Krug Reading

A few items especially stood out to me during this new reading. The first one was in Chapter 1, where Krug talked about being encouraged to frame experiences into language that flows through new media (page 7, that was my interpretation of his quote anyway, so I am going with it). I think this is an excellent point, especially in the social networking world.

Telling a friend about something you did or giving a lecture doesn't often cut it for the general population. These days, to be meaningful information, it has to be shared on the Internet and through other popular forms via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogs, etc. In fact, a lot of people expect certain things to be aired online (look at TED/TEDx talks).

Another section that stood out to me was on learning and test taking when he talked about students wanting bulleted lists and expecting exams based on the simple lists. Why do you think they are favored? I do think students are capable of "examining complex arguments" and applying them to real world scenarios, but that's not what they're given. I suppose it might be a "chicken and egg" scenario, but from personal experience it seems exams are bland (multiple choice) instead of thought provoking (interpretation) from an early age. With the exception of math, most exams I took in grade school and some in college typically involved memorizing material from slides and taking a multiple choice test. If this is what students are taught, how can they be expected to accept anything more?

If students have always been given multiple choice and real world application has not been encouraged, of course they will think items are "too hard." I like to think the usage of textbooks (not novels) furthers this issue. I did notice teachers in undergrad trying to change up material/exams to make the contests more universally applicable and encourage creative thought and problem solving, but I would guess a lof of colleges and grade schools lag behind.

The whole "people model what they see on screens" subject is also interesting to me. I've had an interest in the growing rate of narcissism for a while and the Internet is definitely a catalyst. People can see endless displays of all sorts of behaviors/fashions/etc. everyday - more than could previously be accessed with movies and magazines. Adolescents can go on Instagram, style websites, etc. to see what peers and celebrities look like and are doing. Seeing as part of my senior thesis dealt with advertising and body image, I know (and many do) how detrimental images of skinny, seemingly perfect women can be to impressionable teens/women. That's a whole different topic though, and I've already droned on quite a bit!

Yay!

Overly enthusiastic title, I kno. But, I really did enjoy the readings this week. I was familiar with quite a few things that were discussed, but it was nice to get other perspectives and learn in the process. I found the reading especially fascinating because I work in search marketing and am around these concepts all day. THE CONTENT. THE LINKS. LINKS LINKS LINKS.

Anyway, I've always been fascinated by consumer behavior. However, I'm a bit iffy about personalized search. Eli voices these concerns quite nicely in his TED Talk video. Sure, with personalization we get what Google thinks we want, and it may indeed be what we want. But are we missing out on items that would otherwise take us in new directions? When results are based on our activity, what our friends like, etc. are we being denied hidden treasures out there that may uncover passions we never knew we had?

I think the bit about buying on impulse or after being reminded is all too true. I am reminded I need something if I see it at the store and also if it shows up in one of those targeted ads online. It's easy to forget when I shop at a store - I always tell myself if I haven't forgotten about something I didn't purchase in a week or two, then I will get it. I usually always forget. When it comes to the internet, forgetting isn't so easy.

It does get a little overwhelming (and sad) at times when the pair of shoes I want but don't need is splashed across the screen every time I open a new window. The products almost speak to me - "buy me, buy me!" - and, well, sometimes I do. Sometimes an email or a targeted ad brings something to my mind I would have forgotten about otherwise. +1 advertisers/businesses, -1 Alyssa's bank account.

I do, however, belong to the large group of people who enjoy the "watch instantly" feature on Netflix and the suggestions given. I've watched a lot of great movies I probably never would have found otherwise. Back to my earlier point, does this mean I might be missing something? Perhaps. I think a good way to counter the problem would be to offer a "random movie/search/etc." generator that is completely unbiased (if that's even possible nowadays). Kind of like StumbleUpon, except you don't pick your preferences and the results aren't based on "thumbs up or downs" or any other type of voting/feedback. If you don't like the random suggestions, you always can return to the targeted ones.

