The last two decades have been focused on improving technology to make our lives easier, but have all the technological advancements really improved our lives? We can look to the Internet for almost anything. I will be the first to admit that I take advantage of the Internet. I enjoy the fact that I have access to information I need with the touch of a button. There is something to be said about having to work hard for answers to problems. While I do not think the Internet makes us dumber, I do think that it sends the wrong image. While constantly relying on the Internet we are telling future generations that it is okay to not work hard. What’s better than the satisfaction from a day of hard work?
Post MBA - what's changed
15 years ago
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI understand where you're coming from but I think it's a troubling line of reasoning.
We no longer travel across the country by covered wagon, even though that involved a lot more hard work than driving or hopping on a plane.
Nor do I think we work less hard, overall, because of the internet. The time we save finding information can be used for other things.
I agree with your title in that I don't think the measure of dumb is the right one for the changes we're currently grappling with. I do like how you used lazy as a different metric, however, because I feel that we are becoming more dependent on the internet connection. Maybe it's just me, but sometimes if I can't get connected somewhere on my laptop, I don't really know what to do with my computer--weird. I don't think it's bad though. I second Walter in that maybe it's just a different way of looking at how we use our time. While it may be changing the way our youth type, txt, and talk, I don't think it's all bad.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with the first two comments. I see it as making us more dependant and not dumb. The wide variety of information sources makes it more interesting to gain various perspectives of different subject-matters.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, there's a whole lot of benefit also gained from the internet asides regular information look-up. Reading dailies like the WSJ and online texts via the internet is often more convenient for people..
I think the reliance of the internet for information is causing our generation to forget about certain fundementals that we used to take for granted. Like looking up information in a library and reading through a book. Who knows if our children will even learn the Dewey Decimal System.
ReplyDeleteBut it may be that time in history where we as a society have to accept this drastic change. Like when people started writing down books and mass-publication came into the picture. Remember, there was a time were ppl would transmit books by memory.