to me, the internet is basically just a bajillion people talking about an endless amount of things, where anyone can find anyone that appeals to their interests/likings/etc without fear of judgement or slander. although the internet isn't tangible, it's more real than anything i've ever been familiar with. i believe the answer to this question varies over time, but going off of my experiences, the internet has been around ever since the days of AOL and unfortunately, reigns over many of my personal opinions. some days, i want to delete everything and disappear from the cyberspace, but the fear of being forgotten lingers far beyond logic. i believe we are the first generation to ever experience thoughts such as this, but despite the negatives, i can't deny that there are some undeniable benefits. such as (but not limited to): unfiltered access to pretty much anything on the planet, information on any subject at the tip of our fingertips, ability to connect with anyone at anytime at any place, and connectedness with one another based purely on interests. in my opinion, it's both a blessing and a curse!