Shirky 7-9

Throughout Clay Shirky’s chapters seven through nine I found some interesting points and definitely things I can relate to. Shirky brings up many examples from his personal life concerning social networking sites and his experiences with them. He gives insight into social networking sites and explains the intensity of the fact they have really changed the way people communicate with eachother.
Social Networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace have changed the way we communicate with others, reconnect with people and the way we connect with new people. Shirky shares a few situations where these technologies introduce him to friends of friends. He calls this “Friend of a friend networking” Known as FOAF networking. Sites such as Facebook do just this, Facebook makes it a point to introduce friends of friends to each other. They provide you with a page of people who you may know, that are coincidentally friends with your friends. Shirky states, “As more people adopt simple social tools, and as those tools allow increasingly rapid communication, the speed of group action also increases, and just as more is different, faster is different”(161). We always used to communicate through the fun to find out about each others lives, and now we at the click of a button we can communicate and explore each others lives as much as the other person is willing to share. We have become faster in our technology and with our social tools that has enhanced the way we communicate with others.

Shirky 4, 5 and 6

In Clay Shirky’s “Here Comes Everybody” chapters four through six brings up some many interesting points concerning the virtual world. Shirky brings many examples, ideas and opinions to these chapters. It was interesting to read about the virtual world, and even on a little background on blogs, social networking sites and Wikipedia throughout the chapters. He brings to light some very interesting points about as he states, “Worlds mass of amateurs”(81).

Shirky begins by discussing some examples given from a few blogs written by teenagers. The blogging world has allowed many of us to get our thoughts down and to share our personal situations with others. This not only can occur through blogs but through Video Blogs provided on YouTube as well. As discussed in class everyone can be an author in the virtual world and Shirky brings to light the extensity of people doing just that. Shirky states, “Saying something to a few people we know used to be quite distinct from saying something to many people we don’t know”(86). Shirky also goes into great detail by explaining to the audience the differences of broadcast media and communication media. With broadcast it was a one to one conversation, with communication it was a one to many, and now we have a many to many where communications can be done through group conversations. Blogs and video blogs are similar to diaries where people can get out their feelings and thoughts but the difference is with blogs and video blogs you have people writing to you and commenting you about what they think as well. Shirky states, “…a blog stops functioning like a diary for friends and starts functioning like a media outlet”(89).

Some of the Net Generation isn’t as hesitant as the Boomer Generation about giving out personal information. We do live in a world where nothing is private anymore, and nothing cannot be found if we really want to know. The Net Generation has become a very social and they like to share information with others, not matter what that information may be. We see these examples not only in Shirky’s book but Tapscott and Barons books as well. We are no longer in a privacy world, with social networking sites such as Facebook, we see that our privacy is no longer in tacked, we’re in a world where our activity, photos and information can be seen and taken at any time. This is only going to get worse as the years go by.

Shirky 1,2,3

This week’s reading assignment of “Here Comes Everybody” By Clay Shirky, made it hard to pick what to discuss for this week, Shirky provided many interesting insights to technology in today’s society. It was an interesting first three chapters that allowed me to gain some insight of today’s world, my net generation and how we are using the technology around us whether it be good or bad.

The insightful story of the “Sidekick” definitely captivated me, it was interesting to read, and to read Skirky’s view on it as well. Shirky explained many times throughout the text that Evan, could not have succeeded in his attempt to gain the phone back if it were not for the recourses that were available to him in this day of age. Shirky states, “It’s unlikely that Evan could have achieved what he did even five years ago, and inconceivable that he could have achieved it ten years ago, because neither the tools he used nor the social structures he relied on were in place then years ago”(11). Evan had many resources such as MySpace, Digg, forwarding emails, texting, blogging, and the phone company storing Ivanna’s information on their servers which is where they found out who has the sidekick. Technology is amazing, the phone company information then led them straight to the then current owner of the phone, which led them to her email, and MySpace information. What Evan did by posting the “missing phone” online for people to see, is similar to the many flyers someone would post on poles and phone booths for a missing dog. We have come a long way where if something is missing or need to get news out there, we can get it out to the world, not just our local community.

