So what are we to do? (Fighting for a humane future)
This Sunday Ross Douthat posted, as an NYT opinion piece, an exceedingly comprehensive description of the way society is headed in this increasingly technologized world - unless we work to modify it. I urge you to read it, not because there's new information, but because it describes the threat so vividly that we may be inspired to action.
Note: The link is probably paywalled. Perhaps some helpful DUer could provide the archive link? I've never understood that.
But what action?
The article put me in mind of a recent conversation I had with the mother of two early teen boys. She was bemoaning their addiction to computer games. She's a physician and understands what's going on well, as do her boys. "They understand that it's an addiction, that dopamine is being released. But they're whole social structure is based on getting together (virtually) with other boys to play games." She said that they used to read books incessantly, but no more. They do, of course, have other interests, sports, music. Forays into "going out" with girls, though what that actually means is not yet clear.
They struggle constantly, decreeing "no computer days," and daily time limits, and taking the family on outings and whole vacations where being on line is not an option. They have even declined as yet to give the boys phones.
What else can they do? The schools don't allow phones. Other parents seem to be like minded. How does one combat dopamine? If they were adults, we would rest in the "You have to want to beat the addiction" wisdom. But if you're a responsible parent, that's not possible.
What do we as a society do to combat the future Ross Douthat paints?
= new reply since forum marked as read
Go to your site, copy the URL.
Go to archive.ph or archive.is, or archive.md and so on
Paste the URL in the box
Voila.
My child is grown up now, and she grew up in the days before social media took over society.
My two cents' worth is to engage kids in real life activities with other kids (and adults, if that helps)
By being TOO social, one measures oneself almost entirely in terms of their peer group.
Ask a kid if they have any heroes. In the past, they might be great inventors, astronauts, great writers (like Mark Twain, ever irreverent and appealing to rebellious youth ... namely me ) or world leaders like Dr. King and Gandhi.
On a Phi Beta Kappa key, a pointing hand symbolizes aspiration.
In my opinion, one really needs to find purpose and meaning in life.
Society has gotten so shallow that the cartoon below says too much about it.
We as parents can convey purpose and meaning, especially by example. I tried. (and succeeded)
