Reading Response #2

Reading Response #2

In the article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” Nicholas Carr suggests that the internet is changing the way our brain works. Carr insists that, “… someone or something has been tinkering with my brain, remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory.” He goes on to explain how he is having trouble effectively reading lengthy texts and struggling to concentrate on detailed writing. As he discussed his concerns with others he realized he wasn’t the only one experiencing these problems. Carr contributes these problems to the internet. Insisting he became accustomed to the internets style of presenting information and is now experiencing trouble being involved in deep reading and careful contemplation. The web encourages browsing and skimming and doesn’t present allot of opportunities for uninterrupted analysis of text. Maryanne Wolf, a developmental psychologist quoted in the article argues, “And the media or other technologies we use in learning and practicing the craft of reading play an important part in shaping the neural circuits in our brains”.
“As peoples minds become attuned to the crazy quilt of the Internet media, traditional media has to adapt to the audience’s new expectations.” Basically people are so used to the internets style of producing information that news papers, magazines and even television have had to tailor their presentation to match the web. Traditional media was forced to take on characteristics of the internet that lacks deep thought. People’s brains are now reprogrammed to browse and skim text rather than be engaged in writing.
With media molding its presentation to compete with the internet it’s constricting peoples thinking even further. Its seems as though we’re slowly running out of ways to stimulate our brains in deep thought. The newspapers had to change their ways of presenting information because the internet created people that browse and skim and no longer engage in deep reading. It makes you wonder what other elements of society are going to conform to this mentality. The ability to reason and think is what defines us as humans. The more we move away from reason and thought the more we resemble computers. I always thought technology would create new ways to expand our brains, when in the reality technology is making us stupid.
The article inspired me to be more active in traditional style reading. I would prefer my neural circuitry to be shaped in a way that promotes deep thought. I notice the same problem with long articles that Nicholas Car mentioned. I’m similar to Carr in the sense that I have always been skeptical of technology.