Internet Implosion

Have you tried to look up something simple on the internet lately? It used to be that you could just type in something simple and get the correct answer in seconds. Now - you need to know something, like the address of DFW airport ( Dallas/Ft.Worth) and instead of just getting the answer, you get a list of advertisers or sites like yellowpages, free whitepages, reverse address/phone, and on and on.

I'm really afraid the Internet is going to ruin itself. And what are we - those of us that are used to the convenience of the way it Used to work going to do. I was actually tempted to go dig up some old phone books today. For God's sake, I just wanted an address. That kind of situation happened to me four times today, and is beginning to happen more and more often.

Remember the old days when we could just go to ASK.com or other like sites and get an answer? Not anymore. Everything has turned into a way to lead people to this and that site. I don't want to go to a million different sites, I just want a Freakin' Answer!

I'm afraid it's just going to get worse and worse. And I use the word AFRAID for a reason. As a writer I do a lot of research. I rely on quick answers and gobs of easy to find information. Sometimes, just clicking on something simple leads you down a maze of places, all the while teasing you into thinking your getting closer to what you were originally looking for. I think they're hoping we'll forget, or just join something or buy something just to get the heck out of there!

Please, somebody smarter than me, please DO SOMETHING about this! It's really getting out of hand. And if you don't know what I'm talking about - try making a living using a computer and trying to do some research.

It's not as hard when you are JUST doing research, it's when you're multi-tasking, like writing a novel, checking emails, answering a quick one or two. Checking up on one of your websites, getting back to writing, trying to do a quick bit of research - and BAM, that is when you can easily fall down the rabbits hole.

And what's with everyone trying to sneak a new toolbar onto your page? And Don't ever agree to pay a $1.00 fee for anything. Next thing you know, there is the one dollar coming out of you checking account, then on the next line there is $49.00 coming out, going to the same company. Whoever said anything about $49.00? You're probably thinking it was in the fine print, right? No. I read everything. Everything, right down to what is underneath the fine print. I still get screwed.

Then try looking up that company, they're nowhere to be found, and there's certainly no way to get in touch with them. So then you have to go admit you are an idiot to your bank, and fill out paperwork to that effect. Once it happens to you, you think it will never happen again, but they are sneaky little bastards. I'm probably going to have to change banks so that they don't have me declared legally incompetent.

Please leave your vents - I mean comments below. It's bound to be happening to other people, right? If not, I'm taking Donations for a badly needed vacation. :)

Drive Safely,

KT