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Closing the Generation Gap: Leading Indicator of Societal ReBoot

Sun, 01/31/2010 - 11:58 — Capuchin the Wry

The West's insistence on treating children as if they are the same as adults is a losing proposition. The trend was instituted in the late 50's and 60's with the almost-grown-up 18-20 year-old crowd. That worked out, to some degree. But then the drive was on to apply that to younger and younger children. In my day (as a child), it was down to about 16-17. Nowadays, I see children at my school as low as the 5th grade routinely being given the intellectual and social privileges of adults.

I won't claim societal collapse, but I have a hunch a societal "reboot" can't be far off.

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Sun, 01/31/2010 - 14:12 — Khabalox

Interesting Idea

That's an interesting idea. Can you provide some examples of the "intellectual and social privileges" given to 5th graders? Also, what would a "societal reboot" look like?

Sun, 01/31/2010 - 16:49 — Capuchin the Wry

Adult privileges given to kids: F'rinstance

Let's set aside some kids' casual exposure to violence and pornography at the hands of their parents -- my peers -- who think that kids are merely li'l adults.

My first f'rinstance: the surging increase in "smartphone" usage by children, with correlating increase in use of social networking sites (Facebook) and text messaging at all hours of the day. The question nagging me is: what does that kind of behavior do to the developing mind? How is the mind "rewired" by it?

This is probably going to become a primary area of research for me over the next 6 months to a year. I think I am more mindful of it than most because I am in a child-related industry (education).

As to what a "societal reboot" will look like, that is the interesting part. I have no idea. I don't foresee any sort of zombie apocalypse, although it is tempting for the alarmist in me to go down that road. But I would suppose it will be significant, leading to people in my generation and my parents' generation to become rather more alienated than the usual "kids these days" magnitude.

I am an adherent of the General Principle that "youth worship" is a hazardous way to run a society.

Mon, 02/01/2010 - 08:30 — Khabalox

"the surging increase in

"the surging increase in "smartphone" usage by children,"
I'll not say that the increased time spent in front of a video screen is good without mitigation, but likewise I don't see it as completely bad. At one point, kids did not go to school and get that fancy book lernin'. They stayed at home and learned how to drive a tractor and reap the wheat. I'm sure there were those who decried the debut of the home telephone as an advent of the apocalypse. As time progresses, and technology and culture evolves, we will undoubtedly start engaging in different types of activities at different ages. Some of these will be positive, some negative, but most a mix of the two.

For example, increased use of smart phones may degrade eyesight, but increase manual dexterity. It may lead to an increased evolution of the English language (for better and/or worse), but it may also allow us to grow closer as a society by lowering the barriers to to engage with each other on a more personal level.

"youth worship"

You just reminded me of the Nurenburg Rally scene from "Triumph of the Will." `:=o

Mon, 02/01/2010 - 09:45 — Ben

Telephone apocalypse

"I'm sure there were those who decried the debut of the home telephone as an advent of the apocalypse."

They were right. But for caller ID, the civilized world would have collapsed years ago; the streets would have run red with the blood of telemarketers and alumni association solicitors; and strip malls would be built with the bones of political campaign phone-bank volunteers.

Mon, 02/01/2010 - 11:35 — Capuchin the Wry

Not video screen, nor telephone, nor eyesight, nor dexterity...

... it is the allowed development of an unfettered social network among children, who need to be taught how to socially network by their parents & other adults. I see children, age 10, thrown a Facebook page, a phone with unlimited texting and a camera, and no instruction.

I assure you there are people in their 20's and older who are rejoicing over this. They see (in the most benign cases) that money will be made in about a decade off of these innocents-who-think-they-are-wise.

The physical modifications don't interest me as much, although they interest many in the CDC -- increasing sedentary time, correlated with increased health risks of all sorts.

It is the psychological (and spiritual) modifications being wrought. To avoid complications, let me restrict my inquiries to psychological changes for now. I have to see if any research is being done on this. If not, maybe I can get that Ph. D in biostatistics, after all. ;o/

Tue, 02/09/2010 - 09:00 — Khabalox

"Digital Nation" - Frontline

Caught this episode on Frontline the other day which is spot on topic. You should check it out, Wry.