An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness - Summary, Reflection, and Tie-in

SUMMARY:

Some of the key points I found in "An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness" by Pope were that the exposure to the new technologies in the world causes a reshape in personalities, and people have become dependent of the Internet, and some "addicted." Popes says that some students get a comfortable feeling by texting and emailing their friends and without technology they would feel alone and secluded from life. Using the Internet is a way of life.

REFLECTION:

I agree with what Pope is saying about technology today. Many people find the use of the Internet as a way of "escaping" and it is true because I find myself going on my computer many times during the day when I am bored and checking my Facebook to see who is doing what and where. I do agree that the Internet is distracting. While I do my homework at night I constantly go on the computer and stop my homework and stay on the computer for hours on end. Sometimes I have to deactivate my Facebook just so I can finish my homework for the week. I find it crazy that people have become dependent of the Internet but it is true. No one really reads the newspaper anymore, no one talks on the phone for hours at a time anymore, and the news basically talks about what has been on the Internet for days now. The Internet is the way people get information anymore without asking anyone but Google. I find that Pope's statements are true to the fact that the Internet is becoming a dependency, making people impatient to finish their work, and seeming to forget everything going on around them other than the screen in front of them.

TIE-IN:

Pope and Carr's articles are very similar because they both talk about the changing of people's personalities when using the Internet. Pope talks about how the Internet makes our personalities more "high speed" and impatient when it comes to young children whose brains function slower than adults. Carr talks about how using the Internet has made him have trouble reading lengthy articles and his ability to stay focused for long periods of time has decreased since using the Internet. Pope and Carr both agree that people have become addicted to the Internet and are using it way too much. Pope thinks that the Internet is like an eating disorder where people can learn to control their use and moderate their time. Carr believes that the usage and change is just going to get worse in the generations to come. Both articles represent the Internet's effects on society and both authors know that the problem cannot be solved and will only get worse.