:) It's not just the internet but all the mechanical. electronics and communications advances over the years that reduce human contact more and more.
30+ years ago, just putting gas in your car often involved chatting with a service station attendant who washed the windshield and checked my oil level. Then I had to count out dollar bills and get change back. Now I pump my own gas, and just stick my credit card in the machine at the pump without talking to anyone. For buying things there's the self check-out at many retail stores; no clerks or checkout people to talk to. Or I can buy it on the internet and when the UPS delivered the goods he just leaves it on the doorstep; no talking. For a lot of business transactions, talking to a real person on the telephone only happens after being first filtered through a compute. Restaurants are moving fast to Kiosk machines for both ordering and paying.
Thank goodness we have a place like SW to mix and chat with humans, and fill the void created by progress. It IS a lot like the old days here :)
