Chapters 1&2

         The first two chapters of The Shallows is trying to lay out information for the reader, and show the strong impact technology has been in Carr's life.  I think that the first chapter goes through the stages of advancing technology.  For example, Carr says that he went from having a MacBook computer for games and limited internet time, to carrying a laptop like it was nothing.  I think this is the story for a lot of people during this time.  When technology first came around, it was not very widely used.  Carr’s story shows how quickly it progressed.  He does say that technology has rapidly expanded, but does not necessarily state that he thinks it is a bad thing.  Throughout both chapters I think Carr may be leaning towards technology being a negative thing, but is mostly laying out information for the reader.  He states in the first chapter that he feels he can no longer be attentive to long articles.  Carr believes this is due to his increased technology use.  I do not disagree that this could be a factor, but I believe being able to access mass amounts of information in a short amount of time has been a good thing.  In the first chapter I agree with the fact that technology advanced very quickly and became a large part of people’s lives.  However, I do not believe technology is a bad thing.  Technology can have its negatives, for example discouraging kids from playing outside, it can be distracting, or can lessen face to face communication.  I think it is a good thing because it has allowed us to accomplish things faster, find more information, and communicate with people we may not have been able to before technology.  In chapter two, I think Carr is somewhat taking a stance against technology.  In this chapter, he is laying out an overwhelming amount of information concerning research about the brain.  A main idea in this chapter is that as a child, your brain can be molded and changed, but once you hit a certain point, it hardens and begins to age with you.  I think this is false because no matter how old you are; I believe you can still be reprogrammed to fulfill a need.  Carr outlines this concept in the chapter with the anecdote about Nietzsche.  He tells the story of how Nietzsche went blind and having a type writer essentially saved him by allowing him to continue putting his thoughts and teachings on paper.  I believe that the brain, at any age, can be taught anything if the action is repeated multiple times.  I think that Carr is attempting to show that the brain is malleable, but the internet may be decreasing its ability.  I somewhat agree with Carr’s thought about the brain.  I believe that the internet could possibly be lessening human ability to mold the brain at older ages, but I do not think it completely prevents molding.  In these chapters, Carr does make valid points.  I see both sides of the argument and agree in some ways, and disagree in others.  I think that so far Carr has stated his opinion, but through the information he provided.