Neutral

I can see this argument going both ways. On one hand, we are products of the information age. We have always been connected to millions of people with our internet connection. This technology has created a new social standards of exposing the entire world to who we are and what we did. In my hometown, the parents never use know their child was going to keggers. Now teenagers incriminate themselves with posting photos/videos online, for everyone to see. The basement with the open liquor cabient can now appear on any corner of the earth.

It isn't just adolescents being stupid on the internet. This is the second class I have had were my homework had to be published online. Homework use to be private. Now if I google "New Millennium Studies Blog 2008" this blog appears on the first page of results. For the past 15 years technology has been all about getting your voice out there. Let everyone know what you have to say. Today, it has been achieved and now a 12 year old calling herself "Trixy96" say, "TIHS SUX!!!!1" to an audience larger than our presidents could grab 20 years ago.

To look at the other side, sometimes walking down the street I think we are all living alone together. When I went to class this morning I must have pass at least a dozen people listening to their iPods. Each one of them erasing the noise of the world and creating their own soundtrack. I'm not extremely opposed to this act; I do it all the time. But when I am listening to my iPod, I feel completely disconnected. No one is going to say, "Hi" to me, hold a door, even the homeless don't ask for change. I am complete isolated on State Street.

It's not just headphones that keep us seperated, our homes seem to also. In grade school I remember I was friends with every kid on my block. Every day after school, we would get together and play some game. We ran through everyone's yard, used eachother's equiptment, and invited people into our home. Once I started Jr. High everything suddenly changed. Most of my friends moved away or were a year or two younger than me. When I brought friends over I knew from school we weren't treated the same way. Everyone's yard was not open. Parents I use to have dinner with would yell at me because of the noise. It was like I didn't know them anymore. More people started to move out and new neighbors started to move in. I was starting high school and could careless who they are. Occasionally someone would knock on my door asking if they saw their dog. Before they introduced themselves I didn't even know they lived in the culdesac. Usually they didn't even give their name.

Right now, I am guilty of the same thing. There is over a handful of people on know on my floor, but I can't say I know the people I share a wall with. I also use Facebook, Vimeo, and other social networking website to get my message accross to as many people as possible. I can't say that I am one way or the other. I don't mind that people know about my life, but I don't post everything about me on my Facebook page. Although I do have an extensive favorite movie list.