This article is easy to relate to, as it brings up a topic that is pertinent in our daily lives. As an affect of digital tools like Google, the author, Nicholas Carr, states that, "The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle." Maybe it's just me and the time that I grew up, but I don't seem to have this effect to the same extent that the author has. Sure, if I've got big things on my mind, keeping focused on a long piece of literature can be a bit of a struggle. If I'm reading something for pleasure or for school, like this article, with a clear mind, it is much easier to stay on task.
I also thought that the author's analogy about the scuba diver and the jet ski was very interesting. They treat the thought of only skimming the top of topics quickly is a horrible thing. The author finds that taking in the literature is for the best. Don't get me wrong, it is a good way to read. I just found that Carr's opposition to how most people read nowadays to be unnecessary. The way I look at it, when we process and skim the way we do, we take in knowledge of a broader range of topics. In general, we understand more about what's going on around us.
Quick skimming is also supported by how the media is pushing out information. Carr tells about the New York Times's Shortcuts, which 'give harried readers a quick "taste" of the day's news'. With this way, readers can get straight to the point. In these fast-forwarded times, people just don't have the time in the day to sit down and deeply interpret an article. These snippets help us understand the point so we can move on to our rushed lifestyles.
I thought that the articles switch from reading to artificial intelligence was thought-provoking. The two founders of Google believe that, "If you had all the world's information directly attached to your brain...you'd be better off." I find this to be completely untrue. If everybody in the world had access to this technology, then raw intelligence wouldn't be a feat. It would simply be a commodity. We would slowly become emotionless, efficient robots, just like the people in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Hartman, I really enjoyed reading your response! You had a lot of well thought out points that had never crossed my mind until now. In the first paragraph you say it's easy to read something for pleasure or for school with a clear mind. However, that's often the problem. People these days don't have a clear mind, always focusing on what's coming next and all of the things to do instead of really enjoying the current activity. I agree with your claim in the second paragraph how skimming can often be more beneficial as it allows for quicker intake as well as more intake. The media is to blame for this as well as we are. We're always in a time crunch so skimming the quick information that's summarized daily on a website is often all we settle for. Your response was very well thought out and I'm happy you uncovered new ideas from this essay to me!
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