WE’RE doing our thesis and we were engrossed in gathering information for us to finish Chapter 2 when my father’s friend interrupted and said, “In our time, we could have our research done by reading the books in the library and still we could finish on time. But right now in your generation you guys depend on Mr. Google.”

I would like to say that the beauty of today is being able to get information fast and save time.

In this fast-changing world I could say that technology, same as with getting the information from book to online, changes. Why? Because

of the environment, the discipline and the dedication that they had “before” vs. the “now”.

These days, it’s more convenient because everything could be right on our fingertip -- on your phones and tablets, it’s not bad after all but my father’s friend emphasized that “we have the information and yet we could

not get it done in time.”

It’s because of technology itself. There are different social media platforms, YouTube, online manga that gets in the way while we explore the Internet for our paper. That’s one of the disadvantages.

Advantage? We get to keep in touch and connect with relatives, family, and friends. We are also updated on what is trending.But the before is even more so. There’s intelligence for one.

My grandfather could still speak fluent English although he is now very old. And the elders seem better schooled than us. But, like the distraction posed by what’s on the Internet, it all boils down to us.

With everything within reach, it is up to the person to be disciplined, and to educate himself further, and maybe go unplugged sometimes.

As what my professor says, so that we would not be easily fooled as

the Internet tends to make us become, we have to discover the beauty of searching and learning offline.

-o0o-

Beverly Faelden is an AB English student of the University of Mindanao Main Campus.