This story reminded me of the socialite Paris Hilton who lost her dog Tinker Bell, the story was definitely heard around the world and was on major news stations, internet sites, and newspapers. Just like the Sidekick story, the missing dog story would not have become so big if it were not for the recourses available to us. With social networks like facebook, myspace, and email contacts news spreads faster, not just to your friends, but friends of friends and so on. Skirky states, “Despite Evan’s heroic efforts, he could not have gotten the phone returned if he had been working alone”(7). Evan had millions of people behind him, either encouraging, or helping him in his endeavor.

A small story about missing phone or even a missing dog doesn’t mean much to people who it doesn’t concern. Everyone loses things, and often never sees them again. But with the tools we have online, it’s more likely to reach and find people who are concerned, willing to help, and get answers from rather than only getting help from a few people in your local community. What the internet resources and technology has done for us is allowed us to reach people on a whole new level. We are no longer limited to the people in our local RL community, we now are able to have many communities we take part in, in the virtual world. And with reaching these communities, and expanding our social network then begins gaining the attention from others such a news stations, to reach even more people who are not computer oriented. With the sidekick story, gaining the social network Evan did, caught the attention of The New York Times, and CNN, which would otherwise ignored Evans efforts if it had not been for his social network in the virtual world.

Tapscott Part Three

In part three of “Grown Up Digital” Don Tapscott once again opens my eyes and brings up more issues for me to analyze. The other chapters compared and contrasted the Boomer Generation and the Net Generation. In part three Tapscott is showing us how the Net Generation copes with today’s issues, such as a Presidential Campaigns, and shows the pros and cons of the tools the Net Generation are using in today’s world.

I found chapter nine particularly interesting. It shows how much the Net Generation can revolutionize the way we have done things for years, such as a campaign for a Politician. Tapscott explains how Chris Hughes who was interesting enough a Harvard student, and roommates with Mark Zuckerberg who is the cofounder of Facebook, changed the way people do campaigns by starting with being Director of Online Organizing for President Barack Obama’s campaign. Tapscott shows how President Obama was in fact an underdog in the election, Hughes states, “It became clear that if he was going to be running, he would need to have a people-powered campaign, And there was no way to do that without the Internet”(243). By providing an online site for the Obama Campaign, Obama and Hughes was able to reach millions of people, through not just television, or speeches, but through the internet. Tapscott states, “Having grown up digital, they expect to collaborate with politicians—not just to listen to their grandstanding speeches. They want to be involved directly; to interact with them, contribute ideas, scrutinize their actions, work to catalyze initiatives not just during elections but as they govern”(244). I agree with this statement, I believe that the Net Generation especially wants to be involved, be connected, and want to know what is going on as soon as it happens. Campaigning has changed a lot within the past couple of years. Hughes was also helping by campaigning for Al Gore by knocking door to door in 2000, I actually took part in a Phone Bank in 2000 urging people to vote as well. Now, people can take part in future campaigns by just logging onto their computer. The Virtual World has revolutionized the way we take part in things on a daily basis, and the way things have been done for years such as knocking on doors, and participating in phone banks.

With online tools such as Facebook and Myspace, they have changed the ways politicians and their campaigns are ran. I have some Politicians on my Facebook and Myspace, for example Sarah Palin has over one million followers on Facebook, she blogs very much so, but I think it’s interesting for me and others to read the Politicians thoughts and ideas and getting to know them on a different basis, and learning from the horse’s mouth so to speak of what they stand for. So I can already see this fad coming to play, and I think we will continue to see it in the upcoming elections. Brian Collins states, “The Obama effort is the first real trans-media political campaign of the twenty-first century, where the role of engaging, two-way technologies—including mobile devices, laptops, and social networking sites—became as important as traditional media”(251). Newspapers, television, and articles are not the only way we can get our information, we can add mobile devices, and social networking sites to one of the many ways we receive our information. Because the Net Generation is so involved with technology, and because it has evolved so much, seeing as how we can send money by texting a certain word towards a particular foundation, possibly the same thing will be for voters wanting to help future candidates. Or voting for the President of the United States from our mobile devices, or sites instead of actual polls, will soon come about. I believe what Chris Hughes, as well as many other Net Gener’s are doing is only the beginning, I believe we will see many more changes to come.

