George Carlin

George Carlin was saying that as a species we will cause our own downfall. The Earth will naturally survive without us as it did before us.Carlin says that the Earth simply tolerates humand and "will be able to shake us off like fleas". If necessary, we will reach a point where we will be unable to live on earth either due to causes by our own hands or by the earth itself.

Mark Smith's "Animalcules and other Little Subjects"

Smith poetical describes the microscopic world in "Animalcules". In reality there is an entire universe in a jar of pond water. This notion places our existence into perspective. Is it possible that to some other form of life, we are nothing more than small creates thriving in a pond somewhere? This idea reminded me of the film "Men In Black" where, at the end it is reviled that our Universe is inside of a marble.
Some of the small creatures smith describes remarkably possess the same parts as humans "eyes, heart, brain, muscles, stomach..."(258). This also shows in many ways all organisms are alike and are connected by a common history

Bejamin Phelan's "How we evolve"

It makes sense that human evolution has slowed down. As Phelan states, in our society "the fit and the unfit equally flourish"(192). As a result, the concept of "survival of the fittest" may have taken a backseat. I think its undeniable that our technology has overtaken our natural evolution. In a matter of a century we created atomic bombs and space shuttles. The fact that our population has boomed may also hinder evolution. As the article states genetic drift contributes to evolution. It is difficult for a single gene to spread through a species that is 6.8 billion strong in number. It is a natural rule that organisms must adapt to their environment. However, the environment must now adapt to humans. I feel that as a whole humanity is reaching a critical point where will decide if we will destroy ourselves or continue to thrive.

Connection between "just add water" and "Ethics of Carbon emissions"

The world would resemble Trona Californiaif pollution and global warming becomes worse. Similar to modern society the people of Trona rely on gas stations to power their society.
Ray's neighbor is depicted as being lazy and always sitting on his lawn chair, yet he wants to help ray with his problems. Similarly, modern society wants to help stop global warming but rarely do people take serious action to combat against it. In regards to global warming, most of the western world wants to help, yet does nothing.

John Broome's The Ethics of climate change

I like philosophy too, but I found that John Broome's The Ethics of Climate change was too speculative. Is climate change killing people and harming the enviornment? Yes. But I found that Broome simply ranted and never truly reached a conclusion or gave a solid solution to any problem. He mentions the concepts of Utilitarianism and Prioritarianism which are only two ways of viewing the problem from many different angles. Perhaps I simply didn't understand his article or I missed something.
When it comes to climate change, the only people that can make a serious difference are world governments. Governments can pass laws that cut down on waste/carbon emissions/green house gases and whatever else is destroying the environment. A single person can make a difference by "going green" such as buying organic food riding a bike instead of driving a car etc.

how do I feel about blogging

I like being able to read other people's opinions about the topics that we discuss in class. I do like the fact that one can comment on someone else's blog so we can have some type of conversation. However, I do view blogging as a chore. Take this post for example, I forgot about it until I went on blogger and read that other people posted it. So I just wrote this up really quick.

Just add water questions. Recall

1. What's inside the box that Ray keeps in his car?
2. Does Ray still consider Ed (Jonah hill) to be his son even though he is not the biological father.
3. Why is the Lemon meringue pie recipe so special?
4. Is Ed really apathetic and angry or is that an act?
5. What gave Ray the inspiration to finally stand up to Dirk and his gang.
6. Does Ray's turtle has an actual purpose in the film?

Recall: the movie does remind me of Little miss sunshine because of the dark humor and tone.

Is everyone a writer?

Every college student has to write papers. People sometimes have to write letters and resumes. Due to social networks like Twitter and Facebook people have become their own publishers and post their thoughts and ideas.Essentially no one can go through their entire life without writing or communicating through written language. In that regard, everyone is a writer in a literal sense. Yet some people view writing as an inconvenience and are annoyed by the idea of writing anything.
I feel that writer is someone who enjoys writing as a hobby or for a job. For example. a jounalist for a newspaper would be a writer. Stephen King is writes for a living and as a hobby. I consider myself to be a writer and I usually write creatively when I'm bored. I find it fun to create settings and characters tell a story in the way I choose.

