What Do You Think?
June 5th, 2010 by ComputerBob
As a reader of my Journal, you’re an Internet user.
And I like to think that my Journal — as well as my entire Web site — helps make its readers smarter.
But I’m going to ask you two questions, and I want you to answer them instantly.
Don’t think about them for even a second.
Just figuratively “blurt out” the first answers that come into your head.
Are you ready?
Here goes:
1. Does the Internet make you personally dumber or smarter?
2. Does the Internet make most people dumber or smarter?
Were both of your answers the same?
Personally, I have no doubt that the Internet’s easy access to information — and my careful, analytical use of that information — makes me smarter.
But as sure as I am that the Internet makes me smarter, I’m just as sure that the Internet makes some people dumber.
Especially people who “consume mass quantitites” of the Internet’s information without a critical eye.
To me, the Internet — like a hammer — is simply a tool.
And like every other tool, it has no talent or abilities beyond those of its user.
So it can be used for good or bad, depending on who is using it.
Obviously, you’re a thinker — if you weren’t, you would have stopped reading this after the first couple of lines.
So I’m guessing that you probably think that the Internet makes you smarter.
And you’re probably right.
In the meantime, “The Wall Street Journal is running a pair of articles asking whether the internet is making humanity smarter or dumber.”
If you’re curious, take a look at what those articles say, as well as what Slashdot’s readers think about them.
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Tags:
Education, Internet, Psychology