How has the internet changed your life?
By GemmaR
@GemmaR (8517)
April 27, 2011 3:15pm CST
For me, the internet is how I make my living. It's how I do my banking, and it's how I do my shopping. Without the internet, I wouldn't be able to have the life that I have today.
What do you think about it?
How has the internet changed your life?
Would you happily go back to a life without the internet?
5 people like this
25 responses
@didi13 (2926)
• Romania
3 May 11
I was without internet last night, a story that has profound insights born in me. I found suddenly agitated and nervous, although I should have started enjoying a sweet weekend with your loved ones.
Devices are always blanked me to help me connect to the world. I have a modem that you attach to your laptop - which, however, I had forgotten the editorial - and I have internet and mobile phone, but I can not write on the narrow screen, I can only mijesc my eyes and read, to see what happens. But basically, I deny access to word. And I stuck with it the context of an anxiety that, in a later, I was ashamed. Then I tried to understand, but when I was about the true meaning, I fell asleep.
I have linked to the Internet, in a deep and incurable, long nights of loneliness, in which the most beautiful stories came from my friends that do not meet them again. We spent the whole week-ends, where my children were away at grandparents or on any trip with their father, bound in deep conversations, full of heart, with people they do not ever meet them and some did not I met no-till nowadays. And to tell the truth and the truth, I was once in love on the internet, a man who wrote to me and I said I, then we soar into a dance of words that lasted months days, Monday nights, and that threatens to transform into a great love story. But it was so, because he just told truths cropped and I was scared at how easily you can hide slices of life when you sit in a calculated position skilfully behind the keyboard. But I know it's not always so, as there are people who love the Internet, but I hate lying. I know it's not necessarily to be a man who hides his foibles, fears and wives to feel the need to go out for a walk on the wide streets and the glorious internet.
I love the Internet in a way that resembles a sweet addiction. I need my friends in the air, I need to hear further, I feel man of the world, I'm not scared anymore borders and distances. But I also know that the world of 0 and 1 can not replace a life. As not include arms when you slip into sleep, and no handkerchiefs to wipe your tears when you cry for beauty or sadness. As a virtual kiss is just a delusion, and that true love is blood, and pulse and heart beat, and hot body. I love the Internet with great love, but virtual. And the people I love and want to meet them in real life to him in the eye and tell them how much it means to me. And so I did, I will always.
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
Thank you for this response, it made for some amazing and interesting reading. I know what you mean about the internet being such a huge addiction. It has helped me through some pretty tough times too and I will never know for sure whether I would have been able to get through those hard times without it.
Agreed also that relationships online cannot replace those of your real life friends and family, nor should we want or expect them to. Friends and family are for life, the internet should never really be more than just a hobby.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
2 May 11
I have found my husband, two of my best friends, our dog, my (offline) job and my house on the internet. I have studied psychology and languages online and I earn money online. I would definetely say that the internet has changed my life in many ways. My husband, my friends and I might never have met if it hadn't been for the internet. When I was younger there was no internet and I found information and friends in other ways, but today I have become used to the internet and I would find it hard to live without it. I could live without it if I had to, but I would miss it a lot.
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
I am glad that you managed to find love on the internet! I have to say that I don't think my boyfriend and I would have met if it wasn't for the internet either, but I guess I can never be sure about that.
One thing that scares me about the internet is online dating. You just never know who's on the other side of the screen and what they might do with any personal information that you choose to give them about yourself. That being said, there are steps that you can take to ensure your safety, and as long as you take these then you should have nothing to worry about.
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
1 May 11
INternet has changed my life, but it did not change much.. haha =D I'm not relying on the internet for most of my daily routine except to check my mails, interact with friends and earn some money here. WHen it comes to paying off bils, shopping or whatever, i prefer to be out there, be involved in the actual action.. haha =D Doing those things online is only a convenience for me when i'm busy 
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
I sometimes prefer to do things in "real life" as well, but unfortunately due to the nature of my job now, that isn't always possible. Hopefully I will see a day soon where I won't have to work as hard (when my ISA is nice and full) and will be able to live life to the full offline instead of having to put so much time and effort into earning online.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
2 May 11
Although I would agree that the internet has changed my life, and that a lot of the things I do now has something to do online, I think I would survive without it.