Just add Water Observations and Infer

Observations: Barren desert. Poverty. Drug deals on the streets. Dullness. Stupidity. Repetition. Apathetic attitudes. "Don't forget to take a mint".

Infer: Education is not valued in Trona. Ray wants to preserve his home and his family that is dysfunctional. Drug dealers (Dirk) owns and runs the town, there seems to be an absence of actual authority. There are no real family ties in Ray's family. Ray's son Ed is destructive and bored (wants to set a house of fire). Ray tries to make the best out of a dull and miserable life.

Michael Specter's "Bigfoot"

Yet again, Michael Specter's "Bigfoot" is another science article discussing the wastefulness of modern society. This piece discusses the carbon footprints that are produced when food is made and shipped to different parts of the world. I must admit that I had never considered that the hamburger I had for lunch came from a cow in New Zealand. However, I feel that although "Bigfoot" was insightful there isn't much the reader can do to address the issue. Like the other articles about pollution the only true way to make an impact is to give companies incentives to decrease their carbon footprints like giving tax credits to the corporation that follow through. Companies will also take notice and change their policies if there is a chance that they will be viewed negatively. For example the article states that Apple was ranked as one of the worst companies in terms of being green. Steve Jobs took note, and of course apple followed suit with becoming more environmentally friendly (pg 286). Finally it is necessary to integrate green programs slowly at not introduce it all at once.
In reality I suppose I have contributed to global warming in some way. I think that as a whole modern Western society is to blame for global warming. We refused to find alternative sources of energy when we had the chance and now we are suffering the consequences.

Writing Center Experience

I found the writing center to be helpfully. With my experience I simply talked out loud and I came up with the answers I needed mostly on my own. Also it is good to have another person read your work. As the writer of your own work you will naturally understand what you write. A reader will point out logicl flaws and vague parts about your essay. Obviously, this criticism makes your writing better.

Joshua Roebke's "The Reality Test"

This article reminded me of the movie The Matrix. There is a scene where Morpheus is explaning to Neo what the Matrix is and Morpheus asks him “What is real?” Like with literature I feel that to some degree everything, including reality, is open to interpretation. In many ways "we do create what we observe". We attach names and connotation to things that we observe, and therefore we change how we perceive events and objects.
I found that Roebke's thesis to be interesting. I feel that there is another world that exists that we are incapable of preceiving even with our technology.

faustian economics in class writing

Berry is very pessimistic about modern American society. He states that as a species we hve become arrogant to the point that we consider ourselves to be god-like. Overall, we are very wasteful and consume resources at an astonishing rate. For example, Americans use millions of plastic bottles a year. Many are not recycled and the waste beings to pollute the environment.
Berry claims that is necessary to place limits on ourselves in temrs of technology. By placing limits on ourselves we can fully analyze problems and create solutions that are extremely efficient. As stated by Berry, limits allow people to have a sense of “fullness”. Without pre-set limits it would be difficult to know where to end. This concept ties into our arrogance. As a society we do not know when enough is enough and we become greedy and wasteful as a result.
A prime example of this greed is with oil. Although the world’s supply is running low, many take its existence for granted and assume that oil will never run out completely.

Wendell Berry's Faustian Economics

In Faustian Economics author Wendell Berry has a very pessimistic view about American society. Berry states that Americans are in a “collective delusion of grandeur”, meaning that as a culture we are extremely wasteful and greedy. Berry cites that modern American society has become arrogant, believing that natural resources are limitless.
Berry accurately points out that as a species we have elevated ourselves to that of god-like beings (pg 8). We want to live without limits and to consume more energy and resources in order obtain more knowledge. However, Berry claims that we also need wisdom in conjunction with knowledge in order to use technology more effectively. He states that is it foolish to obtain knowledge that we ourselves don’t fully understand. If we do not understand the knowledge, we may apply it in an unfavorable manner which will be dangerous (pg 5).
Berry states that Americans must return to a state of humility. In order to progress we must ironically place limits ourselves. Berry states that as a society we mistake limits as “confidments” ( pg 8). As a whole, we must accept the fact that there are natural limits on how much the human race can expand. These limits allow us to survive in a balanced world. In reality, limits do not hinder progress, allow us to utilize our resource and wisdom to natural fullness.