Tapscott Part Two

Don Tapscott brings up a lot of excellent points in section two of “Grown Up Digital.” Tapscott focuses mainly on The Net Gen in section two, showing us Net Gens as Learners, in the Workforce, as Consumers, and as family members. Although he mainly focuses on the Net Gen, he does compare these characteristics with the Net generation to the Boomer generation as well. I will be discussing chapter eight, where Tapscott discusses the net generation and families.

Tapscott allows us to travel back in time to show us life for the boomer generation. We see how parents were strict in the boomer generation, how as Tapscott puts it, “Children were meant to be seen not heard”(221). Children challenging parents was seen as being disrespectful; children were expected to be well mannered. We see through this chapter that although parents of the boomer generation were strict, they were also not aware of the risks children were taking outside of the home. When the boomer generation grew up to be parents to the net generation things changed. Boomer parents did the opposite, they knew the risks, and did everything to keep the children safe and sound inside the home. Tapscott states, “So the first Net Geners found their freedom indoors---especially online. Then, once they could access the Net from their mobile devices they could be free online—anywhere”(220). Net Generation didn’t mind their boomer parents fears of not letting them outside too much, because inside the house they had their gadgets and toys and according to their parents were safe…Or were they?

The net gen as we know, is very computer and gadget savvy. If they’ve never used a gadget before, they don’t read the instruction manual they observe it, and are hands on with it. For the boomer generation not knowing much about computers, it was easier for net generations to keep things hidden. Boomer parents were only concerned about the dangers in the real world, and not the dangers of the virtual world that their children were getting into. Tapscott explains that although there were many dangers outside of the house there were just as many dangers in the home, on the computers. The net generation could possibly come in contact with bullying, sexual predators, pornography, and many other dangers with web surfing. Tapscott states, “41% of U.S teens under age 18 say their parents don’t know what they’re doing online, according to a 2002 survey. And 38% percent of high school students sometimes hide their online activities from parents, according to a 2006 report”(229). I believe these numbers have jumped significantly since 2002 and 2006. I also wonder if because of Facebook being so popular among teenagers and adults if this number hasn’t gotten somewhat better. I’m sure things are still hidden from parents, but I think because Facebook has been equally popular among both generations, parents are more aware of how to get into children’s lives, and are more aware of the possibilities of dangers with the virtual world. It would be interesting to see how much these numbers have changed since 2002 and 2006, because of tools such as Facebook.

While reading through chapter eight I began to wonder if this is how the Boomer generation grew up, and now their parenting this way to the net generation, how is my net generation going to be parenting. While it just so happens Tapscott had a section to give me some more insight. He believes that we will be more aware of online dangers and tricks with our children, but still family oriented. I think we will work on things that our parents didn’t work on, just like the boomer generation with their parents. I believe that everything will evolve around technology in the family. The family will be more disconnected than ever because of these technologies, which is already starting within families. Children would rather be in the virtual world than in family world. I think as years pass, technology is going to make it harder on families to connect with each other not easier. I’m definitely curious to see how my net generation will handle things differently than the boomer generation that’s for sure! Only time will tell!

Tapscott Part One

In “Grown Up Digital,” Don Tapscott takes us through time, from 1946 with the Baby Boom Generation to Present with the Generation Z. He mostly compares the Baby Boom Generation to the Net Generation. He illustrates the Net Geners everyday lives compared to their boomer parents lives in the past and today. What I found interesting in Tapscott’s book is he provides a short illustration of a typical Boomer Generations daily life, as well as a Net Geners daily life. Being a Net Gener, it was interesting to read life for the boomer generation at my age.

I found the first section of “Grown Up Digital” very informative and appealing. Tapscott discusses the Baby Boomer Generation’s outlook on Televisions in chapters one and two, and is even named the “TV Generation”. The boomer generation got much of their information and entertainment from television, unlike my net generation who gets their information and entertainment from not only television, but through texts, phones, emails, and websites. Tapscott states, “Net Gen kids growing up looked at computers in the same way boomers look at TV…And as technology relentlessly advances each month, young people just breathe it in, like improvements in the atmosphere”(19). For Net Gen kids technology is the norm, we grew up with them, we don’t question it, we just take it all in.

