The Internets Dangers

After having read Lee Siegel's book " Against the Machine" one must automatically consider the social aspects that are brought up. Siegel dives into the variety of ways in which human life is becoming effected by the digital age, and the convenience that we all strive for with such. This idea of convenience is an underlying theme throughout the book.
Prior to the Internets proliferation society was much more based around community, and the interactions of people on a very personal and physical level. Prior to ten years ago if someone wanted to contact another person they would simply go visit them, and if that was unavailable they would then call them. With the interaction previously described people would actually interacting in a social manner much the same as they have for decades. With the Digital age of convenience there has become a loss of community, instead of going out people now rent movies from netflix. Going out on a dinner date has become something that needs a online chat as an almost prerequisite. Gone are the days in which one would go to the local coffee shop or deli and discuss the latest gossip or have talks regarding the politics of the day, to replace them we have bloggers who connect anonymously delving deeper into the individual world created by the Internet. Siegel describes this trend as a human choice for the instant gratification that the web allows rather than the extended of other sources.
The question that he ultimately poses is at what price are we allowing for society to become more convenient. What has this desire for it already cost us as a citizenry. Ultimately is they way that we live today worth that which we have to give up tomorrow.