I found it hard to connect to Douglas Rushkoff’s Programmed or be Programmed. I connected with one excerpt the most. Rushkoff’s fourth chapter was about choices. A little ways into the the chapter Rushkoff states ‘we live in a world of choice.’ I agree with him in this particular instance. In our globalized world with abundant technology at any given point during the day we are faced with several options and we have to choose. Rushkoff beings to talk about how with so many choices we can feel empowered. Not only do we feel that we are free, we feel we are making our own density, which can feel very rewarding.Rushkoff argues that the more choices we have the less free we are becoming. At the basis of this argument he states that by choosing one over the other we are limiting ourselves because we put the latte choice out of our mind. Here is were Rushkoff and I diverge our beliefs. Rushkoff assumes that by choosing one option we never again have the choice for the latter option. While at times this may be true, we often get the chance to choose again. If I decided I didn’t like WVU four years ago, I could have transfers. Pick the wrong major you can change (I know this from experience.)

Rushkoff uses a term called top-down choice in the digital age. He uses the example of buying a book from Amazon, now Amazon recommends books for you. Google is going to do this on a large scale, where results you search for will be tailored to you.

Rushkoff and I converge in our beliefs once again. Through technology, the is a perceived view of choice, but your choice is limited. So I wonder, as the digital age is becoming smarter, are our choices being limited? Rushkoff says yes, and I would have to agree. However, if we are aware of the change in the digital age, we as the users and consumers can choose to choose.