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Is Google Making Us Stupid Summary
"Is Google Making Us Stupid?"
In the article Is Google Making Us Stupid Nicholas Carr discusses how the use of the internet deteriorates our patience, as well as our capacity for
learning. People need to be careful about what they are reading on the internet and how often they read on the internet as Carr is foreshadowing in his
article. In his writing Is Google Making Us Stupid?, Nicholas Carr maintains that "They supply the stuff of thought, but they also shape the process of
thought. And what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation" (p. 2, 2014). In other words, we
have no control over what we think when we are reading articles on the internet and that is leading to the lack of concentration and contemplation. I
disagree with what Carr is saying, I do not feel that the internet is making us stupid I think it is just how we use this tool to help us. Or it could also
hurt us but in the end, it is always up to the user's choice on how they use the internet if they want to make it a distraction then that is what it will
become. In addition, I cannot accept the thought of an online resource that connects with the whole world is making our population stupid. I suppose
the internet does have its own pros and cons but that is definitely up to people who use the internet, it is just like in the real world, you try and stay
away from the bad and follow the path that is good.
Carr also writes about others having the same problems as him along the lines they cannot read books or long essays anymore due to the internet
being a problem and a distraction. Carr writes that bloggers have discussed this as well, in saying that they cannot maintain their focus while
reading long articles. Carr references Scott Karp who is a blog writer and he states, "He speculates on the answer: 'What if I do all my reading on
the web not so much because the way I read has changed, i.e. I'm just seeking convenience, but because the way I THINK has changed?'" (p. 2,
2014). Basically, Carr seems to be forewarning people who are internet users these problems will also occur, but the point is also about asking the
rhetorical question if using the internet is changing the way we are thinking or
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IS Google Making us Stupid
Maddy Wagner Ms. Dudley Advanced English 9 14 February 2014 The Truth Behind Google Have you every truly thought about the way you use
Google? Some people basically use it as a replacement of an education, while others use it to find information quick and easy. The first article
named "Yes", written by Nicholas Carr, describes how Google is making people stupid. The second article titled "No", written by Peter Norvig
explains that Google is not making people dumb. Carr wants to display that most people use Google to find answers, and in that way, they don't learn
much. Nevertheless, Norvig expresses that Google is only advancing our knowledge in a faster and simpler way. While both articles state strong
opinions, "Yes" provides...show more content...
His real life example is used in a decent way; however, he is not using loaded language. It does not really persuade the reader on how Google is
making us stupid or not. Also, he is not actually displaying his use of pathos; he is only just giving an example that does not really get the reader
to believe on whether Google is helping us or discouraging us. According to Norvig, he notes, "The Internet contains the world's best writing,
images, and ideas; Google lets us find the relevant pieces easily" (1). He wants the reader to know that Google is a faster way to get things done.
Just like Nicholas Carr, Peter Norvig turns out to be a biased person. He proves his point, and points out which side he agrees on. In this case, he
does not think that Google is making us dumb. Being biased is not corrupt because they are only making their statement. This paragraph verifies
that Peter Norvig does not think Google is making people stupid. He desires for the reader to know that it is just a way of finding information fast
and easy. Article "Yes" and article "No" both have persuading quotes and strong opinions; however, article "Yes" makes more sense and gives a
worthy example of loaded language. In "Yes", Nicholas Carr wants the reader to know that Google is not the accurate way to learn because the reader
will not truly process it through their mind, leading to not remembering what they searched up.
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The human brain is thought to be capable of rewiring its self within seconds of changes. Its plasticity allows for parts of the brain to pick up the slack
of another. Although the brain is an amazing organ, it can only do so much. When void of stimulation, parts of the brain will shut down; however,
when one part of the brain deteriorates the stimulated parts continue to develop new connections and grow. So how does technology affect the
brain? This is where Nicholas Carr, The author of "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" and Michaela Cullington, the author of "Does Texting Affect
Writing?" disagree about how technology makes an individual lazy and agree about how technology positively affects learning, while teaching a
valuable life lesson about technology becoming a barrier to socialization. The essay, written by Nicholas Carr, discusses views about the internet
and its affect on people. Carr compares the movie Space Odyssey with today's technology. He touches on the relation between the termination of Hal,
the computer, and compares it to the change technology has made to the way he now thinks. Changes in the brain, such as lack of concentration, the
need for immediate gratification and how we no longer cherish the long novels of the past are a few of the examples he provides. These types of
changes are compared to other advancements in history. Such as the 14th century invention of the mechanical, and changed the way we look at time.
This great invention was used by Frederick Winslow Taylor to create an algorithm that would revolutionize production many years later. In 1882 the
typewriter was accused of making faint changes in a person's writing style. Throughout the essay of "Is Google Making Us Stupid?", Carr provides
examples of what he feels are negative influences technology has made on human life. At one time Carr goes so far as to suggest that technology
could strip humans of who they are but also their way of life. Texting. For most of us it has become a natural thing to do. In the essay "Does Texting
Affect Writing?", by Michaela Cullington, this topic is explored. Although Cullington, herself, is an avid texter she believes that doing so is possibly
damaging the user. Much of her essay is devoted
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Is Google Making Us Stupid Essay
Is Google Making Us Stupid?
How long is the Nile River? How do I take out a loan? Where do babies come from? Nowadays, instead of the long searches after a trip to the library,
creeping through the old books collecting dust on our parent's shelves and even looking through an encyclopedia, instead we would find the answers
these answers through a quick Google search. Google, introduced to the public September of 1997, is a commonly used search engine all over the
internet. Google is roughly an amazing 40% of the internet. From toddler to teen to senior citizen, we use Google as a crutch for our daily
information. But to say that Google is making us stupid is not necessarily right? Google more so is making us dependant on fast–paced information,
and therefore diluting our sense of concentration and our ability to receive and maintain that information.
Nicholas Carr, author of the article "Is Google Making Us Stupid," wrote about his experience with the search engine and how it's literally changing the
way his thought process receives information. Carr writes, "I'm not thinking the way I used to think... my concentration often starts to drift after two or
three pages." Google is a high–speed search engine that spoils us with information on whatever we want within a few clicks of a button. As of
opposed to searching through hours of books and encyclopedias, Google is a more time efficient source for knowledge. The problem with this
instrument isn't that it's making us stupid per
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Is Google Making Us Stupid? Essay
Nicholas Carr is the author of books concerning technology and culture. One of his most recent bestsellers regarding the topic is his work titled What
the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. In the summer of 2008, Carr's piece, Is Google Making Us Stupid?, was published in The Atlantic Monthly. In this
essay, Carr declares that the Internet is altering the way people think (500). Carr writes that the Internet lowers the ability for concentration and
consideration (501). He believes the ability to read and understand a lengthy piece of writing has also been practically entirely lost (Carr 501). Carr
additionally states that the Internet has severed our capability to interpret text (502). Nicholas Carr backs up his claims with personal...show more
content...
