In what fundamental ways could the internet change our lives?

The Internet is a powerful tool of the media. With the emergence of dot COM companies, and the rising number of media savvy people, the Internet is slowly becoming an integral part of our lives. Anyone with a computer, modem and telephone line could well be on the expressway to vast amounts of information and knowledge.

The Internet could be said to be a form of liberalisation of the media as we now have access to all kinds of information and knowledge at anytime we want. Students of the past had to rely on textbooks and carry out their researches in libraries. However, the Internet has revolutionised the way of learning. We are now treated to a host of websites with adequate information about many subject matters and still enjoy the visual treats provided. Learning is thus, no longer restricted only to reading thick, old, books.

Besides knowledge and information, certain ideals and propaganda are also posted on the Internet. People all over the world will have the chance to gain access to these. However, many say that this might be a cause for worry. The minorities like Ku Klux Klan and the Punk Rock Community are using the Internet to lure young teenagers. More teenagers and young adults seem to be influenced by the ideas propagated by the Ku Klux Klan and their anti-black propaganda, which is morally unacceptable to many.

Besides the spread of ideas, there are also practical uses of the Internet. These days, even banking, application of flats and shopping can be done through the Internet. We can now pay bills, trade stocks and shares and even shop for groceries through the Internet. All these services have definitely made life for busy modern people easier as most services are only ‘a mouse click away’. Services provided through the Internet also cut down administrative costs and increase efficiency in many firms. Consumers can also post their comments to firms through their official website instead of sending a snail mail. In this way, consumers also do benefit as they can voice out their opinions about certain products or services without much of a hassle.

The emergence of the Internet would inevitably lead to the emergence of chat rooms. Internet users now enter a chat room and make new friends through online chatting. The Internet and chat rooms have definitely changed the way we socialise these days. People do not meet in person but rather, they talk about their interests online and if they fancy each other, telephone numbers and electronic mail addresses will then be exchanged. This enables them to keep in touch with each other.

The benefits of the Internet however, do come with social costs and more worries. Though Internet banking and shopping are efficient ways to get things done, the authorities are afraid that this might lead to an increased number of Internet crimes like hacking and the stealing of credit card numbers. In Singapore alone, there have been quite a number of hacking and fraud cases linked to the Internet.

The Internet, which can shape the way, we learn and communicate, might also bring about segregation of the society. A society with a set of upright morals and values might be segregated due to the propaganda posted on the Internet websites. Society might be filled with people of different values and ideals and it is difficult to maintain cohesion within society should this happen.

The Internet has thus definitely influenced the way we think and helped us to gain knowledge, and will continue to do so in years to come. Many activities can now be carried out through the Internet. However, we must also take note of the consequences of allowing the Internet to change too many aspects of our lives, and start focusing on morals and values that are being lost due to this change.

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In what fundamental ways could the internet change our lives?

The Internet is a vast realm filled with knowledge for each and every person on this planet. The Internet has found its way into peoples’ lives, changing the way we think and act. Our lifestyles have managed to merge as one with this revolutionary network of communication. In this essay, I am going to discuss the basic ways in which the Internet could modify our lives in the future.

First of all, let me start with education. The knowledge that our children obtain will be largely dependent on the Internet. Books of today will mostly be obsolete, disposed of and be recycled. Online books will be made available wherever there is access to the Internet. Children as young as the age of three could attend special courses, where they learn basic modules such as switching on the computer and logging onto the computer. In this way, children can grasp the essentials they require early and start learning through the Internet.

Education online could also slowly become a trend. Learning is not going to be all about going to school. Through the Internet, there could be a scheme whereby students from around the world can learn together in their respective time zones. Internet forums and conferences could be held, whereby professors or scientists can give talks and lectures online. Examinations and tests can be taken in the comfort of the students’ homes. Their papers will be graded online and sent to the students’ e-mail accounts. These can then be saved and stored inside the students’ computer.

However, not all is beneficial with education online as there are disadvantages as well. If children and teenagers are to get educated through the Internet at home, they could become lazy and unhealthy due to the lack of exercise. Young children who get isolated from the outside world could suffer from bad effects such as suicidal thoughts due to extreme loneliness.

Moving on to my next point, online businesses should thrive rapidly in the near and distant future. Many of the e-commerce magnates of today made a fortune by setting up websites on the Internet.

The purchase of goods such as our daily groceries could be done on the Internet. Online supermarkets could be made available so that shopping could become an easy chore for everyone. The goods that one purchased will be delivered to the doorstep of or be placed into special lockers near his home.

