Proposal
For my final project essay I want to explore the possible consequences of our growing dependence on technology. More specifically, I am asking “Is technology the latest super drug?” As Professor Smith mentioned, our use of the internet and other advanced software can be compared to the use of cocaine in the 1980s. According to a CNN article by Caleb Hellerman, “‘To be a cocaine user in 1979 was to be rich, trendy and fashionable,’ says Mark Kleiman, a professor of public policy at the University of California, Los Angeles…’People weren’t worried about cocaine. It didn’t seem to be a real problem.’ Of course, it was a mirage.” That’s a pretty terrifying thought if you think about it. In 2012, we’re using technology the same way people used cocaine only 30 years ago. The “superdrug” helped young professionals get the edge they needed to perform well in their competitive jobs or competitive schools. Doesn’t technology do the same? And just like cocaine, technology has become readily available to all classes. Everyone is addicted.
My thesis is that our dependence on technology is ultimately becoming detrimental to our physical and social welfare. The main thread of my essay technology as compared to cocaine or other drugs and the possible effects. I also want to compare the way we use technology to the stages of drug addiction and finish by talking about what might happen if we were deprived of technology all together. Should we be wary of how our dependence is progressing? If so, what can we do to prevent our society from collapsing if it were forced to revert to running without technology?
Thesis & Supporting Claims
Thesis: The development of our dependence on technology parallels dependence on drugs in the late 2oth century and is already fostering a detrimental reliance.
Supporting claims:
-Technology causes long-term dependence
-People spend an average of 16.7 hours online per week, most of the population are heavy internet users
-Loss of technology results in isolation, anxiety, restlessness
This proposal is dope!
It sounds like you have several different topics, which all merge together in the overall theme that technology is just another drug. I wonder, though, if you’ll have enough space to contemplate the implications of a technology withdrawal. How likely is that to occur? It sounds like it may be enough for a paper of its own.
You have several awesome ideas, I just hope you’ll have enough room to unpack them all. I think you can do it, though, because they do all lead in nicely to one another.
Good luck!
-pg
This is a really heavy proposal, I think it has the potential of revealing some of the most controversial and shocking claims in the class! I would agree with Pessia in that you do seem to have several different topics in your proposal as currently constructed. With a 6-8 page paper, I am not sure that you will be able to give the full scope of your project the necessary detail. I would look to hone it in a little bit, maybe choose between “physical and social welfare”. You could probably write a ten page paper about each one. Trying to fit both into an eight page frame won’t give you enough space.
I love the idea of classifying technology as our latest drug addiction. It’s stark, bold, and one of those “inconvenient truths.” You mention that people use technology like they used coke in the 80s- to get the competitive edge. Deeply exploring the side effects- long term and short term- will seriously strengthen your comparison. Coke users suffered mental dehabilitation, addiction, and other serious problems. They couldn’t perform the jobs they used the coke to get and it started a vicious downward cycle.
A wonderful topic, Michelle, definitely. It’s broad right now, but that’s the goal with a first proposal. Look to specify it even more, you’re on your way to a very strong first draft!
-Ben
Wow! What a proposal. Seems very blunt and daring to say that the internet and technology as a whole are the latest drug. I am very interested to see where this project takes you. Being that your thesis is so extreme and blatant, I am sure readers across the board will be interested to read and see what you have to say.
As for your thesis, I think it is great. I am unsure though as to you having a clear path. Seems like you’re trying to take on a lot (internet is like a drug, it’s harming us, what would happen if we are devoid of a digital world) however if organized and well thought out and executed well, it can be great. I can envision these ideas all connecting anf intertwining and with the help of much research I think you will have an all inclusive-well developed paper.
Good luck and can’t wait to see where this “digital essay” takes you!
Nice supporting claims, Michelle! I would develop the thesis a little more as you draft to elaborate on how it parallels it, go into detail on what aspects are most strikingly similar.
I just realized, from your second claim, that people who use the internet are called “users” the same way that druggies are. Pretty creepy…
I love, love, love your thesis, as well as your blog redesign.
As of now, all your ideas sound solid, it’s just a matter of finding and restating the similarities between the 20th century drug era and our current technology era.
Also, maybe you could bring in some ways that we could break our internet addicition. (p.s. are you focusing on technology in general, or specifically the internet?)
Keep at it! I can’t wait to read your essay!
-pg
love your thesis-very creative and out of the box. I love how you decided to compare internet addiction/use to a drug addiction-very extreme but most definitely will contribute to successfully making your case. As for your supporting claims, “technology causes long term dependence”-seems a bit vague-dependence in what areas? How do you plan on proving this point.? (assuming this is from a psychological standpoint.) How is long-term dependence measured-I’d argue that even if I am devoid of all technological devices for less than an hour I begin to go crazy, however other times I can go a whole month long without using the internet (in summer camp for example.)
Cant wait for you to prove your third supporting claim-it seems very drastic and I wonder what statistics are out there pertaining to it. I’m wondering if that is a fact of a speculation that you are going to attempt to prove.
Best of luck, although I can’t wait to read your draft, I am nervous to see the results of your research 😉