While I admire the insights of many of the people in the world of computing, I get this cold feeling that I speak a different language.

What's society going to be like when the kids today are phenomenally good at text messaging and spend a huge amount of on-screen time, but have never gone bowling together?

Here are my strong reservations about the wave of computer networks. They isolate us from one another and cheapen the meaning of actual experience. They work against literacy and creativity. They undercut our schools and libraries.

We'll soon buy books and newspapers straight over the Internet. Uh, sure.

As the networks evolve, so do my opinions toward them, and my divergent feelings bring out conflicting points of view. In advance, I apologize to those who expect a consistent position from me.

Anyone can post messages to the net. Practically everyone does. The resulting cacophony drowns out serious discussion.

Why is it that drug addicts and computer aficionados are both called users?