Are these good alternatives to internet usage?

I would prefer to use the internet less because it seems too virtual, cyber, and addictive for me. The idea of sitting using an electronic device (like a computer) seems less and less appealing. I've also realized how unsettling it is to be meeting strangers on the internet.

Are my alternatives to the internet below pretty good? What else could I do? Any tips? :)

For personal/social needs: Get to know my closest real folks more and their friends rather than getting to "know" e-friends, i.e. random strangers. I'll rely more on real people for helpful advice and help rather than e-strangers.

To fulfill my academic/scholarly urges: Go to an actual library in my town or school! Who knows, I might meet some helpful smart people while I'm at it!

For business/finance/consumer urges: I should, once again, consult my friends and family and not the internet.

Wow, this question is fascinating and one that I've never come across before.

There's no doubt that the Internet has transformed a lot of peoples lives. Whether it's been for better or worse remains to be seen, but there's no doubt that a lot of people have become addicted to the Internet, with a significant number of people suffering from "Internet Addiction"

There are a lot of good things about the Net, especially online shopping, News, general information etc I do however worry about the phenomenon that I would call "Net-talk" i.e. as you said countless numbers of people "talking" to complete strangers on a regular basis. The most obvious result of this is that you end up spending less time in the real world where interaction with other people is far more satisfying. I just wonder what the long-term effects will be of spending large ammounts of one's time indulging in this activity. For people who live alone and are already isolated I can understand it, but it baffles me why thousands of people would want to spend every evening chatting to people in this way.

I would say from personal experience that whatever opportunity you get to interact with other people in the real world then snap it up. Plus of course, there's time that could be spent enjoying hobbies etc I have even found it a huge relief to get away from the Net when I've been on holiday etc

I think it's long overdue that some kind of study is done into just how the Internet is affecting our society as a whole, especially if it's causing people to become increasingly isolated from one another.

Well, you could uninstall all your chat programs and just use the internet for reference purposes and email purposes. Going to an actual library is fine for some things, but the internet has tremendously more amounts of information than any library.
I understand your addiction concerns.

I'd recommend also getting some exercise regularly, and joining a group to do something you like, dancing, cooking, a book club, whatever.

Dana (M.S. Mental Health Counseling)

You seem to be answering your own question here, but may I note that there are ways that the Internet can enhance the offline world?

For personal/social needs: Facebook has let me get in touch with old friends whose contact info I'd long lost. This has resulted in as many face-to-face reunions as email messages.

To fulfil my academic/scholarly urges: Wikipedia has helped me start term papers. I still go to the library for my main sources, but Wiki is the handiest way to break down new subject matter. So that when I get to the library, I can do much more focused research!

For business/finance/consumer urges: your friends and family don't know everything, and half the time, the info they're passing on came from the Internet in the first place. (this applies to the consumer urges. If you're trying to get a job, yeah, it's best to start with who you know)

The Internet is a tool. Nothing more, nothing less.