Derrida- fear of writing

Derrida, like most people, fear that other people will react negatively to his work. In the video, Derrida states that he usually criticizes people and institutions and is afraid of the repercussions. I feel that his fear stems from natural self-doubt.
I feel that the fear of being judged is what motivates the fear. I have a similar self-doubt in my writing like Derrida. I feel restricted when writing essays, believing that if I try to do something different or new it will backfire. As a result, I stay close to the guidelines.
Derrida certainly has a deep respect for the power of writing. In the video he states that a type of “force” overpowers him to write and that it is a necessity. He then states that if he renounces his work there will be consequences. From these comments, I feel that Derrida believes that writing his something that is bigger than himself.

Poems by R. Jones and R. Hass

Both poems paint a very beautiful and tranquil picture of nature. The authors address how words and language can create imagery. Rodney Jone’s Hubris at Zunzal, makes this clear with the statement “No image like the image of language.” Language helps us communicate stories and ideas, here, both authors use language to bring the readers to their respective scenes. Robert Hass’ The problem of describing trees struggles to accurately describe a tree. To Hass the try has many characteristics and it is difficult to find the words,"There are limits to saying,
In language, what the tree did." He cites the tree's actual physical structure, mentioning it's "wobbly stems" and the trees cells. However, Hass also finds that the tree has traits of that of a person, stating that is a "dancer".
Language is a slippery vehicle in that a single piece of literature can be interpreted multiple ways. For example The problem of describing trees is purposely vague, its meaning is mostly likely subjective.

Kenneth Bruffee's "Collaborative Learning and the Conversation of Mankind"

Group learning is beneficial in most cases. People solve problems and interpret questions in different ways. This diversity in thinking can help the group as a whole come to conclusions faster. This is evident in human nature since we tend to cluster together and form groups. Obviously, without such cooperation and “collaborative learning” we’d still be huddled in caves still trying to figure out how to make fire. I believe that it is beneficial for students to talk amongst themselves in a guided environment in order to learn. It makes the process of learning seem more natural.
In my personal experiences as a student, I always felt that the teacher’s interpretation of a piece of information was always the ‘correct’ one. In reality, this is of course not always the case. Collaborative learning can help students broaden their knowledge of the world by listening to several different interpretations from their peers and pooling the best ideas to form an answer. Thus collaborative learning is similar to the old adage that “two heads are better than one”.
As Bruffee also stated groups are necessary for change to occur as well, something he described as “abnormal discourse”. If enough people form a group and challenge current knowledge as outdated it will be changed or abandoned in time. For example, the Renaissance came as a result of a collective questioning of social norms. Thus, “collaborative learning” also allows knowledge to become “social artifacts” with each generation learning what last generation learned as well. The cycle continues, as new information replaces the old and it is again passed on due to a collective thinking.

Working with shakespeare concordance

Kelsey, Stephanie, Matt C
1.We have located thematic strands such as: “drunk”, “drink”, “drinking”, “drowned”, “tears”, “sea”, and“can” as in a drinking cup.

