Let's burn the internet down

[A_Northern_Soul]

...I've had enough of it.

Trying to build my first website over the last few nights and what a pain in the bollocks it's proving to be. Had loads of problems setting up, and any solution always seems to be "go into X directory, delete Y bit of code, type "dfkhpokfdpokhfg;iohjftpogkxfoihjfpgosgpofjfig" and reinstall etc etc etc. So I contact my host company, and they mail me some links telling me to "go into X directory, delete Y bit of code, type "dfkhpokfdpokhfg;iohjftpogkxfoihjfpgosgpofjfig" No! You do it! I'm paying you!

I don't phone the garage and tell them "my car is broken" and get told "OK - open the bonnet, take out the spark-plugs, now remove the timing belt, loosen those screws. That'll be £100 please"

Excuse the rant, but i'm very VERY annoyed.

[GrangalanJr]

What host are you using? Do they offer a control panel / GUI for making changes to your site?

[A_Northern_Soul]

What host are you using? Do they offer a control panel / GUI for making changes to your site?

I'm using Uk.Webhosting. I've got a DotNetPanel, if that's what you mean, but I'm installing wordpress, so I think I'll control the site from the control panel in that, using it as a CMS. I might do a rain dance or some voodoo, see if that helps.

[GrangalanJr]

I see. I asked because with some control panels, the initial installation of things like Wordpress can be done as a simple point-and-click, automated process. Is that not the case with your host's panel?

[dono]

I'll host your site for free. I can't guarantee you redundancy, backups or anything like that, but I can give you a free web server, running bsd unix, and some help when you need it.

[A_Northern_Soul]

I see. I asked because with some control panels, the initial installation of things like Wordpress can be done as a simple point-and-click, automated process. Is that not the case with your host's panel?

It was - It installed Wordpress, but when I went to log into my WordPress site, it turns out I don't have a WP login - I'm having to reinstall, after getting a bit shirty with the support desk (sorry "Daniel").

I'll host your site for free. I can't guarantee you redundancy, backups or anything like that, but I can give you a free web server, running bsd unix, and some help when you need it.

Mate, that would be fantastic. I'll give my current host another chance, largely as I've stumped up £40 already, but I might get back to you. Very kind offer though, thanks.

Listening to Future Days by Can now and feeling a bit calmer. Long-haired noisy Germans make it all better....

[Mexicola]

To broaden this discussion slightly, I think this is indicative of computers generally. I just want the f-ing this to WORK. I don't want to install eleventy-seven patches, disable my Anti-Virus, Firewall, mains electricity and bare my arse to the moon to get Office 2000 to work on Windows 7 (don't ask, really, just DON'T ASK).

I whole-heartedly agree with the title of this thread.......sadly, the genie is long since out the bottle and I'm addicted in the worst way. I have huge respect for those people currently signing off of Twoism and/or the net generally.

Hills West might have been onto something.

[Guido]

To broaden this discussion slightly, I think this is indicative of computers generally. I just want the f-ing this to WORK. I don't want to install eleventy-seven patches, disable my Anti-Virus, Firewall, mains electricity and bare my arse to the moon to get Office 2000 to work on Windows 7 (don't ask, really, just DON'T ASK).

I whole-heartedly agree with the title of this thread.......sadly, the genie is long since out the bottle and I'm addicted in the worst way. I have huge respect for those people currently signing off of Twoism and/or the net generally.

Hills West might have been onto something.

I've been meaning to create a thread about this. I've thought a lot about how my life was much better when I didn't have a high-speed broadband connection to my house and I'm nearly convinced of the fact that the internet spoiled me to the bone.

At the same time, as you all know there was the Twoism meeting at my place last weekend and out of the eleven people who attended there were NINE FRIENDS whom I wouldn't have gotten to know if it wasn't for Twoism (the other two were already friends of mine). It would have taken me atleast half a lifetime to meet nine likeminded people if it wasn't for this forum.