Invisible Technologies

It's funny how often class content can overlap. When reading this chapter, I thought of Alex's class and how we discussed "junk science" (such as polling and quizzes that result in junk information) and "inventing variables." Junk science makes it a lot harder to find good, clean data (something that always frustrates me when I have to do research).

I agree with Postman's comments that everything these days "has" to be quantified in some manner. Grades, intelligence, beauty, credit score. However, as we discussed in Alex's class, do we really know what we're measuring? Does that thing even exist? Can you reduce some concept into one variable? When it comes to quantitative research, I suppose there is no other way, but then can you really trust the results?

Are SAT/ACT/IQ tests really accurate measures of intelligence? I've always thought probably not. Some people are great test takers. Some people are awful test takers. Some people do wonderfully in life and score low on tests. Maybe society keeps perfecting the tests, but they still aren't that great, in my opinion. I hope college admissions never do away with entrance essays.

In fact, I found this interesting article on ProQuest (but had a difficult time finding ones about IQ test unreliability). The article, titled "IQ-test mistake means boy wastes two years in special ed: Angry father suing for $200,000" shows the danger of solely relying on such measures when it comes to important decisions such as education.

Another article from 2009 talks about the widening racial gap in ACT test scores. Does that mean african american students are less intelligent than white students? I don't think so. There are so many different types of intelligence. Problem solving skills. Book smarts. Street smarts. People smarts.

On language, I think it is an easy way to categorize things. I'm sure pre-language people still divided things into categories but perhaps had a harder way to communicate it. I haven't done a lot of other reading on language other than Chomsky, although I haven't read his work for a couple years.

I don't know how you quantity something such as beauty, either. I think beauty measures can improve with a great personality to match. Beauty also is in the eye of the beholder and based on culture. Although symmetry, smooth skin, etc. pretty much seem to be universal, there also is evidence that the ideal hip to waist ratio is not the same in all countries (this article showed it wasn't a significant predictor of attractiveness in Britain).

Looking forward to class tomorrow!

On Postman and Medical Technology

What a scary chapter, but at the same time it is a bit comforting. It's hard not to be worried about cancer, health problems, etc. when they are so prevalent in society. I've had family members who have died from cancer and I have a member with cancer at the current time and it's a lot to go through.

I think technology in healthcare is good when it is used appropriately. Catching conditions early can save lives. Where it gets scary is when you read about x-ray radiation and unnecessary surgeries performed. The evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria because doctors over prescribe antibiotics is unsettling. Today there's a pill for everything. I can only hope for more holistic doctors in the future because I honestly believe in the effectiveness of natural remedies.

I do think there is too much reliance on technology when it comes to the medical field, but Postman made some good points. People expect certain treatment options. People want to feel safe and in control of their health. They want to make sure everything is okay. Honestly, I think the Internet has turned a lot of people into hypochondriacs because if you put your symptoms into Google or WebMD, a multitude of conditions come up (and there almost always are serious ones).

I think annual check-ups and blood tests are great to have. One thing I like about my doctor is that she is very thorough and schedules appointments far enough apart so she can spend a good 15-20 minutes talking to you about life, any health problems, etc. She stays up to date on research and is very passionate about actually practicing medicine instead of walking around with an iPad and chatting for 5 minutes before leaving the room.

I can't say I've had a lot of bad experiences with technology in the healthcare field. I mean, I've had a few surgeries and gotten a few x-rays, but nothing major. When I was having sleep trouble I first had to keep a sleep diary for a few weeks before going in for an actual study. Again, I think technology can be useful when it is absolutely needed for practicing medicine, but it shouldn't rule doctors. I think doctors should rely on instinct and experience, but thankfully the ones I've had have seemed to do just that.

I think holistic doctors and healers are going to increasingly become more valuable...well, for skeptics like me, at least. I think meditation, yoga, and other forms of exercise can help balance the mind. I think a good diet and certain remedies can help with certain conditions. I still don't think a lot of doctors really know how much of certain conditions are genetic and how much are based on the environment. Perhaps they never will.

