Criminals of the Net Generation

There are man academics, journalists, and pundits quoted Dan Tapscott's book, "grown up digital" that suggest very pessimistic views about our generation; "The Net Generation." It states that we are constantly stealing from others, such as with music and pictures. Our constant exchange of things over the internet through online socializing networks, such as Facebook and Myspace, shows our unlawful and disrespectful attitude towards the makers and originators. When we log onto the internet and downloads songs without paying money, it should be equivalent to that of a criminal offense. Record industries often become so infuriated that they would often consider it acceptable to sue us. We also use the internet with such simplicity that we have become professionals at plagiarizing as well. This paragraph also suggests that our constant exchange of things over the internet through online socializing networks, such as Facebook and Myspace, shows our unlawful and disrespectful attitude towards the makers and originators of the products. When we log onto the internet and downloads songs without paying money, it should be equivalent to that of a criminal offense. Record industries often become so infuriated that they would often consider it acceptable to sue us. We also use the internet with such simplicity that we have become professionals at plagiarizing as well.

In response to this paragraph, I would have to say something along the lines of over dramatic. Not to mention unfair. Not only is it overdramatic in the sense that adults in the music-downloading and computer industries are willing to go to measures such as suing young people, but it is unfair to the large percentage of us who participate in harmless Net surfing. I will indeed admit that illegally downloading music is wrong and there should be punishment, but taking it to levels along the lines of criminal offense is completely over the top. It is safe to say that the computer capability and internet skills that we have equipped ourselves with defiantly have a more positive effect than that of a negative one. The internet is just like every other place, and every other industry in the world; there are going to be criminals stealing, pirating, and figuring out ways to steal. But that does not make the concept of “stealers” applicable to my generation. We use the internet to our advantage because we can. And we will continue to do forever.

"The Dark Side"

Dan Tapscott's Grown Up Digital is a section simply devoted to the characteristics of my generation in relation to the internet, and we have been evaluating it from my different angles in English class for some time now.
The “Dark Side” section of this book makes a few valid points about our generation. However there are many areas in which they make untrue and false accusations about the generation as well. Being a part of the generation helps me to make these assumptions, but I feel as though even if I were a part of the “older generation” I would feel the same way. Perhaps in some ways it reflects a bit of jealousy, or intimidation from the older generation. Not so much jealousy in the sense that they are jealous of our skills, more so jealous of the fact that they feel they had to work much harder at our age than we do; which is understandable. However it is not the "Net Generation's" fault. We were simply born and have grown up in a more technologically advanced society. Just as there were certain skills and technologies that their parents did not posses when they were children. People invent, discover, and find short cuts and new ways of doing things and communicating almost EVERY day. It's part of history, and life. It is not a bad thing, and it certainly does not make our generation "shallow, distracted, or ignorant" by any means. It's simply different and certainly easier, that doesn't mean we don't work. We think, learn, and work differently. But in the end if we are right with God, get a degree, a good job, and a roof over our families head, I can't help but ask, WHO CARES?

Haiti Efforts

Being a student, I don't exactly have time to sit down and watch the nightly news, but when something like the earthquake in Haiti

occurs, one can't help but hear. Many people may be aware, just as I am, but it was not until further research that one discovered

the true meaning of devistation. It is a well known fact that "many people" have died, but with a death toll sitting at around 200,000

and counting, it is hard for us Americans to fathom this sort of tragedy. The catastrophic events of 9-11 sit with a death toll at about

3,000; and that was nearly 9 years ago.

What I admire most about Americans during times like this is how much we actually do care. There are many Americans

involved with the search and rescue missions in Haiti who are not willing to give up until all people are accounted for. Although there are many people willing to give up, there are just as man that refuse

to as well. A 24 year old man named Jean-Pierre was pulled from the rubble on Saturday after 11 days of being trapped. He was

dehydrated but without injury. These sort of stories have sparked hope amongst many families of the missing, but the emotional

devistation seemed to really unfold when the Haiti government announced the switch from "rescue to recovery" mission. A family

of Americans with friends in Haiti has even started an online petition against the Haiti governments decision to turn from a

"rescue mission" to a "recovery mission." The effort does not go unnoticed by any means, but as much as we do it is only temporary

relief. It is hard to tell just how far our efforts as Americans may go.