Dave Barry (b. 1947) is a syndicated humor columnist for the Miami Herald, where he won the Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Social Commentary in 1988. His books include Dave Barry Does Japan (Random House, 1992), Dave Barry is Not Making This Up (Crown, 1994), and Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys (Random House, 1995). This selection is from Dave Barry in Cyberspace (Crown, 1996).
Dave Barry's home page at the Miami Herald
"Selected Web Sites: At Last, Proof that Civilization is Doomed" (Composing Cyberspace p. 300) is not available online.
1. Describe Barry's experience accessing and using the Web. Regarding both the technical process and the content he found, how would you compare Barry's Web chronicle with other descriptions you've heard or read, or with your own experience?
2. If possible, visit some of the Web sites Barry describes and compare your impressions. Beyond his humorous exaggeration, what serious points do you think Barry is trying to make about the Internet and the information it makes available? To what extent do you agree with those points?
3. Try classifying Barry's numerous examples into three or four main categories. What subjects or themes seem most interesting or amusing to Barry? What can you conclude about his particular sense of humor or social concerns, and how do those compare with yours?
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