Late Night Thoughts.

Not sure if I'd rather know "lots of stuff about a few things" or "a few things about lots of stuff"?" I saw this tweet tonight and immediately thought of our class discussions. I think it's a good question, but I'd rather be the first, I think. The Internet allows everyone to know a few things about lots of stuff, and experts are rare. I still think experts know a few things about lots of stuff, everyone does, but artifacts such as PhDs and the title of "expert" are very respected and sought after.

One thing about last week's reading that interested me was the idea that all things run their course, die out, and return in a different form. One example was literacy, and I thought of a lot of examples. Books were popular then seemed to be largely replaced by the internet and other technology. Now books have returned in eBook form. 

As we discussed in class, writing was popular and it's largely been replaced by typing and texting. New words/phrases have been introduced into our language because of the growing popularity of texting shorthand. Some people commented on how their handwriting has gotten worse because they don't hand write too much, but I predict writing will become popular again. People are able to use a stylus on tablets, but beyond that I think hand writing things will become "trendy" and special. I know I would rather receive a handwritten letter over an email.

I also thought of photos. Before, polaroids and 35mm photos were popular. Then everything went digital and now vintage photos are "cool" again (I thought of Instagram, an iPhone app where you can put filters on photos to make them look old/vintage). I suppose antiques in general follow this path - something is useful for a time, and no big deal after that. Then, after some odd years, it suddenly is valuable again. People use old gadgets as decorations.  

One example given was teaching - in traditional classrooms, teachers were the ones who provided knowledge to the children. Even though they still are important today, a lot of people learn from the Internet. So, teaching, as McLuhan said, has become "an art form." I agree with this and I think it puts a lot of pressure on teachers because they have to compete with new technology to get kids' attention. However, I think in time teachers will become a lot more appreciated as the "online class" fad wears off.

Sickly

I don't have a lot to say this week other than I was sick all weekend with whatever bug was going around, and I still don't feel great. I spent the majority of the weekend in bed and left work early today, too. I feel a bit better, and I know it will take a bit to clear up, I'm just hoping it's sooner rather than later. I probably should have been following a raw food diet instead of popcorn and Cheeze-Its. Oh, and my brain is mush.

So why am I blogging right now? Well, I'm waiting for class to start and happen to have my computer. I just wanted to say a few words since I probably won't blog about McLuhan until later in the week. I like the interview style of writing, but I thought the points were a little hard to follow. When you have a head cold all the specifics to "the figure minus the ground" and "the tetrad" and "the medium is the message" get all jumbled. But, I took some notes and I should have a more coherent blog post up later.

What A Day!

I was supposed to head out of town this afternoon (yes, I was one of the six people who emailed that I would be absent). I left work, hopped in my car, and discovered it was dead. Luckily I have Triple A, so I called them, called my mom, and had to get a new battery installed. Luckily the AAA man had batteries with him and it was very affordable, but the whole ordeal took over an hour and I missed my appointment. I guess there's a reason for everything, right?

Apparently the cause of my battery's death was a light I didn't even know about. It's right above the hatch and I'm guessing it got flipped on by accident when I unloaded my vacuum from my car. Bummer, but oh well. My mom was a saint,  as she came and sat with me, and paid for the battery. Not what I needed today, but hey, at least it was only the battery.

I was all ready to go to class, but I have to admit the night off is nice. I cleaned (although I didn't vacuum because that died on me too), cooked, and decluttered. Now I'm sitting down and reflecting on McLuhan. I really do think his readings have been easier to get through despite him being a bit all over the place. I appreciate the large headings in these selections.

The first thing I want to say about that is - wow, I could have used these readings for my first paper, especially Laws of Media! I wrote my paper on how technology creates a shift of responsibility through distance and detachment. McLuhan talked about those exact points! I could have used him, but, I think I did fine without his help.

