Was everyone stupid back then?

This actually reminds me of a quote in the book The Victorian Internet about the development of the telegraph. Part of the push of the first undersea cable to connect the US and European countries was a belief that with more instant communication there would be no misunderstandings and therefore no more wars. So this belief has been going on a long time.

Re: Was everyone stupid back then?

#5

Post by throw0101c » Sun, Nov 06, 2022, 2:51 PM UTC

See also Penny Arcade's take from 2004:

* https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/green-blackboa...

Previous observations on the CB radio band:

> Similar behavioral patterns have been observed in the anonymous usage of Citizens’ Band radio, a short-distance radio communications device widely used by truck drivers to find well-stocked fuel stations and share traffic information. On February 20th, 1978, a New Yorker[5] magazine profile piece on talk show host Johnny Carson mentioned that CB radio conversations can include disturbing amounts of racism and masturbation fantasies resulting from the lack of accountability.

* https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/greater-internet-fuckwad-theo...

Re: Was everyone stupid back then?

#6

Post by shubhamjain » Sun, Nov 06, 2022, 2:52 PM UTC

Did people really think that Internet was going to solve all problems or is that revisionist history by back-in-our-day millenials? Even for a techno-optimist, it would've been hard to forsee the sheer penetration. Yes, the euphoria was there from the beginning. But, there's a difference between saying "it's going to be huge" and imagining an instantly accessible network available in the hands of 60% of the world from a device that's hundreds of times faster than most powerful computer available at that time.

Re: Was everyone stupid back then?

#7

Post by autotune » Sun, Nov 06, 2022, 2:52 PM UTC

nells wrote: post #3

[flagged]

Politics were not mentioned, in any way, yet you are trying to inject politics into it. What is wrong with you?

Re: Was everyone stupid back then?

#8

Post by slackfan » Sun, Nov 06, 2022, 2:53 PM UTC

autotune wrote: post #7

nells wrote: post #3

[flagged]

Politics were not mentioned, in any way, yet you are trying to inject politics into it. What is wrong with you?

Sure sucks when a loud contingency of people claim that everything is political, donut?

Re: Was everyone stupid back then?

#9

Post by nells » Sun, Nov 06, 2022, 2:54 PM UTC

autotune wrote: post #7

nells wrote: post #3

[flagged]

Politics were not mentioned, in any way, yet you are trying to inject politics into it. What is wrong with you?

What is “social problems” (mentioned in the comic) if not politics?

Re: Was everyone stupid back then?

#10

Post by fumar » Sun, Nov 06, 2022, 2:54 PM UTC

shubhamjain wrote: post #6

Did people really think that Internet was going to solve all problems or is that revisionist history by back-in-our-day millenials? Even for a techno-optimist, it would've been hard to forsee the sheer penetration. Yes, the euphoria was there from the beginning. But, there's a difference between saying "it's going to be huge" and imagining an instantly accessible network available in the hands of 60% of the world fro…

Is that a millennial in the comic? I thought it was a Gen X or older character. Back in our day, I am thinking mid to late 90’s for techno optimism at its peak.