Category Archives: Student Blogs

Ten Commandments, well, 4!

In Progammer or be Programmed, by Douglas Rushkoff, the last four chapters seems to be explained for people who fall into the digital divide. The seventh command, Social, talks about social connection through Facebook and Twitter and all the other ones they have to offer. For people that fall in the digital divide don’t really get that social connection like the average teenagers would through social networks. “Digital networks are biased toward social connections, toward contact,” (99). Instead of them having notifications that their tweets or likes are new, they settle for more of contact face to face. Rushkoff’s 8th command is Fact, which is that the internet is mostly truthful. For a limited time, people can post whatever they want whether it is true or not, being that it is a ‘fact.’ It can only be a fact for so long until it is validated or dismissed. For those who fall into the digital divide have no access to the internet so they get their facts right from the source. The 9th command is openness. This command states that the internet is “biased toward openness” and that we should share our creations, (121). It is basically like writing a paper and plagiarizing. They can only share and create so much to the point where they realize it is plagiarism. The last command is Purpose. Rushkoff suggests that we, even those who fall into the digital divide, should know coding so that we can create programs with meaning. He suggests this so that we don’t just take credit for what the internet found for us. For those who fall unto digital divide can’t create this if they’re stuck on ‘face to face’ contact.

Rushkoff’s Four Commandments

@quy_luu

Commandment number 7 is Contact. Digital media has been bringing people together by improving the communication and reducing distances among people. By creating supporting programs, people can actually talk any time that they want to; it is very comfortable and convenient. Plus, people can easily update other status through social network websites (Rushkoff 96).

Commandment number 8 is Abstraction. Base on the Internet access, people can post any information online and they can find the new information as the same way. However, people have to awake of information because they are lack of credibility and reliability. In contrast, it would be difficult for people who do not have the Internet access or the computer because they have spend more time for whatever they look for (Rushkoff 106).

Commandment number 9 is Openness. This commandment is about sharing the sources in the Internet; these sources have been sharing by reliable authors and departments. It is very important for all researchers nowadays and it actually saves lots of time consumption for using computer. The digital media and the Internet are very helpful tools for many people in the digital environment like today (Rushkoff 118).

Commandment number 10 is End Users. Software and Programs are needed to be creating to provide effectively outcome for using the digital media. Besides, there are lots of programs that improve human’s abilities such as listening, speaking and writing. Plus, some of them are enhancing the business’s managements to increase productive process for gaining more profits. Moreover, governments use digital media to control and maintain their entire nation’s status (Rushkoff 134).

 

Last blog

@samai14

It will be hard to live in today’s world without any kind of technology. Computers are necessary because we now communicate through social media instead of communicating personally in supermarkets. Everything is social even businesses. As Rushkoff explains in page 101 “…is too late for a business to go social. Every business already is social.” I think that in these last four chapter’s Rushkoff tries to argue that yes we need computers to communicate with each other and it’s ok to use social media but there are some rules that we need to follow. For example command eight says to be honest and not to lie. Be yourself and don’t lie about who you really are in page 106 Rushkoff states “put something false online and it will eventually be revealed as a lie.” Telling the truth will only benefit us as he explains in page 112 “we need to learn how to tell the truth.” Command 9 explains the difference between sharing and stealing.  Rushkoff argues that if we know how to distinguish sharing form stealing our life will be better and can save us from a lot of trouble. Finally command 10 explains that if you are not creating something new you are being created. It is better to create programs than learning how to use a program. Rushkoff argues that although learning new things is good “it will not help them adapt to the technologies of tomorrow.”(p. 136) it’s important for everyone to adapt to new technology because although people may think it is necessary this book makes it obvious it is because computers and social media are taking over of the way we communicate.

