"Dear John" notes to be replaced by "404 error"

We already know most can't live without the Internet (see 48-Hour Internet Outage Plunges Nation Into Productivity), but did you know that one in four Americans claim the Internet can serve as a substitute for a significant other?

That's what a recent Zogby/463 Internet Attitudes poll of 9,743 adults nationwide found: 24% are perfectly happy living with the Internet rather than a spouse or significant other. Nearly a third of those people who believe "HTTP://" is better than "I love you" are single. Interestingly, the response is split evenly between men and women (so you can't blame online porn).

While my wife may complain about time spent on the computer (why do you get online when that's what you do all day?), I wouldn't trade her for the Internet. It's a little scary to think that people would rather spend time online with anonymous strangers and not face-to-face in a relationship with a real human being. At least 76% still want a significant other.

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