Journal #24
English Comp
Mr. Miller
4/5/24
Charles Cristoforo
Everyone uses their technology differently and it has become an integral piece in a lot of people’s lives. Personally, I find myself reliant on my phone, utilizing it for a variety of tasks. Tasks ranging from scheduling meetings, staying connected with loved ones, and listening to music. But there’s others in this World and they most likely use their technology differently. It’s unlikely a person in their seventies would use a phone with the same proficiency as someone from the “screen age” generation like mine. That’s an interesting thought to think about though. Why can’t my generation stay away from their phones, while other, older generations are able to keep their impulses under control. It could have been because we were born into it. We were born into being part of this “digital generation”. Sam Anderson, an author for New York Magazine, nurses multiple generation’s concerns in, “In Defense of Distraction”. To put it briefly, he gives his thoughts on overstimulation, and how distraction may be good for us. I aim to compare Sam’s ideas to two of my peers’ essays on their relationship with technology. Finley Morrison’s essay “Title”, and Liv Arvidson’s “Title”. Both students’ essays give us a glimpse into the feelings and thoughts people have about the digital world today.
In today’s digital landscape, the various forms and nuances of technology are an integral part of our lives. They have become part of us. I aim to critically think about the influence of generational differences with technology and I wish to explore the varying perceptions of technology within these different generations using the essays I’ve lined out. Through the exploration of individual technology habits and patterns, I will try to understand why trends may emerge and how they can answer complicated questions I have. Furthermore, I intend to think on the social constructs that either help or hurt us when we use technology. With this thought on the intersections of technology, generations, and societal constructs, I aim to build a deeper understanding of the different ways in which individuals engage with and interpret technology in their lives.
When diving into the influence of generational differences in technology usage, it’s essential to consider the many ways in which different age groups interact with and perceive our digital tools. While older generations may exhibit a more restrained approach to technology, younger generations, like mine, often find themselves deeply established in the digital realm. This contrast poses questions about the underlying factors shaping these polar behaviors. One such factor, as suggested by Sam Anderson in “In Defense of Distraction,” is the idea of overstimulation and its implications for our relationship with technology. Anderson proposes distraction, often viewed negatively, may actually offer benefits in the modern era. “The truly wise mind will harness, rather than abandon, the power of distraction. Unwavering focus, the inability to be distracted, can be just as problematic as ADHD” (Anderson 11). This quotation invites us to reconsider how we perceive our constant connectivity and the role it plays in our lives. What Anderson is saying is, our tendency to view distraction as solely detrimental overlooks its potential benefits. We look at a kid today using a phone and say, “Damn, that kid really shouldn’t have a phone”. Morrison demonstrates this in their essay, “It takes her minutes to return to reality once she’s done playing with her technology. It’s incredibly disheartening for her to finally recognize me after disconnecting from her tablet; this child genuinely appears to be waking up from a coma after watching nothing but brain-rot inducing videos on her iPad” (Morrison 1). Morrison’s portrayal of their nieces’ disconnect from reality after using technology is indeed disheartening. Their use of the term “brain-rot” emphasizes their view point and the potential negative effects of an overexposure to the digital world. I imagine their view point to be similar to that of an older generation, looking on in disbelief as their niece comes out of the digital world. To me, the word “brain-rot” is a little scary. I’ll be it, an overexposure to the digital world is unhealthy, though I believe we are tuned out of the potential benefits that Anderson hints at technology having.
I want to be distracted sometimes. Sometimes, I want not to think about school, life, or friends, I just want to scroll on my phone for a little while. The distraction is therapeutic for me. Is my brain rotting while I do this? I don’t think so. I will say there’s a line between how I use my device, and how Morrisons niece uses their device. This line between how we use technology makes this conversation complicated and raises the question, is it the technology that’s brain rotting, or is it how we use the technology which allows for this brain rot to occur? Anderson says, “The truly wise mind will harness, rather than abandon, the power of distraction” (Anderson 11). I think this quotation can translate to an idea of how we use our technology. I believe abandoning the power of technology looks like how we are using it today. We frequently find ourselves using technology in ways that prioritize convenience or short term gains over long-term progress or sustainability. We can see the consequences of these short term gains in Morrisons example of her niece. The “brain-rotting” effect. I believe we are yet to see us fully see and harness the “power of distraction” in our lives, with the examples I have seen in my peers’ essays. I think if we step back and reevaluate how we use our technology, we can realize and really take part in technology’s transformative power. For a better World.
