Pre-Writing: I know for a fact that I could never live without my phone for a week. I don't think that I could live without my phone for three days. I always have my phone and I am always communicating with people, surfing the web, and using social media sites. Technology is addicting to kids my age and we cannot physically live without it. Even if a person says they could live without it, I know it would be an extremely hard task to accomplish. I am outside every day of my life. Yes, I may need to have my phone every day, but that does not mean it occupies my entire life. I have grown up playing soccer since the age of 4 and I am always outside. It is necessary and crucial that I run and stay in shape because that's all that soccer is; running. I am a hunter and a fisherman. Tomorrow marks the first day of deer season using bow and arrow. I am driving back home tonight to pack my things and head out in the woods at 5 o'clock in the morning tomorrow morning for the entire day; sunrise to sunset. I love being outside. There is so much to hear, see, and do. Everyone should take the time to see the outdoors and experience it in as many ways possible. I personally believe that being outside helps clear one's mind. It helps relieve stress and it certainly allows people truly find themselves in their own state. So, with that being said, my interplay with technology has not caused me to lose my touch with the natural world and it never will.
The argument in the article "Ecology of the Mind" can basically be summarized as; our minds are being polluted by media and multiple sorts of technology. The argument is supported by providing information based around modern day culture. Also, Lasn's argument is supported by providing clear examples of events that happen within certain forms of media that effect our decisions made throughout every day life. I absolutely believe that our obsession with technology has obstructed our ability to engage in the natural world. Every minute we are engaged in technology, whether it be our cellphones, televisions, or computers, are minutes that we could be spending outside being involved in the natural world and environment. Lasn's argument could very well configure in with Bauerlein's argument in many ways, but I do not believe that they would completely agree with one another. Bauerlein states that we are the dumbest generation and that technology is the cause of this. Lasn's argument is based around the ideas that technology and media are polluting our minds and therefore distracting us from the natural world, but no where within Lasn's argument does he state that we are dumb, let alone the dumbest generation. In this case, Lasn and Bauerlein would surely get along and agree that technology is very distracting and does occupy a significant amount of time, but I do not think they their arguments would completely match up.
Quote #1: "Quiet feels foreign now, but quiet could be just what we need"
After being so focused within all forms of technology, as well as being engaged in all of the media within today's society, most people forget to take time out of the day for a break or as some people may call it, "quiet time". Step outside; go for a walk/run, ride a bike, play a sport, play with a pet, watch the sun set and rise, look at the stars. There are so many things to do in order to gain some peace and quiet and take some time out of the day to relax. Get away from the technology and media.
Quote #2: "Can't work without background music. Can't jog without earphones. Can't sleep without an iPhone tucked under the pillow."
If any statement in Lasn's article wraps up people and technology within today's society, it is this one. As I sit here and type this post, I have the television on and I have my cellphone in my lap. I will be at the gym later lifting and running with my earphones in. Not because I can't run or lift without them, but because I prefer to have music when working out. I don't know about other kids my age, but I charge my phone on my window sill or my dresser next to my bed. This doesn't mean it's tucked under my pillow, but it does mean I am on it in the dark while laying in bed before I fall asleep. That being said, I think this goes to show that we are always with technology and we are always using some form, being distracted from the natural world and other important things in life.
Quote #3: "Now we're depleting the 'old growth culture' - sucking dry the history, mythology, music, art and ideas that previous generations have bequeathed to us. All of our past is being picked over, recycled, remixed, regurgitated, and repurposed."
With all of the technology and the media, memories and past cultural traditions are being forgotten and practically thrown away for good. We are forgetting the important things in the past and trying to push forward and live life, expecting technology to figure everything out for us. More and more, we are relying on the media to give us information, rather than trying to figure things out on our own. With all of the new technology and media, we lose the important historical music and art that helped put us where we are today in the world of entertainment. One way to help regain the history and help people remember the more important things in life is by putting away the technology and not listening or doing what the media tells us to do all the time. The past traditions helped put society where it is today, so why not continue that trend, rather than letting technology decide where we go from here.
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