Page 2, paragraph 3 – I agree. I used to love reading when I was a kid, but as I got older, it started becoming something that felt like a hassle. It was hard for me to stay focused and I found myself having to go back and reread pages multiple times.I was more entertained by TV and movies and video games, which are all relatively new inventions that came about due to technology. I’m older and now trying to get back into reading. but it is still incredibly difficult.Additionally, in high school, I noticed that a lot of my peers would have trouble completing assignments based on the books we were reading because they didn’t know how to properly absorb and analyze the information given to them They would look up summaries of chapters and find other people’s analysis of what they read instead of putting in the work to do it themselves. While I take pride in the fact that during those times I tried my best to analyze what I was given from the book and create my own work, it is a depressing thought that it was so hard for me because my brain has been wired to absorb information in a way that is not compatible with reading from physical books.
Page 5, paragraph 1 – I agree. This idea of the internet taking on so many roles is particularly problematic because it can only be so good at some things. If you give the internet too many jobs it is going to fall flat on some of them. For example, reading or watching something on the Internet has become an uphill battle against our declining attention spans due to things like pop-up ads and other distracting outside information. It is a sad cycle that we get trapped into due to this, since we crave the constant stimulation of these pop-ups it encourages companies to include them more. However, once they are included more, it just does more and more damage to our attention spans. Once our brains have gotten used to this level of constant stimuli, it is unsatisfying for us to go back to watching a show on a traditional tv, or reading a paperback book. This causes these more “traditional” forms of entertainment to become obsolete in favor of Performing them on the Internet.
Page 6, paragraph 4 – I disagree, and this thought process scares me. There has been a consistent decline in the value of humanity lately. All that big companies care about is how to minimize their effort and maximize efficiency, therefore maximizing profit. This can be seen in small things like architecture, but is also prevalent in things that more directly impact our day to day lives, like the internet. It is getting easier and easier to find Direct answers to questions that people might have, even if those answers are not fully correct people likely will not notice. This is because they are so focused on getting the information they want as quickly as possible, that they’re losing the capability of critically interacting with information. This in turn dumbs us down as a society and makes us worse. efficiency should not be the end all be all, quality of life should. This paragraph made me think about Wal-E, where all the humans were fat and stupid and couldn’t do anything for themselves. Despite it being an animated kids movie, it slowly creeps into my brain more and more now that this is where we are headed as a society.
Page 2 paragraph 4. I agree, in recent years my ability to absorb information through reading has been completely robbed. It really set in during my sophomore and junior years of high school, before then I would read because I wanted not because I was told to. Rather than immersing myself in what I’m reading, all I see are words, words that are void of value. I find myself constantly needing to go back and reread a decent section of a text over and over because the first 3 times I read it I didn’t take in any information. I’ll finish a reading assignment, look up, and realize I can’t remember any part of what I just read. The whole time my mind was wandering elsewhere, meanwhile I was reading each word as an individual holding no meaning on its own, instead of reading them together as a whole to create a coherent sentence and idea. Because of all this, I can’t remember the last book or article that I genuinely read from start to finish and retained the information.
Page 6 paragraph 1. I’m kind of on the fence about this one, but I’m leaning more toward disagreeing. Although Taylor’s system may be the most widely known and used, the concept of doing things in the most efficient way possible is far from new. Most commonly known as “the path of least resistance”, the path of least resistance is a fundamental fact that’s been proven since the very beginning and is used by almost everything that exists: electrical currents, moving water, worn paths through nature created by traveling wildlife, and people simply going about their day. With this recent rise in technology, many of us have instinctively started to use it as a way of easily and efficiently finding information. I’m not trying to discredit Taylor’s system, it’s a great system that allowed for lots of growth and achievements, But I feel in this day and age it’s not as applicable to certain things as it once was.
Page 7 paragraph 2. I agree. I feel like the reason why so many people develop such negative feelings toward new things such as technology, is because they don’t like change. For instance, I’m happy with the way my life is, and if some new invention comes out with the potential to change our lives or even the world, then yeah I’m most likely going to be against it because I like what I’ve got and don’t want or need it to change. I’ve also noticed most of these revolts against the new occur strongest in the older generations like our parents and grandparents. Part of this I believe, is due to the fact that in their lives they have experienced many new inventions that did change their lives in ways they were either unready for or didn’t want. In the end, it comes down to being set in our ways and not wanting change.
Page 2 paragraph 2: Very early on in Carr’s writing, I can easily relate myself to what he is describing. On page 2 paragraph 2, Carr writes “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…The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle.” I agree with this situation because I’ve experienced it before as well. When I was younger I would read for hours before bed, then fall asleep reading. I looked forward to it, wasn’t distracted, I felt like it was easier to “see” what I was reading. I now have to almost concentrate on my reading to get that “seeing” to happen… If that makes sense. It’s absolutely harder to focus. I believe that our brains have been restructured, as Carr states in the same paragraph. Our brains are looking for quick hits of entertainment, and reading long text doesn’t cut it anymore.
Page 3 paragraph 3: Reading this work now, not only as a teenager who has always lived in the age of technology, but also from the “future.” There’s dramatic irony in reading about what they “think” will happen, or being concerned for the future. Carr states “And we still await the long-term neurological and psychological experiments that will provide a definitive picture of how Internet use affects cognition.” (page 3 paragraph 3) Now there have been at least thousands of studies, if not articles, hypothesizing about the effects of “internet” as Carr defines it, but now-adays I would say “social media” is a more accurate term. The fact that he is concerned about the internet, being able to search up and read anything with a few clicks, and the impacts of them as “readers,” “scholars,” etc. It makes me feel like with the introduction of technology, 5 second videos, and romanticizing “brain rot” we are definitely worse off than Carr could have imagined at the time. I would indicate this topic as complicated.
Page 4, paragraph 3: Another complicated topic to me, which I believe is very interesting, is all of the “brain research” Carr uses to back up his statements, or to introduce new ones. On page 4 paragraph 3, Carr states “The human brain is almost infinitely malleable. People used to think that your mental meshwork, the dense connections formed among the 100 billion or so neurons inside our skulls, was largely fixed by the time we reached adulthood. But brain researchers have discovered that that’s not the case…[The brain] has the ability to reprogram itself on the fly, altering the way it functions.” Definitely a complicated topic. Now with new research, technology, and time/evidence to study this topic or technology’s effects on the brain, some of this information provided makes me wonder what the most recent studies are. Carr continues on throughout his article to bring up brain researchers, universities, famous people, etc, that all conform to the information and concern he’s trying to illustrate to us as readers.