However, by quoting Bruce Friedman, a blogger and pathologist for the University of Michigan Medical School (Carr 501), and Maryanne Wolf, a
developmental psychologist at Tufts University (502), it seemed credible to use their statements to enforce his position. Nicholas Carr also pointed out
findings of a five–year research on the behaviors of visitors to two popular research sites (501). These sources he chose seem to be legitimate and
reliable, which helps make his claim seem convincing. Nicholas Carr's target audience is anyone who uses technology, whether they are the younger
generations for it or the more traditional generations against it. He establishes common ground by pointing out some of the positive, along with the
facts to back up his theory on the negative. His motive for writing this essay is to provide a connection between the increase of technology to the
decrease abilities in learning behaviors. I feel as though Nicholar Carr succeeded in demonstrating the importance of how the Internet changes our brain
's ability to absorb information. The opposing views of his claim would be that there is not a change in our thinking or that the Internet is not what is
responsible for that change. My position is most closely aligned with Carr's. I believe that the Internet's convenience has altered the expectations we
have for how easily information should be presented. We prefer information to be short, to–the–point, tidbits that are easy to
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Is Google Making Us Stupid
"Is Google Making Us Stupid?": An Analysis of an Effective Persuasive Essay The essay "Is Google Making Us stupid?" by Nicholas Carr highlights
how having access to unlimited amounts of information changes the way that people process information. Google may not be making the population
"stupid", but in the eyes of Carr, it is changing the way that we think, and thus, making it progressively harder to focus on long pieces of writing.
Because people can seldom focus on long pieces of literature, they rarely read them at all. Nicholas Carr addresses this issue by using persuasive
techniques such as constructing an engaging introduction paragraph, establishing a rapport with his readers, and by creating credibility in the eyes of
his audience in "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"
By beginning his essay with a movie quote, the author automatically grabs the attention of the reader in the introduction and gives them a way to
relate to the topic. The purpose of an introduction is to prepare the reader for the contents of the essay. Carr accomplishes this, but in a way that
may be different from the average essay. In the first line of the essay Carr quotes a classic film called Space Odyssey. Made in 1968, the film is
about a computer in space who starts taking on human qualities. Carr vividly describes the main character, Dave "calmly, coldly" pulling out the
circuits connecting the computer to it's artificial "brain" ("Is Google.."1) It is a well known film, and by using it in the
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Humans are becoming more technologically–efficient every day. New inventions and innovations are constantly being made. The Internet is becoming
more "reliable" every day. However, how much do we really get from the constant advancement of Internet use and smarter technology? Should we
look at their contributions to the world as a benefactor or a curse? The common effect of "artificial intelligence" in the technology we use every day is
examined by two brilliant authors, Nicholas Carr and Jamias Cascio. In Carr's article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid", he explains the effects of the
Internet and technology in our society and claims that the overuse of technology is dangerous and can affect how our mind operates. Jamias Cascio, on
the other...show more content...
Cascio states that "the focus of our technological evolution will be less in how we adapt to the physical world, and more on how we adapt to the
immense amount of knowledge that we have created".
Carr and Cascio's outlooks on "what technology is" were similar, but they had different perspectives on how technology affects our society. Carr
notices that while technology keeps artificial information moving forward and huge amounts of information at our disposal, it also affects our natural
ability to think for ourselves. He is appealing to pathos because he senses that this common problem is making our society less dependent with their
selves and more dependent towards technology. He uses his article to appeal to the fact that he notices the changes in the ways that he used to think
came from the use of technology. Cascio, on the other hand, thinks that technology is what makes our society so efficient. He uses ethos to propose
that the concept of co–evolution between human and technological interaction has helped us adapt to the ever–changing world around us. Carr's and
Cascio's perspectives toward the effects of technology usage are the starting point of contrast between the two articles.
While both authors offer proofs that involve ethos, Cascio relies more on ethos and logos to give some examples of authority in his article. He used
references and quotes from other intelligent individuals, like Steven Johnson, throughout his
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With the rise of technology and the staggering availability of information, the digital age has come about in full force, and will only grow from
here. Any individual with an internet connection has a vast amount of knowledge at his fingertips. As long as one is online, he is mere clicks away
from Wikipedia or Google, which allows him to find what he needs to know. Despite this, Nicholas Carr questions whether Google has a positive
impact on the way people take in information. In his article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" Carr explores the internet's impact on the way people
read. He argues that the availability of so much information has diminished the ability to concentrate on reading, referencing stories of literary types
who no longer...show more content...
Carr effectively gains ground with his audience, regardless of whether they are a literary type or one who has just happened across the article. As
Carr continues, he speaks of his extended use of the internet over the last decade, explaining that all information that he once painstakingly
searched for is done in minutes with the use of search engines. In doing this, Carr places blame on the internet for breaking his ability to
concentrate. Carr presents his arguments in a way that his readers could easily agree. He gradually works up to the idea that the internet has
weakened his ability to focus, and as he does this he makes several general statements about the internet's nature. These points on the net's nature are
so basic that any reader of his article would be inclined to agree with them, and this lends itself to help readers believe the argument Carr wishes to
propose. Because it would be hard to provide factual evidence to support his claims, Carr effectively uses logical reasoning to convince the reader.
Carr's repeated references to his colleagues helps to strengthen his argument as well. These stories provide some insight into the issue. It would appear
that Carr's suspicions hold weight due to the testimonies of his peers, and this allows him to
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The internet is our conduit for accessing a wide variety of information. In his article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid," Nicholas Carr discusses how
the use of the internet affects our thought process in being unable to focus on books or longer pieces of writing. The author feels that "someone, or
something, has been tinkering with [his] brain" over the past few years (Carr 731). While he was easily able to delve into books and longer articles,
Carr noticed a change in his research techniques after starting to use the internet. He found that his "concentration often [started] to drift after two or
three pages" and it was a struggle to go back to the text (Carr 732). His assertion is that the neural circuits in his brain have changed as a...show more
content...
What Google does is ease the life of students by granting them access to resources such as articles, books, websites, and other types of media, which
saves their time and makes their busy lives more manageable (Wright 370). They get their information, and they get it fast. This extra time saved by
using the Web provides students with the time to discover more information about a specific subject in order to deepen their knowledge. Furthermore,
students are able to increase their intelligence when they obtain more information in a shorter period of time instead of spending hours in a book.
