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 Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:39 pm
Topic of the week!
(Ending Sunday March 15th, 2009)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/feb/24/social-networking-site-changing-childrens-brains In short, there are people who are suggesting that online social networks, such as facebook and myspace (and Gaia??) are hurting the social skills of our youth, turning them into selfish adults with short attention spans. Thoughts? Comments?
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:43 pm
If I may be crass: I think it's alarmist nonsense.
To me, these social networking sites are a far sight better than the chat rooms of old where a person could set up an account, never have to reveal a factual thing about themselves and terrorize chat rooms like they were SPECTRE.
Where chatrooms back then thrived on anonymity and being faceless, places like Facebook and MySpace operate on the idea of keeping in touch with friends (interpreted in whatever way you want) and establishing some sort of identity from which it wouldn't be quite so simple to dissociate yourself.
I realize that this is an ideal scenario and, yes, probably just a lesser of two evils situation compared to the "A/S/L LEZ CYBER LOLOMG" shenanigans I first witnessed when I set foot onto the net some 10+ years ago, but I would argue that what we have now is definitely progress compared to what was and would even be so bold as to sum this supposed doomsday scenario outlined in the article as nothing more than "Growing Pains".
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:02 pm
Headhunter I realize that this is an ideal scenario and, yes, probably just a lesser of two evils situation compared to the "A/S/L LEZ CYBER LOLOMG" shenanigans I first witnessed when I set foot onto the net some 10+ years ago, but I would argue that what we have now is definitely progress compared to what was and would even be so bold as to sum this supposed doomsday scenario outlined in the article as nothing more than "Growing Pains". I couldn't have said it better myself. I have to admit, I'm getting a little tired of the "finger being pointed" at the younger generations for being selfish, rude, lacking in traditions and respect for others, just because we have always had things "too easy". I'm sure there are a few people out there who are thinking that this global economic crisis will teach our generation not to take things for granted. My biggest concern about the social networks are privacy and safety issues, rather than them causing ADD.
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Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:48 am
I actually agree with that idea to an extent. The problem however isn't how it affects kids/teens. The problem is how it affects us.
First of all, let's face some truths. I would bet that almost all of us belong to at least one social networking site besides gaia, whether it be facebook, myspace, or whatever. It is my opinion that how we interact on those sites affects the youth more than the effect of the sites on youths themselves.
I'm a big proponent of the theory that kids copy what their immediate elders do, for they assume it to be right. Blame it on the ex-teacher in me, but I can tell you from experience that youths of any age watch young adults and adults and determine if their actions are right or wrong, and will modify their own actions to the figure they look up to.
Why are youths turning into selfish adults with short attention spans and horrid vocabulary? Here's your answer:
Choose any five profiles at random of any of your friends on any other social networking site besides this one. Any five. Count how many times you see the following:
-Bad Spelling
-Pictures/statements glorifying consumption of alcohol
-Pictures/statements glorifying sexual behavior or conduct
-pictures/statements glorifying illegal drug consumption
-use of "l33t" in any description.
There's your answer.
You'd be suprised to see how much depravity and lack of the human condition that we post on line for the world to see. We show the worst of ourselves in these sites, and the next generation sees this, and littearly thinks to themselves that this is how things are, this is how things must be, and this is how the world works. You may tell me that I'm wrong, but tell that to the 7 year old wearing makeup, or the 10 year old with an eating disorder, or the 12 year old with cosmetic surgery, or the 14 year old with a two year old child.
We shouldn't be blaming the social networking sites. They're just sites that serve a function. We should blame ourselves, for we are not being the example that should be set. I'm guilty too of this; I do have pics of parties and whatnot on my profile as well, so I'm just as much of the problem as anyone of us. I'd feel horrible thinking that some kid thought drinking was cool if he/she formed their opinions after roaming through my pics, and that's why my profile is blocked to minors. Yes, I'm not a very good human being, but I at least do my part to hide that from those I could unfortunately influence, and I urge others to do the same.
