Case For:
1 The net allows communication between people anywhere in the world (via e-mail). It can help strengthen or encourage global bonding between different nations by way of communication.

2 The net's e-mail application is fast and cheaper than the traditional method of posting. For example, it costs the same to send a Christmas card to London as it does to Australia.

3 Information, software, graphics and music can be "downloaded" onto your computer free.

4 Many different services can be taken advantage of - they are all readily available for you to use. For example: data transactions with the bank.

5 Fast updates are what the Internet is about. E.g.: Internet users were entitled to accounts of what was happening during the Gulf War - as it was happening.

6 Savings can be made by using the net. E.g.: Using "Telnet" can save you a lot of money if you make a lot of long-distant telephone calls.

Case Against:
1 Using e-mail in the future may "render our vocal chords redundant" - that is, too many people will be used to using e-mail and not bother to verbally speak others.

2 Applications such as e-mail may overtake the traditional means of letter posting (informally termed: "snail mail"). Jobs in the Post Office will be cut down considerably. Will everyone be "posting" their Christmas cards electronically?

3 There will always be a risk of hackers, data theft and contracting viruses on the net. People's personal data will not be safe no matter how it is guarded. The hackers and virus programmers cannot be deterred. They are always desperate to show off how clever they are. There will be a need for security on the net for people doing tasks such as carrying out international bank transactions.

4 Computers are moving at an astonishing rate. Therefore, equipment is expensive to purchase and update. In the case of the net, it will be difficult to keep up to date on any new hardware that is released to improve Internet usage as it is expanding fast.

5 Using the net is relatively cheap, but will become expensive in the long run. It is not really suitable for extensive use.

6 The net will always cause confusion for people. Renowned subjects include the jargon used. E.g.: "Flaming", "Spamming", "Gopher", etc. There will always be "Internet Pests" who call themselves "cybernauts", use "cyberspeak" and "surf the world wide web".