If the Internet when down permanently...

Once again, you brought up a very interesting question, filmbuff! Let me put some of my understanding of some basic concepts, before conclusion. Human IQ (specially classical IQ, which is different from social or other forms of IQ) depends on many parameters. overall lineage, genes, education & training, nutrition, environment and exposure, to name a few, are at the base to collectively form a human IQ. These different parameters are not quantitatively as well as qualitatively equal for all individuals. Some play more role than others and percentage is different for different individuals. Internet plays it's role in the education and exposure part of the equation. Again, for some people, exposure can be the highest factor in forming IQ. Hence for them, If internet goes down, it's definitely going to have an effect on their overall IQ but still they will retain already acquired IQ for some time degenerating with passing time. For many people, however, who have acquired their IQ without much interaction of internet, it will not have much effect on their individual IQ especially considering the fact that internet plays role in one or two of parameters among many and that too not a full role but a part of it. For these people, IQ is not so vulnerable to changes in availability of internet. Interestingly, I had a higher IQ according to some sites, when I wasn't using internet, as such. I had used internet very occasionally before taking some online IQ tests. My scores were 162 on iqtest.com, 155 or 159 (I don't remember exactly) on queendom and an online test of Mensa which said that i replied 29 right out of 30 and that I had an excellent chance of passing actual test and becoming there member. But now when I use internet extensively my score on first of the above sites was 152 or 153 a year ago. So in my case perhaps internet has had a bad effect:-). Another interesting fact to note is that there is difference in knowledge and information. No doubt Internet has brought a lot of informations but can we say the same about knowledge? NO, because it takes more to have knowledge than just the informations. Knowledge can't be achieved unless processed by a human in a complex way. It's not information that is precursor to wisdom but the knowledge that's why we have had the concept of natural leaders, which I believe, still are their and will remain their. In fact, many great leaders that we know today were born when internet wasn't there and in today's world perhaps there are perhaps lesser genuine leaders and knowledgeable people (in all fields) than there were before internet. So, to conclude, though I believe that putting down internet may have effect, collectively, on human IQ but it may not be considerable. It will definitely make our lives difficult, though. Take into account another important factor; Don't you think that we have become more passive in thinking deeply with the facility of internet? We tend to bother less to actually ponder and rely heavily on internet. Abolishing internet from our lives will make us think more deeply for ourselves, our surrounding and environment and may add a positive effect, which I can't guarantee, though:-)

that would be so catastrophic! not only for the informantion lost but for all businesses that use computers.oh my goodness ,and how about the medical field. how horrible that would be!

That is an interesting prospect. I think the biggest change for me would be I would have a very clean and organised house. I waste far too much time surfing the net. I would dust off my books and start reading again.

ha ha ha... interesting. It reminds me of the scenario where our company simulated a network failure to see how the employees react to the situation. All of them forgot that there is such a thing as a land line and the traditional paper and pen to write letters and mail them with stamps! There is also the trusty fax to exchange information! For your first question, I would agree, we would lose IQ points, but dunno how many points. We use the internet so often and so much, that we never really thought much about not using it. Heck, even my grandma has learnt to use emails just to keep in touch with the rest of her family overseas! If we were to lose the internet forever? the initial response would be panic! Then there will be a depression cos the economy now relies on the internet for exchange of information so much, it will be crippled if that info flow is halted. Many people in the IT industry will lose their jobs. I doubt information will be lost, cos the computers that store them are not part of the internet. Probably accessing information will take heck of a longer time as compared to when the internet is working. With every end, comes a new beginning. And with a new beginning, come the recovery phase. We are intelligent beings, we adapt well... it is just a matter of how long it takes for the recovery to take place.

hi filmbuff....really nice and interesting topic...and bit scary too...i have a slightly different view on this thing...although internet has become indispensible part of our lives...we live internet literally...i think even if it crashed it should not bring the I.Q. level down...after all it was the human brain who invented it and not the other way round...so as long as we believe in ourselves no matter what happens we are capable of surviving any thing....i mean think of times when internet or even a pc was not there...people were not idiots then...lol...although one has to agree that it would affect the way we work...i think i made my point....bye...take care..

I love the internet, it is like ost technologies, until we have it we don't crave it but once we do we would be lost without it. I had a trojan that wrecked my computer last week, and I swear I did not know what to do with myself until it was fixed lol.

Hi filmbuff, This is a very scary thought. I don't know about the human race as a whole losing IQ points, but I'd find it very difficult to function, at this point. Don't get me wrong, I'd survive, but it'd sure be taking a step backwards for me. I use the internet for so many things, like yourself, and even do my grocery shopping online, as it's so much more beneficial to me, and that way I don't have to inconvenience others. When I first moved to my present address, back in 1994, I received a call to take the Angus Reid Poll. Many of the questions involved the internet, although at that time, they were calling it 'the information highway,' which you don't hear anymore. I'd never even heard of this, and my response was ... the what? That's so absurd to me now, to think that I'd never heard of the internet back then ... what a change for me. I think one of the things I'd miss the most though, would be e-mails, as nothing beats being able to communicate instantly in this way, and I have many 'important' ones saved as well. Oh, and one more thing ... no more myLot! Now, that's unthinkable.:) Thanks for the interesting topic.

Hi filmbuff! First of all, if the internet permanently crashed, I'm in big trouble. because the company I work for depends on the internet. So I guess if this happened, I'd have to find another job. I have to admit that the internet is a very useful tool in my personal life as well, because I can keep in touch with friends by IM, email, or networking sites. I can also keep up to date with what's going on with the world. Without the 'net, I'd probably feel like I was living in the Dark Ages!