using computer and the Internet

[Brindleboy123]

Just read an interesting question on a local expat forum and thought I would ask it here!

The Internet, do you believe it has changed the way you live to any great extent? Do you think you would say the same things that you write to someone face to face? Do you believe that as you age you will be less dependent because of the ability to use the Internet for, say, shopping etc?

As you can imagine, my reply included my thoughts about how the Internet and forums such as Carers UK are so valuable to carers etc but I think it would be interesting to read the thoughts of others too!

Bell x

[Henrietta]

Personally I can't imagine life without it now and I was one of the early users. I have never been drawn into games , nor the social platforms like FB or Twitter but I have to confess to having "wasted " hours and hours of my life glued to it for well over ten years. What a confession. To be fair though it is largely research and learning etc so it is a double edged sword. Shopping.....oh yes plenty of that

[susieq]

The Internet, do you believe it has changed the way you live to any great extent? Do you think you would say the same things that you write to someone face to face? Do you believe that as you age you will be less dependent because of the ability to use the Internet for, say, shopping etc?

Definitely to all three questions !
Unfortunately though not necessarily in a 'good' way I think we're all becoming far too insular. John Donne wrote "no man is an island" - we all need contact with other human beings, we don't thrive in isolation. The internet has a lot to answer for - whereas we used to be out and about within our communities, nowadays we sit in our homes and rely on our computers to provide social contact - that can't be a good thing, can it ?

[Brindleboy123]

No it can't Susie, very true but and I think it is a big but, the flip side of that is that there are probably many events that have been organised in communities as a result of social media too! Living over here in Spain the internet is a lifeline for many and volunteering in a local charity and dealing with publicity I know how much we have become dependant upon the social networks to bring charities and events to the minds of everyone.

Another plus......playing solitaire on the iPad under the covers at night is the one thing that can usually send me to sleep!!

Bell x

[Violet]

I can't imagine not having internet. As caring for OH has become more demanding, I have become more isolated so have very little social contact, so on line shopping, forums, etc are a great help. I have not joined Facebook - mainly because I don't know enough about it and have no-one to keep me right if I get into a muddle. I think I would like to use FB as it seems mostly everyone else does?

[Scally]

The internet has helped me make contact with many other other carers across the globe, and I have met quite a few in real life too, making many long term friends.
I was a very early adopter: I was on the Internet before it was properly connected, way back in 1985 I was downloading factual articles on health issues for use in local newsletters from precursor sites, using a very early system of direct dial up access to individual sites via my Sinclair QL One Per Desk (aka Merlin Tonto), which boasted a then-impressive 128 KB of RAM.
Despite this tiny memory it had elemental word processing, spreadsheet and database capability, including a basic mailmerge facility and some cute graphics like pie-charts.
I would hate to go back to life before we had this invaluable tool of communication. But yes, I spend far too much time on the damned thing!

[bowlingbun]

It's certainly changed my life. I just love being able to find out so much, so I might be sat at home but the world is at my (arthritic) fingertips. I belong to a LD facebook group, and my lorry friends from all over the country keep in touch with their facebook groups, so although I don't run the club any more, I know what they are all up to, and can add information at times. I "chat" with my fingers to all and sundry, just as I did with the club. My members varied from drivers to millionaires, although they were spread nationwide, we could be in touch via the net. If any are down my way, they know they will be assured of a good cuppa and natter, which I enjoy, but meanwhile, the net is a good substitute. There is another "me" who has been mistaken for a barrister, but on the internet I'm the jeans and sweatshirt "me". I love seeing what friends are up to. One of our steam engine friends has been winching tree trunks onto a trailer using his engine winch; another has winched a tree out this afternoon; it's all on facebook for the rest of us to enjoy. As yet, I haven't started using internet banking though!

[Scally]

For Chrissake, BB, wake up and smell the coffee!
I can't be bothered with 'real' banks anymore, my Co-op Smile account keeps me smiling, and I can access it any time day or night.
I use about two or three cheques a year, the rest is all online.
And I love my PayPal account, one click does the job.

[bowlingbun]

It's nuts isn't it Scally, especially as I love Paypal.

[Scally]

Paypal IS internet banking, ya numpty!