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  #1  
Old 11-28-2006, 12:27 PM
Jack the Ripper
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Posts: n/a
Is the Internet killing our social lives?

Hi everyone. I am currently doing a dissertation on the Internet and, to put it as simply as possible, I will be addressing the issue of whether or not the Internet improves our sociability or whether it is alienating us from each other. I am doing this as part of my third year Sociology project and I would really appreciate it if some of you could answer my questionnaire, it won't take you 5 minutes, it is very straightforward, and by answering it you will help me to determine the kind of impact the Internet has had on our social capital, community, and our bonds with each other.

The data will be kept fully confidential I can assure you. If you interested, then please reply to this question by sending me a PM (this is for confidentiality reasons, so no other forum user can see your answers), or simply e-mail me at [email protected]. None of the questions are sensitive though. Participation is entirely volutnary, you are free to omit any questions you do not want to or can't answer. The data will be securely stored and will be destroyed as soon as I have finished with it.

Finally, if nayone is interested in the results of my survey, then please let me know and I'll send you a PM detailing my results and comments.

Once again, this is an interesting issue so I would encourage everyone to answer the questionnaire. If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please PM me or e-mail. This questionnaire has been approved by the ethics committee of the Sociology department at the University of Reading, Great Britain, so it is 100% legitimate and authorised.

Do you give your consent to answer the questionnaire?

Yes
No

1. Are you male or female?

2. Which ethnic group do you belong to?

White European
White other
Black African Caribbean
Black African
Indian
Pakistani
Chinese
Asian other
Mixed ethnicity

3. Which of these social classes do you think you belong to?

Manual working class
Semi-skilled working class
Skilled working class
Lower-middle class/clerical workers
Intermediate middle class (teachers, lower-grade professionals)
Upper middle class (doctors, highly qualified professionals)
Upper class (property owners/employers).

4. How old are you?


5. How much time do you spend on the Internet each week (on average)?

0-5 hours
6-11 hours
12-17 hours
18-23 hours
24+ hours

6. How much leisure time do you spend with friends and family in person each week (on average)?

0-5 hours
6-11 hours
12-17 hours
18-23 hours
24-30 hours
30+ hours

7. Which type of websites do you tend to visit whilst online? Select as many that apply.

Message boards/forums
Online shopping
News websites
Political websites
Other (please specify)

8. When you’re online, do you often communicate with people from different backgrounds (i.e. people of a different nationality, ethnic group, social class, etc.)?

Yes
No

9. How would you describe your online relationships?



10. Do you feel particularly close to your Internet contacts (please explain why or why not)?



11. Have you ever met up with, and befriended, someone you communicated with over the Internet? (select one of the responses)

Yes
No

12. Have you ever been concerned about online flaming (flaming refers to heated arguments and/or abuse in online message boards/chat rooms/forums)?

13. Would you say flaming was one of the major problems of communicating online?

Yes
No

14. Would you say you belong to an online community, or do you think it’s impossible for a group of people who communicate over the Internet to form a community?


15. Do you use Computer Mediated Communications (CMC’s) such as e-mail, instant messaging, and message forums to communicate with your personal, close relationships such as family and friends?

Yes
No

16. Do you feel as close to your family and friends when you are communicated via the Internet/e-mail as you would do in person?

Yes
No

17. How many clubs/societies do you belong to?

1-3
4-6
7-9
10+

18. Have you ever joined an online protest movement?

Yes
No

19. Have you ever joined any groups which use networking via the Internet to put people in touch with each other (for example, Facebook.com)?

