I was one of those who watched my kid bury his nose in a PC, thinking that behavior disconnected him from society. At the time, it pissed me off. But I wonder... are kids in their 20's actually MORE LITERATE because they're constantly blogging and tweeting and googling? I know football players from my high school years who couldn't even write a thank you note, and now I read that those same personalities are actually texting during games. And I see them searching facts today that we'd have to go to the library when I was a kid, and the accessibility seems to give them greater access to knowledge. Perhaps, there's a true upside to the Internet. What do you think? Thumbs up or down on Internet helping the literacy level in USA?
I think there is a big difference between reading a website that could have been written by absolutely anyone and going to the library and checking out a book on the same subject matter. I've found that when I really want to research a topic, I'm better off reading a book about it then finding anything worthwhile on the internet. I always end up having to sift through 50 pages of crap before I find anything of substance on the internet.
I have a love-hate relationship with the internet...more hate. When we put all the information in the world at our fingertips it created the illusion that we never have to leave our houses to learn anything.
i think the internet is very beneficial. knowledge is knowledge is knowledge, and theres a lot to go around with on the internet. but i agree with OhSoDreadful, because that knowledge and that time put into the computer doesn't assist in the realities around you, in your personal life. it might a little bit, but there are definitely needed discoveries to be made away from the computer. on what Mellai said, that's true, but even if it is just other people writing articles and such on the internet, it still contributes to literacy and free thought. the action of using a computer itself, imo, contributes to more organizational and literary skills to an extent.
True. I want to add that I think the internet contributes to the trend of people knowing a little bit about a lot of things. This can be a great thing if you use it as a jumping off point to learn more, but I find that mostly having any random fact you could ever wanna know just a google search away means that there are a lot of people walking around who pretend to be knowledgeable in various subjects when all they've really done is scratched the surface by skimming a wikepedia article. There are so many ideas that i've been exposed to thanks to the internet, and I love it for that reason, but I've found that reading a well-researched book written by a knowledgeable author is the only way to really dig down deep and truly learn about any given topic. The internet doesnt provide the structure or foundation that a book can. But I do give the internet credit with creating all kinds of new channels in our brains because of the overexposure we have to new ideas and concepts....the internet is wonderful for that reason.
thumbs up from me...I know for a fact that my son is knowledgeable about many many things that he would not know if he had to depend on a library like I did...he was tested in grade 6 to read at a grade 10 level...and my kid is NOT a scholar...he is a stoner kid that hates school with a passion
I was another kid who was raised by the PC, telivision, and video games. I think while social skills plummet, literacy goes up, which my my opinion is more important.
I just saw a documentary about this exact subject two days ago. People are acquiring more GENERAL knowledge but having less SPECIALIZED knowledge. Technology is distracting MOST, but not all, of us from focusing on one subject and pursuing it to its fullest potential. For example, if Newton spent his time Facebooking, where would we be today? For example, here I am sharing my irrelevant commentary with strangers when I could be sleeping or reading or working out or practicing my guitar. However, one expert said it best: Is a hammer bad? Is a hammer good? It depends if you're building a house with it or hitting someone over the head.
I used to sit on the computer all night during highschool and read Wikipedia Just whole articles, and every article would lead to at least three more interesting articles. I learned so much more from the Internet than from school back then. I give the internet a thumbs up. But if you are just looking at YouTube and porn all day, you aren't going to be expanding your mind too much =P