Carr's premise is that the Web is interfering with our ability to focus on lengthy material. On the contrary, the internet is actually aiding our ability to
focus on reading. This holds true for younger children, who are known as the digital natives in our generation. In a research conducted by The National
Center for Education shows that "by altering the mode of reading material from traditional paper–based reading to online reading," the interest of
elementary school children increased (Wright 367). Because children of the 21st century are surrounded by technology, they are more likely to gear
towards digital media for their mode of learning. Contrary to Carr's view that the internet "is chipping away [the] capacity for concentration and
contemplation," these children are more likely to read and focus as a result of
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Is Google Making Us Stupid?
Sandra Cortes Professor Stansbury English 101 7 A.M. 7 September 2015
Is Google Making Us Stupid? In Carr's article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?", he claims that Google is making us think differently. He tells us
about his own troubles and those of his colleagues, that they can no longer deep read or deep think. Carr gives examples from the past and connects
them to what is happening in our present. He also provides a look into what our future may look like with our continued use of technology in our
everyday lives. Carr delivers many convincing points in his article and really explains to the reader that their electronic devices and the Internet are
creating a shallower person. He provides an insight to the other side of his argument, the side that believes technology is changing our world for the
better. Both sides of the argument can be understood. However, Carr's side of the argument persuades me more to become a skeptic of new advances.
Technology is changing the way we think, act, and connect with each other; the more advanced we become the more disconnected we get. In the
beginning of the article, Carr reflects on times where he has not been able to read lengthy articles all the way through. He provides anecdotes from
other ex–deep–thinkers, "Bruce Friedman, who blogs regularly about the use of computers in medicine, also described how the Internet
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Is Google Making Us Stupid?
American writer, Nicholas G. Carr, in The Atlantic July/ August 2008 Issue titled "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" argues that the amount of time we
spend online, especially google, has caused us to lose our minds by "tinkering" with our brains, "reprograming our memory," and changing the way in
which we process information. Carr's purpose is to contribute to the idea that "Google" along with other online tools, is programing us to be less
attentive and to the inhibition of our critical thinking skills. Guided by personal experiences, subjectivity, presumptions, Carr concludes that our
reliance on google and other online apparatuses has caused us to become "machinelike," claiming that the understanding we have of the world and is
"mediated" by computers, flattening our intelligence and converting it into artificial intelligence with no value. Carr's theory is un–logical because it is
based on presumptions that overgeneralize the role that online tools like google play on our lives, based on the experiences and opinions of a few. By
ignoring the complexities of these tools and the numerous features they have to offer which help enable us to expand our way of thinking and
analyzing information, Carr incorrectly assumes that because the amount of information we are gathering and attaining from online apparatuses like
google, that we are becoming hollow computer like entities with little to no intelligence. Carr's use of personal anecdotes reveals that his arguments do
not have
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Is Google Making Us Stupid Persuasive Analysis
istraction. Did that get your attention? While technology is the very thing that provides us with answers, it is also the cause of our distractions. Alina
Tugend essay "Multitasking Can Make You Lose... Um... Focus" and Nicholas Carr's essay "Is Google Making Us Stupid" reflects on the purpose of
how technology can cause delusional reactions upon our brain. Tugend is a columnist for the New York Times and also an author who appeared in the
Los Angeles Times on many occasions. As for Carr, he has written widely on technology, business, and culture while observing the latest technologies
and related issue. Together they seem like vastly different individuals, but Tugend and Carr's essay essentially serve the same purpose to their audience.
Authors Carr and Tugend reveal the purpose of harmful technology and the limitations cast upon the human brain through individual implementations
of pathos, examples, and the voice of their tone. To start, Tugend and Carr connect their texts through their similar use of pathos which conveys the
notion that technology is harmful to the human brain. In order for Tugend to illustrate the effect multitasking with technology can cause, Tugend
describe the feeling of, "desperately trying to keep up with multitude of jobs, we feel a constant low level of panic and guilt" (717). Many people feel
overwhelmed after being hit with multiple thoughts or when other people simultaneously talking to them. This type of reaction has a very similar
effect on
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Is Google Making Us Stupid?
Nicholas Carrs article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" makes points that I agree with, although I find his sources to be questionable. The article
discusses the effects that the Internet may be having on our ability to focus, the difference in knowledge that we now have, and our reliance on the
Internet. The points that are made throughout Carrs article are very thought provoking but his sources make them seem invaluable.
Carr discusses the effects that the Internet has on our minds and the way we think, as well as the way media has changed. Our minds no longer focus.
When in conversation with people we are constantly distracted by the technological advances our era has brought. Text messages, emails, pop culture
drama has all taken...show more content...
Another one of Carrs resources is one of his literature friends. Although this person is very well educated and highly praised in his field of study, he
does not know much about the Internet and the effects it has on our minds. His statements, like the bloggers are very much opinionated. The literary
scholar that says he has a tough time reading lengthy articles now is his own personal experience, not that of study and analysis.
In Carrs article he discusses the way that the Internet gives us a false sense of knowledge. When we want to know about something we Google it. We
find the article title that is closest to what we are searching for and we click it. In our everlasting quest to be know–it–alls we skim and skim or look
for bold words and sentences until we feel that the information we have now obtained is suffice and we are considered knowledgeable about the topic.
Although we feel this way, this "knowledge" is usually based off of two or three sentences that are compact and straight to the point.
Our reliance on the Internet is becoming too much for our own good. With no end in sight on advances to the Internet, there is no real way to know the
impact the Internet is having, "Where does it end? Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the gifted young men who founded Google while pursuing doctoral
degrees in computer science at Stanford, speak frequently of their desire to turn their search engine into an artificial intelligence, a HAL–like machine
that might be
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Is Google Really Making Us Stupid? Essay
In a lecture hall, a professor stands in front of a classroom full of students as he waits for an answer to his question. A student raises his hand and
answers "no," but he is unable to explain his conclusion. In Deborah Tannen's article "The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue,"
she talks about how we should not just focus on stating that other people's points are wrong and that the only way to seem original or creative is to
prove other people's points are wrong. This topic is highly important for students who are just entering college where they will encounter open
discussions and the test of their ability to think outside of the box to prove an answer. Tannen's ideas about the topic ofdebate may be quite beneficial
...show more content...