2.Because heavy drinking occurs throughout the play, such themes appear repeatedly. However, the words “drink”, “drunk”, and “drinking” appear whenever, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, The Fool, and Maria are in scenes. In context, the words are describing their unhealthy obsession with alcohol and their party lifestyle. Act II sc iii, in particular, contains a lot of these words, since this is where Malovio enters and scolds them for their late night drunken antics. The word “sea” appears towards the beginning in Acts I-Acts 3. The fool references the sea in Act 2 sc IV (pg 71) saying “I would have men of such constancy put to sea”, meaning that men are fickle and wander like the ocean’s currents. The word “drowned” appears mostly towards the beginning with Sebastian saying literary that he believes Viola has drowned in the shipwreck. In Act 1 sc V, the Fool states that a drunk man and a drowned man or the same person depending upon the number of drinks( pg 33 line 130).

3.Shakespeare uses this device to demonstrate that drinking is a form of escapism. When intoxicated one does not have control over what they do similar to how one can get carried by the sea. Overconsumption leads to ‘drowning’ meaning personal misery and complete loss of control.

4. New Media project link
http://kelseyqt.blogspot.com/

Sonnet 119- for group

What potions have I drunk of siren tears,
Distilled from limbecks foul as hell within-
Applying fears to hopes, and hopes to fears,
Still losing when I saw myself to win!
What wretched errors hath my heart committed,
Whilst it hath thought itself so blessed never!
How have mine eyes out of their spheres been fitted
In the distraction of this madding fever!
O benefit of ill, now I find true
That better is by evil still made better;
And ruined love when it is built anew
Grows fairer than at first, more strong, far greater.
So I return rebuked to my content,
And gain by ills thrice more than I have spent.

Three quotes from class

Viola: I am the man (II.ii.25)

Throughout the play Viola is masquerading as a man named Cesario and everyone believes her disguise. In context of the full quote, Viola is confused as to why Olivia returned a ring that she never gave to Olivia to begin with. Viola then realizes with mush surprsie,that Olivia must have fallen in love with Cesario. She states “I am the man” meaning she in the person that Olivia now loves. Viola feels pity for Olivia, upset that she has fallen in love with an illusion.

Malvolio: ...and yet to crush it a little, it would bow to me...(II.v.143-145)

When Malvolio is reading the message he finds the letters MOAI appear. These letters are in Malvolio’s name but together they do not spell it.By condensing his name, “crush it a little” Malvoilo fits himself into MOAI. Then, “it would bow to [him]” meaning the letters would spell his name. This represents his desperation for Olivia to love him back.

Viola: Then think you right. I am not what I am.
Olivia: I would you were as I would have you be. (III.i.148-9)

Olivia is confessing her love to Cesario (Viola) who cannot accept it, since she is a woman herself. Viola is trying to convince Olivia to no longer love her. “I am not what I am” is Viola’s subtle way of stating she is in a disguise. Olivia responds “I would you were as I would have you be”, meaning she wishes Viola was what she wants in a man. This is another ironic exchange in the play. Viola is trying to reject Olivia’s love without ruining her disguise.

shakespeare concordance

Clearly a lot of drinking occurs in Twelfth Night thanks to Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. Using the concordance I've found a fair amount of references to 'drunk' 'drink' and 'drinking' so far.

Act 1, Scene 3
MARIA They that add, moreover, he's drunk nightly in your company.
Act 1, Scene 5
OLIVIA By mine honour, half drunk. What is he at the gate, cousin?

Act 5, Scene 1

SIR TOBY BELCH Confine! I'll confine myself no finer than I am:
these clothes are good enough to drink in; and so be
these boots too: an they be not, let them hang
themselves in their own straps.
MARIA That quaffing and drinking will undo you: I heard
my lady talk of it yesterday; and of a foolish
knight that you brought in one night here to be her wooer.

SIR TOBY BELCH With drinking healths to my niece: I'll drink to
her as long as there is a passage in my throat and
drink in Illyria: he's a coward and a coystrill
that will not drink to my niece till his brains turn
o' the toe like a parish-top. What, wench!
Castiliano vulgo! for here comes Sir Andrew Agueface.

Sport royal

Saying that her scheme is sport royal means that Maria is making a game out of embarrassing Malvolio. She may also be saying that it will be easy to make a fool out of him. The phrase sport royal also reminded me of hunting. To Maria, Malovio is her prey and she is the hunter.

