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Onkar Dogra

Professor Gregory Graham

RHET 1312-06

11 February 2019

Advanced technology is a resource that allows for convenience in the daily lives of

people around the world. It has created a connection between people and civilizations and serves

as a means for information. As technology grows exponentially more advanced, civil debates are

crafted on the placement of such devices for telecommunications. While many argue that the

advances should be available across the planet in all locations, others may disagree believing that

some areas should be omitted. One person who strongly believes that telecommunication links

should be avoided in certain areas is Jason Mark, the author of “Wifi in the Woods”. Mark

claims that the expansion of advanced telecommunications should not mask wilderness or

national parks. As an avid explorer and admirer of the wilderness, Mark believes that having

technological advances in areas such as forests, mountains, canyons, etc. can lead to the removal

from the physical reality of the planet.

In past generations, civic questions about advanced telecommunications were relatively

nonexistent as it was only being started. However, in the present day, each new progression in

technology whether it may be artificial intelligence or telecommunications seem to pose an

ethical and civil dilemma. Telecommunication services are at the forefront of being able to

provide long distance interaction across the planet, even in the most remote areas. Such service

will allow people to communicate through the internet when they go into the wilderness, or even

if they live far from major cities. With the goal of making interaction easier, it may seem logical

to make these services available.

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Despite the advantages the spread of telecommunications possesses, Jason Mark reasons

against the wilderness being covered by humanities digital footprint. He states that with the

Internet connecting the entire world, it will result in the removal of isolationism. It will be

impossible to escape the Internet if it is present everywhere. There will be no place to hide and

simply be connected with only the Earth. Mark states, “This idea of the Away is also a civic

good. A free society needs an escape hatch” (19). In other words, if civilization were to be free, it

needs to have an exist, which will not be present if the Internet covers the wilderness. Life away

from such technology will provide refuge in possible times of political persecution or a failing

democracy. Mark provides further evidence when stating that many people would support having

a place isolated from modern society, even if they may never go there. He gives an example of

people sending postcards, emails, and phone calls to Congress to oppose their planned oil-

drilling in the Arctic region. While not all these people live in the Artic, they oppose any

intervention in the secluded area. Similarly, they would prefer a lack of application of advanced

technology in the area.

Mark also states that when in nature, technology can ruin the mood that is emitted by the

wilderness. In, “…the mood of the wilderness is a stillness not found in human-dominated

landscapes,” he explains that nature provides feelings and thoughts that humans and their

technology cannot replicate (15). If one is continuously detached from reality and nature, it will

obstruct their view of life. Whereas if one is present in nature untouched by outside factors such

as technology, it can lead to serenity and solitude. The serenity and “stillness” is exemplified

when Mark says, “The sheer physicality of the wild feels like a splash of cold water to the face

(16).”
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Not only does the presence of technology destroy the mood of nature, it also distorts the

adventure that is present in the wild. Regarding the differences between basic and advanced

technology Mark states, “While the first enables an adventure into remote places, the second

threatens to disrupt it (14).” In other words, basic technology such as a backpack may be helpful

in enhancing the experience, on the other hand, advanced technology such as cell phones

diminish the experience. Not only does the use of advanced technology disrupt one’s own

experience, it may also interrupt the experience of others and the wildlife. In Yosemite National

Park the use of drones is being restricted as such unmanned aerial vehicles disrupt the routines of

the wildlife. The technology either attracts wild animals or frightens them, leading to changes in

their behavior. Not only do the drones disrupt the animals, but also other people exploring and

observing the wildlife. The avoidance of technology and telecommunications in national parks is

also sympathized by Canadian nature writer, Farley Mowat, who stated that its integration is

idiotic.

Jason Mark provides valid yet weak reasons for his solid claim against technology in the

wilderness. In his argument, Mark established a clear claim that used a qualifier to validate his

points. He stated that advances in technology should be omitted from the wilderness and national

parks, instead of being absolute and stating all uninhabited places in the world. He also provides

reasons that are not very strong to back his claim. His reasons of technology removing

isolationism, ruining nature’s mood, and disrupting the adventure all serve as inadequate

explanations to his argument. In his first reason, Mark states that advances in technology will

remove any remaining isolation from the Internet. While his reason may be true, Mark fails to

realize that one can easily disconnect from technology by turning off their devices, serving as an

“escape hatch” to being connected with one another and the environment. Technology does not
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have to be completely eradicated from nature to get away from it. Even in society, one can easily

turn off their devices to have peace. In his further reasons of technology ruining nature’s mood

and disrupting the adventure, Mark does not realize that technology can aid people by enhancing

their experience. With advances such as drones, one can experience areas that are otherwise

inaccessible to humans. Also, nature’s “mood” that Mark claims should not be masked by

technology can in actuality be experienced while using cellular devices. In the presence of nature

one can feel the serenity while sending a picture to a friend or using a drone.

