Internet use regarding the war

[same_sky]

I feel bad about putting so much behind cuts these days because I really don't like them most of the time, but since this touches on the war, I'll spare the friends who don't want to read it. Nothing offensive, though, just writing about statistics.

I've been reading the Pew Internet & American Life Project website today... Yes, I'm a huge dork, but I find it extremely interesting. Basically, they're about exploring the impact the internet has in the daily lives of Americans. Anyway, one of their current reports is about how war opponents and supporters use the internet in different ways, and specifically, there's a chart with percentages. The Chart. I don't want to comment on any specifics or argue for one side or another, partially because I don't really fit in with either side, but I found it somewhat ironic that the only thing for which war supporters use the internet more often than opponents is to receive or send patriotic material or prayer requests, but yet I've read and heard sooo many times that the only reason people are protesting is because they don't really understand what's happening. ;) Meanwhile, the opponents are spending more time reading American newspapers, alternate news sources and foreign news organizaitons, as well as researching the country and people of Iraq.

I question the practical validity of certain statistics.. of *COURSE* opponents are going to spend more time signing petitions.. the supporters are already getting their way! *grin* But still, it's an interesting report, I think.. and as I said a few weeks ago (to M).. I think that the uproar has been so extremely volatile in large part because of the internet. It's so easy to find viewpoints supporting your own and with additional evidence on either side that what may have started out as a lukewarm sentiment becomes something nasty. Also, there's a large amount of stuff circulating that I really wonder about the factual basis of.

This war thing almost makes me wish I had gone back to school. (The plan, a few months ago, was to get a Masters in Sociology.. I was just one class shy of having the undergraduate requirements done.) I'm continually fascinated by how people are reacting to it and it reminds me how much I actually enjoyed my Soc classes. Doesn't make me want to go back enough to sit through more years of school, though. Enough is enough. I might as well be educated and unemployed rather than overeducated and unemployed.. *grin*

Comments

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I think. :) *hugs*