Happy To Be Here
Lots of people out there feel lonely.
They feel lonely because of where they work, where they live, and
how they live. The Internet overcomes these limitations by
connecting people to hundreds of others all over the world. In the
cyber world, the "girl next door" may as easily be in Singapore as in San
Diego.
The Internet not only allows people to
cross geographic barriers, it also allows people to cross racial,
ethnic, gender, educational, socioeconomic, and age barriers as
well. By being able to remain anonymous on the Net, people gain a
sense of confidence and security to say and do things they would
never do in public. It does not matter how different people
are in real life. On the Internet, everyone is the same.
Many people say they feel happier on
the Internet than they do in real life. In real life, they
feel isolated, ignored, unloved, and alone. On the Internet, people
feel like they are part of an extended family or a global community.
They play all kinds of interactive
games online, have intimate talks in chat rooms, and engage in
role-playing activities with people they never met before. Being a
stranger online does not last for long, however. The Internet is the
only place on Earth where everyone does knows your name -- even if
that name is one you created.
Because of all the new things to do
and people to meet on the Internet, the #1 Mystique of the Internet
is that people will no longer feel lonely or bored
anymore once they get online and stay there.
However, as you will see, it isn't all
fun and games on the Net.