GOOGLERAMA

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.