[net.kids] "Where are kids supposed to learn to be human?"

allenm@ittvax.UUCP (Allen Matsumoto) (12/14/84)

I just read an interesting quote in the "Whole Earth Review" (which used
to be the "CoEvolution Quarterly").  The issue (No. 44, Jan, 1985) has a
large collection of articles on "Computers as Poison."  Basically its a
skeptical look at the effects of computers on people/society.

In the article "Six Grave Doubts about Computers," Jerry Mander quotes
one Marian Kester writing in the Toronto Globe and Mail.  I don't have
the original, but his quote of her is:

   If children are separated from their parents by TV, 
   from playmates by video games, and 
   from teachers by teaching machines,
   where are they supposed to learn to be human?

I guess learning to survive in the computer age is different from
learning to survive in human society (He-Man society is different, of
course).  Also, he says video games are good training for fast hand-eye
coordination, but what is that good for?  Computers speed up people.  I,
for one, don't want to speed up my kids.  I guess I'll take them on a
vacation with the money I've been saving for a home computer.

Allen
-- 
			Allen Matsumoto
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