Is the Internet killing our social lives?

[Nikkif8]

Do you give your consent to answer the questionnaire?

Yes X
No

1. Are you male or female? F

2. Which ethnic group do you belong to?

White European X
White other
Black African Caribbean
Black African
Indian
Pakistani
Chinese
Asian other
Mixed ethnicity

3. Which of these social classes do you think you belong to?

Manual working class
Semi-skilled working class
Skilled working class
Lower-middle class/clerical workers X
Intermediate middle class (teachers, lower-grade professionals)
Upper middle class (doctors, highly qualified professionals)
Upper class (property owners/employers).

4. How old are you? 25


5. How much time do you spend on the Internet each week (on average)?

0-5 hours
6-11 hours
12-17 hours
18-23 hours
24+ hours X

6. How much leisure time do you spend with friends and family in person each week (on average)?

0-5 hours
6-11 hours
12-17 hours
18-23 hours
24-30 hours
30+ hours X

7. Which type of websites do you tend to visit whilst online? Select as many that apply.

Message boards/forums X
Online shopping X
News websites
Political websites
Other (please specify) X For work

8. When you’re online, do you often communicate with people from different backgrounds (i.e. people of a different nationality, ethnic group, social class, etc.)?

Yes X
No

9. How would you describe your online relationships? friends or aquaintances



10. Do you feel particularly close to your Internet contacts (please explain why or why not)? Some of them, we share a lot in common and some are people I actually know and hang with also.



11. Have you ever met up with, and befriended, someone you communicated with over the Internet? (select one of the responses)

Yes X
No

12. Have you ever been concerned about online flaming (flaming refers to heated arguments and/or abuse in online message boards/chat rooms/forums)? No

13. Would you say flaming was one of the major problems of communicating online?

Yes
No X

14. Would you say you belong to an online community, or do you think it’s impossible for a group of people who communicate over the Internet to form a community? I don't think it's impossible but I take it for what it is. People sharing common interests.


15. Do you use Computer Mediated Communications (CMC’s) such as e-mail, instant messaging, and message forums to communicate with your personal, close relationships such as family and friends?

Yes X and work
No

16. Do you feel as close to your family and friends when you are communicated via the Internet/e-mail as you would do in person?

Yes X
No

17. How many clubs/societies do you belong to?

1-3 X
4-6
7-9
10+

18. Have you ever joined an online protest movement?

Yes
No X

19. Have you ever joined any groups which use networking via the Internet to put people in touch with each other (for example, Facebook.com)?

Yes X
No

20. Which groups are these? (specify the name(s) of the group(s)) Myspace


21. On the whole, would you say using the Internet improves your relationships with other people, or it has no effect on people’s relationships, or does it make you more isolated/alienated from other humans? (select one response)

Improves relationships
Has no effect on relationships X
Worsens relationships/makes me more isolated

22. Do you trust people you speak to online? Some of them.

Yes
No

23. Have you come across someone online who has helped you out in some way (i.e. by giving you advice)?

Yes X
No

Thank you very much for completing my questionnaire. I appreciate it.

[stubbornforgey]

Originally Posted by urgeok

Is the Internet killing our social lives? :

i think if anything it's providing one (albiet a false one) to people who dont have the skills to have a social life.

this is nicely put.

Its really up to the individual.
In my opinion...its true ..the internet has taken away the lives of many
ppl out there..but like any well oiled machine...
the internet is also just another machine that can be either turned on or off.
So to speak..you can also lay blame to the p.s...the xbox..t.v (try finding a sociable male when its rugby/football season)

Thanks very much for answering my questionnaire guys. I know there're a lot of things wrong with it. To be honest though, I am only an undergraduate student who has to write his terrible dissertation (which isn't going so well at the moment), so if the questionnaire appears, well, amateurish then that's why. I know some of the questions aren't coherent but like I said it is a first-time effort so I apologise.

But thanks for answering it anyway. I much appreciate it. I still need to do some stuff with the dissertation, but your responses were very helpful. Now I just have to write the whole bloody thing up and do all the boring statistical analyses, charts, etc.

[Zero]

[LilMissScareAll]

I know this is an old thread, but I just had to say, if it wasn't for the internet, I wouldn't HAVE a social life. Period. I barely have one now, but if I didn't have the internet, I seriously wouldn't have any human contact(well except my parents and a few family members). I have social anxiety and I can't just go up to random people and start talking to them like most normal people can. Plus, most of the people in my town suck, so I don't want to get to know most of them anyway. Most people I meet are from other towns nearby--people I would never have the chance of getting to know if not for the internet. I've even found a female friend recently, and I would have never met her if not for the internet.

[Phalanx]

I know this is an old thread, but I just had to say, if it wasn't for the internet, I wouldn't HAVE a social life. Period. I barely have one now, but if I didn't have the internet, I seriously wouldn't have any human contact(well except my parents and a few family members).

I could well be in a similar situation in a few months, well...mainly just out of location change...my mother and brother (relatively) nearby, my girl, my cat, and that'll be it, I'll literally not know one person...completely new "city" which is 8 hours by train away from where I live now. I'd get my friends to come hang out but that won't be often, costs like $100 to get there and back. I suppose I'll pick up some wheels when I get there which'll make it "ok", but still, it's a little daunting.

[stubbornforgey]

I can relate

em stepping out of my comfort zone.
Leaving not only my country but a town an area where
I am very popular with my peers and going where i am virtually
an unknown with no family what so ever.
My baby has offered to bring over family members and friends if i want
but nah..
A whole new different culture .
a whole new way of life
a whole new set of rules.
But you know what..??
I am a little scared but so excited at the same time
and i wouldn't have it any other way .
It shouldn't take me long to make new friends..
i already have a bestfriend over there :o

[Phalanx]

I am a little scared but so excited at the same time

I feel you there...it's like letting go, it's a big thing...

[Spallalala]

Shut up and just move dammit..hehe

I didn't answer the questions just cos I don't really have a social life. Don't actually require one.
Don't like most people so its not so bad haha