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The one-dimensionality of the internet (partly non-QPR) 09:57 - May 31 with 913 viewsMyke

As Ireland and Britain (rightly or wrongly) continue to ease covid restrictions, I started to reflect on the predominantly virtual world we have lived in over the past 15 months; whether it was socially, education, work, shopping etc and compared it to the 'real' world. I consulted my teenage children on their experiences, so it would not just be the rantings of a middle-aged/old man.

The general consensus (in my house) is that while the internet has been a life-saver in terms of connectivity, it is no substitute for real life interaction with other people and events. I recently got my Leaving Cert students to write an essay on on-line shopping versus 'real' shopping and overwhelmingly they were in favour of the real event. While they all mentioned the convenience of sitting at a computer and 'filling their basket' from the comfort of their own home's, they all lamented the opportunity to properly 'hang out' with either friends or family. As one student put it, 'on-line shopping is simply about buying stuff, whereas a real shopping trip may not actually involve buying anything at all'.

I think all of you on here who regularly attend Loftus Road have found the whole 'streaming' experience a very poor substitute for the real thing. Yes, a vital link to the club and the live matches taking place, but a 'black and white' version of a glorious technicolour event. Clive has described the away trips much more eloquently that I would ever be able to, but the point is similar to that of my student; that the match itself was often a mere by-product of the social occasion surrounding each carefully planned trip.
When I spent a couple of months teaching on-line throughout Jan-March, it was without question a vastly inferior experience to being in the classroom with the students in front of me. And that was me, with all my resources to hand, excellent support from the school etc etc. Imagine how some of the students had to get by with possibly one computer between several siblings a 'patchy' internet and limited parental interest or support? I didn't hear from a handful of students for three months and they will never get a chance to fill that gap in their education. I know for some of you, working from home and 'Zoom' calls are now the 'new normal (hate that expression), but I would be interested to hear how it compares to the office experience.
For my own two, social media has being their liveline, their way of connecting with their friends and far flung relations. Obviously much more au fait with all things virtual than me, they have had plenty laughs (as I did) at some of the mad videos doing the rounds, playing 'fortnite' or whatever. Yet still they couldn't wait to actually see their mates again and have proper 'craic'.
I think most people would agree that the internet was critical for our survival since the arrival of this pandemic and the cyber attack on our (Ireland's) HSE and the disarray that has caused, emphasises the vital importance of IT in our lives. However, the lockdown experience and the sheer one-dimensionality of the internet, rather than accelerating the virtual process and increasing fears that 'young ones' soon won't be talking face to face at all, has, in fact, allayed such fears - at least for now.
Any thoughts?
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The one-dimensionality of the internet (partly non-QPR) on 15:43 - May 31 with 766 viewsMyke

Hmmm, maybe I should have discussed cheese or honey instead
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The one-dimensionality of the internet (partly non-QPR) on 16:33 - May 31 with 719 viewskarl

The one-dimensionality of the internet (partly non-QPR) on 15:43 - May 31 by Myke

Hmmm, maybe I should have discussed cheese or honey instead


I don't post anonymously so won't give details but my daughter has definitely had an affect on her grades with the lockdown in the new year.
Generally we have good connectivity and equipment but the school were very slow in getting themselves organised imo so problems come from all angles.
Whether it has a lasting affect or something that a strong character can use to forge a different path we'll have to wait and see. I'm thinking the latter and tbh sometimes it creates the path you should have been following anyway?

I speak as living in one of the least affected areas in UK of course, I would add that as a population we have followed advice and protocols etc so do deserve the results we've had as well as benefitting from our geography.
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The one-dimensionality of the internet (partly non-QPR) on 16:41 - May 31 with 704 viewsderbyhoop

Social media is fabulous for allowing us to keep in touch but is, as you say, no substitute for "real" contact.
As some of you know, we are living in rural France but have family in UK and Australia. So Zoom, WhatsApp, Facetime have all been a boon. Grandchildren (9, 5 and 2) are all comfortable with speaking to grand parents over media.
We've been doing Zoom quizzes during lockdown, which works well.
Much of my work is done from home but team meetings have used Google Meet and MS Teams. I prefer the former.
Fortunately, I do get out to meet vendors who want to sell their house and clients who want to buy.
Not many British buying ATM, unless they already live in France. Plenty of Dutch, Belgian and French.

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one’s lifetime. (Mark Twain) Find me on twitter @derbyhoop

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The one-dimensionality of the internet (partly non-QPR) on 17:03 - May 31 with 692 viewsozranger

From a university academic point of view, there have been both positives and negatives. I have many colleagues who do not like the teaching online and have had poor support from their institutions. I do not teach but do research and while I cannot visit archives or libraries and cannot attend talks here in London or nearby personally, I have still been able to view them through zoom. That said, by using this method, the numbers of attendees increased significantly and the personal interaction with the speaker or the other attendees is much harder. Yet, I also was able to take advantage of this by attending various seminars on the east coast of the US, Australia, Dublin and the Netherlands that I would have zero chance of doing such in normal times. So, from our point of view there have been advantages and disadvantages to the zoom-life that we have lived in.
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The one-dimensionality of the internet (partly non-QPR) on 17:13 - May 31 with 687 viewsbob566

if i've learn one thing from home schooling is i used to admire teachers but now i'd give my kids teachers the freedom of dublin after doing home schooling for a while. And before somebody says look at the amount of holidays they get well IMHO they're welcome to them.
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