The Newsweek article that was presented by an alternative perspective began by listing facts that when asked, people in our generation could not reflect on. While this could be true, this does not mean that that makes us dumb. I am sure we could find facts that the older generations would know nothing about too. Also, the writer points out that our generation, Generation Y, cares more about where to find information than actually storing the information. I disagree with this fully and do not like that we keep getting accused of not storing any knowledge.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Are we really the dumbest generation?
I strongly disagree with the claim that we are the dumbest generation. While Mark Bauerlein has a ground to stand on with his comments, there is definitely ways to argue most of them. To start, Bauerlein claims that we do not and do not want to read books. While this might be more true now than it has in the generations past, what is not put into consideration is the reading we do that is not in books. While searching the web or reading stories online, everything is reading. The web, well most of it, does not SPEAK to you. Reading does not have to just occur in novels but occur elsewhere also. Second, his statement about spelling is inaccurate. While some of us, not even all of us, do write like that to our friends online we also have learned and know how to type and write correctly. The number one thing that Bauerlein wrote that really got me upset was when he said that we use the internet to not store information but just pass it along. I completely disagree with this statement. When used the correct way, the technology and internet sources are a much better way to really learn the information. It not only gives you facts on what you want to learn about but it will give you primary sources, videos, etc. Ever since I have began using the internet compared to learning out of a book I have remembered so much more. I can relate everything I have learned to a certain project I created or a video I have watched.
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3 comments:
I agree with everything you said in your post. The thing that impressed me the most, and that I didn't think of before was the part about how we do not necessarily read novels but we do reading on the web. I never realized that before but that point is right. We learn and read stories posted on websites instead of in books so in reality we really do read. In my blog i posted the same thing about IMing and our abbreviations. We do learn to adjust our writing when necessary and not all teens actually talk like that. Overall I could not agree with you more and I definitely do not think we are the dumbest generation.
Hey Melissa. Your blog was very analytical and I liked how you compared and contrasted Bauerlein's views with your own. I agree with you when you say that it is easier to absorb information off of the internet than out of a book. Also, not only is the internet a faster way to complete projects, but it is a more interesting way to view information.
Hey. Yeah I liked when you said that the web doesn't speak to you. We have to read that just like we do a book. I also agree with when you siad that the technology and internet sources really help to learn hte information. And just becuase we don't know some answers to certain question that someone thinks are important to know, does not make us dumb. I agree with your opinion on how everyone thinks our generation doesn't store information.
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