Reading Tapscotts book, I began noticing these same things in my family. My parents being from the boomer generation, I can definitely relate to what Tapscott discusses through the text. I have noticed within my own home and life, the boomer generation saying, “If you don’t understand how to use a computer, cell phone etc just give it to your kid, they’ll figure it all out for you.” I made this comparison when Tapscott stated, “The Net Geners don’t just take what they are given either. They are the active initiators, collaborators, organizers, readers, writers, authenticators, and even strategists, as in the case of video games. They do not just observe; they participate. They inquire, discuss, argue, play, shop, critique, investigate, ridicule, fanaticize, seek, and inform”(21). My generation does not just sit back and watch others play with new gadgets, we like to be hands on, and learn by doing so. For example, I think with my generation we rarely read an instruction manual for a new cell phone we get, we like to explore. But yet I notice my parents reading the instruction manual for their new phones, and months later return to that manual, or ask one of their children! I think this shows how different and how far we’ve come from generation to generation and the differences in our technologies have a lot to do with how the net gener has been wired as oppose to the boomer generation.

With the boomer generation television revolutionized the way they learned about the news, and were entertained, they were no longer sitting around the fireplace listening to the latest news on the radio, or reading about it in the newspaper, they were now watching it, and taking it in through the television. With the net generation we primarily get our information from the internet. Like the home phone was replaced with the cell phone, soon the television will be replaced the same way with the internet. Tapscott states, “But if you ask them which medium they can do without—Internet or TV—TV is the loser in all 12 countries we surveyed”(42). I personally rarely use the TV, to watch my shows; I primarily use it for movies. With the internet and TiVo, we no longer have to “wait” for our favorite show to come on, we can just watch it online, or record it, replay it, pause it, fastforward, and rewind. Tapscott mentions how the Grammys are a popular segment for young teenagers to watch. Tapscott also shares that in 2004, 9.7 percent of teens aging from 12-17 watched the Grammys, in 2007 only 3.8 percent of this group watched. Today, many go online to watch the highlights of similar award shows, because after all that’s what really matters to some. Many don’t care to waste their time watching something they are not interested in anymore, internet sites such as youtube, have made it possible to see what we want to watch and what we’re most interested in. The virtual world has made it possible to do things on our time, instead of television networks time. Another reason I like online viewing as oppose to television viewing, because thankfully I only have to sit through 30 second commercials! As oppose to the long never ending commercials on television. My time is precious, I don’t like to waste it watching things that I don’t care for. This is a capability that many boomers were not able to experience when they were younger. Many adults in the boomer generation, rarely go online to watch their shows, I asked my father born in the boomer generation why doesn’t he just save some time and watch his shows on our computer? He just thought that was ridiculous, why would he do that? The computer screen is too small for him to watch it comfortably. Like Tapscott was mentioning, each generation was born into technologies, boomer generation with TV and net generation with computers. I am perfectly fine with watching my shows online; it’s just more convenient for me.

We continue to move forward with our technologies; each month something newer, faster, and more convenient comes on to the scene. Once again, I begin to wonder what will the next generation be savvy with, what will be the technology that they grow up using in their everyday lives and not think twice about.

Baron Seven-Through-Twelve

Reading the second half of Dennis Baron’s” A Better Pencil,” chapters seven through twelve offered some interesting topics, scenarios, and ideas. Baron shows us the good and bad that comes with the tools and technologies we constantly use on a daily basis. “A Better Pencil,” was definitely one of my favorite textbooks thus far.

In chapter seven Baron goes over the complications that go into trusting texts. Baron states, “Technologies let us recreate the world and also lie about it”(116). Usually people don’t believe something unless they see it with their own eyes, but this doesn’t always mean the things we see are accurate and truthful; weather its written text, pictures, or video. When topics are written, we are always skeptical of the accuracy of the story, and most importantly who the author is says a lot as well. Baron also states, “A text, for us, remains only as good as the paper it’s written on or the person behind it, if that person can be found”(120). I agree what Baron says, but then again, we don’t know these authors personally, only professionally from the texts they have written in the past. Whose to say people don’t have a hidden agenda? I believe that writing does not have the same respect it did, many people have abused the trust you can say.

