The Internet, and Why We're Still Here

[DrampardonMe]

Anyone else feeling a bit of "Internet fatigue"? I think in my case, it's because my usual Internet-browsing routine has become quite monotonous, and apparently I've lost the ability to think of how to switch things up. Granted, I don't feel it EVERY day, but today it's like, "What am I doing with my (Internet) life?"

Don't get me wrong, I have IRL priorities, but browsing the Web during my downtime shouldn't be a chore. Maybe it's just not as interesting as it used to be? I could go into why that might be, but that might be opening a can of worms. Pardon my nostalgia, but it really does feel like things were better when it was new and we had more to discover. Again, it's probably my fault for not thinking outside the box...

As for "Why I'm Still Here", I wonder that sometimes myself. Not so much "me posting on this forum" as much as the broader sense of still browsing online in general. I guess old habits die hard? I dunno. Probably as simple as "people still make things I like on here, regardless of how often they actually upload".

Anyway, what keeps YOU invested in the Internet?

[thunders]

almost my entire life takes place on the internet

is that a bad thing? i think some of the older generation would probably say it is. i think a lot of folks would say it is. however, i don't really see it as a bad thing

i work from home, so i make money on the computer. i wake up in the morning, and i sit at my desk and do work on the computer. i've made friends on the computer—when i'm done with work, i talk to my friends on discord and hang out and play games. i share things i've made on the internet, i see things others have made on the internet, i learn about what's happening on the internet, i wouldn't be who i am if not for the internet!

on the internet, nobody knows you're not whatever you want to be! being autistic i think influences my opinions on it a significant amount—being out there in the "real world" means i have to look a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain someone... but here, i can just block anybody who doesn't like the way that i am

it is incredibly cliché to say "i can be myself on the internet," but it's true to the highest extent when it comes to the internet, i think. i've found my community on the internet! when folks can come together because of shared interests or shared personality traits or just a shared choice to be somewhere instead of the happenstance of going to the same school, working together, living in the same town... i think it's much easier to get along and to form lasting friendships

that's not to say i only exist on the internet, of course. i'm writing this as i wait for bible study in the garden in a half hour, i'm going to go to a friend's house for a movie night after that—but it is to say that the internet has brought a lot of value to my life

so the internet couldn't possibly be fatiguing for me! for me, the internet is the same thing as the outside world—to be tired of that would be to be tired of life! but my life's only just started!

if anything, i think the length of time that the internet has been around has given us plenty more to discover these days. i'd never have discovered this place if it wasn't for the internet guiding me here. a youtube video showing up on the recommended page of someone who lives on the other side of the country, who sent that video to me, and it just happened to be a video of someone reading off old name rater reviews...

Probably as simple as "people still make things I like on here, regardless of how often they actually upload".

this helps! i like to see things i like, and the internet is the easiest way to find that without having to get dressed, walk outside, and find it

of course... a good ad blocker is necessary. but so are clothes if you want to go exploring outside... and you have to change those every day, huh?

_{edit: used backslashes instead of forward slashes to close my italic tags... too html-brained}

[wilbie]

i know very well what internet fatigue is like; in the age of the internet where most people have adopted a small few outlets of information, entertainment and fulfilment, it's no surprise that many people are disenchanted by the magic of the post-independent digital era - there are dopamine traps to avoid everywhere, and the culture that has been created is definitely emblematic of that. being young enough to only be able to chase the tail-end of the forum times, the difference between the culture then and now is beyond drastic, and i find myself missing all the opportunities and good times that had been presented then (even if i was never there!), as opposed to the monoculture of social media.

but, still, i really really like what thunders said here, it's very astute..... and true too! the residual sense of community, the way you can express who you are freely and find others that do the same, it's all here and i'll be a part of it for as long as i can see into the future (which, granted, isn't that far...) and it's totally true that there's a lot more to discover and connect with people over, and it's really cute to be in it. i'm here because i stumbled upon the name rater too and i thought it was funny

anyway, it's true that i feel internet fatigued sometimes, it's natural, but the way out of it should be simple in theory!... find the things you enjoy, and make it your own. allowing algorithms and bad habits run free for you (especially as someone with adhd) is hard to recognise sometimes, but i'd be hard-pressed to ever find places like this uninteresting!! i hope to see some of your replies on this :>