One might say I was among the pioneers of “Internet Culture”, that is to say I spent way too much time on the internet way before it was cool to spend way too much time on the internet.
These days it’s almost cool to be a degenerate, spending 10+ hours a day connected to the internet in some way is pretty much the norm for most civilized countries. Heck, they’ve even got things like nifty Twitter so even when your friends drag you away from the internet kicking and screaming you can still get your fix via your mobile phone without running up a data plan bill.
Nope, it seems that people like me, who have more online-friends than real world friends, are fast becoming what’s considered normal. It’s not like I don’t get outside or anything, it’s just that when it comes to downtime entertainment I can get everything I need on the PC. It almost seems normal, at least amongst the people I talk to (that could be where my results are skewed though).
I’m not talking about the folks who spend their entire lives on SecondLife.
I’m not talking about a bunch of douchebags walking around in tuxedos and V for Vendetta masks after emerging from a two month stint in the basement.
No, I’m not talking about the extremes yet (though I admit, I’ve been a member of the extreme before).
I’m talking about the regular, well adjusted people who look somewhat normal when they go outside, who just happen to work on their PC and when they want entertainment also play on their PC. The kinds of people who will IM instead of picking up the phone, and who will read Google News instead of the morning paper. Are we becoming what’s normal or am I imagining it?
I’m probably imagining it. 