek within minutes. Minutes! Lack of access to information is no longer a valid excuse for failure in anything.

But then again I don't use the internet for socializing, I have real blood-n-gut-filled meat-bags that I like to go and spend time with. I think if I tried to fill that need online I would be cheating myself.

[StoutFiles]

I would say it varies on the person. I would venture to guess that people who use it mainly for information are happier, while people who use it mainly as a replacement for real social interaction are happier at first, and then much sadder.

The internet is just a tool, and too much of anything will leave someone sad. Use it sparingly.

[wheel]

Not me, I remember back in the day, growing up. When I had a question about something, anything, I would ask my parents. This resulted in much erroneous information being taken to heart. Even when I went to the library to seek answers, finding them was a chore and took quite some time (depending on the question). Now, I jut pull out my phone, or hop on over to the computer, and I can find whatever information I seek within minutes. Minutes! Lack of access to information is no longer a valid excuse for failure in anything.

But then again I don't use the internet for socializing, I have real blood-n-gut-filled meat-bags that I like to go and spend time with. I think if I tried to fill that need online I would be cheating myself.

All this X 2.

Happier because we can research and inform better using the internet. And the internet lets me earn a living from home, spend more time with my family etc than I ever could working 9-5. The internet has drastically improved my overall quality of life as a result of that. I spent enough years working at an office that I never want to do that again.

The trick is to treat the web as a tool and for business, maybe some fun, but go offline for your rec and personal life. Other than forums, I push away from the computer and spend my spare time with family and friends, much of it doing outdoor activities.

[Essex_boy]

Its enabled me to get in touch with long lost friends, so its good overall.

[wyweb]

I'm with StoutFiles. The internet's just a tool. I used to strap on a real tool bag every day for work. Now I boot up a computer. It's just one of half a dozen different things I need to accomplish an end, the same as those tool bags were.

As for whether I was happier before the internet came along... I really don't know. When you get right down to it I'm a fairly simple person, although I tend to complicate things unnecessarily at times. If I've got the bills paid and there's enough left over for a bucket of minnows and a 6-pack I'm generally pretty happy. I was successful in construction and so far have managed to maintain at least a minimal degree of success with my web ventures. That all adds up to happy for me.

I guess I'd call it a draw.

[LifeinAsia]

Much happier now. Not sure how I ever kept myself from committing suicide before LOL Cats came into existence.
</sarcasm>

Happier in the sense that I can be much more productive.

Unhappier (or happier, depending on the perspective) in the sense that I can be much LESS productive.

[live4life]

Thanks for the comments and @LifeinAsia LOL!

I believe the internet is like a caricature of the world we live in. Everything is exaggerated and over the top. As people we need to be guarded of this new cyber world and its rules for this cyber world can impact our own happiness.

Some people see the internet as a way of controlling people and refer to us as sheep. Some people see it as world they can be free and let go of their inhibitions. Some people see it as a tool for business, but business is no longer a word I associate with anything positive. Some people see it as a place to conduct social experiments.

I think the internet can become what ever we want it to be. At present I find it a negative place but people can change that by putting out positive vibrations. The internet can become either our prison or a way to change an ancient and corrupt system that we live under in the real world. Its our choice.

[laurie watts]

I am part of the generation that started made it through without the abundance of the internet, and I must say that way back then there were a lot of ways to waste time. Today, you would find almost everyone infront of a desktop or a laptop just surfing away! Before, I kept myself busy by jamming with my band. Today, surf's up!

Laurie Watts

[edited by: lawman at 9:21 pm (utc) on Nov 16, 2010]