From “The Contrarian”
A guest column by Jerry Black
“Little Bits of Wisdom”
What passes for wisdom on the Net – anything that’s gone viral so that it turns up repeatedly in your e-mail and on your Facebook page from your burgeoning bevy of contacts – claims that by 2013, a supercomputer will be built that exceeds the computational abilities of the human brain.
This is not as astounding as you may think. I’ve personally encountered several human brains (operating on the conventional means of life support) whose computational ability could be exceeded by a marginally-focused chimpanzee. It’s lucky for them that no one can get a chimp to focus long enough to test my theory.
Recently, I witnessed a teen student (working at home) turned frantic with the prospect of coming up with an immediate answer to “seven times nine”. A failed search for a calculator had just turned into a room by room search for her laptop, when an even better idea occurred. “Wait a minute!” she exclaimed, “There’s a calculator on my phone.” It was found quickly, but to no avail – its depleted battery was in the beginning stages of recharging.
At this point, I broke down and revealed the answer.
Many Little Bits Of Wisdom – Long Gone
It’s amazing how much knowledge we’ve gained – and how much wisdom we’ve lost in the process.
A little bit of wisdom would suggest that the learning of multiplication tables will produce, over a lifetime, immeasurable benefits. If rabbits can multiply in the dark, humans should be able to match their performance – but mentally, as well as physically.
You may say that my teen friend is not representative of youth as a whole. Perhaps not in terms of mathematical skills – but in the dependency on electronics to function, she is very much so.
I don’t begrudge the poor child the wonders of electronic calculation. But without the wisdom of our elders inculcated into the minds of the young – well, I’m not sure if they will know enough to come in out of the rain (as the old folks used to say).
Youth responds: Tweet this!
Young folk would no doubt counter in exasperation with their own wisdom: one does not go out in the rain. One does not go out in the sunshine, either. Nor after dark. Everybody knows that.
Because (they further endeavour to explain) the wonder of instant and almost continuous digital contact makes going out unnecessary. No matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, we are always in touch. We can tweet, twitter or text. Got it?
Sigh. Does not a little bit of wisdom suggest that the more indirect the contact, the more superficial the connection?
Looking someone in the eye – the eyes being the window to the soul, to paraphrase some other old codger – and speaking of something so fraught with emotion that you couldn’t hide your feelings, no matter how hard you tried …. you can only relay that level of pain (or joy) face to face.
Look, says Youth. The number of videos we see in one hour on You Tube has every emotion anyone can imagine. We could even search for an emotion – should we want to: but that would be, like, awkward.
What IS your problem?
Learn from History? I’m not sure.
In the Fifties, parents of teens were concerned by the rebellious attitudes (and passions) aroused by rock ‘n’ roll music.
In the Seventies, parents of teens were concerned by the rebellious attitudes (and passions) aroused by drugs, the counterculture, acid rock, etc …
In the Nineties, parents of Gen-X teens were concerned about more drugs – and the grunge sound which spoke of an ennui searching validation in hopelessness.
For the most part, the teens grew up, sorted it out, produced more teens – all the generations did.
Little Bits Of Wisdom – Where to look?
Wisdom would suggest that the current crop of parents should be concerned about drugs and should listen to the sounds that speak to their young ones.
Wisdom would only be half right. There are no universal, generational sounds. Even the most popular show amongst younger teens – “Glee” – is comprised of teens singing mostly “old” music.
Wisdom is now looking at the new leaders for clues. The new leaders are fame devoid of talent, digital contact devoid of emotion, instantaneousness in place of substance.
Wisdom needs you to wrap your arms around your teen, and hold on tight – and long. Long enough for the teen to realize that something is happening – and a valuable message is being sent that will never appear on You Tube.
_____________________