Yes, I have been lazy this morning. Been up for four hours and haven't done anything physically active.
I have been very active on political discussions. I seem to be gaining a following.
In the process of this, I came to a realization. I have gained knowledge in a lot of areas which I never truly expected to know much about when I was younger.
For this, I credit the internet. When I was younger, I was always interested in learning many subjects. I used to have tons of books, reference materials like encyclopedias which I nearly wore out. There was also a time when I wished I could reach a position where I could afford to take college classes on various subjects just because I wanted to. No degree involved, just for the knowledge.
When the internet came along, I had hopes that accurate information would become freely available. Mostly due to financial and copyright struggles, the early days of the internet proved rather sparse on such things. However, that has changed over time.
Today, basically any knowledge or subject is only a few keystrokes and milliseconds away (assuming a high speed connection). Major universities offer even graduate level courses for free. You cannot yet get a degree for free but you can gain graduate level knowledge. However, you can use that knowledge to take college level tests for credit. They cost money but not nearly as much as taking the course. Plus those online courses are self-paced, rather than requiring rote attendance, reducing time spent and cost of transportation.) I have seen courses freely offered by MIT and other major universities.
Years ago, some of this information was out there. However, it took paid subscriptions to access much of it. Not so much any more.
It is since this information began expanding that my own knowledge has expanded drastically. I can honestly say I have become a true geek, an information and education addict. I most often watch documentaries and science shows before going to sleep. They help me relax.
On the other hand, intentional misinformation is also widely propagated for religious and/or political reasons.
In the end, it is up to the user to decide what their goal is. Do they want education and understanding? Or do they just want to memorize some talking points to spread their superstitions? I admit, knowledge takes more time, more work, more dedication. However, it is far more worth it in the long term and often in the short term.
I find the biggest difference to be that of seeking solutions versus seeking someone to blame. The latter results in bigotry in many forms and never solves any problems. Most often the person pointing a finger does so to divert attention from their own culpability. Sadly, too often it works for many people.
Yes, this whole rant is strictly focused on information and leaves out entertainment. However, without the entertainment aspect of the internet, the internet itself would be much smaller. And I do enjoy entertainment. It tends to be entertainment which drives much investment and innovation toward the internet. Most people are completely unaware that many existing internet technologies were developed by the porn industry and internet pirates. Without them, the internet as we know it would not exist.
I have been very active on political discussions. I seem to be gaining a following.
In the process of this, I came to a realization. I have gained knowledge in a lot of areas which I never truly expected to know much about when I was younger.
For this, I credit the internet. When I was younger, I was always interested in learning many subjects. I used to have tons of books, reference materials like encyclopedias which I nearly wore out. There was also a time when I wished I could reach a position where I could afford to take college classes on various subjects just because I wanted to. No degree involved, just for the knowledge.
When the internet came along, I had hopes that accurate information would become freely available. Mostly due to financial and copyright struggles, the early days of the internet proved rather sparse on such things. However, that has changed over time.
Today, basically any knowledge or subject is only a few keystrokes and milliseconds away (assuming a high speed connection). Major universities offer even graduate level courses for free. You cannot yet get a degree for free but you can gain graduate level knowledge. However, you can use that knowledge to take college level tests for credit. They cost money but not nearly as much as taking the course. Plus those online courses are self-paced, rather than requiring rote attendance, reducing time spent and cost of transportation.) I have seen courses freely offered by MIT and other major universities.
Years ago, some of this information was out there. However, it took paid subscriptions to access much of it. Not so much any more.
It is since this information began expanding that my own knowledge has expanded drastically. I can honestly say I have become a true geek, an information and education addict. I most often watch documentaries and science shows before going to sleep. They help me relax.
On the other hand, intentional misinformation is also widely propagated for religious and/or political reasons.
In the end, it is up to the user to decide what their goal is. Do they want education and understanding? Or do they just want to memorize some talking points to spread their superstitions? I admit, knowledge takes more time, more work, more dedication. However, it is far more worth it in the long term and often in the short term.
I find the biggest difference to be that of seeking solutions versus seeking someone to blame. The latter results in bigotry in many forms and never solves any problems. Most often the person pointing a finger does so to divert attention from their own culpability. Sadly, too often it works for many people.
Yes, this whole rant is strictly focused on information and leaves out entertainment. However, without the entertainment aspect of the internet, the internet itself would be much smaller. And I do enjoy entertainment. It tends to be entertainment which drives much investment and innovation toward the internet. Most people are completely unaware that many existing internet technologies were developed by the porn industry and internet pirates. Without them, the internet as we know it would not exist.
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