American Values 2.0

I'm of a mixed opinion that Google and/or the Internet in general are making us dumber and more narcissistic. Aren't these traits already there in the American public? Haven't we seen our kid's scores, particularly in math and science lag behind other countries for years? Are these concerns purely about kids in the US or are our concerns about the nation as a whole?

I see examples of these concerns every day.

• When we are being advised about finding a new job, aren't we told that we have to have a brand? And like any good brand, it must be advertised fully to achieve recognition.
• In the workplace, we often produce written materials to inform and educate colleagues and management. How many times have you sent a document that answers every question a person would have only to be asked a question because the individual hasn't read the document that was provided?
• Participate in conference calls? Ever ask a participant a question only to have him ask you to repeat it because he was "multi-tasking" on something else?

These concerns or problems aren't new, but the speed of technology makes them so obvious.

Do I think that the Internet encourages it? Absolutely. Perhaps it's time to challenge our teachers, parents, writers, etc. to incorporate ways of using today's technology to improve the learning experience and better educate our kids.