Chapter nine struck me as interesting, and a chapter I definitely could relate to. Baron explains how now a days “Everyone’s an Author.” He discusses blogs, and MySpace accounts where teenagers as well as adults put their personal lives out there for the world to see, such as diaries. The internet changed how we view privacy. Now, blogs can be used for writing your innermost thoughts, we not only get to type them up, but we get feedback and advice from others which is a positive and helpful thing. Baron also discusses the negative light many schools have on blogs, and MySpace. Baron gave an example about a student on a blog discussing a teacher in a negative way, the students were suspended. The student made a comment stating, “I didn’t know our Xanga’s were being monitored. I should have expected it. I thought it…was freedom of speech, but it’s not” (169). We all have the right of freedom of speech; and I disagree with the students being penalized for the comments made online. I wondered, if these comments were made orally to their friends, would they still be suspended? I think not, because when things are said, not heard with our own ears was it really said? We’re not able to go back and replay what was said.. But when it is written online, and it’s there continually month after month, we’re able to take notice and see it plainly in black and white whenever we’d like. I think this situation shows how much the internet, has changed our outlook on privacy. Whatever we display online…is never private.

A Better Pencil

A Better Pencil by Dennis Baron, started off with Plato’s Phaedrus idea of writing, believing it would only do harm to people’s minds. Another opinion of writing, is about the story of Theuth, the Egyptian god that invented letters believed it, “will make the Egyptians wiser and improve their memories; for it is an elixir of memory and wisdom that I have discovered”(3). Baron demonstrates the history of documentation, from when things were written on tablets, to paper, to writings on a screen.

Baron shows how today texts are everywhere we look. To cereal boxes, coke cans, highway signs, pretty much everything we buy…from urging us to either buy more of the product, recommending other products, instructions, ingredients, health hazards, to everything else you can think of! Baron explains that without text on the many things we buy daily we may even doubt the material we’re buying. Thinking about it, I think that idea holds much truth. If all I saw was a plain cereal box surrounded by cereal boxes with words, and ingredients etc ,I would definitely buy the box with text as oppose to the one without. Not because the text looks more appealing but because it’s more trust worthy…and not so sketchy. As Baron writes, “putting things in writing” holds much value as oppose to someone who doesn’t. I have to confess with my family members I even tell them… “No I don’t believe you put it in writing!” It’s comforting to know we have documentation and not just word of mouth to depend on.

Another topic Baron brings to light in chapter two (I know I was only suppose to read One, Three and Five but I couldn’t help myself! It was a good book!) and three are the many people who despise computers/technology. He calls these people “computerphobes,”

Baron states, “These computerphobes are convinced that the machines will corrupt our writers, turn books into endangered species, and litter the landscape with self-publishing authors. In addition, computers will rot our brains, destroy family life, put an end to polite conversation wreak havoc with the English language, invade our privacy steal our identity and expose us to predators waiting to pervert us or to sell us things we don’t need”(19).

This statement by Baron reminded me of a modern day statement by Plato, urging and warning the people to not continue on with this new technology. In some ways I agree with what these computerphobes think…turning books into endangered species, how computers will destroy family life, and put an end to polite conversation. Now agreeing with this I don’t think makes me a complete computerphobe, but I notice in my own life putting technology ahead of family and sometimes ignoring people right in front of me with a text conversation I’m involved in, I have to stop myself sometimes. As for books, books are a technology in itself, and I think we’re in a major transition from books being in our hands to on a computer/phone screen. I know many people with the whole bible on their iphones…it’s a portable, easy way to carry so much knowledge in such a little gadget then holding such a heavy book. This way you just put in your pocket and your ready to go whenever you need it.

