Analyzing "The People We Become"

I agree and disagree with certain of Baron’s points. For the most part I think she has good ideas about how technology is affecting society but I think that she applies these ideas a little too broadly. I have chosen to analyze the section “Consequences of Being Always On” in the final chapters and have given my opinion about each section.

The Me Generation meets the Information Age: Personal Consequences
I completely agree with her that while people are “always on” and can be reached any time, any where, they are more isolated. I feel that I can’t say hi to acquaintances that I see on the quad because they are listening to music or on their phones. I feel slighted when I’m with someone and they pull out their phone to talk to someone else. They are ignoring me, a person that they are geographically next to, in order to connect to someone who isn’t physically around. Are they really connecting with anyone in this situation? I would argue no.

I agree that I feel exhausted and inefficient when I multitask with my computer. One of the reasons I gave up IMing is because I wasn’t getting anything done and had to spend more time doing less work because of technological distractions that I felt compelled to answer.

Knowing Right from Wrong – and Just plain knowing: Cognitive Consequences
I think that people are oblivious to the fact that the many texts, music, and other media on the internet do not belong to them. I distinctly remember in 9th grade during a debate when we argued whether Napster was alright. I was the only one in the class who did not illegally download music off the internet. They’re argument was, “Everyone does it? What’s the big deal?” I see no difference between this and stealing a CD from a music store. The same things goes for downloading anything from the internet. Unless the owner of that property specifically states that anyone can have it, downloading that information is, in my opinion, stealing. However, many people I know do not feel this way.

I’m Julie: the Social Consequences
I agree with certain parts of this section and disagree about others.

I do think that people use technology to avoid unwanted social interactions. However, I think there are some positive aspects to technology and how it defines our relationships with others. I agree with Baron that we have a lot more “weak ties.” How many facebook friends does everyone have? How many numbers in your cell phone? I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. People had weak ties before communication technology. Weak ties do not define our social interactions completely. Have more acquaintances doesn’t mean that you have less real friends. I do not think that people necessarily have less strong ties. Technology lets us keep in touch with people with whom we have strong ties. Society has changed with the advent of newer communitcation. It is expected that high school graduates will go away to college, sometimes far from home. People accept jobs away from their family and friends. Having telephones, email and other technologies allows people to keep in touch and retain those strong ties. With our highly mobile society, we need communication technology to keep in touch with those from which we move away.