The following refers to a text written by Nicholas Carr Is Google Making Us Stupid?
1. Explain Carr's thesis about reading and the Internet in one sentence (in your own words)...
Google has made the information search much easier, we as web users rarely have to memorize or use our own knowledge and experiences to translate messages.
2. List three pieces of specific supporting evidence Carr offers to try and prove his thesis...
A. Carr uses a testimonial to get his point across in one of the paragraphs. Scott Karp is an online blogger who states, “I was a lit major in college, and used to be a voracious book reader, what happened?” He goes on to explain that the web is a much more convenient way of reading and he continues to read, just not books anymore. B. The Richard Foreman quote also adds to his thesis. “As we are drained of our inner repertory of dense cultural inheritance, we risk turning into pancake people, spread wide and thin as we connect with that vast network of information accessed by the mere touch of a button.” A great quote that shows the direction we could be going in if we continue to rely on the web to carry us as intellectual beings. C. Even the creators of Google acknowledge that its creation is intended to become a form of artificial intelligence someday. “The ultimate search engine is something as smart as people- or smarter, for us, working on search is a way to work on AI, certainly if you had all the world’s information directly attached to your brain, you’d be better off.”
3. Compare Carr's thesis about Google/The Internet with Postman's thesis about television - in what ways are their arguments similar/different? Be specific.
They’re arguments are both based on the fact that people can gather information in a passive manner, these forms of media do not create and active learning stage for users. Both Postman and Carr also believe that media has transformed us into “the all great abbreviators.” Cutting every corner and finding the fastest way to a solution is our goal with Internet and Television. Carr and Postman also believe that we don’t question sources. Both forms of media are taken for fact, with questions asked about any information that is provided through these outlets. The only difference between these two arguments is that Postman believes TV has emotional power, while Carr never speaks about the emotional grasp that the Internet might have.
4. Describe the thesis of the funny VIDEO above, in your own words. How accurate a portrayal of Google users is this?
The video portrays an Internet user that uses very little discretion when entering correct grammar or spelling. The video represents how dependent we have become on search engines telling us what is fact in this world. The person typing shows just how little detail you have to use to get what you want with Google.
5. Finally, in 3-5 sentences, tell us to what extent you agree with Carr's arguments about what Google may be doing to our brains.
I agree with Carr because this generation takes most everything they have for granted. I believe that Youtube is a great example of how a person can benefit or be hurt by the web. Some users create amazing images and artwork they want to share with the world, and this is a great outlet for those people’s messages and images. But the everyday person generally will log onto Youtube and watch hours of videos without retaining any sort of information or values from the experience. That leads me to my problem with Carr’s argument. There are most definitely exceptions to this idea of mind numbing activity. Some individuals actually use the web to their benefit, promote themselves, teach themselves, and disconnect themselves without be affected by the medium. The web has amazing networking potential that helps its users get connected with the people that they once would have never been able to speak with. Although Carr does make many good points I believe that people can avoid the wrath of Google, and instead of becoming stupid, an individual can actually become smarter.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Censored 2009 Round 1 Comments
1. After reading PROJECT CENSORED, Chapters 3-6, discuss TWO specific observations from EACH chapter that you found interesting, provocative, or compelling in some way, and one specific question you have after reading EACH chapter.
Remember, "my question is..." - and the five second rule applies!
Chapter 3. a. Britney Spears topped the Junk Food list for two years in a row. Through rehab, traffic violations, and other garbage she took the title again. And more media time was given to her custody case than the Bush’s veto of a bipartisan children’s health insurance bill. b. Its ridiculous how much media coverage these “Junk Stories” get compared to real world issues. Stories about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in September of 2007 were overwhelming and they blanketed real issues like Iraqi Children Starved of Childhoods, US Poverty Data Raising Quesitons about the Cost of War, and Government Secrecy Up Despite Exposure of the Issue.
My questions is…How can American’s affect change on the issues reported on in the media?
Chapter 4. a. The author believes that we owe a debt of gratitude to the Bush Administration for, “Their exploits making folly of the pro empire agenda painfully clear and it may have finally forced the global population into a different mode of thinking. This is an interesting perspective, the Bush Administration redirected the thought process of Americans and created a higher awareness level when we are looking at world issues. b. In 2006 Humboldt County, California became the largest jurisdiction to abolish the legal doctrine known as corporate personhood with the passage of local Measure T. The doctrine passed grants the people of this county the right to decide elections but no out of district corporations may have any say in them.