Page two paragraph 3 AGREE
I agree with what he is saying in this paragraph. I like how he says the “The more they use the Web, the more they have to fight to stay focused on long pieces of writing” (2). I like this quote because it speaks to me. I also sometimes when using my computer to read things online or just trying to focus in general, I find it difficult to focus on what my main goal is with this technology. He also speaks on how his one friend switched over to using computers for his reading but quickly figured out that it is a lot worse using computers for their reading than just paper. I find the ease of convenience in using a computer for reading but, on the contrary, I find it more difficult to pay attention to what I am assessing and remembering all the things I read is difficult too
Page three paragraph 3 COMPLICATED
With this paragraph, even though it is short, it is very thought provoking in both ways. On the one hand I do agree that this new way of reading is harmful for the general way in which we read due to the lack of knowledge being retained as we read it. On the other hand, I see a vast number of benefits to using a computer to do reading. For one, it is way cheaper to just look at a copy of a book online than to go to the store and buy one yourself, the ease is very nice to have. Another reason I like using computers for reading is the convenience of using them. For instance, I am currently using my computer to look at the text for English because I do not want to have to look at a piece of paper right now and it is so easy to just go on my computer and look up the article and look on there.
Page 6 paragraph 2 AGREE
I like how he says that the internet is almost learning and forming more things as it advances. This almost makes me think about how AI works. AI is very similar to that where it takes in the information given to it and can spit out what you want to hear back, we almost see the beginnings of this system in Carr’s paper. I also like how he is using language to make the internet see very scary and unknowing. “It injects the medium’s content with hyperlinks, blinking ads, and other digital gewgaws” (6). This quote sums it up perfectly. Saying scary language like “injecting” and “gewgaws” makes the internet seem very scary. Which the internet is very scary and you don’t know where you’re going with all the different hyperlinks and pages dragging your attention away from your main attention
A. Page 2, paragraph 2
Agree – I completely agree that internet has a wide array of benefits, however it is changing the way in which we think. I have been experiencing similar concerns as the author regarding my own concentration and attention span. I struggle to read long sections of writing without frequent stops or find myself reading on autopilot and needing to reread after realizing I haven’t comprehended anything. Ironically, I struggled to get through this article. When faced with a piece of writing, my new instinct is to skim it, a tendency I haven’t always possessed. I sigh when I’m faced with lengthy academic journals for my science courses, struggle to make good annotations on articles, and rarely find myself reading for pleasure anymore.
B. Page 3, paragraph 1
Agree – I agree that there isn’t a lack of reading occurring, we are reading all the time. However, the way we are reading has changed dramatically. We are accustomed to short passages, such as the caption of a social media post, as opposed to real narration provided in a work of literature. 21st century readers are much more proficient in internet slang and abbreviations in comparison to proper grammar and spelling. We truly have become mere decoders instead of deep readers due to our desire for “efficiency” and “immediacy.” We relish in the seconds it saves to type “omw!” instead of “on my way!” or “brb” instead of “be right back.” We are becoming so accustomed to decoding the shorthand that we are unable to engage in deep reading that require real thought and focus.
C. Page 6, paragraph 1
Complicated – Taylorism has provided immense benefits in the realm of manufacturing due to the efficiency it creates, however I find it unethical for this ideology to be adopted by the human mind. Man should not be governed by perfection and algorithms. Making mistakes is of fundamental importance when it comes to personal growth and development. In addition, a “one best method” way of life seems monotonous, depressing, and quite frankly, unreasonable. The employment of critical thinking allows us as humans to view any situation as having multiple solutions and allows us to assess nuisances from problem to problem. It allows for creative thought and collaboration, both of which would be nonexistent if Taylorism was the way we thought. Knowledge is gained through experience and while adopting an algorithmic way of thinking may increase our productivity, it would ultimately take away from quality of life.
Passage 1: Page 5 paragraph 2 and 3
I agree with these two paragraphs because the internet is encouraging more shallow thinking, and is distracting people by using pop up ads, and newspapers have started to shorten their articles. With the speed of being able to go from link to link, it gives people information immediately and is causing us to switch our focus more rapidly than we should be. The quickness and efficiency of information can be efficient; however, it can also prevent us from being able to truly engage with and process all the information given to us on a deeper level. As well as newspapers and online sources have also changed their ways of giving information to make them shorter to meet the high demand of getting content and digesting it easily. While it does make it more accessible, it changes the depth of which we are able to absorb and understand what we are reading. The speed at which we go from one piece of content to the next has gotten rid of critical thinking and reflection within ourselves.
Passage 2: page 1 paragraph 2
This passage is more complicated in my eyes. I believe that yes, the deep reading I used to be able to do has changed, however I still do enjoy reading. Although yes, it is harder to focus on a book, when I do, I am still able to fully immerse myself within it. I do often struggle to focus for longer periods of time with the distractions of notifications coming up as well as multitasking that have been common in my life. However, when I do set aside time to focus and read without any distractions, I am fully able to engage myself within the material and experience the same depth of focus I have had before. I think that he is suggesting that even though the internet and digital distractions are making it harder to concentrate, it doesn’t mean the same for everyone.
Passage 3: page 2 paragraph 2
I agree with what Carr is saying in this paragraph because it recognizances how the internet has much to offer with its efficiency and speed, however it costs people how they choose to deep think, and immerse themselves within their values. He shifts from scuba diving to jet skiing which symbolizes his change with technology. I believe that my relationship with technology has changed using the same symbolism as well because my though process has seemed to change from a more thoughtful as well as also possibly having a less reflective type of interaction. This change has led him as well as me to feel less connected to myself in a deeper aspect within my intellectual life as well in in the perspective of knowledge.
I agree with Carr’s claim, that it is in the economic interests of the companies to drive its users to distractions. I found some of the examples Carr provided, the algorithms and the random ads popping up, far too relatable as time and time again I will look some product up and the next thing you know it my feed is filled with that product. I too think the companies operate for the sole purpose of monetary compensation. While yes that should be the goal of a company, companies that have such a powerful influence on their users should not have that as their only motivation which is what Carr touches on in this paragraph. I think I partly chose this paragraph because it was like what I touched on in my project #1, the fact that the effects of technology, in this case digital technology, will have irreversible effects unless the puppet masters, the big tech companies, spark change that would trickle down. Until then the automation and distraction will only worsen.
