We’ve all been there. Sitting online, staring at the Facebook page of someone we don’t even know, or shopping online when we’ve sworn we wouldn’t spend money until our next paycheck arrives, or just wasting time on our PCs. Like everybody else, we’re capable of partaking in idiotic activities online. When you to think of all of the silly things you’ve done online in the past, and you become red with embarrassment all over again. But then again, aren’t there some things you’d hands-down admittedly do online if you could? Like order a cheeseburger and have it delivered to you immediately by the internet gods to your hands? We’ve created a list of the “shoulds” and “should nots” of what to do online.
- Should: Be able to vote. Though election days are few and far between, the voting process would be so much easier if we didn’t have to scramble to make it to our district’s polls before they closed. Plus, who really feels a sense of privacy behind that flimsy curtain? As you stand there pondering which lever to pull, you’re worrying about the people in line behind you thinking you have no clue what you’re doing because you’re taking so long. Online voting not only eliminates the need to rush to the polls, but gives you a sense of privacy and anonymity. Online polls should be available through your e-mail provider and the sites of all major news papers.
- Should not: Spam. We’ve all received the “pass this on to find your true love” emails. Nobody likes them, yet somehow, despite a top of the line spam-blocker, they find their way into our inbox. Instead of racking your brain to come up with a list of friends, family and exes to forward these junk e-mails to, you could be more productive, spending more time playing Soduku and perusing tmz.com. Computer and internet programs should notice spammy e-mails as they’re being constructed and block them from being sent.
- Should: Renew expired drivers’ licenses. Just like going to the polls is a hassle on Election Day, heading over to the DMV to renew an expired or almost-expired license is no one’s cup of tea. Not only is it time-consuming to sit at the DMV for upwards of an hour before being helped, you always get that half-smile half-grimace from the person behind the console. License renewals online should be easy – fill out a quick form with your information and request that your current picture from the database remain on your new license or upload an appropriate one from your Facebook profile.
- Should not: E-mail or IM above a certain BAC. We aren’t allowed to drive with a Blood Alcohol Count above .08 for good reason: alcohol impairs judgment: Similarly, we shouldn’t be able to e-mail or IM when we’ve had too much to drink. What we drunkenly perceive to be casual flirting is in reality a bunch of gibberish with a few “I love you”s and “I miss you”s thrown in when they shouldn’t be. Just as your friends have learned to take your phone away from you, they should put locks on your computer to save you from embarrassing yourself with an ex or a current flame.
- Should: Be able to primp online. Finding time to get in a massive work-out or get a hair cut can be difficult when we work full time and prefer to spend our weekends relaxing with friends and family. And everybody dreams of having the body of their favorite celebrity whether it’s Madonna’s or Brad Pitt’s. How great would it be if we could get it all done online while we’re at work? Having the virtual you work out at the online gym or make an appointment with the internet esthetician could save us time, and money, and especially pain! Our virtual selves would do all the work while we reap the benefits: burn the calories, lose the weight and get the fabulous hair without having to miss work or family time.
- Should not: Be allowed to download bad music. It’s always so upsetting to learn that a friend has horrible taste in music, a curable addiction that is only being fed by the always-growing selection available on iTunes. And you would rather have your ears chopped off than listen to cheesy soft-rock songs on the radio when every other station seems to think that an over-abundance of commercials is just what their listeners want. There should definitely be a computer program that blocks the downloading and listening of bad music; this includes boy-band revivals and migraine-inducing heavy metal.
- Should: Enroll in an Online program. Though it's already available, earning your online degree is one of best uses of your time! Beginning a program online enables you to work at your own pace, complete the coursework from the privacy of your own home, and eliminates the extra finances associated with driving to an on-campus program or hiring a babysitter in order to get out of the house. Whether you're interested in business, teaching, healthcare, or technology, be sure to check out all available specialty areas available to find one thats right for you.