Help me understand this mentality

[DrayMiles]

Paranoid sensory perception and cowardice is applicable in some of these scenarios. The easiest thing to do is nothing...
And I do think it’s more prevalent now since we have more means of communication. How much courage does it take to send an email?
I’ve seen it exhibited a lot more in the last 4 or 5 years anyway...

 

[LBS-bass]

I don't buy into the idea that iPhones and screen time are the scourge of the new generation. For as long as there have been books and literacy, people have been diving into their own little worlds as a form of escapism. We used to celebrate those people because we viewed them as imaginative. We encourage kids to read, but somehow looking at words on a screen is bad for them. I think this is just one more thing that one generation doesn't understand and another embraces. Not so different from that horseless carriage or flying machine. We can raise an angry fist toward change all we want, but change will happen anyway.

 

[40Hz]

It's not going to make any sense to a person who has never had a major depressive episode, or an anxiety disorder of some sort, unless they have a close relative or friend who does.

Even if it does make sense, how does that change the reality of the situation for the person on the receiving end one iota?

Simply admitting you have have a problem, and did something wrong, doesn’t do anything to mitigate or make amends for whatever harm was done to someone else.

 

[friskinator]

I don't buy into the idea that iPhones and screen time are the scourge of the new generation. For as long as there have been books and literacy, people have been diving into their own little worlds as a form of escapism. We used to celebrate those people because we viewed them as imaginative. We encourage kids to read, but somehow looking at words on a screen is bad for them. I think this is just one more thing that one generation doesn't understand and another embraces. Not so different from that horseless carriage or flying machine. We can raise an angry fist toward change all we want, but change will happen anyway.

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The difference with electronic devices is that they're much more physically isolating than books/newspapers/etc. I take the train/bus on a daily basis, and out of everyone on board, I'd say 90 percent of them are using a device with headphones in. You couldn't have a casual conversation with someone if you tried.

The last time I visited one of my long-distance friends with a teen daughter, she was on her phone (with headphones) the entire time I was there. Never spoke, never said hello, never acknowledged my presence. Granted, that's a parenting fail, but it's not unique.

 

[easyj]

I don't buy into the idea that iPhones and screen time are the scourge of the new generation. For as long as there have been books and literacy, people have been diving into their own little worlds as a form of escapism. We used to celebrate those people because we viewed them as imaginative. We encourage kids to read, but somehow looking at words on a screen is bad for them. I think this is just one more thing that one generation doesn't understand and another embraces. Not so different from that horseless carriage or flying machine. We can raise an angry fist toward change all we want, but change will happen anyway.

View attachment 3399289

Interesting picture. When I used to work in center city Philadelphia, I took the train in everyday. It was a very social atmosphere where I met and talked to people during my train ride. I met new friends on the train and looked forward to bumping into them during my trip.

 

[LBS-bass]

Even if it does make sense, how does that change the reality of the situation for the person on the receiving end one iota?

Simply admitting you have have a problem, and did something wrong, doesn’t do anything to mitigate or make amends for whatever harm was done to someone else.

It doesn't. It's up to the person on the receiving end of the problem to make the decisions about what to do, or not to do, because the other person at the center of the situation isn't capable. You recognize the problem and you make some choices about what you're going to do to solve it. There are a number of choices you can make, not all of them are great, and not every situation in life gets tied up neatly with a bow. But assuming that a person in the throes of an anxiety disorder is likely to soon start behaving like their old self again is not a responsible assumption. You need to solve whatever problem this is creating and move on.

 

[40Hz]

We used to celebrate those people because we viewed them as imaginative. We encourage kids to read, but somehow looking at words on a screen is bad for them

There’s actually been some serious studies that seem to indicate the technology tends to impair the ability to mentally visualize, which is a key creative skill usually referred to as “imagination.”

 

[LBS-bass]

Interesting picture. When I used to work in center city Philadelphia, I took the train in everyday. It was a very social atmosphere where I met and talked to people during my train ride. I met new friends on the train and looked forward to bumping into them during my trip.

Yep, I've had both experiences. I've ridden the LIRR in a party atmosphere and ridden the NY subway when it looked pretty much like that picture. So you never know

 

[LBS-bass]

There’s actually been some serious studies that seem to indicate the technology tends to impair the ability to mentally visualize, which is a key creative skill usually referred to as “imagination.”

I'd be interested in learning more about those studies. I don't really watch TV and I don't watch many videos online, I'm a reader so that's what I like to do. I see kids with their phones in their faces all the time; to me it's no different from sitting them in front of Dora the Explorer. But who knows, really?

 

[40Hz]

It doesn't. It's up to the person on the receiving end of the problem to make the decisions about what to do, or not to do, because the other person at the center of the situation isn't capable. You recognize the problem and you make some choices about what you're going to do to solve it. There are a number of choices you can make, not all of them are great, and not every situation in life gets tied up neatly with a bow. But assuming that a person in the throes of an anxiety disorder is likely to soon start behaving like their old self again is not a responsible assumption. You need to solve whatever problem this is creating and move on.

So your answer is: “just suck it up” I take it?

 

[LBS-bass]

So your answer is: “just suck it up” I take it?