In Twenge's article, she builds upon individualism, self–esteem and narcissism while Tannen's article discusses the insecurity and difficulty among
females when expressing opinions against men. Through Tannen's article, students can learn the importance of debate in discussion and defending
opinions, which will broaden their scope on a particular topic. Incoming UCONN students can benefit from Tannen's article where they can be
introduced to the concept that there is a need to develop a meaningful context into which subsequent ideas and skills can be assimilated in the
involvement of debate. "The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue" presents a whole new way of thinking that could be helpful for
a new UCONN student. It focuses on how negative approaches to debate is not the way to go. Quickly Tannen discusses how at the beginning of
our early life, we are all taught, sometimes inadvertently, that we should not have to bring down other people's ideas to bring up our own. Following
this, she teaches a tactic to regulate our approach on how we think about things or how we feel about things and in the end it is about how we
perceive the world. We need to be taught how to think and transform our ideas into a weapon when we go into a discussion. One flaw in the argument
culture is that it has a tendency for individuals to approach an issue with a debate–mentality that leads to criticism and attacks on the
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Is Google Making Us Stupid? Essay
Everything comes at a cost, sometimes a very high one and sometimes it is hidden. The advancements made in technology, for example, are great and
they provide us with helpful tools, and help us to progress in different areas like production. However, it has some drawbacks like the way it affects
us. It has not only impacted the way we interact with one another, but also the way we think and behave. Notwithstanding, the problem does not solely
fall on technology, it also lies in our inability to disconnect from the virtual world and our inviolable wants. Many people take a stand on the issue and
are either for or against the modern technology and further advancement, nevertheless the problem nor the solution is black and white but it is more
complex than one perceives. Modern technology has allowed us to have a never–ending source of information, in a matter of seconds. Despite the rich
source of information Nicholas Carr, author of article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" seems to think this is a problem with online research: because
of how fast information is being thrown at us, we don't take the time to completely read the article nor can we concentrate with everything going on a
single screen like pop up adds, notifications, links to different articles and other distractions. Carr states "My mind now expects to take in the
information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles." (315). Additionally, he claims that because of electronic
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Garrett Mastin English 1010 Instructor Renaud 6 February, 2013 Is Google making us Stupid: An article by Nicholas Carr Over history technology
has changed mankind's overall culture. From clocks to computers the use of electronics and tools is occurring every day in almost all situations. In
Carr's article "Is Google Making us Stupid?" he introduces the idea how the internet is changing our lives by making us mentally process information
differently from the past, based off previous changes in history. Carr explains how we think less deeply and rely on quick facts, versus using critical
thinking and research. Also he explains how our brain is malleable, and may be changed by the internet's impression. Lastly Carr talks about what the
...show more content...
Carr could be correct, society may become more and more simple minded and leave extended thinking in the past with paper text. In "Is Google
Making us stupid", Carr explains how the brain is malleable and how the internet might be shaping it by literally rewiring the brains network. Carr
gives a brief example of how neurons can be made and broke depending on what things shape the way things are done. By being used to instant
searching and internet preferences, the brain reprograms itself in being used that certain way. He thinks by using the internet so much, we will
become more and more objective and quick thinkers, and ultimately emotionless computers. He also gives examples of how the clock and
typewriter changed our way of thinking in the past. Adapting this way will rewire thought processes and continue to dictate how we act. Carr's
theory may be more obvious as we continue to be reliant on technology. (Carr) Again I agree with Carr's theory on changing the brain's thought
processes because the proof is in the history of mankind. When Carr stated the fact of how the clock had made a huge impact on how we go about
our day, I realized its significance. Modern culture is completely shaped by time, when we eat, sleep, work, and much more. I have seen this first
hand when I worked with Native Americans. They do not rely on time frame, and kind of live, work, and do as they feel and the setting of day.
Knowing the clock has made such a huge impact on our lives, I
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Technology is quickly becoming a huge part of day to day life for nearly everyone. If you walk around most places, you will see a large percent of
people either on their cell phones, on their computers, or using some other electronic device. While some of it is being used for business and other
important things, most of the time, it is more for entertainment. It is because of this that people claim that technology is changing the way people
think today. In his article "Is Google making us stupid", Nicholas Carr argues that people have become dependent upon the internet for information
rather than having to work to figure it out. In the article "Does texting effect writing", Michaela Cullington argues that people's texting is effecting
the way people write because people don't show emotion when texting, so that is translating back into their writing. Both arguments are effective,
both appeal to emotion, but the more effective argument is Carr's because it is a more sound argument based on logic and credibility. One of the
biggest differences in the two articles is the credibility of the two authors. Carr is a proven writer having written for the New York Times, Wall
Street Journal, and has also written many blogs in his time. He has also published many writings of his own prior to writing this article. Based on all
of that evidence, Carr is a very credible source, whereas Cullington on the other hand, is a very inexperienced writer. At the time when she wrote this
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Is Google Making Us Stupid?, by Nicholas Carr
The following essay will discuss how the ideas in "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" by Nicholas Carr, is expressed in the futuristic novel Feed, by
M.T Anderson. The first of the many ideas conveyed in Carr's article is that the brain is malleable like plastic. To explain, the professor of
Neuroscience, James Olds, says that "nerve cells routinely break old connections and form new ones" (Carr 4). This means that the human brain
changes the way it functions according to the information manipulated by neurons. In the novel Feed, brain malleability is involved in the climax of
the story. The feed works as a computer chip being directly inserted into a person's brain. The climax of the story occurs when Titus and his group of
friends get their...show more content...
Moreover, Carr critiques how the Internet is taken as people's main source of information. Instead, he thinks people should think critically on their
own instead of relying on computers. In the novel, Violet is shown to be the only character who thinks critically about the future of the society she is
living in and rebel against the feeds. Titus and his friends often would pass by people protesting against the chips but would never pay attention to
them. For him and his friends, there was nothing wrong with having computer chip inserted in your brain. However, serious health problems were
linked to their usage such as baldness, skin lesions and skin falling out. Among the teens, skin legions were seen as fashionable instead of being
dangerous. The fact that the public has decided to ignore the links between health and the chips shows that they are not thinking critically about the
consequences of the usage of feeds. Moreover, after the characters got their feeds hacked, they are taken to the hospital where the chips are removed
from their brains. Titus describes the experience in the hospital as very boring because without the computers, they could not find anything to do
except to lie in bed. One of their friends who was unaffected by the hacker's attack, comes to visit the main characters in the hospital. The first thing the
patients demanded from her was to tell them what is going around the world and on their TV shows.
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Is Google Making Us Stupider?
Is Google making us stupider? Now that technology is quickly advancing, it is really easy to find information with a click of a button. One highly
used search engine in the internet is Google. Many people believe that using Google has made people not use their brains therefore making them
stupider. I on the other hand, believe that the internet is a great resource and tool for many things if used right and can actually help you learn and
make you smarter. For example, having a question and quickly going to Google to find your answer before thinking about it first and coming up with
the answer yourself, is not using it right and we shouldn 't take advantage because in this way it may make us stupider instead of making us learn and
expand our knowledge about a particular subject.
