In the article Is Google Making Us Stupid Nicholas Carr challenges the idea of technology as a median for gaining knowledge. In addition to the main point he also challenges the idea that technology does not benefit the scholarly mind and challenges the reader to be “skeptical of my skepticism.” Carr highlights humankind’s obsession with efficiency and desire for knowledge. This leads his to his examples Fredrick Winslow Taylor and Google’s revolutionary systems and ideals, which revolve around data collection and above all efficiency. In the end Carr circles back to the idea that although a seemingly endless vault of information that is accessible at the click of a key it may not be so beneficial to us in the sense that we are not striving to learn more and the way we think when reading has severely diminished.

 

The idea that resonated most with me in this article was the idea that “we are how we read.” What makes me so responsive to this idea is how true it is. I find it consistent that when I read I must prevent myself form skipping around in the reading in hopes of finding information and picking up on idea quicker. However, in the long run this method of reading is simply disengaged and though I sometimes find this faster I do not learn anything. Due to the fact that I find consistency with Carr’s idea and my behavior, the article was quite inspiring in the promoting deeper reading and reminding me of the long term and subconscious effects that readily accessible information has had. On the opposite side of the issue, Carr has also inspired me to be skeptical of ideas that completely reject the Internet as a median. Although I do agree with Carr and believe in the idea that readily accessible information from the internet does make us lazy, demotes critical thinking and diminishes debates, the reality is that it does has incredible benefits when it comes to efficiency.

 

I believe that this reading will have quite a big impact on the way I read and write. What the article and Nicholas Carr have taught me is that the internet as a median should be approached with a balanced perspective of acceptance and skepticism. What I mean and plan to do moving forward with reading is to be more engaged. I have been making efforts to keep my mind focus on absorbing and feeling what the author is writing. After all understanding reading is part of the foundation for improving my writing. However, I will also make sure not to take the readily available information at my fingers tips for granted.