A Difference of Opinions

Assigned with reading two articles, Can You Hear Me Now? written by Sherry Turkle and Gin, Television, and Social Surplus written by Clay Shirky, I was able to see how media has affected society from two opposing views. Both writers agree that media has affected identity, but differences arise when it comes to whether or not media affects one’s identity in a negative or positive way.

Sherry Turkle explains her point of view saying, “We are connected, tethered, so important that out physical presence.” In effect, media allows people to recreate their identity virtually. Turkle presents this concept in a very skeptical way; in her opinion, this is something we need to be extremely cautious of because it leads to dependency on technology. Clay Shirky, on the other hand, sees media as creating purpose rather than dependency. In his words, “It is better to do something than nothing.” Shirky is explaining that though certain aspects of media may not seem relevant to you and me, it may give a sense of belonging to others.

Below is a link which puts into perspective how media has evolved over the years and how prevalent it has become in today’s culture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi34kVUEL5c

While Shirky may present his opinion in a more positive way, I found Turkle’s article to be more persuasive. This is because Turkle presents her argument in a clear, concise and organized way. The tone of her article is believable, whereas Shirky’s sounds too opinionated to be persuasive.