In the article "Is Google Making us Stupider?" in the magazine called "The Atlantic" the author, Nicholas Carr tells us about his difficulties with
concentrating on a lengthy article or book. Carr claims that the difficulties he is experiencing may be caused by the increase of time he spends on the
internet. His main argument is that the internet helps us rapidly access information that we search and causes us to obtain more information in such
an easy manner that is why in his opinion Google is actually making us smarter. Carr gives an example from a magazine editor called John Batelle
who says "When I am performing bricolage in real time over the course of hours I am feeling my brain light up I
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Is Google Making Us Stupid Summary

  • 1. Is Google Making Us Stupid Summary "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" In the article Is Google Making Us Stupid Nicholas Carr discusses how the use of the internet deteriorates our patience, as well as our capacity for learning. People need to be careful about what they are reading on the internet and how often they read on the internet as Carr is foreshadowing in his article. In his writing Is Google Making Us Stupid?, Nicholas Carr maintains that "They supply the stuff of thought, but they also shape the process of thought. And what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation" (p. 2, 2014). In other words, we have no control over what we think when we are reading articles on the internet and that is leading to the lack of concentration and contemplation. I disagree with what Carr is saying, I do not feel that the internet is making us stupid I think it is just how we use this tool to help us. Or it could also hurt us but in the end, it is always up to the user's choice on how they use the internet if they want to make it a distraction then that is what it will become. In addition, I cannot accept the thought of an online resource that connects with the whole world is making our population stupid. I suppose the internet does have its own pros and cons but that is definitely up to people who use the internet, it is just like in the real world, you try and stay away from the bad and follow the path that is good. Carr also writes about others having the same problems as him along the lines they cannot read books or long essays anymore due to the internet being a problem and a distraction. Carr writes that bloggers have discussed this as well, in saying that they cannot maintain their focus while reading long articles. Carr references Scott Karp who is a blog writer and he states, "He speculates on the answer: 'What if I do all my reading on the web not so much because the way I read has changed, i.e. I'm just seeking convenience, but because the way I THINK has changed?'" (p. 2, 2014). Basically, Carr seems to be forewarning people who are internet users these problems will also occur, but the point is also about asking the rhetorical question if using the internet is changing the way we are thinking or Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 2. IS Google Making us Stupid Maddy Wagner Ms. Dudley Advanced English 9 14 February 2014 The Truth Behind Google Have you every truly thought about the way you use Google? Some people basically use it as a replacement of an education, while others use it to find information quick and easy. The first article named "Yes", written by Nicholas Carr, describes how Google is making people stupid. The second article titled "No", written by Peter Norvig explains that Google is not making people dumb. Carr wants to display that most people use Google to find answers, and in that way, they don't learn much. Nevertheless, Norvig expresses that Google is only advancing our knowledge in a faster and simpler way. While both articles state strong opinions, "Yes" provides...show more content... His real life example is used in a decent way; however, he is not using loaded language. It does not really persuade the reader on how Google is making us stupid or not. Also, he is not actually displaying his use of pathos; he is only just giving an example that does not really get the reader to believe on whether Google is helping us or discouraging us. According to Norvig, he notes, "The Internet contains the world's best writing, images, and ideas; Google lets us find the relevant pieces easily" (1). He wants the reader to know that Google is a faster way to get things done. Just like Nicholas Carr, Peter Norvig turns out to be a biased person. He proves his point, and points out which side he agrees on. In this case, he does not think that Google is making us dumb. Being biased is not corrupt because they are only making their statement. This paragraph verifies that Peter Norvig does not think Google is making people stupid. He desires for the reader to know that it is just a way of finding information fast and easy. Article "Yes" and article "No" both have persuading quotes and strong opinions; however, article "Yes" makes more sense and gives a worthy example of loaded language. In "Yes", Nicholas Carr wants the reader to know that Google is not the accurate way to learn because the reader will not truly process it through their mind, leading to not remembering what they searched up. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 3. The human brain is thought to be capable of rewiring its self within seconds of changes. Its plasticity allows for parts of the brain to pick up the slack of another. Although the brain is an amazing organ, it can only do so much. When void of stimulation, parts of the brain will shut down; however, when one part of the brain deteriorates the stimulated parts continue to develop new connections and grow. So how does technology affect the brain? This is where Nicholas Carr, The author of "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" and Michaela Cullington, the author of "Does Texting Affect Writing?" disagree about how technology makes an individual lazy and agree about how technology positively affects learning, while teaching a valuable life lesson about technology becoming a barrier to socialization. The essay, written by Nicholas Carr, discusses views about the internet and its affect on people. Carr compares the movie Space Odyssey with today's technology. He touches on the relation between the termination of Hal, the computer, and compares it to the change technology has made to the way he now thinks. Changes in the brain, such as lack of concentration, the need for immediate gratification and how we no longer cherish the long novels of the past are a few of the examples he provides. These types of changes are compared to other advancements in history. Such as the 14th century invention of the mechanical, and changed the way we look at time. This great invention was used by Frederick Winslow Taylor to create an algorithm that would revolutionize production many years later. In 1882 the typewriter was accused of making faint changes in a person's writing style. Throughout the essay of "Is Google Making Us Stupid?", Carr provides examples of what he feels are negative influences technology has made on human life. At one time Carr goes so far as to suggest that technology could strip humans of who they are but also their way of life. Texting. For most of us it has become a natural thing to do. In the essay "Does Texting Affect Writing?", by Michaela Cullington, this topic is explored. Although Cullington, herself, is an avid texter she believes that doing so is possibly damaging the user. Much of her essay is devoted Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 4. Is Google Making Us Stupid Essay Is Google Making Us Stupid? How long is the Nile River? How do I take out a loan? Where do babies come from? Nowadays, instead of the long searches after a trip to the library, creeping through the old books collecting dust on our parent's shelves and even looking through an encyclopedia, instead we would find the answers these answers through a quick Google search. Google, introduced to the public September of 1997, is a commonly used search engine all over the internet. Google is roughly an amazing 40% of the internet. From toddler to teen to senior citizen, we use Google as a crutch for our daily information. But to say that Google is making us stupid is not necessarily right? Google more so is making us dependant on fast–paced information, and therefore diluting our sense of concentration and our ability to receive and maintain that information. Nicholas Carr, author of the article "Is Google Making Us Stupid," wrote about his experience with the search engine and how it's literally changing the way his thought process receives information. Carr writes, "I'm not thinking the way I used to think... my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages." Google is a high–speed search engine that spoils us with information on whatever we want within a few clicks of a button. As of opposed to searching through hours of books and encyclopedias, Google is a more time efficient source for knowledge. The problem with this instrument isn't that it's making us stupid per Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 5. Is Google Making Us Stupid? Essay Nicholas Carr is the author of books concerning technology and culture. One of his most recent bestsellers regarding the topic is his work titled What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. In the summer of 2008, Carr's piece, Is Google Making Us Stupid?, was published in The Atlantic Monthly. In this essay, Carr declares