Disagree: Page 3 Paragraph 2
I disagree with the claim that reading online causes us to be mere decoders of information, instead of spending time to actually understand what is being transcribed. I feel this claim, made by Maryanne Wolf and reported by Carr, is too much of a generalization. While yes, I think it is best to read from a book or a physical article, I do not see the issue of reading from say a Nook or the New York Times online. I think bottom line, reading is reading. Admittedly, technology has caused the decline of reading, but I do not believe that it has caused the elimination of the thinking that is behind reading. I feel as though making this claim, she was trying to generalize the idea that the internet provides too much of a distraction to all uses of technology. Although I can see the instances when this could be the case, (TikTok, Instagram, and the other social media platforms) I do not see the ways in which a user could be directly distracted by the information on their screen when they are reading.
Complicated: Page 5 Paragraph 2
I was complicated on the passage when Carr made the claim that the internet absorbs a medium and recreates the medium with the internet’s image. While I agree that the internet is dominated by an algorithm watching our every move, I do not think that the goal of said algorithm is simply to distract us. When I am reading something on the internet, whether it be an essay or an article, I cannot recount a time when I had been distracted by what was going on in the surroundings of the screen. I feel as though the algorithm that makes up the internet is intended to draw us in to keep us connected further and for longer and is used specifically for consumerism to draw you back to the product that you once looked at. It is in that idea that the various side ads pop up on the screen, which was directly referenced in the passage. The ads help the companies push their products on the consumers, making them feel as though they need to purchase said product.
Page 2 Para 2, Agree. “My mind now takes in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles.” The internet has been created in a way that inherently is trying to commoditize your viewership of the information it has inside. To fully maximize that fact, it needs to get not only the information to you as fast and as simply as possible, but it also needs to change the way in which we consume information. By giving us so much information that it becomes hard to “chew”, our brains keep moving onto the next thing, not able to stay on the same thought for too long. The internet wants to push the industrialization standard set forth in the factories into our own minds and thoughts. It is taking away our ability to focus on important topics and to truly contemplate these topics in a constructive manner. Why bother thinking when the internet can do it for you essentially.
Page 3 Para 2, Agree. “When we read online, (Maryanne Wolf) says, we tend to become ‘mere decoders of information.’ Our ability to interpret text, to make the rich mental connections that form when we read deeply and without distraction, remains largely disengaged.” This is once again this idea of “Information vs. Wisdom”, in that can we, as a human being, truly learn anything from the fast-paced information slewing internet, or is it becoming more common place to not need to know things because you can simply “Google it”? Why bother understanding anything when you can get a refresher at the touch of a finger? What this causes is an inability to have deeper more meaningful thoughts about specific topics, such as literature or the self. The internet does not have a place for that idea and is just giving you the information you want for no cost to you except your own mental capacity to learn.
Page 6 Para 6, conflicted. “Ambiguity is not an opening for insight but a bug to be fixed.” The internet is trying to streamline as much of the thought-provoking world as possible, to root out all “errors” or conflicts with its own code. For if there are any inconsistencies within the code, it will not work as efficiently as possible, at least for a computer. However, the internet also allows for a certain level of creativity for its users. There are many sites and apps that promote its users to be as creative as possible, to create whatever they can think of. Something like Adobe Photoshop comes to mind. Putting aside it’s ridiculous subscription; it promotes its users to create images or to edit together images into whatever their minds can possibly think of. The Internet can fine-tune every part of its code and every part of the search engine process, but it will have a hard time ever capturing the creative ingenuity of humanity.
Page 2 Paragraph 3- Agree
I agree with the ideas in this passage because the internet offers so much information at our fingertips which can be beneficial for learning and staying informed. I also agree with the problem that this constant stream of information impacts our focus and engagement. I feel like the convenience of having quick access to the online world leads to me just skipping through material. It often becomes a habit that makes it hard for me to focus on long texts or subjects that need my attention. There is such a fast pace of information that is online which makes me impatient and not understand slower and more focused learning. I rarely find myself deep diving into information and just skipping through the important parts. I really liked the part where he said “My mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles.” The shortcut of the internet has truly made learning harder even though it is so convenient.
Page 3 Paragraph 3- Agree
I like the ideas in this paragraph. Reading is a learned skill and that the medium through which we read can significantly influence our development. Having different writing systems creates ways that resonate with my understanding of how our learning experiences change the way we think and our brain. When I have found myself engaging with different kinds of information whether its books or online content it requires different skills. When I read a book I am engaged deeply and my attention span is just on the writing. However when I am on the internet it’s mostly just me scrolling through. I think his idea of the internet could be shaping our neural circuits compared to just reading is a valid statement. I feel like it affects our critical thinking skills by not being engaged. His perspective shows the importance of how we consume information and our engagement.
Page 6 Paragraph 2- Complicated
I found the comparison between Google’s practice and Taylorism complicated. I do agree that Google has bought a systematic data driven approach to us and how we interact with information. I think this approach can have benefits. When we analyze a lot of information quickly it makes everything easier. Google has made it so convenient to find everything relevant at your fingertips. It has fully transformed the way we live, learn, and work. I can also see the downsides when it comes to shaping how we think and our decision making. Relying on google and the consumption of all the information on the internet does not help our critical thinking. Sometimes more reflective, slower thinking is beneficial. Especially when doing an assignment or writing an essay. I do agree with Carr and his idea that Google is applying the Taylorist principles to the “work of the mind’. It has completely changed our connection to information which is why I think it is complicated. It has many benefits but many questions to be talked about.
Page 1, paragraph 2. I fully agree with this statement because I feel as though I am constantly forgetting important things. Every time I go to check my phone to specifically look something up, I get to the web browser and completely lose my train of thought. It constantly feels like I am a puppet and someone or something is pulling on the strings of my brain and guiding me in the wrong direction. Even though I am in college and engaging in schoolwork, it sometimes feels like there are gaps in my memory. I have never been a person to rely on my phone for all types of information, so I tend to find it shocking when I can’t look away from it and forget to do the simplest tasks, such as homework. Every day, I find people around me unable to look away from their phones and forget something as simple as looking both ways before crossing the street. Overall, it feels like my attention span and ability to focus, as well as remember small details, continues to slip away with every passing day.
Page 6, paragraph 1. This is a very complicated quote to me. It includes how there is a “manipulation of information” but this statement leads me down many different paths, including whether information is being changed to attract viewers or the information is simply being stated. The Internet is constantly changing so that it attracts more people to click on websites and random advertisements and that is how developers continue to find the “perfect algorithm.” There is a part of this quote where I do agree because in a way, the Internet has become a machine that assembles information to bring in readers. I also find it very interesting that developers on the Internet continue to experiment on users to see what web pages or advertisements they will click on. The Internet also makes us as people question what we truly know about the world around us and what is true or false. Ultimately, the Internet truly is a combination of algorithms that continue to be altered every day to best suit the most recent and intriguing trends.