My questions is…there is so much criticism of the Bush Administration throughout the eight years and even after he’s step down as commander and chief, ten maybe fifteen years down the road do you think his administration will be viewed any differently or will there be some positive feelings?
Chapter 5. a. Habeas Corpus protects individuals against unlawful exercises of state power. Its written into the constitution, establishing that it could only be suspended in cases of rebellion or invasion. b. The media doesn’t report enough stories on the Military Commissions Act, only 237 direct quotations regarding the Act, drawn from three major newspapers over a fifteen-month period.
My question is…the author is up in arms about the lack of attention to the MCA, how could the US citizens keep themselves updated on under publicized issues that affect them?
Chapter 6. a. The Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 18,000 Americans die prematurely each year because they do not have health insurance. The number of Americans without health insurance is increasing- 47 million or some 16 percent of the population at last count. b. Competition among private companies creates waste and duplication. According to a physician advocacy group, “When hospitals compete they often duplicate expensive equipment in order to corner more of the market. They also waste money on advertising and marketing. The preferred scenario has hospitals coordinating services and cooperating to meet the needs of the public.”
My questions is…As a college student where on the list of worries does Health Insurance fall under, and if you are graduating this spring is Health Insurance a key factor to your job search?
Remember, "my question is..." - and the five second rule applies!
Chapter 3. a. Britney Spears topped the Junk Food list for two years in a row. Through rehab, traffic violations, and other garbage she took the title again. And more media time was given to her custody case than the Bush’s veto of a bipartisan children’s health insurance bill. b. Its ridiculous how much media coverage these “Junk Stories” get compared to real world issues. Stories about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in September of 2007 were overwhelming and they blanketed real issues like Iraqi Children Starved of Childhoods, US Poverty Data Raising Quesitons about the Cost of War, and Government Secrecy Up Despite Exposure of the Issue.
My questions is…How can American’s affect change on the issues reported on in the media?
Chapter 4. a. The author believes that we owe a debt of gratitude to the Bush Administration for, “Their exploits making folly of the pro empire agenda painfully clear and it may have finally forced the global population into a different mode of thinking. This is an interesting perspective, the Bush Administration redirected the thought process of Americans and created a higher awareness level when we are looking at world issues. b. In 2006 Humboldt County, California became the largest jurisdiction to abolish the legal doctrine known as corporate personhood with the passage of local Measure T. The doctrine passed grants the people of this county the right to decide elections but no out of district corporations may have any say in them.
My questions is…there is so much criticism of the Bush Administration throughout the eight years and even after he’s step down as commander and chief, ten maybe fifteen years down the road do you think his administration will be viewed any differently or will there be some positive feelings?
Chapter 5. a. Habeas Corpus protects individuals against unlawful exercises of state power. Its written into the constitution, establishing that it could only be suspended in cases of rebellion or invasion. b. The media doesn’t report enough stories on the Military Commissions Act, only 237 direct quotations regarding the Act, drawn from three major newspapers over a fifteen-month period.
My question is…the author is up in arms about the lack of attention to the MCA, how could the US citizens keep themselves updated on under publicized issues that affect them?
Chapter 6. a. The Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 18,000 Americans die prematurely each year because they do not have health insurance. The number of Americans without health insurance is increasing- 47 million or some 16 percent of the population at last count. b. Competition among private companies creates waste and duplication. According to a physician advocacy group, “When hospitals compete they often duplicate expensive equipment in order to corner more of the market. They also waste money on advertising and marketing. The preferred scenario has hospitals coordinating services and cooperating to meet the needs of the public.”
My questions is…As a college student where on the list of worries does Health Insurance fall under, and if you are graduating this spring is Health Insurance a key factor to your job search?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
CNN Reports: H-2A Agricultural Worker Programs
Lou Dobbs and CNN touch on the issue but Project Censored really begins to hit upon the guest worker problems. I will continue to update more website links as I discover them, thank you for reading the posts and watching the videos.
Guest Workers Inc: Fraud and Human Trafficking
1. In 3-4 sentences, give us a basic overview of your Project Censored story, in your own words. Who are the major "players" in your story? What's the major "gist" of your story? Why might your story be "censored"?
The Project Censored story that I researched was “Guest Workers Inc: Fraud and Human Trafficking.” This section is about the current problem in the United States with employers taking advantage of immigrant workers. The immigrants fall into two categories of employees, H-2A for agricultural work and H-2B for non-agricultural work. Both of these programs find ways to give their employees less than promised and make them work long strenuous hours. A more current example used is the Hurricane Katrina workforce through the H-2B program, Signal Facilities imported employees to help. This story might be censored because of the terrible economic times, if it became mainstream then the US citizens would become enraged.
