Whatever Happened To Online Forums?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I'm pretty young. But I have been alive long enough to be apart of many online forums in my lifetime and I wonder...have forums always been this way? Has it always been about arguing one's point and trying to prove that one's view is more accurate, etc? It seems to me that as the years rolled by online forums have become less about interacting with others or sharing information and growing and more of a way of seeking confirmation for one's views. It doesn't feel like it's about expanding one's mind to other ways of looking at things. Is this the way the world is going? Even google tailors it's search to suit the viewer and online ads show up based on what one searches. Is anyone really learning anything anymore?

I do occasionally come on to allnurses (more so lately as I attempt to figure out what other options are available to me as a BSN, RN (I'm losing interest in contrived social interaction like coworkers, social workers, managers, patients for 12 hours a day, etc) but because I'm aware that the online world has been tailored to suit the viewer, I find myself pulling back from it and becoming less trusting because I'm not exactly looking to be affirmed nor to dispel/embrace opposing views. I'm just looking to grow.

What is your experience with this?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I'm so confused........

"contrived social interaction like coworkers, social workers, managers, patients for 12 hours a day"

By that, do you mean work?

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I'm so confused........

"contrived social interaction like coworkers, social workers, managers, patients for 12 hours a day"

By that, do you mean work?

Yes! lol

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I meant the hospital setting (I'm looking into outpatient and gradually moving away from the bedside). lol But if I could just NOT work...I'd do that too. lol

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I meant the hospital setting (I'm looking into outpatient and gradually moving away from the bedside). lol But if I could just NOT work...I'd do that too. lol

I've worked outpatient and it's the same interactions. Just that the patient isn't lying in a bed at the time!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I think you have hit the nail on the head. That is the way the world is going.

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I'm pretty young. But I have been alive long enough to be apart of many online forums in my lifetime and I wonder...have forums always been this way? Has it always been about arguing one's point and trying to prove that one's view is more accurate, etc? It seems to me that as the years rolled by online forums have become less about interacting with others or sharing information and growing and more of a way of seeking confirmation for one's views. It doesn't feel like it's about expanding one's mind to other ways of looking at things.

In the early days, from what I remember, the internet was all about "a/s/l?". I'd say it's improved- A LOT.

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In the early days, from what I remember, the internet was all about "a/s/l?". I'd say it's improved- A LOT.

LMAO! I remember that.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

I've been a member of various BBS and MUDs since the mid-90s. Trolling and flame wars were just as prolific back then, at least among the people I hung out with. I do think that as the internet becomes less separate from every day life, there is literally MORE of it because there are simply more people on the internet.

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Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability.

I started out in the early 80's on dial-up Unix bulletin boards using a 300 baud acoustic coupler. I think things have gotten better over the decades just because there is so much more choice now. 'Keyboard commandos' have been and shall always be with us. I think people would be much nicer if they were not anonymous and were therefore more accountable for their actions.

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