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The Rural Voice, 1996-02, Page 31an "education" you don't want. The Internet is an uncontrolled environment, Vanderloo says. No one person or government has control of what is posted on this ultimate of "free -speech" technologies. There are those who use the net to exchange pornographic material and some hate groups have posted their racist propaganda. There is software available now, however, to let parents block out some types of objectionable material, he says. Lindsay points out that pornographic material isn't something you're likely INTERNET ACCESS PROVIDERS Full Internet, Access, Service and Training MapleNet.Grey 677C 10th St. HANOVER 519-364-2401 ■ 1 Internet services hu -Dft RR #1, Proton Station, Ontario, Canada, NOC 1L0 (519) 923-2075 Email: dsnider@headwaters.com WWW pages designed and published for: BUSINESSES FARMERS ARTISANS If you would like to be listed in our internet directory give us a call or visit. http://www.heachvaters.comisnider/markethtm 28 THE RURAL VOICE to find without searching for it. There's a rough discipline on the Internet, says Vanderloo. If other Internet users feel someone is abusing the system, say with hate remarks, they can "flame" the sender by filling their e-mail box with so A newsgroup can spring up whenever there is a group of Internet users with a subject in common. During the Quebec referendum, a newsgroup was formed to discuss the issues. Other newsgroups could cover anything from fishing to Hollywod stars. Everyone interviewed for this article waxed enthusiastic about the future of the Internet, though they differed as to how rapidly it will change the world. Snider says it is important for farmers to quickly learn how to use the new system before they are left behind. With government cuts he can see farmers having to rely on electronically delivered information in the future. But those who would rather jay- walk across highway 401 in rush hour than stumble onto the Information Highway needn't panic, says Lindsay. Though heavily involved in getting OMAFRA on the Internet, he says the traditional methods of getting information out to the rural community will continue for the foreseeable future. The extension offices will remain the main way of helping farmers get the latest in research results and crop recommendations, he said. Still, he sees the potential for new ways of instant communication. UBI's Totzke sees the time when customers will be able to order service on line. He can see farmers take advantage of an interactive G. mate service to see how a bull's genetics will match the females in their herd. And he expects to see the use of the Internet continue to grow. In January 1995, for instance, there were 747 "visits" to the UBI site. By the mid -point of January 1996, there had already been 12,667 visits to the site from 25 countries around the world. It's the kind of explosive growth in interest that will keep the Internet a hot topic in the media. Like television 40 years ago, the fascination with the new medium will continue to make people spend hours in front of the screen, at least until spring planting time.0 There is no one person or government agency policing the Internet but users have their own rough justice. many messages the offender's system will crash. Companies who abuse the system with commercial messages have also been punished by this method. Internet users should also be aware that the source and accuracy of information posted can sometimes be suspicious. Lindsay recently found some OMAFRA fact sheets on the Internet that hadn't been put there by Ministry officials. What would the Ministry's responsibility be if the information was wrong, he wondered. One of the great assets of the Internet, particularly for rural users, is e-mail. It allows you to leave messages for other Internet users anywhere in the world with no extra cost. Furlong, for instance, uses e- mail to correspond with Brian Milne, first vice-president of the Grey Federation. Though they live only a mile and a half apart, they're on two different telephone systems which normally require long distance charges. On e-mail, there's no charge. E-mail can let two people in different parts of the world work on the same project. You can "attach" a computer file, say from a Lotus spreadsheet, to your e-mail message and let your correspondent anywhere in the world take a look at what you've been doing, says Vanderloo. There are also, he says, about 13,800 news groups on the Internet.