Let's face it - this generation's social skills have been retarded by the internet

[Brawndo]

There have always been people with debilitating shyness, but the internet allows this generation of shy people to completely withdraw and "socialize" (I use the term loosely) online where it is safe instead of facing up to their difficulties and making changes in their real lives.

And even some of those who aren't inherently shy have been affected by the internet. One of my roommates is a good example: he moved from California to Florida (where we go to school) and knows no one here. Instead of making new friends, he spends every moment he is not in class or work at home talking to friends back home on Facebook or Skype. Yes, it's good to keep in touch, but this is ridiculous - he has no life here.

The lure of the Internet is all about one thing: SAFETY. Many people are attracted to safety nets that anonymity and the separating, impersonal screen provide so they don't have to deal with difficult face-to-face encounters, whether it be making new friends, breaking up with someone, and more.

 

[Snake Plissken]

There have always been people with debilitating shyness, but the internet allows this generation of shy people to completely withdraw and "socialize" (I use the term loosely) online where it is safe instead of facing up to their difficulties and making changes in their real lives.

And even some of those who aren't inherently shy have been affected by the internet. One of my roommates is a good example: he moved from California to Florida (where we go to school) and knows no one here. Instead of making new friends, he spends every moment he is not in class or work at home talking to friends back home on Facebook or Skype. Yes, it's good to keep in touch, but this is ridiculous - he has no life here.

The lure of the Internet is all about one thing: SAFETY. Many people are attracted to safety nets that anonymity and the separating, impersonal screen provide so they don't have to deal with difficult face-to-face encounters, whether it be making new friends, breaking up with someone, and more.

And this is why I don't have a facebook account.

 

[Nickolai77]

Eh, quit generalising- i'm a shy person who went to university last year and i've made plenty of friends. The internet doesn't retard that many peoples social skills.

 

[IBlackKiteI]

Everyone (on this site at least) knows this, and its pretty horrible.

I know, it sucks. My friends are constantly telling me to get Bookface or whatever but there is just no. fuckering *sic. point.
There also seems to be no solution to the problem, people aren't going to throw away something so convenient.

I'm not really scared that much for whats happening now, but 10 yearsfrom now?
Ah man, that'd be more scary than the suckery of that Mass Effect 3 trailer.

 

[Brawndo]

Eh, quit generalising- i'm a shy person who went to university last year and i've made plenty of friends. The internet doesn't retard that many peoples social skills.

All statements on society are inherent generalizations, because there are always exceptions. This thread is about trends, not people on this forum who defy them. If you want to argue that there isn't a trend at all, then I'm all ears, but I definitely see it and so do many academics.

I'm more worried about the future, because better technology will only lead to MORE immersion and escapism.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Speaking to people on the internet counts as socialising. Making your point, invalid.

 

[smithy_2045]

You're not cool for hating facebook. It's an incredibly useful tool for organising social events, and it's nice having an incredibly easy way to talk to your friends when doing so in real life would be too difficult for whatever reason.

Incidentally, without the internet I would barely socialise at all.

 

[SimuLord]

You can take your sweeping generalizations elsewhere, thanks. I do just fine when I'm out in the world---if anything, the Internet simply adds to my socialization by giving my real-world friends more ways to get in touch with me besides calling or text messages---they can find me on Facebook, messengers, or even just send me an email.

And the friends I've made online...well, one of them ended up being someone I was married to for five years and would never have met if it weren't for the Internet. I live in a place with a severe lack of good women (lots of trailer trash around here, and also lots of spoiled rich chicks, but nothing in between), so meeting someone online's a viable option.

 

[Brawndo]

Speaking to people on the internet counts as socialising. Making your point, invalid.

Actually, it depends on whether you are using the internet as a supplement for real-world communication, or as a replacement.

Example: People love to trash Facebook, when the reality is that there is nothing wrong with Facebook when you use it to supplement face-to-face interactions with people you already know. It's when you start to PREFER Facebooking, G-chatting, and going on forums and use them to replace in-person conversations that it's a problem.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Speaking to people on the internet counts as socialising. Making your point, invalid.

Actually, it depends on whether you are using the internet as a supplement for real-world communication, or as a replacement.

