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Plum Hunter's avatar

food for thought ... Although I am not sure how critical that thought is. The videos highlight what we already know about the effects of technology on our behaviors. But what do I think about those effects? The comments from the kids say how amazing these advances are ... But happiness? What is that, anyway? There is survey done every year that lists the most happy countries in the world. They must list/describe the parameters they use to measure happiness. But I cannot remember what they are. It is always one of those Nordic countries. Maybe you have to be cold to be happy?

John Droz's avatar

Plum: The definition of happiness is similar to what the courts accepted as a definition of pornography: you know it when you see it...

Nadia Nichols's avatar

To me, this is sad and scary. The good, the bad and the ugly about how we spend our time. One's perspective seems to depend on where you're coming from. The brainwashing and dependency is close to complete. Very soon we won't even need to use our brains at all. Good thing we have AI to take our place in the universe.

John Droz's avatar

Nadia: Yes it is both sad and scary. Critical Thinking is the antidote...

Nadia Nichols's avatar

Yes, for sure. I just read an interesting article for parents about how to encourage critical thinking in children ages 3 to 7 by simply by asking them, "What do you think about that?" whenever the question is appropriate. Such a simple thing, yet it helps to encourages the child to think about things in a critical way.

Nadia Nichols's avatar

Yes, great video, I read and watched it a while back. Such a simple thing, to ask a child "What do you think?" but the problem is many parents don't have the time or inclination. My parents were always working and we didn't watch much TV, we played outside, but I still remember back in the early sixties a TV show for young kids called "What's New?" It was so fascinating. All science and nature based. "In, out, roundabout; here, there, everywhere...What's New!" Then there was Mr. Rogers. I don't know what young kids are watching now when they get plunked down in front of the TV but I doubt anything could beat those two shows.

John Droz's avatar

Nadia: You forgot Mr. Wizard!

Nadia Nichols's avatar

And Captain Kangaroo!

Plum Hunter's avatar

hmm I happened to come across one of those short reels while doom scrolling on Facebook ... It was a brief summary of Orwell's novel, "1984". I am not sure I ever read it. If we are not already there, we will be there soon. One of the basic themes of the story is how those in power edit history so we do not know where we really came from. We see that happening now. In 100 hundred years, America will not have had a Civil War.

Van Snyder's avatar

As that earnest communist Ernest Hemingway said "gradually at first, then suddenly."

Martin Rossol's avatar

So, like in the future, people will become addicts without ever putting anything physical into their bodies? That's impossible!!

John Droz's avatar

Martin: Good that you see that it is NOT impossible...