Lucy Wong
September 14th, 2006
There has been more social awareness and activism on behalf of our generation X because of the usage of easy to access materials such as the internet, satellite television, newspapers online, and so forth. These mediums make it so that the average person or even the very lazy person can have quick and easy access to worldwide and even local news. I always considered Americans pretty lazy, but not in a bad way. Americans are lazy in the fact that if they can save twenty steps by finding a closer parking spot, they will do so and even wait an extra ten minutes for the parking spot. With the coming of all kinds of quickies such as fast food, microwave dinners, DSL, highways and the like, it's no wonder we are living in a generation that is use to quick quick!
Another reason why there is more social awareness is because of education, especially on the woman's end. Before, there were women's rights movements, now the fruit has already come to pass. Woman can vote and have jobs other than a homemaker. We're in college. Actually, most of my classes, there are more women than men. Maybe that's just because more woman want to major in journalism, but the fact remains, woman are educated now unlike decades before. With education comes awareness and social activism. This along with easy access of news at your fingertips through the internet, it's hard to stay dormant.
If there is an issue regarding race, age, or sex, you can have a say somehow. There are now easy accesses to mediums like email where you can post your complaints or comments. Email is definitely another motivating factor. Though bombarded with junk mail and spam, you have to admit, it's still faster than snail mail. Email and even instant messaging has revolutionized our once barriers of time, distance, and even mass production. Forwarding has especially made it easy to resend the same information to more than ten people at a time.
Message boards like our class’ is also another reason. Anyone can state their mind and opinion, whether good or bad, post it, and anyone can read it, anyone from the U.S. to halfway across the world. Similar and even dissenting opinions are expressed and can be viewed within our reach.
Another reason is the media. The media’s influence is now stronger than ever before with even more controls over what we watch. Cable and even satellite (both television and radio) have allowed many to voice their opinions and in return, transform this generation into one where fear of speaking what’s on your mind is not an issue. I guess we’ve become more democratic to some, and more radical to others.
Finally, there’s a desire to know called curiosity. As time seems to shorten between the pre-teen years and adolescence, so is our ability to ask. Life is short. I believe all people have a level of curiosity but I think it wasn’t until recently where that curiosity was and can be unleashed through popular mediums such as MySpace, Xanga, Facebook, and Blogger.com. Now, venting and asking is at your fingertips. Oh, and then there’s Google.
Google is incredible. Once you’re on that site, you can type in and research anything from quantum physics to the color red. Then, within seconds, boom, SO many answers. Google is the king of concordance. However, credibility may be a problem but even credibility can be “googled”. Basically, Google can be good and bad, a love hate relationship if I may say so.
However, one problem with our easy fast-paced media access is laziness. I feel that more and more people in this generation may become even more remote friendly or in this case, mouse clicker friendly. Actually, print newspapers may almost become absolute. It won’t but pretty darn close. Newspapers are important, but now there are newspapers online.
Another reason for the awareness is just the fact that there is a bigger pool drawn towards young people including advertisement and the media. Actually, especially advertisement and through the media! I believe that young people generate a good portion of the economy of because of this, it has resulted in more people wanting to be aware and knowing about what’s going on, sales, political issues, and so forth. This can all be done easily, once again, through the internet and the like.
Even cellular phones have made it even easier to contact people and even sign on to the internet. If not the internet, at least text messaging and email. These features are very common and since they are so easily reachable, I believe all these reasons add up to what life has become as we know it to be. All of this adds up to why we are more aware and active in politics and domestic as well as worldwide affairs.
September 14th, 2006
There has been more social awareness and activism on behalf of our generation X because of the usage of easy to access materials such as the internet, satellite television, newspapers online, and so forth. These mediums make it so that the average person or even the very lazy person can have quick and easy access to worldwide and even local news. I always considered Americans pretty lazy, but not in a bad way. Americans are lazy in the fact that if they can save twenty steps by finding a closer parking spot, they will do so and even wait an extra ten minutes for the parking spot. With the coming of all kinds of quickies such as fast food, microwave dinners, DSL, highways and the like, it's no wonder we are living in a generation that is use to quick quick!
Another reason why there is more social awareness is because of education, especially on the woman's end. Before, there were women's rights movements, now the fruit has already come to pass. Woman can vote and have jobs other than a homemaker. We're in college. Actually, most of my classes, there are more women than men. Maybe that's just because more woman want to major in journalism, but the fact remains, woman are educated now unlike decades before. With education comes awareness and social activism. This along with easy access of news at your fingertips through the internet, it's hard to stay dormant.
If there is an issue regarding race, age, or sex, you can have a say somehow. There are now easy accesses to mediums like email where you can post your complaints or comments. Email is definitely another motivating factor. Though bombarded with junk mail and spam, you have to admit, it's still faster than snail mail. Email and even instant messaging has revolutionized our once barriers of time, distance, and even mass production. Forwarding has especially made it easy to resend the same information to more than ten people at a time.
Message boards like our class’ is also another reason. Anyone can state their mind and opinion, whether good or bad, post it, and anyone can read it, anyone from the U.S. to halfway across the world. Similar and even dissenting opinions are expressed and can be viewed within our reach.
Another reason is the media. The media’s influence is now stronger than ever before with even more controls over what we watch. Cable and even satellite (both television and radio) have allowed many to voice their opinions and in return, transform this generation into one where fear of speaking what’s on your mind is not an issue. I guess we’ve become more democratic to some, and more radical to others.
Finally, there’s a desire to know called curiosity. As time seems to shorten between the pre-teen years and adolescence, so is our ability to ask. Life is short. I believe all people have a level of curiosity but I think it wasn’t until recently where that curiosity was and can be unleashed through popular mediums such as MySpace, Xanga, Facebook, and Blogger.com. Now, venting and asking is at your fingertips. Oh, and then there’s Google.
Google is incredible. Once you’re on that site, you can type in and research anything from quantum physics to the color red. Then, within seconds, boom, SO many answers. Google is the king of concordance. However, credibility may be a problem but even credibility can be “googled”. Basically, Google can be good and bad, a love hate relationship if I may say so.
However, one problem with our easy fast-paced media access is laziness. I feel that more and more people in this generation may become even more remote friendly or in this case, mouse clicker friendly. Actually, print newspapers may almost become absolute. It won’t but pretty darn close. Newspapers are important, but now there are newspapers online.
Another reason for the awareness is just the fact that there is a bigger pool drawn towards young people including advertisement and the media. Actually, especially advertisement and through the media! I believe that young people generate a good portion of the economy of because of this, it has resulted in more people wanting to be aware and knowing about what’s going on, sales, political issues, and so forth. This can all be done easily, once again, through the internet and the like.
Even cellular phones have made it even easier to contact people and even sign on to the internet. If not the internet, at least text messaging and email. These features are very common and since they are so easily reachable, I believe all these reasons add up to what life has become as we know it to be. All of this adds up to why we are more aware and active in politics and domestic as well as worldwide affairs.
posted by AskAnOpinionatedABC at 2:24 PM
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