In chapter three Baron discusses the history of the pencil, and how it was used way back when. Baron explained how Thoreau never went anywhere without a notebook and pencil, in order to record his thoughts. We do the same thing with our portable cell phones. I actually just noticed myself using my memo application on my blackberry the other day while in a meeting with one of my teachers, I didn’t have pencil or paper, I excused myself explaining to him that I was not texting anyone, just that I was taking notes using my blackberry. I felt kind of silly doing this, but it worked out great. My blackberry like Thoreau’s pencil and paper was conveniently next to me whenever I have a thought to jot down quickly before I forget it.

Technology continues to develop daily, and I think that’s what Baron shows us in these first couple of chapters of A Better Pencil. He illustrates how writing has not just stopped in our books, but is branching out onto the web as well. But text is everywhere, and continues to develop in all forms…from the bible being a book to an application on the iphone. I think computerphobes feel the same way a lot of people felt when writing first came out as a new technology…it only makes me wonder what will be the next “big” thing in my lifetime? The possibilities continue to be endless…..

PS. This book was awesome! I really loved reading it! : )

Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, was interesting to read because there was a lot going on in Okonkwo’s hectic life. Okonkwo’s father Unoka, I believe had a lot to do with Okonkwo’s decisions throughout the book. Achebe states, “His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness…It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father”(13). Okonkwo shows himself as being tough, strong, prideful, and shows no remorse in front of people, even by doing things such as killing a young boy who was like a son to him. It seems as though Okonkwo is heartless, but really feels guilty about the murder inside. Okonkwo is exiled from his tribe and leaves for his mother land, and has judgment towards missionaries that come into the village, the missionaries bring on their faith to the tribe and even Okonkwos son Nwoye takes part in this new faith, which infuriates Okonkwo. Okonkwo ends up having many problems with the “white man,” which adds on to Okonkwos situation.

That was just a little summary of Things Fall Apart, I read the book before this class, and saw it in a different light. I looked at it more about Okonkwo’s life and how his fathers unsuccessful life, drove him to become someone completely different. But because I just read Walter J. Ongs Orality and Literacy, I started noticing the book from a different view. I noticed the way the characters would speak to each other, with every action someone did, they would always come back to proverbs and teachings of why the action was wrong or right.

Within Things Fall Apart there was history, sayings, traditions and customs that the characters would refer back to in many situations. An example of literacy that popped out to me was presented in this book. When Okonkwos father Unoka who was a big debtor in the village was confronted by a man about a debt he owed. Unoka showed the man his writings on the wall of all the debts he owed, they were lines of chalk, and each line represented a debt that was owed. An example of orality came into play shortly after when Unoka states, “Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them. I shall pay my big debts first”(8). Unoka speaks of what he has heard his elders say, and I notice similar statements throughout the book. Many of the people reflect off of what they have heard and repeat it for others to learn from as well, and also to make their own point like Unoka.

Another similar situation was in chapter fourteen when Okonkwo was exiled for seven years to live in a “strange land”(133). Okonkwo leaves and lives in his mothers village for seven years, and tries to make a life there. Days after moving their Okonkwo and many others are talked to by a wiser, older man, who was very respected in his village named Uchendu. Uchendu is mainly talking to Okonkwo, and begins by explaining to him and the group the reasoning behind why a child lives with the father, and the fathers family, not the woman and her family. Uchendu asks the group what the reason was for Okonkwos mother to be buried in his village and not Okonkwos father’s village. But no one knew the answer. Uchendu being wiser, and older explains to the group the reasoning. Again orality has taken place in this scene and Uchendu speaks of what he has learned from the past, and passes it on for the future generations. We see this lot throughout the book, we see words of advice, knowledge, and stories of the past being passed on from character to character.

While reading these two examples and more in Things Fall Apart, I couldn’t help but refer back to Walter J. Ong’s Orality and Literacy. When Ong stated, “Before the use of documents, collective oral testimony was commonly used to establish, for example, the age of feudal heirs”(95). I see oral testimony being used with many of the characters of Things Fall Apart. They all have Oral Testimony to back up their teachings, traditions and customs. I really enjoyed reading this book again and having Ong’s book to drawback on…. : )

From then to now....

