David Zurawik laments the failure of videos produced by new digital technologies to change our lives in any way for the better ("After shootings, a loss of hope in power of viral video," July 8).
I would argue that not only have these technologies not changed our lives for the better, but they've changed our lives for the worse.
If you stop and think about it, we are clearly more insecure today. In a world where advanced technologies, whatever their benefits, are being used to recruit terrorists, produce sophisticated car bombs and easily accessible rapid-fire weaponry, allow computer hackers to compromise both major institutions and personal identities, and, as Mr. Zurawik notes, create a flood of images that "mostly leave us more confused, agitated and jangled," these woes are not conducive to a sense of security.
The flood of non-stop images to which we are subjected — and which we willingly pursue — prevents any sort of serious reflection about the complex problems they depict.
Serious reflection takes time which we are apparently unwilling or unable to devote. We are too busy chasing after the next image.
Howard Bluth, Baltimore