and what if?

Feb 21, 2016 10:08 AM

placeformybody

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1733

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To be fair, in 1992 the Internet was very much a toy for the average person

10 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 0

I mean, some of these look like unbiased sources. Of course a horse salesmen would tell you there's no future in cars.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

And by unbiased, i, of course, meant biased. Commenting while half asleep is a bad idea.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Annnnd....the Carleton professor was right!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Last panel guaranteed a downvote -1

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I will personally blame you if Trump does win the elections now.

10 years ago | Likes 58 Dislikes 1

Thanks Obama

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

There's always gotta be an agenda..

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

SpaceX will get to Mars the same way every other aerospace corporation has: Through government contracts. SpaceX just has better marketing.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Also, in the words of Carl Sagan, the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses... 1/2

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

They laughed at Columbus...but they also laughed at Bozo the Clown" - Carl Sagan

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It would be kinda cool if trump won the next election. Its about time some other country took over the world. I'm thinking maybe China.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 4

If it wasnt equally packed with rampant corruption and an even larger allotment of power to be corrupt with, that would be great.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The fuck?

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

#7 made me think a little... but the work/time is so much even if it were cheaper, and I'm guessing it's now far more expensive for horses.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

To be fair, in 1983 the great video game crash happened. The industry literally died for 2 years

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Given the tech and info at the time, most of these are understandable. No different than criticizing time travel today.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I wonder what the news on global warming will be... The possibilities on these things are endless! Muahahaha :D

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

#6 Well, that's kinda true.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That last one is an example of optimism, not pessimism.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Any rational person disagrees with you.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I was trying to make a joke, but still, he optimistically believes that Trump will not be elected. So ... my statement/joke stands.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I remember about color printers having 'No business value' when they first came out. And 'personal computing devices' had no place at work.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

My prediction is Hillary staves off Bernie (barely) and loses to trump in the general election. I'm not happy about this.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Popping back in to say:

2 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Nice.

2 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

"There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home." Ken Olsen, the founder and CEO of Digital Equipment Corporation 1977

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

Horse vs Auto was probably pretty on point in 1915, long time for the infrastructure to be in place for cars to truly crush the horse

10 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 0

Agreed, the argument for cost was convincing as well. I say we go back to riding horsies

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

True of most of these. To be practical, a lot of new technologies need to be adapted en masse first.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yup like alternative fuel sources..

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm trying to stay optimistic about Tesla Motors. Part of me actually wants gas prices to go back up, tho I can't afford a Tesla yet so...

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Agreed, it's not time for an alternative to gas yet, but we're getting there. Slowly.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Guys, regarding #5... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_video_game_crash_of_1983

10 years ago | Likes 26 Dislikes 0

Yeah I was like between atari and the ps/snes it was aweful.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I thought of that too, but it still doesn't make the claim right. It was just a bump in the road.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

A bump in a railroad maybe. It was a complete train crash. The market had to be rebuilt by SEGA and Nintendo when the next console gen came.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Nintendo couldn't even sell as a "game console". It had to be a "toy". Hence R.O.B. and the Zapper, etc. And Mattel selling it in the US.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Why not? All the article said is "the boom is over." That particular boom was absolutely over.

10 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

But not the big picture boom

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 8

The article never made the claim that video games were going away.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Well, if you have somewhere to keep a horse, having a horse can be cheaper than a car

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

If you don't have far to travel everyday and plenty of time to get there and hopefully no more than 1 passenger.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Well, most people, at least in my city, deal with tons of traffic and are usually alone in the car so a horse could be even faster

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I always wondered what happened to all the horses once most people switched to cars. Was there a horse genocide we don't hear about?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I guess it depends on the area. Where I'm from most people have a decent drive to get anywhere.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

*Did* you need the internet back in 1992?

10 years ago | Likes 92 Dislikes 0

Well considering I was a toddler that year, probably not.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Nope

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 2

Yeah that one wasn't all that bad, and the tweet completely ignores the rest of the answer.

10 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 0

Some of these aren't bad either - there was a massive video game crash, early cars sucked compared to horses, color film didn't make 1/2

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

people anymore likely to see the movie (just like how 3D isn't a selling point to most people), and car radios do cause accidents. 2/2

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Had it and loved it.

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Did you use it to download erotic stories?

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I spent more time using Archie, Veronica, FTP, Gopher sites, and IRC.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I did! Amongst other things.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Do you "need" it now?

10 years ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 5

Yes. Because my job was invented for a world that involves it, and job is how I buy food.

10 years ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 1

I and many people actually do need it for their jobs. Besides, how else should be get our daily dose of dank may-mays without the internet?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

At this point, I think lack of Internet access puts one at an economic and educational disadvantage, so yes, "need" in the first world sense

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Very much so.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That might be the most meta-question I've ever read

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

actually the internet is increasing the producivity of large industries.....so yes.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The article was referring to internet in your home. Businesses can justify it, but my grandparents wouldn't use free internet.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Where I live you are now obliged to have internet in order to do your taxes. So yea, I'd say we need it..

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

it is also improving my life at home. i don't have to leave my house anymore and see people.....i hate people......they're the worst.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It is a great convenience, and needed in my work. I'd manage without it at home, at least if I had a phone with email.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

But that would be the internet.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Do you "need" electricity or indoor plumbing?

10 years ago | Likes 26 Dislikes 1

Well idk about you but I'll take both of those before internet....

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

1The point was that there's tons of things that aren't absolutely required for survival, but still drastically improve your quality of life.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

3(among a host of other things) but aren't needed to keep the human animal alive.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

2 It boils down to biological needs and societal needs. Running water/Electricity/Internet are needed to have society as we know it function

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

For real, though, teachers should fight computers, which do undercut literacy in terms of comprehensive understanding, vocabulary, etc. (1)

10 years ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 11

In many jobs you need the skills to operate a PC more than you need the things your mentioned.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Because of computers, I have read and learned more than I otherwise would have and, by necessity, have learned to write better as well.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

https://xkcd.com/1414/

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Reading/writing isn't like physical training. And I'll question what tests he's referencing; I have plenty showing otherwise.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

I'm afraid I can't understand your comment, because it has been written on a computer.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

When Apple sold computers to schools for its first big payday, it was rightly called by dissenters "a solution in search of a problem" (2)

10 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 7

If you won't see how computers help education then I would call you willfully ignorant, which is a polite way of calling you something else.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

And I, in turn, would accuse you of missing the greater point while focusing only in the lesser, more relative truth.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Please, spare me the doomsday scenario. I'd much rather spell things wrong if it means I can talk to anyone on the planet, like we are now.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Well to be honest, look at how most of the youth of today conduct messages to each other and tell me if illiteracy is rampant.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 3

Look at how they conduct messages today compared to what? The not-messages you weren't sending when you were in school?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Exactly. Email/text messages means frequent contact by writing, whereas physical letters and notes-in-class were much less frequent.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

They choose to type that way because it reflects the way they speak, it isn't like they don't know how to read

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Hardly the articulacy befitting a bona fide literacy. We're talking about content and quality, not quantity and barest ability.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

To be honest, most of what you find are those fake text messaging jokes that random people make. I, being 18 myself, have many friends that

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Are quite literate and possibly have a larger vocabulary and vernacular than their parents.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I mean, people who spoke Latin said exactly the same thing about the formation of French. Is it illiteracy or evolution of language?

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Pls no i dont want ENG to lok liek dis in lik 10 yrs

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

You do realise that was literally how people used to write telegrams?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0