I was asking myself the same thing this morning. Only a 'little' different. What was life like before the internet? I remember that before I had a computer, I used to crochet, do beadwork, clean my house, and go visit my friends INSIDE their homes, or they came to my house. Since the introduction of computers and the internet, my house is slipping, my crafting is rare and I never have company anymore because we keep up through Facebook and emails. I sit in my little 8'x8' room most of the day. I try to leave it to do other things, then I remember I need to check my email, or a message board, or pay a bill online. And while I'm on the computer anyways, I may as well fix a picture I took earlier so I play with Paint Shop. What was supposed to be five minutes wasted online turns into hours online. How I manage to get anything done around the house anymore, I don't know. I do know my laundry pile is getting deeper...............

Same thing happens with me debby. I feel like I'm adddicted to the computer. If something happened to the computer, I would have withdrawal symptoms! I feel that I do waste time on here.

I imagine someday there won't be school buildings...or teachers...They all be taught at home using the internet.
Scary thought isn't it.

I hear you folks!

I was spending far too much time on the computer. I finally had to declare Wednesdays and Sundays as my "No Computer Use" days.

Now...I do set the timer for 15 minutes on these two days and use that very limited time to check my email (just in case someone needs something "important," LOL) check the few forums I must see daily, and check the weather.

I do good using a timer to set limits, reward myself, or get things finished when I'm dragging my feet. So far it's working with compouter time, too.

stephanie_in_ga, good for you for having DD do her work, even staying home. Guess it's a blessing and a curse for the kids now, huh? When we were kids and weren't ready for a test or something, we could "get sick" and skip it! Now they can take it at home!

And yes, the housework and other things have really slipped. You start to check email, then think, "I'll just check the headlines... and the weather" then ther's a link you check out... and another link... and I miss a TV show I want to watch. Well might as well check on a couple forums or journals. Even the litter boxes go a little longer than they should.

On the other hand I was able to find out why my temperature drops occasionally. Strange thing, drops to about 96-97° at times. And can find solutions to computer problems, recipes since my forgetfuller is in high gear at times these days and I don't remember and failed to write them down.

Too much dust in the house, well, dust is healthy, isn't it?

I think the Internet is WONDERFUL! I have learned so much from it. Thanks to search engines, you can find whatever you're looking for really fast. Not like when you used to have to go to the library and thumb through books for hours. Plus you can "meet" so many nice people on forums like these that will share their ideas and expertise.

I am all in favor of kids going to school on the computer. My grandsons had such a tough time in school. One of them was bullied constantly. I had to take him to counseling to learn how to blow off the things some of the other kids would say and do to him. They would stick their legs out into the aisle as he was walking down it, just generally do or say anything they thought of. If the teacher couldn't catch them doing it, they didn't get disciplined, and they were always smart enough to do it when the teacher couldn't see. My other grandson was a class clown, disrupted the classroom, every teacher hated him. He thought everything was funny. Teachers don't have many disciplinary tools available to them, makes it impossible to teach. If they could've stayed home and got their education on the computer, it would've solved both problems. At least they wouldn't have to have any contact with kids they didn't want to be around, they could invite their friends over, though.

A lot of the teachers at the high school where DGS goes are not computer literate. It's really hard to deal with that, they don't answer their e-mails and they don't post the grades very well on the school's website. When I can see the grades and the assignments, it helps me a lot to know if DGS is holding up his end. I can also see if he was tardy or had some other discipline. I don't go to parent/teacher conferences any more. I just watch the website, and I give my e-mail to each teacher at the beginning of the semester. If they need me, they know how to get me. If they can't use e-mail, they can call me.

I admit, I don't get out as much. But, it saves gas and wear and tear on my vehicle. People on the computer don't care how I'm dressed or if I haven't done my dishes yet. If I wake up at 5am I can still get online and see what people wrote who like to stay up late.

If somebody is ugly to you, you can choose to ignore them. Harder to do in person, eh? Unfortunately, it's easier for some to be ugly to people on forums because it's still impossible to send your fist as an attachment. LOL ;~)

I don't think anybody has a super-clean house anymore. I've been to people's houses unexpectedly and they always apologize all over the place about "the mess". I just tell them, "I've got one at home JUST LIKE THIS!" Then they relax. I try to keep my living room picked up and my dishes done and counters clean in the kitchen. We've got a dog that sheds more than I ever, in a million years, would've believed, so we have to vacuum every two or three days and I'm grateful for hardwood floors. But I don't mop as often as I should and my little "office", where my computer is, is littered with piles of papers and packages of garden seed, CD's, seed catalogs, recipes and such.

It keeps me out of DH's way for a few hours every day. I do take a break from the computer to watch our favorite TV programs with DH every day and I spend time out in the garden when the weather allows. I have a quilt in the works and a sewing project on the sewing machine. The cat comes in and walks on my keyboard for me every now and then and the dog lays on the floor behind my chair, so I can't make any sudden movements.

All in all, I'd say the computer allows me to have a pretty decent life. Better than the alternative of becoming best friends with the woman who lives across the street, and all she wants to do is talk about her illnesses (real and unreal) and cry about how soon she thinks she's going to die..... (she'll probably outlive ME)

I learned to type on a rebuilt Royal because they didn't even have electric typewriters yet. THAT's how old I am.

It has been a life saver this year having my sons algebra book on line. That is a great website. I learned though that even if it wasn't you can still Google ANYTHING and get an answer. I LOVE that!!
I am also able to access their grades and daily activity. Because they both have 6 different teachers they aren't able to do all their homework on line but they are able to see what the assignments are.

I am also an internet junkie. Do you remember that commercial where the husband is sitting at the computer and a voice says "You have reached the end of the internet"? That's my goal! Ha ha ha - just kidding.

I remember that one. Here's a link. There are a whole bunch of them if you Google 'end of the internet' LOL!

I found it

Last week, DH and I were watching something on TV and he said, "I wonder how deep the ocean is?" I asked which one and quickly looked it up.

The other night, we were watching a sports program and he wondered what happened to the sports personality that used to be on that network. I was able to find out quickly.

Honestly, though, I don't think the Internet would be nearly as easy without Google.

Funny you should post this because today was my first day of emailing the teachers asking for homework assigments since my son is home sick.

They all replied quickly which means they have internet at their desks in the classrooms and one teacher even attached the assignments. Others said that they posted the work on edline and to go there to get it.

We've come a long way alright.

my two cents about going to school on line. Nope, the kids need to be able to live in a real world and know how to interact with others. You know, socialize, really know people. My DD2 begged me to and I wouldn't let her. No real reason, she didn't want to "deal with those losers".
I am an older mother they are 19 and 21 now... deb