I was delighted to see the book On Aggression mentioned - I actually picked it up at a local thrift store because I thought it looked interesting. I have a ton of books on my "to read" list, but that one moved up a lot more spots after I read some of the pieces in Laws of Media.

One of the things in Chapter 2 that stood out to me was his comments on dyslexia and how dyslexia is caused because of a cultural shift from left hemisphere (analytical, lexical) back to right hemisphere (qualitative, oral) thinking. He named the television as a catalyst of this change. However, dyslexia cases have been documented as early as the 1800s, so, pre-tv. Also, McLuhan says dyslexia occurs when people cannot adopt a single point of view (left hemisphere) and they look at things simultaneously (right hemisphere). However, many believe dyslexia is not a visual disorder but a verbal one and caused by a weak left hemisphere.

I was thinking of writing my paper on the topic of dyslexia, but I don't want to confuse myself, as some of this work does. I'm interested in psychology/mental health, so maybe I will broaden the topic. I plan on getting started with my paper this weekend, I just have a hard time picking topics!

McLuhan

I really enjoyed the couple chapters we had to read. I never realized McLuhan was the one who coined "the medium is the message," but now I know. After doing the reading, I looked up some additional information on him and items to clarify the passage. I went through it a few times and took notes, but a few parts still had me confused. I found this resource quite helpful.

I found a few spots in the text where his words sounded similar to those of Ellul. He says "The restructuring of human work and association was shaped by the technique of fragmentation that is the essence of modern technology." The word fragmentation made me think of Ellul's comments on how technology creates specialized roles for people. The person who created a whole object becomes a person who creates just a special part of it. McLuhan talked about how guilt is harder to assign in an information-rich and specialized world, which is pretty much exactly what Ellul said.

McLuhan also talked about the mental breakdown that occurs when there is an endless flow of new information. I suppose you can guess who I thought of here - Postman. So many more of McLuhan's ideas are related to what we've already read. He talks about technology altering sense perception. He talks about unintended consequences, which was in one of the readings for last week (and we talked about it in class).

I'm fine and dandy with all these readings and I know it's important to study the past as well as present, but I'm wondering if we're ever going to get to more recent texts. I wish we could have read something such as Alone Together, the book by Sherry Turkle (she was in the Frontline episodes) or The Shallows in its entirety.

One thing I noticed is that McLuhan said people participate more with TV than radio and that TV is a cool technology while radio is a cold one. However, most of his reasoning for TV being cool is because it is less high definition. In today's world, most TVs are high definition, so I don't believe this concept is true anymore. Perhaps it might be if you watch cartoons on it, but still.

I'm really curious where the Internet fits in all of this. Is it hot or cool? Perhaps that depends more on the website. People have to interact with the Internet, but high definition pictures and videos can be found on the internet. Hmm. Perhaps I will bring this up tomorrow!

Back From Chicago!

...and what a wonderful time I had. As much as I like Grand Rapids, it's nice to get a change of scenery every once in a while. My mom gave me a hotel voucher, I had Restaurant.com coupons, and my friend wanted to drive (I am not a fan of driving), so it was a relatively inexpensive and very enjoyable trip. I love traveling.

The Wicker Park area had me all anxious at first...it's a lot different than a place like Grand Rapids. There's no parking ramps, people are parallel parked bumper to bumper, and everything is all squished together. It was insanely busy and it took a while just to find a restroom! I had to practically beg the guy at Bank of America to let me use the employee restroom there. Then, of course, we found one right after that. Oh well.

Although the area grew on me, I don't know that I could ever live in a place like that. Maybe. Most people don't have cars and I don't think I would like not having a car; I'd feel too trapped. I like being able to leave whenever I want and go wherever I choose to go. It also would be more difficult to do things such as grocery shop! There was some cute housing and shops, though, and the people were friendly enough. It also was great to see such a diverse crowd...Grand Rapids is getting there, but it still is largely a conservative city.