No, my answer is do an assessment of what problems this is causing and how serious they are, then figure out what the solutions are. The point is that you're not going to get a person in that condition to start acting the way you want them to, just because you want them to. This is not yours to control. You control the things you can control. The blame game here is wasted energy. You wouldn't blame a person who has a heart attack for suddenly being out of commission, would you? No, you'd solve whatever problems that was causing and you'd hope they recover well. I fail to see that this is any different.

 

[40Hz]

I'd be interested in learning more about those studies. I don't really watch TV and I don't watch many videos online, I'm a reader so that's what I like to do. I see kids with their phones in their faces all the time; to me it's no different from sitting them in front of Dora the Explorer. But who knows, really?

Reader and non-TV watcher here too, so I get where you’re coming from.

I’ll have to see if I can find them. My S. O. has a masters in experimental and cognitive psych. Her specialty was in memory function as it relates to learning processes. While she was working on an internship we had access to a ton of solid research literature. The studies I read were all in professional journals. I’ll ask her if she remembers where to find them.

Hopefully if I can find them they won't be behind Elsevier’s firewall and require a hefty fee to gain access. Which is another thing that’s changed with our new technologies. Time was when you could get open access to virtually all academic research papers. Now the bulk of it is siloed.

IIRC. having actual images constantly in front of you (so went the study) seemed to impair the ability to internally generate visual images. The shift was seen in computer graphics program users. Artists trained in the traditional “visualize internally, then draw” school of art could create designs far more rapidly than modern designers who follow more of what’s called a “progressive approximation” (i.e. tweaking) approach. In the course of the study it was noted that the new computer-based designers had an observable amount of trouble visualizing without having something up on the screen to work with. When given an oral description of a scene, the traditionally trained artists could recall the described image and recreate it with a significantly higher degree of fidelity to the original description than the computer artists could. So apparently memory also factors into the equation indicating that short-term memory may also be suffering some firm of impairment since a good part of memory is the ability to create multiple mental sensory links, as well as regularly exercising it. Tge brain is highly efficient. What mental abilities don't get used, the brain happily loses and directs its focus to more pressing calls for attention.

Interesting stuff. Hopefully I can find the studies again since it’s been awhile since I read them.

 

[sean_on_bass]

So your answer is: “just suck it up” I take it?

That would be mine, but not all scenarios are created equal of course. If someone ghosts out on me i generally am not mad at it or think that some sort of justice needs to be served. I just go on with my life and assume they did it for a good reason. Nobody is truly obligated to be my friend or fulfill their commitments to me and that is OK and i will reciprocate that feeling. Way of the world.

 

[LBS-bass]

That would be mine, but not all scenarios are created equal of course. If someone ghosts out on me i generally am not mad at it or think that some sort of justice needs to be served. I just go on with my life and assume they did it for a good reason. Nobody is truly obligated to be my friend or fulfill their commitments to me and that is OK and i will reciprocate that feeling. Way of the world.

Exactly. I responded a little differently only because I've been in this situation a few times with people who were mentally ill and I know that it can create havoc. That's really unfortunate fallout for everyone involved but it's no different from someone you're depending on becoming sick in any other way that prevents them from completing their responsibilities. But yes, no one needs to be in my life if they don't want to, sick or otherwise.

 

[LBS-bass]

I’ll have to see if I can find them. My S. O. has a masters in experimental and cognitive psych. Her specialty was in memory function as it relates to learning processes. While she was working on an internship we had access to a ton of solid research literature. The studies I read were all in professional journals. I’ll ask her if she remembers where to find them.

Hopefully if I can find them they won't be behind Elsevier’s firewall and require a hefty fee to gain access. Which is another thing that’s changed with our new technologies. Time was when you could get open access to virtually all academic research papers. Now the bulk of it is siloed.

Tell me about it. I used to be assistant managing editor of a medical journal. That's a crazy world, right there.

 

[Cliff Colton]

I posted my reply to this thread yesterday and nobody has responded. How rude!

I’ve also spent a lot of time spamming videos, comic strips, interesting articles, and every thought or impression I have to all my contacts, yet many don’t respond. So unless they’re being bombarded with similar information from everyone else, people should at minimum respond with a ‘ha ha good one’ or ‘I’ll watch it later thx’.

And not a single response to my CL ad. Thanks Al Gore!

 

[pbassnut]

It comes under the "so many bridges to burn ... so little time" way of thinking. I don't get it, either. I've seen so many people get burned in life over the years as a result of their use of the "scorched Earth policy of human relations". I wasn't born with any unusual levels of talent, intelligence or anything special. However, I've done WAY better than I could have ever expected to simply by being loyal to friends and family, reliable, honoring all of my commitments and making an honest effort to get along with people.

 

[40Hz]

Nobody is truly obligated to be my friend or fulfill their commitments to me

Nobody is obligated to be your friend.

I’d disagree there’s no obligation to fulfill a commitment. The very fact there is a commitment clearly establishes there is an obligation. Whether or not you choose to honor it is a separate issue.

 

[callofcthulhu]

Sorry, bro, they're just not that into you.

 

[Slinger]

Everything is disposable.
Manners are for old(er) people.
Responsibility went out of the door the same day social media came in.

Take your pick.