It would take some time re-learning everything, but there is something to be said about living life simpler. And not knowing all the troubles of the world.
Much less worry, and much less stress!
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
I would love to try living without the internet again to see what it's like. I imagine that I would become a lot fitter as I would have to go out and about more (therefore getting more exercise) and also I may actually become more social and have more "real life" friends. However I also know that I would have to get a "real" job, and that just isn't something that appeals to me at this point in my life. I'm too much of a free spirit to be chained to a desk for 8 hours per day, I just know that.
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
28 Apr 11
That's intersting!!
For me it was the studies. I always have to learn something, even a silly thing, I get really foccused for a while and then move on. And internet gave me free access to content.
You can actually become a webdesigner just by studying over the net.
Information is also accessible, before we didn't know what was really going on and I think tv shows only what they want, and there are many dumb things in there, now in the internet we get information that we really want, it's a good exercise for the brain, free games and lots of other fun too.
It's like an arm really, we can't live without now hahaha.
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
I used to do a little bit of web design. I was never the best, but used to sell personalised web templates for ~£10 a go (which was about three hours work each, so not bad) but now I've realised that I can make more money by doing other things so I've put that to the side a little bit now. I still do the odd design for a friend, but nothing much.
@stylewaves (1060)
• India
29 Apr 11
Its like a part and parcel of my Life , i never knew that it would become that much important in my life . I just used to make at least a single contribution with or by the internet to my life daily
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
I know what you mean. I just take the internet as part of my life now just like I take television, cars or the radio. I wouldn't know what to do without it, however I am anticipating that there will be a time at which something else will take over the internet with regards to technological advances, and everyone will be "wow"ing about how amazing that is, too. I wonder how long the internet phase will last.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
28 Apr 11
Hi GemmaR, I would have no hesitancy in saying that the Internet has changed my life. I have learned so much here that I am not the same person that I was before I got my first computer. I would not want to go back to life without the Internet, it would be far to boring. Blessings.
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
Yes I think that I am a different person than who I was before I discovered the internet. For a start I have an entirely different career than I did before, and I speak to a different set of people; all because of the internet. I would be stuck in a job that I hated if hadn't discovered the internet when I did, so I am very thankful of it.
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
When I first realised that you could use the internet to make money, I was amazed. I was shocked to be able to find websites such as this that had been clever enough to come up with a system that could create revenue for both itself and its users. It's just baffling, but amazing at the same time.
I thought that maybe I would be able to use the internet to make some "extra" cash, however it soon became clear to me that I would be able to use it to do so much more than that, and that I would be able to use it to make a full wage for myself.
Obviously the tax issues are a little complicated, but I think I've got my head around that now and I have it sorted.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
28 Apr 11
For me I guess internet fill in the gap of boredom in me especially when I'm at home doing nothing.With internet I can now earn some extra income and can also monitor my bank balance.Doing searches also takes less time than before when you open books or any other information materials that could answer your questions.
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
With so many games available on the internet I agree it helps you to reduce boredom. There's just no need to be bored with everything that is available to you! I hate it when my younger siblings complain that they're "bored", because I just cannot see, at all, how it is possible when there is a world of information just at their fingertips.
@darkridersoumya (199)
• India
28 Apr 11
Li all eve I cant decide if internet is a boon or ban.Definitely it has eased things so much starting from tickets,banking almost any utility where you used to have a queue previously can now be done with internet in a matter of seconds.However somewhere down inside I feel it has made me addicted which is one thing I hate about it the other one being it been making me lazy.
@jpau08 (15)
• Philippines
28 Apr 11
internet is very important to me, i am in the internet most of the time i have nothing to do and when i'm not at school.. well i love internet its a window to the world. i know people through this forum all the places in the world.. which wouldn't be possible without internet
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
I just love the way that you can go on the internet and gain insight about any place in the entire world. Any country; it's at your fingertips. In the past you would have had to physically travel to a country to get a feel of what it's like but on the internet you can almost feel as though you have visited the place and you know exactly what to expect should you every choose to go there. The insight that you can get about the type of people in other countries is just amazing as well.
