I may not be the oldest person, nor the youngest, but I am one that has seen technology improve in the course of my lifetime. I remember a big fat computer monitor that my dad bought when I was a kid. My life never really revolved around it, or the television we had because there weren't many things I could do to entertain myself. For most of my elementary school years, I remember being an avid reader and could go through series that interested me in days. I remember going to the library every day to read and do work. There are a lot of things I remember when my family didn't own cable or do much with our computer than do work.
Everything changed when we got a new computer. I played around with it and learned that there were fun games you can play online. It didn't help that, soon after, we finally decided to pick up cable. At that moment, the majority of my life started to revolve around the entertainment aspect of technology. Nowadays, I can't seem to focus on reading a book without hopping on a computer trying to figure out something more fun to do. The books just don't seem to keep me entertained enough anymore...
We've read The Shallows and one of the topics is how our minds have changed through the net. In today's world, it seems like time is a more valuable asset because things seem to move so fast. You can get things done at a faster pace and you can do multiple things at once, though the result will always be different than if you did it at a slower pace and focused on one thing at a time.
Carr wrote that he missed his old brain. I started to feel the same way as him for a bit, then it got me thinking. The old brain does have a set of pros and cons, but so does the new brain (modified through the usage of technology). In today's society, which brain would turn out to be the "better" one? In other words, keeping in mind that time is a valuable asset, which brain is more beneficial to have?
Carr wrote that our minds where like plastic, not elastic, but mendable. That the more we did something, the more it becomes apart of our brain. I noticed that too, books are almost impossible to get through nowadays, and i have to say my old brain was much more steady. It seems now that I'm almost always on the edge with a million thoughts going through my head. This behavior can be changed, it's just a matter of will.
ReplyDeleteIn "today’s" society, you say?
ReplyDeleteBoth before and after brains have their advantages. For example, the “old” brain was able to focus on one thing for a longer period of time and with much more interest and connection than the “newer” brain exposed to multitasking and diversions. However, the “newer” brain thirsts for more ways to retrieve information more quickly, which also makes multitasking a bit easier to do than a one-track mind, but not always focused like the “old brain,” resulting in an attention span that is much easier to divert and distract.
To function in this society the way that most adults want us to, and to only have one option, I would pick my old brain to have the capability and the interest to focus for long periods of time.
I agree with Carr. I miss my old brain. I enjoy reading a book ten times more than reading an article on the Internet. I miss curling up with a book, reading it non-stop, and finishing it in one day. Reading Carr now is making me realize how corrupt my own brain is. My new brain wants more and more faster. It cannot take in lengthy paragraphs like it used to. Yes, the Internet is extremely useful, especially for things like homework. But is the time saved or ease worth the price we pay?
ReplyDeleteWow, Carr is a genius! Without reading his work I would have never realized how much my brain really changed. I suppose it adapted to the differences as I grew older. Back in elementary school it was quite easy for me to sit down and read 100-150 pages a night, and enjoy it. I read every word from every paragraph, on every page. Now, it's difficult for me to read through a book without skimming from key ideas. I don't like the change, and hopefully with some effort I can go back to how it used to be. Maybe in a couple of months I'll be able to sit down and really read and concentrate throughout the entire book.
ReplyDelete