Blog post #14

@chrisdtc101

In Daniel Rushkoff’s “Program or be Programmed”, he gives four commands in his last four chapters to us. The commands are, Social: Do Not Sell Your Friends, Fact: Tell The Truth, Openness: Share, Don’t Steal, and Purpose: Program Or Be Programmed. These four commands are very critical to anyone who uses technology on a regular basis, but what about people who don’t have or use a computer? Are these rules still applicable to them? I say they are… in a way. Even if they are not being directly affected by technology themselves by not using it, they are being affected by the people around them who are. Certainly, they are left behind in the digital divide. What’s more, communication is even harder for them than it used to be thanks to the people around them always being plugged into their technology. I have several friends who rarely answer their phones anymore if someone calls them, and those kind of actions – cutting off the means of communication someone in the digital divide may have – are extremely detrimental not just to the individual but to the society. The command of Program Or Be Programmed, to “learn how to make the software, or risk becoming the software” (Page 128), is an incredibly important one. If everybody who uses technology fails to follow this command, where will those in the digital divide be left? They will be isolated from a society that they can no longer communicate with and be left to fend for themselves by themselves.

Rushkoff’s Commands

@ObergJustin

For someone living in the modern world in the digital divide, where access to a computer is difficult, Rushkoff’s commands would have a very different affect on them than those with digital access. Those in the digital divide might not be affected as much as someone who is constantly interacting with digital media, but they also have no control to program or make a change in the digital world. For instance, in Rushkoff’s first command he states, “digital networks are biased toward social connections-toward contact” (Rushkoff 91). Now someone who does not participate on the digital network will not have to experience all of the seemingly meaningless social contacts that go on online in the form of messaging or spreading memes. However, many times what is created on a digital network leaps to the actual world such as political ideas that stir revolution. In these cases those with digital access are actually changing the world and those without have no opportunity to add their voice to the conversation. When it comes to facts, those in the digital divide are never influenced by the overabundance of false information that floats around online, but they also miss out the access to all of the relevant true information as well. “Digital networks were built for the purpose of sharing resources, technologies, and credit on order to create it.” (Rushkoff 118) Someone could be very talented at something and want to share it with the world but still live in the digital divide. They are at a severe disadvantage because more and more people are choosing to spend their free time looking and buying stuff on digital networks as opposed to the real world. Finally Rushkoff make the point that “we must learn how to make the software, or risk becoming the software” (Rushkoff 134). Even though someone might not be on a digital network, they can still be programmed by it just from the amount of change to our culture computers have caused in the last few decades. However, those in the divide have absolutely no way of learning how to make the software and thus can never program and will always be those who are programmed.

Rushkoff

@cougar_sean

As time progresses, society becomes more bias towards contact, Rushkoff’s seventh command. He states, “our digital networks are biased toward social connections [… and] any effort to redefine or hijack those connections for profit end up compromising the integrity of the network itself.” Here it is clear: there must remain a true and honest motivation to connections. If society feels as though the reason for contact is personal gain, the system destabilizes. This naturally leads to his eighth command, fact. If someone lies on the Internet, it is found out very quickly. Everyone becomes a sleuth when they access the Internet and they share information with each other to verify statements. Lies do not last long on the Internet because, as Rushkoff says, “the more valuable, truthful, and real our messages, the more they will spread and better we will do.” “Digital technology’s architecture of shared resources, as well as the gift economy through which the net was developed” (Rushkoff) has created a need for openness, the ninth command. Openness continues along the natural path of the last two commands. Social connections seek honest, true relationships and that relationship must be open. Sharing is what the Internet was originally created for. When something is not shared with everyone, society gets angry. This ties directly to the motivation or purpose (command ten) of the connection. Purpose is all about making change. If we cannot learn to make change ourselves, then we are helplessly at the mercy of those who can. We must learn to “program or be programmed.”

Rushkoff’s 4 Commands

@JaredAbrahamWSU

Social, Fact, Openness  and Purpose are the last four commands in Douglas Rushkoff’s Program or be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age. These last four commands are Rushkoff’s attempt to convince you to be involved with the wonderful world of technology. Rushkoff describes the social command as “the ongoing coevolution between people and technologies.” (p.90)and that “the bias of digital media is toward contact with other people”(p.90)

The idea behind Fact, is that the truth will always prevail. Rushkoff states if you “Put something false online”. . .” it will eventually be revealed as a lie.”(p.100) Just like in real life we must be very careful and deliberate about what we post online. Unlike lying in the physical world the lie that you put on the internet will be on the internet forever.

