Revised Rough Draft [HW #20]

Digital technology has, without a doubt, an engulfing effect. Digitalization has taken over many aspects of our lives. The things we see, the things we listen to, the way we interact- they have all been manipulated so that it can be more accessible to us through digital representational devices (DRDs). Anyone would, of course, tell you that they are well aware that these stimulations are not authentic and are distorting our perception of world. There is a consensus about the effects of digitalization; most people would agree that it alienates us from the world, and wastes our time. However, we continue to obsessively use these DRDs, neglecting our realizations about digitalization- as though, our thoughts should not matter when we're submerging ourselves into this world. We are imprisoned by our own way of digitalization. We knowingly continue to live our faux-lives, returning to our internet profiles regardless of what our thoughts and feelings tell us.

“That’s just how it is” (Interviewee). There is a general belief that digitalization is engraved into our lifestyles. We believe that since digitalization has such a lasting role thus far, it is here to stay. We have already come to accept it as a part of life- as a medium that connects us with society and the rest of the world. Without it, we will fail to succeed in society socially and economically, or at least that is what we believe. Even now, as I am writing this essay on my blog, I feel as though my desire to succeed academically is binding me to the computer. Digital technology is now perceived as a necessity, rather than a privilege. In a way, it has become the way to communicate; everything else is marginal. We’ve taken in DRDs as a major part of our lives, because we directly associate communication with DRDs. And we constantly return to DRDs because if we were to forfeit them, we would be forfeiting our way of communication, and our connections with the rest of the world.

We are at a point where “the internet has become the default playground of our society” (Carrie L). DRDs play such a big role in our way of communication that we passively accept it into our lives, hardly ever reconsidering an alternative method. We constantly go back to DRDs because it is the set way of communication, as is drinking water, eating food and inhaling oxygen are the set ways of survival. As portrayed by M.T. Anderson in his allegory Feed, these pieces of digital technology have been implanted into our lives. The characters have chips, known as the Feed, that are literally implanted into their heads, and they monitor and influence everything the person is thinking and feeling. “Her spine was, I didn’t know the word. Her spine was like…? The feed suggested ‘supple.’” (14). Not only do these characters communicate through the feeds, like we do with AIM or MSN or whatever, but these chips in their heads prompt them with what they have to say.

In a very similar manner, we too rely on our "feeds" to tell us what to think. Much of our attention goes to what is happening online, who said what on Facebook, what comments are you receiving, even when we're not physically in front of digital screen. The internet, itself decides on how we interact with one another. It has already been incorporated into our lifestyles. Without our feeds we too wouldn’t know what to think, or how to properly socialize. We would lose our way of life, and be stuck in a state of mental immobility.

Wall-E, another representation of our lives, demonstrates that we cannot escape DRDs because it has become an all-surrounding part of our lives. From what was seen in class, the people in the movie are all moving along a set track, as they are distracted by the flowing screen put directly in front of their faces. These people are blindly staring and accepting what is presented to them. And when they are told, “try blue, it's the new red,” they did just that. These DRDs are shoved right in front of our faces, and play such a large role in our lives, that we do not avoid because we think we can’t avoid it. The only path that seems available to us would be the same path we’ve been following most of our lives: an arbitrary path that consists of a physical world replaced by holographic screens.

The sanctuary is behind the glowing screen. We strive to be in a place that is both comfortable and empowering- and what better place is there than the internet? We can control our identities, manipulate other's perceptions more easily, pick out what we see and hear, and be cool. There is an expectation that everyone has to act as a reflection of the positive energy that other people send them. And most people try to meet this expectation. Everyone has to be nice; everyone has to be charming; everyone has to be funny; and everyone has “lol” at every dumb statement. If done successfully, the person’s chances of developing a more “intimate” relationship with the other person. But of course, hardly anyone can act this way all the time- unless they’re on the internet.