Inkshedding

It is clear that In Shakespeare’s The Twelfth Night Sebastian and Viola have a strong bond as siblings. When Sebastian is introduced in the play he praises her. “But though I could not with such estimable wonder overfar believe that, yet thus far I will boldly publish her: she bore a mind that envy could not but call fair”(pg 51 Act 2 sc i). Sebastian feels that Viola has a beautiful mind. By ‘publishing’ this, he is letting be known that he truly supports her.
In essence, Sebastian is bragging about Viola’s inner beatify to Antonio. Sebastian maybe boasting about his sister since he also thinks Viola is drowned in the shipwreck, “from the breach of the sea was my sister drowned” (Pg 49 21-22). Because Sebastian believes that she is dead, he is honoring her memory by praising her.

Paper 1 reflection

I found that writing paper one was harder than I thought it would be. At first I thought the iPod was such a trivial part of American society that it reflected little about our cultural values. However, as I began to write and brainstorm I realized how much the iPod changed our society. It’s rare to go into public without seeing at least one person with the white headphones in. The iPod is virtually everywhere.
I personally do not use my iPod very often. I only use when I’m on a long plane ride or on vacation. Since I hardly use it, I never understood why so many Americans rely on the iPod, until I wrote the small object large subject essay. Essentially, the iPod allows us to have private moments in public. It allows us to put up a social wall where we can be along in a crowded room. As a nation we also want to be entertained constantly. So whenever the latest technology is released into market, we instantly take it for granted and incorporate it into our daily lives.

Twelfth Night questions

1.Where was Viola going before she was shipwrecked?
2.What is the significance of the title “Twelfth Night”?
3.Does Orsino know that Sir Andrew is also interested in Olivia?
4.Why does Orsino trust Ceasrio (Viola) so much, even though they have only known each other for 3 days?
5.Does the Fool have any hidden motives?
6.Does the play have a main antagonist?

Michelle Nijhuis-To Take Wildness in Hand

A tree species called Torreya taxifolia, is said to “inspire more pity than awe” as a result of its unattractive appearance (Nijhuis 182). However, this unsightly tree has received a lot of attention, due to the fact that is it the latest victim of global climate change. Rising temperatures and drought, threaten the already fragile Floridian species which is also infected by disease. In order to save the species, many scientists want to transplant it into cooler northern climates, a process known as “assisted migration” (Nijhuis 183). This plan also has its share of critic. Many are concerned that Torreya taxifolia will become an invasive species in its new habitat, simply put the “unknowns are staggering” (Nijhuis 187). There is also the question of whether assisted migration may be “used to justify new habitat destruction” for species that already exist in areas (Nijhuis 190).
This dilemma is another issue that has manifested from the large problem of global warming. Nijhuis brings our attention to the Torreya taxifolia to demonstrate how damaged the environment is as a result of global warming. Furthermore, the story also illustrated how conservation efforts are becoming so drastic that some advocate translating entire species. Nijhuis assumes that by bringing this issue to light, Americans will react and become active participants in conservation efforts.

4 questions- Sue Halpern’s Virtual Iraq

1.What data does Sue Halpern draw on?
-Halpern uses statistical information such as: “multiple tours inadequate time at home between -deployment increases rates of combat stress by 50%” (118).
-Halpern uses the personal experience she had with Vitrual Iraq.
-Uses information from Alfred Rizzo, inventor of Virtual Iraq- “Of the five subjects who had completed treatment, four no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD” (125).
-Uses information from Karen Pearlman a psychologist who uses Virtual Iraq-“so far eight of the nine patients she has treated no longer meet the criteria for PTSD” (127).

