The best times｜The worst times

We live in the best times and the worse time!

Technology makes us easy to access to more data as well as post information on the internet. We are exposed to all the unjustified or disorganized, and maybe untrue date every time when we google. Based on Lawrence Lessig , Keynote for "Speech, Privacy, and the Internet", Lawrence mentioned the next generation, those kids who use internet since little, would be more triangulating, skeptical compared to the older generations. They do not register until information is confirmed.

Really?? I doubt it.

I lean more toward “The dumbest generation” observation.

I do not think that younger demographics are capable of critical thinking by facing so much fragmenting data. They are used to skimming articles or using Ctrl+F to find key words that they need. I do not see any in-depth digesting process happening as far as I understand.

The popularity of internet also causes an important privacy concern: the data survives forever. Once your profile being uploaded, it will be pulled out by all means someday. This sounds really scary to me! I am not sure if those young kids are aware of this issue while no matter what they post will be staying on the internet forever.

“Education” seems to play a more important role in the future. The kids will have much more tools to be exposed to the world than we do right now. They need to be taught and encouraged to think in different perspectives in their early stage. They need to be taught to be more responsible for their behavior and decisions.

The technology brings easiness as well as challenges. We all live in the best but the worst times.

Father, I want to confess...

I feel bad. I am a dumb.

I rely on the spell check so often that sometimes when I hand write some English words or Chinese characters, I need to type them in Microsoft Word and ask for help from spell check.

I am so used to web searching that I want to get the answer in a second. I would be impatient to a lengthy article. Based on my habits, I usually skim through main ideas. And even sometimes, I would use Ctrl+F to find the key words which locates the part I want to search for information.

I sometimes process thinking in pieces because I absorb incomplete information.

I need more time to finish a logical sentence, to analyze an argument, to see analogies, and to distinguish fact from opinion.

I feel sometimes it is easier or more comfortable for me to talk with unfamiliar friends through g-chat, messenger, text messages, or Facebook wall post than in person. Technology somewhat shorten the distance?

I feel panic sometimes if I do not get the responses quick enough from my friends, boy friends, or family. The feature of the Web -“efficiency” heavily influence on me. I forget the beauty of “waiting”.

It is scary to face the ugly truth but it is also great to diagnose myself by confessing in front of you. I know where I am now and now I know where I want to go.

Thank you, Father.