Praised by the _New York Times_ For his entertaining style, David H. Rothman has written a lively, revealing, and sharp-eyed account of life on the Net. Read how a handsome young librarian in Adelaide, Australia, got engaged to a Kansas City woman he’d never met——except online. Discover why net.censors and other interlopers could eventually cost America billions of dollars. Learn how an Anglican priest uses the Internet to “hear” confessions and help keep in touch with his flock. From electronic libraries to the digitized cadaver of an executed killer, _NetWorld!_ covers everything that’s happening on the Net. Whether you surf nightly or know the Net only secondhand, _NetWorld!_ will shed new light on the cultural phenomenon that is engrossing millions around the world. Prima Publishing ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NetWorld! What People Are =Really= Doing on the =Internet=, and What It Means to =You= _David H. Rothman_ PRIMA PUBLISHING ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _With 88s to Carly, my dearest company in life and on the ’Bahn._ © 1996 by David H. Rothman All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from Prima Publishing, except for the inclusion of quotations in a review. PRIMA PUBLISHING and colophon are trademarks of Prima Communications, Inc. Cover design by the Dunlavey Studio Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Rothman, David H. Networld!: what people are really doing on the Internet, and what it means to you/David H. Rothman. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN O-7615-0013-8 1. Internet (Computer network) I. Title. TK5105.875.I57R69 1995 004.6’7—dc20 95-5287 CIP 95 96 97 98 99 AA 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America How to Order: Single copies may be ordered from Prima Publishing, P.O. Box 1260BK, Rocklin, CA 95677; telephone (916) 632-4400. Quantity discounts are also available. On your letterhead, include information concerning the intended use of the books and the number of books you wish to purchase. Contents _A Note to Visitors (and Natives)_ _v_ _Acknowledgments_ _vii_ 1 The Terrain 1