Still, at Starbucks the line went outside and all the businesses were small on the inside. Cities are fun to visit, but I like suburbs and less busy areas. I think GR is perfect - you never have to worry about finding a place to park, the city is clean, and everything is spread out enough so it doesn't feel too congested. Some people just love the big cities and herds of people, but I like being able to have my quiet time.

Untitled

Yes, my post is untitled. Way too many things going on today. First there was the incredibly sad yet amusing post about the MSU calculus professor who stripped naked during class, yelled obscenities at students, and roamed the halls (I couldn't help but laugh, but honestly....poor guy :(!!!).

Then there was the story about a study that found 66% of people fear being without a mobile phone. While I admit my phone gives me a sense of security, I don't know that I would say I fear being without one. My phone makes my days more convenient for me, but there are those times when I enjoy tucking it away and paying no attention to it. I think people really fear being disconnected - disconnected from the Internet, a seemingly-infinite source of information, and also out of the loop of what's going on in their social lives. Let's be serious - If you are an iPhone user and your iPhone were to disappear, you could hop on your iPad and still chat with anyone who has iMessage. But, you know, the job of the media usually is to report what's been found...not interpret said findings.

I'm appreciative that the reading assignments are shorter this week. It's been nice to have pieces instead of a single, long document (although they are from the same book). However, I found these readings harder to get through. Again, because they're online, again, because they're a little dry. I want to be interested in them, but the language used just gives me a headache. I'd rather read journal articles or psychology books (sorry, Dr. W). I wish the chapters were in more manageable chunks, but I look forward to class discussion. The same theme rises from the readings anyway (even explicitly stated in the final one): "Technology determines history."

One section I did think lots about was in the first Heilbroner section - The Absence of Technological Leaps. where everything continually evolves in a logical manner. Computers went from taking up whole floors to being tiny and lap-size. Cell phones went from huge and chunky to sleek and thin. I tried thinking of an instance where a leap was made and I couldn't think of one. An iPad is basically a cross between a cell phone and a computer. Xbox is the evolved version of Pong/Atari. I suppose it's good I can't think of any leaps, or it could be Judgment Day before we know it.

On Being Tired

Oh boy, I'm tired. It's been a long day. I thought I would take a break from posting solely about class to reflect a little on life in general. I attended my high school football game tonight, and they won! Everyone thought the opposing team would get smoked, but it was close for a while. Muskegon High School (where I went) did end up winning, though. I'll be excited to see them in the playoffs this year. It's always nice to see familiar faces even though I get quite nostalgic.

Although I dislike eBooks, I could have used one today. I forgot a book I needed for an assignment and had to make a round trip back to get it. It wasn't the worst drive, but it still was a drive I made early this morning and gas is still $4 a gallon. A couple of my friends told me they would have skimped on the assignment, but I just can't do that. All I kept thinking was, "Am I done with grad school yet?" I really enjoy attending classes, but the pressure of homework and grades gets to me. I'm not a slacker and never will be; In fact, I'm just like my mother (yes, I am proud of that).

Anyway, I chatted with a woman today about volunteering for the March of Dimes organization, and I am really excited about it; I miss volunteering and I love non-profits. I already feel a little crazy working close to 30 hours a week, taking three night classes, and trying to have a life (and that might not seem like a lot for some of you, but you have to remember I'm 21 years old), but the truth is I like staying busy, especially in the winter. I wanted to help out the MOD in SOME way. I do miss having more free time to craft, though.

I spent a lot of time working on the paper today. I'm having fun with it, but one of the biggest pains is dealing with citations. I have written plenty of papers/articles in APA, MLA, and AP, but no matter how experienced you are, those picky style issues still take a TON of time. I had to do a thesis for undergrad and citing everything took hours. Not to mention a lot of professors have different standards and I have been told different things by some, so every time I start a new class I have to get familiar with what the instructor wants. As digital media expands, there are more topics/sources that aren't covered in the APA manual. Some of the items in the APA manual are vague. 

