After reading the book, Cognitive Surplus, by Clay Shirky, I was left thinking how our world would be if we didn’t have TV and the media. TV has exploded over the times and is now a forefront of our society. If someone was to say they don’t watch TV, you would wonder what they do with their free time. Well, there are so many other things that can be done besides watching TV that can help them like exercising, socializing, working more, community service, and so many others.
One point I never thought of was that those who watch more TV are more likely to be lonely than those who watch little TV. It makes complete sense though after reading that and thinking about it. Watching TV may pass the time and give you something to do when nothing else is going on, but when people are watching TV over interacting with others is where it can become a very lonely thing. “Television viewing has come to displace principally (a) other diversions, (b) socializing, and (c) sleep,” (Shirky, 7.) I know I would rather hang out with friends any day than watch TV. I think watching TV over getting sleep is a big problem. I know I have many times stayed up watching a show when I should be sleeping, but watching the show was more important at the time.
One very important outcome of media is the ability to connect to so many others from all around the world. We are now able to have conversations over Skype where we can see one another. It is very helpful for businesses that are doing international trade and business together. The amount of money that can be saved from having this media is huge. Travel isn’t needed now to do face to face interaction when it can be done over the internet.
Another thing I found interesting was how people will use media and help others through it even though they are not getting anything out of it. In the book, they talked about the website where people would post information and videos of brutality in Congo. People were posting videos to keep everyone aware of what was happening around them so people were able to understand the nature of it. Also, they talked about the Grobanites and how people were taking time out to help with the site and organization to raise money. If people are given the ability to do things that can help change the world, they will do that because everyone wants to live in a better world.
Sharing information with others is something that has been a big part of the media. “Sharing thoughts and expressions and even actions with others, possibly many others, is becoming a normal opportunity, not just for professionals and experts but for anyone who wants it,” (177.) The first thing that comes to my mind are blogs. We have created blogs in our class and we have the ability to share information and our thoughts with whoever wants to read them. If we were to be passionate about something or wanted to use it as tool to communicate with our peers in work and students, we can do that as well. YouTube is growing bigger and bigger and videos get uploaded every day. People never used to have this type of media form but now they are able to use the site for many different purposes. Posting videos on YouTube can now even be a person’s job by having millions of people checking their videos out.
Cognitive surplus is a very interesting concept to think about and makes me wonder what if? What if we didn’t have TV to watch during our free time? How much would our work be impacted and our social skills? It is something that no one knows now because TV is just part of our everyday life to pass the time.
This is a very thought provoking reflection. I really was struck by your point about the difference between TV and the internet's impact on social feelings. TV is such and individual activity that it causes us to feel lonely, while the internet, especially now, connects us. Once again, this is a real positive thing for most people. I think particularly of older people who have embraced technology often feel much less lonely than those in the past or who still don't use technology much. I think of my father who while in his 70's is still very mobile and goes out and does a lot of things. But technology has allowed him to communicate more often with his grandkids through texting, email with his friends, find a blog to read and occasionally share his thoughts on the Brewers, and Craigslist to sell his old stuff. While certainly not to the changing the world level the author spoke about, it certainly has changed his world for the better.
ReplyDeleteGreat summary Colton, interesting comments Mark! Very thought provoking indeed.
ReplyDeleteGreat summary, Colton. I also found the section in the book that talked about how lonely people watch TV, and how the charaters in the shows become almost like imaginary friends. Although I do not consider myself lonely, sometimes when I watch a few seasons of a show, I do feel like I know the characters. Furthermore, on Twitter you can follow many famous people and then you feel even more like you actually know them! It is crazy how connected we can be.
ReplyDelete