busyScientists Fear Technology May Be Rewiring Our Brains
When the brain spends more time on technology-related tasks and less time exposed to other people, it drifts away from fundamental social skills like reading facial expressions during conversation, Small asserts.
So brain circuits involved in face-to-face contact can become weaker, he suggests. That may lead to social awkwardness, an inability to interpret nonverbal messages, isolation and less interest in traditional classroom learning.
... this really sounds like the anti-bookworm propaganda some teachers heaped on me when I was younger, because I preferred the company of books to that of the banal little beasts they called my classmates. And while I've got some nearby friends, frankly I prefer the company of online folks to most of the locals, because the Midwest is not exactly a hotbed of culture and brilliance. The scientists may have a point in there somewhere, but if they want to sell it to intellectuals, boy howdy they'd better find a better way to phrase it.
Thoughts
December 10 2008, 19:08:32 UTC 12 years ago
And that's why I do so much of my socializing online, because I live in a place where intelligence is actively discouraged. This is not new; I grew up here with it. Nor is it new for people incompatible with their nearby associates to seek other company, including their own.
In social interaction, you have to consider not just the social skills of one person, but the nature of the people around them. Sometimes you're in an environment where everyone hates you for no fault of your own. Sometimes the people around you aren't bad, but they aren't suitable friend material either. It's good to have options from which one can choose.
Re: Thoughts
December 11 2008, 05:47:20 UTC 12 years ago
Hee hee. That, and I have very little interest in people who aren't as intelligent as me. Which meant I had very little interest in most of my schoolmates growing up.
And that's why I do so much of my socializing online, because I live in a place where intelligence is actively discouraged. This is not new; I grew up here with it. Nor is it new for people incompatible with their nearby associates to seek other company, including their own.
I know how that goes, too. Portland is a lot better about that, but man, I used to live in IOWA. Nice people, at least among the adults, but intelligence was not highly prized.