tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post2698329211800138612..comments2023-12-17T05:54:56.396-05:00Comments on I'm Unschooled. Yes, I Can Write.: Unschooling and Access to MediaIdzie Desmaraishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12782266545123946006noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-83656825536444163412010-03-18T17:02:56.308-04:002010-03-18T17:02:56.308-04:00There are a number of books that summarise the res...There are a number of books that summarise the research on this, Remotely Controlled by Dr Aric Sigman is a good one - my half remembered explanation is unlikely to be as good as the source, so if you're interested I'd give it a read. It's not, of course, the case that a backlit screen means you're physically unable to turn away, any more than drinking a glass of wine forces you to down the bottle; but yes, there are aspects of the way your brain is stimulated by 'screens' that are massively different to activities like reading from a printed page, interacting with another person, or staring at a tree flickering in the breeze. <br /><br />Which isn't to say the content doesn't also matter, and the internet in particular offers unparallelled opportunities, which may well offset the negative effects; but those effects are still there, just as a bottle of finely aged whisky has the same alcoholic effects as a skinful of Tennant's Extra.ReluctantSmallholderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07584404000936458169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-60802869491259377642010-03-17T16:08:21.438-04:002010-03-17T16:08:21.438-04:00"The problem is that TV (as well as video gam..."The problem is that TV (as well as video games and the internet) has been shown to be damaging simply as a medium, irrespective of the content - it's addictive and conditions brains (particularly those of very young children) to expect a far greater stimulus than in real life, amongst other effects."<br /><br />"Irrespective of the content" implies that it's the screen itself that is the problem. So, I'm sitting here at the computer reading -- I've been reading all morning, in fact -- and I believe that I'm sitting here because I find the information-gathering a compelling activity, not because the screen has some property that keeps my brain from having the will to turn away from it. If you have a scientific explanation for why I'm wrong, I'd really like to hear it, and I mean that sincerely.Lindahttp://cottonwoodjournal.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-34343956731993320562010-03-17T13:32:00.131-04:002010-03-17T13:32:00.131-04:00I suggest the book, EVERYTHING BAD IS GOOD FOR YOU...I suggest the book, EVERYTHING BAD IS GOOD FOR YOU, by steven johnson.<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Bad-Good-You-Actually/dp/1573223077<br /><br />some compelling evidence that media is making us smarterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-36300375389852444542010-03-16T11:30:48.637-04:002010-03-16T11:30:48.637-04:00Television, like all technology, is anything but n...Television, like all technology, is anything but neutral. It reduces the brain to a lower state of activity, which, when combined with the omnipresent messages of television (racism, sexism, heteronormativity, consumerism, corporate allegiance, nationalism, etc) is a very very dangerous thing. See: Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander.<br /><br />That said, there's no point of absolutism and watching television without commercials, or with an active critique of what you see can be a something fun. It's important that anyone who watches television have the ability to actively critique both the messages and the medium or else one runs the risk of absorbing the messages of the dominant culture hook, line, and sinker.xxxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-52077968604559371072010-03-15T15:52:36.224-04:002010-03-15T15:52:36.224-04:00I appreciate your point of view, and I think it...I appreciate your point of view, and I think it's true to the extent that you're just considering the *message* portrayed through the medium of television. The problem is that TV (as well as video games and the internet) has been shown to be damaging simply as a medium, irrespective of the content - it's addictive and conditions brains (particularly those of very young children) to expect a far greater stimulus than in real life, amongst other effects. So sure, it's out there and I'm not going to artificially forbid my children to dare to look, but I'm not going to invite it into my home for them either. When they're old enough to ask (right now the eldest is not yet 4) and I think they're old enough to understand the arguments, we'll have the discussion and see where it takes us...ReluctantSmallholderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07584404000936458169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-8799246707763997342010-03-15T15:03:58.181-04:002010-03-15T15:03:58.181-04:00Great response Idzie!
I agree that media can be a ...Great response Idzie!<br />I agree that media can be a great tool for learning. If it wasn't for TV, I probably wouldn't have learned to read as early as I did. And actually, I get a lot more in depth information from watching the History channel than I ever did while taking a History class at a traditional public school.Alyssahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08612935186430360488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-18083650506901420392010-03-15T09:39:50.316-04:002010-03-15T09:39:50.316-04:00Excellent post, Idzie. My daughters (10, 10, and 6...Excellent post, Idzie. My daughters (10, 10, and 6) are into advertising from a sociological standpoint. They watch what they want to watch, and the older ones often read a blog called "Sociological Images." The dialogue is what's important. Starting when the kids were very young, I would say things like, "Hey, there aren't any girls in that Tonka commercial. You girls have Tonka trucks, why wouldn't they put girls in the commercial?" And if it was My Little Pony, I would say, "You know boys who love My Little Pony..." etc. And now my older girls love to make fun of commercials. They use their Barbies to make fake, sarcastic commercials about beauty products and whatnot. They know how to view media critically *and* enjoy it. If I had limited their tv viewing to "protect" them from advertising, they wouldn't be the little sociologists that they are. <br /><br />You get the idea. I'm just putting in here in case other parents visit your blog who aren't sold on the idea of anything other than educational programs having value. ;)Abbyhttp://www.sundayswithstretchypants.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-16058217174559737092010-03-14T22:45:31.403-04:002010-03-14T22:45:31.403-04:00My ideal is to give my children as much access to ...My ideal is to give my children as much access to the world as possible, and as much access to myself, other adults, and other people of all ages as possible. Then be open about everything. Ask them: "What do you think about the differences between TV and books?" "Do you think TV and books help your imagination or hinder it?" "What do you think about that advertisement? How did it make you feel?" "Do you feel like I control your life too much? Is there something you'd like more access to?" "Do you understand why I make the choices for our family that I do?" And if they don't, have genuine discussions about it and take their feelings into consideration. These are all discussions that children should be openly in on, as much as they want to be.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351102263902079979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-80891009842623881742010-03-14T21:54:18.134-04:002010-03-14T21:54:18.134-04:00First of all, I love your new look! Second, I als...First of all, I love your new look! Second, I also enjoy advertising. I think it's fascinating and fun to analyze. My oldest son has a really good grasp on television and advertising and he seem to enjoy it much like I do.Heatherhttp://www.swissarmywife.netnoreply@blogger.com