2.Active Verbs
“Decompress from combat” (117)
“Hook you up to a machine to play around like a video game. (120)
“Insurgents just pop up” (124).
“Slipped on the display and the headphones”(126).
“Car burst into flames” (126).
3.Figuration
“Patrolled the streets like police.” (117)
“Psychological wounds”(118)
“Ground pounders” (118)
“Drowning pool of painful memories” (119)
“Just sniffing around the internet” (122).
“We applied for money and we got nuked”(122)
“You’d never do what I just did-you’d never flood them.” (127)
4. Portable Wisdom
“Because numbing and avoidance are symptoms of PTSD, you’re asking the person to do in treatment the very thing their mind is avoiding doing” (120).
“Virtual reality can nudge an imagination that is at once overactive and repressed.”(120)

Sue Halpern’s “Virtual Iraq”-Abstract

Many of America’s troops return home from war with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This debilitating condition makes returning to everyday life difficult, as they are still affected by the horrors of war. Author Sue Halpern documents the case of “Travis Boyd” a marine with PTSD who participated in “Virtual Iraq”. As one may assume, Virtual Iraq is computer simulation of what soldiers experience overseas. It is hoped that by reliving the traumatic event they will “disconnect the memory from the reactions to the memory” (Halpern 119). By detaching the reaction from the memory they can return to a more stable life (Halpern 119).
‘Virtual Iraq’ was created using a modified version of the video game “Full Spectrum Warrior” (Halpern 122). However, it extends beyond a simple visual recreation of war. Sue Halpern tested Virtual Iraq and noted that the experience is also focused on appealing to “aural, tactile, [and] olfactory” senses. The other sense used so that “the immersion in the environment is nearly absolute”, and therefore more realistic (Halpren123). For example, patients sit in a chair over a “bass shaker” so the patient feels they are in a Humvee that is under attack (Halpren 126).
At the end of his treatment “Travis Boyd” noticed significant improvements in coping with his PTSD. He stated that “he was able to sleep without medication” and no longer blamed himself for the dead of his team leader (Halpren 128).
The use of virtual reality to treat those with PTSD is a groundbreaking treatment. As “Travis Boyd” asserted, the soldiers that are serving in Iraq are part of the “video-game generation” (Halpren 118). Due to the familiarity with virtual reality the treatment brings a degree of comfort. With graphics and technology only improving, it is possible that virtual reality treatment will become more affective in aiding those with PTSD.

small object, Large Subject-iPod

Americans have always appreciated listening to music at any time of day. However, only recently has the portable music player become a reality. This technology was revolutionized by Apple’s iPod. In a matter of years, the signature white iPod headphones have been injected into nearly everyone’s ears. The iPod is about instant satisfaction, one can listen to music essentially anywhere at any time. The iPod also offers unprecedented personalization. Users can created their own playlists and buy an entire album or a single song online. As a result of its portability, and customizations the iPod has become a cultural icon.
Over ten years ago, the word “iPod” did not exist, yet today many Americans do not leave the house without one. It is hard to go out in public without seeing someone listening to music or watching a video on their iPod. Joggers strap their iPod to themselves as they take their morning exercise. During the daily commute people will have their “Monday Morning” playlist blaring in their car as they are stuck in traffic. On trains it is nearly impossible to look down the aisle without seeing someone stare dumbly at nothing as they sit with their headphones on. The iPod’s success is that it offers instant entertainment at any moment in our daily lives. It also creates a social wall where people can retreat even in public.
Another striking feature about the iPod is the number of different models. The iPod touch for example, is one of the more ‘advanced models’ that uses programs called “apps”. As Apple boasts, there is an “App, for just about everything”. Some of them are useful such as maps for the NYC subway, while others are trivial and to some absolutely useless. In the end, the “apps” are just another distraction in a time when many Americans need to feel ‘connected’ at all times. New “generations” of iPods are also constantly made. The newest iPods have more memory than the last, which means more songs and further customization.
The iPod reflects the notion that Americans desire products that are highly personalized. No two iPod’s are exactly alike since everyone’s taste in music is different. The fact that many people do not leave home without their iPod demonstrates that as a nation, Americans want to be constantly entertained. However, this constant need to be attached creates its own set of disadvantages. When listening to their iPod many people become distracted, making everyday actions like crossing the street or driving a car even more dangerous. The iPod allows people to be detached from society even when operating in public, which reflects the idea the Americans want an escape from their everyday lives. The iPod has only existed for a short amount of time, but now it’s impossible to think of life without it.