However, I'm lucky to have the 6th edition APA manual at my disposal, and for those of you who don't have it, two sites are pretty handy: Purdue OWL and Son of a Citation Machine. The citation machine is kept up to date and is a great tool, especially if you're not sure what the in-text citation should be. If you grab articles from ProQuest, you also can request citations and choose the format on the same page you access the PDF from. Don't forget the doi!

Vacation and Ellul, Part 2 - I'm back!

...and what an adventure I had! The wedding was absolutely lovely and I had a wonderful time. It's nice that I made it back in time for class...as much as I like having breaks, I don't like missing classes. I already feel a bit behind! I'm also quite exhausted; although I rode in the back of the car, constant sitting wears me out! It was nice to be able to get some reading done, though.

At first, I really wasn't too thrilled about the reading; the section was quite long and I wasn't able to print it off (printer ink is expensive and that's a lot of pages). However, I quite enjoyed this assignment and didn't find myself bored with Mr. Ellul. After completing the reading, I thought I would touch on a few more things I found particularly interesting.

Vocational Tests

The next section I found particularly interesting was the one on vocational tests. I have taken numerous career quizzes, career aptitude tests, etc. since my middle school days. They're found everywhere online. Popular sites such as Career Builder and About have their own tests or link to ones they find useful.

Each test I've taken has come in the form of an online questionnaire that addresses concepts from personality traits to hobbies and interests. Sometimes you check boxes that apply and sometimes you are given two options and you choose the one you like better. I always approached the tests with a bit of skepticism; I remember in middle school I was taken aback when the careers selected for me were "explosives specialist," "podiatrist," and "fruit and vegetable grower."

While I think the tests can be a good way for people to discover their strengths/weaknesses and possible career paths, I found Ellul's comment - that vocational tests "discover" what society needs - to be quite interesting. I suppose I never thought of that before, but it makes sense. The individuals that develop such tests look at popular careers and most definitely the ones that are in demand (perhaps when I took those tests in middle school podiatrists and explosives specialists were needed, leading to my odd results). The list of careers has to be limited somehow.

I liked Ellul's statement that humans are flexible as far as potential, because I think that's true. I don't think it's a good idea to say a person is suitable for one or two careers and those only; with the right skills, people can adapt to many different careers. Also, although vocational tests may be reliable indicators of what a person can do well, it doesn't mean the person will do well in the chosen field(s). In other words, sometimes people are really good at something, but a career in that something is not what makes them happy.

This quote really stood out to be on p.362, and Ellul was speaking about the vocational tests: "Once again we are confronted with a mechanism of adaptation which deprives man of freedom and responsibility, makes him into a "thing," and puts him where he is most desirable from the point of view of another technique, that is, where he is most efficient."

In my opinion, he seems to be saying although people are given the illusion of choice when they take the tests, the tests reduce such people to skill sets and then tell individuals the career(s) they should pick because that is where they will be most useful. I believe this quote and the usage of the word "efficiency" is a central theme that continues to be reintroduced both in this reading and in Technopoly. My group even talked about this concept when we met a couple weeks ago. Technology is about efficiency and the task of workers is to efficiently use the technology, make the technology more efficient, and create products/services/etc. in the most efficient way possible.

Propaganda

This section came directly after the vocational section, and I had no doubt I would enjoy it since persuasion is an interest of mine. I recently read Obedience to Authority by Stanley Milgram (an interesting and quite wonderful book), and I noticed similarities between the book and this section especially.

First, Ellul explained that propaganda uses mechanical techniques (flyers, radio, television) and psychological techniques to be effective. The items are natural yet suggestive. As both Milgram and Ellul noted, the propaganda strategy in Germany took 10 years; it's a bit of a long process. Ellul said people go from having choice to having conditioned reflexes and living in an abstract universe. By suggestion, people are given the enemy and are able to transfer their guilt/negative thoughts to that enemy. The mindset becomes good versus evil, people start to harbor resentment, and, perhaps most shocking, they don't even see propaganda for what it is. It becomes unrecognizable.

