When I opened Nicholas Carr’s The Shadows, I just finished preparing
myself for yet another voice on the never ending topic of technology. However,
as I started reading, I could not help but to think to myself how great of a
text this is to end our class. Within only the first chapter, it encompassed
many of the aspects we discussed during our time together and further
elaborated on them. On page 3, Carr states “We’re too busy being dazzled or
disturbed by the programming to notice what’s going on inside our heads.” Snaps
to Carr.
As humans, we spend way too much
time getting lost in the world of screens, lens, and remote controls without
noticing how our brains are being altered. Years ago, humans used to get lost
within pages of a great novel. I can honestly say that I completely fall into
the category of a typical college student who cannot read a book from cover to
cover to save my life. Is this okay?
I strongly advocate that it is.
Reading a book cover to cover for a class is of course beneficial to say the
least, but when I have my plate full and tipping onto three more plates,
reading naturally goes to the bottom of my priority list. If it were not for
the internet, this would not happen. I have become a master of skimming,
finding key terms, and researching them for a quick lesson. When I found that
Joe O’Shea and I shared this trait, I could not help but to feel a sense of
relief that my habits are somewhat acceptable.
At a school like this, where books
are assigned to be read on the regular, how are the students managing to keep
up? I know a very few amount of people who will sit down and complete a whole
reading assignment. I commend them for that. But for the rest of us skimmers,
we use the skills that the internet taught us to do so. I do agree that the
internet has made us think in choppy fragments, but I also believe that the
internet taught us to comprehend faster and to think at an overall speedier
pace. Reading a book does not compliment that. On pages 6 and 7, Carr states “Whether
I’m online or not, my mind now expects to take in information the way the Net
distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles.”
So I have confessed to you guys. I
am a skimmer, but I bet you have skimmed once or twice in your lives too. I
fell into the trap of technology at an early age and got caught up in its
dazzling features. That is just how it is, and no matter how much we are
pressured into reading books, we most likely are not going to read it in its
entirety when the internet is at our fingertips. It is the truth. For those of
you who do, I wish I had your patience and willingness.
I completely agree with your post, Bethany. I too have been guilty of skimming texts. Like you, I have my plate really full, and I simply don't have the time to complete all of the reading that is assigned to me in all of my classes. I do not think being a skimmer is a bad thing though. I actually think it is sometimes more beneficial to skim and/or just read the major parts of a text. If we just have to read the main points, those will be clear to us, and they will not get mixed together with the less important parts of a text. While I thought the first 80 pages of Carr's book were interesting, I think I would have remembered more of the main points if we just read those rather than the less important parts or things that were repeated over and over again. I'm sure some of the authors we read in this class would say that I am an example of how the Internet has affected the youth's ability to read and focus, but I do think skimming to the main points can be more useful.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I admit, and I'm sure lots of other students will, that I am guilty of skimming. I completely agree with you that the Internet has enabled us to become similar to that of "professional skimmers". For example, if I Google summary of a specific book, I will immediately be flooded with many responses of bullet points with insight to the main points of the book. Thus, the fact that students today have it in the back of their mind that the Internet holds many answers and synopsis of their readings, it makes them inclined to skim even more so.
ReplyDeleteThis was an awesome post, Bethany! I also am guilty of skimming texts as some points. Like you and Jordan, I have a huge amount to do and sometimes I need to skim to fit everything into my waking hours. I agree with Jordan that sometimes it is more beneficial to skim or read key points that way the points are clear in our memory. I am still capable of reading books cover to cover if I have the time, but in this society, who does?
ReplyDeleteGreat post Bethany! Like others, I am definitely in the same boat as you are when it comes to being guilty of skimming. But, I do not think it is bad at all. When we skim, we more than likely cover the main parts of a reading. Then, we usually use the Internet to find out more information about this topic. Due to the fact that the Internet provides us with a plethora of information, we normally read whatever is provided on the Internet. I believe the summaries that are provided for us on the Internet are beneficial and give us modern day examples. Even though skimming can be classified as a lazy trait to some, I believe it provides us with the essential information that is truly needed to grasp the concept that is being taught.
ReplyDeleteThank you, everyone! I was afraid of these comments just because I did not think I would get such positive feedback. I am glad I do not stand alone though. It really is difficult to manage everything in college nowadays. After I wrote this post I started thinking back into the earlier days of college life. They could read plenty of books and not think anything of it. But then it hit me that they did not have any technology. That's the difference. Our brains are just technologically wired, and that's just how it is today. Don't get me wrong though I have the ability to read a whole book. Usually it's on my tablet though, and it has a juicy plot full of drama and romance. Again, thanks for all of your great feedback!
ReplyDeletegreat post! as you said in your comment above, all of these comments are so positive, and it is because we all do exactly what you and Carr describe. I am most definitely a skimmer. It has helped me but it has also hurt me in the past. I often fall too comfortable with the idea that skimming is all i have to do to be prepared for class. When actually do have time to do the full reading, I usually find myself procrastinating and watching TV rather than reading the whole assignment because I know I can just skim it to be "prepared" for class. I wish I did not fall into this habit, and I would really like to work on it, but while here at UC I do not see giving up skimming in my near future.
ReplyDelete