I have often wondered what it would be like if the sound letters made when you typed them or the sound a computer mouse made when you tapped it made a sound other than, CLICK. Sometimes I pretend that I am not only communicating with words that I write, but also with the clicks themselves, like Morse Code. But what if the sounds were different, like CRACKS. I suppose that wouldn't be too pleasant, and it might just blend with the sound of advanced carpel tunnel. On second thought, computer companies should create mouses and keypads that make the CRACK sound; this way people would just keep on typing without the auditory reminder that they are irreversibly damaging their digits. Get on that, Jobbs. How about a pleasant keyboard sound? Though I suppose unless you tapped certain letters in succession, your standard sentenced could sound quite cacophonous, musically that is. diiieschlke ahij ahguyuwww couhjlrccsiong (the tune to Piano Man).
So, these new literacies. Some folks are getting on board and some aren't. I think that it is unfair to say that these are the "literacies of the younger generation" because I know plenty of folks on Medicare who play blogs and wikis like Santana strums that geeeetar. Also, I know folks my age and younger who avoid Facebook like tofu. I think that instead of saying it is the "literacy of the younger generation" we should say that it is the literacy of the people with the kind of personality that always wants to be up on the new thing, regardless of how much ear hair they have.
My opinion on new literacies, bring em on! Will I chain myself to that bandwagon? No. Will I hop on for a few blocks? Sure. New literacies are important but I don't think they are vital. I think that there are enough people out their who understand them and will help others with them, if need be, that not everyone will need to be a sorcerer of the stuff. Hell, talk about job creation. Years back lawyers did not know how to type because they did not need to know that stuff. They just needed to know how to argue abrasively and drink martinis like they were choco milk. They had secretaries to type for them. Today there are people to handle the new literacies and they will help those of us who aren't as savvy. This will save the economy. You heard it here first. KAPOW!
Fabel out.
Listen, Fabel, I like the yarns your spinning. No myths here. Everyone's singing this tune that these new literacies are so great and so wonderful and that they're gonna save the Earth, but they're forgetting that this tune is an old tune, sung before by any person who has opened up a box and said "what in the name of Ritz crackers is that?!"
ReplyDeleteA hundred years ago, cars were a new literacy. Now a days, they're just smelly and really expensive. And, like the new literacies that have the people singing "hallelujah," they came with a manual. Everyone has access to them, ear hair amount. Balls in your court, Fable!