Extreme Views on the Internet

People are less likely to share opposite opinions and ideas because of the Internet, or so say recent studies. It doesn't take much time or effort to search and find sites, online newspapers and magazines, blogs, and forums which support your views, whatever they may be. For example, if you believe that global warming is a hoax, then there are more than one million sites for you to browse. If you believe that the US government planned the 9/11 terrorist attacks, then there are more than seven million sites which support this notion. The possible effects on future society, government, and human relations are immense.

With little or no debate, imbalanced views and extremism are a direct result. Like-minded people engage in one-sided discussions and never hear opposite opinions. In other words, if a group of people discussed the benefits of the Kyoto Protocol, then almost all who participated in the discussion would support the treaty. Few arguments would get raised about any possible negative impact. In addition, a person's confidence grows when there aren't persuasive people to disagree. An overabundance of confidence leads to extreme views - a mob mentality, if you will.

Discussions by large groups of like-minded people have the potential for good in the world, though. The Civil Rights Movement in the US and the movement for more equality among men and women all over the world are two examples. But it doesn't take much effort to think of some negatives, such as terrorism, cults, and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. People could band together, and be overconfident and wrong in their views.

Sociologists worry about the harm to society's general welfare. Suspicion of other people whose opinions differ, unjustified rage, and the fragmenting of society are all real concerns. Any adversaries could be viewed as the enemy in a future war of ideals and beliefs.

Previews

Rank It!:How do you use the Internet? Rank the choices in order. Remember to support your decisions!

1. read blogs

2. read magazines and newspapers online

3. communicate with professional peers

4. communicate with people who have the same interests

5. shopping

Fragments:Remember how the fragments were used, and complete the sentence from today's article.

1. The potential effects on...

2. An overabundance of confidence produces...

3. The Civil Rights Movement in the US and...

4. But it doesn't take much effort to realize the negatives, such as...

5. Unfortunately, sociologists worry that the harm to...

Post-Comprehension: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your answers!

1. Do you often visit sites which old the same opinion as you? Do you ever read through opposite opinions?

2. Do you agree that people are becoming more extreme? Why/not?

3. What positive events from history can you think of that were the result of extreme views? Please explain.

4. What negative events from history can you think of that were the result of extreme views? Please explain.

5. Assuming that the sociologists are correct, what can be done to prevent of limit extremism?

Google Search: Type "extremists" into Google. Look at the websites, and/or read additional articles on this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.

№ 12.

Depression on the Horizon

The Great Depression of the 1930s was the worst economic crisis in the history of the United States. Income, prices, and profits dropped, because people began to spend less money. Later they didn't have any extra money to spend. The profits at many companies suffered, which worsened the situation. Unemployment soared, and many businesses closed. And now, some world-famous economists of today fear a repeat of the Great Depression looms on the horizon.

During the last several years, the value of the dollar has dropped. In addition, it remains weak when compared to other currencies, mostly because of the debt of the United States. The US must borrow about $3 billion to fund the economy every day, which makes the deficit larger and larger. In fact, the debt may possibly be irreversible. If there were a run on the dollar, it could trigger a global financial crisis.

In the US, there are some signs of the approaching disaster. Bear Stearns, a major financial institution, went bankrupt. The Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates several times. A record 28 million people now rely on food stamps, which are a symbol of poverty, for their daily needs. And let's not forget the housing crisis affecting America.

What could the US do to avoid the crisis? Americans would need to stop spending and start saving, some economists believe. Americans would also need to start producing rather than consuming products. Unfortunately, these steps would cause a recession in the short term, which no one wants. But a depression will definitely occur, and every day on the same course only worsens the severity of the eventual crash.

Previews:

Title: Speculate and/or discuss the contents of today's article from its title: Depression on the Horizon."

Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the blank with the correct word.

1. The profits at many companies ( ), which worsened the Great Depression of the 1930s.

2. Unemployment ( ), and many businesses closed.

3. Some world-famous economists of today fear a repeat of the Great Depression ( ) on the horizon.

4. The US must borrow about $3 billion to fund the economy every day, which makes the ( ) larger.

5. The debt may possibly be ( ).

6. If there were a run on the dollar, it could ( ) a global financial crisis.

7. Bear Stearns, a major financial ( ), went bankrupt.

8. A record 28 million people now ( ) on food stamps for their daily needs.

9. Food stamps are a symbol of ( ).

10. Every day along the current course only worsens the ( ) of the eventual crash.

Post-Comprehension: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your answers!

1. What do you know about the Great Depression of the 1930s?

2. Do you think a similar problem could occur in the US? Why/not?

3. If there were a depression in the US, how would that affect your country? Please explain.

4. Many countries have risen and fallen throughout history. What do you think will happen to America?

5. What would you do if there were a depression, you lost your job, and had used all of your savings?

Google Search: Type "dollar crash" into Google. Look at the websites, and/or read additional articles on this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.

№ 13.

Digital Age

Computers have become woven into our societies and our lives, and their disappearance would be unfathomable. We take them for granted, as we do the technological advancements that appear every few years. Computers get quicker, the Internet offers more information, and other household devices like TVs and DVD players simply do more. But what would happen if the advancements arrived at the pace of a tortoise instead of a hare? Or what would happen if the advancements came to a complete standstill?

It's a realistic scenario, and microchip manufacturers are concerned. The chips, which power all our electronics nowadays, have begun to reach technological limits because they just can't get much smaller in size. Therefore, manufacturers have poured billions of dollars into research and development, working toward chips that will behave in innovative ways. The microchips of the future will handle their tasks with greater finesse, and thereby hopefully avoid the looming problem. The smart chips will adjust their function to the needs of the program and the user. However, there aren't many answers beyond that point, and it could signal the end of the digital age by 2020.

It's a race among chip manufacturers, as they scramble to maintain Moore's law. Gordon Moore, who founded Intel, anticipated that the processing power of a chip would double every two years. He's been right so far. In fact, microchips have more than met expectations, because their processing power has better than doubled every two years.

A slow down of the digital age would seriously affect economies around the world. Electronics would cost more. Consumers wouldn't upgrade because of fewer new products.

Previews:

Do you agree or disagree?:

1. The Internet is the most important invention of the last 100 years.

2. The computer is the most important invention of the last 100 years.

3. In 20 years, computers will be the size of a watch.

4. In 20 years, computers will run most of our homes and businesses.

5. There will be a computer or Internet crash in the future.

Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the blank with the correct word.

1. Computers have become ( ) into our societies and our lives.

2. The disappearance of computers would be ( ).

3. What would happen if advancements in computers and technology came to a complete ( )?

4. It's a realistic ( ), and microchip manufacturers are concerned.

5. Manufacturers have worked to develop chips that will behave in ( ) ways.

6. The microchips of the future will handle their tasks with greater ( ).

7. This will hopefully avoid the ( ) problem.
8. It's a race among chip manufacturers, as they ( ) to maintain Moore's law.

9. Gordon Moore ( ) that the processing power of a chip would

double every two years.

10. Consumers wouldn't ( ) because of fewer new products.

Post-Comprehension: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your answers!

1. Do you think the proposed scenario will happen in the future? Why/not?

2. What do you think would happen if technological advancements came to a standstill?

3. What do you think would happen if there were a technological crash?

4. What do you think computers will be like in 2020? Please explain.

5. What do you think the world will be like in 2020? Please explain.

Google Search: Type "digital age" into Google. Look at the websites, and/or read additional articles on this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.