Yes
No

20. Which groups are these? (specify the name(s) of the group(s))


21. On the whole, would you say using the Internet improves your relationships with other people, or it has no effect on people’s relationships, or does it make you more isolated/alienated from other humans? (select one response)

Improves relationships
Has no effect on relationships
Worsens relationships/makes me more isolated

22. Do you trust people you speak to online?

Yes
No

23. Have you come across someone online who has helped you out in some way (i.e. by giving you advice)?

Yes
No

Thank you very much for completing my questionnaire. I appreciate it.
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  #2  
Old 11-28-2006, 12:40 PM
urgeok's Avatar
urgeok urgeok is offline
Banned

 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 19,465
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack the Ripper View Post
Do you give your consent to answer the questionnaire? (what ??!!:confused: )

Yes
No

1. Are you male or female? M

2. Which ethnic group do you belong to?


White other

3. Which of these social classes do you think you belong to?


Intermediate middle class (teachers, lower-grade professionals)

4. How old are you? 45


5. How much time do you spend on the Internet each week (on average)?

0-5 hours

6. How much leisure time do you spend with friends and family in person each week (on average)?


30+ hours

7. Which type of websites do you tend to visit whilst online? Select as many that apply.

Message boards/forums
Online shopping

8. When you’re online, do you often communicate with people from different backgrounds (i.e. people of a different nationality, ethnic group, social class, etc.)?

Yes


9. How would you describe your online relationships?

surreal



10. Do you feel particularly close to your Internet contacts (please explain why or why not)?

not really - but i feel that there are a few where there would be potential if we could hang out in real life



11. Have you ever met up with, and befriended, someone you communicated with over the Internet? (select one of the responses)

Yes - once... big mistake.


12. Have you ever been concerned about online flaming (flaming refers to heated arguments and/or abuse in online message boards/chat rooms/forums)?

yes - it is usually a public show of stupidity. if i want stupidity I'll hang out with stupid people.


13. Would you say flaming was one of the major problems of communicating online?

can be ...flaming/trolling. i dont like people who's sole reason for existing is to be unpleasant to other people...no matter what their self confidence problems are ..


14. Would you say you belong to an online community, or do you think it’s impossible for a group of people who communicate over the Internet to form a community?

i dont believe in online communities .. i've seen others that do.
if so its a damn fragile community.


15. Do you use Computer Mediated Communications (CMC’s) such as e-mail, instant messaging, and message forums to communicate with your personal, close relationships such as family and friends?

Yes - but rarely


16. Do you feel as close to your family and friends when you are communicated via the Internet/e-mail as you would do in person?


No

17. How many clubs/societies (forums ?) do you belong to?

1-3


18. Have you ever joined an online protest movement?


No

19. Have you ever joined any groups which use networking via the Internet to put people in touch with each other (for example, Facebook.com)?


No

20. Which groups are these? (specify the name(s) of the group(s))

n/a

21. On the whole, would you say using the Internet improves your relationships with other people, or it has no effect on people’s relationships, or does it make you more isolated/alienated from other humans? (select one response)


Has no effect on relationships


22. Do you trust people you speak to online?


Not many - a select few - define the degree of trust you're looking for ?

23. Have you come across someone online who has helped you out in some way (i.e. by giving you advice)?

Yes - trading stuff .. information on movies ..

............
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  #3  
Old 11-28-2006, 12:41 PM
Vodstok's Avatar
Vodstok Vodstok is offline
Fear scented candle
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The edge of forever
Posts: 13,650
Do you give your consent to answer the questionnaire?

Yes


1. Are you male or female? Male

2. Which ethnic group do you belong to?

White European

3. Which of these social classes do you think you belong to?


Upper middle class (doctors, highly qualified professionals)

4. How old are you? 30


5. How much time do you spend on the Internet each week (on average)?

24+ hours

6. How much leisure time do you spend with friends and family in person each week (on average)?

24-30 hours

7. Which type of websites do you tend to visit whilst online? Select as many that apply.

Message boards/forums
Online shopping
News websites


8. When you’re online, do you often communicate with people from different backgrounds (i.e. people of a different nationality, ethnic group, social class, etc.)?

Yes


9. How would you describe your online relationships?

Mostly friendly and amicable, with the occasional confrontation

10. Do you feel particularly close to your Internet contacts (please explain why or why not)?

Yes. In this particular forum, i have been interacting with many of these people for 2 to almost 4 years

11. Have you ever met up with, and befriended, someone you communicated with over the Internet? (select one of the responses)

Yes


12. Have you ever been concerned about online flaming (flaming refers to heated arguments and/or abuse in online message boards/chat rooms/forums)?

No. It is the internet and has no bearing on my personal life.

