Comment Re:Obligatory Plato quote (Score 1) 636
"If men learn [writing], it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is written, calling things to remembrance no longer from within themselves, but by means of external marks.
I thought of this quote as well. I mean, how many people can remember the phone numbers of their 5 closest friends anymore? Memory was once a cultivated trait, but it's really neglected now in favor of external reminders.
You can't stop progress, and I think the internet is an incredible learning/teaching tool (instructables comes to mind, the whole Maker culture) but I do mourn the loss of reverence for personal, biological memory. Maybe I'll build a memory palace to commemorate it.