Thanks for another insightful article Karen! I had just re-read Sherry Turkle's "Alone Together" which raises concerns about the virtual emotional attachment that robots offer to children and the elderly. The book was written in 2011 and it makes me shudder to see the further developments you linked here.
Oh, that's an excellent article! Wonderful about what you saw on the plane! People had the books and presented with no technological alternative, they took them out. Very hopeful!
So instead of the ipad, phone, computer or tv babysitting your child, now you can feel good that you love your kid enough to spend 1500 bucks on a "companion." Good god, this is heinous. We are raising generations of damaged, distant human beings.
Wow…because it is soooo hard to simply be present with others! I’ve been at home with our three kiddos since Day 1 and as a result, we are a very tight-knit family. And trust me when I say that at many junctures we were dirt poor (picture 3 young children, two parents, a grandmother with advancing Alzheimers and two aging pets all living together in a 700 sq ft house 😳😳😳). Now that our kids are young adults, I don’t regret any of it. And I don’t think they’ll ever reach out to “robots” for companionship!
True happiness, or a better word joy, had nothing to do with money. That's one of the biggest lies they told us. We had to become "consumers" of useless stuff that they said would make us happy. Joy comes from simple things that cannot be bought.
I was raised to love to read and write. My dad was a French literature major at Princeton of all things LOL and taught us to love language and reading... I raised all 4 of my kids to love to read and they all still love to read thank you Jesus what a gift.
Wow that's amazing! My mom was a history teacher and my dad was a Christmas an author (Dave Hunt in case you haven't read some of my writings that mention him). So thankful my parents loved books and telling us stories. It's one of my best memories with my own kids. Reading to them at night.
Yes I know I met your dad once when he came to speak at Calvary Chapel Philadelphia many moons ago. I always appreciated his ministry. Grace and peace sister! He's coming soon..
They used to put these type of things (robot/AI companions) on the news almost in a jokey manner but as we know, that’s one of the ways they normalise things. First people poke fun, then they say “hmm….I seem to be seeing a lot of things like this….maybe it’s worth a look” then eventually it is accepted and normalised.
Karen - is there anything we can do for Karen Kingston and her family aside from praying? I know this is off-topic to your essay but I would love your thoughts on her last video if you don't mind sharing. I'm worried sick about her. I'm considering printing off every page of her substack in case it is taken down by those trying to quiet/kill her. Dr. Malone is attacking her and that worries me too.
I don't know what can be done. It's a tragic and troubling situation. The more I look into it, the stranger it all becomes, with no clear answers. I pray she will be okay.
As if right on cue, a story 'bout ol' books an' ancient languages from a highschooler! This warmed the cockles o' my heart no small amount (we'ze longtime homeschoolers, seein' young'uns like this gives me a lil' bit of hope in this sea of digital dross!)--enjoy!
Couldn't agree with ya more 'bout books--wrote a bit 'bout that myself an' "how we fight" with the conclusion that ya just gotta BUY (used is a-ok) movies, books, music--an' own it:
Referenced the very prescient Twilight Zone, "The Obsolete Man" with the late great Burgess Meredith in which his job as librarian has become totally obsolete: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ywhne
Meredith, a literary feller himself wuz well-cast; he also starred in another Twilight Zone called "Time Enough At Last" where reading is outmoded and discouraged an' his bookworm character wishes with all his heart to just have time ta read, he so loves books. Won't send ya a spoiler--but let's say how he gits his wish is bittersweet an' fleetin'.... And of course Fahrenheit 451 is far far too tellin', the "Black Mirror" of it's day (AND a great read!)
Libraries are de-acquisitionin' all their "good books"--replacin' 'em with newfangled garbage that I'm sorry ta say is a waste of paper. One one had, gettin' free hardcovers is a joy--on the other, it bodes sadly fer the state of libraries today which will soon make "The Obsolete Man" a reality...
My advice iz don't be an own-nuttin'-be-happy Marie Con-Dough--git yer hand on the books! the records! the paper, the pens, the pencils while we skill can!
I believe the love of books comes from the parents. My mother a speed reader would finish a novel in two evenings. My brother and I would read under the covers with flashlights after the “lights off” time. Countless hours were spent at the public library reading and picking out books to take home. I read to my children and they in turn read to us.
But what has happened to this enchantment of books? Now a days parents use the internet as a baby sitter which I believe causes an internet or gaming addiction. Young children now all have tablets and even cell phones at such a young age.
I thought the internet would accelerate learning by providing an at home library. But it has created a generation of people without creativity or ingenuity relying on the internet to keep their minds busy. Now people don’t “figure out” a problem they “google” it.
My last thought is how the constant online generation has caused people to become angry about everything. Take the internet away and people become angry and don’t know what to do. What happened to making chocolate chip cookies and a good book? Sad these times are in the past for most of society.
I make it a point to read for enjoyment every single day, which is a task these days, since I read tons of substacks & articles. My “joy reading” is what keeps me grounded and reminds me that there is more to life than the twisted machinations of politics and medical tyranny. Part of our emergency stash is actual hard copy books. They came in very handy a few years ago when we went 76 hours with no electricity during a major winter storm. There’s still nothing quite like a real book!
Thanks for another insightful article Karen! I had just re-read Sherry Turkle's "Alone Together" which raises concerns about the virtual emotional attachment that robots offer to children and the elderly. The book was written in 2011 and it makes me shudder to see the further developments you linked here.
And - yes to books! I just recently wrote a piece on "Rehabilitating Ferals of the Digital Age" https://schooloftheunconformed.substack.com/p/rehabilitating-ferals-of-the-digital which turns to books to retrain deep attention (and also includes lots of practical classical vocabulary study and books lists:)
Oh, that's an excellent article! Wonderful about what you saw on the plane! People had the books and presented with no technological alternative, they took them out. Very hopeful!
