By: Lula

Lula — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:52:14 +0000

This is why I like philosophyonthemesa.com. Awesome post.

By: Michael Mussachia

Michael Mussachia — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:37:21 +0000

A Pew survey done last month found that “Millennials,” the generation born after 1980 and the first generation to come of age in the new millennium, identify their generation by their electronics communications technology and the social network made possible by that technology. No previous generation has defined themselves to this degree by technology. “Steeped in digital technology and social media, they treat their multitasking handheld gadgets almost like a body part — for better and worse,” the report says. Most of these tweens and teens take their cell phones to bed with them and admit to texting while driving. When texting, have their own, English-derived “language.” They watch less TV but use some kind of electronic device up to 8 or more hours a day. It seems they have to be constantly “connected,” be it via their cell phones or online video games.
One of the things that seems to be coming out of this is that increasing numbers of these hi-tech youngsters have difficulty relating to earlier, pre-hi-tech times. For instance, they seem relatively uninterested in history as a subject. I know I’m generalizing here, but numerous articles over the past few years as well as conversations with history teachers, both at Mesa and at my kids’ high school, suggests that this is the case for many in this generation. (As a personal aside, I’m a father of two teens, and I’m considered ancient history by both of them and their friends since I don’t use many of these electronic devices or social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook or Twitter. Even worse, as far as my kids are concerned, I didn’t have computers, the Internet, game consoles, cell phones, etc. when I grew up in “ancient times.”)
Along with a lack of interest in history, many Millennials seem to have difficulty relating to significant characters of the distant past. It seems that many Millennials, for example, have difficulty relating to ancient stories of long-haired, bearded men in robes and sandals preaching “The end is near, repent and be saved,” i.e., Biblical stories. My personal impression is that these kids are far less interested in religion that any previous generation. They don’t seem to even be interested in a critical, scientific, historical perspective on religion. As one kid told me “That stuff’s not part of our world except in video games,” that is, except in “god games” and video games featuring demons, witches and such. Another source for these impressions is the increasing number of You Tube channels and videos making fun of religious conservatives like they’re Neanderthals. So, my question is, Is the rapid increase in electronic communications technology and the young generation being constantly electronically connected moving them away from ancient fable- and ancient prophet-type religious beliefs? Can anyone refer me to any social science research that touches on this issue?

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:05:00 +0000

What an honor that my quotation made it into your title bar.

Comments on: Haiku Culture?

By: Lula

By: Michael Mussachia

By: andreaskluth