Lastly, I think that the entertainment industry could become much more significant on the Internet. In time, there could probably be millions of Internet websites dedicated to entertainment. Youngsters could enjoy playing network computer games with players from around the world. There will no longer be the need for penpals. New friends can be made just as easily with the fairly popular Internet Relay Chat (IRC).

In addition, international events such as the National Day Parade of Singapore could be aired live on the Internet for everyone around the world to witness. In this way, citizens can keep in touch with the goings-on in their homeland. However, there are also disadvantages to this concept. Celebrities such as singers who hold concerts could become obsolete in the future due to the lack of publicity. This could do serious damage to the movie and music industry. Pornographic websites are also being posted everywhere on the Internet. This problem could become overwhelming in the near future and be hazardous to teenagers.

All in all, it is clear that the evolution of the Internet has its advantages and disadvantages. Changes and advancements like the Internet, are happening all over the world due to the Internet. We have to embrace these changes and overcome the problems which come with them.

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In what fundamental ways could the internet change our lives?

With technology advancing at the speed of light and the Internet already playing such a huge role in modern society, it would not be long before our lives start evolving around the Internet. The Internet will thus change our lives in a significant way.

One aspect of life that might change will be the way people are educated. Students can now learn at their own pace in their own homes. There is no need to attend school anymore so students just need to log onto their ‘web schools’ anytime, anywhere. They can listen to their favourite virtual lecturers. Lessons would be fun-filled and interesting, the Internet would replace textbooks and research can be done by tapping into the vast library of information available through the Net. Assignments can be sent via e-mail to their tutor and it will be marked and returned. The only time students need to leave the house is perhaps when they are sitting for a test or an examination. Wouldn’t this be a wonderful idea for a student?

The Internet could also change the way people do business. In the future, homes could become offices with the help of a computer, a modem, and a digital camera. Video conferencing can be held on the Net with the aid of a digital camera. Businessmen can chat, or rather, negotiate deals with their clients. The latest stock exchange reports are easily available on their monitor screen. Business deals can be clinched with a click of a mouse. People can soon discard their suits, ties and briefcases.

The entertainment industry might also change as a result of the Internet. In the past, moviegoers frequent the cinemas but now they can catch the latest movie in the comfort of their own homes as movies are screened online. Record companies no longer sell compact discs as all their music from various artistes are converted into MP3s and sold online. Fans can choose to download any of their favourite songs or even the whole album of their favourite singers. Pop stars will hold live concerts through the Internet and viewers need only to pay a small sum to catch them in action. Sports fanatics can catch major tournaments and events live from the Net.

Although shopping can already be done through the Net, it is still not a popular way to shop. But in the near future, I think shopping online will replace shopping centres. Shopping online would be easy and convenient, and it saves you from the hassle of queuing up and the goods will be delivered right to your doorstep. Even groceries and meals can be ordered through the Internet. Internet auctions are becoming more common and are held regularly. Great bargains can be found on the Internet as goods become cheaper because sellers need not pay rent for stores.

I cannot say for sure how else our lives will change because of the Internet, but one thing I can guarantee is that the Internet itself will keep changing with breakthroughs in technology.

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‘Religion can be both a blessing and a curse’. comment.

Religion has been part of human society since ancient times. Every civilisation, great or small, past and present has developed the concept of a greater being; Gods of great power that influence our lives. The Greeks and Romans had their Olympics Gods, the Chinese mixed Taoism and Buddhism, the Arabs, Islam, and the Europeans believed in Christianity. Religion has greatly influenced the thoughts and decisions for good and bad for generations.

Religion is a source of comfort to many people. The belief that someone out there is watching over you, protecting you in times of need, is the primary attraction of religion. It gives more meaning to life, hope in times of desperation and need. For religious people, it is this belief that gives them the conviction and determination to overcome fear and hardship. It is no surprise that during war, economic disasters or famines, many people turn to religion for comfort. Religion has kept many people from despair, because there is always hope of spiritual intervention, of a second chance. This drives people on.

Religion can also provide belonging and understanding in a society. Shared religion has been proven to promote social cohesion because the people share the same values. Indeed, most of the fundamentals of morality today are derived from religions and are shared by different cultures. Concepts that we consider a part of our lives like the frowning upon of adulterous behaviour, might not have come about without religion.

Another important contribution of religion to the world is the introduction of the concept of punishment, not just physically but also spiritually, for committing crimes or for sinning. It has given Man a sense of accountability, a moral foundation to build their lives on. It has provided people with a sense of direction, a clear-cut stand on what is right and what is wrong. It encouraged people to do good and charitable deeds. The concept of helping strangers voluntarily came from religion. Perhaps the charitable organisations today would not exist without it and Man would like only for the benefit of himself and immediate family and friends.

