Genesis 11

Look, let it not be said that I don't make an effort. I'm trying to get to know the Bible a bit better, but can someone explain this for me please?

1 And the earth was of one tongue, and of the same speech.

2 And when they removed from the east, they found a plain in the land of Sennaar, and dwelt in it.

3 And each one said to his neighbour: Come let us make brick, and bake them with fire. And they had brick instead of stones, and slime instead of mortar:

4 And they said: Come, let us make a city and a tower, the top whereof may reach to heaven; and let us make our name famous before we be scattered abroad into all lands.

5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of Adam were building.

6 And he said: Behold, it is one people, and all have one tongue: and they have begun to do this, neither will they leave off from their designs, till they accomplish them in deed.

7 Come ye, therefore, let us go down, and there confound their tongue, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8 And so the Lord scattered them from that place into all lands, and they ceased to build the city.

9 And therefore the name thereof was called Babel, because there the language of the whole earth was confounded: and from thence the Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of all countries.

Why? It's quite possible that I've missed something here, but why would God stop people from communicating? Why would he not want everyone to get along and be able to speak the same language and develop the skills and knowledge that they had, especially if he wanted them to spread the word etc.

From what I've read so far, the Bible appears to be like a really bad soap opera...