Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Twitter: This Ones For You, UC Irvine

The article I read is titled:

Psychologist: Twitter Makes You Stupid


http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Twitter-Stupid-Facebook-Smark-Psychologist,news-4605.html


This page describes the reasons why Twitter makes you stupid (not that an article needs to be written). Since Twitter consists of small bits of information that don't connect to anything meaningful, that process in your brain of taking in small amounts and never using it "will likely weaken "working memory"". A doctor from Europe, whos obviously smarter than a doctor in the US, said that the working memory is the ability to remember information, and actually put that information to use. With Twitter, no one puts the information they read to use, whether it be about Gary Coleman beating his wife (what?), about a teacher's leather blazer right before class, or about some jerk in their Anthropology class. The information is in one ear and out the other, just like a Soc 1 class.

The happy Dr. Alloway's research included an eight-week training session with children aged 11 to 14 (UCI could also be used) which focused on increasing the performance of their working memory. Lastly, the doc found that with Twitter, "'You don't have to process that information. Your attention span is being reduced and you're not engaging your brain and improving nerve connections.'' Ok, lets be honest - no one goes on Twitter to get 'MaxWell' Smart - they go to talk about someone they dont like or about menial things, like food, pipes, or Onyx. They also go on and make profiles for their friends who don't intend on joining the website - real funny.

For those who use Twitter everyday (or too much, you know who you are), please note that spending time on this website is a waste. Its not good for you. Its like sitting too close to the TV or eating sweets after 8PM. Also note that according to the good doctor "Twitter, YouTube and texting isn't exactly healthy". With all the time users spend on this website, they could instead be volunteering for a local hospital, making friends in the real-world, or calling their parents to tell them how much they appreciate all of the things they have done for them.

For those of you who won't heed this doctor's warning and continue to use the mind-numbing site known as Twitter, grow up and go on Chat Roulette like an adult.

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