Kimberly Sayler

Selfe Reading Response

Cynthia L. Selfe is the Humanities Distinguished Professor of the English department at Ohio State College of Humanities, as well as the author of several books about technology. In an excerpt from her book, Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution: Images of Technology and the Nature of Change Ms. Selfe says that "Because our culture subscribes to several powerful narratives that link technological progress closely with social progress, it is easy for us – Americans, in particular – to believe that technological change leads to productive social change." She goes on to say "we hope computers can help us make the world a better place in which to live." In making this comment Selfe is arguing that Americans have embraced the use of technology and expect it to have a beneficial influence on society and in their personal lives.
I am an American who has not necessarily "embraced" the use of technology, but rather been dragged kicking and screaming into using it. I have felt for several years now that the use of technology has been quietly eroding societal bonds. While I do concede that technology has many positive applications I fail to see how productive social changes are being made. Quite to the contrary I feel that we are losing touch with the sense of community that Americans used to feel, that the more we connect to the Internet the more we disconnect from each other. I’m speaking for instance about local banks, merchants, or utility offices where you used to be able to walk in and know the person you were dealing with, now being replaced by online banking, shopping and billing. Not all Americans believe the changes that technology has been leading us to thus far will make for a better world.
To counter Ms. Selfe’s comment that Americans believe technological change leads to productive social change, and the hope that computers will make a better world, I held myself up as an American who does not hold this belief or hope. I believe I argued the other side by discussing the sense of disconnect and loss of community that has been a by-product of some of the applications on the Internet.