What do you enjoy about the INTERNET and Fluther? What would you like to change?

I think that the thing that makes me love Fluther so much is the fact that we can all exchange questions and answers and take part in discussions and debates, but, like almost all things on the internet, it’s completely anonymous. I don’t know you except by your Fluther name, and you don’t know me except by my Fluther name. Everybody is heard, and there are some great discussions on here.

What I would like to change about the internet is the level of idiocy and the echo chamber factor. With few exceptions, most people on forums or commenting on blogs just keep echoing back what other people of the same opinion think, which, when those people are idiots, increases the level of idiocy and spreads it like a disease, or else they just like flaming. Then there are the even bigger idiots we like to call trolls, whether we are using the term correctly or not. Internet groups also have a tendency to be insular and tribal, using secret words or phrases to mark themselves as insiders and to identify and make fun of outsiders.

What I enjoy about Fluther is that it seems to have a little less idiocy, and sometimes even less tribalism than most sites. Sometimes a decent discussion can actually happen without just becoming a flame war or an echo chamber. Sometimes I can also actually get some good advice and information. Plus I get to show off how I know everything.

@Snarp – GA!

U2 @Pseudonym. :-)

@Snarp – GA oops, echoed that.

@ChazMaz, @Zen_Again Dang it! You guys are just an echo chamber! Wait, as long as you’re echoing how great I am, keep up the good work!

@Snarp , @ChazMaz, @Zen_Again Dang it! You guys are just an echo chamber! Wait, as long as you’re echoing how great I am, keep up the good work!

lol

I’m on this particular site to help people, if I can.

The internet itself, it’s just a vast library to me, and I can skip stacks and shelves at will. Wouldn’t change a thing.

I like fulther because you can get answers from all kinds of experts and also from people all over the world.. the only thing is that it would have been more fun is peoples avatars were aquatic animals, that would have made it more fun lol. Also the lurve is very fun, it gives people insentive to answer more and how were rate the answers for lurve keeps people from just answering crap.

I would like to change the danger to one’s privacy from the Web.

@aprilsimnel But there is a problem with that library, namely that it provides all those stacks and shelves with no indication of value, importance, or accuracy. That means that people who don’t know enough to skip the right shelves can easily get their time and their heads filled up with useless, or downright harmful false information.

@Snarp That’s a good point- but wouldn’t those people find misinformation no matter where it is located? I’m thinking about snake-oil salesmen and traveling ‘preachers’ from the old century.

@gemiwing I think that on the internet the bad information is more easily available, more continuously repeated, and unfortunately, often reaches the top of internet search indexes.

@Snarp, that’s the same as it ever was.

Before the internet, I had a great deal of books in my family home that I knew were absolute junk, but when I pointed it out, I was ignored. I can’t control how or what other people decide to create, write, read or believe. I can add my voice in and say, Hey, I think you need to look at another source, but the vast majority of internet users most likely have access to other informational sources whose content they pick and choose to accept and believe at will.

@aprilsimnel Well, I for one think the internet has made it worse. It seems to me that belief in the most bizarre conspiracy fantasies has spread to an extent that was impossible before the internet.

You know what else I like about Fluther? Everything you interact with is an actual hyperlink. No obnoxious flash type filters that control my use of the site. I can right click on any link to open in a new tab if I so choose. I like to control my websites instead of them controlling me. Also, Textile Markup (syntax for inserting links, emphasis, whisper, etc.).

I wish IE would die or be fixed by Microsoft.

And these stats for my website are crazy.

I think Fluther should add Polls as a type of question to ask. But when you select one of the answers from the poll, you have to give an explanation.

It would all be in 3D with smell-o-vision.

@SirGoofy And my website would be about bacon!

I enjoy the wide range of diverse people and opinions. I wouldn’t change a thing.