Tue, 18 Jul 2000

Internet -- devil or angel?

The Internet -- it is both the devil and an angel, heaven and hell, both hope and despair. The Internet has gathered the entire world in its palm. A click of a mouse can give you an infinite number of details on whatever subject you want, whether business or science, economics or politics, about history or literature or anything else.

Everything has a unique address and entering a particular site can give you the necessary details. A person in America can know what is happening in Africa. On the whole, one can say that the Internet is a boon and a priceless benefit to mankind.

But some people become addicted to the Internet. Most people use the Internet for hours and hours. Some even go mad if they can't get connected. Because of this, some people don't even concentrate on their work.

The University of Pittsburg has found out that people who are browsing for hours and hours can become ill and mentally upset. Ironically, this habit of browsing for hours and hours can be cured by browsing www.pitt.edu/-ksy. You can get free medication for your addiction to the Internet.

But the Internet is just not the devil alone. It can help you with good things too. There are some sites which are trying to help starving people. Browse www.thehungersite.com and you can get further details.

A woman suffering from severe asthma browsed the Internet and found a solution to her problem. A 31-year-old father was able to save his ailing son with the use of the Internet. He cried with unbridled joy because he was able to save his child.

Tired walking around the supermarket buying one thing at one end and another at the other end? Friend, that was eons ago. Now there is online shopping. From antiques to automobile accessories, everything is available on online.

Why are they called "stands" when they are meant for sitting? Why is it that a wise guy and a wise man are opposite?. Well, if one could find answers to the above, one could also say whether the Internet is heaven or hell.

UMA RAMAKRISHNAN

Jakarta