"An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness"

Summary
The article “An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness” by Tara Parker-Pope describes the impact that technology has on the mind and personality, and how it ultimately can lead to an addiction. It distracts many from doing normal tasks, and they can go through technology withdrawal when deprived of it. Technology can also cause many to hold onto unnecessary past knowledge because everything is saved on computers now. People can become so engulfed in technology that they lose concentration on other aspects of life, like their family and friends.

Reflection
This article focuses on the ways that technology can affect people in a negative way. Avid users can become addicted to the Internet, which means they are too concentrated on the Internet. This causes them to neglect other aspects of their life, like family, friends, and work. I completely agree with the argument in this article. The country is becoming extremely reliant on technology and when it is unavailable, people become very flustered. Most people panic when their phone dies or they don’t have Internet access for an hour. Many restaurants offer free Internet while you eat. What happened to the importance of bonding with your family during your meal? If you go into any restaurant, you will see children playing video games on their portable players, teenagers texting, and parents checking their e-mail on their Blackberrys. The Internet also affects work habits. How many adults admit to shopping online or paying their bills online during work hours? Ask any college student how their paper is going and they’re sure to say that they’ve been distracted by Facebook. While social networking sites and texting are great ways of keeping in touch, they cut into people’s daily lives. Schools have strict anti-phone policies, because texting in class distracts the students from learning. People would rather talk to their friends on Facebook than spend actual time together. Technology is extremely beneficial, but it affects other crucial aspects of life.

Tie-In
The article by Tara Parker-Pope establishes that excessive use of the Internet and technology can lead to “Internet dependence.” Nicholas Carr’s article describes that effects that excessive use can cause. So in relation, Parker-Pope’s article describes what excessive Internet use can cause, primarily an addiction to the Internet, and Carr describes the effects of excessive Internet use, such as difficulties with reading. Internet addiction is caused when the use of Internet gets in the way with people’s daily lives. The Internet and technology can interfere with family, friends, and work. Nicholas Carr also believes that long-term use of the Internet can affect people’s minds. He tells in his article about his troubles with reading. Many people can encounter problems with reading, like being unable to read and digest long pieces of work. People are so used to reading short articles online that they lose the patience to sit down and actually read a novel. It also affects the way people think. People just browse though articles now, instead of reading the entire text to understand fully what the work is about. In Parker-Pope’s article, Dr. Aboujaoude believes that because everything is saved on computers now, it is hard for people to de-clutter their minds from all their stored information. This prevents them from being able to retain new information. Not only is the Internet making us lazy when it comes to reading, but it affects the way we think.