So instead of the ipad, phone, computer or tv babysitting your child, now you can feel good that you love your kid enough to spend 1500 bucks on a "companion." Good god, this is heinous. We are raising generations of damaged, distant human beings.
Yep. I didn't even include the outrageous price. It's insane.
Wow…because it is soooo hard to simply be present with others! I’ve been at home with our three kiddos since Day 1 and as a result, we are a very tight-knit family. And trust me when I say that at many junctures we were dirt poor (picture 3 young children, two parents, a grandmother with advancing Alzheimers and two aging pets all living together in a 700 sq ft house 😳😳😳). Now that our kids are young adults, I don’t regret any of it. And I don’t think they’ll ever reach out to “robots” for companionship!
True happiness, or a better word joy, had nothing to do with money. That's one of the biggest lies they told us. We had to become "consumers" of useless stuff that they said would make us happy. Joy comes from simple things that cannot be bought.
I was raised to love to read and write. My dad was a French literature major at Princeton of all things LOL and taught us to love language and reading... I raised all 4 of my kids to love to read and they all still love to read thank you Jesus what a gift.
Wow that's amazing! My mom was a history teacher and my dad was a Christmas an author (Dave Hunt in case you haven't read some of my writings that mention him). So thankful my parents loved books and telling us stories. It's one of my best memories with my own kids. Reading to them at night.
Yes I know I met your dad once when he came to speak at Calvary Chapel Philadelphia many moons ago. I always appreciated his ministry. Grace and peace sister! He's coming soon..
Oh, you might have told me that before. God bless!
That robot is truly dystopian.
They used to put these type of things (robot/AI companions) on the news almost in a jokey manner but as we know, that’s one of the ways they normalise things. First people poke fun, then they say “hmm….I seem to be seeing a lot of things like this….maybe it’s worth a look” then eventually it is accepted and normalised.
Karen - is there anything we can do for Karen Kingston and her family aside from praying? I know this is off-topic to your essay but I would love your thoughts on her last video if you don't mind sharing. I'm worried sick about her. I'm considering printing off every page of her substack in case it is taken down by those trying to quiet/kill her. Dr. Malone is attacking her and that worries me too.
I don't know what can be done. It's a tragic and troubling situation. The more I look into it, the stranger it all becomes, with no clear answers. I pray she will be okay.
As if right on cue, a story 'bout ol' books an' ancient languages from a highschooler! This warmed the cockles o' my heart no small amount (we'ze longtime homeschoolers, seein' young'uns like this gives me a lil' bit of hope in this sea of digital dross!)--enjoy!
https://www.thefp.com/p/free-press-high-school-essay-contest-winner
Yes, I read that, very inspiring!
Couldn't agree with ya more 'bout books--wrote a bit 'bout that myself an' "how we fight" with the conclusion that ya just gotta BUY (used is a-ok) movies, books, music--an' own it:
https://thcsofdaisymoses.substack.com/p/how-we-fight
Referenced the very prescient Twilight Zone, "The Obsolete Man" with the late great Burgess Meredith in which his job as librarian has become totally obsolete: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ywhne
Meredith, a literary feller himself wuz well-cast; he also starred in another Twilight Zone called "Time Enough At Last" where reading is outmoded and discouraged an' his bookworm character wishes with all his heart to just have time ta read, he so loves books. Won't send ya a spoiler--but let's say how he gits his wish is bittersweet an' fleetin'.... And of course Fahrenheit 451 is far far too tellin', the "Black Mirror" of it's day (AND a great read!)
Libraries are de-acquisitionin' all their "good books"--replacin' 'em with newfangled garbage that I'm sorry ta say is a waste of paper. One one had, gettin' free hardcovers is a joy--on the other, it bodes sadly fer the state of libraries today which will soon make "The Obsolete Man" a reality...
My advice iz don't be an own-nuttin'-be-happy Marie Con-Dough--git yer hand on the books! the records! the paper, the pens, the pencils while we skill can!
Great article! Never let the old books and movies die!
I believe the love of books comes from the parents. My mother a speed reader would finish a novel in two evenings. My brother and I would read under the covers with flashlights after the “lights off” time. Countless hours were spent at the public library reading and picking out books to take home. I read to my children and they in turn read to us.
But what has happened to this enchantment of books? Now a days parents use the internet as a baby sitter which I believe causes an internet or gaming addiction. Young children now all have tablets and even cell phones at such a young age.
I thought the internet would accelerate learning by providing an at home library. But it has created a generation of people without creativity or ingenuity relying on the internet to keep their minds busy. Now people don’t “figure out” a problem they “google” it.
My last thought is how the constant online generation has caused people to become angry about everything. Take the internet away and people become angry and don’t know what to do. What happened to making chocolate chip cookies and a good book? Sad these times are in the past for most of society.
I babbled long enough. Sorry
So true! So sad that we are losing this enchantment. We can't let that happen.
Just a coincidence https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12416253/Pet-future-Xiaomi-unveils-robotic-dog-perform-ballet-steps-MOONWALK.html https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2023/8/16/23833307/pets-animal-shelters-cats-dogs-affordable-housing-inflation
Wow. Real animals will become to "inconvenient". So much better to have a robot. Sad.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” - George R.R. Martin
I make it a point to read for enjoyment every single day, which is a task these days, since I read tons of substacks & articles. My “joy reading” is what keeps me grounded and reminds me that there is more to life than the twisted machinations of politics and medical tyranny. Part of our emergency stash is actual hard copy books. They came in very handy a few years ago when we went 76 hours with no electricity during a major winter storm. There’s still nothing quite like a real book!
I have many of those good friends.
Oh, yes, well said!