Although I do believe propaganda binds communities/people together, one thing I found surprising was that there is less crime and neurosis in a society bound by propaganda. Maybe that's because people feel close to one another and think they're a part of something special? (Ellul did mention a sacred realm is created). A decrease in crime and neurosis is probably true for places bound by other types of collective thoughts, such as close-knit communities and so forth, but I just found it surprising in general.

Another quote I found interesting in this section was on p.364 when Ellul said "There is no such thing as purely objective information." I'm curious - do you all agree or disagree?

Vacation and Ellul, Part 1

I'm taking a stab at posting from my iPad...I've never blogged from here before! I'm on vacation this weekend with my grandparents, and we spent most of the day driving. I loaded this week's reading on my device and got some of it done on the way (three cheers for technology)! Please excuse any gramatical errors and the lack of pictures/etc...it's a little harder to edit on here and the Internet connection isn't the greatest (one cheer for cheap hotel wifi).

I figured I would post a short post now and add a longer one when I've completed the reading. I found out I will be back in time for class on Tuesday so I won't be missing anything, but we reach our destination tomorrow and I wanted to get some thoughts down before things get quite busy. We're headed to Virginia for a wedding and I haven't seen my family there in years.

The first thing I thought about the reading once I got a few pages in was that it has a sort of film noir feeling. Society is painted as a sort of machine and the world is bland, dismal, and tiring. Urbanism creates neurosis and crime. The same things can be found in film noir, such as in titles like Double Indemnity. People go to their jobs and resent them. The main character in the movie dislikes his job so much (insurance agent) he tries to help a woman cheat the system because he knows how to. The mechanical society themes were brought up in a book section we read in a previous class of mine...I believe it was called Voices in the Dark by J.P. Telotte (but don't quote me on that). I just think it was interesting to see so much relation between Ellul and film noir themes.

One thing I do want to say about what I read today is how much I think society is changing as far as careers go. Although Ellul says work is "aimless, useless, and resented" and that people basically are overworked from 9 to 5, I see a lot of businesses changing - at least in the tech world. Companies seem to be learning that happy workers are productive workers and more places are putting effort into making the workplace more comfortable and fun (especially places that want to draw in young professionals). More people are given the opportunity to work remotely (and studies show a change of scenery can lead to an increase in creativity). I will cite some of this research in my next post. Although not all jobs are like this obviously, I think it is a step in the right direction. 

At this point I think it's time for bed, so I will continue my thoughts later on. Here's hoping this publishes correctly! 

My Thoughts on The Juggler's Brain

I know, I know, cheesy video game meme. If you've never played the game, you probably won't find the image funny. But, it fits my post and my train of thought. I enjoyed this week's reading assignment a lot and I learned quite a bit.

I learned to read when I was just a toddler and as I grew up it was hard to find me without a book in my hands. I brought books to the dinner table, read in class, you name it. Most of my middle school days were spent reading in class because I was bored at school. I could read for hours, I didn't get distracted, and I remembered a lot of what I had read.

Now to the present time. After reading the passage for this week, I was surprised (although not too surprised) to learn about how using the Internet can rewire your brain. I suppose I never thought about it, but I do really believe that is true. The author said "The Net seizes our attention only to scatter it" and once I stopped and thought about it, it's quite unsettling.

Whenever you're on the web you're bombarded with all sorts of information and it is quite overwhelming. I do believe that has had an impact on my way of thinking. My mind often is loud and scattered and there are plenty of times when I wish I could just clear my head and hit pause. Sometimes I want to concentrate on things but I get distracted by other thoughts. Couple that with the "dings" of text messages and emails and it's hard to sit down and get one thing done at a time! Even while watching football this weekend I noticed what was mentioned on page 131 - programming with infographics and news crawls. You can watch the game and see what people are tweeting and read the news and see scores and other updates and whatever else they cram in there. Good grief!

