Do you feel that the Internet unites us or isolates us?

I believe it unites us more than it isolates us. The Internet enables us to know what’s happening in the world.

We couldn’t imagine talking to people everywhere in the world twenty years ago. It makes me feel I’m not alone anymore, because now I know whatever I’m going through, there are always people that can understand me. Sometimes we have nobody we can talk to (sad but true) and we can always find someone in the Internet willing to listen to us and support us. I definitely think this is a good thing.

Some people say it isolates us because we refuse hanging out with friends in order to surf the Internet but I think that’s not true. I always prefer being with friends, but I think the Internet is a good alternative when you have nobody.

now this is a very good question...

like most answerers, i say that the internet does both isolated, as well as unite us.

there is an inherent human need for direct human contact (e.g. touching, talking face to face, etc.) that the internet has all but taken away. and while intellectual connection with more and more individuals has been made possible, i somehow believe that the lack of direct contact has affected us socially.

somehow, i find the internet almost similar to being in a giant grid of enclosed cubicles, where almost everyone is within earshot, where we can probably take the occasional peek through a window, and slip notes to one another easily.

But because that has spoiled us as a society, we no longer take the extra effort to walk up to someone and pat a friend on the shoulder with our own hands.

believe it or not, there IS a difference.

But having said that, the convenience in communication accorded by the internet makes the whole world smaller and made almost everyone within arm's reach. pardon the cliches.

Too many people come to depend on the computer and internet for interaction with others instead of entering real relationships. I think there are more individuals who, like someone I know personally, hide behind the monitors and false personalities to keep themselves isolated. I believe it is because so many have low self-esteems and are unwilling to change, to really feel and to really grow.

While the internet can be a very good educational tool for everyone, it seems more often to isolate.

I have not allowed it to isolate me because I have learned the life's lessons of being there personally for those who need my love, compassion, understanding and physical touch. I am not afraid of making friends the old fashioned way.

I think it has isolated us more. Chatting with a friend is completely different from hanging out with friends outside or hearing their voice over the phone. It depends though how often and how long you use the internet. If you're on it practically 24/7, you disregard or delay your everyday duties and priorities...nowadays we have access to so many things online...I feel that there's been a decline in communication with other people and a weakening of social bonds. It really depends on the person you are; if you're addicted to the internet or if you just go on it simply to check your mail. But I find that It's not just the internet that has increased this sense of isolation...even ipods/mp3s, game consoles...such devices kind of separate or detach us, make us lose focus on the everyday happenings of life.

It both unites us and isolates us.

Just because of the internet, we are now able to interact with people we will never get to meet because of the geological location. There are huge internet marketing business which unites various people from different country, ethnicity, etc. Plus, there are people who were first connected in the internet getting married. Internet gives us the opportunity to interact with the world, so i have to conclude that internet unites us.

On the other side of the coin, it also isolates us. Many people thesedays spend time on chatting, playing online games, etc and end up not spending much time with school friends, family, etc. The world is evolving and soon, we will be able to work at home earning money. Online business meeting, etc.

Like everything else in the world. Internet certainly have its advantages and disadvantages. And personally, i think putting the limit on; spending time on the internet will be good because it allow your interaction with your family and friends & internet pastime will balance out. ;)

For me, i think it is rather isolating. But since im pretty much immobilized for couple of monthes, and cant go out. I will stick to my computer :P

Thanks for asking. ;)

Both, becuase it unites with people we dont know across differnet countries and citites and states but it isolates to the people we care most about that we really know in the flesh and blood.. but it also depends on the person. some people can spend their life on the internet and never look back at their friends and family but some people can spend an abundant amount of time on the internet but still have time for their loved ones. the internet is an excellent thing but people need to learn how not to get addicted to it. you can care about the internet and you fam... its hard for some people easy for some... figure out which you are :)

I am truly grateful for this new technology. It has given me freedom beyond my imagination. I'm home-bound with many duties to attend to. My life is a bit too crowded. Duties duties duties. I get lost many times not knowing who I really am!!! This medium is my best friend, my stress-buster. It just lets me BE!!! I can speak here without fear or favour.

While it has not isolated me from my physical family, it has given me another beautiful virtual one. (How more stupid can one get? Assuming more duties here also? I guess its my fate, I simply cannot escape from the duties!!!).

I've learnt so much here, met so many different types of people I could never have in 10 lifetimes. Though I have many fans, I've hand-picked only a few as contacts, each for a different reason. I love and respect each one as I would a real physical entity.

So my answer is I have learnt to balance between the two worlds. I haven't isolated myself from my physical world yet feel closer to people inhabiting my virtual world...

Such ads cheapen the product, in my opinion. Why do I want to buy a product that can't sell on it's own merits? I am a woman and really don't care to see women's @sses and boobs everywhere I look. Even if the product shows a man... big deal!! I want a product that sells because it's worthy, not because a male or female made a sexy commercial for it. Does it cheapen women? Women who are willing do ads and commercials like that, cheapen themselves. Does it cheapen sex? Sex has already been so cheapened that "making love" is hardly a term anymore. Advertisers may be desperate, but they also just don't know how to make a good ad that only involves the product. In the end, the product ads depend on what people like to see and many like to see sexy people in the ads. EDIT: I LOVE DollyMop's answer and it's SO true!

I would also say both.Because when you spend more of you time on answers,then you are learning.Also when you get more information on other Web sites,we are well informed on what is going on in and around the world.

But again,Internet does not allow us to have time fully with other people or get information from the original sources.But i would not say it isolates but instead binds.Though it has its own short comings.some people have got husbands and wife through Internet.

i feel that it's a bit of both. we are now able to connect to people from all over the world, who before, we would have never met or even knew existed. but on the other hand, we tend to sit behind this screen and isolate ourselves from person to person communication. as the computer is a wonderful innovation, and great for meeting many, we must never forget that we have many already in our lives, and sometimes it is more necessary to see these people or call these people, rather that just an "i'm too busy, so i'll just email you" outlook.