Sink or Swim

I always ramble about how I love the Internet. But really, it can’t be all about love right? So today I stepped away from my computer for a couple of hours and thought about the things that I don’t like about the World Wide Web. It’s hard because I’m so addicted to anything that has to do with online so if you want to add anything to this list, tell me!

1. Perverts. They are all over the Internet disguised in so many ways. They could be a so-called agent who needs your almost nude photos for their website. It could be the 32-year-old sweet man from the chatroom but was actually a 55 somethings who still live with their mothers. Worse, I’ve heard of sick men snagging photos of children from parenting blogs and replacing their bodies with naked pictures so they can sell them to equally sick clients.

2. Spam all year round. Whether it’s through email, blog comments, website contact forms, they will flood you with messages so you can visit their website for much needed hits and sale.

3. Lack of personal connection. As much as I love meeting new friends over the Internet, there’s just something weird about a room full of people who doesn’t even smile or nod at each other because they’re so busy looking at their machines. I’m talking about Internet cafes. Isn’t it supposed to be a place where people can hang out, meet new friends over coffee, etc?

4. Piracy. I don’t really hate this because I can’t say that I haven’t, in my whole life, enjoyed a nice warez or two. Still, software companies are losing money from piracy. I know this for a fact after working for several companies for eight years.

5. Related to above. Plagiarism. Everyone can steal your content, artwork, music, and photo and pass it off as theirs.

read more »