Stop Googling: Let's Talk By Sherry Turkle

In this chapter Sherry Turkle discusses how new technologies have shaped the manner in which we interact with other individuals. Relationships have changed. In this new technological era, where one can remain online all time through various devices, Turkle wonders if being “on” effects the way we perceive others. Since our time is spent looking at screens, we are absent from what is happening in the real world. Instead of being aware of our surroundings, many are consumed by the many different possibilities that the Net provides. Some like to spend their time creating better versions of themselves on sites such as Second Life. Others are consumed in their work and feel that there is not enough time in the day to respond to overwhelming amounts of emails and texts. Turkle writes, “My concern [is] that the connected life encourages us to treat those we meet online in something of the same way we treat objects-with dispatch” (168). There are only so many hours in a day, and responding to many messages

This chapter of Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle essentially focused on the effect technology can have on the bond of a family. The writer depicts different families to prove how social media has creates a false sense of closeness in family relations, when in reality it drives us further apart. As explained in the section named “Left to their own devices”, a teenager named Alli finds herself in a situation most families are currently in. Alli is not able to rely on her family for emotional support and instead seeks comfort from thousands of strangers online. This is a common situation in which teenagers feel more comfortable going out of their way on social media to obtain advice from strangers, instead of having a conversation with

She is constantly giving examples of people feel the need to constantly distract themselves to use social connections with others. “For young people in all of these circumstances, computer, and mobile devices when families are absent.” –Sherry Turkle. “I can just act how I want to act, and it is much freer way.” Turkle uses quotes like this to state her tone as electronic communications and phones are taking over us and controlling our lives.

In the article “Stop Googling. Let’s Talk.” by Sherry Turkle, a lack of empathy and face to face interaction skills in students today is argued to be caused by the large presence of phones in the way we interact. The author discusses the difference in friendships in the years before phones compared to now. The author concludes that the extensive phone usage in today’s society is harmfull for crucial socialization skills. In Sherry Turkle’s “Stop Googling. Let’s Talk.” the use of logos, pathos, ethos, is used presenting her argument to the readers of this article, by presenting research, exclusive experience, and personal emotion to woo the attention of her readers.

A professor at the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at MIT, Sherry Turkle talks about how kids today are attached and somewhat obsessed with technology in her article called “Growing Up Tethered.” Turkle interviews with many different teenagers about the different types of technology they possess and how it impacts their everyday life. She talks a lot about how technology can do away with our privacy and also how people feel the need to be constantly connected. Turkle mainly focuses on the point of how there is a constant need for connection and people are obsessed with knowing who is on the other end of a phone call or waiting for a text back. In her article, she interviews teenagers who are willing to lie or put themselves in danger in order to stay connected. People have lost the meaning of a true relationship and it is very evident in Turkle’s essay that people are too connected with technology to connect with the people around them.

We are at a time where technology is widespread; it has become a part of our everyday life leading to advantages and disadvantages. Technology nowadays has become the most important topic to discuss and everyone has developed their own unique opinion. In Nicholas Carr’s article published in 2008, “Is Google Making Us Stupid” he argues that as technology progresses people’s mentality changes. Carr is effective in his argument by sharing his fears and personal experiences to have an effect on the audience utilizing pathos and ethos. Not only does he include his own experience, but he also includes other people’s point of views. He goes on to support his claim of how technology

“Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” This quote by Christian Lous Lange symbolically shows the relationship between humans and technology and how it can affect people in a good or bad way. Technology can is a great tool for society that provides a service. However, technology can also draw people to it and make it hard for them to turn away. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, is a great sample of what technology is like now and what it might look like in the future. It also shows benefits and disadvantages in technology very thoroughly. Although some people believe that technology brings happiness to society, in Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, Mildred proves that true happiness

In the essay, “Isolated by the Internet”, author Clifford Stoll explains that recent research, conducted by psychologists Robert Kraut and Vicki Lundmark, suggests that frequent use of the Internet has had a generally negative effect on the psychological well being of its users. Using examples from Kraut and Lundmark’s previously mentioned research, Stoll asks, “Will the proliferation of shallow, distant social ties make up for the loss of close local links?” The question Stoll raises here is entirely valid, and just as concerning; as the more time one spends online, the more time one subsequently spends alone, away from people he or she could be potentially interacting with. I believe Stoll’s concerns are completely justified as today, (falsely comforted by shallow, superficial relationships,

Sherry Turkle argues that the dependency on technology in society eliminates the ability to communicate in her essay “the flight of the conversation.” Similarly, Paul Barnwell criticizes societies’ technological dependence but narrows the conversation to the current generation of high school students in his essay, “My Students Don’t Know How to Have a Conversation.” While both authors intend to argue the necessity for making conversation ultimately Turkle better identifies the issue and reaches a wider audience.

actually affects our brains and the way we use them. Many people would argue that technology has more cons than pros, however it’s quite the opposite. We use technology in our everyday lives and it helps us to gain more knowledge than we’ve ever been able to before. The technology we have today is one of the greatest advantages we could have.

Nothing says “human nature” like love and individuality. Part of what makes humans unique is our species’ ability to show compassion and caring for our peers and surroundings. Many people, particularly older generations, believe that the overuse of social technology has ruined the appreciation that younger generations have for the world around them. In Ray Bradbury’s stories, “The Pedestrian” and “The Veldt”, he gives examples of how technology could ruin our affiliations to what would be considered human characteristics. In “The Pedestrian”, Bradbury describes a futuristic world in which no one socializes or takes walks because they are so consumed with their televisions with the exception of one man; in “The Veldt”, parents using advanced

In her essay, “I Had a Nice Time with you Tonight, on the app,” Jenna Wortham believes that social media apps are a helpful way to connect. Wortham swears by apps and is grateful that she can communicate with her boyfriend who is three thousand miles away. Yet some may challenge the view that Social Media apps are a reliable and effective method of communicating, Sherry Turkle stresses people are substituting online communication for face-to-face interaction. Although Turkle may only seem of concern to only a small group of people, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about the negative effects social media can have on people. In her eyes, nothing can replace person-to-person communication. Turkle herself writes that people who spend

Technology is becoming more popular now and it dose not make them feel alone. A lot of people use technology now more than before, and it helps them know more people, and make them more connected. Also, it makes them play with each other, and make them having really fun and good time playing. But a lot of people think technology will make us more alone because technology make people separate from each other. According to Lindsey Craig in her article “Technology -- we all love it and we all use it, but how is it affecting us?” she stated that “Technology is making us more alone, because instead of interacting with our friends in person, we are dependent on using our phones or tablets. We start to compare

Billions have taken this religion along with their already-held beliefs, practicing both side by side. This new and fast-sweeping religion that we are all a part of is the religion of technology, where people worship the new gods of the internet and the television.

Technology affects almost every aspect in our life. Nowadays people use computers and smart phones in their personal social activities, business, education, medical care, politics and, most of all, in entertainment. Needless to say that technology makes our life easier and is the major reason that helps people develop, especially technically, but it certainly affects our life negatively from a social perspective leading people to feel lonely.