I believe the people who believe the Internet is making us stupid, are actually the people who are making everyone else stupid.
Namely Nobel Laureate Dorris Lessing. In the article "Nobel Laureate Says The Internet Makes Us Dumb, We Say: Meh" She argues that people who use the computer are becoming dumb. I believe she refuses to accept new technology that has proven to help people as a means of communicating information. The internet has given access to information that was not available without the network of the Internet.
In the article "The Digital Emporer Has No Clothes" Andrew Keen argues that with the creation of web 2.0 people are also becoming dumb as any person has the ability to post information which shuts out professionals. Keen believes that since web 2.0 has opened up the internet to everyone that they are inherently less reliable. I believe that web 2.0 has altered the way news is shaped, users post information and other users can act as fact checkers at a faster rate than traditional news sources.
The Internet has strengthened our ability to gain knowledge rather than weaken it. Lessing and Keen have not fully adjusted to the benefits that the Internet offers, instead they stick to a traditionalist approach which will keep them jaded from the real benefits.
Monday, February 1, 2010
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While I agree that the Internet does offer more benefits in communicating information, the question is are people using the Internet for this reason? Most people I know only use the internet for social networking, watching pirated TV shows and movies, or reading ridiculous blogs. I think this is the point Lessing and Keen are making. The Internet is making us dumb because we are using it for frivolous reasons.
ReplyDeletePeople of the earlier generation, who were used to typewriter and snail mail, may have a difficult time adjusting to the massive technological change. Thus, they may not be able to appreciate or embrace the power of the Internet. With Web 2.0, people need to know where to find reliable information. There is no rule governing what people can post or edit. Thus, there is no guarantee that other users act as fact checkers.
ReplyDeleteYou made my day with this statement "I believe the people who believe the Internet is making us stupid, are actually the people who are making everyone else stupid". I thought that was hilarious but you may have a point. Besides that I do agree with you. And I doubt that anyone of us from our generation would agree with Lessing or Keen.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. The closed-mindedness of these elite thinkers has unnecessarily limited the potential of the Internet for some scholars. There are so many tools available now that could establish the most free collaboration between these people that has ever been seen. Their skepticism is just dumb!
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