10 replies to this topic

[stiperules!ok]

Just seen this:

Social networking sites could be harming people's health by reducing levels of face-to-face contact, an expert has claimed.
Sites such as Facebook set out to enrich social lives, but end up keeping people apart, according to Dr Aric Sigman.
Lack of "real" social networking, involving face-to-face interaction, may have wide-ranging biological effects, he argues.
Evidence suggests that it could alter the way genes work, upset immune responses, hormone levels, and the function of arteries, and influence mental performance, says Dr Sigman.
This could increase the risk of health problems as serious as cancer, strokes, heart disease, and dementia.
Dr Sigman spells out his warning in the latest issue of Biologist, the journal of the Institute of Biology.
He maintains that social networking sites have played a significant role in people becoming more isolated.
"Social networking is the internet's biggest growth area, particular among young children," he told the Press Association.
"A quarter of British children have a laptop or computer in their room by the age of five and they have their own social networking sites, like the BBC's myCBBC. It's causing huge changes."
Research suggested that the number of hours people spent interacting face-to-face had fallen dramatically since 1987 as electronic media use had increased.

Help, we're all doomed!  :(

[Ophelia]

Hmm...
all I've noticed is my arse getting bigger from sitting on it in fron of the computer.

[klock]

What if you started meeting up with the people you met on Murmurs?

[stiperules!ok]

klock said:

What if you started meeting up with the people you met on Murmurs?

Well, I suppose that could make it ok, but wait.........we're all mad, anyway! :eek::eek:

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

I've met a bunch of murmursians. Mostly it was very cool.

[MeanCat]

Sweet Fanny Addams said:

I've met a bunch of murmursians. Mostly it was very cool.

the pillow fights especially!

[Jutta Hemesath]

I haven't had a pillow fight when I've met some murmursians during the last years but be had loads of fun though :p;)

[inspectorjason]

This site is dangerous for my wallet, because I tend to find out about good music and movies that I might not have otherwise discovered.  

Other than the financial consequences and resultant effects, this site has been fairly safe for me.

[Missthemister]

I met my husband through another fan website.  I've renewed friendships with long - lost college classmates through Facebook.  I've met tons of new friends in "real life" that I first met through Murmurs or other fan sites, so I would think these types of sites have done wonders for my social life.  I can see where they are coming from, though...I'm sure there are folks that are very content to stick to the safe interaction from the safety of their rooms, behind the keyboard.

[zack2sb]

Murmurs is fun to go to, but I can understand what the good doc is saying. I have tried to balance internet use with real life activities. However, for people with no real life, it can be a good substitute!

[goldberry]

I doubt many people use this forum to dangerous levels, like a lot of the generation Y type people who spend all their time on Facebook, and all that cyber bullying young kids have problems with these days....

In my high school days, if you wanted to avoid the high school bully you'd just walk a different way to school, so you wouldn't have to walk past him smoking dope down by the creek.