Friday May 25, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Inquiring minds now turn to Google, not friends

Commentary Jul. 20, 2011 - 07:00AM JST ( 5 )

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5 Comments

1

tkoind2Jul. 21, 2011 - 12:04AM JST

So what will happen when or if the internet is down for a protracted period? In our technology filled isolation modern people do not have the same strong social networks that may have provided a pool of knowledge before. So remove electricity and you remove knowledge.

In many ways it should be profoundly sad to us that we no longer have Joe the expert on baseball who amazes the community with his depth of knowledge. Or Mike the history expert, or Mary the wild foods expert. Because we all depend upon web and media for information and no longer work to build networks of real people who share interests and knowledge. This is cyber isolation and is widely apparent in places like Tokyo. Crowded streets and trains, but reportedly isolated and socially disabled masses.

Does not bode well should we ever face a time without our new toys. Nor does it bode well for the future of social fabric.
2

gonemadJul. 21, 2011 - 01:03AM JST

before the Internet, how did we answer these questions?

I can't recall asking friends except for trivia. Instead, there were large encyclopediae and other books for the subjects which I had an interest in. The internet has replaced the written books, but not my friends.
1

John BeckerJul. 21, 2011 - 01:08AM JST

If she wanted to know about movie trivia, why did she bother with Google and not go directly to IMDB?
0

NoripinheadJul. 21, 2011 - 11:54AM JST

I think these days everybody has the ability to know a little about almost everything but there is not much depth of knowledge or intellectual curiosity due to Wikipedia and instant answers from googling things. We've lost something along the way...
1

NetNinjaJul. 21, 2011 - 12:21PM JST

John Becker. I'm so with you there. IMDB has an app too.

Okay picture this. You're sitting at a table and all your friends have Iphones. ALL OF THEM!! This is my life anyway.

We often have those questions....who was, or when was that....anyway....we all know we can just Google it. (I don't even Google it, I just speak into my phone) but what happens to the conversation?

I, myself, don't actually like going to my Iphone to check. I could but I don't. What we are talking about really isn't that important. We are just socializing.

IMHO, it doesn't look good if you boot up your phone every single time there's a question. Blah blah blah?? Oh lemme check... How much is this? I'll check. I wonder if they'll have caramel popcorn at that theater. I can check right now. Can you picture that? Or have you seen what I'm talking about? Is it you?

I think it's good NOT to whip out the smartphone cause it allows us a chance to discover who's interested in what. My friend is a walking IMDB and I love him for it. Everybody in the group has something to offer and when we go to Google we take that opportunity away from someone.

So when should we Google and when should we leave it in our pockets? I think if you don't know know the last train, you should Google, If you don't know,let's say, Ockham's razor, give your friend a chance to explain it. The both of you will feel better.