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Post by g00dva1b5 on Jan 29, 2016 4:05:21 GMT
An interpretation of The American Dream is freedom and equal rights for all. In this day and age, freedom and equal rights have been made easier to obtain with the integration of the Internet into society. As the Internet continued to grow in use and became easier to maneuver, it provided a medium through which numerous ideas could be conveyed. In America, a country without Internet censorship, this provided a way for freedom of speech and ideas to be expressed and for all types of ideologies, whether popular or unpopular, to be communicated.
On top of that, the Internet now allows for expensive/time-consuming resources, such as college educations, to be more accessible to either the working man or to those that cannot afford these resources. In short, the Internet has leveled the playing field and made The American Dream possible for more people. What other recent inventions have made The American Dream easier to obtain?
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Post by Ms. McGettigan on Jan 30, 2016 19:55:39 GMT
Interesting take on the accessibility of the American Dream- technology does even the playing field in some ways, although I'd venture to say it widens the gap in others. What do the rest of you think?
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Post by Teresa Dinh on Jan 30, 2016 21:37:44 GMT
While I can see why some people would say that modern technology widens the gap between social status, I do agree with Vaibhav that the Internet is paving the way for equality. Relating to Vaibhav's example, a college student with a cheaper computer can still access the same materials as a student with an expensive computer. As a result these people can still learn the same materials. Also, with the importance of the Internet, technology like smart phones and tablets are now integrated in everyday life in today's society. Like the internet, these inventions allow for better communication. As these technologies grow more and more popular, they also become more easily accessible because companies make cheaper alternatives so that more people can afford to purchase them. With so many people having access to these devices, it allows for a more comfortable and easy way to express one's own opinions, especially on social media.
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amyyu
New Member
Posts: 20 
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Post by amyyu on Feb 1, 2016 2:39:04 GMT
While I agree with the points that Teresa and Vaibhav made about the equal opportunities that the Internet may provide, I want to mention that the Internet can also create wider social and economic gaps for people who don't have easy access to the Internet. As hard as it is to believe, millions of Americans still do not use the Internet to this day. Since many things have gone paperless and now require the use of the Internet, these individuals may suffer great disadvantages that will hinder their ability to achieve the American Dream. For instance, people who are unable to use the Internet may find it harder to find suitable jobs as well as educational material. This may result in a more limited knowledge and occupying an inferior job that they are unhappy with. In addition, these people may become socially isolated since a large majority of social networking is done on the Internet and through the use of smartphones these days. This, in turn, will hinder their ability to create useful business connections and result in a lower likelihood of reaching the American Dream. Overall, the lack of Internet will trap an individual in an isolated bubble and prevent them from ever advancing in society and living the ideal life.
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Zachary Lloyd
New Member
Runnin thru the six with my woes
Posts: 26 
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Post by Zachary Lloyd on Feb 1, 2016 13:36:05 GMT
The internet is always paradoxical, in a way, stemming from the fact that people see things in about one million different lights. I think one issue to this conflict is the wide availability of resources. Some people believe that being proactive such as seeking out the right methods to success can help you reach the American Dream, but I would like to think that there is a great deal of luck involved in the internet. For one, take a business recruiting service. If you are a young kid looking for a job, a business might want you based on your profile on an online recruiting service. While you might say that this is correlated to your success in creating an interesting resume or profile, I would argue that there is a degree of luck involved. Why did they choose you over someone else?
That is what I have to say, whether that makes sense or not.
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Post by lreinhardt230 on Feb 4, 2016 11:47:36 GMT
I agree with the fact that it provides opportunity in another way. Anyone trying to sell goods or services before had to go by word of mouth or own a shop. Now, anyone with internet can make something of themselves because they can create and put it on the market with a click of a button. In that aspect, it helps a regular person achieve success if selling a popular good.
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Post by ndefilippis on Feb 5, 2016 2:12:52 GMT
Interesting take on the accessibility of the American Dream- technology does even the playing field in some ways, although I'd venture to say it widens the gap in others. What do the rest of you think? I think that the Internet levels the playing field for most, but does widen the gap for the very bottom. However, this is an improvement. Before, only the richest could get richer and succeed in life, but now, most Americans can get access to the Internet and access many resources. Nearly anyone who wants to learn can. The few people who cannot get access to the Internet are still at a disadvantage, but the percentage of people without Internet is much lower than the percentage of working class families who could not obtain the American Dream in the past. |
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Post by amber soppick on Feb 6, 2016 18:48:40 GMT
I definitely agree with the majority that the Internet has made the American Dream much more attainable, as in this day and age, most people do have some sort of access to it, even if it isn't a dependable way in their own homes. It is true that this widens the gap for the smaller percent of the world who don't have Intenet, though that is easily forgotten in our society. However, I would like to make the point that this could also help those less fortunate attain the dream too, as the Internet does a lot of good in spreading information about people who have so less opportunities and technology than us. Without the Internet, a lot of people wouldn't know about almost anything that is currently happening in other countries, and therefore wouldn't be able to help those people further themselves in society. So, while it does leave them at a disadvantage, I believe it is also starting to help them in some ways too. So overall, I do believe Internet has helped everyone reach the American Dream much easier.
