Americans Using Internet 'Just for Fun'

Ant writes "CNET News.com reports that nearly one-third of American Internet users go online just for fun." From the article: "A survey of 1,931 Internet users conducted by Pew Internet & American Life Project in late November and December 2005 found 30 percent of respondents said they went online "for no particular reason" on the previous day. That was up from 21 percent in a November 2004 survey. The survey also showed that 34 percent of online men were surfing for fun on an average day in December, compared with 26 percent of women."

Comments

Look on the bright side

[suso]

That means that 2/3s are actually using it for actual work.

Re:Look on the bright side

[IAAP]

That means that 2/3s are actually using it for actual work.

I am. I am in a personal study of pornography on the internet. I am also doing a business plan for an online porn business which requires MUCH research on my part. I am also investigating the neuro-masturbatory reflexes in middle aged males. I am also investigating the proliferation of "MILF" websites. I have many, many more work related activities that I perform on the interent.

So, you sir are quite correct. 2/3s of us are working.

Re:Look on the bright side

[Rude Turnip]

Slashdot is very work related for me. It allows me to engage in discussions of multiple topics and hone my critical thinking and analytical skills, keeping me sharp and witty. When I'm writing a response to the IRS for an audit issue, I've already had enough experience in dealing with trolls and general stupidity to handle the IRS with great aplomb.

Poor saps

[typical]

From the article: "A survey of 1,931 Internet users conducted by Pew Internet & American Life Project in late November and December 2005 found 30 percent of respondents said they went online "for no particular reason" on the previous day. That was up from 21 percent in a November 2004 survey.

Poor saps.

I Slashdot with well-defined and concrete goals in mind.

"Fun"

[jahudabudy]

The survey also showed that 34 percent of online men were surfing for fun on an average day in December

Well, I guess looking at porn is fun...

spelling mistake

[parseexception]

"for no particular reason"
I thought it was spelled pr0n

surprised the numbers are so low

[JeanBaptiste]

This would describe about 30 hours out of my 40 hour work week.

fun?

[solidtransient]

I wouldn't call the hours and hours I've wasted at stupidvideos.com fun. Well, I guess I would.

The Internet is for Fun^H^H^HPorn!

[Bogon]

As the fine folks of AvenueQ would say... "just grab your d*ck and double-click!" :)

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/internet4por n

There's nothing fun...

[brian0918]

...about getting your ass handed to you by a bunch of 12 year old script kiddies in Counter-Strike.....

Misspelling....

[wolfemi1]

...one-third of American Internet users go online just for fun.

I think they misspelled "Pr0n".

for the articles

[fugu]

I'm just reading it for the articles...

As an American

[starX]

I am proud to say that 1/3 of us surf as 9/10 of us live. Used to be, back in the day, that only the more athletic, outgoing types got to have fun, but thanks to the miracles of technology, the pocket-protector and taped glasses set gets to fritter away our lives idly as well. Ah the miracles of technology....

I myself dream of the day when all the people of the world can sit at home in a dark room, untouched by soap or natural light, listlessly reloading slashdot and the onion, and googling in the hopes that they'll find something new and interesting. It is this persistant optimism that there is a better way to be lazy that is at the very heart of American culture, and this is the greatest gift we have to give the world.