The Internet - a drop in cultural literacy?

Question

Does the internet really have an influence on cultural literacy?

Answer 1

Of course it has an influence........ mostly negative but somewhat positive as well.

Positive as a tool to enhance education. If one is reading a book or watching TV one can explore something a bit deeper. I random thought about something that might be interesting..... one can look it up right away. Information on most any subject, culture, viewpoints and anything of interest. Of course this leads to an expanded appreciation of humanity, past, present and future.

But it has to be used wisely and you have to have a basic understanding and education to use it wisely. A book requires reading through and understanding the information in context. Just veiwing a bunch of web pages (say if a kid is doing homework) and picking out the good parts or what agrees with ones stance puts nothing in context.

Instead of cultural literacy I would be more concerned about literacy itself. Education is not all about facts..... it's learning critical thinking and being able to see all sides to form an opinion. When you read a lot you learn how to think and digest information.

I'd think about texting and IMing and the shortened way of writing. Look and some of the questions in Answers. It is obvious that this shortening is leading toward people toward soundbites and a low attention span. Some may argue that this speeds things up and they can switch back and forth. Colleges and businesses are already grappling with his issue and people are entering either and are unable to think critically or write. Even before computers and even more so today...... in every industry these abilities are at a premium. There are plenty of people who really know the subject matter but can't write.

Answer 2

I'm certain it does and one might believe that might be a negative thing, in that it blurs the distinction between one culture or another as one adopts the lingo or philosophies of another. A bit like the way the UK has fallen in with US culture over the last 10 years or so. There are other factors at work, politics for instance, but a great deal must be down to the ease with which we are able to communicate globally nowadays.

In time though, hopefully this will also help to dispel cultural barriers - you know, the ones that lead to conflict and war - in which case, a little merging of cultures is no big loss.

We certainly know more about other cultures now and have a greater understanding of them and hopefully greater tolerance - always a good thing - so in that respect, the communications network of the Internet HAS influenced cultural literacy because it has been the primary enabling technology of this process. We can now talk to people all over the world, without having to view them solely through politically motivated and censored news reporting.

Answer 3

I would say so. People have learnt to write in a short form through emailing and texting. No one desires the beauty of the written word - good enough to understand seems to be the thing

Answer 4

no, its just another tool that actually melts away cultural barriers.

but i think it is sad. as humanity becomes more and more alike, we will have less and less individualism.

i personally enjoy other cultures and wish everyone would keep their distinct culture.

a one-world culture will be boring, sad, depressing and will lead to mass ignorance

Answer 5

reading alot on the internet and learning alot of crap. most of the time. carn,t beat a good book

Answer 6

Heavans no. People have access to information on everything. If they use it wisely, they can only get wiser.

Answer 7

for any generation it ART, it is within us, it has to be brought out at the appropriate time and at the appropriate moment

Answer 8

the internet is amazing, you can find out anything.