If I get on AOL, am I on the Internet?

Whereas with most ISPs, you connect and are then left alone to do what you want online, AOL provides an entire interface to the Internet. It has a menu of information services, which often offer more fluff than info, but are still somewhat handy. These are all AOL-internal services and are not available to non-AOL subscribers. Also, AOL often interrupts the user's time with ads which pop up and ask the user to either buy the product now, or in much smaller letters, pass up the offer. Furthermore, AOL subscribers get a lot more junk mail, particularly mail from companies which work in the areas you check out (i.e. somebody is watching the users' moves and then selling their email addresses to advertisers accordingly.)

These are both good and bad for the consumer. One thing is for sure: AOL is considerbly easier to work with for the beginner. It offers a friendly, understandable interface which allows you to grow into the service. On the other hand, most experienced Netizens find AOL's overblown commericialism, largely unreliable service, and sometimes slow-moving interface to be a hinderance. It isn't suited for everyone, but it is the world's largest Internet service company.

What is this about "chatting?"

While this is possible through many other systems, it is a particularly heavy pasttime of the average AOL user. People often check out to see who is currently logged into the system, and can check out their interests and hobbies (which the user has provided in their "profiles"), and if the other user seems interesing enough, they will try to initiate a chat session.

This is where we hear people being harassed, making friends, falling-in-love, and getting addicted online. These conversations are all at once a social ill and a social gain, becuase they have different effects on everyone.

Also, on AOL are "chat rooms," where groups of people meet to share in a group text chat session. One thing to note is that most chats consist of exchanges of one line each, making for some less-than-engrossing conversations. New users find this stuff very exciting, as said earlier, and can become more comfortable with the Internet this way. However, much time is wasted on chat, and many scholars would suggest that this is making us a society of people in dark rooms who never meet anyone in person.

While that last statement has its flaws, AOL has many fans and critics. People aren't often undecided about AOL--they either love it or hate it (like the Fraternity and Soroity system on campus). One thing is for sure, AOL will be here a long, long time.