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Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:14 am
I think we had a similar thread at one point about this topic. In my opinion I don't think social network sites should really shoulder that much blame for ADD. TV turns on fast fast, use the remote, change the channel. Video games have occurred LONG before the advent of the internet, let alone myspace. Text messaging on cell phones is just as bad-- if not worse. It's just across the board, should we blame drive throughs and fast food as well for our lack of patience for a meal?
As for the video game argument I don't think it's fair to label all videos as bang bang killers or Mario. Nor is it good to make the connection that book = intellectual. Many books, especially "academic" or "informative" ones are by no means the end all and be all of knowledge. We are ingrained to be skeptical of tv and video games, but are we ingrained with the same caution over books? Case and point, political and religious literature can be incredible insidious, and when we make the assumption that book = factual or educational, we make ourselves far too vulnerable to their message. Whether it's a Michael Moore flick or an Ann Coulter book, people who consume the media tend to hesitate in considering the validity of facts, or if the other side was told. An example of a video game where you do "learn about the princess" is the Final Fantasy Series. The FF legacy is all about characterization, often to an extent neglected in most novels. As for books-- case and point there are romance novels, serial sci fis of a B strain, and generic no-good fantasy books (there are many great fantasy novels and sci fi novels, but there are also cookie cutter writers out there). Reading a romance novel certainly doesn't make us more cultured now, does it?
Facebook and MySpace are tools. As Hank said we lead through example. Myself, my Facebook and MySpace reflect me-- Weird, honest, fun-loving, and (mostly) clean living. I dare anyone to find a genuine drunken picture of me-- because I've never been drunk 3nodding For me these sites help bridge distance. It would poop out my cell phone to be calling up -every- distant friend, so it's nice to just leave short messages from time time online and then open up for lengthier ones when I have time to call.
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:47 am
I don't think that Social Networks should get the blame for lack of strict parenting and lack of strict education.
I play lots of games, and have been "online" since I was 13. I am on Facebook. I think good grammar spelling is vital. I rarely drink. I don't do drugs. I'm happy that my parents used to smack me when I was naughty. I'm pleased that my schooling was strict.
*edit, but then I've always been called an "old soul", so perhaps I'm a rarity?
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:48 pm
I think the phenomenon they are describing in the article is valid... but taking an all or nothing approach. Quote: "Unlike the game to rescue the princess, where the goal is to feel rewarded, the aim of reading a book is, after all, to find out more about the princess herself." It IS bad if video games replace reading books. Quote: She said she feared "real conversation in real time may eventually give way to these sanitised and easier screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing, skinning and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages of meat on the supermarket shelf. Perhaps future generations will recoil with similar horror at the messiness, unpredictability and immediate personal involvement of a three-dimensional, real-time interaction." It is bad if social sites replace all outside social interaction. BUT games are good in moderation! And online is a way to meet people in places you may never go, and express yourself! You don't have to be a HERMIT... you CAN have both "real life" friends AND real life friends that you only talk to through your computer!
It is NOT all or nothing.
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:25 pm
Well put! You bring up a great point Kipluck. biggrin I think that's the heart of it. I have my real life friends, but I also have online friends as well. I spend a lot of time on Gaia and at the guild, but I still go out with my boyfriend and such. I need to work on being more social around town- my job was really getting in the way of that. Kipluck I think the phenomenon they are describing in the article is valid... but taking an all or nothing approach. Quote: "Unlike the game to rescue the princess, where the goal is to feel rewarded, the aim of reading a book is, after all, to find out more about the princess herself." It IS bad if video games replace reading books. Quote: She said she feared "real conversation in real time may eventually give way to these sanitised and easier screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing, skinning and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages of meat on the supermarket shelf. Perhaps future generations will recoil with similar horror at the messiness, unpredictability and immediate personal involvement of a three-dimensional, real-time interaction." It is bad if social sites replace all outside social interaction. BUT games are good in moderation! And online is a way to meet people in places you may never go, and express yourself! You don't have to be a HERMIT... you CAN have both "real life" friends AND real life friends that you only talk to through your computer!
It is NOT all or nothing.
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