13. Would you say flaming was one of the major problems of communicating online?

No

14. Would you say you belong to an online community, or do you think it’s impossible for a group of people who communicate over the Internet to form a community?

Yes, we are a community.


15. Do you use Computer Mediated Communications (CMC’s) such as e-mail, instant messaging, and message forums to communicate with your personal, close relationships such as family and friends?

Yes


16. Do you feel as close to your family and friends when you are communicated via the Internet/e-mail as you would do in person?


No

17. How many clubs/societies do you belong to?

0

18. Have you ever joined an online protest movement?


No

19. Have you ever joined any groups which use networking via the Internet to put people in touch with each other (for example, Facebook.com)?

No

20. Which groups are these? (specify the name(s) of the group(s))


21. On the whole, would you say using the Internet improves your relationships with other people, or it has no effect on people’s relationships, or does it make you more isolated/alienated from other humans? (select one response)

Improves relationships


22. Do you trust people you speak to online?

Yes


23. Have you come across someone online who has helped you out in some way (i.e. by giving you advice)?

Yes
__________________
Some misguided people decided I was funny enough to pay. See if they're right:
http://www.cracked.com/members/Vodstok/
(I tweet pretty hardcore, too)
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  #4  
Old 11-28-2006, 12:41 PM
urgeok's Avatar
urgeok urgeok is offline
Banned

 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 19,465
summary - if you are well adjusted in the first place - the internet has no impact on your social life.

if you are unbalanced - anything can be a problem
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  #5  
Old 11-28-2006, 12:44 PM
urgeok's Avatar
urgeok urgeok is offline
Banned

 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 19,465
17. How many clubs/societies do you belong to?



oops .. i thought this one meant forums ..

do sports clubs count ?
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  #6  
Old 11-28-2006, 01:15 PM
Pasceni Pasceni is offline
Scares Little Kids
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 13
Do you give your consent to answer the questionnaire?

Yes

1. Are you male or female? Male

2. Which ethnic group do you belong to?

White European


3. Which of these social classes do you think you belong to?

Skilled working class


4. How old are you? 27


5. How much time do you spend on the Internet each week (on average)?

6-11 hours


6. How much leisure time do you spend with friends and family in person each week (on average)?

12-17 hours

7. Which type of websites do you tend to visit whilst online? Select as many that apply.

Message boards/forums
Online shopping

Other (please specify)
Web Comics

8. When you’re online, do you often communicate with people from different backgrounds (i.e. people of a different nationality, ethnic group, social class, etc.)?

Yes


9. How would you describe your online relationships?
Casual


10. Do you feel particularly close to your Internet contacts (please explain why or why not)?
Yes, most of the people I converse with have similiar thoughts and opinions, and if we ever met in real life, as long as our personalities continued to mesh we could be friends.


11. Have you ever met up with, and befriended, someone you communicated with over the Internet? (select one of the responses)

Yes


12. Have you ever been concerned about online flaming (flaming refers to heated arguments and/or abuse in online message boards/chat rooms/forums)?
No

13. Would you say flaming was one of the major problems of communicating online?

Yes


14. Would you say you belong to an online community, or do you think it’s impossible for a group of people who communicate over the Internet to form a community?
I would say I belong to a community

15. Do you use Computer Mediated Communications (CMC’s) such as e-mail, instant messaging, and message forums to communicate with your personal, close relationships such as family and friends?

Yes


16. Do you feel as close to your family and friends when you are communicated via the Internet/e-mail as you would do in person?

No

17. How many clubs/societies do you belong to?

1-3

18. Have you ever joined an online protest movement?

Yes


19. Have you ever joined any groups which use networking via the Internet to put people in touch with each other (for example, Facebook.com)?

Yes


20. Which groups are these? (specify the name(s) of the group(s))
Myspace

21. On the whole, would you say using the Internet improves your relationships with other people, or it has no effect on people’s relationships, or does it make you more isolated/alienated from other humans? (select one response)

Improves relationships


22. Do you trust people you speak to online?

Yes
No

23. Have you come across someone online who has helped you out in some way (i.e. by giving you advice)?

Yes
__________________
Death is in reality, are you sure?
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  #7  
Old 11-28-2006, 03:15 PM
Miss Olivia's Avatar
Miss Olivia Miss Olivia is offline
Ssh...did you hear that?
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Don't go check it out.
Posts: 3,531
Send a message via Yahoo to Miss Olivia
Do you give your consent to answer the questionnaire?