2. List FOUR details/facts about your PC story you feel are VITAL for citizens to understand.
“Through Southern Poverty Law Center reports that the H-2 program brought about 121,000 guest workers into the US in 2005, with approximately two thirds of those in the H-2B section.”
“H-2A program provides legal protections from foreign farm workers- such as a guarantee of at least three quarters of the total employment hours promised, free housing, transportation compensation, medical benefits, and legal representation.”
“In the process of attaining a H-2 guest worker visa, workers typically fall victim to bait-and-switch schemes that force them to borrow huge sums of money at high interest rates in order to land short term, low wage jobs.”
“Hundreds of guest workers from India, lured by false promises of permanent US residency, paid tens of thousands of dollars each to obtain temporary jobs at Gulf Coast Shipyards only to find themselves forced into involuntary servitude and living in overcrowded, guarded labor camps.”
The Project Censored story that I researched was “Guest Workers Inc: Fraud and Human Trafficking.” This section is about the current problem in the United States with employers taking advantage of immigrant workers. The immigrants fall into two categories of employees, H-2A for agricultural work and H-2B for non-agricultural work. Both of these programs find ways to give their employees less than promised and make them work long strenuous hours. A more current example used is the Hurricane Katrina workforce through the H-2B program, Signal Facilities imported employees to help. This story might be censored because of the terrible economic times, if it became mainstream then the US citizens would become enraged.
2. List FOUR details/facts about your PC story you feel are VITAL for citizens to understand.
“Through Southern Poverty Law Center reports that the H-2 program brought about 121,000 guest workers into the US in 2005, with approximately two thirds of those in the H-2B section.”
“H-2A program provides legal protections from foreign farm workers- such as a guarantee of at least three quarters of the total employment hours promised, free housing, transportation compensation, medical benefits, and legal representation.”
“In the process of attaining a H-2 guest worker visa, workers typically fall victim to bait-and-switch schemes that force them to borrow huge sums of money at high interest rates in order to land short term, low wage jobs.”
“Hundreds of guest workers from India, lured by false promises of permanent US residency, paid tens of thousands of dollars each to obtain temporary jobs at Gulf Coast Shipyards only to find themselves forced into involuntary servitude and living in overcrowded, guarded labor camps.”
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Billboards Galore: Spring Break Media
1. Over my spring break experience was getting acclimated to the environment in Florida. I realized that everything in the Orlando area revolves around the entertainment business (Disney and Universal for example). The one experience that affected me was the ownership of billboards in the sunshine state and around the US. I never realized the company logo's at the bottom of each billboard (CBS, Clear Channel, Disney). People can turn off a TV, Radio, or the Internet, but on the commute to work they can't really avoid the large billboards. This is just another way that big business seems to be providing messages to the masses. 2. In my use of the Triune Brain I put the neocortex into play by thinking about the messages each sign provides. 3. The persuasion techniques used were symbols, beautiful people, and hyperbole's. The symbols provided on the billboards were company logos that the American people know and trust. In terms of beautiful people Disney used a sign with a gorgeous women showing their new attraction, "American Idol." And there are many exaggerated claims made on these billboards (i.e. Come to Universal Studios and change your life forever!) that fit into the hyperbole category. 4. General Principales used in this form of media are ownership and emotional transfer. There are commercial motives being fullfilled and they are used to create knowledge of specific products. Emotions are transfered when viewing these signs because they display pictures like Shrek that excite little children and make adults smile at the sight of the big green fella. 5. And finally a media shift that sticks out to me is the technological shift. The media consumer sees a message as a plain image at first and most of these images have information about websites and online sources which lead the American consumer to surfing online and checking out the information provided.
Welcome to the Madness!
Hello bloggers whatsup? Allen Reid here just trying to make meaning out of all the madness known as life. I'm currently enrolled at Champlain College in the final semester of my senior year, so you could say that reality is starting to crack its cold knuckles in preperation of hitting me in the face. My major here at College in Burlington VT is Broadcasting and I am planning on pursuing a career in radio or television. The employer that currently keeps my bills paid is Hall Communications, I am a part time DJ for their alternative rock radio station 99.9 the Buzz. The following blog is a product of my exploration into culture and society of the media world. Feel free to join in on the fun and until my next post, LATER ALL!
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