Page 6, paragraph 2. This is a statement I agree with because of the complexity that is the Internet. Whenever we go on a new website, it gives us a pop up and asks us if we want “cookies” and most people just say yes to continue scrolling. However, once you click that button, you will continue to get advertisements from that website until you find a way to turn them off or buy something from them. It is crazy to believe that every time someone looks something up online that the Internet is testing us to see what we like the most. I believe that it is scary that every time I simply need to look up online that someone is out there watching to see what I am clicking on. Due to the complexity that makes up the web, I can see how the algorithm is changing every day to bring people in.
I agree with the point Carr makes in this paragraph, as well as relate to what he is talking about. Carr talks about how the media is starting to shape the way we think and how we are processing information quicker than we used to. With the media it is very easy to see once you step away that most media sites are biased in one way or another. They tend to only tell one side of a story keeping certain information away from the reader/viewer. Similarly with social media only one perfect side of someone’s life will be shown. These things affect how we perceive aspects of our daily life. And when you are only shown one thing you tend to begin agreeing and thinking that way as well. Additionally, our information processing has become quicker and shallower as we take in more information than we have in the past. We are given so much from the media that we have begun to digest such media at a quicker rate.
Page 4 Paragraphs 3-4
My thoughts on the point made are complicated. The author talks about how our thoughts are beginning to take on the qualities of technology. I can see where the author is coming from, as he explains that after the invention of the clock we think about time more mathematically than abstract. In the next paragraph the author then goes on to talk about how the clock has essentially mapped out our day with when we eat, sleep, wake up and do our daily tasks. That we no longer listen to our body as much. And while this may be true We can easily learn how to listen to our body’s again to determine what they need and when they need it. So I don’t think we exactly “lost” a part of ourselves but it is more of on hold so we can easily fit into society. So I can agree and see his argument but I feel like it isn’t as big of a deal he makes it to be.
Page 6 paragraph 4-6
The author talks about how the founders of google want to make AI and potentially connect it to our brains or something similar. He then goes on to say how this idea is unsettling which I definitely agree with. The idea that someone would want to connect any digital technology to my brain rubs me the wrong way. It seems like an easy solution to end free thinking. While being able to expand our brain and knowledge seems nice I think AI works best as a separate entity from ourselves. That is a sure way to change our thinking to be more technological is it becomes technology. I think how our minds think, and process information can be troublesome when we process it too fast and fail to think deeper. But this can just be a mindset switch we don’t need to add an entire computer inside of our heads.
Page 2 paragraph 1
This passage is very relatable, mainly because he is talking about something that I bet we all have done many times before. He opens with stating that time spent online can take up a lot of free hours either for work or other. This time online can most certainly be a distraction, especially in the workplace. But, having access to these tools is most certainly a wonder. The efficiency and affordability of having the entire internet with millions of database banks of information just a few clicks away from each other allows an almost infinite amount of possibilities to what could be done in the workplace. There definitely needs to be limits though, because without limits, abusing that power without control can lead to issues rising in productivity and creativity. I like how he talks about the videos and podcasts. These multimedia production styles have easily become the two highest grossing ways that young individuals get most of their information. The young masses are addicted to those visual cues of someone else livestreaming of what they are doing and even seem to be apart of that other random person’s life without being there physically.
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Page 4 paragraph 2
I feel a little confused at this paragraph. I fully understand that the human brain is capable of adapting to different scenarios and events that take place around you, but when the topic of how the professor from George Mason University performed a neuroscience experiment about how the brain is “very plastic”, it’s hard to validate that amount to which you say it is. Can we as humans learn something new everyday of our life, yes. Can we as humans challenge ourselves and perform a different task every hour that we are at work, yes. But can humans also make mistake or begin to lack on certain things maybe as memory or vision, yes. That idea that human minds can alter on the fly yes, but not to the extent of being a plastic in the way that it is fully broken down and reshaped into a whole new being.
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Page 5 paragraphs 2-3
I think I would challenge this part of the article. Up until the last sentence of paragraph 3, where he stats “Yet, for all that been written about the Net, there’s been little consideration of how, exactly, it’s reprogramming us.”, leading into that, he mentions that newspapers and other articles have begun to shorthand there work, allowing the reader to info cram as much as possible in as little space used. Saying that the “quick taste” and “shortcuts” are just a tactic to scatter the attention of readers. I honestly think that there is something behind that, that these big-name media companies, or any company trying to sell something to the public for that matter, has purposefully retargeted their efforts. I think it IS a direct reprogramming of us. Intentional. Calculated. Our world has turned into a consumer world of the latest and greatest, and many of the people here have fallen into the pit of constantly needing to buy those latest and greatest items, either to show off or make a statement. So yes, I absolutely disagree with how he says there hasn’t been a lot of consideration of how the reprogramming has come to be. I see it as that there hasn’t been a lot of consideration because of the fact that the reprogramming has been hidden inside the reprogramming, solely to make us less vigilant.
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Page 2, paragraph 3- I agree. For me, reading has become something I do out of obligation rather than choice, and because of that, it’s hard to find any real meaning in the books I read. I personally never really enjoyed reading but I did find books that entertain me and keep me hooked the whole time. Instead of connecting with the material or books, I’m just trying to get it done. It’s like I’m reading to check off a task rather than to truly engage with what’s on the page. Every reading assignment feels more like a requirement than a chance to explore or learn something new.
Page 3, paragraph 2- Disagree. Reading online and reading a physical book isn’t all that different when it comes to the actual process of engaging with the content. As reported by Carr, that reading online makes us simply process information without truly engaging with it. But whether it’s on a screen or on paper, you’re still reading the same words and absorbing the same information. It all depends on the focus and effort you put into the material.There are some factors that come into play that may distract a person using a digital book like ads but if you’re fully engaged it shouldn’t be as much of a distraction as Carr claims.
Page 5, paragraph 2-Disagree. Carr’s idea that the internet’s algorithms are meant solely to distract users. I believe their main goal isn’t just to keep us distracted but to keep us engaged for longer periods of time. They keep showing us what we want to see so we spend more time engaged. The algorithm is designed to keep us connected and encourage us to come back to products we’ve looked at before. These ads aren’t just random pop up ads, they’re carefully targeted based on our past browsing activity, pushing us to buy things or revisit things we’ve shown interest in.
