[Djinn8]

When I was younger and just starting out as a figure sculptor, I was considered to be one of the best in my area. I wasn't the best at what I did, but I was perhaps in the top 10 in the local scene. As a result I got a lot of work and my services were highly sought after. But as the internet became more widespread and the service of people from all over the world became available, my value dropped. I went from being in the top 10, to being something like the 100,000th best available. With people using search engines instead of attending events, going to clubs, local newsletters, and recommendations from friends, people such as myself are considered practically worthless. Being good at something is no longer enough to be successful - you have to be exceptional.

That is great for the consumer. The best quality, at the best price, with the best service is available at the click of a button. But it's bad for individual freedom of enterprise. How many small businesses are their in the world now compared to 20 years ago? I don't know myself, but I can imagine a steadily declining graph that suddenly drops of like the Mariana trench in recent years.

And it's not just businesses that are suffering like this, but nearly every aspect of peoples lives. It feels like only the top 20% of anything is worthwhile anymore. What place is there for the average person in a world like that? As I see it, only as an underclass for a modern Oligarchy. The only success I will ever have in life will be being successfully exploited.

[ImmerAllein]

Hi, I understand your pain. I have a very similar grievance with the internet.

30 years ago, people had to meet in person to get stuff done or just hang out.

Now, everyone's hooked on Facebook like zombies. The personal touch is no longer important.

I hate it, to put it very mildly.

(And, I'm a computer programmer myself)

[Service Cat]

It used to be that you compared yourself to celebrities, and you probably imagined that you were better than them at a lot of things, and even if you weren't, they lived in another world that didn't even seem real. Now you can compare yourself to people all over the world who are just like you, but obviously better (or worse) at certain things.

[ImmerAllein]

Originally Posted by Service Cat

It used to be that you compared yourself to celebrities, and you probably imagined that you were better than them at a lot of things, and even if you weren't, they lived in another world that didn't even seem real. Now you can compare yourself to people all over the world who are just like you, but obviously better (or worse) at certain things.

... and is that a good or bad thing ?

[Michelea]

Originally Posted by ImmerAllein

Hi, I understand your pain. I have a very similar grievance with the internet.

30 years ago, people had to meet in person to get stuff done or just hang out.

Now, everyone's hooked on Facebook like zombies. The personal touch is no longer important.

I hate it, to put it very mildly.

(And, I'm a computer programmer myself)

Agree 100%, and it's sad to watch it happen.

[ImmerAllein]

To be honest, I wish I were born in the USA back in the 60's during the hippie era of "free love". I'd have been much happier then.

[fishin fool]

Originally Posted by Djinn8

When I was younger and just starting out as a figure sculptor, I was considered to be one of the best in my area. I wasn't the best at what I did, but I was perhaps in the top 10 in the local scene. As a result I got a lot of work and my services were highly sought after. But as the internet became more widespread and the service of people from all over the world became available, my value dropped. I went from being in the top 10, to being something like the 100,000th best available. With people using search engines instead of attending events, going to clubs, local newsletters, and recommendations from friends, people such as myself are considered practically worthless. Being good at something is no longer enough to be successful - you have to be exceptional.

That is great for the consumer. The best quality, at the best price, with the best service is available at the click of a button. But it's bad for individual freedom of enterprise. How many small businesses are their in the world now compared to 20 years ago? I don't know myself, but I can imagine a steadily declining graph that suddenly drops of like the Mariana trench in recent years.

And it's not just businesses that are suffering like this, but nearly every aspect of peoples lives. It feels like only the top 20% of anything is worthwhile anymore. What place is there for the average person in a world like that? As I see it, only as an underclass for a modern Oligarchy. The only success I will ever have in life will be being successfully exploited.

Very well said and I could not agree more.

The advent of the internet and technology has drastically affected my friend's film and photography company. He used to be a cinematographer. Provincial cutbacks to subsidies practically ended that leaving him to rely on the occasional comercial and wedding to survive. Even editing has been choked off as people send their footage off to the cheapest they see on the internet. He can't be competitive. And now, the 'GoPro' is on the scene. Gone practically overnight was any remaining film and cinematic work - especially the extreme conditions work he specialized in. Even News Photographers/film men have gone the byebye as most journalists film themselves. How sad to go from filming major movies like the Bourne films to being a glorified wedding videographer.

[Service Cat]

Originally Posted by ImmerAllein

... and is that a good or bad thing ?

It's neither. Just like the Internet I guess.

[ScientiaOmnisEst]

As much as I love the internet, and as much as I agree - strongly, like fanatically strongly - that there's no place for average in the world, thinking about this terrifies me. It really is a travesty when you consider it.

What I wonder is, what can we do to make it better? Improve the situation for people like those mentioned here? Part of the issue could be obsolescence, in which case you need new skills, but if your ability is still in demand, there has to be some way...