I guess the internet and computeres do have their advantages, for sure.. but cutting back on usage is probably a good idea for pretty much everyone.

[A_Northern_Soul]

To broaden this discussion slightly, I think this is indicative of computers generally. I just want the f-ing this to WORK. I don't want to install eleventy-seven patches, disable my Anti-Virus, Firewall, mains electricity and bare my arse to the moon to get Office 2000 to work on Windows 7 (don't ask, really, just DON'T ASK).

I whole-heartedly agree with the title of this thread.......sadly, the genie is long since out the bottle and I'm addicted in the worst way. I have huge respect for those people currently signing off of Twoism and/or the net generally.

Hills West might have been onto something.

I've been meaning to create a thread about this. I've thought a lot about how my life was much better when I didn't have a high-speed broadband connection to my house and I'm nearly convinced of the fact that the internet spoiled me to the bone.

At the same time, as you all know there was the Twoism meeting at my place last weekend and out of the eleven people who attended there were NINE FRIENDS whom I wouldn't have gotten to know if it wasn't for Twoism (the other two were already friends of mine). It would have taken me atleast half a lifetime to meet nine likeminded people if it wasn't for this forum.

I guess the internet and computeres do have their advantages, for sure.. but cutting back on usage is probably a good idea for pretty much everyone.

I've calmed down a bit now - I no longer want to kick the entire internet to death. But the fact remains that - as Mexicola points out - for things that are meant to make our lives easier, computers are such a pain in the arse to use. I'm trying to build a site (which at the very least exists now*, but I've spent hours dicking about with bits of code to do something which really should be far simpler. To use my car analogy from earlier - you don't got to Audi, buy their basic model, then set to work with a saw and some tinted glass if you want a sunroof.

Guido's right in that the internet has made all of our lives a lot easier in so many ways, and I do rely on it for so many things - not least my 70s prog rock binge, courtesy of spotify** - there's a great pleasure to be had in switching off every now and again - laptop off, mobile off and wander about outside...

That's it - I'm off to bed!

* - for my up-and-coming photography business; will keep you posted.

** - I've had enough now. No more bass solos in tricky time signatures for a while.

[GrangalanJr]

For a few months I had a compromise: I used the net at school, but had no connection at my apartment. So I still had the advantages of net access, but no temptation to turn it on and simply "veg out" when I got home.

I got a lot of reading and music-making done in that time.

[747Music]

Dont' burn the internet down! That's where I keep all my stuff!

[bleak.]

the internet has its pros and cons. i think, like many things in life, to use it in moderation.

[Liquidlitebrite]

Fire!

[hexagon son]

yeah, i was so much happier this year for the 3 and half months i didnt have the net. was living in a new city, going out, meeting loads of people, keeping busy, studying japanese. got the internet and its just making me so lazy. i hardly ever go out anymore. i guess i just cant take anything in moderation. my japanese language skills have suffered too.

[SonicDimension]

I whole-heartedly agree with the title of this thread.......sadly, the genie is long since out the bottle and I'm addicted in the worst way. I have huge respect for those people currently signing off of Twoism and/or the net generally.

I hear you. I think our addiction to being constantly connected to streams of information from mass society stems from our lack of connection to the people and things in our physical environments. You might call this a loss of community. We use the stimulation of the Internet and various forms of media to cope with the alienation in our culture and the existential boredom that results from our meaningless and unsatisfying lives.

The only way to step outside the surrogate reality of the Internet is to engage with the real reality around you. But to do that effectively, you need a proper environment and a group of people to join you.

Intentional communities could be a solution for some. There are communities of all sorts scattered around the world. Ironically, the Internet is one of the best ways to find and research them before you visit and/or move to one

[Flory]

I'm just tired of the internet in general.
But I'm not much of a outdoorsy guy.

Limbo.

[Gazebo4]

But I'm not much of a outdoorsy guy.

But you could be.

[747Music]

But I'm not much of a outdoorsy guy.

But you could be.

True. 747 recommends you all start playing hockey.