Example: People love to trash Facebook, when the reality is that there is nothing wrong with Facebook when you use it to supplement face-to-face interactions with people you already know. It's when you start to PREFER Facebooking, G-chatting, and going on forums and use them to replace in-person conversations that it's a problem.

I don't see how you can define it as a problem. They're still interacting with, people are they not? Whether or not it's face to face is irrelevant.

 

[Vampire cat]

I agree with all of that quite strongly, and I've worked in a store that attracts mostly people aged 11-22 and it's very obvious in that age-group actually.

Speaking to people on the internet counts as socialising. Making your point, invalid.

But it doesn't. So many people now, that have no problem talking to others online, have a really hard time even asking for a bag while shopping. Yes, that's a bit extreme, but you get my point.

It's serious, I've gone to school with a bunch of people just like this. Barely if ever say anything in class, just stay to themselves, because all their friends are online where they can just log off the chat if they feel uncomfortable.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I agree with all of that quite strongly, and I've worked in a store that attracts mostly people aged 11-22 and it's very obvious in that age-group actually.

Speaking to people on the internet counts as socialising. Making your point, invalid.

But it doesn't. So many people now, that have no problem talking to others online, have a really hard time even asking for a bag while shopping. Yes, that's a bit extreme, but you get my point.

It's serious, I've gone to school with a bunch of people just like this. Barely if ever say anything in class, just stay to themselves, because all their friends are online where they can just log off the chat if they feel uncomfortable.

I've never met anyone like this, ever. It's always been an unfounded stereotype from where I'm standing.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Speaking to people on the internet counts as socialising. Making your point, invalid.

He's talking about withdrawing from "person to person" social contact in favor of online socializing. He never said one was more or less social than the other.

And shame on you for not spelling "socializing" correctly ....unless you're drunk right now, in which case, I not only forgive you but envy you

No, I spelt socialising correctly. You are American I presume?

 

[Kitteh]

I hate to say it, but by not having many friends in HS, I am forced to befriend people in college, or be forced into a life of perpetual suicidal depression and crippling loneliness.

 

[SimuLord]

I agree with all of that quite strongly, and I've worked in a store that attracts mostly people aged 11-22 and it's very obvious in that age-group actually.

Speaking to people on the internet counts as socialising. Making your point, invalid.

But it doesn't. So many people now, that have no problem talking to others online, have a really hard time even asking for a bag while shopping. Yes, that's a bit extreme, but you get my point.

It's serious, I've gone to school with a bunch of people just like this. Barely if ever say anything in class, just stay to themselves, because all their friends are online where they can just log off the chat if they feel uncomfortable.

I've never met anyone like this, ever. It's always been an unfounded stereotype from where I'm standing.

Completely agreed. For all the talk about socially stunted people in the world, you'd think they were everywhere, but they're so rare that when I see one I actually take notice.

Although I will say this---PUT THE FUCKING IPHONE AWAY. That's far more of a problem---people addicted to their electronic devices to the point where they can't go an hour without checking...something. Whatever it is. I don't do so myself so I don't know.

 

[Fraught]

Speaking to people on the internet counts as socialising. Making your point, invalid.

He's talking about withdrawing from "person to person" social contact in favor of online socializing. He never said one was more or less social than the other.

And shame on you for not spelling "socializing" correctly ....unless you're drunk right now, in which case, I not only forgive you but envy you

One's the British spelling, one's the American spelling.

Are you sure you're not the one who's drunk?

And also a bit pedantic, with no firm ground to even stand on?

 

[smithy_2045]

I agree with all of that quite strongly, and I've worked in a store that attracts mostly people aged 11-22 and it's very obvious in that age-group actually.

Speaking to people on the internet counts as socialising. Making your point, invalid.

But it doesn't. So many people now, that have no problem talking to others online, have a really hard time even asking for a bag while shopping. Yes, that's a bit extreme, but you get my point.

It's serious, I've gone to school with a bunch of people just like this. Barely if ever say anything in class, just stay to themselves, because all their friends are online where they can just log off the chat if they feel uncomfortable.

How do you know that the internet is the reason behind what you perceive to be happening?

 

[Finnboghi]

Incidentally, without the internet I would barely socialise at all.

This.

I would rather not socialize at all than socialize purely face-to-face.

Which I did for many years before I started using msn.