Learning from the Internet

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

I've learned a lot about technology from the net.

It's kind of amazing really. The internet is the biggest shithole of misinformation in some ways, but if you can sift through it, you can find some of the most amazing truths ever.

I've also become a far, FAR better typist as a result of the net. Thousands upon thousands of words typed at people in various forums will do that.

I've also learned desensitization, which I consider to be a very valuable skill.

But the biggest thing I've learned from the net is that EVERY opinion exists and it is shared by a substantial group of people. No matter how stupid, no matter how obscure, no matter how disgusting, every opinion you can think of is represented on the net.

 

[Drops a Sweet Katana]

There's a bridge in London that's falling down

well actually there are dogs that are falling down from said bridge, but they're falling to their deaths by their own choice as if they're committing suicide. [sorry if I used the wrong their]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysvn2JDzVw8

might not have learned anything but still interesting and time wasting

Another lesson from the internet: Scotland is NOT London. London is a city in ENGLAND. SCOTLAND is not in ENGLAND.

OT: I've learned too much from the internet to keep track of.

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

Good God...pretty much everything on the Vsauce channels, sheet music for music covers I wanted to do, resources for practicing/learning Japanese and French, how to record gameplay and edit it, why the hell I couldn't get into the Painted World of Ariamis, that recreational Ketamine is very popular in Canada, that North Korea believes the U.S. lives off of pigeons and struggles with starvation due to a dropping pigeon population, and probably 50ish% of the knowledge currently in my brain. I've definitely learned more on the Internet than I did in high school, or at least the truth about what I was told in high school.

I've also learned that an extremely large number of humans are barely literate, incapable of logic, racist, and/or sexist, or will pretend to be any/all of these things because they find it amusing. I've also learned that despite this, there are still good and/or smart people in the world who are just looking for people to talk to. I wouldn't be on this site if that weren't true.

 

[New Frontiersman]

One of the most interesting things I've learned while spending time on the internet, although I can't remember where I read it, is that roaches breathe through their skin; and thus poring soapy water on them clogs their pores and causes them to suffocate. Something I put to good use not five minutes ago when I killed a roach by slinging a mixture of water and dish soap at it.

Seriously? I'm going to put that use right now then and add this to my list! Thanks!

No problem, I'm happy to help. Let me know how it goes.

 

[SaetonChapelle]

It might be a sad thing to say, but I have learned from being on the internet the intolerance and anger that resides in the human race, as well as all the great things humans have provided and created.

Sure, I've learned plenty of fun facts, but none compares.

I began going on the internet way back in the day, probably when I was around 7 or 8. Back then I was only interested in reading terrible fanfiction on the one site that provided it at the time. Being so young and innocent I had never experienced the aggression of the outside world, nor any of the fascinating acts of good deeds or assistance. The internet allowed me to see how people engage one another in an environment in which they are not face to face. Something that now, as a psych major in college, I find quite interesting.

 

[Piorn]

I basically learned about 45% of my english skills on the internet.
The other 45% I learned from books, and the remaining 10% were somewhere in elementary school.

And all kinds of creepy, yet fascinating animal sex practices.
Like the male angler fish, who bites into the much larger female's side, grows attached and is absorbed until only the tesitcles remain, which the female then later uses on herself.

 

[Kross]

I learned how to shave and how to tie a tie from internet howtos... (my mom printed them and said "here, figure it out")

 

[Zeraki]

I learned that the Golden Gate bridge is one of the world's most popular places to commit suicide. I remember a few years ago seeing a documentary online about a guy who actually jumped off it and survived. Although he broke his back something fierce(yet he wasn't paralyzed).

And then there is Vsauce... just Vsauce. I learn at least one new thing every time I watch a new episode.

 

[DoPo]

I've learned fire can't melt steel, the Earth is flat and the gummint is using supermagnets to confuse us, and lizard people made us fake the moon landing.

Yes, you could say the world is flat - it's flat on four sides. FOR IT IS A CUBE! [http://www.timecube.com/]

My work here is done - I have enlightened people in this thread. EVERYBODY, you are no longer part of the blind sheep of this world, use the gift of the new knowledge well.

 

[Kolby Jack]

I only recently learned the reason Pluto is NOT a planet. It fulfills two of the three standard requirements for planethood, but the third (it must dominate its own orbit) is what knocked Pluto from its previous classification. Pluto shares its orbit with many objects from the Kuiper belt, ergo it does not dominate it. I also learned that scienctists only ever got around to making an actual, solid list of defining traits for true planets in 2006! Kind of dropped the ball there, science.

 

[Mocmocman]

I learned that the Surinam Toad has its eggs in the mothers back, where the babies live throughout their tadpole age and emerge as fully developed toads. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surinam_toad#Reproduction I learned other thins to, but I learned this today.

 

[LiberalSquirrel]

One of the most interesting things I've learned while spending time on the internet, although I can't remember where I read it, is that roaches breathe through their skin; and thus poring soapy water on them clogs their pores and causes them to suffocate. Something I put to good use not five minutes ago when I killed a roach by slinging a mixture of water and dish soap at it.

...I think you might have learned this from me, actually, heh.

Anyways, "roaches being killed via soapy water" is my go-to "I learned this from the internet" thing, and I put it to good use when the roaches from the place above me started making their gross little ways into my apartment. Luckily, I have since moved and no longer have to deal with the disgusting things.

But I learn far too much on the internet, really. Because Wikipedia is a spectacular timesink... especially when you're willing to go the extra mile and check out the sources of the information.

 

[Brotha Desmond]

I learned several things:
Don't trust people pretending to be a Nigerian prince
Never click on an ad that says "you won"
Never bad mouth ponies
If you put a banana in a microwave that is controlled by a cellphone and is one floor above a 42'' CRT tv then you can turn it into a gel-nana and send it through time

 

[New Frontiersman]

One of the most interesting things I've learned while spending time on the internet, although I can't remember where I read it, is that roaches breathe through their skin; and thus poring soapy water on them clogs their pores and causes them to suffocate. Something I put to good use not five minutes ago when I killed a roach by slinging a mixture of water and dish soap at it.

...I think you might have learned this from me, actually, heh.

Anyways, "roaches being killed via soapy water" is my go-to "I learned this from the internet" thing, and I put it to good use when the roaches from the place above me started making their gross little ways into my apartment. Luckily, I have since moved and no longer have to deal with the disgusting things.

But I learn far too much on the internet, really. Because Wikipedia is a spectacular timesink... especially when you're willing to go the extra mile and check out the sources of the information.

Did I? That is entirely possible. Actually... yeah! I remember that now! I shall strive to credit you in the future whenever I bring up that information!

I'm glad you don't have to deal with them any more, those things are disgusting.

Wikipedia is pretty good for that... or bad, depending on how you look at it. Another one of my favorite places to learn at/kill time with on the internet is Cracked. Usually pretty accurate; always entertaining!

 

[DarkB]

My rule is only believe someone if they cite sources.

It's led me to some rather unpopular opinions.

 

[lechat]

on the subject of insect (or arachnid) breathing mechanisms. spiders breath through their abdomen

Spoiler

and yes they know how to scuba dive and can still murder you under water