<p>Lately, I have had interest in articles about how the Internet is changing the way we read. How do you feel about this finding?</p>
<p>Do you feel that the Internet is affecting the way you read? Here are links with a perspective of this opinion:</p>
<p>Is</a> Google Making Us Stupid?</p>
<p>R</a> U Really Reading?</p>
<p>Dumbest generation!!!</p>
<p>Huh? I wasn't implying that anyone was dumb, lol.</p>
<p>Yes; extensive studies have shown that people tend to skim more online than in books. That topic is covered in Mark Bauerlein's excellent book, The Dumbest Generation, which I read in a few hours at Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago.</p>
<p>Personally, no. I've always been one to skim, so the Internet had nothing to do with it. I also read pretty fast, and the Internet has only helped that. I can still absorb long articles and read regular written texts just fine. </p>
<p>I guess it also depends on how you spend your time on the Internet too. If most of your activities include social networking and writing messages in text message speak, then your ability to read and comprehend might be effected. On the other hand, if you're reading well crafted passages of text, such as news articles, or even some of the well-written posts here and on some other message boards, I see it as no different than picking up a book.</p>
<p>I spend most of my time online reading academic works.</p>
<p>Smartest Generation? - the mental stimulation of enveloping media without the cursed complacency of television. I agree with technol21 in that it depends on what you do. Like many, I am in some concord with Dr.Horse here. Reading e-books is like reading books, although I feel a difference. </p>
<p>I can't speak for anyone else, but I need to keep stationery in front of me, near the keyboard. There is a distinct need (for me) to write down stuff. I would like to know who else is unsatisfied with e-book experience, but there are two habits that I don't think will be replaced soon:
1. Writing between the lines, ie, taking notes
2. Writing and sketching as required in problem solving and literary and technical challenges</p>
<p>That said, when the mind is accustomed to processing a lot of information, it might adapt - in the same way that videogames have edified the population. On the other hand, many people's brains are prone to weeding out information, so much so that the absence of this reflex is regarded as a symptom of a recognized disorder. This might lead to laziness of the mind. Anyway, that's what heterogeneity is for: the information-weeding population will fall in prosperity while the information-gathering population rises, and then the cycle continues.</p>
<p>EDIT:
By the way, MSN Messenger is the Devil; other chat-based applications are mock diablitos; all text messages should be long unless they have a good reason to be discrete; Facebook is for personal ads, information gathering and career connections; and Google has placed the phrase "I don't know" under a carefully guarded embargo (all in my exaggerated opinion).</p>
<p>I'd testably infer a large proportion of the population, say 1 in 3, has been dumbing but the smartest fare as well as ever.</p>
<p>Perhaps. I don't read at all unless required for school (even that comes with a mainly sparknotes instituted policy), and I'm always on the computer...and my reading level I should say isn't too good.</p>