that the Internet is altering the way people think (500). Carr writes that the Internet lowers the ability for concentration and consideration (501). He believes the ability to read and understand a lengthy piece of writing has also been practically entirely lost (Carr 501). Carr additionally states that the Internet has severed our capability to interpret text (502). Nicholas Carr backs up his claims with personal...show more content... However, by quoting Bruce Friedman, a blogger and pathologist for the University of Michigan Medical School (Carr 501), and Maryanne Wolf, a developmental psychologist at Tufts University (502), it seemed credible to use their statements to enforce his position. Nicholas Carr also pointed out findings of a five–year research on the behaviors of visitors to two popular research sites (501). These sources he chose seem to be legitimate and reliable, which helps make his claim seem convincing. Nicholas Carr's target audience is anyone who uses technology, whether they are the younger generations for it or the more traditional generations against it. He establishes common ground by pointing out some of the positive, along with the facts to back up his theory on the negative. His motive for writing this essay is to provide a connection between the increase of technology to the decrease abilities in learning behaviors. I feel as though Nicholar Carr succeeded in demonstrating the importance of how the Internet changes our brain 's ability to absorb information. The opposing views of his claim would be that there is not a change in our thinking or that the Internet is not what is responsible for that change. My position is most closely aligned with Carr's. I believe that the Internet's convenience has altered the expectations we have for how easily information should be presented. We prefer information to be short, to–the–point, tidbits that are easy to Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 6. Is Google Making Us Stupid "Is Google Making Us Stupid?": An Analysis of an Effective Persuasive Essay The essay "Is Google Making Us stupid?" by Nicholas Carr highlights how having access to unlimited amounts of information changes the way that people process information. Google may not be making the population "stupid", but in the eyes of Carr, it is changing the way that we think, and thus, making it progressively harder to focus on long pieces of writing. Because people can seldom focus on long pieces of literature, they rarely read them at all. Nicholas Carr addresses this issue by using persuasive techniques such as constructing an engaging introduction paragraph, establishing a rapport with his readers, and by creating credibility in the eyes of his audience in "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" By beginning his essay with a movie quote, the author automatically grabs the attention of the reader in the introduction and gives them a way to relate to the topic. The purpose of an introduction is to prepare the reader for the contents of the essay. Carr accomplishes this, but in a way that may be different from the average essay. In the first line of the essay Carr quotes a classic film called Space Odyssey. Made in 1968, the film is about a computer in space who starts taking on human qualities. Carr vividly describes the main character, Dave "calmly, coldly" pulling out the circuits connecting the computer to it's artificial "brain" ("Is Google.."1) It is a well known film, and by using it in the Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 7. Humans are becoming more technologically–efficient every day. New inventions and innovations are constantly being made. The Internet is becoming more "reliable" every day. However, how much do we really get from the constant advancement of Internet use and smarter technology? Should we look at their contributions to the world as a benefactor or a curse? The common effect of "artificial intelligence" in the technology we use every day is examined by two brilliant authors, Nicholas Carr and Jamias Cascio. In Carr's article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid", he explains the effects of the Internet and technology in our society and claims that the overuse of technology is dangerous and can affect how our mind operates. Jamias Cascio, on the other...show more content... Cascio states that "the focus of our technological evolution will be less in how we adapt to the physical world, and more on how we adapt to the immense amount of knowledge that we have created". Carr and Cascio's outlooks on "what technology is" were similar, but they had different perspectives on how technology affects our society. Carr notices that while technology keeps artificial information moving forward and huge amounts of information at our disposal, it also affects our natural ability to think for ourselves. He is appealing to pathos because he senses that this common problem is making our society less dependent with their selves and more dependent towards technology. He uses his article to appeal to the fact that he notices the changes in the ways that he used to think came from the use of technology. Cascio, on the other hand, thinks that technology is what makes our society so efficient. He uses ethos to propose that the concept of co–evolution between human and technological interaction has helped us adapt to the ever–changing world around us. Carr's and Cascio's perspectives toward the effects of technology usage are the starting point of contrast between the two articles. While both authors offer proofs that involve ethos, Cascio relies more on ethos and logos to give some examples of authority in his article. He used references and quotes from other intelligent individuals, like Steven Johnson, throughout his Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 8. With the rise of technology and the staggering availability of information, the digital age has come about in full force, and will only grow from here. Any individual with an internet connection has a vast amount of knowledge at his fingertips. As long as one is online, he is mere clicks away from Wikipedia or Google, which allows him to find what he needs to know. Despite this, Nicholas Carr questions whether Google has a positive impact on the way people take in information. In his article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" Carr explores the internet's impact on the way people read. He argues that the availability of so much information has diminished the ability to concentrate on reading, referencing stories of literary types who no longer...show more content... Carr effectively gains ground with his audience, regardless of whether they are a literary type or one who has just happened across the article. As Carr continues, he speaks of his extended use of the internet over the last decade, explaining that all information that he once painstakingly searched for is done in minutes with the use of search engines. In doing this, Carr places blame on the internet for breaking his ability to concentrate. Carr presents his arguments in a way that his readers could easily agree. He gradually works up to the idea that the internet has weakened his ability to focus, and as he does this he makes several general statements about the internet's nature. These points on the net's nature are so basic that any reader of his article would be inclined to agree with them, and this lends itself to help readers believe the argument Carr wishes to propose. Because it would be hard to provide factual evidence to support his claims, Carr effectively uses logical reasoning to convince the reader. Carr's repeated references to his colleagues helps to strengthen his argument as well. These stories provide some insight into the issue. It would appear that Carr's suspicions hold weight due to the testimonies of his peers, and this allows him to Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 9. The internet is our conduit for accessing a wide variety of information. In his article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid," Nicholas Carr discusses how the use of the internet affects our thought process in being unable to focus on books or longer pieces of writing. The author feels that "someone, or something, has been tinkering with [his] brain" over the past few years (Carr 731). While he was easily able to delve into books and longer articles, Carr noticed a change in his research techniques after starting to use the internet. He found that his "concentration often [started] to drift after two or three pages" and it was a struggle to go back to the text (Carr 732). His assertion is that the neural circuits in his brain have changed as a...show more content... What Google does is ease the life of students by granting them access to resources such as articles, books, websites, and other types of media, which saves their time and makes their busy lives more manageable (Wright 370). They get their information, and they get it fast. This extra time saved by using the Web provides students with the time to discover more information about a specific subject in order to deepen their knowledge. Furthermore, students are able to increase their intelligence when they obtain more information in a shorter period of time instead of spending hours in a book. Carr's premise is that the Web is interfering with our ability to focus on lengthy material. On the contrary, the internet is actually aiding our ability to focus on reading. This holds true for younger children, who are known as the digital natives in our generation. In a