I believe that in a way this was a sequel to Shirky’s previous book that we read in class: Here Comes Everybody. In this new world of technology, Shirky believes that we should be able to use our free time more productively. For one we can use the Internet and discover a mass amount of information that wasn;t as easily accessible before. I definitely agree with this. In my free time instead of just being lazy and falling asleep, I like to go and read up on information. Instead I would have to go to the store to buy a new book, or go to the newsstand for a newspaper. But now due to the computer and the fact that I have a kindle, I can just buy the book straight to my kindle, and look up different newspapers on my computer. The average time it would have taken me to buy a book would have been maybe around half an hr, and that depended if the bookstore had that book in stock. Now it only takes me 5 minutes to obtain a new book. The same with the newspaper. Now I actually have more time to enjoy my book, and the process is entirely quicker. Shirky also describes certain things online as frivolous, for example “LOL”. I am one of those user who use text and Internet slang. Truthfully for me it is just easier and simpler to put “lol” instead of writing out laughing out loud every time. Guaranteed there are other words I can use to describe myself laughing but that lingo is so much simpler and everyone across the border understands it. In a way it creates an Internet language that everyone who uses the Internet understands, even if they don’t all speak the same language. In a way I feel like Internet slang is positively moving the Internet users all to a common language or way of communicating.
You made some good points about the internet and I agree there are many positive effects. You can have information insistently and where ever you want without having to budge but lets look at the downside. Information these days are soo much and soo easy to access that it makes us lazy. Like in the article “is Google making us stupid”, we spent a lot of time reading but we never get a chance to finish it because we always trying to get to the point and see what is next.
And as for chatting and using short phrases like “LOL”; I remember reading an article stating that it has a negative impact on students. The study showed that students who spent many hours chatting are soo use to the internet language that it is shown through their writing.
I also agree with you we are getting information much different than we used to and that is because of the Internet and social web. We are now able to get informatiOn more easily and basically on any device. We definitely take advantage of this, but this is the luxury we have and the way we know to do things. With out the Internet we would not be able to get information to us simotaneously and right when it is happenIng which is very important in the world today.
I agree with you that it makes everything easier with the internet. The only downside for that is people who are older complain that kids today don’t want to go outside and play anymore. Most of the games today are in the internet, video games and in our cellphones.