While reading this article, I found it frightening just how many times I could relate to the things it discussed.
For me, the most scary and relevant thing that I related to is the fact that I used to be an avid "deep" reader. I would read every night before bed and not just read, I'd ponder the book some after I was done with it, too. It was a good habit, and I thoroughly enjoyed doing it. Lately, however, I have noticed that I read for fun much less than I used to. I have "successfully" read a half of two different books, so I guess that means I have read a full book this summer. I get so bored with reading after just a few pages, which is one of the key concepts from the article. I have become an avid skimmer instead of an avid reader, and it's sad that I don't enjoy reading as much as I used to. This article hit it right on the head.
This article also discussed how the human mind is being shaped by the easy of internet. I found the part about Nietzche particularly interesting. His writing style changed drastically after introducing a type writer verses just writing his thoughts. The funny thing, to me anyway, is that there isn't as much of a difference from writing to a type writer as there is from writing to a computer. A computer does plenty of services for us, like making research much easier. A typewriter can't do that, all it does is help you type the thoughts you could have just written out. It may make it go a little more quickly, but it's hard to believe that small change could result in a huge difference in writing styles. If that change was that big from writing to type writer, it makes one wonder how big of a change will come from writing/using a type writer to using a computer.
The last scary point from this article is the attitude of the founders of Google. Page, one of the founders, said the following:
"Certainly if you had all the world's information directly attached to your brain, or an artificial brain that was smarter than your brain, you'd be better off"
I personally disagree. Having access to every bit of information does not make anyone smarter.
Google, I love you, man, but you're really harshing my mellow.
Hey Erin! Hope all is going well with you and your days are filled with excellent summer adventures.
ReplyDeleteA couple of AP Comp reminders:
In addition to writing your own posts, make sure you are doing some reading and replying to your classmates’ blogs. You can find a list of blog addresses at my web page. It would seem that you're doing a great job with this-- keep it up!
Also, you should be well along in your non-fiction book. Hope it’s a good one, and I look forward to reading more about it once school starts.
Finally, we will be doing vocabulary quizzes the first week of class, so make sure you’re finding some good words.
Let me know if you have any questions, and savor the last few weeks of summer!
Just browsing your article I found the last quote of the article quite startling. I agree. How can we be better off if technology is controlling us? I also have become a skimmer of books and websites (just as I did your article). It makes me feel quite flustered sometimes, especially when we are assigned to read a book and be tested on it. I get very bored while reading these books and then I totally forget what I just read and I have to spend more valuable time reading just to make sure I do well on the test. Does this happen to you?
ReplyDeleteI found the intro to this post very relatable. I too used to read every night before bed, but now struggle to read the required material. I think that technology is to blame as well as busy schedules.
ReplyDeleteErin I agree with you and Abby. I used to read all the time. I would get into a book that I would literally stop socializing. *cough* Hunger Games *cough* and I wouldn't put it down. Now its different. I skim. Everything. History textbooks, science textbooks, even things in Spanish, which is all reading and speaking. The internet and technology is really changing the ways in which society functions. It's sad really. I mean of course it's improving our lives...or is it? Either way it is what it is and we need to adapt, but we need to do it in a way that we can still use all of our "older "skills. (I can't believe I just referred intensely reading a book to older...oh boy!)
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