We are, for the most part, well aware that we put on these false identities when we’re chatting away online. “You have no idea who you are, so you're experiment which one is more likeable” (John L). We want to be liked, so we project ourselves in whatever form that will appeal to more people. And when we’re online, our identities are more easily adjustable. However, when we’re in the outside world, such an alteration is not as accessible; in that we are much more perceivable. If a person allows their internet profiles completely overlap their physical lives, they would be called a “fake” or a “phony,” at least that’s what my observations have told me. We return to DRDs and the internet, because that would never be the issue. Everyone is trying to act nice, and managing their coolness. No one will ever try to blow off anyone’s mask, because they’re so preoccupied in trying to project their own. Your faux-identities are safe, and forever-growing.

Given the opportunity to be who they want, people are more inclined to use DRDs to project themselves, even when believing that being “someone who you’re not” is a negative thing. In an interview with the employee at Yogurberry, I asked him why he thought people would choose to text and use the computer over sports. He responded by saying, “It's more fun to talk on phone. And I become more fun on the phone.” There is some sort of distortion caused by the phone that allows the person to be more “fun.” The interviewee also added, “I am more confident when I am in front of the computer. People become more social through technology.” Again, having this indirect connection with another person allows the user to alter their personalities. This particular interviewee didn’t appear too ashamed about this habit of using DRDs to seem more “fun.” However, do know that this person is a person who said, “You feel more alive when you're playing sports and actively moving.” So even though there is a better option, sports, that make you feel more “alive,” this individual, along with many others, chose to be fun and confident through the phone.

DRDs have their benefits as well; therefore it is okay for us to use them. If we emphasize on them enough, we have a legitimate excuse to continue on this path to doom. In Everything Bad is Good For You, Johnson mentions on several occasions that we are the ones in control. When we are watching television, playing video games, or using the internet, we are the manipulators not the manipulated. Through DRDs, we are “learning to lead.” Of course this is, to some extent true. We do these things based on our own senses of judgment. And based on Johnson’s argument, “it’s not about tolerating or aestheticizing chaos; it’s about finding order and meaning in the world, and making decisions that help create that order” (62). We are constantly stimulating our brains through DRDs, and making sense of the situation provided by them. According to Johnson, we are the ones that are in control; we decide on what we do on our DRDs, and how much of it.

From my experience, I never sought to play video games, or to watch television in hopes of “finding order and meaning in the world.” I just do them because it’s part of my connection with other people. These distractions act as common grounds for people to network in. However, if we keep believing that video games, television, and the internet yield such great benefits (I’m not saying that they don’t hold any at all), we can continue to be consumed by DRDs, without feeling any guilt. But as it is displayed in Feed, the characters are given the access to instant knowledge, and yet they’re extremely ignorant. Although our education is not as instanteous, we still do not take advantage of DRDs in that aspect. But since we’re not actually taking control, we’re still caught in these daily cycles of logging on to our internet lives. At least now, we can return to our DRDs with an excuse.

Even if we did seek for education through DRDs, the amount of distraction caused by them outweighs the knowledge it brings. “After all, "never have the opportunities for education, learning, political action, and cultural activity been greater," writes Bauerlein, a former director of Research and Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts. But somehow, he contends, the much-ballyhooed advances of this brave new world have not only failed to materialize -- they've actually made us dumber” (Drutman). Our generation is getting dumber, even though technology is becoming more advance, making them more accessible for education. With that, we actually do not have a grasp of our digital lives. We’re merely puppets that believe we’re making our own movements. But in fact, we’re just continuing this cycle of DRDs, lying to ourselves so we would feel better about the experience.


There is always a tug that draws us back to DRDs. This tug may not be a strong one, as it is not something forces us to return to our digital homes, but we do allow ourselves to give into it. Having a life filled with DRDs is nearly inevitable, given the society and situation that we are in. DRDs are the cores of our academic/work lives, our social lives, and our pleasures. We are surrounded by these essentials that act as walls to imprison us with the DRDs. As a result, we are caught in a cycle where we would always have to interact with DRDs. And for now, this cycle seems inescapable.