"Digital Nation"

I recently came upon, and watched, a recently released documentary by Frontline on PBS titled "Digital Nation". To follow on Netflix: http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Frontline_Digital_Nation/70131661?trkid=815301.

This special provides wonderful information applicable to many our the research being done in our class. It explores many segments of internet culture in our nation (and throughout the world) in social networking, multitasking, internet gaming, and virtual worlds. I plan to use some of the information it presented on for my group's project, and you should too!

In this blog I'll briefly discuss the first point made in this film - Can you imagine living without the Internet?

In the beginning of Digital Nation there is a collage of clips of people admitting their dependence on it, and that they didn't see this dependence coming or realize the absolute attention they give to the Internet. We have come to EXPECT simultaneous or instantaneous response to our curiosities and inquiries. Without the constant interaction or answers, we feel lost. This has changed the way we live, as we as human beings have evolved the way we live and are connected all the time. Recently I have become dependent on the Internet in a new way - the furthering of a romantic relationship. My boyfriend, a marine, was shipped off to Afghanistan well over a month ago. Most days we are able to communicate in some way. Once he gets to work in the morning (there is an 11.5 hour time difference), which is PST evening, he is able to send short messages to me from his computer to my cellphone - a new kind fo texting. This allows for immediate interaction with someone off at war, thousands of miles away. Of course, this doesn't get to happen every day, but he is capable of it most days. He and I communicate, however, mostly through email, which includes long paragraphs, stories and explanations. The text messages are short and not as detailed, but provide a different satisfaction (similar to status updates on facebook <-- sound bytes of our lives). Additionally, approximately once a week he is able to place an actual phone call to me.

When an unfortunate event (major injury or death) occurs, all communication is cut off leaving Afghanistan. So, I have gone a few days at once without hearing from him. Once, when I was voicing some frustration during a "river city" to my Grandfather, he made me realize how lucky I was to have the semi-instantaneous communication we were having. He said, "when I was in the War (WWII), we had to wait weeks to hear news from home. This news was only transferred through actual written letters! We did not have the Internet, or really even any use of phones." Wow, Grandpa, I don't think I could've survived if I was going to have to wait several weeks to hear how a loved one is doing. However, if I was living through the war that was decades ago, things would be different. My mindset would be different. Just as this documentary states, WE HAVE EVOLVED as human beings. We are addicted and dependent on communication, and I have decided to be thankful for it. Who knows what my relationship would be like if the circumstances were different? LUCKILY I don't have to answer that question.....