All recognised religions are basically moral and preach peace and tolerance among Mankind. However, problems begin when Man manipulates and misinterprets religious texts and teachings. Wars have been fought over religion. The Crusades in the 11^th and 12^th centuries pitted European Christians against Muslim Arabs. They were initially fighting for their respective religions but the Crusades soon turned into bloodbaths with murders, looting and raping. When the Crusaders captured Jerusalem, the Holy City, the first thing they did was to massacre the Muslim inhabitants. In modern times, religious violence has erupted in Ireland, the Middle East and many other countries. Religious discrimination thus still exists today though it is more discreet.

Furthermore, religion did bring about a slowdown of the development of Mankind. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, contradicted the Christian Bible and despite all the evidence he had to back his claims, he still came under heavy criticism by the religious community. Science and religion in the past led a very uneasy co-existence. Religious leaders attributed everything to God but scientists put them down to theories and formulas. It is no surprise then that many religions discouraged study at some point of their existence. For example, Pope Innocent the Third barred reading and writing for all but priests and nobles because he felt that education was subversive. In Puritan times, the most talented men studied religions rather than used their talents for inventions and discovery because in that society, the glory of God was more important than that of Man.

On a more personal level, many people have become dependent on their religion to lead their lives. They are easily influenced out of fear of the unknown and fear of retribution in death. This goes against most religious concepts of love and happiness. By following out of fear rather than true belief, they open themselves to being manipulated by others through religion. This partly explains why there are so many religious cults nowadays.

There seems to be a sense of rigidity and intolerance in established and recognised religions. The words in the religious texts are regarded as wholly true despite certain debatable issues. For example, in the Bible, man has a higher position than women, and divorce is not permitted on any grounds. Perhaps those laws applied two thousand years ago, but not today.

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How far do you consider freedom to be essential for good living?

If one were to ask any American what he or she values most in life, the response would probably be their freedom. Aptly deemed 'The land of the free', the United States of America places utmost importance on freedom and this can be clearly seen in their constitution of rights, from even the very first amendment. One might question the great emphasis placed on freedom. Is there really a purpose served, or is it just another political hype?

Freedom is defined as having the liberty of making decisions in life, whether in the form of speech, action or choice. Freedom is also the ability to live a life free from any form of slavery. In other words, freedom can be tantamount to justice as the lack of it, does signal a problem of basic human rights. As for myself, I do believe that freedom to a certain extent, is crucial for the existence of a comfortable and satisfying life as the lack of it does amount to repression, which is detrimental to a good life.

One example of how the total lack of freedom had created misery and torture in people's life was the advocacy of slavery of Africans in the 19^th century. Millions of Africans were tortured by their white masters and lived their lives in fear. This treatment was the norm regardless of whether they were picking cotton in America or working in the plantations of Haiti. Ever since their emancipation, life for most of these slaves has changed for the better. Although racial issues still exist, especially in America, these former slaves now have the liberty to choose their own way of life without having to worry if the decision they make will cause them to get a whipping. Now, they are recognises as African-Americans and are given equal opportunities in life. This significant improvement in the lives of these former slaves was only made possible by the freedom granted to the by the late, Abraham Lincoln, hence, this shows how important a factor liberty is, in life.

The lack of freedom can also deprive one of certain positive aspects of life. For example, the use of child labour, which is rampant in developing countries such as India and South America, literally steals away the childhood of these working children. They are normally sold to their employees by their own parents and have to put up with harsh working hours and environment at a very young age. They get paid next to nothing and large companies such as Nike and the controversial maker of soccer balls used in the last World Cup, exploit this in order to cut down production costs. This is a stark contrast to the lives of children to just be themselves and one not exposed to any form of work at such a young age. While a working child in Brazil struggles with a sewing machine twice her size, a free child in Singapore is hanging and playing on the monkey bars. The latter situation is possible even for the child in Brazil, if her freedom is granted. Only then will she truly know how her life should be and not have to cope with the stresses of working life that is normally experienced in adulthood.

Freedom also allows people to appreciate themselves and others. This is obvious especially in South Africa where Apartheid has been the rule for decades. During this time, the Blacks were made to feel inferior and known as second-class citizens. Due to this white supremacy, South Africa was almost cut-off from the world. It was only after the system was made defunct and Nelson Mandela was President, that the world finally opened up to South Africa. After its stoppage, the coloured or 'Blacks' of South Africa no longer have to live each day being made to feel absolutely no self-worth just because of their skin colour. They now feel proud of their nationality and have more opportunities opening up for them.