Along with reasoning, Mark also delivers evidence through examples and explanations

into the premises of his claim. Though his reasoning is not strong, the evidence that Mark

provides is valid. In his argument, Mark establishes evidence that has a strong emotional appeal.

He provides examples and explanation that has a greater emotional presence than logical. Mark

conveys his message through personal feelings toward technology in nature, making his

argument more subjective than objective. He also ignores logical evidence such as a user can

turn off their devises instead of completely stopping its progression, or technology can be more

beneficial than disadvantageous. When talking about the mood, feelings, and experience that

nature provides, Mark provides evidence that is not defined by facts or reasoning. The lack of

solid factual evidence weakens his evidence and overall argument.

When crafting the argument, the reasons and evidence that support the claim abide by

common assumptions, or warrants. While not all warrants are explicitly stated in Jason Mark’s

argument, they are integral to understanding the argument. One warrant is that people cannot

stay away from technology. People will constantly want to be surrounded by technology under

all circumstances. In another warrant, Mark states that technology is a distraction. He constantly

states how it may cause people to prevent isolation from society, which can only happen if it
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consumes our life. He states that the prevention of isolation can lead to a disconnection with the

world. Another warrant is that wilderness is meant to be experienced naturally and without

technology. Mark states how technology can prevent the isolation and distort our views of

nature. He believes that only without technology humans can experience nature the proper way.

Along with providing solid reasons and evidence to support his claim, Mark also presents

counter-claims. One of the counter-claims that is presented is that people will take their devices

into the wilderness regardless of whether or not there is cellular service for them to use the

Internet. Even if advanced service were to be prevented from spreading to the wilderness, people

would still take their technology with them. National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis claimed

that technology is “a powerful tool for us to provide communications… I don’t view it as

competition. I view it as a potential to expand the experience. (12-13)” Jon Jarvis believes that

technology can enhance the experience of wildlife, rather than being a barricade from wildlife

experience. Another counter argument that Mark presented is the convenience technology can

provide. He states that it can provide real time weather information, allowing for the safety of a

person. Along with weather advisory, it may also allow one to broadcast their location in the

event of an emergency. Both of these are valid counter-claims which Jason Mark did not refute

or formulate a rebuttal against. In the argument, Mark did not have a rebuttal for any counter-

argument that he addressed. Along with the lack of a rebuttal, Mark did not consider the counter-

argument that expanding cellular connectivity does not take up much physical space. Many

modern solutions for Internet include fiberoptics, which is routed underground. As a result, it

removes the need for cellular towers in parks or in the wilderness. Therefore, animals will not be

disrupted. The author should have included a counter-argument regarding the lack of needed

space for Internet when addressing that technology can disrupt animals. The lack of a rebuttal
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and not having considered a counter-claim weakens and create gaps in Jason Mark’s argument

that allow for an easy refutation.

Jason Mark claims that advanced technology should not spread to the wilderness and

national parks. Mark reasons that technology masks nature, it creates a removal of isolationism,

it ruins one’s mood when in the wild, and distorts the adventure from the wilderness. Though he

provides valid reasons and evidence, they are not strong in crafting the argument. Mark

addresses an emotional appeal in an attempt to reinforce his argument. However, it fails to

establish a strong argument that is rooted in facts and logic. Along with weak reasons and

evidence, Mark also does not to offer a rebuttal to any of the counter-arguments, thus

diminishing his own argument. Overall, Jason Mark provides feelings and emotions regarding

the situation, rather than solid logical explanations, thus creating a weak argument.
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Work Cited

Mark, Jason. “Wifi in the Woods.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 10 Aug. 2014,

www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/08/wifi-in-the-

woods/375635/?single_page=true.