The Internet Makes Us Smarter!

[gothicMana9]

well basicly it depends on how u use it @_@.. it does make some of our skills better, like communication, writing skills.. but as in SMARTER in math or in school...i say NO WAY @o@...
yes these days when we have any question in our minds we do google..etc.. but the internet makes most people 8specially kids8 obssesed, so instead of playing..."math games" that their parents think they r doing, those kids go & play RPG online games..watch weird stuff on youtube etc.. so the internet distroys more than it actually fixes *in my opinion* ..sadly, before having the internet i drew more & i read really boring books that i wonder HOW ON EARTH was i reading those books @_@? anyway! the point is..that the internet got me obssed that i usally waste my time playing games, reading manga or watching anime *lol*
the internet can only be useful under the instructions of an adult^^

[Amaranthine]

Hm...I have to disagree with that commercial...

It's true that with the Internet we have all kinds of information available to us almost immediately, however, I believe that ready availability stagnates the brain. I think of the brain like a muscle. When you want to strengthen your muscles, you challenge them using weights, exercise, etc. This exercise has to be maintained in order to keep them strong. The same goes for the brain; you challenge it with questions to keep it performing well and when it isn't challenged, it deteriorates. Since the Internet can supply us with answers to any question we can dream up instantly, the brain is presented with no obstacle to wrestle with, and is therefore denied the opportunity to become stronger. For example, I've found that when I simply look up the answer to a math problem I've been struggling with on the Internet, I forget exactly how to answer that type of problem very quickly. On the other hand, when I buckle down and tackle the problem on my own, the method I used to work through the problem stays with me a lot longer.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the Internet shouldn't be used. After all, I can't expect to spontaneously know something obscure like how to care for African land snails just by thinking about it for a long time. I just think it shouldn't be overused in more scholarly pursuits with more subjectivity surrounding them, like literature analysis and the like. It's more important and more beneficial to figure out how to do it on your own and to draw your own conclusions.

[setsu]

I can't remember not knowing how to type, we were working with computers since about 3rd or 4th grade.. but I really don't see the computer as the end-all of entertainment.
My mom used to say "if you follow the crowd, you're only as smart as the dumbest person around" and I met quite a few dumb people in my first forays into the internet, in chat rooms and on forums. So I really didn't rely on the computer for much. I am admittedly on the computer quite a lot nowadays, but I still do things outside of it. I still draw and color things by hand, I write stories and my journals and in my diary with a real pen on real paper.. I still always have a real book in my purse that I'm reading, though I do also have several e-books on my phone that I read as well..
I've always been pretty good at using the English language, though I must say that the internet has expanded my vocabulary and grammar skills, mostly because I make an effort to surround myself with people who type more like I do, with full sentences and punctuation, so I will occasionally come across a word I am unfamiliar with, and look it up.

I guess my point is that it really all depends on how you use it. Yeah, having instant information can be a bad thing, especially when you use it to look up a math answer rather than working it out yourself, but it can be a great thing, too.
I must admit it saddens me to see the modern generation sometimes, not seeing the point of paper dictionaries, encyclopedia, or thesauri, or knowing the joy of reading a book that you have to hold in your hand and turn the pages.. or being unable to find entertainment if the power is out or they're forced outside with no gadgetry..

[Amaranthine]

@ setsu

Good point. I can say that the Internet has made me smarter in some ways too. Like you said, in more literate online communities people can expose you to new words, opinions, ways of thinking, etc. They can also keep your grammar in check. Some websites are designed to make people smarter and learn new skills as well, so the Internet does have a lot going for it. Unfortunately, those sites and communities seem to be few and far between to me. The typical Internet-user doesn't really go on to have serious discussion with literate, intelligent people. Most would rather play games and chat with friends and such. It's not there's anything wrong with that, but it really doesn't do much to improve your mental performance. I guess what I'm trying to get at here is that, yes the Internet has enormous potential to help make us smarter, but I doubt that most people use it in such a way.

On another note I also share your distress at the modern generation's fixation on technology. It may be because I'm pretty old-fashioned, but to me, nothing compares to curling up with good book. I love the feel and smell of the paper, the sturdy hard-bound covers, and the weight of the book in my hands. Please excuse my utter nerdiness, but reading just seems that much more meaningful to me when I get to have those sensory experiences along with it.

[setsu]

it's similar for me. I love the feel of a book in my hands, the smell of one, especially one I've had for a long time, and that's been in and out of storage and has that slightly musty.. book smell I dunno..
Also with art, I love the weight of a pencil in my hand, the sound of it scratching against the page, that unique smell of colored pencils... a tablet is kind of close, but certainly not quite the same.

[Amaranthine]

Ooh, I really can't stand drawing on a tablet. I feel really restricted in my movement and it's hard to get a feel for the picture as a whole because the screen only lets me see so much of the canvas at a time. I have to zoom in and out constantly if I want to look at the entire picture and then continue working, which is really bothersome. Plus, it just doesn't feel right. Like you, I enjoy the sounds, smells and textures of traditional artwork. Digital art can be amazing, no doubt, but it's just not for me.