The internet is making us more adaptable, not dumber

[ninwa]

People create an avatar that represents who they want to be.

Photojournalist Robbie Cooper finds out the stories behind these avatars.

He spent three years, travelling to places like Korea, China, France and Germany to photograph people who created an avatar.

http://theswedishbed.wordpress.com/2010/03/25/who-is-hiding-behind-videogames-avatars/

One of them was this:


http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-internet-is-making-us-more-adaptable-not-dumber
Some of them are funny, like the skinny kid who appears as a superhero or the obese boy whose avatar is a Viking-like warrior – and some of them make you wonder what’s the point, such as the woman whose avatar looks exactly like her - but one pair of images really stays with me.

It’s the little boy in an oxygen mask, with stick-like, atrophied arms and hands resting on foam support cushions, next to the image of a menacing figure in full space armour.

It tells a story without words, and it’s a story of liberation – a child whose life has been expanded by the ability to travel to new (even if imaginary) places, and experience a world outside his room.

[Russ]

I remember seeing that a long time ago, but the two aren't mutually exclusive. The internet might liberate some and allow them to become more "adaptable", but I think there's a fairly strong argument that it makes other people "dumber".

[username]

Wow, I didn't realise that guy above is 36 this year until I found the feature of it in the New York Times. Looks like a child o_o

[slothpomba]

Holy crap i thought it was a kid too...
I reckon i owe a large chunk of what i know to wikipedia... so i dont think its made me much dumber

[Eriny]

I don't understand how the internet might make you dumber? It has so much information and you learn a lo from it. But, even if you choose not to visit educational sites, it probably isn't that different from what you'd do irl, just more convenient.

I checked out the photographer's website, it's pretty awesome.

[ninwa]

I was just quoting the article title - I'm not sure either. I suppose the author had in mind all the uproar over how children today spend too much time on the computer and don't know how to interact socially / read a book / etc. anymore...?

[Cthulhu]

internet -> time consumption -> less time for study -> low class marks -> dumber in the eyes of the world.

[Kennybhoy]

internet -> time consumption -> less time for study -> low class marks -> dumber in the eyes of the world.

I like you because you're not cynical at all.