13 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 11”
Page 2, paragraph 3 – I agree. I used to love reading when I was a kid, but as I got older, it started becoming something that felt like a hassle. It was hard for me to stay focused and I found myself having to go back and reread pages multiple times.I was more entertained by TV and movies and video games, which are all relatively new inventions that came about due to technology. I’m older and now trying to get back into reading. but it is still incredibly difficult.Additionally, in high school, I noticed that a lot of my peers would have trouble completing assignments based on the books we were reading because they didn’t know how to properly absorb and analyze the information given to them They would look up summaries of chapters and find other people’s analysis of what they read instead of putting in the work to do it themselves. While I take pride in the fact that during those times I tried my best to analyze what I was given from the book and create my own work, it is a depressing thought that it was so hard for me because my brain has been wired to absorb information in a way that is not compatible with reading from physical books.
Page 5, paragraph 1 – I agree. This idea of the internet taking on so many roles is particularly problematic because it can only be so good at some things. If you give the internet too many jobs it is going to fall flat on some of them. For example, reading or watching something on the Internet has become an uphill battle against our declining attention spans due to things like pop-up ads and other distracting outside information. It is a sad cycle that we get trapped into due to this, since we crave the constant stimulation of these pop-ups it encourages companies to include them more. However, once they are included more, it just does more and more damage to our attention spans. Once our brains have gotten used to this level of constant stimuli, it is unsatisfying for us to go back to watching a show on a traditional tv, or reading a paperback book. This causes these more “traditional” forms of entertainment to become obsolete in favor of Performing them on the Internet.
Page 6, paragraph 4 – I disagree, and this thought process scares me. There has been a consistent decline in the value of humanity lately. All that big companies care about is how to minimize their effort and maximize efficiency, therefore maximizing profit. This can be seen in small things like architecture, but is also prevalent in things that more directly impact our day to day lives, like the internet. It is getting easier and easier to find Direct answers to questions that people might have, even if those answers are not fully correct people likely will not notice. This is because they are so focused on getting the information they want as quickly as possible, that they’re losing the capability of critically interacting with information. This in turn dumbs us down as a society and makes us worse. efficiency should not be the end all be all, quality of life should. This paragraph made me think about Wal-E, where all the humans were fat and stupid and couldn’t do anything for themselves. Despite it being an animated kids movie, it slowly creeps into my brain more and more now that this is where we are headed as a society.
Page 2 paragraph 4. I agree, in recent years my ability to absorb information through reading has been completely robbed. It really set in during my sophomore and junior years of high school, before then I would read because I wanted not because I was told to. Rather than immersing myself in what I’m reading, all I see are words, words that are void of value. I find myself constantly needing to go back and reread a decent section of a text over and over because the first 3 times I read it I didn’t take in any information. I’ll finish a reading assignment, look up, and realize I can’t remember any part of what I just read. The whole time my mind was wandering elsewhere, meanwhile I was reading each word as an individual holding no meaning on its own, instead of reading them together as a whole to create a coherent sentence and idea. Because of all this, I can’t remember the last book or article that I genuinely read from start to finish and retained the information.
Page 6 paragraph 1. I’m kind of on the fence about this one, but I’m leaning more toward disagreeing. Although Taylor’s system may be the most widely known and used, the concept of doing things in the most efficient way possible is far from new. Most commonly known as “the path of least resistance”, the path of least resistance is a fundamental fact that’s been proven since the very beginning and is used by almost everything that exists: electrical currents, moving water, worn paths through nature created by traveling wildlife, and people simply going about their day. With this recent rise in technology, many of us have instinctively started to use it as a way of easily and efficiently finding information. I’m not trying to discredit Taylor’s system, it’s a great system that allowed for lots of growth and achievements, But I feel in this day and age it’s not as applicable to certain things as it once was.
Page 7 paragraph 2. I agree. I feel like the reason why so many people develop such negative feelings toward new things such as technology, is because they don’t like change. For instance, I’m happy with the way my life is, and if some new invention comes out with the potential to change our lives or even the world, then yeah I’m most likely going to be against it because I like what I’ve got and don’t want or need it to change. I’ve also noticed most of these revolts against the new occur strongest in the older generations like our parents and grandparents. Part of this I believe, is due to the fact that in their lives they have experienced many new inventions that did change their lives in ways they were either unready for or didn’t want. In the end, it comes down to being set in our ways and not wanting change.
Page 2 paragraph 2: Very early on in Carr’s writing, I can easily relate myself to what he is describing. On page 2 paragraph 2, Carr writes “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…The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle.” I agree with this situation because I’ve experienced it before as well. When I was younger I would read for hours before bed, then fall asleep reading. I looked forward to it, wasn’t distracted, I felt like it was easier to “see” what I was reading. I now have to almost concentrate on my reading to get that “seeing” to happen… If that makes sense. It’s absolutely harder to focus. I believe that our brains have been restructured, as Carr states in the same paragraph. Our brains are looking for quick hits of entertainment, and reading long text doesn’t cut it anymore.
Page 3 paragraph 3: Reading this work now, not only as a teenager who has always lived in the age of technology, but also from the “future.” There’s dramatic irony in reading about what they “think” will happen, or being concerned for the future. Carr states “And we still await the long-term neurological and psychological experiments that will provide a definitive picture of how Internet use affects cognition.” (page 3 paragraph 3) Now there have been at least thousands of studies, if not articles, hypothesizing about the effects of “internet” as Carr defines it, but now-adays I would say “social media” is a more accurate term. The fact that he is concerned about the internet, being able to search up and read anything with a few clicks, and the impacts of them as “readers,” “scholars,” etc. It makes me feel like with the introduction of technology, 5 second videos, and romanticizing “brain rot” we are definitely worse off than Carr could have imagined at the time. I would indicate this topic as complicated.
Page 4, paragraph 3: Another complicated topic to me, which I believe is very interesting, is all of the “brain research” Carr uses to back up his statements, or to introduce new ones. On page 4 paragraph 3, Carr states “The human brain is almost infinitely malleable. People used to think that your mental meshwork, the dense connections formed among the 100 billion or so neurons inside our skulls, was largely fixed by the time we reached adulthood. But brain researchers have discovered that that’s not the case…[The brain] has the ability to reprogram itself on the fly, altering the way it functions.” Definitely a complicated topic. Now with new research, technology, and time/evidence to study this topic or technology’s effects on the brain, some of this information provided makes me wonder what the most recent studies are. Carr continues on throughout his article to bring up brain researchers, universities, famous people, etc, that all conform to the information and concern he’s trying to illustrate to us as readers.