With Openness, Rushkoff believes that “Digital networks were built for the purpose of sharing computing resources by people who were themselves sharing resources, technologies, and credit in order to create it.”(p.112) According to Rushkoff, we also “often exploit the openness of others,” and we must learn to promote openness. And that openness refers to sharing, not stealing.

All digital technology must exist in a programmers mind before it can be created for the world to see. In In the last chapter, Purpose, Rushkoff says that, “we must learn how to make the software, or risk becoming the software.”(p.128) What he is saying is that if we don’t know how to develop this new technology, we might as well let someone else run our life.

Rushkoff’s Demands

@MyDtcAccount – Jonathan Crabtree

 

As noted by Rushkoff in his 7th command, Social, “digital networks are biased toward social connections, toward contact” (99). People who don’t have access to the internet obviously will not be getting on social networking sites, and instead will have to “settle” for talking to someone in person (gasp!). As a society we have been trained to get a rush of dopamine when we see that little Facebook or Twitter icon pop up at the top of our screen. People without that access have a more organic reaction to connecting with people in real life. Rushkoff’s 8th command, Fact, is that the internet is mostly comprised of truth. While it is true that people can post whatever they want, it won’t last long or get far if it is not a fact. The internet uses its power to crowdsource the information, which leads to a quick validation or dismissal. People without computers are unable to access this information and have to take everything at face value. Openness, Rushkoff’s 9th command, states that the internet is “biased toward openness” and that we should be sharing our creations (121). There is a fine line between generosity and stealing on the internet, and those without access are safe from committing those crimes, but they miss out on all the cool things that people create and share. Finally, Rushkoff talks about Purpose. He posits that everyone should know how to code so that they can create programs with a purpose instead of just accepting whatever the “elite” throw at them to use. People with no access obviously cannot create their own content, and are therefore at the mercy of what everyone else deems “the best.”

Weyman

I would imagine that for someone who lacks a computer and learns about the Social command, they would perhaps reconsider the friend values they have in real life and not take it for granted as some do. Whether its being more connective or simply taking the time to talk in person instead of over Facebook. Telling the truth is something that someone without a computer should hopefully do as it is! As Rushkoff states in one of his closing lines, “the more valuable, truthful, and real our messages, the more they will spread and better we will do.” A non computer owner will hopefully already understand this moral.  Command 9, openness, talks about sharing instead of stealing. This command would probably reflect on everyday life, which would take it out of the context of media and of course would encourage the contemporary man to share, not steal. With purpose, I think that the contemporary man would find himself confused. In life, the struggle to program or be programmed is simple. Its called adapting to your environment. The non-computer man would most likely see this as a reality check and re-evaluate where he stands in life and who stands above/below him. I believe the significance is that everyone falls victim to this. He clearly states that doing nothing is another way of being “programmed.” I personally see this entire book as a persuasive speech with a call-to-action at the climax.

@alweyman

Rushkoff’s Commands

@starlingpreston

Rushkoff’s last four commands consist of social, fact, openness, and purpose. The Social Command states, “digital networks are biased towards social connections-towards contact” (99). Therefore, those living without computers are not privy towards this bias. Seeing as this social command emphasizes content and turning friends into a legal setting that makes connections into profit, those without computers are more inclined to see their friends and networks in a non-content view (Rushkoff 99). They see them as people, not profit. The Fact Command looks at how ideas are spread socially, that the most popular ideas are replicated and passed on (Rusfkoff 108). However, “memes” can often be false information that has been misinterpreted and spread (108). Therefore, those without computers are not subject to the false information that is spread via social networks. However, these memes do allow people to connect and spread ideas on a global scale. Rushkoff’s ninth command, Openness, states that digital technology’s resources are “biased towards openness” (121). The line between sharing media on the Internet and stealing ideas becomes blurred. However, a computer does allow for users to share original ideas (such as memes) that can be built upon, one such example is Wikipedia. The tenth command, Purpose, is biased towards those who program or write code (Rushkoff 134). If a person is not programming they risk becoming programmed. Yet, a person without a computer can do neither. Lack of interfacing with technology neither hinders their chances of programming nor increases their chance of becoming programmed.