Carr vs Cascio

Kevin Wong

Persuasive Writing

7-25-2011

The Carr Misunderstanding

Carr and Cascio both respectfully stated their views on how the future will change due to the Net. On one hand, Carr states that the Net will further deteriorate ones mind, causing them to chip “away my capacity for concentration and contemplation.” On the other hand, Cascio states that it is part of a natural flow, and that humans will evolve due to a “response to the demands of this long age of turbulence.” Cascio’s article “Get Smarter” displays logical and facts to prove Carrs claim that humans are changing, and not for the greater good.

Carr’s essay “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” basically states that the internet is “rewiring our brains”. He uses specific examples to provide proof, but does not provide a larger sample of proof. In his essay, he introduces the idea that he and some other Internet users lose concentration, and tend to be unable to read relatively short-long amounts of text; whether it be in a book or in the web. Nicholas Carr says that the norm is to now skim; hindering our ability to interpret text, and to make “rich mental connections that form when we read deeply…”

Jamais Cascio’s article states that humans cope with dangers by “getting smarter.” They evolve and this process continues. As history repeats, we “can respond, and survive, the way our species has done time and again: by getting smarter.” He includes Carr’s essay and states that “we’re becoming so accustomed to interruption that we’re starting to find focusing difficult, even when we’ve achieved a bit of quiet. It’s an induced form of ADD…” Cascio then continues on and says that although “these enhancements are primitive…we could see other kinds of cognitive-modification drugs that boost recall, brain plasticity, even empathy and emotional intelligence.”

My own view is that although Nicholas Carr has some reasonable statements, he does not provide enough information to back it up and a solution. Jamais Cascio has provided facts from previous events, and also logical statements. It is shown often in history that it does indeed repeat itself, even if by coincidence. Humans have always been able to surpass troubles that come visible due to their adjustments. “The neurophysiologist William Clavin argues persuasively that modern human cognition-including sophisticated language and the capacity to plan ahead-evolved in response to the demands of this long age of turbulence.” Cascio then continues on about how humans will continue to become smarter. Humans already have created drugs that can keep a “person awake and alert for well over 32 hours on end…within an hour of taking a standard 200-mg tablet, I was much more alert, and thinking with considerably more clarity and focus than usual.” Humans are actually becoming smarter rather than having less contemplation and concentration. Cascio suggests that humans are becoming smarter due to the fact that they are able to evolve and adapt. This statement has been repeatedly backed up throughout the history of mankind, from the Mount Toba incident to the Ice Age. Humans have been able to “evolve to meet the challenge”, but not only that but we are able to survive just by our own creations.