Final Paper Rough Draft

The Internet is an ever-changing resource of both today and of the future. It has created a tool that has aided in many everyday things as well as many advanced operations. Despite the way computers have come so suddenly into society, they have shaped the minds of many. Some, like Clive Thompson, an avid writer, blogger and author of Public Thinking, believe that with the emergence of computers and social medias has benefitted people to the point that it has improved cognitive thinking, writing abilities and the ability to make connections. However, there are people that lie on the other side of the spectrum as well. Nicholas Carr for example, writer of The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, argues that the World Wide Web has had a negative effect to the point that he cannot read a paper without getting somewhat distracted and off track, in addition to this he states that our cognition is receiving direct affects of this fidgety adaptation as well. In my own analysis of what technology’s role in society has done, I feel that I fall somewhere in between on the spectrum of Carrs view vs. Thompsons view. Technological advances today have built an advanced society, however this can be seen as both good and bad due to multiple reasons. Its essential that this controversial issue be addressed due to the fact that it is absurd to think that technology like that of computers will be going away anytime soon. We live the age of Apple, Google, and the rest of the Digital World. In this paper, I am inclined to reflect on Thompson and Carrs views as well as present my own argument to this. I will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of multiple articles to extend and challenge my own argument of the situation.

            As I stated in the Intro Carr and Thompson present valid arguments in which they both back them selves up with evidence in the forms of testimonies, anecdotes, and historical and current events examples. Although both of the arguments in each of these articles are polar opposite to one another, looking into the points they make and evidence they use to support these points will be beneficial in developing and understanding both sides of the issue. With that being said, going in depth to Thompson’s argument that the Internet is changing our cognitive and writing abilities for the better, his standpoint suggests that as a society writing is becoming more of a natural phenomenon. We blog, text, email, tweet, update status, and every so often write a letter; this contributes to a widened vocabulary and much more practice with writing that ever before. Thompson even gives the example of his mother in this part of the article to solidify the idea that writing has been much more emphasized in recent years than ever before. In contrast to this idea that the Internet is an absolutely positive asset today, Carr argues that the Internet is creating a generation incapable of reading any type of work. If the article doesn’t have a short thread or ads surrounding it, the odds are that you can find yourself fidgeting or losing concentration in whatever reading you are presented with. He states that not only does he find himself experiencing this inability to focus, but several colleagues as well. In an alternate source relating to the same issue of technology in world, is a PBS video done in January of 2011 titled “Is Technology Wiring Teens to Have Better Brains?” connects to both the ideas of both Thompson and Carr, as well as my overall personal argument of the situation.  In the video, they assess how students today are distracted yet they excel in the area of multitasking. Children today are more specialized in focusing on several things at once; they are learning to drink from a “technological fire hose”. They become digital natives, and although this may mean being glued to cell phones or computer screens this “addiction” creates information that you wouldn’t believe. This leads me into my own personal argument.

            After reviewing Carr and Thompson I have taken some of their ideas and incorporated them into my own say on this matter. As originally stated technological advances today have contributed to an innovative society, however this can be seen as both negative and positive. In my 18 years of existence, it’s easy for me to say that I have grown up in the age of Apple and Google and more corporations like them. Technology is all around us and that is especially true for most of my peers as well. We grew up in the age of computers and cell phones, smart phones, laptops, and tablets. Even in the PBS video, it was reported that teens today do everything all at once due to computers. They have; we have, been accustomed to what has been put in front of us. Social changes in media are so recent that we don’t know much about long term affects quite yet, however at a young age our brains have adapted to use the most of what we have, including all things social media related. This definitely extends my argument regarding positive benefits. I do agree that with this rapid advancement of technology society has changed. I do not believe that this change is completely positive as Thompson does, nor do I think this change is completely negative as Carr does. I do believe that we lie somewhere along the middle in balance between negatives and positives. Personally, I have probably written about 20 letters total and those include ones to Santa and a couple of thank you cards, otherwise everything I do is texting or emailing. Much like Thompson argued in his paper that writing has been taken to new levels I agree with how I have seen direct effects in myself over the years. Personally I am not a fan of writing whatsoever, but recently I have taken notice that in the last few years I have adapted to higher levels of writing that I originally thought I was incapable of. On the other hand, my reading skills have definitely been altered by the Internet and ads and everything else it has to offer. This is where I think about Carr's argument and agree on some levels. As mentioned, reading has become hard for me just as it had for Carr. Focus is much harder to find, and I easily get bored.  I do think that I have received several positive benefits from the advancement of technology through my short life span, yet there are also areas where I find hindered qualities as well. There is always good and bad that comes with everything, and technological advancement through the years is no exception to this fact.

            In conclusion, after the analysis of Carrs argument, Thompson’s argument, and PBS videos perspective it can be assumed that many differing views exist in relation to this specific topic. In my own points as well, I like to think that I incorporate and take several viewpoints into consideration such as that of the previous sources that I listed. In order to make a sound argument, essentially what you back yourself up with can either make or break the message you are trying to get across. The technological world is not slowing down anytime soon and to think otherwise is absolutely absurd. As a society we have received both good and bad of this sudden and rapid emergence of computers, cell phones, etc. It is better to think that through the bad that comes with the good, we can learn more about our weaknesses and maybe even better ourselves. Despite the controversy, technology has changed the people of my generation to adapt to a new digital world, thus creating “high tech” individuals in more positive ways than negative ways.