The Common Ground

Like good beer enjoy the internet in moderation!

2008-11-06T12:56:00.000-08:00

Is the internet making us stupid? People say that we don't think deeply anymore. The say that with the invention of the internet, and google in particular, we just skim to find what we need then move on.

Others say that the internet is making us smarter because it gives us access to so much more information that would have been impossible before. We are smarter because of google.

Why can't it be both? Why can't the internet help us become smarter on the one hand and take away some deep thinking on the other hand? I think the internet gives us more opportunity to learn about a multitude of things. I can look up information on underwater basket weaving and then hyperlink to different types of basket weaving styles.

But does this make me smarter? I don't think so. I've grown up a christian my whole life. I've constatly heard that knowing about God is different than knowing God. I can read my bible and know all the stories but if I don't take time to sit and deeply contemplate about what I read it profits me little.

When people who just "read" the bible are asked the question of who is God they often come back with the answer that God is love. Okay, but what does that mean? You know the answer but you don't know what the answer means.

This is what Carr is talking about when he mourns the loss of deep thinking. You may know the answer but do you really understand it? Are we as a generation of internet surfers understanding our vast world more fully or just stuffing our minds with trivial facts only useful if we are on Jeopardy.

I may know alot about a subject because of random facts I found online but I am not sitting down and meditating on that subject and trying to search the catacombs of the subject.

The human brain is a muscle just like biceps and triceps. It needs to be exercised. If we just scan google to find the one piece of information that we need and move on are we really exercising the brain?

Media critics since Adorno and Horkheimer have feared the day when we would lose the ability to think critically and deeply. While it has been a slow process the internet is pushing us closer toward that end.

I urge everyone to think deeply about these subjects. Technology is great. It can greatly enhance our knowledge of different subjects but it can also harm us. It's kind of like beer. I like beer. Some scientists have even claimed that there may be health benefits from throwing back a pint every now and then. But when someone crosses that line of moderation the consequences can be disastrous. Be careful.

Baseball and the world of Corporate Branding

2008-11-06T12:46:00.000-08:00

Branding is an interesting concept to me. I have no problem agreeing that it is going on, that there are giant companies that are branding ideas and selling those instead of products.
However, I think there is another side of branding people leave out when talking about it and that is identification.
We identify ourselves with products, or people, or ideas and that is how we distinguish ourselves. Klein mentions this in her interview but I think she tosses is aside without realizing its importance in our lives.
I am a huge sports fan. I always have been so inevitably my thinking reverts to the sports world. I think I enjoy it so much because people always downplay sports as low-brow but they fail to realize how many ideas and concepts play out in sports.
I think the concept of branding plays a huge part in sports and I immediately think of the Red Sox nation.
The Red Sox nation is the group of people who are die hard fans of the the Boston Red Sox baseball team. They are part of a "nation" of fans. You can even get a card verifying your a member of this nation, no joke!
There is probably not a more better example of branding in the sports world than this. No longer do the Red Sox advertise playing good baseball but instead they market citizenship into this magical nation. They taken the ideas and traditions that have followed the Red Sox and turned it into a commodity and I'm fine with that.
The same can be said of the Chicago Cubs. The "lovable losers" as they are known has lead their fans to set themselves apart from the rest of baseball. In the minds of the fans they are true cubs fans because they keep awaiting the magical year they win it all. Of course, I don't that will happen. This year was their best shot and the blew it. But back to the topic at hand.
I know this isn't the most extreme example of branding and probably not one Naomi Kleim would use but I think it illustrates how pervasive branding is.
In my opinion it is not possible to live without branding any more.
We are constantly being told that we are unique. By why are we unique? How do other people know that we are unique individuals? We show them by attaching ourselves to sports teams, tv shows, bands and anything else that shows who we are.
Klein, in an attempt to take on branding, may be falling herself victim to it.
Klein writes books on how the world is branding ideas. But she is still using this idea to sell her books. She may not venture out in soda pop or running shoes but she is still using the idea to market in some small way. Branding is branding whether you participate on a small or big scale.
I disagree with Klein in that I believe branding is useful. We use branding to show how we are unique. We use branding to find others that share our interests. Branding isn't a corporate invention, it is an expression of personal identity.

Growing up with the media

2008-11-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

My media upbringing is varied. First of all I have two younger brothers so obviously we watched alot of guy shows and movies. Being guys we looked forward to watching Monday Night Football every Monday. It was just something we did. I wouldn't say that I watched alot of TV growing up although I wasn't a book worm either. Along with all the macho testosterone infused shows on TV I also watched alot of shows my mother liked. My dad was at work all day so I was always home with Mom. She would watch I love Lucy and Mary Tyler Moore, things like that. Of course having two brothers all within 4 years of each other we obviously watched our share of cartoons, and still do I might add!
In my life now, I would have to say that my media intake is evolved to a higher usage although in different forms. I use my MP3 player everyday. I check my email multiple times a day. I use the internet alot to get a quick check of what is going on in the world. It is quick and convienent and there is a wide source of information. I don't watch alot of TV but when I do it is usually ESPN. I keep ESPN on most of the time. ESPN sportscenter is on 24/7 so I can always get updates.

I guess my media choices have changed to media that allows me to keep in contact with my friends and family more often. I need to stay connected with everyone so I use media that helps me do that. I think most people would agree with that in their own lives.