THE BOOK.

THE ESSAY.

Shelby Bue

Professor C. Rooks

English 1A H

October 14, 2003

Information

In Postman�s book, Building a Bridge to the 18th Century, he dedicates an entire chapter to information. In said chapter, he discusses information of the past and present, and channels through which it traveled to society. Postman then brings up an unanticipated problem, one that he attributes to modern channels; �information glut�(89). He follows by listing ways in which to avoid it. Throughout his chapter on information Postman neglects to discuss the good that diverse channels of today can do; unfairly focusing on only the negative.

Postman begins his chapter on information by discussing what it was to those in the 18th century. He states that in the 18th century, �one did not give information to make another informed, one gave information to make another do something, or feel something� (87). Clearly he means that the information that was shared in the 18th century had a purpose. He goes on to say that information that had no purpose, or was out of context, was �not thought worthwhile� (86). It is Postman�s declaration that in the 18th century information was used to prove a point, persuade, or explain something; or it simply wasn�t used at all (87). Additionally, there was only a few mediums through which information could travel in the 18th century, the information that got published had

to be of value. Information for information�s sake was not a concept the 18th century allowed. One would be ridiculed for printing it (86).

Next, Postman discusses the main medium through which information traveled during the 18th century. This medium is still around today, although it is not the first, nor only source society turns too. However, during the 18th century, it was. The medium is the newspaper; and Postman admires what it used to be. To Postman the newspaper was an honest and valid source. According to him, it had nothing to gain from being otherwise. He asserts that the newspaper was accurate, and to be trusted because it was regulated (unlike many media channels of today) by editors and people who had to answer to the community (90). It was also one of the only sources of information available. Therefore, only a limited amount of information could be shared. According to Postman, �information glut�(89) which will be defined later, did not occur because of that very reason.

Soon Postman leaves the 18th century and begins analyzing information of today. It is Postman�s postulation that information of today is devoid of context. He speaks as though information of today is simply mind clutter. He continues, deeming information a mere pawn which people move about various media channels (86). Postman believes that information of today has taken on a life of its own, and, like never before, it is being shared simply for the sake of sharing (87-88). He states that although information is widely available, it is no longer in context. Because the concern of the 19th century was how to �get more information to more people, faster, and in more diverse forms�(89), not how to share information that proved a point, explained or persuaded.

Postman continues by discussing the channels of today; the ones he blames for information overload. It is his belief that new media outlets spew information out readily, quickly and context free. They do so simply because they can. The main mediums Postman accuses of doing this include telegraphy, photography (87), and a more recent invention; the internet. Postman declares that telegraphy and photography were the first mediums that stripped information from it context, and shared it, devoid of point and purpose(87-88). A technology skeptic, he continues by expressing his distain for the internet, and modern media channels like it, and all they bring to the world. He believes that what they, particularly the internet, bring to the world is dangerous. Why? According to him, its danger lies in its lack of regulation, its anonymous nature, its global abilities, and its separation from context (94). Unlike local newspapers of the past, the internet, television and radio are far reaching and their information answers to few (94).

Postman states that in modern times the internet, and various other forms of modern media, (including his precious newspaper), welcome anyone to share information, or, random statements about the world (91). However, they are no longer required to be organized or knowledgeable (93). The information shared lacks wisdom. It does not give its purpose , nor does it tell us what questions to ask about the information in order to learn more (95). Postman is simply saying that with so many channels, anyone is able to say anything. What is written and shown to society is no longer limited to information with purpose, or information in context. Like never before sharing information is open to anyone. And those who share it do so simply for the sake of sharing. Information is no longer used to persuade, explain or convince.

Subsequently, Postman blames the channels of today, for what he calls �information glut�(89). He states that with so many new channels, one can be bombarded and confused by information. He explains that since there are so many ways to obtain information, and the providing channels no longer require it be valid or useful information, one can become overwhelmed. This overwhelming, or �information glut� (89) comes from too much information, false information, and context free information (89).

Having defined �information glut�(89) Postman then discusses ways in which to avoid it. The first way he suggests has to do with proper education. (91-95).If one understands and applies knowledge and wisdom, they can sift through the mass amounts of information presented to them, and avoid information glut.

Another more extreme way to avoid information glut, according to Postman, is to avoid the internet (92). He knows that this will most likely not be done. However, a man who is anti-internet, he could not resist suggesting it. Since he attributes a lot of the blame to the internet he believes avoiding it, and returning to newspapers, assuming that newspapers return to that which they used to be (95), for information may be beneficial.

One can conclude that Postman makes valid points. However, his underling hatred for modern media is unfair. His disdain for technology of today is simply unreasonable. He does not take into consideration the good internet, and many mediums of today can do.

Many good aspects of the internet and mediums like it, (mediums that send mass amounts of information quickly, and to many) include its fair reaching capabilities and anonymous nature. The internet, being global, has the ability to give an outsiders opinion. Those who publish or post information on the internet are able to give a non-resident view of events in your area. An outsiders view can be positive in a sense that it eliminates bias, and allows someone to comment on events objectively. Whereas newspapers, being very local, may be very set in there ways and bias. It is true that the internet does contain false information. However, newspapers can have less than accurate information as well. In fact, if they don�t falsify or censor information to some degree they will lose subscribers. The internet worries not about it subscribers, thus, those who share information are free to speak more openly, without the fear of reprimanding.

Another medium Postman unfairly blames is the photograph. Postman holds photography (among other mediums) responsible for stripping information of context (88). One is compelled to ask, is context free information as bad as Postman claims? He neglects to consider that information devoid of a context; in this case, information shared via a picture, allows for interpretation. Postman himself seems to be a huge fan of interpretation. Reading works and forming opinions is all he does in his books. It is odd that he did not consider the good that open mediums, moving mass amounts of context free information, can do.

On the whole Postman gives accurate accounts of information; past and present. He then (almost fairly) assesses the mediums through which that information traveled. Having discussed information�s rise and fall, he defines what he calls �information glut� (89), and briefly discusses ways in which to avoid it. Postman is wise to warn of us �information glut� (89). However, some of his suggested ways to avoid it are almost unpractical in this modern age. Postmans ideas, warnings, and opinions about information are for the most part fair. However, the blame he places on modern channels for strpping information of context and causing �information glut� (89) is unfair. He neglects the good new channels do, and focuses almost entirely on the bad. Having read Postmans chapter on information one is compelled to call him an technology nazi who wishes he had been born in the 18th century. However, one will refrain from doing so because only half of what he says is unfair; the rest is acceptable.