It can also be said that creativity is spawned by the freedom of one's surroundings. In a way, freedom facilitates or motivates creativity as it frees the mind from rigidity and repression. Hence, this paves the way for improvements in the arts, fashion and entertainment. This probably why America is the world's Mecca of the latter. People think and innovate better when they are free from fear. Having freedom allows this as one knows that nobody can prosecute them for saying or doing things as long as they remain in the boundaries of the law.

Although freedom is crucial for a good life, it is not essential for survival. This is seen by the nonetheless slow progress of countries such as communist China and many other developing countries of the world. These people live their lives without total freedom ,whereby the government, as in the case of China, dictates even the number of children a family can have. Millions of others are living their lives as slaves to poverty or their work. They may not have a good and happy life but they are still surviving.

In a nutshell, freedom is of crucial importance for a good life. The lack of freedom is tantamount to injustice and even a violation of human rights. True, one can live and survive in situations of repression and control, but one cannot and will not lead a comfortable, satisfactory life. If all forms of freedom fail, we have one last resort which will probably never really be controlled -and that is the freedom of our minds and thoughts.

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"The less priority women give to their roles as wives and mothers, the more problems society will face." Do you agree?

Women are the traditional keepers of the house and that image of them will probably continue down the centuries to come. However, with the improvement of world economies and the broadening of social openness, more women are stepping out of the kitchen and into society. This is very much encouraged by the progressive governments all over the world; yet, this one step is followed by a myriad of unforeseen problems, along with the benefits.

Society can be defined broadly as the world we live in and there are many aspects of society. A few examples would be the family, work-force, population and the economy. Problems that society will face have already surfaced in many developed countries and the governments are trying to find solutions to deal with these problems. This essay will discuss some problems and benefits faced by the society, and solutions to the problems.

The family unit is the very foundation of society, without which society could collapse of society. As has been stated, women are the traditional keepers of the house and naturally, most of the responsibilities of the home will be placed on their shoulders. Due to the rising demand for a larger workforce and the growing economy, workers are very much in demand, and women, naturally, become a rich source of labour , as the supply of men is unable to meet the demands of labour. Moreover, with the rising standards of living, women are also expected to help support the family to meet rising expectations. With all these reasons, it is no wonder the women give roles of wives and mothers less priority.

With their parents working, children are alone at home and usually allowed to do as they like. The lack of discipline at home brings a lot of problems to society due to the irresponsible actions of these untrained children. As young children, the lack of discipline spoils them and they become very rebellious, retaliating immediately if they felt bonds of restrictions imposed on them. As teenagers, it is the age where the child needs the most guidance and proper companionship. Without both, the child will probably turn bad. Society will then have to deal with them as these habits follow them up to adulthood and social stability may be at risk. These problems are very widespread in some countries and crimes committed by teenagers are rampant. As the east develops, these problems begin to surface as well.

As women are more career-minded, the duties of a wife are neglected. They tend to marry late and find children an impediment to their advancement in society. Some women even decided to stay a spinster. This results in a large fall in the population growth in society. At present, it is not a problem, as the workforce expands with the increase of female labour and foreign workers and the economy grows. However, when it comes to the time for the next generation to take their place in the work force, the problem hits. There are too many aged to be taken care off and the workforce will find it increasingly difficult to support them. This phenomenon is known as the aging population and is also widespread today. Two examples of nations with the problem will be Singapore and Japan.

When this occurs, the economic growth slows down and a deterioration of the standards of living in the country grows imminent. The economy becomes weak and soon, other countries overtake as trade and globalisation links countries together. Aspects of society are linked and a problem in a single aspect will multiply to many problems. It is ironic to find that the growing economy has to take a responsibility for a failing economy while a need to improve living standards actually leads to a fall in standards of living.

The direct result of women stepping into society is actually an improvement in the economy, along with increasing national status as the nation gets richer. The short run results are all very good and beneficial. However, the long run problems are very severe and all levels and aspects of society are affected.

Although the overall effect of the women giving less priority to their traditional roles is the worsening of society, some problems may be curbed while others may not even occur.

As was stated, one problem of society is the degenerating values of the young. This poses a threat to social peace and stability. This problem can be curbed. Guidance and understanding from parents are essential to minimizing this problem. Communication between parents and children can help develop mutual trust and understanding, such that the child knows clearly, on the periphery of his consciousness that punishments are for his own good. He may bear a grudge but as time passes, so will the grudge. Quality time needs to be spent, no matter how busy the parents are, as it contributes to the child’s psychological well-being.