Page two paragraph 3 AGREE
I agree with what he is saying in this paragraph. I like how he says the “The more they use the Web, the more they have to fight to stay focused on long pieces of writing” (2). I like this quote because it speaks to me. I also sometimes when using my computer to read things online or just trying to focus in general, I find it difficult to focus on what my main goal is with this technology. He also speaks on how his one friend switched over to using computers for his reading but quickly figured out that it is a lot worse using computers for their reading than just paper. I find the ease of convenience in using a computer for reading but, on the contrary, I find it more difficult to pay attention to what I am assessing and remembering all the things I read is difficult too
Page three paragraph 3 COMPLICATED
With this paragraph, even though it is short, it is very thought provoking in both ways. On the one hand I do agree that this new way of reading is harmful for the general way in which we read due to the lack of knowledge being retained as we read it. On the other hand, I see a vast number of benefits to using a computer to do reading. For one, it is way cheaper to just look at a copy of a book online than to go to the store and buy one yourself, the ease is very nice to have. Another reason I like using computers for reading is the convenience of using them. For instance, I am currently using my computer to look at the text for English because I do not want to have to look at a piece of paper right now and it is so easy to just go on my computer and look up the article and look on there.
Page 6 paragraph 2 AGREE
I like how he says that the internet is almost learning and forming more things as it advances. This almost makes me think about how AI works. AI is very similar to that where it takes in the information given to it and can spit out what you want to hear back, we almost see the beginnings of this system in Carr’s paper. I also like how he is using language to make the internet see very scary and unknowing. “It injects the medium’s content with hyperlinks, blinking ads, and other digital gewgaws” (6). This quote sums it up perfectly. Saying scary language like “injecting” and “gewgaws” makes the internet seem very scary. Which the internet is very scary and you don’t know where you’re going with all the different hyperlinks and pages dragging your attention away from your main attention
A. Page 2, paragraph 2
Agree – I completely agree that internet has a wide array of benefits, however it is changing the way in which we think. I have been experiencing similar concerns as the author regarding my own concentration and attention span. I struggle to read long sections of writing without frequent stops or find myself reading on autopilot and needing to reread after realizing I haven’t comprehended anything. Ironically, I struggled to get through this article. When faced with a piece of writing, my new instinct is to skim it, a tendency I haven’t always possessed. I sigh when I’m faced with lengthy academic journals for my science courses, struggle to make good annotations on articles, and rarely find myself reading for pleasure anymore.
B. Page 3, paragraph 1
Agree – I agree that there isn’t a lack of reading occurring, we are reading all the time. However, the way we are reading has changed dramatically. We are accustomed to short passages, such as the caption of a social media post, as opposed to real narration provided in a work of literature. 21st century readers are much more proficient in internet slang and abbreviations in comparison to proper grammar and spelling. We truly have become mere decoders instead of deep readers due to our desire for “efficiency” and “immediacy.” We relish in the seconds it saves to type “omw!” instead of “on my way!” or “brb” instead of “be right back.” We are becoming so accustomed to decoding the shorthand that we are unable to engage in deep reading that require real thought and focus.
C. Page 6, paragraph 1
Complicated – Taylorism has provided immense benefits in the realm of manufacturing due to the efficiency it creates, however I find it unethical for this ideology to be adopted by the human mind. Man should not be governed by perfection and algorithms. Making mistakes is of fundamental importance when it comes to personal growth and development. In addition, a “one best method” way of life seems monotonous, depressing, and quite frankly, unreasonable. The employment of critical thinking allows us as humans to view any situation as having multiple solutions and allows us to assess nuisances from problem to problem. It allows for creative thought and collaboration, both of which would be nonexistent if Taylorism was the way we thought. Knowledge is gained through experience and while adopting an algorithmic way of thinking may increase our productivity, it would ultimately take away from quality of life.
Passage 1: Page 5 paragraph 2 and 3
I agree with these two paragraphs because the internet is encouraging more shallow thinking, and is distracting people by using pop up ads, and newspapers have started to shorten their articles. With the speed of being able to go from link to link, it gives people information immediately and is causing us to switch our focus more rapidly than we should be. The quickness and efficiency of information can be efficient; however, it can also prevent us from being able to truly engage with and process all the information given to us on a deeper level. As well as newspapers and online sources have also changed their ways of giving information to make them shorter to meet the high demand of getting content and digesting it easily. While it does make it more accessible, it changes the depth of which we are able to absorb and understand what we are reading. The speed at which we go from one piece of content to the next has gotten rid of critical thinking and reflection within ourselves.
Passage 2: page 1 paragraph 2
This passage is more complicated in my eyes. I believe that yes, the deep reading I used to be able to do has changed, however I still do enjoy reading. Although yes, it is harder to focus on a book, when I do, I am still able to fully immerse myself within it. I do often struggle to focus for longer periods of time with the distractions of notifications coming up as well as multitasking that have been common in my life. However, when I do set aside time to focus and read without any distractions, I am fully able to engage myself within the material and experience the same depth of focus I have had before. I think that he is suggesting that even though the internet and digital distractions are making it harder to concentrate, it doesn’t mean the same for everyone.
Passage 3: page 2 paragraph 2
I agree with what Carr is saying in this paragraph because it recognizances how the internet has much to offer with its efficiency and speed, however it costs people how they choose to deep think, and immerse themselves within their values. He shifts from scuba diving to jet skiing which symbolizes his change with technology. I believe that my relationship with technology has changed using the same symbolism as well because my though process has seemed to change from a more thoughtful as well as also possibly having a less reflective type of interaction. This change has led him as well as me to feel less connected to myself in a deeper aspect within my intellectual life as well in in the perspective of knowledge.
Agree: Page 7 Paragraph 1
I agree with Carr’s claim, that it is in the economic interests of the companies to drive its users to distractions. I found some of the examples Carr provided, the algorithms and the random ads popping up, far too relatable as time and time again I will look some product up and the next thing you know it my feed is filled with that product. I too think the companies operate for the sole purpose of monetary compensation. While yes that should be the goal of a company, companies that have such a powerful influence on their users should not have that as their only motivation which is what Carr touches on in this paragraph. I think I partly chose this paragraph because it was like what I touched on in my project #1, the fact that the effects of technology, in this case digital technology, will have irreversible effects unless the puppet masters, the big tech companies, spark change that would trickle down. Until then the automation and distraction will only worsen.