9 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 24”
Journal #24
English Comp
Mr. Miller
4/5/24
Charles Cristoforo
Everyone uses their technology differently and it has become an integral piece in a lot of people’s lives. Personally, I find myself reliant on my phone, utilizing it for a variety of tasks. Tasks ranging from scheduling meetings, staying connected with loved ones, and listening to music. But there’s others in this World and they most likely use their technology differently. It’s unlikely a person in their seventies would use a phone with the same proficiency as someone from the “screen age” generation like mine. That’s an interesting thought to think about though. Why can’t my generation stay away from their phones, while other, older generations are able to keep their impulses under control. It could have been because we were born into it. We were born into being part of this “digital generation”. Sam Anderson, an author for New York Magazine, nurses multiple generation’s concerns in, “In Defense of Distraction”. To put it briefly, he gives his thoughts on overstimulation, and how distraction may be good for us. I aim to compare Sam’s ideas to two of my peers’ essays on their relationship with technology. Finley Morrison’s essay “Title”, and Liv Arvidson’s “Title”. Both students’ essays give us a glimpse into the feelings and thoughts people have about the digital world today.
In today’s digital landscape, the various forms and nuances of technology are an integral part of our lives. They have become part of us. I aim to critically think about the influence of generational differences with technology and I wish to explore the varying perceptions of technology within these different generations using the essays I’ve lined out. Through the exploration of individual technology habits and patterns, I will try to understand why trends may emerge and how they can answer complicated questions I have. Furthermore, I intend to think on the social constructs that either help or hurt us when we use technology. With this thought on the intersections of technology, generations, and societal constructs, I aim to build a deeper understanding of the different ways in which individuals engage with and interpret technology in their lives.
When diving into the influence of generational differences in technology usage, it’s essential to consider the many ways in which different age groups interact with and perceive our digital tools. While older generations may exhibit a more restrained approach to technology, younger generations, like mine, often find themselves deeply established in the digital realm. This contrast poses questions about the underlying factors shaping these polar behaviors. One such factor, as suggested by Sam Anderson in “In Defense of Distraction,” is the idea of overstimulation and its implications for our relationship with technology. Anderson proposes distraction, often viewed negatively, may actually offer benefits in the modern era. “The truly wise mind will harness, rather than abandon, the power of distraction. Unwavering focus, the inability to be distracted, can be just as problematic as ADHD” (Anderson 11). This quotation invites us to reconsider how we perceive our constant connectivity and the role it plays in our lives. What Anderson is saying is, our tendency to view distraction as solely detrimental overlooks its potential benefits. We look at a kid today using a phone and say, “Damn, that kid really shouldn’t have a phone”. Morrison demonstrates this in their essay, “It takes her minutes to return to reality once she’s done playing with her technology. It’s incredibly disheartening for her to finally recognize me after disconnecting from her tablet; this child genuinely appears to be waking up from a coma after watching nothing but brain-rot inducing videos on her iPad” (Morrison 1). Morrison’s portrayal of their nieces’ disconnect from reality after using technology is indeed disheartening. Their use of the term “brain-rot” emphasizes their view point and the potential negative effects of an overexposure to the digital world. I imagine their view point to be similar to that of an older generation, looking on in disbelief as their niece comes out of the digital world. To me, the word “brain-rot” is a little scary. I’ll be it, an overexposure to the digital world is unhealthy, though I believe we are tuned out of the potential benefits that Anderson hints at technology having.
I want to be distracted sometimes. Sometimes, I want not to think about school, life, or friends, I just want to scroll on my phone for a little while. The distraction is therapeutic for me. Is my brain rotting while I do this? I don’t think so. I will say there’s a line between how I use my device, and how Morrisons niece uses their device. This line between how we use technology makes this conversation complicated and raises the question, is it the technology that’s brain rotting, or is it how we use the technology which allows for this brain rot to occur? Anderson says, “The truly wise mind will harness, rather than abandon, the power of distraction” (Anderson 11). I think this quotation can translate to an idea of how we use our technology. I believe abandoning the power of technology looks like how we are using it today. We frequently find ourselves using technology in ways that prioritize convenience or short term gains over long-term progress or sustainability. We can see the consequences of these short term gains in Morrisons example of her niece. The “brain-rotting” effect. I believe we are yet to see us fully see and harness the “power of distraction” in our lives, with the examples I have seen in my peers’ essays. I think if we step back and reevaluate how we use our technology, we can realize and really take part in technology’s transformative power. For a better World.
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