- What do you use the Internet for and approximately how much time per week (surfing, e-mail, gaming, chat, research)?
E-mail and research -bit of surfing
- Who do you keep in touch with through the Internet (family, friends, strangers, co-workers etc)? And are they local or distant?
Family mostly and some friends
- Do you participate in chat groups or news groups? If so, are these special interest groups ie: pro-legalization of marijuana or general chat rooms?
no
- Have you ever met anyone on line? If so, have you ever met them in person or intend to?
No
- Have you met people on line who have similar interests/hobbies? If so, how (did you search for them or accidental)?
no
- Overall, do you believe that the Internet makes/allows you to be more social and facilitates interaction with others, or do you feel more isolated because of the limits of a computer screen?
Helps interaction
- Do you find that the time you spent on the Net takes away from face to face interaction with others and does this make you feel lonelier?
No – it’s great for facilitating long distance interaction / don’t spend enough time on the net to take away from face to face interaction
- Do you feel that communication via Internet makes you feel more accepted because it prevents discrimination associated with visual contact (ie: racism, sexism)?
Sure
- Are you selective of who you interact with on the Net in terms of gender, race, sexual orientation, economic status, age, etc?
No
- How would your life be without the Internet? What would you spend your time doing instead?
Research would be a burden - phone would be expensive for keeping in touch / probably would read or lounge around – the net is more of a leisure thing for me
- Do you seek to diversify your perspectives and beliefs on line (via chat or research) or do you look to further develop those you have already formed?
Maybe someday – currently I am not apart of any chat groups / do regular news reading though
- Do you agree that the anonymity of the "virtual" world encourages ‘drive-by’ relationships or have you been able to form more meaningful connections with strangers on the net?
I haven’t formed meaningful relationships but have maintained meaningful relationships
- Finally, do you believe that the Internet widens your experience of community (by helping you to connect to others with different beliefs or backgrounds), or does it deepen your experience (by reinforcing and strengthening existing social networks), or perhaps both? Explain.