It is hard to admit that without this computer that I am typing on right now, my life would be a disaster. Everything from my school assignments to my calender and my pictures to my music. This computer controls my life. It is crazy to think that 3o years ago computers weren't even around and people lived just fine, but ever since technology advanced it changed peoples lives, some for the better and some for the worse. A good example is my parents. They were both born in the early 60's and lived from what I hear, had awesome times in the younger years. But, as they grew older and technology advanced it changed them into who they are today. My Dad is a successful business man and he seriously not live without the some source of the Internet. If hes not at work hes on the couch with his laptop and if hes not on the couch hes on a ski lift with his I phone. Basically the Internet is is life source. On the other hand, my mom doesn't even know how to turn on a computer. And it sounds crazy but she gets by just fine. 

Now when I read Peter Halls essay and about his experience "Living the Virtual Life," I am not surprised at all about the things he saw. There are a lot of people in the world and a lot of them are just like my old man, and need the Internet to get by. I know girls who check their face book every 5 minutes, so why should I think its weird that Peter saw a giant robot or a cat person. When he said "nothing prepares the uninformed, which I was at the time, for the mind boggling appearances of the SL-ites who openly greet you at your destination." I almost could have guessed what some of the people looked like. I mean its just like an ordinary guy trying to talk business with my Dad. He is going to be confused out of his mind if he asks my Dad about the stock market, i know i was. 

As for the other two readings I agree with Christina Haas when she claims that "technology of words, is a technology that changes how written language is produced, processed, transported and used." But then again this is 2009 not 1815. We don't have to write with feathers and ink or used candles to see our paper. The world changes everyday so of course the writing  will too. And she does a good job a describing this process. She makes it clear in her writing that "writing is technology."

Honestly the last reading is very confusing but I'm going to give it a shot. I want to think that Rashke is saying that no matter how hard we try technology is going to change the course of writing and we just have to adjust to it. All the people trying to prevent it are "attempting to retard the entire course of Western history."

I think Rashke and Haas are dead on.  They both agree that as technology advances so will writing and for the better. Yes I agree with them. I think that with out a doubt that the computers in this class have influenced how I think and how I write in more ways than one. Yes I have advanced my learning.