51–60 of 143 posts
I'm old enough to remember when it was TV that was supposedly wasting the time and destroying the youth. Before that, it was comic books. And movies. And even in the 19th century people were complaining about novels. Yes, in theory it is better if people do something constructive rather than just enjoy entertainment. But people can't be 100% in productive mode 100% of the time.
I'm old enough to remember when it was TV that was supposedly wasting the time and destroying the youth. Before that, it was comic books. And movies. And even in the 19th century people were complaining about novels. Yes, in theory it is better if people do something constructive rather than just enjoy entertainment. But people can't be 100% in productive mode 100% of the time.
And I also distinctly remember the answer of Harald Schmidt, back then Germany‘s most famous late night show host, when he was asked whether he thought TV makes people dumb:
„With all due respect, I think TV makes intelligent people more intelligent and dumb people more dumb.“
20 years later, I couldn‘t have said it any better.
I think this is a good message, but by making the phone the problem I fear the author misses a fundamental connection to the youth he addresses. The issue is what you do on a phone, not the phone itself. In fact, phones make it a lot easier to create and not just consume, than televisions did back in the author's youth. And I bet there were similar anti-TV op-eds in newspapers in those days that the author would have…
Are you sure?
why just Indian youth? This is a global phenomenon and I am not sure this is such a bad thing. Very similar things were said about books, movies & TV, humanity adapts and moves on.
I am not Indian, but I feel like he is talking to me as well. I spend about 5-6 hours online and I am not accomplishing my goals. I don’t even have goals. Ultimately it is not the fault of the internet companies, the blame lies on me.
That may not be entirely true. Dark patterns like Doom scrolling are employed by companies to keep you hooked on their apps. Also checkout Social cooling.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I call survivor bias. Books without action can render useless. TV can consume countless hours and does eat lives. Smartphones are the same, but more so. We must recognize the danger all these thing. Information without physical action is a danger.
Taken to an extreme simply talking to--and visiting--friends a lot can be considered a useless waste. For example, loitering is forbidden in many retail places yet it's become culturally accepted use of indoor malls for teenagers (pre-COVID). Life requires balance. And everyone gets to decide what they do with their down time.
I think this is a good message, but by making the phone the problem I fear the author misses a fundamental connection to the youth he addresses. The issue is what you do on a phone, not the phone itself. In fact, phones make it a lot easier to create and not just consume, than televisions did back in the author's youth. And I bet there were similar anti-TV op-eds in newspapers in those days that the author would have…
I think this is a good message, but by making the phone the problem I fear the author misses a fundamental connection to the youth he addresses. The issue is what you do on a phone, not the phone itself. In fact, phones make it a lot easier to create and not just consume, than televisions did back in the author's youth. And I bet there were similar anti-TV op-eds in newspapers in those days that the author would have…
Create what exactly? I'm under the impression that you can hardly create anything on a phone except for cat movies and shopping lists.
I don't mean take your phone anyway but don't use it. That is not the same thing.
The value in this experiment is not to have your phone to fall back on. Initially you feel anxiety, but it soon becomes quite liberating. Having to look at road signs to navigate, relying on personal interaction or reading notices to find things out etc etc. Sounds old fashioned but it improves my quality of life when I do it.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Taken to an extreme simply talking to--and visiting--friends a lot can be considered a useless waste. For example, loitering is forbidden in many retail places yet it's become culturally accepted use of indoor malls for teenagers (pre-COVID). Life requires balance. And everyone gets to decide what they do with their down time.
Loitering laws are pure bullshit that's used selectively to get "undesirable elements" away from commercial areas. Be they teenagers, the poor, or - back in the day - certain races.
An interesting experiment is to leave your phone at home when you go out. Try it. I don't mean take your phone anyway but don't use it. That is not the same thing. The value in this experiment is not to have your phone to fall back on. Initially you feel anxiety, but it soon becomes quite liberating. Having to look at road signs to navigate, relying on personal interaction or reading notices to find things out etc et…