Confessions of an Internet Addict

Confessions of an Internet Addict

Okay, well, I may not really be an "Internet Addict", but I do enjoy spending time on the Internet. "Why?" You ask. Well it is simple really. I love the social aspect of it. I love how I can send emails to family and friends, how I can log onto facebook or myspace and have conversations, share random bits of life with my friends that I would not normally just blurt out to them when I see them in person. I love that I can email my aunt in China and still have her as a part of my life from abroad. I love how I can be friends with people in Mexico and still talk to them weekly, if not daily. I enjoy the fact that I can listen to basically any song that I want on demand by simply searching for it. I love how I can research topics that spark my interest, and get honest information from other people who desired to share their knowledge.

But, do you know what I do not love about the social aspect of the Internet? Do you want to know what drives me absolutely crazy? What makes me want to just say "screw the Internet"? I absolutely hate when I email, send a chat to, or send any other form of message over the web (or cell phone) and do not receive a response when I know good and well that the recipient got the message. Even if my message is simple and random, would it honestly kill someone to send a reply that says "I got your message" or even maybe exert enough effort to send a brief message back? On second hand, perhaps that is a bad idea. I mean, honestly, I would HATE to take 10 to 60 seconds of life away from someone. How vain of me. That would be awful.

But seriously, this little rant was just a way to express my discontent with people in general and their lack of netiquette (otherwise known etiquette in interpersonal settings away from a network, or Internet).

Am I the only person that this annoys?

Think of it this way... when you speak to someones face, no matter how stupid what you said may or may not be, do you not expect a response to what you said? Would it not be totally rude to just kinda ignore someone who was speaking directly to you? Yes, yes it would. So, I ask you, why does this not also apply to communication on the Internet?