Yes

1. Are you male or female? Female

2. Which ethnic group do you belong to?

White Other


3. Which of these social classes do you think you belong to?

Skilled working class


4. How old are you? 28


5. How much time do you spend on the Internet each week (on average)?

12-17 hours


6. How much leisure time do you spend with friends and family in person each week (on average)? 30+ hours



7. Which type of websites do you tend to visit whilst online? Select as many that apply.

Message boards/forums
Online shopping



8. When you’re online, do you often communicate with people from different backgrounds (i.e. people of a different nationality, ethnic group, social class, etc.)?

Yes


9. How would you describe your online relationships?
Casual.


10. Do you feel particularly close to your Internet contacts (please explain why or why not)?
Yes, because it's not always so easy to find people who like the same things you do in real life.


11. Have you ever met up with, and befriended, someone you communicated with over the Internet? (select one of the responses)

Yes


12. Have you ever been concerned about online flaming (flaming refers to heated arguments and/or abuse in online message boards/chat rooms/forums)?
No

13. Would you say flaming was one of the major problems of communicating online?

No.


14. Would you say you belong to an online community, or do you think it’s impossible for a group of people who communicate over the Internet to form a community?
I belong to a community

15. Do you use Computer Mediated Communications (CMC’s) such as e-mail, instant messaging, and message forums to communicate with your personal, close relationships such as family and friends?

Yes


16. Do you feel as close to your family and friends when you are communicated via the Internet/e-mail as you would do in person?

No

17. How many clubs/societies do you belong to?

1-3

18. Have you ever joined an online protest movement?

No, but I've signed a couple of petitions.


19. Have you ever joined any groups which use networking via the Internet to put people in touch with each other (for example, Facebook.com)?

Yes


20. Which groups are these? (specify the name(s) of the group(s))
Myspace

21. On the whole, would you say using the Internet improves your relationships with other people, or it has no effect on people’s relationships, or does it make you more isolated/alienated from other humans? (select one response)

Improves relationships


22. Do you trust people you speak to online?

To a point.....a certain amount of trust is required for any kind of relationship. However, I am very aware that there are bad characters online just like on the street, and always use caution.

23. Have you come across someone online who has helped you out in some way (i.e. by giving you advice)?

Yes
__________________
I'll kill you and your dreams tonight
Begin new life
Bleed your death upon me
Let your bloodline feed my youth
------------------------------
Ssshhh....did you hear that?
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  #8  
Old 11-28-2006, 05:05 PM
stubbornforgey's Avatar
stubbornforgey stubbornforgey is offline
my opinion counts dammit
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: in my lords pocket
Posts: 6,485
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of course it is..but ppl outside the house suick anyways.
__________________
my opinion counts dammit
so says my Lord :D
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  #9  
Old 11-28-2006, 05:18 PM
Roderick Usher's Avatar
Roderick Usher Roderick Usher is offline
HDC Sole Survivor!!

 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Underneath the Bed
Posts: 7,012
Do you give your consent to answer the questionnaire?Yes