Disagree: Page 3 Paragraph 2
I disagree with the claim that reading online causes us to be mere decoders of information, instead of spending time to actually understand what is being transcribed. I feel this claim, made by Maryanne Wolf and reported by Carr, is too much of a generalization. While yes, I think it is best to read from a book or a physical article, I do not see the issue of reading from say a Nook or the New York Times online. I think bottom line, reading is reading. Admittedly, technology has caused the decline of reading, but I do not believe that it has caused the elimination of the thinking that is behind reading. I feel as though making this claim, she was trying to generalize the idea that the internet provides too much of a distraction to all uses of technology. Although I can see the instances when this could be the case, (TikTok, Instagram, and the other social media platforms) I do not see the ways in which a user could be directly distracted by the information on their screen when they are reading.
Complicated: Page 5 Paragraph 2
I was complicated on the passage when Carr made the claim that the internet absorbs a medium and recreates the medium with the internet’s image. While I agree that the internet is dominated by an algorithm watching our every move, I do not think that the goal of said algorithm is simply to distract us. When I am reading something on the internet, whether it be an essay or an article, I cannot recount a time when I had been distracted by what was going on in the surroundings of the screen. I feel as though the algorithm that makes up the internet is intended to draw us in to keep us connected further and for longer and is used specifically for consumerism to draw you back to the product that you once looked at. It is in that idea that the various side ads pop up on the screen, which was directly referenced in the passage. The ads help the companies push their products on the consumers, making them feel as though they need to purchase said product.
Page 2 Para 2, Agree. “My mind now takes in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles.” The internet has been created in a way that inherently is trying to commoditize your viewership of the information it has inside. To fully maximize that fact, it needs to get not only the information to you as fast and as simply as possible, but it also needs to change the way in which we consume information. By giving us so much information that it becomes hard to “chew”, our brains keep moving onto the next thing, not able to stay on the same thought for too long. The internet wants to push the industrialization standard set forth in the factories into our own minds and thoughts. It is taking away our ability to focus on important topics and to truly contemplate these topics in a constructive manner. Why bother thinking when the internet can do it for you essentially.
Page 3 Para 2, Agree. “When we read online, (Maryanne Wolf) says, we tend to become ‘mere decoders of information.’ Our ability to interpret text, to make the rich mental connections that form when we read deeply and without distraction, remains largely disengaged.” This is once again this idea of “Information vs. Wisdom”, in that can we, as a human being, truly learn anything from the fast-paced information slewing internet, or is it becoming more common place to not need to know things because you can simply “Google it”? Why bother understanding anything when you can get a refresher at the touch of a finger? What this causes is an inability to have deeper more meaningful thoughts about specific topics, such as literature or the self. The internet does not have a place for that idea and is just giving you the information you want for no cost to you except your own mental capacity to learn.
Page 6 Para 6, conflicted. “Ambiguity is not an opening for insight but a bug to be fixed.” The internet is trying to streamline as much of the thought-provoking world as possible, to root out all “errors” or conflicts with its own code. For if there are any inconsistencies within the code, it will not work as efficiently as possible, at least for a computer. However, the internet also allows for a certain level of creativity for its users. There are many sites and apps that promote its users to be as creative as possible, to create whatever they can think of. Something like Adobe Photoshop comes to mind. Putting aside it’s ridiculous subscription; it promotes its users to create images or to edit together images into whatever their minds can possibly think of. The Internet can fine-tune every part of its code and every part of the search engine process, but it will have a hard time ever capturing the creative ingenuity of humanity.
Page 2 Paragraph 3- Agree
I agree with the ideas in this passage because the internet offers so much information at our fingertips which can be beneficial for learning and staying informed. I also agree with the problem that this constant stream of information impacts our focus and engagement. I feel like the convenience of having quick access to the online world leads to me just skipping through material. It often becomes a habit that makes it hard for me to focus on long texts or subjects that need my attention. There is such a fast pace of information that is online which makes me impatient and not understand slower and more focused learning. I rarely find myself deep diving into information and just skipping through the important parts. I really liked the part where he said “My mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles.” The shortcut of the internet has truly made learning harder even though it is so convenient.
Page 3 Paragraph 3- Agree
I like the ideas in this paragraph. Reading is a learned skill and that the medium through which we read can significantly influence our development. Having different writing systems creates ways that resonate with my understanding of how our learning experiences change the way we think and our brain. When I have found myself engaging with different kinds of information whether its books or online content it requires different skills. When I read a book I am engaged deeply and my attention span is just on the writing. However when I am on the internet it’s mostly just me scrolling through. I think his idea of the internet could be shaping our neural circuits compared to just reading is a valid statement. I feel like it affects our critical thinking skills by not being engaged. His perspective shows the importance of how we consume information and our engagement.
Page 6 Paragraph 2- Complicated
I found the comparison between Google’s practice and Taylorism complicated. I do agree that Google has bought a systematic data driven approach to us and how we interact with information. I think this approach can have benefits. When we analyze a lot of information quickly it makes everything easier. Google has made it so convenient to find everything relevant at your fingertips. It has fully transformed the way we live, learn, and work. I can also see the downsides when it comes to shaping how we think and our decision making. Relying on google and the consumption of all the information on the internet does not help our critical thinking. Sometimes more reflective, slower thinking is beneficial. Especially when doing an assignment or writing an essay. I do agree with Carr and his idea that Google is applying the Taylorist principles to the “work of the mind’. It has completely changed our connection to information which is why I think it is complicated. It has many benefits but many questions to be talked about.
Page 1, paragraph 2. I fully agree with this statement because I feel as though I am constantly forgetting important things. Every time I go to check my phone to specifically look something up, I get to the web browser and completely lose my train of thought. It constantly feels like I am a puppet and someone or something is pulling on the strings of my brain and guiding me in the wrong direction. Even though I am in college and engaging in schoolwork, it sometimes feels like there are gaps in my memory. I have never been a person to rely on my phone for all types of information, so I tend to find it shocking when I can’t look away from it and forget to do the simplest tasks, such as homework. Every day, I find people around me unable to look away from their phones and forget something as simple as looking both ways before crossing the street. Overall, it feels like my attention span and ability to focus, as well as remember small details, continues to slip away with every passing day.
Page 6, paragraph 1. This is a very complicated quote to me. It includes how there is a “manipulation of information” but this statement leads me down many different paths, including whether information is being changed to attract viewers or the information is simply being stated. The Internet is constantly changing so that it attracts more people to click on websites and random advertisements and that is how developers continue to find the “perfect algorithm.” There is a part of this quote where I do agree because in a way, the Internet has become a machine that assembles information to bring in readers. I also find it very interesting that developers on the Internet continue to experiment on users to see what web pages or advertisements they will click on. The Internet also makes us as people question what we truly know about the world around us and what is true or false. Ultimately, the Internet truly is a combination of algorithms that continue to be altered every day to best suit the most recent and intriguing trends.
