- The faster our technology becomes, the more impatient we grow. Society values instant results, and when they are not delivered people will deem it inconvenient or will look to something else. This is dangerous because when people demand that as soon as a question or an idea comes to mind, that an answer be presented, it can devalue the process of thinking simply because it is not convenient enough. In a culture were the value of solitary thinking is minimal to non existent, it's people are bound to grow "dumber" (less observant, inquisitive, analytical, independent).
- With so many facets of digital expression, how important can the digital "feeds" we put out there really be? Is it crucial and vital to update your twitter, myspace, facebook, and AIM away message? I would argue that it's simply an explosion of random meaningless chatter that allows people to create a universe, and put themselves at the center of it. Because what, really, is the motive for tweeting every 10 min? It might be harsh, but most people probably could care less about the blow by blow details of your life. But by being presented with the question that sites like twitter present ("what are you doing now?") people feel compelled to answer. Soon it becomes an addicting habit that allows the person to feel as though they are leading an important and interesting life, and owe it to their "friends" or "fans" to keep them posted at all times, lest they miss a key moment such as "chiilin' in the crib watching family guy".
-Where does reality begin? End? I think it's hard to draw a clear line at this point, because so many things in the virtual world affect physical and in-person reality. If you text someone telling them you like them, it can affect your face to face contact with them even though you have never said anything to them in person. This whole concept is weird, because it allows people to say things they would never say to someone face to face, yet have the in-person experience as though they did. There are even people who announce to their spouse that they are filing for divorce by changing their facebook status from "married" to single". What does this amount to? I think less social skills that will ultimately put our generation at a disadvantage to forming a true human to human relationship, because we will be so at loss and uneasy.
-With all these digital devices, networks and sites, where do you go? Where does your authentic self fit in to all this media, if at all?
-Digital representation devices are highly addictive. It's easy to fall into the trap of needing to be plugged in at all times; a willing or unwilling addict.
-Social networking can at times seem like a form of self advertisement. The about me section, profile pic, and other details of your page are deliberately selected by you in order to present the image you want others to see.
-There are TVs everywhere, even in cars. This shows how dependent we are on technology; we can't even go for a 30 min drive without plugging our kids in front of TV sets. It's as though the TV has replaced pacifiers for getting kids to stop being restless.
- As of now, the digital world and the "actual" world co-exist (although often overlapping), but possibly in the near future they will be inseparable, intertwined. It kind of reminds me about what we learned a few years back in humanities, the "industrial revolution" and how that put many people out of work because human labor was no longer needed. I think a "digital revolution" could very well happen, and we may not need certain jobs anymore because computers will take their place.
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