Problematic Polemic

OK, I know most of you are probably wondering, "What the heck is polemic?"

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, polemic is

"A controversial argument; a strong verbal or written attack on a person, opinion, doctrine, etc.; (as a mass noun) writing or opinion of this kind. Also: (in sing. and pl.) aggressive debate or controversy; the practice of engaging in such debate."

Now you might be wondering what this "controversial argument" to which I refer is.  I am referring to the polemic of computer/technological literacy.  Is it good?  Is it bad?  Is it neither?  Well, Cynthia L. Selfe shares both sides of the argument in her book Technology and Literacy in the Twenty-First Century: The Importance of Paying Attention.  

One side of the argument sees technology as a "boon."  That is technology can be something really great.  This is provided, of course, the technology is in the right hands.  If so, it can be used a tool for discovery and academia and, quite honestly, a countless number of possibilities to better human life and society.  The negative side, however, sees this computer literacy as a "bane."  This view holds that technologies such as the internet are nothing more than a "distraction" or a harmful, parasitic meme that is spreading itself around and causing damage to our society.  

See, even the nicest things can be used for evil.

Of course, nothing is ever truly "black and white."  As Selfe points out, there is some truth to both sides.  It is not simply one or the other, depending on who is using this technology and for what purpose deems it is either beneficial or harmful.  I agree with this idea.  I don't believe that something can ever be completely good or completely bad.  There are several factors at any given moment that can shift technology from one side to the other.

From what I have read, it appears that many people are strongly biased to one side of the argument or the other.  They refuse to see things from the other point of view.  Therefore, I believe the true problem here is not whether technology is good or bad, but that people get so stubborn on the issue that they cause more problems arguing than the topic they're arguing over.