@ohsodianne (433)
• Philippines
28 Apr 11
The main purpose of the internet for me is a search engine. It's been really really useful for my studies. I don't know what I'd do without it. It's also one way by which I earn. I'm not sure if I can pay for my dormitory if not for the internet. :)
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
I paid my way through university by earning little bits of cash here and there on the internet. I also managed to secure a deal with an online publishing agent which was fantastic, and was my biggest earner yet! It's been useful for my studies, too. I love the fact that I don't have to go down to the library when I want to get a book, as we can access all of our course texts online.
@gingerberrie (191)
• Philippines
28 Apr 11
Thanks for the computer age. It helps me a lot almost in doing everything. In making money, having friends, and learning new things in life.
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
Well this is almost certainly the age of the computer! I even know of some elderly people who are getting computers and connecting themselves up to the internet and I think that's amazing as it means that they can experience the new style of life to which young people have become so accustomed.
With regards to making money, I think that is the thing that I find the most amazing thing about the internet. To think that in times gone by you had to work 9-5 and travel for a couple of hours to get to work. Now all that I have to do is roll out of bed, make a cup of coffee and I'm off to work.
@cyrilmantos (15)
• Philippines
28 Apr 11
I can say that i can't live without internet. It made my life happy because i create many friends out of it. Because of the internet it made my life easy like doing my research, sending messages for my brothers who are in abroad. The internet made my life very easy.
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
I have made lots of friends on the internet too. It also helps you to get to know "friends of friends" because you can have a look for some information about them and their interests to help you to make conversation when you meet up with them. I have at least 5 close friends who I would have never been able to meet without the internet, and I don't know where I would be without them in my life today. I'm so lucky to have been able to use the internet in this fashion, for good.
@youless (112603)
• Guangzhou, China
28 Apr 11
The internet has changed my life hugely. It makes everything much more convenient. I can make friends all over the world. I can search information online and this is a great advantage. I like shopping online and dealing with my online banking. It is easier for me to contact other people by email or chatting software.
I love China
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
28 Apr 11
The internet has totally changed my life a lot. It's my "social life", it's my mailbox, it's my library, and it's my shopping mall (although I still love going to real malls). There's just so much a person can do with the internet. I remember the times when there was still no internet. I think I couldn't go back to life without it. 
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
Oh yes I didn't even think about the shopping, wow. I use a lot of online retailers instead of going to the physical shop now, as I love the fact that you know they're going to be able to send you your size without a problem. Most of them also accept returns which is fantastic as it means that it doesn't cause you to have to go back to the shop should something not fit.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
28 Apr 11
I recall when we bought our first computer for a hundred bucks from a friend and had so much to learn; my husband and I didn’t even know how to send or receive an email! I’ve learnt so much since then and now we have three computers in the house! I too make money online and I have no idea what I did before the World Wide Web came into my life. If it was to disappear now there would be a huge hole in my life!
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
My family all have computers too. Infact, we have six in the house as I've kept my previous two as well. Sometimes I wish that the internet would disappear, as I might be able to get out of the house a little more then, but then another part of me knows that I'd just miss it too much.
@jhaidro (877)
• Philippines
28 Apr 11
I love how the internet works. It just makes things a lot easier. I love information and the internet has given me all the information I need. Free downloads also is a big plus for me. I just love it. I just cant imagine what will happen in the future given all the possible improvements with it.
@iklananda (1202)
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28 Apr 11
Agree internet change my life so i don't get disturb by someone else while working. I like here and sure the internet will lastlonger till the new technology come in our live
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
I love that about the internet. When I used to work in an office, there were so many distractions, but working from home is totally different and it allows me to get my work done quicker so that I have a lot of time free at the end of the day. It's fantastic to be this way, as I have more time to spend with my family now than I ever did before.
@markadkins (3)
• United States
28 Apr 11
I wish I had the internet as a child, it would have made all the difference in the world. It has introduced me to a whole new world. such as: Staying in touch with people, shopping online,paying bills, doing research to find deals and much more. The information is limitless! It is a wonderful asset used in the right way.
@GemmaR (8517)
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13 May 11
I am envious of children today. They have the whole world at their fingertips. When I was in school I was so hungry for information but because we were in a relatively poor school we hardly had any books and certainly no computers back then, so I had no way of getting the information that I so desperately craved. If I was a child at school today I was be in my element being able to access millions of bits of information about what we're learning about, and being able to complete projects properly instead of having to waste so much time in the local library searching for hours on end for the correct books.
