Technology does not care about human values.
How can this be true? Technology is created exclusively by people. Our values are baked in.
Filesystems have a concept of ownership, ask your dog what that means.
I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
31–40 of 388 posts
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#32The hardest thing for me has been young children begging, just begging, for screen time. It's heartbreaking and I know very few parents who have managed to make no mean no. I grew up watching TV but then, TV was mostly for adults and I only paid attention those few hours it was child-friendly. I spent almost the entire decade of the 90s without a television, only going to the movies or the occasional VHS. Even today,…
When my daughter wants to start watching videos and she's had plenty I come up with something we can do together. Abandoning my own plans is hard but youtube gets forgotten quickly.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#33For people like me who think smart phones ruin everything, I suggest looking into Waldorf education for your kids. Smart phones are banned at the school (until high school) and screen-oriented media (phones, TV, movies) are strongly discouraged outside of school. In my opinion the system attracts really interesting adults and kids who still know how to enjoy life the old fashioned way.
I wonder about the efficacy of banning the devices entirely until a certain point. Is that all that is done or is an attempt made to teach children how to responsibly use the devices so they don't gorge themselves when the ban is lifted?
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#34My cousin has a no tv policy in his home. The parents do watch tv but not in the presence of their 3 year old boy. They'd rather take the kid to play with other kids or swimming. This won't last, sure. But by the time the kid grows up to start making demands, he'll hopefully already be more invested in his current activities and find solace in swimming. I really don't want kids around me growing up to become unsocial…
We've got a 5yr old and a 3yr old, and we have had a no-TV policy from day one. Our kids, of course, have seen TVs in restaurants and other people's homes, and they have even seen short videos (like a space shuttle launch) on our computer. Because it's not a routine part of their life (or even casually available to them), they don't even think to ask for it. They both have amazing imaginations and can entertain themselves even on long car rides. Instead of TV, we read books, color, play outside, go to the pool or park, build with LEGO - you know, the same stuff we did when we were kids.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#35The hardest thing for me has been young children begging, just begging, for screen time. It's heartbreaking and I know very few parents who have managed to make no mean no. I grew up watching TV but then, TV was mostly for adults and I only paid attention those few hours it was child-friendly. I spent almost the entire decade of the 90s without a television, only going to the movies or the occasional VHS. Even today,…
I spent a lot of the decade of the 90s having the best times of my life immersing myself in video games and the Internet, and looking back it seems to me like I'm the better for it. I think it should rightfully be heartbreaking to deny that to a kid who would have it.
> I think it should rightfully be heartbreaking to deny that to a kid who would have it.
I'm going to assume you haven't seen the steaming piles that are today's kid's shows and apps. There's no way that crap is as mentally stimulating as content from the 90s (or before). It's optimized for addiction.
And I'm not saying to cut it off entirely. I'm just saying the new stuff is universally terrible.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#36Technology (apps, phones, news) is a tool.
If tech distracts from children forming attachment to parents and other people in their lives, then there is a problem full stop. The problem isn't "screen time" or even "tech" directly.
Children (or adults) who have poor attachment (disorganized, dismissive, or just lacks practice), they will be at much greater risk.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think this is the one thing about technology I'm old fashioned about (I roll my eyes hard when people say stuff like "You should delete your Facebook account, you'll be better off."). If I'm eating food with someone else the phone goes away. The only exception is if in the course of conversation an easily googleable question is asked and both the other person/people and I are actually interested in the answer inste…
It's true. I was having hot pot with my wife the other day. Sitting near us was a couple, both on their phones the whole time and not looking at each other. When I first played with smartphone, it was before most people had phones with Internet (it was pre-iPhone). Someone commented on how I was on the phone all the time and the lesson stuck with me ever since. Now I don't do that to people.
Look around in any restaurant these days and you'll easily see half of the adults in the room engaged with their phones at some part of the evening, if not most of it.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
I spent a lot of the decade of the 90s having the best times of my life immersing myself in video games and the Internet, and looking back it seems to me like I'm the better for it. I think it should rightfully be heartbreaking to deny that to a kid who would have it.
> I think it should rightfully be heartbreaking to deny that to a kid who would have it. I'm going to assume you haven't seen the steaming piles that are today's kid's shows and apps. There's no way that crap is as mentally stimulating as content from the 90s (or before). It's optimized for addiction. And I'm not saying to cut it off entirely. I'm just saying the new stuff is universally terrible.
There's something really sinister about watching a toddler utterly engrossed in someone unwrapping Kinder eggs, for hours. In the 90's, the internet involved more than just slapping your palm against a screen and not blinking for the rest of the afternoon, and TV was in limited supply. Today, you never have to take a break if someone isn't there to teach you how, or even that you should.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#39whenever i see parents struggling with issues like this, i wonder why everyone wanders into parenthood without any forethought, any preparation. its so frustrating to see people take their hands off the wheel and say "well, i have no control over this situation. i hope my kid turns out ok." people have this idea that you cant influence your kids. they send them to school where you have 0% control over what they see a…
> children are like any other animal
Yeah, raising kids is just like owning a gerbil. Exactly.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#40Technology does not care about human values.
Neil Postman (Technopoly) and the Heusemanns (Techno-Fix) both advance this concept signficantly.