How has the internet changed you in the past 4 years?

[FilipJPhry]

Topic says it all. I selected the 4-year block because there is a difference between your web-browsing habits and attitude (and maybe learning experiences) from your teen years and now. Or college years and now. Or post-grad and now. Whatever.
I'll start:

Spoiler: I am 24 years old

Thanks to Reddit, I developed a general dislike towards atheists, PC gamers(even though I am one), and memes.
I developed an attraction to red-headed women and a disgust towards white, blonde bimbos and "gamer girls".
I absolutely hate rage faces/comics.
I still don't know what Neil DeGrasse Tyson does.
I developed a love/hate relationship with Reddit.
Thanks to 4chan, my taste in music makes me sound like some indie-loving hipster ****** around my friends.
I am completely de-sensitized by gore/disgusting images.
I dress much, much nicer and get cheaper, better-looking clothes than I was reading GQ magazine.
I buy less comics now thanks to /co/.
Pokemon made a huge comeback in my life thanks to /v/ and /vp/.
I am happier now, even after the major tragedies in my life thanks to finding Christianity online.
I started watching wrestling again; mainly because it's so much fun interacting with the IWC. Turns out I'm a huge Daniel Brian mark.
Being a Canucks fan sucks when you're online.
I no longer feel ashamed of watching kids shows(MLP, Yo-Gabba-Gabba)
I treat women with much more respect in person and with proper grooming advice, turned out to be a decent looking guy.
I am much more confident around women and groups thanks to reading how-to guides and building confidence by chatting with women through random Skype chats.
Neil Patrick Harris became one of my idols IRL.
The last and best change in my life in the past 4 years thanks to the internet: Trading Pokemon has never been easier.

 

[Jmz01]

Hmmm, where to start...

-Probably the first thing that comes to mind is the difference in my interactions with people. Being as anti-social as I am in real life, talking in an online environment is much more comfortable, and talking with different people from different countries with IM's, then moving on to Skype calls, and now Teamspeak when im gaming with others, it's made me a bit more comfortable talking to others in real life. Not really "normal" standard (if you want to call it that), but definitely an improvement.

-Generally just broadening my ideas, having talked with people from different countries (played an MMO that had many different nationalities in it), they forced me to re-think my beliefs and such. Overall, a positive experience, mostly.

-Also developed a general dislike towards some PC gamers, from what I've seen, SOME (I want to emphasise that, I know I can't generalise any kind of group) are basically elitists and will look down on anyone who doesn't play on PC exclusively. It's an attitude I hate. Just because something is better (in their opinion), doesn't make everything else bad.

-I also dislike memes.

-Im the opposite on the religion issue though, thanks to Reddit, I've developed a dislike of SOME (again, I want to emphasise that) Christians.

-Probably more, but this post is too long already.

 

[Dango]

Thanks to these forums, I've learned how to be a much more civil person and a better person all around.

Strangely the internet has had the effect me opposite of the effect is has on most people.

 

[Jonluw]

I've learned a lot about people.
Mostly that they will make porn out of anything.

I've become chained to my pc at pretty much all waking hours.

I've become a lazy slob.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Not sure other than this site means alot to me more than watching their videos. I mean back in 2008 was when I finish Universirty and still using the internet back then as oppose to back in 2005 was when I discover broadband and Youtube.

 

[Casual Shinji]

It's granted me some thicker skin, and level headedness. The Escapist is mainly to thank for that.

On the down side, the internet has turned me into media consuming pig who doesn't take enough time to stop and smell the roses.

 

[FilipJPhry]

Thanks to these forums, I've learned how to be a much more civil person and a better person all around.

I'd say the escapist tells itself that it's more civilized. I kinda look at this place as a group of tight-asses who are too proud to use "Fuck, shit, fag, nigga" on their posts. Thus, I give more respect to those who aren't to speak their mind in an unrestricted fashion. As much as they say that "compared to Reddit, 4chan, and all other forum sites, this place is the best and most civil". No. There is no "most civil forum". I see people get banned for the dumbest reasons here. Thinking about it, the rule "posts that don't add anything for discussion should get reported" is the dumbest one out there, and it's the main reason why so many people are suspended/banned/reported.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Being a Canucks fan sucks when you're online.

I have to admit I laughed out loud when I got to this part.

 

[Esotera]

I changed my OS to Ubuntu, I learned how to make programs and websites, and discovered a load of cool people on IRC. Wikipedia has also saved my degree more than once.

 

[Wintermoot]

I started hating rage comics and most meme,s in general
I got a social networking account
I got into sci-fi anime and American comics
I don,t consider video games childish anymore
I,m a avid windows fan
18 years old

 

[Pinkamena]

I got much better in English! That's one of the main things. I also realized how small the world is, and how backwards the "old" media is when it comes to covering stories.

And thanks to the recent pony-thing, I have met a lot of wonderful people on the internet, I've gotten a more positive outlook on life, and changed my attitude for the better.

The Internet has also taught me many useful skills, such as electronics, drawing, and physics. Overall, my internet experience has been good!

 

[JoJo]

I've become interested in politics and world affairs and I've become more tolerant of other people and different life-style choices over my time on the Internet. Forums are a surprisingly good way to learn if you are willing to keep an open mind. I've also become a much better creative writer too.

 

[xplosive59]

Now...

Watching kids show are ok if they are good.
I have a strong hatred for Hardcore Right wing fundamentalist Christians(although same goes for die hard athiests).
Somehow my social life has increased after making a facebook account
I watch anime now
My musical taste has changed dramatically
but most importantly, discovering ultimate guitar allowed me to learn songs from obscure bands without buying a book of sheet music.

 

[JordanXlord]

Positives:
-I have more Common Sense

-I Dress a lot more nicely than i used to

-Found other people who share my Passions

Negatives:
-Became a Cynical/Sarcastic Bastard

-More Depressed than i used to be

-Gain an ungodly hatred for Idiots and Bimbos

 

[Shuguard]

I have learned that any bit of information i need is at my finger tips and google.
I've learned that a lot of people are terrible at mmorpg's and never exactly play to get better.
I've learned about various social issues such as individuals having dunning kruger.
I've learned about trolling sadly.
I've discovered a lot of anime and other films.
I've developed a thicker skin when talking with others.
I've met a good number of friends from different parts of the world.
I'm only 20 so a lot changed for me.

 

[2733]

I've gotten much more physically fit from the mountain of helpful info on the net. My worldview has greatly expanded from being able to communicate with people from all over the world. I also now almost never TV anymore, mostly because of hulu I've become very lazy about taking time to watch things. I greatly prefer being able to start whatever I want whenever I please.

 

[Jonluw]

I've learned a lot about people.
Mostly that they will make porn out of anything.

I've become chained to my pc at pretty much all waking hours.

I've become a lazy slob.

you must study for your exams dude!

I knooooowwwwwww.
Meeeeeehhhhh!

Had the Norwegian exam today. 5 hours of writing. Turned in a 288 word essay.
I was pretty happy with the material I made, but it turned into more of a poem, and one of the criteria was that we had to show competance by sticking to the genre.
Pretty nervous about this one.

Physics tomorrow. Haven't done a single exercise yet. It's 9:30pm.
I just can't bring myself to do it, man.
I'll just read over the summary to each chapter before I go to bed.