Page 6, paragraph 2. This is a statement I agree with because of the complexity that is the Internet. Whenever we go on a new website, it gives us a pop up and asks us if we want “cookies” and most people just say yes to continue scrolling. However, once you click that button, you will continue to get advertisements from that website until you find a way to turn them off or buy something from them. It is crazy to believe that every time someone looks something up online that the Internet is testing us to see what we like the most. I believe that it is scary that every time I simply need to look up online that someone is out there watching to see what I am clicking on. Due to the complexity that makes up the web, I can see how the algorithm is changing every day to bring people in.
Page 2 Paragraph 2
I agree with the point Carr makes in this paragraph, as well as relate to what he is talking about. Carr talks about how the media is starting to shape the way we think and how we are processing information quicker than we used to. With the media it is very easy to see once you step away that most media sites are biased in one way or another. They tend to only tell one side of a story keeping certain information away from the reader/viewer. Similarly with social media only one perfect side of someone’s life will be shown. These things affect how we perceive aspects of our daily life. And when you are only shown one thing you tend to begin agreeing and thinking that way as well. Additionally, our information processing has become quicker and shallower as we take in more information than we have in the past. We are given so much from the media that we have begun to digest such media at a quicker rate.
Page 4 Paragraphs 3-4
My thoughts on the point made are complicated. The author talks about how our thoughts are beginning to take on the qualities of technology. I can see where the author is coming from, as he explains that after the invention of the clock we think about time more mathematically than abstract. In the next paragraph the author then goes on to talk about how the clock has essentially mapped out our day with when we eat, sleep, wake up and do our daily tasks. That we no longer listen to our body as much. And while this may be true We can easily learn how to listen to our body’s again to determine what they need and when they need it. So I don’t think we exactly “lost” a part of ourselves but it is more of on hold so we can easily fit into society. So I can agree and see his argument but I feel like it isn’t as big of a deal he makes it to be.
Page 6 paragraph 4-6
The author talks about how the founders of google want to make AI and potentially connect it to our brains or something similar. He then goes on to say how this idea is unsettling which I definitely agree with. The idea that someone would want to connect any digital technology to my brain rubs me the wrong way. It seems like an easy solution to end free thinking. While being able to expand our brain and knowledge seems nice I think AI works best as a separate entity from ourselves. That is a sure way to change our thinking to be more technological is it becomes technology. I think how our minds think, and process information can be troublesome when we process it too fast and fail to think deeper. But this can just be a mindset switch we don’t need to add an entire computer inside of our heads.
Page 2 paragraph 1
This passage is very relatable, mainly because he is talking about something that I bet we all have done many times before. He opens with stating that time spent online can take up a lot of free hours either for work or other. This time online can most certainly be a distraction, especially in the workplace. But, having access to these tools is most certainly a wonder. The efficiency and affordability of having the entire internet with millions of database banks of information just a few clicks away from each other allows an almost infinite amount of possibilities to what could be done in the workplace. There definitely needs to be limits though, because without limits, abusing that power without control can lead to issues rising in productivity and creativity. I like how he talks about the videos and podcasts. These multimedia production styles have easily become the two highest grossing ways that young individuals get most of their information. The young masses are addicted to those visual cues of someone else livestreaming of what they are doing and even seem to be apart of that other random person’s life without being there physically.
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Page 4 paragraph 2
I feel a little confused at this paragraph. I fully understand that the human brain is capable of adapting to different scenarios and events that take place around you, but when the topic of how the professor from George Mason University performed a neuroscience experiment about how the brain is “very plastic”, it’s hard to validate that amount to which you say it is. Can we as humans learn something new everyday of our life, yes. Can we as humans challenge ourselves and perform a different task every hour that we are at work, yes. But can humans also make mistake or begin to lack on certain things maybe as memory or vision, yes. That idea that human minds can alter on the fly yes, but not to the extent of being a plastic in the way that it is fully broken down and reshaped into a whole new being.
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Page 5 paragraphs 2-3
I think I would challenge this part of the article. Up until the last sentence of paragraph 3, where he stats “Yet, for all that been written about the Net, there’s been little consideration of how, exactly, it’s reprogramming us.”, leading into that, he mentions that newspapers and other articles have begun to shorthand there work, allowing the reader to info cram as much as possible in as little space used. Saying that the “quick taste” and “shortcuts” are just a tactic to scatter the attention of readers. I honestly think that there is something behind that, that these big-name media companies, or any company trying to sell something to the public for that matter, has purposefully retargeted their efforts. I think it IS a direct reprogramming of us. Intentional. Calculated. Our world has turned into a consumer world of the latest and greatest, and many of the people here have fallen into the pit of constantly needing to buy those latest and greatest items, either to show off or make a statement. So yes, I absolutely disagree with how he says there hasn’t been a lot of consideration of how the reprogramming has come to be. I see it as that there hasn’t been a lot of consideration because of the fact that the reprogramming has been hidden inside the reprogramming, solely to make us less vigilant.
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Page 2, paragraph 3- I agree. For me, reading has become something I do out of obligation rather than choice, and because of that, it’s hard to find any real meaning in the books I read. I personally never really enjoyed reading but I did find books that entertain me and keep me hooked the whole time. Instead of connecting with the material or books, I’m just trying to get it done. It’s like I’m reading to check off a task rather than to truly engage with what’s on the page. Every reading assignment feels more like a requirement than a chance to explore or learn something new.
Page 3, paragraph 2- Disagree. Reading online and reading a physical book isn’t all that different when it comes to the actual process of engaging with the content. As reported by Carr, that reading online makes us simply process information without truly engaging with it. But whether it’s on a screen or on paper, you’re still reading the same words and absorbing the same information. It all depends on the focus and effort you put into the material.There are some factors that come into play that may distract a person using a digital book like ads but if you’re fully engaged it shouldn’t be as much of a distraction as Carr claims.
Page 5, paragraph 2-Disagree. Carr’s idea that the internet’s algorithms are meant solely to distract users. I believe their main goal isn’t just to keep us distracted but to keep us engaged for longer periods of time. They keep showing us what we want to see so we spend more time engaged. The algorithm is designed to keep us connected and encourage us to come back to products we’ve looked at before. These ads aren’t just random pop up ads, they’re carefully targeted based on our past browsing activity, pushing us to buy things or revisit things we’ve shown interest in.