Wesch vs. McLuhan

After comparing these two stories, I felt that these two men were similar in a way. McCluhan's short article talked about how humans are losing their social skills. People are interacting in ways that weren't even an option years ago. Today people are more worried about how other people view them online than how people view them in person. People in today's society would rather sit on a computer and talk to someone over a small glass lens. Why? Wesch made an interesting point when he said "When medias change, human relations change". Meaning, when technology allows us to interact with each other through this glass lens, we choose that option. People are now able to connect with people all over the world without leaving their computers. This is hurting social skills in today's society. There is something to be said about seeing someone in person. This is how social skills are developed. Sure, when your chatting someone online, you are talking, yes. However, it is different in person. When chatting online, there are ways to make you seem there without being there. Yes, you are actually chatting with the person although you can go the whole conversation without practically looking at them. You are able to browse the internet, among other things while in this conversation. Yet, when you're in person, you are not given options to avoid the conversation. The conversation happens and you learn to interact with humans through speaking face to face, not lens to lens. And that is what I think both of these authors were getting at.

 A point I really liked from Wesch's article that I think relates to my earlier comparison between the two is that YouTube allows you to experience humanity, without fear or anxiety. For some people, speaking to millions of people would be a hard thing to do. Yet, with YouTube you can do this from wherever you choose, without feeling the anxiety you would feel if you actually spoke to all the people that viewed your video, in person. When you make a video or vlog on YouTube, you are only speaking to a glass lens, that nobody is currently watching. Wesch made another great point when he said "It's like everybody is watching, yet there is nobody there". This is why people chose to interact online. The fear you have of speaking in person to other people, is gone, online. You don't have to see anybody and you can just be yourself. No anxiety, no fears.

McLuhan Response

           In the first half of this article, McLuhan tells us that today's "television kid" is updated constantly with adult news such as rioting, war, taxes & inflation. This is so true. Any kid out there with access to a television could be up to date with current issues throughout the world in a matter of minutes. Nowadays, information is abundant. Obtaining information in today's society can take as little as 10 seconds. With current technology, answers to questions we never could have answered years ago, are available at the click of a mouse or even a remote.
           Today, digital technology is forcing people to adapt or change. I am a business student and like most of my peers I know that when I get out of school, I will be looking for a job. In some cases, a job may require us to change or adapt. In today's society, digital technology has made it much easier for companies to make sure they are hiring the right candidate for the job. This is causing candidates, such as myself, to change or adapt to these standards that different companies may have. For instance, companies may be looking for someone who can do this job. However, we might be able to do that job as well as others. Therefore, we are forced to adapt or change our ways in order to better ourselves as candidates.
          Another good point McLuhan made was "As soon as information is acquired, it is very rapidly replaced by still newer information." I could not agree more with this more. Today, information is changing constantly. The more you know the better off you are. This relates to the point I made earlier about changing or adapting. Keeping up with current information can allow you to be the best candidate.