research conducted by The National Center for Education shows that "by altering the mode of reading material from traditional paper–based reading to online reading," the interest of elementary school children increased (Wright 367). Because children of the 21st century are surrounded by technology, they are more likely to gear towards digital media for their mode of learning. Contrary to Carr's view that the internet "is chipping away [the] capacity for concentration and contemplation," these children are more likely to read and focus as a result of Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 10. Is Google Making Us Stupid? Sandra Cortes Professor Stansbury English 101 7 A.M. 7 September 2015 Is Google Making Us Stupid? In Carr's article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?", he claims that Google is making us think differently. He tells us about his own troubles and those of his colleagues, that they can no longer deep read or deep think. Carr gives examples from the past and connects them to what is happening in our present. He also provides a look into what our future may look like with our continued use of technology in our everyday lives. Carr delivers many convincing points in his article and really explains to the reader that their electronic devices and the Internet are creating a shallower person. He provides an insight to the other side of his argument, the side that believes technology is changing our world for the better. Both sides of the argument can be understood. However, Carr's side of the argument persuades me more to become a skeptic of new advances. Technology is changing the way we think, act, and connect with each other; the more advanced we become the more disconnected we get. In the beginning of the article, Carr reflects on times where he has not been able to read lengthy articles all the way through. He provides anecdotes from other ex–deep–thinkers, "Bruce Friedman, who blogs regularly about the use of computers in medicine, also described how the Internet Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 11. Is Google Making Us Stupid? American writer, Nicholas G. Carr, in The Atlantic July/ August 2008 Issue titled "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" argues that the amount of time we spend online, especially google, has caused us to lose our minds by "tinkering" with our brains, "reprograming our memory," and changing the way in which we process information. Carr's purpose is to contribute to the idea that "Google" along with other online tools, is programing us to be less attentive and to the inhibition of our critical thinking skills. Guided by personal experiences, subjectivity, presumptions, Carr concludes that our reliance on google and other online apparatuses has caused us to become "machinelike," claiming that the understanding we have of the world and is "mediated" by computers, flattening our intelligence and converting it into artificial intelligence with no value. Carr's theory is un–logical because it is based on presumptions that overgeneralize the role that online tools like google play on our lives, based on the experiences and opinions of a few. By ignoring the complexities of these tools and the numerous features they have to offer which help enable us to expand our way of thinking and analyzing information, Carr incorrectly assumes that because the amount of information we are gathering and attaining from online apparatuses like google, that we are becoming hollow computer like entities with little to no intelligence. Carr's use of personal anecdotes reveals that his arguments do not have Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 12. Is Google Making Us Stupid Persuasive Analysis istraction. Did that get your attention? While technology is the very thing that provides us with answers, it is also the cause of our distractions. Alina Tugend essay "Multitasking Can Make You Lose... Um... Focus" and Nicholas Carr's essay "Is Google Making Us Stupid" reflects on the purpose of how technology can cause delusional reactions upon our brain. Tugend is a columnist for the New York Times and also an author who appeared in the Los Angeles Times on many occasions. As for Carr, he has written widely on technology, business, and culture while observing the latest technologies and related issue. Together they seem like vastly different individuals, but Tugend and Carr's essay essentially serve the same purpose to their audience. Authors Carr and Tugend reveal the purpose of harmful technology and the limitations cast upon the human brain through individual implementations of pathos, examples, and the voice of their tone. To start, Tugend and Carr connect their texts through their similar use of pathos which conveys the notion that technology is harmful to the human brain. In order for Tugend to illustrate the effect multitasking with technology can cause, Tugend describe the feeling of, "desperately trying to keep up with multitude of jobs, we feel a constant low level of panic and guilt" (717). Many people feel overwhelmed after being hit with multiple thoughts or when other people simultaneously talking to them. This type of reaction has a very similar effect on Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 13. Is Google Making Us Stupid? Nicholas Carrs article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" makes points that I agree with, although I find his sources to be questionable. The article discusses the effects that the Internet may be having on our ability to focus, the difference in knowledge that we now have, and our reliance on the Internet. The points that are made throughout Carrs article are very thought provoking but his sources make them seem invaluable. Carr discusses the effects that the Internet has on our minds and the way we think, as well as the way media has changed. Our minds no longer focus. When in conversation with people we are constantly distracted by the technological advances our era has brought. Text messages, emails, pop culture drama has all taken...show more content... Another one of Carrs resources is one of his literature friends. Although this person is very well educated and highly praised in his field of study, he does not know much about the Internet and the effects it has on our minds. His statements, like the bloggers are very much opinionated. The literary scholar that says he has a tough time reading lengthy articles now is his own personal experience, not that of study and analysis. In Carrs article he discusses the way that the Internet gives us a false sense of knowledge. When we want to know about something we Google it. We find the article title that is closest to what we are searching for and we click it. In our everlasting quest to be know–it–alls we skim and skim or look for bold words and sentences until we feel that the information we have now obtained is suffice and we are considered knowledgeable about the topic. Although we feel this way, this "knowledge" is usually based off of two or three sentences that are compact and straight to the point. Our reliance on the Internet is becoming too much for our own good. With no end in sight on advances to the Internet, there is no real way to know the impact the Internet is having, "Where does it end? Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the gifted young men who founded Google while pursuing doctoral degrees in computer science at Stanford, speak frequently of their desire to turn their search engine into an artificial intelligence, a HAL–like machine that might be Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 14. Is Google Really Making Us Stupid? Essay In a lecture hall, a professor stands in front of a classroom full of students as he waits for an answer to his question. A student raises his hand and answers "no," but he is unable to explain his conclusion. In Deborah Tannen's article "The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue," she talks about how we should not just focus on stating that other people's points are wrong and that the only way to seem original or creative is to prove other people's points are wrong. This topic is highly important for students who are just entering college where they will encounter open discussions and the test of their ability to think outside of the box to prove an answer. Tannen's ideas about the topic ofdebate may be quite beneficial ...show more content... In Twenge's article, she builds upon individualism, self–esteem and narcissism while Tannen's article discusses the insecurity and difficulty among females when expressing opinions against men. Through Tannen's article, students can learn the importance of debate in discussion and defending opinions, which will broaden their scope on a particular topic. Incoming UCONN students can benefit from Tannen's article where they can be introduced to the concept that there is a need to develop a meaningful context into which subsequent ideas and skills can be assimilated in the involvement of debate. "The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue" presents a whole new way of thinking that could be helpful for a new UCONN student. It focuses on how negative approaches to debate is not the way to go. Quickly Tannen discusses how at the beginning of our early life, we are all taught, sometimes inadvertently, that we should not have to bring down other people's ideas to bring up our own. Following this, she teaches a tactic to regulate our approach on how we think about things or how we feel about things and in the end it is about how we perceive the world. We