Up on the Internet.

Though harmless enough, let's try to clear through some common internet myths.

"Oh my, I don't want pictures of me, naked, up on the Internet".

A common misconception is that the internet is something above us, like the skies themselves. However, the internet is simply a network of computers. Leaving aside any satellite or wireless communications, the net is millions of computers which are interconnected, or can be at will. And often connected physically, by cable.

Individuals contribute to it, and it would still work, if it was ground based.

Gifted?

"Oh my, he must be gifted with computers and has his own website". This might have been the case to some extent, a few years ago. Now though, almost anyone can create a website without any specialist knowledge. Weblog or blogs, have ensured that it will even become easier for the average person to publish to the web. Indeed, photo blogs have become very popular, which would have been a technical nightmare to the untrained, a short time ago. Meaning that blogging software has evolved to minimise image manipulation which is a little more difficult than uploading raw text, for example.

Rich.

"Oh my, she must be loaded! Hasn't she a website with access to the entire planet?".

Unfortunately, it doesn't work as simply as this. Sure, person x has that potential but its not the full picture. A conservative estimate would be that less than twenty percent of websites are even known to the search engines. Yes, the site can be accessed through particular protocols, but the web address must be known. The chances are that your web address won't be known unless steps are taken to ensure such a thing. This of course, is a blessing and an accident for the large number of family websites which are used to direct extended family member to. You really wouldn't want the world to know your personal business without a reason? As for the money and business potential? Well, there are many more with that in mind. Many!

So competition will exist unless there is something of unique interest in it. Even then, it won't be long before someone copies or modifies it. Most of the time, you are seeing the very best getting to the top. Search engines won't discriminate towards an individual, but will succumb to skill, technique and application.

Truth.

"Oh my. I read on the internet that people who eat cabbage, invariably turn into turnips!".

Caveat lector! While I'm not a cabbage expert, that statement is unlikely to be true. It is not alone though.

Leaving out typos and accidents in literature, misinformation is common. Check information by seeking other sources, or stick to official government and university sites. Mistakes can happen here as well though. With money orientated sites, beware also of various psychological techniques which are specifically put in place, to call you to action! When it comes to money (and this ties in with "Rich"), common tactics are visualisation and affirmation. Example only; "Imagine yourself on a 60 foot yacht cruising the Mediterranean, and putting a wave onto your ex-bosses raft!

Money and truth, aren't known bedfellows.

Famous!

"Oh my, she must be famous with her name mentioned so much, on the net". In fact though, thousands of records of anything, can be easily achieved where there is some interest in it. Such interest can be both positive and negative in nature. Any individual with an interesting offering, can have a file, data or *anything copied to numerous servers where the rights of such copying are given. And often, where they're not. (*Anything, can range from poetry to software, public to personal data).

Price.

"Oh my, that looks expensive. She must be doing well".

The truly wonderful facet about the net, is the ability to shop around. You're unlimited by the usual physical restrictions of Mother Earth. There really is a wealth of open source software out there. Include the keywords "open source" along with whatever it is that you require, into your search box. You may be amazed at the number of dedicated and gifted people/communities, who develop software and offer it to the public domain. Together with the people who offer time and effort to public information (like wikipedia, for example), these are the people who propel the net into something of worth and accessibility. All myths aside.