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Post by gerryliu on Feb 7, 2016 20:23:47 GMT
Something interesting about the impact of technology on the American Dream is the rate at which automation replaces manual labor. Much of the idea of the American Dream involves obtaining a well-paying job that can provide for your family. However, the emergence of "next generation" automation (machine learning robots) can easily replace many of those in manual labor. As a result, there will be a higher rate of unemployment especially, much of the lower class. This you might say has happened in the past (horses and cars, farming, ect.) but this time it's different. Humans are now the ones being replaced by technology. Would this pressure the unemployed to seek more specialized jobs such as in programming the robots that replaced them or would this create a societal gap that can't recover? Would this destroy the idea of the American Dream or redefine it?
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Post by matthewzhang on Feb 7, 2016 21:02:07 GMT
Gerry, I definitely agree with everything you are saying. This concept of machines taking over human labor is definitely a possibility especially because of how fast technology has been evolving over the past years. If the machines do take over occupations that people possess, that will definitely change the American Dream and make it a lot harder to obtain. Because machines are made to be more efficient than humans, the job requirements for humans will be a lot more strict because of how hard it is to be more precise and accurate as a machine. People will need to rely on building robots more instead of trying to take over them. The definition of becoming wealthy will also change as well. Instead of owning luxurious cars and houses, people will need to own more machines and robots in order to become wealthier. This concept of machines taking over human labor will definitely change the path that people have to take in order to achieve the new American dream
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Post by sfarmand on Feb 8, 2016 1:16:52 GMT
Gerry and Matthew, the concept of AI and how it relates to the American Dream is also in interesting one. Usually, it is only speculated that low-level factory job would be able to be taken over by technology. But is it possible that a day could come where AI takes over skilled positions, like that of a professor or researcher? I would argue that it is possible. While it sounds conspirative, the idea of AI taking over the work force and preventing others from getting jobs is one that has bothered even great minds like Stephen Hawking. I think that society should do all in its power to ensure that humans retain control of the workforce and don't allow AI to gain much control.
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Post by gerryliu on Feb 8, 2016 2:41:36 GMT
Development of more advanced AI is already making it's appearance and is fueled by the cost effectiveness of said AI. For example, self learning robots that serve a general purpose like Baxter are the first steps towards total job automation. Jobs like that of lawyers and doctors can even be automated and software AI has been proven to be more effective than humans. For lawyers, their "discovery" stage of the job where they shift through piles of papers searching for anything to strengthen or weaken a case can be automated and for doctors, a more accurate diagnosis can be given.
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Post by rcb1008 on Feb 8, 2016 3:14:06 GMT
Interesting take on the accessibility of the American Dream- technology does even the playing field in some ways, although I'd venture to say it widens the gap in others. What do the rest of you think? Ms. McGettigan has a good point! The internet (for the most part) is a positive force in our world. But then again, as predominantly upper-middle class Americans, we take for granted the freedoms which is holds. Many people are unable to afford a computer, or greater yet internet access as a whole. Of course there are resources to combat this, but for the ultra-poor and the homeless there is virtually no way to move up, and therefore use the internet to achieve the American Dream. Take homework for example, the research project Ms. McGettigan shouldn't have given us last week. Without the internet, it would take at least double the time to complete. Not to mention writing our works cited pages without NoodleTools. Point is, the internet has afforded more Americans than ever the opportunity to experience the American Dream, but at the same time, it has made it nearly impossible for less fortunate citizens to get ahead in life. |
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Post by danvolpone on Feb 8, 2016 4:41:00 GMT
In many ways, technology is the oil and gold of the modern era. People who create it become very wealthy and are considered to have realized the American Dream - going from rags to riches. They then employ other workers who, by having a job and therefore being able to buy a house, have accomplished a different version of the American Dream. This parallels to the rich who first struck oil or gold and then paid others to keep digging and mining for them.
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Post by ghulamcontractor on Feb 8, 2016 5:02:52 GMT
I agree with Vaibhav and Dan. The internet does allow for a greater shot at reaching the American Dream. It's a great time to be alive. Some people reach the American Dream by just working from home. Bitcoin is an excellent example of the use of the internet for money. Bitcoin is a virtual currency that can be acquired from bitcoin mining. Although I know very limited information about bitcoin, one bitcoin is currently worth $378.41 and most people are able to get rich off mining. I actually know of someone who runs a bitcoin farm and runs a multi-million dollar company through trading. I'd say he's living the American Dream and is enjoying it quite well.
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