need to be taught how to think and transform our ideas into a weapon when we go into a discussion. One flaw in the argument culture is that it has a tendency for individuals to approach an issue with a debate–mentality that leads to criticism and attacks on the Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 15. Is Google Making Us Stupid? Essay Everything comes at a cost, sometimes a very high one and sometimes it is hidden. The advancements made in technology, for example, are great and they provide us with helpful tools, and help us to progress in different areas like production. However, it has some drawbacks like the way it affects us. It has not only impacted the way we interact with one another, but also the way we think and behave. Notwithstanding, the problem does not solely fall on technology, it also lies in our inability to disconnect from the virtual world and our inviolable wants. Many people take a stand on the issue and are either for or against the modern technology and further advancement, nevertheless the problem nor the solution is black and white but it is more complex than one perceives. Modern technology has allowed us to have a never–ending source of information, in a matter of seconds. Despite the rich source of information Nicholas Carr, author of article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" seems to think this is a problem with online research: because of how fast information is being thrown at us, we don't take the time to completely read the article nor can we concentrate with everything going on a single screen like pop up adds, notifications, links to different articles and other distractions. Carr states "My mind now expects to take in the information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles." (315). Additionally, he claims that because of electronic Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 16. Garrett Mastin English 1010 Instructor Renaud 6 February, 2013 Is Google making us Stupid: An article by Nicholas Carr Over history technology has changed mankind's overall culture. From clocks to computers the use of electronics and tools is occurring every day in almost all situations. In Carr's article "Is Google Making us Stupid?" he introduces the idea how the internet is changing our lives by making us mentally process information differently from the past, based off previous changes in history. Carr explains how we think less deeply and rely on quick facts, versus using critical thinking and research. Also he explains how our brain is malleable, and may be changed by the internet's impression. Lastly Carr talks about what the ...show more content... Carr could be correct, society may become more and more simple minded and leave extended thinking in the past with paper text. In "Is Google Making us stupid", Carr explains how the brain is malleable and how the internet might be shaping it by literally rewiring the brains network. Carr gives a brief example of how neurons can be made and broke depending on what things shape the way things are done. By being used to instant searching and internet preferences, the brain reprograms itself in being used that certain way. He thinks by using the internet so much, we will become more and more objective and quick thinkers, and ultimately emotionless computers. He also gives examples of how the clock and typewriter changed our way of thinking in the past. Adapting this way will rewire thought processes and continue to dictate how we act. Carr's theory may be more obvious as we continue to be reliant on technology. (Carr) Again I agree with Carr's theory on changing the brain's thought processes because the proof is in the history of mankind. When Carr stated the fact of how the clock had made a huge impact on how we go about our day, I realized its significance. Modern culture is completely shaped by time, when we eat, sleep, work, and much more. I have seen this first hand when I worked with Native Americans. They do not rely on time frame, and kind of live, work, and do as they feel and the setting of day. Knowing the clock has made such a huge impact on our lives, I Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 17. Technology is quickly becoming a huge part of day to day life for nearly everyone. If you walk around most places, you will see a large percent of people either on their cell phones, on their computers, or using some other electronic device. While some of it is being used for business and other important things, most of the time, it is more for entertainment. It is because of this that people claim that technology is changing the way people think today. In his article "Is Google making us stupid", Nicholas Carr argues that people have become dependent upon the internet for information rather than having to work to figure it out. In the article "Does texting effect writing", Michaela Cullington argues that people's texting is effecting the way people write because people don't show emotion when texting, so that is translating back into their writing. Both arguments are effective, both appeal to emotion, but the more effective argument is Carr's because it is a more sound argument based on logic and credibility. One of the biggest differences in the two articles is the credibility of the two authors. Carr is a proven writer having written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and has also written many blogs in his time. He has also published many writings of his own prior to writing this article. Based on all of that evidence, Carr is a very credible source, whereas Cullington on the other hand, is a very inexperienced writer. At the time when she wrote this Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 18. Is Google Making Us Stupid?, by Nicholas Carr The following essay will discuss how the ideas in "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" by Nicholas Carr, is expressed in the futuristic novel Feed, by M.T Anderson. The first of the many ideas conveyed in Carr's article is that the brain is malleable like plastic. To explain, the professor of Neuroscience, James Olds, says that "nerve cells routinely break old connections and form new ones" (Carr 4). This means that the human brain changes the way it functions according to the information manipulated by neurons. In the novel Feed, brain malleability is involved in the climax of the story. The feed works as a computer chip being directly inserted into a person's brain. The climax of the story occurs when Titus and his group of friends get their...show more content... Moreover, Carr critiques how the Internet is taken as people's main source of information. Instead, he thinks people should think critically on their own instead of relying on computers. In the novel, Violet is shown to be the only character who thinks critically about the future of the society she is living in and rebel against the feeds. Titus and his friends often would pass by people protesting against the chips but would never pay attention to them. For him and his friends, there was nothing wrong with having computer chip inserted in your brain. However, serious health problems were linked to their usage such as baldness, skin lesions and skin falling out. Among the teens, skin legions were seen as fashionable instead of being dangerous. The fact that the public has decided to ignore the links between health and the chips shows that they are not thinking critically about the consequences of the usage of feeds. Moreover, after the characters got their feeds hacked, they are taken to the hospital where the chips are removed from their brains. Titus describes the experience in the hospital as very boring because without the computers, they could not find anything to do except to lie in bed. One of their friends who was unaffected by the hacker's attack, comes to visit the main characters in the hospital. The first thing the patients demanded from her was to tell them what is going around the world and on their TV shows. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 19. Is Google Making Us Stupider? Is Google making us stupider? Now that technology is quickly advancing, it is really easy to find information with a click of a button. One highly used search engine in the internet is Google. Many people believe that using Google has made people not use their brains therefore making them stupider. I on the other hand, believe that the internet is a great resource and tool for many things if used right and can actually help you learn and make you smarter. For example, having a question and quickly going to Google to find your answer before thinking about it first and coming up with the answer yourself, is not using it right and we shouldn 't take advantage because in this way it may make us stupider instead of making us learn and expand our knowledge about a particular subject. In the article "Is Google Making us Stupider?" in the magazine called "The Atlantic" the author, Nicholas Carr tells us about his difficulties with concentrating on a lengthy article or book. Carr claims that the difficulties he is experiencing may be caused by the increase of time he spends on the internet. His main argument is that the internet helps us rapidly access information that we search and causes us to obtain more information in such an easy manner that is why in his opinion Google is actually making us smarter. Carr gives an example from a magazine editor called John Batelle who says "When I am performing bricolage in real time over the course of hours I am feeling my brain light up I Get more content on HelpWriting.net