There are times I wish I could return to my childish brain, the brain that didn't jump from place to place all the time. I never asked for this brain rewiring to happen. I wish it was still so easy to dive into a book and think about nothing else other than the book.

What I mostly got from the article was to, when possible, really take the time to sit down and think deeply about things you read and things you are interested in. Pay attention and process the information so it can settle in your long term memory. I am happy I do find time to read, even if it is just for a few minutes before I go to bed. Other times I will go out somewhere to read and turn my cell phone off.  I read actual books - I am not a fan of eBooks. I actually prefer reading from paper and not from a screen, and a lot of times I will print important papers off just so I have something tangible to highlight and thumb through.

I do think more people are aware of the findings outlined in the chapter, but some can't/don't want to change (he even says on page 134 that people willingly accept distractions). Plenty of students surf the web during class and know they aren't picking up information from the lecture. Lots of people know they are being distracted by the Internet but would rather surf the web than visit the library.

I recall this Lifehacker article from a while back about a study published in Psychological Science. The study suggested spending time in nature can boost cognitive functioning. I've read other studies that say spending time in nature/green areas can help alleviate depression and increase creativity. I think it would do everyone some good to visit a park at least once in a while and bring a book to read!

In summary, I never asked for my brain to be rewired. None of us did. But, if we really put effort into deep thinking and reading and other "healthy" brain activities, I think we'll end up just fine. The author mentioned web surfing having some benefits in old age, but I still think I'll keep my crosswords handy.

Assorted Musings

Now that I'm finally sitting down, I thought I would post something with more substance. I took a look at the syllabus and it said we're supposed to respond to the reading of the week, but perhaps that comes later. I'm heading home tomorrow and will probably tackle the chapter in the afternoon.

It's a bit different to write on a new blog. I have a craft/personal blog I update every so often and I write articles/blog every day at work. Honestly, I get sick of staring at the computer screen, but this blog is a nice little opportunity to share some thoughts and refresh on what I learned in class.

Technopoly

My group had a pretty good discussion about the book. One thing we talked about was the section where Postman mentioned how people these days don't seem to value such things as wisdom from the elderly, religious tradition, etc. I do believe it. In the book The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell talks about how people are becoming less religious/spiritual and less moral. I'm not religious, but I like mythology and I recognize that religious texts, literature, etc. tell stories about morals, behavior, etc. and they can be very important and influential guides for people. When people look to technology to find answers, they don't really learn morality, (that's my opinion). I mean, who really goes on the internet to read mythology?

Maybe I'm an old soul, but I'm lucky to have both sets of grandparents alive and well and I spend a lot of time with them. I spend a lot of time with my family in general. I read a lot. I like to learn. I think it's safe to say I'm the youngest person in this class (I'm 21) and I don't think my generation values learning and wisdom nearly as much as they should. It's sad.

Take MSU, for instance. A lot of people tell me how lucky I was to be able to go there, and I don't argue with that. However, I was disappointed by the lack of interest in learning in my peers. I didn't see the passion I expected and it had me so disheartened after a point, I couldn't wait to leave. So many people did the bare minimum to pass and didn't seem to care about anything besides what they were doing after class. Most people in classes sat on their laptops on Facebook/the web the entire time. I got to know my professors and took an interest in the material. I had some professors tell me I was the only one who went to office hours all semester. I was a TA one semester and not one person came to office hours. Group projects were always nightmares. 

I'm not saying I don't think there are passionate young people out there - there are - but there are so many that just....don't care. While I am excited for the future, some things do concern me. In COM 620, Alex mentioned how behavioral problems are becoming more abundant. I've heard similar reports, and one of the books I read this past summer was about narcissism and how it is on the rise in America. Maybe I'm sounding too cynical, but I really hope something comes along and ignites some sort of spark in a lot of people. 

Hello World!

(Yes, I'm using the standard WordPress template on a Blogger site). This is going to be a blog I'll use for COM 641 and perhaps other graduate courses at GVSU. I'm excited to have blogging as an assignment!