Throughout Thoreau’s book, Walden, he reveals his disapproval of technological advancement. Thoreau even shows his dislike for faster transportation and even the newspaper. “I am sure I never read any memorable news in a newspaper,” and “We do not ride the railroad, it rides upon us,” are just a few excerpts from his book that show his skeptical views of technology. However, if he moved to Walden Pond today, would he have brought the internet with him? In my opinion, he would have. According to Danny Heitman, author of “If Thoreau Were to Move to Walden Today, Would He Bring the Internet? Maybe,” states that “there’s a different side to Thoreau’s relationship with technology that’s also worth remembering,” but what is it? Also in the article …show more content…
When you look at colleges today, computers are used as personal libraries. Computers can give any unlimited knowledge just with a few clicks. With modern laptops and smartphones, you can take these devices anywhere. This would allow someone like Thoreau to move out into a cabin near Walden Pond and still have access unlimited knowledge. Even though Thoreau was so skeptical about technological advancement, showing his disapproval of the telegraph, railroad, newspaper, and even the telegraph, none of these can contain the amount of information and knowledge that a modern-day computer can. Thoreau would have had all of the information from Cambridge, Boston, and Harvard’s Libraries at his fingertips. Modern-day technology isn’t just made up of meaningless programs to destroy human interaction, it just depends on how you use it. Thoreau’s acceptance of books and disapproval of newspapers is just like technology. They are both on the same kind of paper, it just depends on what is written on it. As Heitman states in his article, “The trick is to think critically, to remember that we don’t always have to think or see or feel as quickly as the tweets, texts and emails speeding their way to our hammocks and beach