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[Sebatianos]

As some may know I'm a teacher so I talk to the future generations of our planet's inhabitants quite a lot. I have to say that some things really do surprise me and among these things is the understanding of internet.

I'm not talking about understanging how it works, or how we can iumprove on its performance, but purely on the inpact it has in people's conscesness.

The things I've seen so far are quite interesting.

A - many kids regard it as a credible source on everything. So if it is on posted on a site of its own, it has to be true, no matter what it is. If it's a site that not many people know about, it really has to be true, especially if it says something other sites don't say. The other sites are conspireing in order to hide that information.

B - all the knowladge in the world is on the internet, so I don't have to know anything. All I need is a browser.

C - I'm paying for the internet, so everything I find on it I have to pay for. Why are they saying then that those movies are illegally downloaded - I payed for them. I pay a full XX€ a month to have my connection.

Now the first two points do concern me a little bit, but no too much. This just proves that people have always been after easy and sensational information. I mean, same concerns were there when TV was introduced to the general public, when Cinemas opened up to the general public, when the radio was listened to by the general public, when the general public could read... This just falls into the category of masses not being able to think for themselves and wish to be lead by somebody.

But the third argument really bothers me. It could lead up to a drastic increase of prices. After all, you can't really stop the on-line piracy (just like no-body could stop bootlegging pirated videotapes, photocopying of books, taping TV and radio shows...). But you could really raise the prices of getting internet connections and the providers of the connection could really be charged a lot of money for their work. Most of that money might very well go to the major entertainment industries, which are the ones damaged most by the piracy.

I guess this is a matter that in a way could concern our comunity as well, so I'd really like to hear your thoughts on it.