We argue whether or not the
Internet is in fact hurting our generation’s ability to stay attentive, and
whether or not we learn and think the same way anymore. Well in my opinion, we
don’t think the same way. I’m not saying that we are beginning to lose intelligence
or anything along those lines, though the way we go about finding and analyzing
material is just; different. In The Shallows, Nicholas Carr talks about the
impact language and books had on our society. He specifically states that “the
growing ability of books fired the public’s desire for literacy, and the
expansion of literacy further stimulated the demand for books,” (Carr 70). And
this is a statement that really stood out to me.
When we hear people say that the
internet is hurting us, that we can no longer concentrate or read the same way,
do they consider that maybe its not hurting, maybe its just changing? Before
the Internet was even made, people relied on newspapers, books, magazines and
other forms of written work for information. Reading was the “big thing.” Reading
was all that people knew, and were used to. Just think about this for a minute.
When people first starting writing things down and publishing, people weren’t
used to it at first. It took time for it to catch on, and it took time for
people to adapt. This is what I believe is happening now. With technology
constantly progressing, there is nothing we can do but hold on and enjoy the
ride. We simply cant stop progression. But we can adapt to it. By using the Internet,
we may have lost a little bit of our attention span, but we have gained other
skills as well. Personally, I believe
that our ability to find information, and knowing where to look has really improved.
But it’s not just that. Yes, we may no longer read a full text if we don’t have
to, but that means that our ability to understand what is important and what is
not has also amplified. Some people may skim papers to get a gist of things,
but others will try to understand what they think is crucial information and
what is not. That’s not a good nor a bad thing, its just different approaches
people have to reading and processing what they have read. That brings me to
another point. If someone really wants to sit down and read a book, then they
will. It’s a personal choice, and although the Internet may have impacted ones
attention span, if they want to do something, they have the ability to.
So when Carr says that “the growing
ability of books fired the public’s desire for literacy, and the expansion of
literacy further stimulated the demand for books,” (70) we can see it as
something else. Maybe the innovation of the Internet fired the publics desire
for more technology, and the expansion of technology stimulated the demand for
more and more of it. If that’s the case, its time for our generation to adapt
to what we now know, and what is only going to evolve.
-Michelle Krupnik
Your post really makes me think. The internet may have changed our way of reading but I feel like reading your post what about our way of spelling. aren't they conected to eachother. Now every paper we write we rely on spell check. Even phones and facebook have spell check. its crazy.
ReplyDeleteKelsey Coughlin
Wow I never really looked at it like that. How can we read as good (or bad) as another generation when we simply aren't them? Very good post. Although we both agree that technology has changed things, I don't see it as a bad thing after reading this.
ReplyDeleteDan Murphy