 

Chris Carroll’s “High-tech Trash”-Abstract

The millions of ‘dead’ electronics in the United States and other Western countries are unfortunately, sent to rot in developing nations. As revealed in Chris Carroll’s “High-tech Trash” many who live in poverty stricken areas salvage the remains of these devices for money. However, by burning the scrap in hopes of obtaining the process metals within, they expose themselves to “a bouquet of carcinogens and other toxics” (Carroll 30). This “e-waste” is mostly the result of an “out-of-sight, out-of-mind solution” (Carroll 32). Essentially, many recyclers in the Western world find it easier and more profitable to sell the trash to developing nations where environmental laws and regulations that are hardly enforced. This results in hazardous trash heaps piling up around the local people. In Guiyu China, for example, the presence of the electronics created a chemical called dioxin, which seemed into the soil and air. Dioxin is known to disrupt the endocrine and immune systems and is only one of many dangerous that exists in villages with e-waste. (Carroll 35).
There is a growing movement to help end the cycle. In the United States the EPA encourages “responsible recycling” by utilizing a “rating system that rewards environmentally sound products” (Carroll 33). Also in the U.S. recycling machines are used to breakdown the e-waste in a safe and environmentally friendly matter. However, only a few of these machines exist in the United States. Even with this technology, it is still more profitable to send the trash to developing nations.
Carroll is clearly writing to those living in the nations that produce the e-waste. For many Americans, the turnover rate for cell phones and laptops are only a few years. With these technologies growing in both volume and popularity only more e-waste will be created. Therefore, it is necessary for the nations that create the e-waste to take responsibility and not place the burden onto an innocent rural village.

Nicholas Carr’s “Is Google making us stupid”- Toulmin model

The internet has completely reshaped the way in which people process information, yet is this technical wonder somehow making us “stupid”? As author Nicolas Carr asserts, the internet has conditioned his mind to absorb information “in a swiftly moving stream” resulting in a new inability to focus on lengthy articles. However this loss of concentration is not a sign that the internet is making users dumber, but instead changing the way our minds interpret information. Throughout history, there are examples that demonstrate how new technologies alter the way in which people read and write. After receiving a typewriter, Friedrich Nietzsche’s writing style became “tighter [and] telegraphic”. In response to this change, he later wrote that “’our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts’”. This concept is seen in text messaging. People now send quick bursts of information between one another that are usually no more than a sentence long, yet clear thoughts are communicated. With the way we read and write becoming quicker and shorter, it is understandable why people fear we are losing our “capacity for concentration and contemplation”. Yet skepticism is always attached to revolutionary technologies. Humanist Hieronimo Squarciafico feared Guttenberg’s printing press would lead “to intellectual laziness” because of “the easy availability of books”. Yet, it inspired just the opposite, as books and the knowledge they contain spread throughout the world.

The use of the internet has become so widespread and dominant in our lives it was inevitable that it would change the way people ‘think’. Although healthy skepticism should always accompany technology, it appears that we adapt to the changes successfully. If the way we process our information is changing as well, than society as a whole will also adapt.

Nicholas Carr’s “Is Google making us stupid”

I get distracted very easily whenever I use the internet. I find that Wikipedia creates the largest distractions. After five minutes of using it I always have several different tabs open with completely unrelated articles. Sometimes I don’t even finish reading the first few sentences of an article because I already clicked to go onto another page.Overall, people want the quick and simple answers to a question and the internet helps us do that. Because of this, it’s very understandable why people are finding it harder to focus when reading a long piece. It’s easier to search for something on Google and jump to the next link then to sit and absorb something. This very damaging since we’re no longer analyzing material in a deeper context.