Reading Response #1: Carr

Carr: "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/

Is Google making us stupid?  At first, the mere question seems stupid.  Of course not.  Google helps us find information easier, some of it we will retain, therefore making us smarter.  But intelligence isn't measured random collection of useless facts (which is pretty much the only reason I use Google).  The article's main was that Google has changed they way we expect and process information.  Our elastic minds are susceptible to change and the wealth of information presented through digital text combined with the thousands of ads presented alongside have turned us into mindless fact suckers who rely on new information to stimulate us before we get bored.  Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating the point, but that's what the article seemed to be trying to say.   I feel there is a bigger theme though.  The article used all aspects of technology to cite examples in which inventions have had positive and negative consequences on society.  The invention of computers, Gutenberg's printing press, and even written language all had their effects.  Looking at these three inventions, if history is any indicator, I would say that the benefits of Google outweigh the negative aspects.  Ultimately, nothing is without consequence.  Perfect is not a word that describes any aspect of life (at least not human life).  We could look at modern medicine too.  As a species, we have reversed evolution.  Does this mean that we should stop trying to improve the quality of life for people through drugs and medical procedures?  Although we probably do rely do too heavily on drugs instead of proper diet and exercise, the answer is probably not.  The lives of countless people have been extended by many years and much pain, suffering, and disease has been avoided.  But back to the article, I suppose I can agree with the claim that we do think differently as a result of the internet.  In fact, I stopped mid way through reading the Google article to entertain some other random thought I had while reading it.  Does this mean that we are indeed more stupid because of the internet?  I don't think so.  In a society that is fast paced in all aspects (including how we now get our information) our minds are simply adapting.  Oh, and I could not get the other article to load after trying numerous times.