1. Are you male or female? Male
2. Which ethnic group do you belong to? White European
3. Which of these social classes do you think you belong to? Skilled working class
4. How old are you? 37
5. How much time do you spend on the Internet each week (on average)? 12-17 hours
6. How much leisure time do you spend with friends and family in person each week (on average)?12-17 hours
7. Which type of websites do you tend to visit whilst online? Select as many that apply. Message boards/forums Online shopping News websites Political websites Other (porn)
8. When you’re online, do you often communicate with people from different backgrounds (i.e. people of a different nationality, ethnic group, social class, etc.)? Yes
9. How would you describe your online relationships? Silly
10. Do you feel particularly close to your Internet contacts (please explain why or why not)? There is a certain level or gaurded dettachment that goes with being on an annonymous forum, but I have surprised by how much I enjoy cerain people's comments on a regular basis.
11. Have you ever met up with, and befriended, someone you communicated with over the Internet? No
12. Have you ever been concerned about online flaming (flaming refers to heated arguments and/or abuse in online message boards/chat rooms/forums)? No
13. Would you say flaming was one of the major problems of communicating online? No
14. Would you say you belong to an online community, or do you think it’s impossible for a group of people who communicate over the Internet to form a community? I'm part of a community.
15. Do you use Computer Mediated Communications (CMC’s) such as e-mail, instant messaging, and message forums to communicate with your personal, close relationships such as family and friends? Yes
16. Do you feel as close to your family and friends when you are communicated via the Internet/e-mail as you would do in person? No
17. How many clubs/societies do you belong to? 1-3
18. Have you ever joined an online protest movement? Yes
19. Have you ever joined any groups which use networking via the Internet to put people in touch with each other (for example, Facebook.com)? No
20. Which groups are these? (specify the name(s) of the group(s)) NONE
21. On the whole, would you say using the Internet improves your relationships with other people, or it has no effect on people’s relationships, or does it make you more isolated/alienated from other humans? (select one response) Has no effect on relationships
22. Do you trust people you speak to online? I trust certain members, but due of the public nature of the forum caution must be exercized at all times - so - No
23. Have you come across someone online who has helped you out in some way (i.e. by giving you advice)? Yes
__________________
"Little, vicious minds abound with anger and revenge, and are incapable of feeling the pleasure of forgiving their enemies."
Earl of Chesterfield

"A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well."
Francis Bacon
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  #10  
Old 11-28-2006, 11:15 PM
X¤MurderDoll¤X's Avatar
X¤MurderDoll¤X X¤MurderDoll¤X is offline
so bad they call her boss
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: on a high horse
Posts: 7,249
Send a message via AIM to X¤MurderDoll¤X
Do you give your consent to answer the questionnaire?

Yes


1. Male Female?

let me check... female

2. Which ethnic group do you belong to?

White European

3. Which of these social classes do you think you belong to?

Intermediate middle class (teachers, lower-grade professionals)

4. How old are you?

20

5. How much time do you spend on the Internet each week (on average)?

6-11 hours

6. How much leisure time do you spend with friends and family in person each week (on average)?

18-23 hours

7. Which type of websites do you tend to visit whilst online? Select as many that apply.

Message boards/forums
Online shopping

8. When you’re online, do you often communicate with people from different backgrounds (i.e. people of a different nationality, ethnic group, social class, etc.)?

Yes

9. How would you describe your online relationships?

online

10. Do you feel particularly close to your Internet contacts (please explain why or why not)?

not really

11. Have you ever met up with, and befriended, someone you communicated with over the Internet? (select one of the responses)

No

12. Have you ever been concerned about online flaming (flaming refers to heated arguments and/or abuse in online message boards/chat rooms/forums)?

no

13. Would you say flaming was one of the major problems of communicating online?

No

14. Would you say you belong to an online community, or do you think it’s impossible for a group of people who communicate over the Internet to form a community?

Yes I belong to this online community.

15. Do you use Computer Mediated Communications (CMC’s) such as e-mail, instant messaging, and message forums to communicate with your personal, close relationships such as family and friends?

No

16. Do you feel as close to your family and friends when you are communicated via the Internet/e-mail as you would do in person?

No

17. How many clubs/societies do you belong to?

1-3

18. Have you ever joined an online protest movement?

No

19. Have you ever joined any groups which use networking via the Internet to put people in touch with each other (for example, Facebook.com)?

No

20. Which groups are these? (specify the name(s) of the group(s))


21. On the whole, would you say using the Internet improves your relationships with other people, or it has no effect on people’s relationships, or does it make you more isolated/alienated from other humans? (select one response)

Worsens relationships/makes me more isolated

22. Do you trust people you speak to online?

Yes

23. Have you come across someone online who has helped you out in some way (i.e. by giving you advice)?

Yes
__________________
stop the world - I want to get off

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