This post by Seth Godin expresses my view of life and learning. Mary Kay and I simply don’t watch TV and limit our time “Surfing” the internet. There isn’t enough time to do all we want to do and to read all we want to read and to learn all we want to learn. We have no time for TV and limited time for internet surfing. We have no cable we do have broadband; but understand its value and use. Seth explains it better:
Seeing and believing
It turns out that the more you watch TV, the more you believe that the world is dangerous. It turns out TV watchers believe that anastonishing 5% (!) of the population works in law enforcement. And it turns out that the more you watch TV the less optimistic you become. Cultivation theory helps us understand the enormous power that TV immersion has.
Given the overwhelming power of interaction, I’m confident that we’ll discover that internet exposure, particularly to linkbait headlines, comments and invective, will also change what people believe about the world around them.
It’s hopeful to imagine that we can change these outcomes by changing the inputs. Of course, the hard part is choosing to do so.
Every time I see a toddler in a stroller with an internet device in hand, I shudder.
If we want a better future, it helps to be able to see the world as it is.