Not as Connected as We Think

As stated by Cynthia Selfe in Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution, “One of the most popular narratives Americans tell ourselves about computers is that technology will help us create a global village in which the peoples of the world are all connected- communicating with one another and cooperating for the commonweal. According to popular social narrative, the computer network that spans the globe will serve to erase meaningless geopolitical borders, eliminate racial and ethnic differences, re- establish a historical familial relationship which binds together the peoples of the world regardless of race, ethnicity, or location.”

Popular narrative is saying that technology allows for better communication with the people outside our own country. People that we normally would not have access to communicate with. It’s saying the communication could be brought about without “borders” or racism. That we must work together as one, and technology can do that. Americans are trying to create a “Global Village” with more communication between people around the world.

The truth is, we, as Americans, are only seeing part of the other world. The part that we want to see. We are scared of the truth because it’s not pleasing to us. Technology (the internet/ computers specifically,) allows us to feel as though we are connected, while staying away from the “dirty” stuff and getting up close. We can see pictures of it and try to understand what’s going on, but unless you experience something in person, you wont really feel the true emotions. We don’t smell, feel, or see in- person, the truth. Cynthia also gives her opinion that, “it is easy for us- for Americans, in particular- to believe that technological change leads us to productive social change.” It’s simple minded for us to believe that technology will solve our problems. If were trying to communicate with the rest of the world and help them because they need our help, the Internet is not the solution. What we think is helping is actually contributing to the problem and making it worse. A lot of Americans talk about the global village and “one world”, but never act on it. Talking about it wont solve anything and it’s not going to happen on it’s own. If something’s going to change people need to be aware of what’s going on and the fact that we think we may be helping, but were not really doing much at all.