The other problem is the aging population. Some solutions that the Singapore government has imposed include the Central Provident fund increasing the retirement age and increasing spending on medical services for the aged. This reduces the demand on the workforce and allows independence among the old. Another policy the government has recently implemented to encourage child-bearing includes monetary bonuses fro a second and third child, father’s three day maternity leave, and cheaper child-care services. This is to prevent the worsening of the aging population in future.

When women give less priority to their roles as wives and mothers, it is true that many problems will arise. This is not to say that these problems were non-existent in the past, but just that one big step by females, augmented these problems to a very great magnitude. If the problems were not dealt with properly, it may be true that society will collapse. However, as long as the government and the family work with cooperation, these problems can be reduced considerably.

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We are all creatures of habit. Discuss.

As mankind progresses into the 21^st century, we marvel at the incredible differences at our lives as compared to our forefathers. From the Internet to the latest boy band, one can easily be forgiven for assuming that we are now vastly different creatures to our ape-like ancient Man. However, this is not true. As we were 5000 years ago, so we are now. We are still creatures of habit.

"Habit usually conjures images of petty virtues or vices, like brushing your teeth after every meal, or biting your fingernails. However, this will not be the focus today. To me, "habit" would refer to long-established behaviours moulded by social institutions that permeate societies in any form, any time. Such institutionalised learning is passed on from generation to generation, forming the so-called 'unwritten laws' of society. An example would be the 'fact' that the male species was, and still is, the absolute stronger sex of the two---though I beg to differ.

It has been proven that Man learns by conditioning. As infants, we are essentially amoral and absolutely spontaneous. It is through conditioning that forms the crux of our so-called 'mindsets'. Indeed, our 'minds' are already ' set' by the time we are capable of independent thinking.

There was an interesting experiment conducted about the behavioural responses to pain amongst monkeys. A set of ten monkeys placed within a two-storey house. Whenever any one monkey tries to go to the second floor, the other nine would experience an electrical shock. When the notion 'going to the second floor' was firmly associated with 'BIG PAIN', the monkeys were then subsequently replaced, one by one. Often the veteran neighbours, for even going near the staircase, beat up the newest member. The experiment ended up with a brand new set of monkeys, terrified of at the second storey---and never knowing why.

Sounds comical? It is, but it aptly, if not satirically shows our learning processes. Through conditioning, association, and sometimes bodily pain, we are imparted a set of socially acceptable notions about the rules of living. We learn that kindness is good and stealing is bad. We learn to respect rules and regulations and obey authorities. We even learn that boy bands are good and metal music is bad. But like the brand new set of monkeys, do we actually know what we are doing, and why?

Man is by no means a perfect being. If God had his way, we would probably be still in Eden, frolicking in the sun without even questioning the higher being. But, as sons and daughters of the Earth, we are prone to mistakes, and surely we have made a great deal of them throughout our reign on Earth. While it is largely true that men are physically stronger than their female counterparts, the same cannot be said about the emotional part. Whoever advocated the aeons-old 'fact' obviously had not seen Xena in action, or witnessed the crazed advancements at the Nazi Empire under one man. As we step into our third millennium, it is about time that we question the practicality and truth of our entrenched social habits and re-evaluate them in accordance with our present time and age.

If one were to step out of society and ignore all forms of social institutions and rules, one can be seen as spontaneous--doing whatever one feels like doing. The birds and bees are indeed spontaneous creatures, hunting for necessity, mating for necessity. How ideal if one can indeed do whatever one desires! But surely, this is over-simplistic for a highly advanced race of beings. As masters of the earth, surely we are, and must be beyond the animalistic instincts that govern animal behaviour. If man cannot live on love alone, he cannot live on bread alone either. While we live because we are living, we must fulfil both the sensual and sentient beings within ourselves. Being totally spontaneous is to bring ourselves to the animalistic level, eat when we want, kill when we want. Surely we are beyond that?

However, as stated above, like the monkeys, we sometimes go through our lives without ever questioning the social institutions that we subject ourselves to. While the Great Social Machine is irresistible, nobody says that we are not to question it. 'Why is goodness good?" Why can't we talk back to our seniors?' Such questions would usually draw a response (from the higher authorities) like "Don't ask so many questions!" And why not? If we are indeed going to shut ourselves up and bottle our questions, it will undoubtedly stifle our ability for self-expression and thus deny our creative spirit and individuality. Think 'social stagnation' and you will probably understand the potentially serious results.

If we are to perform our roles as mortal creatures and superior beings of our world, we would have to take a balanced approach towards our social institutions. We are subjected to them, but we must not ever get too caught up with ourselves trying to conform to them. After all, who can really catch up with fashion? While I agree that there must be laws and habitual behaviours to govern us, the nooks and crannies are our spaces for ourselves. Ever seen an adult still hung up on biting his nails?

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