... go without it for a week. ... you'll find it probably hasn't killed you, or even hurt a bit.

Give me a fucking break....

Potential for very good right alongside the potential for very evil.
Its all in how you use it.

Update: I took off a star because I am begining to think that the only reason the Internet exists, is to sell me Teeth Whitening Solutions.

High speed internet should be more affordable , many communities its only the haves that
have it.

Still don't know how people ever got by without the internet.

I'm collecting S.S numbers...Please post it in the comment field below.

Thank You...

I think the internet is a wonderful thing...... but it is also becoming scary, cause more and more ppl are abusing it....... it is so easy to tap into someone's life, to steal their identity... and the internet makes it that way. However, its wonderful to have the ease of finding stuff for sale, looking up vacation spots, meeting up with new and old friends...... just got to take everything in perspective

How is this contorversial?

It depends on how you use it. Good or bad ,its your choice.

Has its good and its bad (identity theft ect).  Overall in this high tech world we live in,  I'de say it is now a necessity.

Great Source for information

best source of information

...except for the porn and stuff.

I think it helps hospitals, emergency crews, and more receive information and data faster. It also helps maintain power business flow, and structure in a company and allows for freedom of research, and information that has been denied or hidden in the past.

I think it's great how in an disagreement, you can refer to the internet and get some supporting information or facts; at worst you can winkipedia that shit.

Internet has it's ups and downs. I'm glad I have dial-up at home (on the comp less), which consists of me pedaling a bicycle just to power the computer.

It's great, it provides porn and information to the masses.

good research....bad perverts

I think its excellent but at the same time people have become addicted to it..We have all forgotten the simple things like mailing a letter or going to the store to rent movies..Now everything has to be fast for all of us because we don't have enough time to wait in a line..I uinderstand being impatient...but don't forget the simple things

it has it's plus' and minus... information at your fingertips...but when was the last time you went to a library??? I think it has lessened the natural interaction of ppl...face to face...then we have predators...our children...it's a scary place...

omg! I LOVE THE INTERNET! but it is bad for me

It is the new bridge between worlds. Our world would shut down without it. Have you seen South Park, lol.

The Internet is a god.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the technology itself is vaguely neutral. It's the inmates running the asylum that have exercised their rights? to drag the tech down to banality and perversity. So, it's the people using the tech that hurt society. Wait. Did I just say that people are hurtful to society? Bugger.

I'm on it right now, plus you learns alot of stuff on the net, and cool new peole as well!

I love Internet because it enables us to learn in a much more efficient way. We have access to much more information, worldwide ! No library could replace it. 

ITS GREAT!!

There are some great things about it, and bad things as well.

the internet is a great thing that helps humans with alot of things but I can also see how it is harmful.

Let me just say......cyber bully now for highschool kids...PORN PORN PORN can it get anyworse, just cause its fucking everywhere doesnt mean its right or all people want to see it. Screws your computer with viruses.


but e-mail is good and googling, directions.

in society today we need it

Extremely helpful. The Internet should stay forever.

awesome

I love the internet. You have to take the good with the bad...

5

It's very helpful and entertaining, but unfortunately it is easy to get addicted.

U CAN ORDER/FIND/REVIEW/SEE ANYTHING, I MEAN ANNNYTHING FROM THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN HM. LIKE ANYTHING U USE/DO......KNOW YOUR LIMITS! BEST THING NEXT TO, WOMEN.

Depends on how you use it.As long as you are responsible,it can be a good thing,but on the other hand some people abuse it.

If the internet is used correctly and for the right purposes, it can be very helpful.

I'd give it a saw-off right now.

It does open avenues of communication never before available, but....

It does create or exacerbate a certain level of disfunctionality.

Juries still out on this one, at least for me.

a 3.5. for the most part i really like the internet. it is like having a library of information right at my fingertips. there are a lot of fun sites to visit. the ability to email all over the world. to sometimes shop online { not too often} chat with new "friends". there is a bad side to. some of those sites could get someone in trouble. you need to be careful of who you talk to. I have the fear of my personal information getting Out there. and so on. I am glad the internet is around for the most part. just use caution when I get online.

Changed the world, and single-handedly jumpstarted the porn industry.

Overrated. . .great for cheap airline tickets and baseball scores but allows for more sophisticated criminal activity and turns people (who should be social creatures) into hermits. . .I use it, but I had a great life without it. . .

Obviously is a great tool for education, research and recreation but, is also a device used by predators and those who want to cause harm.

The broad availability of information and communications has been fantastic. I think however we are paying a price in the face to face world as we lose contact with the simple things in life like going to a record store, movie theatre or coffee shop. Hopefully the novelty of instant messaging will wear off and our needs as social animals will resurface and we'll get back out into the nieghbourhood.

Intrenet is an open window to the world. We all can express our opinions on this site coming from different parts of this country. We wouldn't even know one another if not for internet. Internet helps with gathering tons of information and doing research, getting latest news, weather, and other useful info.

Obviously the Internet is a very powerful, far reaching communication device. But, it's potentially no more or less harmful than a telephone or any other piece of equipment. It's a tool and, like all tools, it's something that needs to be used correctly to be safe and effective. If people are too stupid to take precautions or to instruct and guide their children, they will no doubt reap the consequences. To deny the rest of us access to the Internet because others won't bother taking these precautions is like saying you can't use the phone system because kids in your neighborhood are making crank calls. That's really not my problem.

It opened up a lot of possibilities for learning, but there also is a lot of bad information on the net so helpful, yes, but one must use caution.

All too true, and I do my best as an IT guy to keep out the bad guys.

For me, personally, it's a five. For society in general it teeters between a three and a four as it is truly a two-edged sword. Something about the law of unintended consequences comes into play. Funny how it is lower overall on this list than gay rights, which affect less than 2% of the general population. Silly but predictable focus of attention.