The Internet and the Ethic of Creation

[Dalaran_Guard]

Does the internet stimulate or stifle creativity? Are modern digital media opportunities to innovate and share our ideas, or do we end up just rehashing and regurgitating the same hackneyed ideas over and over, passing them from one person to another?

In my mind, the Internet is a great facilitator of creativity, though it tends more toward collaborative creativity than individual. The power of modern digital media is in connecting people from across the globe in collaborative creative projects. While the Internet may not necessarily stimulate individual creativity, it provides an arena wherein innovators can share their ideas and gain valuable social proof.

[Edhel-dur]

There is no real answer to this other than the following.

Internet helps spread information. Thus there is tons of crap and tons of quality information on the internet. So it's up to YOU to decide what is what.

[Verhalthur]

There is no real answer to this other than the following.

Internet helps spread information. Thus there is tons of crap and tons of quality information on the internet. So it's up to YOU to decide what is what.

That is quite true.

Though, the internet does contain a certain anonymity that other forms of communication do not and that in itself can influence creativity.

In what way I am not sure. Websites such as deviantart and the Hive are proof that the availability of resources can stimulate creativity massively.
The tough part is getting to the resources, which a good number of people are either unable or unwilling to do.
If there is not a sufficient medium to present the results of the user's creativity, many will just give up instead of creating a new website.

[Edhel-dur]

That is quite true.

Though, the internet does contain a certain anonymity that other forms of communication do not and that in itself can influence creativity.

In what way I am not sure. Websites such as deviantart and the Hive are proof that the availability of resources can stimulate creativity massively.
The tough part is getting to the resources, which a good number of people are either unable or unwilling to do.
If there is not a sufficient medium to present the results of the user's creativity, many will just give up instead of creating a new website.

That's just like real life.

Museums such as xxx and yyy are proof that availability of resources can stimulate creativity.
The tough part is getting to the resources, which are good number of people are either unable or unwilling to do.
If there is not a sufficient medium to present the results of the user's creativity, many will just give up instead of creating a new gallery.

Notice I removed the word massively and replaced websites.

Internet is just like real life, it's completely sand-box. Except internet (in most cases) is easier to access than a museum IRL. What I am trying to say is that, internet is like real life regarding information.

[Verhalthur]

That's just like real life.

Museums such as xxx and yyy are proof that availability of resources can stimulate creativity.
The tough part is getting to the resources, which are good number of people are either unable or unwilling to do.
If there is not a sufficient medium to present the results of the user's creativity, many will just give up instead of creating a new gallery.

Notice I removed the word massively and replaced websites.

Internet is just like real life, it's completely sand-box. Except internet (in most cases) is easier to access than a museum IRL. What I am trying to say is that, internet is like real life regarding information.

Yes, that is just like real life. I hadn't thought about it that way.

The anonymity is the different part, though. So far what I have seen anonymity do is allow users to display examples of creativity that they would not normally do if they had their name attached to it.
This has the compound effect of allowing both really great controversial art to be published and also shamefully poor quality work. The huge amounts of the poor quality work are a good sign. Through hopefully constructive criticism, users can improve their skills whereas they would not normally be able to due to the embarrassment of others seeing work that is substandard.

That alone makes me think that it stimulates creativity.

[Kingz]

I couldn't imagine my life without some kind of media/information sharing anymore, all due to the internet.

More on the topic:

I think the internet is a great way to express your personality, one way or another. True, the excess of ideas and solutions to problems might just extinguish the need for more creative ideas at some places but that doesn't mean it doesn't open up room for other places for you to test your creativity.

I guess this is one of those questions where 100 people will give 100 different answers, it all comes down to the person's look on the internet.

Asking this question might not give conclusive answers but only opinions in my personal opinion.

As mentioned anonymity is one of the the good things about internet (again personal opinion). People should be able to share/receive information without them being watched by other people, and being able to do so freely should sprout more creativity.

The only problem i see in internet's influence is the fact people sometimes give up on creativity by being discouraged by someone or someone's work.
The "Why should i try doing it when that guy does it better?" for example is something which could limit the will of people to be creative and try to solve problems themselves on a new way.

This is my opinion atm, im kind of tired so i may reply later more on the matter.

[Crayons]

it's all in the free will of the individual actually.

there are some people who are insecure and thinks no one will like their crap due to them "internet trolls".

and there are some who doesn't give a fuck and post whatever they want to post.

[Silverfish423]

I think that the internet does encourage creativity because it allows people to spread their ideas much more quickly in a much more accessible manner (assuming one has a computer) than ever before. In addition, the anomosity associated with it helps those who may feel 'embarrased' or whatever. I know this is the case for me.
However, i think that the thought that it may stifle creativity is a result of the internet allowing things to be much more accessible and the delay between perceived actions is decreased. For example, i could find numerous pieces of artwork and pose it as my own (I'd probably get caught, but that's beside the point). In addition, whereas in the past someone may have drawn inspiration from others and created much artwork that was similar to others before they present a 'masterpiece', people now adays have the ability to present it no matter what. The perception of artwork and the time/thought process that is put into it (and other artistic mediums) is influenced by the increased accessibility and the decreased time delay between technicalities that hindered people in the past.