What is the stereotype of an internet user?

[Ponaris]

I'm writing an essay on the behavoral implications of using the internet (out of want not need) for prolonged periods.

What would be the stereotype for a person using the internet out of interest be for you? (not trying to insult anyone, i would be hypocritical =P)
i thought that a person would be:

*teens-early thirties *semi-intellectual
*introverted *anti-conformist *reads as a hobby
*has a non mainstream taste in music
*has interest in art (of the animated or fantasy kind)
+plays video games
+uses abrv. language
+if they use the alias of kjrav


NB: I am really not looking at specific people. So im not really implying ther is a mould but i would be interested in hearing peoples opinions and thoughts on this one :)

[Named]

I noticed that in the period before the present decade onwards, use of the internet is no longer confined to the activity of 'nerds' or any select type of person.
Spending any amount of time on your computer used to be a defining quality of a person; now it is assumed of all. No longer do we even consider it in weighing one's social standing. In fact, you would probably bear a little criticism if it were discovered you -didn't- use the computer at all.
"What's wrong with you? How can you be up to date?"

I'd say if you were to write an essay on this topic you'd need to narrow it down. People who post on forums? People who use friend networks such as Myspace?

What trait do all Chaos members share...

[Abawida]

Agreed.

The "internets" (there are more then one) are used daily by probably 70% of the billions of people on this planet. Stereotyping them is impossible.

[kjrav]

But your stereotype does sound a little like me, if not alot...

[Ponaris]

+ to list name is kjrav

i'm focusing on the repercussions in extreme cases of young peopleperhaps gamers or simply heavy users on the net 15+ hours a week.

I want to describe behavioural features of those who would be likely candidates for an addiction to the net, and how they react to this, like withdraw from society, have a virtual world as their reality, depression... dark but its more interesting than your typacl net user.

EDIT: Does that help?

[Octo]

I see where you're coming from, although the mainstream music part I'd disagree with, we have quite a few Green Day / P!atd fans on here.

[Lost Prophet]

I find the stereotype accurate. As far as the mainstream music goes, I agree with Octo, although I cannot stand mainstream, yet I find myself listening to it one day every few months, unfortunately. For this essay, you can use examples of how the internet can affect how one speaks, and writes. For example, on the internet, good grammar and spelling is not a requirement. This will lead to one having trouble in school, such as in writing classes....

lol, omg, bbq, rofl, lmao, wtf, lmfao, and all the other internet crap will lead to the downfall of the english language.

[kjrav]

But it's so much cooler!Fuck the English language(And any other language for that matter), onward with abbreviations!You should add plays video games cause alot of the people I know play video games quite a bit.

[Octo]

I find the stereotype accurate. As far as the mainstream music goes, I agree with Octo, although I cannot stand mainstream, yet I find myself listening to it one day every few months, unfortunately. For this essay, you can use examples of how the internet can affect how one speaks, and writes. For example, on the internet, good grammar and spelling is not a requirement. This will lead to one having trouble in school, such as in writing classes....

lol, omg, bbq, rofl, lmao, wtf, lmfao, and all the other internet crap will lead to the downfall of the english language.
A very good point, my english teachers always make a point to say "NO GODDAMN TEXT SPEAK"

He has had articles handed in, in which "lol" was used, or j.k.

I personally would never use abbreviations unless mocking them, lol.

[Named]

The English language long ago began spiralling downward.

For every person who shunned me for using proper English in speech, yes, long before internet speak was popularised.
Not using proper English on the internet is a wasted opportunity to exercise language skills. It rarely causes the occurence of such habits in actual writing. Their writing would be equally poor if they engaged in anything which didn't properly exercise language skills.

[JoshAries]

I agree on the point that using the internet for long extended periods of time each week would cause one to begin using abbreaviations. Its just an easy way to make things short, sweet, and to the point.

Another point though, is that if one uses the internet as a way to gather information and discuss with other people around the world in message boards or in chat rooms, it would be a very good way to get your debating skills up. Granted if you counted out all the flame wars... but those are just like normal high-stress debates where things get out of hand and people just start spitting out random nonsense, right?

... Though of course, I cant say that I debate very much. I just tend to agree to disagree with everyone.

[Ponaris]

lol. you need someone to be the opposition, it makes it all the more interesting for that

+ video games
+ abbrv. language usage

i totally agree that language and debating skills benifit from posting on message and discussion boards. It is somethat is missing from the world these days. The only place a good discussion is on a forum, and the ability be had using appropriate vocabularly and arguments without some people making it into a heated argument and using emotive points like "you don't know what you are talking about or i hate you" :) lots of trouble with that one in my school.

Ancient greeks were really into debating, and it is said that they had the closes thing to a perfect civilisation.

Anyway, the point about the music is valid but if you were to look at a music collection, there is bound to be something unheard of.
My measure of mainstreams are, if four or five of your aquaintences were to look through the music, how much of it would they know/ like when they hear it? For me, it would be around 15%, hence i fit into the non-mainstream category.

I believe the music goes with the non-conformist tag, as it could be used with other subjects as well.

[dominicbowser09]

a young teenage nerd who types lol and pwn after everything