The Culture of Computers

Computers are everywhere. It doesn’t matter where you are; there most likely will be some form of a computer somewhere in site. Whether it’s a desktop, laptop, palm pilot, or even a cell phone, these computers have taken over our society. As Mark Edmundson puts it, they have become the most influential pieces of technology of our day. And does this come to a surprise to any of us? People rely on computers for everything; people put their lives into computers. Technology has virtually taken over our lives, and Mark Edmundson and William Deresiewicz reiterate this notion through their observations and examples of their own college students, and how student culture in general has changed.

No one can deny it: computers are a great invention. They make writing, sending information and providing feedback much easier and faster. Edmundson even goes on to say that computers have created a generation of students who are “smart, restless, impatient and like to skate over the surface as quickly as possible.” Is this true? Have we really become smarter as a generation, yet sacrifice our patience and attentiveness? Although I hate to agree, I must say I feel Edmundson is correct. While we often tell ourselves we don’t need our computers, the reality is this: computers have become a complete necessity to our lives. It is the essential communication tool of our century. Edmundson says that he has heard from students that at parties, all the kids there are on their phones, merely talking to people at other parties that might be better than the one they are at now. He goes on to say that “no one is ever really ‘present’ anymore.” Students have jumped over the line of subtlety and will go great lengths just to secretly send a text message during an important lecture in class. We have become incredibly good at multitasking; we can take notes, talk to a friend via text message, send another friend an email, and comment on someone’s FaceBook all at the same time.

But don’t get me wrong. I don’t think this is a good thing. Quite the contrary, I feel this is the start of the deterioration of our society. Now, I love computers just as much as the next person; probably even more. But the fact that we rely on our computers so much is kind of upsetting to me. So many times have friends sent me text messages when they’re sitting literally thirty feet away from me. Why can’t they speak up? Simply put, technology has become a sort of bubble that is blocking us from the real world, and we’re incredibly comfortable in it. Deresiewicz and Edmundson state that we now bond with our computers, and this is completely true. Our computers have become the number one source of communication, therefore we feel we must stay strongly connected to it, or else we lose contact with others. Edmundson even states that we need our computer on at all times, because it is exciting to us students.

And how do we take advantage of this 24/7-computer availability? We stay awake with it, of course! Edmundson and Deresiewicz mention that our drug of choice is Aderol or a latte, simply to keep us energized and awake, just like our lovely friend the computer. But not only is it to keep our computers from being lonely, these “drugs” are for the multitude of extracurricular activities that our generation is so keen on joining. Deresiewicz mentions that the students he observes at Yale have gotten so involved in these activities that they have become the center of their lives, and it’s gotten to the point where they overwhelm their investment in their classes, for they have too much going on at once. Here at Chapman, students seem to be doing the same thing. I know many students who are taking eighteen credits, have two jobs and are taking part in some sort of athletic team, yet still somehow make time to see their friends and—of course—stay attached to their computers. We can’t help it: it’s in our nature to be taking on so much at once. We call ourselves lazy, but in all honesty, we do a lot more than we give ourselves credit for. Simply put, it’s part of the student culture.

Another essential part of student culture is our lack of standing up for ourselves. Of course we tell ourselves that we are independent, that we have our own minds, that we do what we want to do. But to what extent is that statement true? Deresiewicz and Edmundson tell us that we live in a monoculture, where no one will go against the grain and do something completely unexpected. I somewhat agree with this statement. Although I feel we as students are easily molded and therefore most of us don’t go against the status quo, I think it’s an unfair generalization among our generation. There are plenty of students who do things on their own without any influence from authority, and they definitely don’t fit this stereotype. I’ll admit that our generation may not be the most independent, but I do believe there are a good number of students who do go against the grain and stand up for themselves.

Through the multitude of topics covered in this seventeen-minute clip, Edmundson and Deresiewicz hit key points of their beliefs on student culture: we rely on our computers, our drug of choice is anything that will keep us awake and stimulated, and we live in a monoculture. Despite my slight disagreement with certain subjects, I feel that overall, Edmundson and Deresiewicz accurately depicted the culture of many students today.