The Edge Question 2010: How is the internet changing the way you think?
• Science historian George Dyson asks “what if the cost of machines that think is people who don’t?” He wonders “will books end up back where they started, locked away in monasteries and read by a select few?”.
• Technology analyst Nicholas Carr wrote , “Is Google Making Us Stupid”. Has the use of the Web made it impossible for us to read long pieces of writing?
The Edge Annual Question — 2010:
HOW IS THE INTERNET CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK?
This year’s Question is “How is the Internet changing the way YOU think?” Not “How is the Internet changing the way WE think?” We spent a lot of time going back on forth on “YOU” vs. “WE” and came to the conclusion to go with “YOU”, the reason being that Edge is a conversation. “WE” responses tend to come across like expert papers, public pronouncements, or talks delivered from stage.
Meet artists, intellectuals and Scientists around the world. From Kevin Kelly to Brian Eno, from Richard Dawkins, to Clay Shirky, to Nicholas Carr – 172 essayists (an array of world-class scientists, artists, and creative thinkers) have created a 132,000 document. (Click here to go directly to the responses).
What do you think?
August 12th, 2010 at 7:55 am
Instant information at my finger tips. There is no real research skills being developed and no real thinking skills encouraged.
June 15th, 2010 at 12:47 am
The internet is becoming more and more the predominant way to communicate with others, pay bills, order books , amuse my self . Although I think most of it’s uses are positive I thnk that many of it’s uses are mere self amusement masquarading as thinking . I think in sound bites, quotes , psuedo wisdom and slick know-all the internet allows me to let my mind wander any where it will .
I joined Michael’s thinking course because I’m still learning how to think. I need to understand better ways use of the internet for more effective thinking
June 13th, 2010 at 11:13 am
The internet’s most valuable function, from my point of view, is that it makes it easy to find books I want to read, even if they are out of print and the only copy in “near fine” condition for under $5.00 is in a little bookshop in Saskatchewan. I know people use the internet for other things, but this has really changed my life! Sure, I got a little carried away at first, checking my e-mail 38 times a day, rushing from the dinner table to look up which is the largest dam in the world, planning my future according to the highly unreliable but colorful and well-presented five-day weather forecasts. But it really comes down to books, for me. Oh, and making it really easy to donate to MoveOn.org and other such organizations, of course.
June 12th, 2010 at 2:33 am
I think Michael is right. Wisdom has a chance to appear with the age. For me, the internet has been a tool to confirm almost all of my viewpoints. More than knowledge, Internet is giving me information.
June 2nd, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Google is God without judgement. Unlike God. Google responds. No orisons or candles or promises Google is always there and ready. Reaches everywhere. Thousands of opinions. I correspond with people all over the world. Language no barrier. MAC takes care of diverse tongues. Its like a mighty wave sweeping all before it. The iPad will defang editors and would be king makers I found SOT and Richard Dawkins just to mention a few. I did my homework by Candlelight. It is hard to explain. The internet has expanded my vision and perception. Before Internet in I knew there was billion chinese Now I can talk to them> Canute failed, so to will the Regime in China. I can also voice an opinion and know it is not in the In Basket. The universal cataract is being scraped away JMD
May 10th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
The internet provides us with instant access to information. This information is so easy to publish and lacks the rigger that was once attributable to published information. For me this has meant that I have had to question the validity of that information and question its use as knowledge. In the same way I find that I am less inclined to accept other sources of information until I have checked or tested the viability of that information. So for me at least the internet means that I am thinking more, and reading more than I did prior to 1993.
February 23rd, 2010 at 5:47 am
i changed my mind about politics since i relocated to australia in 1988. I used to live in the USA and came to australia and got into a few interesting political discussions. Living here gave me a totally different view so much so that i became an australian and relinquished my usa citizenship which is a no no to them.
G
February 8th, 2010 at 6:55 am
Religion, I used to be very religious but have since changed my mind. I find it very difficult to believe in something that is not tangible, since man is a very ‘tangible’ species. Hence the five senses. Also the bible states that man has been given the freedom of choice, to believe or not to believe. However the bible also states if we don’t follow it word for word we are all going to hell. I fail to see the freedom of choice in such a situation.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:40 am
I think I have discovered also that we are relatively on the same path as everyone, we are all given similar information but what makes us different is willingness, time and consciousness. How we use the information we ar given is what makes us individual.
November 26th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I once believed we were all so very different – special in our individual ways. Now I realise it’s only our thinking that differentiate us.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I am still training myself to disregard pointless worry and stress. Recently, a friend suggested I place all of my stress-points into bubbles of different colors and simply blow them away. As ridiculously mental as this sounds, I have found it helpful.
I have changed my mind on self-help books and taking advice from strangers. I have changed my mind about not listening.
December 17th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I have changed my mind that the current political structure of our world can prepare us and lead us into the changes and challenges of the future. I have spoken with policy writers and speech writers of both parties here in the states and Princes and Rajs from other countries and find a lack of comprehension of the significance of their actions good or bad. A government should have a benevolence which is not based upon more power and wealth to the upperclass but is dedicated to educating and directing the citizens in most aspects of life. Those who rule must have a workable plan which should include all aspects of life. There is a point where one realizes altering the present vehicle is impractical and another vehicle more suited for the task at hand must be purchased. Inculcated from early childhood in belief in the American Way was hard to change but necessary.
November 21st, 2008 at 5:16 am
I believed I couldn’t, and I was right. NOW, I believe I can, and blow me down if I’m not right again
Hahaha Yipeee.