New New Media

Can you remember a time when you could go to the mall or see a show without getting interrupted? Furthermore, can you remember a time when you could not be found for even five minutes, and that was okay with everyone around you? Those days seem to have long passed us by. No one speaks directly to each other any more face to face. It has been estimated that more than 150 billion text messages were sent in the United States in 2006 alone (“USA Today,” June 12, 2007). In addition this same report states that 78% of car crashes in America were caused due to talking, texting, and the dialing of cell phones. Text messaging while operating a car is becoming just as dangerous as drunk driving (“CNN Headline News,” December 28, 2008). It appears that no one seems to communicate orally anymore, and communication has been reduced to our two thumbs through constant text messages. Critics report that this new age media is making us an inpatient society with the need for more speed (Beth Moore). I also just saw a report on CBS news on Sunday that people are know being diagnosed with what they call “Text Neck.” This is due to the constant looking down while texting. People are experiencing, change in their posture and headaches due to the constant texting. Please do not Google it or try to look it up unless it is a credible website. As Levinson states “ we come from traditional in which knowledge has to be vouched for, authorized and approved but experts before it is allowed to reach us.”(p.84) this is not the case now with the availability of cyberspace. As you know anybody can post a blog or an article on a website in cyberspace. After being diagnosed with a Chari Malformation which required brain surgery in 2005, I was warned by my physician and I quote “What ever you do, please do not go online to research this, if you want I have books on your condition. This proves Levinson’s argument that not all information you find on-line is accurate.