Douglas Rushkoff: Programmed Or Be Programmed

In today’s society, we take advantage of what we have learned and mold it into something better. Douglas Rushkoff explains, “As we move into an increasingly digital reality, we must learn not just how to use programs, but how to make them.” He calls it, in simple terms, known as programmed or be programmed. Digital technology is starting to control all aspects of our everyday lives. He argues that digital technology is going to control us without even knowing it. If we don’t control the digitalized culture, the culture will control us. In addition, so many of us rely on the internet and that may cause problems socially. An example in the book used is students are suddenly utilizing the internet, but relying on Wikipedia for answers. Instead of taking the time to research the answers of what you need, we are taking the most convenient way out and suddenly using Wikipedia. We can agree Wikipedia is not a reliable source as it comes from many different opinions from numerous amounts of people. In this digitalized culture, we need to be cautious as Rushkoff explains, we need to be more aware of our choices; therefore take action or you will be controlled.

He points out ten commands that explain reasons to avoid being the victim of getting programmed.  Time is known as one of the first commands. Rushkoff states, “We live in a continuous “now” and time is always passing for us. Digital technologies do not exist in time, at all.” As a result, time flies by in this fast paced culture. He further explains back into time when the internet was connected through dial up, time was very slow. People were actually patient to respond to each other in a thoughtful way. Conversations were known as asynchronous, which meant that having an online conversation took time. You actually had time to think about how you were going to respond online without responding as quickly, like you would in a verbal conversation. It becomes a problem because people are not thinking things thoroughly before they respond and were not even aware of it. We need to be more aware of the changes going on in technology and learn to control it.

Rushkoff also explains how Gina is another example of one of the ten commands. She is described as the social butterfly who is always trying to find the latest parties to attend. As she puts too much time utilizing her social networks on her phone, she doesn’t acknowledge the people she is with now. She is known as being “everywhere at once,” the girl who is at the party without being at the party. Rushkoff describes it as having an “always on relationship” with her phone and social networks. Gina is too busy taking pictures with her friends, on networking sites chatting and texting on her phone; she removes herself from the place she is at disconnecting herself from everybody else. Ironically, the most social girl with many friends is physically not social at all. Rushkoff explains, “Digital networks are decentralized technologies making it suitable for long distance communication and activities- but rather awful with what-or who- is right in front of us.”  As these social networks are intended for people to come together and engage themselves in each other’s lives; it is almost doing the opposite. It’s putting girls, like Gina, in a situation where they are disconnecting themselves from everyone, physically. Gina was not taking the time to engage with everyone at the party she attended. Instead, she used her phone to find the latest place to be at, while being on networking sites, texting, and taking pictures.

Rushkoff also argues, “The digital realm is biased towards choice, because everything must be expressed in the terms of a discrete, yes-or-no, symbolic language.” In this digital culture, we love making decisions and having the option to have a choice; but we do also have a choice to say no. He discusses, “Choice is less about giving people what they want than getting them to take what the choice-giver has to sell.” An example would be shopping online for clothes, and based on what you have been looking at, they suggest more style similar to what you are looking for. As convenient as this may be for us, technology has become more advanced as we are becoming more predictable by the choices we make. Although they are appearing to be giving us choices, in reality, they are making the decisions for us, based on their research. We revolve ourselves and focus on the websites we visit, applications we download, and companies we subscribe to. We make choices and filter what we want to see in the “digital realm”, but also have the decision to choose to not make a choice at all.

Although Rushkoff argues that you can have the choice to not make a choice at all, I slightly disagree with his arguments. I believe that keeping up with the trends and utilizing social networking sites is important in this society. We do live in a digitalized culture where technology is always taking the next step and is constantly advancing. Although, I do believe it is important to take control of how we use it in order to become more cautious and aware. By being aware and more cautious, those in power making the decisions will not have total control.