TMI?

As we're all aware, information is easy to come by these days.
The internet's constant expansion and has resulted in basically unlimited information that almost anybody can acquire. But is this a good thing?
I'll need you to bare with me, as I'm going to be a while before I get to my point.

One example is medicine. If something is wrong with you, you might go to a doctor, but a lot of people will instead go to the internet.
"Well, I have these symptoms, so I must have this disease."
The only issue with that is, you're probably wrong.
There has been a noticeable increase in hypochondria in recent years, and it's largely due to this infinite information pool that we have access to on a daily basis.
If I were to Google all 'symptoms' I have currently, I would have the following;
RSI
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Tinnitus
Fungal infections
And probably much more if I thought about it.
In the past, I too have been victim to this 'The Internet is a Doctor' syndrome, and have self-diagnosed myself with an STD or two.
After much confusion and problems with my partner, I eventually went to a doctor to find out it was an issue with ingrown hairs and a poor diet.

When I was younger, if I was ill, my mother would take me to the doctor right away.
These days, I'll research my symptoms and determine for myself whether or not I'm in any real danger before even considering a doctor.
It makes me wonder how often people doing just as I do have their symptoms worsen, resulting in permanent injury or worse. But hey, if I wanted to know that, I could just Google it, couldn't I?

It's more than jut about medicine though, consider the social implications of this much information.
Learn someone's full name and there is a good chance you'll be able to find them on a social networking site. Get an email address as well and you've got a one-way ticket to all information you could ever want on them.
With that information, you can very easily get yourself logged on to their Facebook account (Technically not illegal, although still not cool) using a system that Facebook creators implemented for password retrieval.
Not to mention websites that allow you to enter an email address and then search social networking sites, blogging sites and misc other sites (Like Deviant Art, Etsy, etc) for public accounts with that address, then links you to their pages/accounts.
Wanted to know more about someone? Their secrets? Their past? It's entirely possible to find that out with very little effort.
I, for one, don't want some of the things I've said on the internet available.
Yes, there are privacy settings for a reason, but not all are as secure as you think.


The point I'm getting it is this;
Would we be better off without this information?
No.
Should there be limitations on the amount of information any one person can get?
No.
It has become part of our daily lives and it would make life slightly harder for us.
But we, as a society, need to stop taking things at face value.
That's what the internet has done to humanity, made us too accepting of new information.
Maybe those symptoms are unrelated to an illness?
Maybe the person said those things out of anger?
Maybe the trip to the shoe store will allow you to find something better?
Anyone can put information on the internet. For what you know, it's wrong.
This blog is a perfect example of that. How do you know I'm right?

In retrospect, I didn't think this post through as much as I should have. I mean, how do we know the experts are correct either? People make mistakes.
Disregard this post, as it lacks direction and a decent writing style.
I promise whatever I post next will have some actual quality to it.