Using the Internet to Solve Personal Problems
The advent of the Internet has caused changes in almost every aspect of our lives, from booking holidays and tickets, to remote working and instant communication.
There has never been a better way for people to communicate freely, without censorship, at such a low cost.
Thousands of communities have formed, aimed at sharing information on every conceivable subject.
Most recently, an area that has started to come into its own is the sharing and solving of personal problems online, or online agony aunts.
I would like to share my personal experience and research into this subject.
When we find ourselves with a major personal problem it can be difficult to keep perspective.
It can be hard to know where to turn for help, personal experience has taught me that family and friends are inevitably too close to give useful advice; the common paradox is that someone close enough for you to share your problem with, is inevitably too close to give impartial advice.
This can put friendships under immense strain, and add to your problems at what is already a difficult time.
The Internet allows you to ask questions anonymously, or to position yourself as an advisor to the person with the problem, this can be a huge relief.
When using the Internet to solve personal problems it is important to research relevant sites first.
We have all seen the sort of illiterate abuse that is meted out on unregulated websites.
Anyone in a fragile emotional state could be badly upset were they to post their problem without careful research first.
I found it useful to read the sort of problems and answers being posted; you may even find that a problem just like yours has already been posted and there are answers waiting for you! My personal experience has taught me that the single most important factor in choosing a site to address your problem is to make sure a Webmaster reads the content before it is posted.
This will ensure no-one misuses the forum, and most importantly, no abusive or obscene answers are posted.
The Internet has come a long way in its short history, and I feel it is ready now to deal with this type of sensitive content in a mature way.
So if you have a problem you do not feel it is appropriate to share with family or friends, you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by going to the on-line community for an answer.
There has never been a better way for people to communicate freely, without censorship, at such a low cost.
Thousands of communities have formed, aimed at sharing information on every conceivable subject.
Most recently, an area that has started to come into its own is the sharing and solving of personal problems online, or online agony aunts.
I would like to share my personal experience and research into this subject.
When we find ourselves with a major personal problem it can be difficult to keep perspective.
It can be hard to know where to turn for help, personal experience has taught me that family and friends are inevitably too close to give useful advice; the common paradox is that someone close enough for you to share your problem with, is inevitably too close to give impartial advice.
This can put friendships under immense strain, and add to your problems at what is already a difficult time.
The Internet allows you to ask questions anonymously, or to position yourself as an advisor to the person with the problem, this can be a huge relief.
When using the Internet to solve personal problems it is important to research relevant sites first.
We have all seen the sort of illiterate abuse that is meted out on unregulated websites.
Anyone in a fragile emotional state could be badly upset were they to post their problem without careful research first.
I found it useful to read the sort of problems and answers being posted; you may even find that a problem just like yours has already been posted and there are answers waiting for you! My personal experience has taught me that the single most important factor in choosing a site to address your problem is to make sure a Webmaster reads the content before it is posted.
This will ensure no-one misuses the forum, and most importantly, no abusive or obscene answers are posted.
The Internet has come a long way in its short history, and I feel it is ready now to deal with this type of sensitive content in a mature way.
So if you have a problem you do not feel it is appropriate to share with family or friends, you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by going to the on-line community for an answer.
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