Nicolas Carr's article about Google making us stupid really snagged my attention at first. In the first couple paragraphs Carr discusses how he feels when he dives into a book. It is almost like he couldn't stop. I have also experienced this feeling with books that I may have caught my interest. It used to be easy, like Carr said. But now it seems to be more difficult for not only me, but other readers to get caught up in a book. One comment that Carr made in his article was, " Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages. I get fidgety, lose the thread, begin looking for something else to do. When I read this, I immediately connected to it. Reading the book I have now, sometimes I may have to go back and reread a page because I either do not remember what I read or my concentration was just lost halfway through a page. At least now I know I am not the only one struggling with this. This article explained to me why I am having trouble too.
A question popped up in the middle of the article. "What if I do all my reading on the web not so much because of the way I read has changed, but because the way I think has changed?" I never thought of it this way. Technology has a huge role on almost every person's life, whether we know it or not. And even if we don't realize it, it has changed the way we think. One example is if we need to look something up, rather than looking in a book, we decide to pull out our phones and google it. Bruce Friedman is a man who says he has now almost totally lost the ability to read. When I read this my jaw dropped. I couldn't even imagine losing the ability to read a book. This is probably a good reason why we should be reading in school and not having iPads like the younger students do.
Similarly to you, I also find myself relating to Carr's words when he talked about drifting off and becoming bored after reading a couple pages out of a book. Even if I do lose concentration, I still may not even go back and reread the page because that makes even more work. I guess that just proves the point of the article itself. Google isn't making us stupid, but it may be making us extremely lazy.
ReplyDeleteDanielle, this summer I am facing the same problems. Reading a book seems to take a lot more effort and concentration than I am willing to give at times. I get very distracted and struggle to read more than a few pages at a time. Carr states some points that may help explain this issue. I have never really thought about it in this way before. I do think google is a great resource to have, but it is providing so many shortcuts that people are not as willing to take the time to look and read more into a book.
ReplyDeleteHey Dan! I have also been having the same problem! How come it is so easy to sit down on your phone and read tons of tweets, but once you try to read your book its so hard to focus? I also agree with you that technology has changed the way we think. One day all of our classroom books will change to ipad or iphones since kids are always on those devices. This may be for the better or worse, it's hard to tell. It will help to be more organized and efficient, but on the other end it may not provide the most reliable information at all times. The internet has changed many lives and I believe it will continue to do so in the future.
ReplyDeleteHey Danielle! It really is a mind-blowing idea that Google has changed the way we think, but it is true. I go on my phone and look up questions all the time instead of going to a book. I also cannot focus reading a book for more then 15 minutes because I get distracted by looking at my phone or just getting bored. It is honestly crazy and we should try to stop Google from changing the way we think or else we will lose the ability fully just like the guy in the article.
ReplyDeleteHey Dani! I really liked how you made a connection to how the younger kids are using iPads for class now. I know my sister has had the opportunity to take home an iPad for a year to do homework on and etc. This also makes me wonder why we are using more and more technology if everyone thinks its changing the way we think and read? If people really do believe this and feel the same way then they should be taking technology away from us in school and not giving us carts of iPads.
ReplyDeleteDanielle, I have to admit that you definitely hit it right on by identifying the alleged effects of Google in your own life. The fact that you mentioned being unable to concentrate for long periods correlates with the author's theory and it is unsettling. I have also noticed myself being unable to concentrate at times as well and also the influx of more and more technology has really shown we are becoming more dependent on it. Well done overall.
ReplyDeleteDani, I think your points in this post are spot on! Just like you, I have noticed how my concentration when reading has been gradually decreasing overtime. When I was younger I loved reading and could read very quickly and efficiently. Now, I also find myself having to reread pages or passages because my mind was wondering or I couldn't remember what I had just read! I find the idea of our thinking being changed by the Internet unsettling, but definitely a possibility. I immediately turn towards Google when faced with a question, or towards Twitter when I am bored, so I can definitely feel the affects of technology on myself. Great blog overall, Danielle!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your article response Dani. I specifically agreed with the second paragraph. I thought it very true when you stated, "Technology has a huge role on almost every person's life, whether we know it or not." This is extremely true. I think of my dad and grandparents, who mostly oppose newer technology stating they don't want to be a part of it. This makes me laugh because twenty minutes later, there they are, on the computer checking their email or reading the news. You then went on to talk about how people struggle to read books nowadays. I don't have this problem, but I can understand how going from countless hours on the computer would have an effect on alternative reading ways.
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