Digital data can be manipulated. Articles on the internet that explain something from the past, no matter how old, can been false. Or, partially false. Most people just believe it is what really happened because it’s easier than going out and being there. Doug Eyman in his work “Defining and Locating Digital Rhetoric” (2015) involves himself in another opinionated argument between authors. This time though, he’s not only focusing on the ‘new media and digital rhetoric’ aspect of it. He’s focusing on the power of that rhetoric.
Technology has changed the way of communication, and on a deeper level, how we communicate about the past. Eyman (2015) states, “digital work (and digitized work) can be articulated and disarticulated, reshaped or recreated as (nearly) perfect copies, carrying with those copies and ancillary works an apparent cohesiveness, but digital work is also composed of discrete bits (individual binary digits)—these components enable reconstruction, but they can also be susceptible to fragmentation”. It is safe to say that not all of digital data will be true.
I have noticed is that things that were once non-computer based are preferred to be used in todays world. The Braille Alphabet, Morse Code, and even pen-to-paper writing are examples. More often than not in some cases. People still prefer to use physical versions of these, and quite honestly, I do too. Not that I can speak in Braille as someone who isn’t blind. However, Morse code and simple writing are so much more satisfying when there is no digital interference.
An interesting thing that opened my eyes is how Angela Haas (2005) refers to the word Digital. Everything we do is digital. A person’s fingers and toes are ‘Digital’. When we walk we are creating a piece of art and when we write, we “we write into the world” (2005). Manifestation is real guys. What’s even better though is Lev Manoivch (2001) who declares anything digital is a ‘myth’ because it shows the difference between new media and old. That guy has (or had) to be a hoot to be around.
So, once again, things have changed. Technology is moving too fast. So much so that is hard to keep up with. But, so is the world on its own. I’m starting to get concerned about anything I’ve read on the internet, especially in recent years because there will always be a hidden opinion. A small change that throws the whole thing off course. There isn’t anything I can do about it, but I’m sure my computer will realize I’m dissing it every week and blow up. I guess we’ll see.
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