Today, March 27, is my birthday. I turn 34, and for those that don’t want to do the math, I was born in 1975 at a time when mood rings, bell bottoms and disco music was all the rage. In the late 70s, the family photo included my father in a brown leisure suit. A popular television show of the day was One Day at a Time (one of several Norman Lear shows of the era; the man was an unstoppable television force at the time).
My generation, which is Generation X, is the last to have experienced life before internet. Those of us who are Gen-X and older have a unique perspective on things because we remember what it was like "going without", so to speak.
Internet by and large is a good thing, so that’s what I’m going to concentrate on. This is a short list of what I personally appreciate about the internet.
Good things the internet has brought us
Honesty in retail
Retail stores hate the internet because it forces them to lower their prices just to stay competitive with online retailers. My opinion? Good! The days of retail gouging prices have been curtailed by a huge amount because of internet. The consumer wins here.
Maps
People use internet mapping sites like MapQuest, Yahoo! Maps, Google Maps and Live Maps without a second thought, but probably don’t realize how valuable this information is. In all seriousness, I thank the internet for making it easy for people to get places without having to drag out one of those insane fold-out old style maps.
Nationwide/Worldwide free calling
The data pipe of the internet allows us nationwide free calling. Long distance only matters now when calling internationally. And if you use any one of multiple voice apps like Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk or the like, computer-to-computer worldwide voice communication is free. Free is good.
Communication
The fact I can communicate with anyone in the world via internet still amazes me to this day. I sincerely believe this is something people take for granted way too much. You should enjoy the fact that getting in touch with people really, really far away doesn’t cost you a bundle, if anything. I know I do.
And when I tick someone off, I can get called an idiot in 40 different languages.
Research/Information
One of the grand ideas with internet is that early adopters wanted the dream realized of having the internet as the ultimate research tool.
That dream has been realized.
If you want to know anything about anything, it’s on the internet. And if it’s not, it most likely doesn’t exist.
Are you a Gen-X or older? What has internet done for you (good or bad)?
Let us know in the comments.
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First of all happy birthday. What an interesting post, Rich. I’m from the generation before yours, and spent half my life pre internet. And you know what? I can’t even remember what is was like! How the hell did I ever research homework, or prepare presentations. I have to work to remind myself almost every day that I can have more information at my fingertips within a nanosecond than my Dad had in his whole lifetime. The sad thing is if I fail to appreciate it (and I do) what chance have my kids got? Jeez, I sound like an old f*rt now – sorry! Good post!
Thanks!
Don’t worry, you don’t have to appreciate it *every* day. You’re fully aware of what life would be like without it (i.e. a big ball of suck), therefore you already give the ‘net its thank-yous it deserves. You’re on the Light Side of The Force, not to worry. 
Happy Birthday! The Internet, and computers for that matter, are great! Otherwise I would be in a boring job. Instead, I get to sit at a computer all day, using the Internet to make me or my company money. So for that I am thankful.
Thank you! Very good points you bring up – jobs and many self-employment opportunities. The internet brings us this in abundance (and in times like these we all appreciate that more than ever).
Happy Birthday Rich. I am generation Y so I am younger than you, but I still see that changes that the internet has made.
For instance years ago a teen doing journalism for a paper seemed ridiculous, but now a kid could write for a paper. And the paper wouldn’t even know it was a kid writing for them.
Most of all though I see that since the web came along, people are a lot more social.
Thank you thank you. Yes, the internet has brought out many authors who would otherwise have no audience – yourself included. And the social aspect cannot be denied. Without internet we would probably never be having this conversation.
There was life before the Internet?
Happy birthday, dude.
I hope so..
Thanks, boss. Drink one for me in Vegas.
Happy Birthday Rich!
I am 18 and my family didn’t have PC/internet til I was 5 or 6. There are some people in the internet generation that remember what it was like to not have internet. *cough* it sucked *cough*
Thanks. Some, but not many.
Happy Birthday you Spring chicken!
Sure, I’m a baby boomer, b. 1960. I’m also pretty much retired as an independent contractor computer graphics artist who had more work than she could handle in the early 90’s before the schools started churning out kids with degrees in the field.
What was it like to be a freelance illustrator looking for work before the internet? Slow and tedious compared to how we can communicate now. Also socially it has connected me with like-minded people all over the globe, and helped me find old friends from school days. It’s changed the world just like TV did for my generation. Kind of standardizes the way we think. Which can solve some problems and create others.
Thank you.
I do sincerely believe the internet solves more problems than it creates. The two-way method of the way most internet communications works gives it mostly an even playing field.
Happy Birthday Rich! Thanks for your contributions and articles. I wish most bloggers were as concise and knowledgeable of their material as you.
Thank You from 22 years into the future (my age wise
Earl Wallace
Thanks much. Blogging is (as far as tech is concerned) one of those things that’s a combination of reporting, instruction, style and personality – all while trying not to sound like a bump on a stump. Can be tough sometimes but it’s worth it.
Happy Birthday Rich!
I think one the greatest things about the internet is the social and collaborative aspects. Anything from having a conference call with a foreign country, to online dating, to chat rooms. Good stuff.
Thanks! Yes the easy two-way (”many”-way, actually) communication the internet is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Good call.
Kind of late but Happy Birthday Rich!
Gonna be 25 is a couple of days myself and believe it or not I remember what it was like before I had a computer and internet. The first computer was a compaq with a 486 running Win95. Didn’t get the internet until we got the HP with I think a Pentium 2 running Win98SE. It simply amazes me the way things have progressed since those days.
Thank you! My method for going online was with BBSes prior to internet, starting with 2400bps connectivity and going up from there. Have 16-color ANSI will travel.
Happy belated birthday Rich: You make me feel old. In 1975 I thought of computers as massive mainframes with reels of magnetic tape.
Thanks, and sorry! Didn’t mean to make you feel old.
And not to worry, massive mainframes and reels of magnetic tape still exist and will continue to do so for many years.
I remember using windows 3.1 and when i was at school having to get the massive Encyclopedia to help me do my homework. I’m sure kids these days don’t realise how lucky they are having so much ‘help’ with their schooling at their fingertips.
I remember using Microsoft Encarta back in the early 1990s and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. I also remember thinking, “I wish this was more complete..” It is now, but definitely wasn’t back then.
Happy Bday Rich….Baby boomer here, part of the support structure of bridge to Generation “X”.Your welcom Enjoy, Treasure and protect this Great and Wonderfull Gift. With you I feel it is in good hands. thks
Thank you for the kind wishes, much appreciated!
Happy belated birthday Rich. I always enjoy your articles.
I was born in ‘43. We didnt have any alpha designations then, no internet, no PCs. Heck, we barely had RADAR. Most people didnt know Anybody from another country, now we converse on a daily basis via forums. Kids are growing up faster because they have access to so much more information. Its a good thing but it means they need more guidance from their parents too.