The document discusses how technology and information overload may be hindering creativity. The author reflects on their typical day which consists mainly of receiving and sharing information through various technologies and media, without much time for actual creation or contribution. The constant stream of data from devices desensitizes people and makes it difficult to step outside this digital world. Students in particular struggle to be creative in their writing because education has focused more on analyzing and discussing existing information rather than generating new ideas. While technology has benefits, society over-relies on showcasing and obtaining data at the expense of creativity, which requires setting aside what is known to manifest something new.

1. Somma 1
Lucas Somma
English 101
Professor Pelletier
13 October 2015
Information Overload and the Struggle to Create
On this particular day, I woke up at 8:15 AM, after an hour long battle with my snooze
button. My first tremendous accomplishment, after managing to even momentarily keep my eyes
open, was checking all of my account feeds without falling back asleep. After I’ve prepared
myself for the day, I began my fifteen minute commute to class with the latest twenty one pilots
album. I arrived to class half asleep to listen my professor’s tremendously lengthy lecture..
Afterwards, I shuffled over to the nearest, least populated computer lab to first indulge in
checking all of my social media feeds once again, and then to research sources on an upcoming
assignment. After hours of homework and another later lecture, I promptly arrived home to
watch unseen episodes of “Madam Secretary” and “Worst Cooks in America” for the remainder
of the night. From an observer’s standpoint of this 24 hour period, all I did was exist. I created
nothing, and therefore I contributed nothing.
From my point of view, I accomplished quite a bit. I was able to finish assignments,
study for exams, and even include a lengthy retreat to Netflix. Today was fairly successful. Yet,
if you get down to the bare roots of what actually took place, all I did was receive and send
information; some of this information was useful, and some of it was a waste of my short term
memory. Nevertheless, my sole function of the day was to act as a sort of call center of my
senses- I received hundreds of calls and responded accordingly. Never once did I stop to produce
something of value.

2. Somma 2
I fear that technology has desensitized my generation’s creative ability. Essentially,
everything from handheld iPhones to wall-sized television sets exist to pass along information.
Even our toasters and coffeemakers have embedded clocks that display the time. With this
constant and never ending exchange of data, I worry that we’ll soon be unable to step outside our
digital enclosures. Creation only occurs when we set aside what already exists in order to
manifest what doesn’t. At this stage, technology acts as both a grandmother who feeds you
constantly and without limits, and a prison guard that decides how often you consume your
meals.
I wonder if the reason students find it difficult to create passionate writings is partially
because all we do is receive and forward information. All throughout my years of schooling,
educators have shown me again and again how to analyze texts, formalize opinions, and then
organize ideas into a nifty grandmother essay. I’ve got the hang of that. Yet, I find it hard to
utilize these organizational skills I’ve learned to actually create something. Aren’t we sick of
regurgitating information?
Education softwares are an incredible resource in the classroom when it works in alliance
to and supplements lessons. Social media and texting keeps us in contact with friends and loved
ones we otherwise have no means of engaging with. Netflix places entertainment directly into
the consumer’s hands. Technology is not inherently evil. Yet, the issue is that society has
replaced creativity with showcasing and obtaining data. We must once again learn to live outside
the box of an input/output computer-like thought process.