Walter J. Ong discusses the different aspects of writing in chapter four. Ong writes about Plato, Writing and Computers and brings up excellent points and comparisons in doing so. He begins by comparing Plato to the art of writing and then comparing our society to computers. Ong explains that Plato was concerned that writing would only weaken the mind; it would do more harm than good. Ong goes further into detail by comparing what many people have worried today, which is the calculator. Does this do more harm than good? Since we are having a computer do the work for us we are only weakening ourselves in not being able to compute numbers without the device. Which is exactly how Plato saw the progression of writing. Ong states, “Plato Socrates also holds it against writing that the written word cannot defend itself as the natural spoken word can…”(78). Ong wrote that if he asked someone a question that person can easily explain their answer to you, but if what you had said was written you don’t get any more information from it then what is already written.

In some ways I do see Plato’s thoughts and what I think is fears…Many older groups of people feel the same with the calculator, the computer, or even typing on a computer! In my mind I’m wondering when is paper and pencil going to be non-existent in our world. Where everything we do is on a screen? Ong goes further into his writing by explaining that Plato saw writing as a technology, just like many of us see our new gadgets of cell phones and computers. Ong states, “Because we have by today so deeply interiorized writing, made it so much a part of ourselves, as Plato’s age had not yet made it fully a part of itself…”(80). When reading this, I can’t see writing or computers not in our everyday lives. It would be difficult for us to do so, as I’ve mentioned its everywhere we go or do!

While reading the chapter Ong brings up some many valid points, and examples. He states, “People had to be persuaded that writing improved the old oral methods sufficiently to warrant all the expense and troublesome techniques it involved. Before the use of documents, collective oral testimony was commonly used to establish, for example, the age of feudal heirs”(95). Ong gives a brief example of men having to provide an oral testimony, but there testimony was off of memory of what they heard from others and others before them. We can’t always go off of our memory, and that’s why writing, is such a great tool to possess. Documentation is the best tool for memorization and for us to remember things that need to be taken into account. I believe the same with computers; such a great tool for us to have, my only fear is that we depend too much on these technologies. Which I believe is something that the older generation is fearful of as well. And it’s true; when we depend so much on computers and technologies what are we here for anyways? When are “robots” going to rule? Because time and time again….we see that computers always do it better…if we allow them to that is.

One, Two, and Three......

While reading the first three chapters of Orality and Literacy by Walter J. Ong, I was captivated just by starting off with the first chapter. As I continued from the first chapter, I did find difficulty in comprehending Ong’s writings at times. I have to confess I read certain points more than once, but I think I somewhat understood where Ong was coming from, after reading it over and over.

The first chapter, like I said this really sparked my interest! The first chapter Ong introduces Ferdinand de Saussure, who was stated as the father of linguistics. Ong discusses on page five, stating that Saussure saw writing as having ‘usefulness, shortcomings, and dangers.’ I found this appealing to read that the father of linguistics saw writing in this way. I think it shows that he knew the positive sides and negative. Also in chapter one on page seven, Ong discusses how with the three thousand languages that are of existence today only about seventy-eight of those languages have been transferred to literature! I found this so incredible to read! It was almost mind boggling to know there are so many languages from the past and present that we know or may not know about that were never discovered or formed into literature. Ong ends this paragraph by explaining how no one knows of a way to write these languages down. This struck me as somewhat amazing, and crazy at the same time. How did our language come to be? And how did it come to be written down? Just by reading Ong’s first chapter my mind just started to race with questions and thoughts.

Chapter three was packed with information, information that was very intriguing and useful. In the beginning of chapter three Ong discusses his view on “Oral Cultures.” Ong states, “Oral culture is like, that is, a culture with no knowledge whatsoever of writing or even the possibility of writing”(31). No knowledge of or possibility of writing? This is such a difficult concept to grasp. Our culture, our lives, wherever you go we are surrounded by literacy, it’s a part of our lives! Without the ability to read and write, our lives would be difficult. Without the ability to read and write I don’t think we would be where we are today without these fundamental tools. Can you imagine our daily routines without literacy? I don’t think we’d make it very far without it! I could go on and on…But aside from my opinion on the first three chapters..Ong’s writings definitely have opened my eyes and allowed me to consider something’s that I haven’t really thought about.