Ullman's concerns about de-socialization through the Internet are, in my opinion, valid. The world today seems to be more and more impersonal than ever. Imagine living the "normal" life yet in doing so never having to leave the comfort of your own home. Sound enticing at first, right? With all the ever-expanding options of the Internet you can pay all your bills, work from home, have groceries delivered, or further your education all at the tips of your fingers if you chose. It seems a bit dramatic, I know, but a definite possibility. There is the down side as Ullman points out in her essay, we will lose the middle man in the process. No longer will we need to try and make some small talk with our friendly cashier or ask for help installing that new sink at the hardware store. With less and less person-to-person interaction, more and more online communities have become available. You can talk with other first time moms, make your own ever-popular myspace page, and even find your "soulmate" on the computer. Many people spend vast amounts of time in these Internet communities but how can you really know the people at the other end of the computer. Chatting online can't even compare to chatting with someone in person, you can't see his or her facial expressions, body language, or overall personality. I'm not all against computers, as they certainly have made my life a lot easier, I just think we need to pull away a bit. Go outside, join a hiking group or something else to your likes.