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Comment by artursapek | Hacker News Reader

For people like me who think smart phones ruin everything, I suggest looking into Waldorf education for your kids. Smart phones are banned at the school (until high school) and screen-oriented media (phones, TV, movies) are strongly discouraged outside of school. In my opinion the system attracts really interesting adults and kids who still know how to enjoy life the old fashioned way.

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Do you see no benefit in knowing pop culture? It's hugely important for socializing in the real world, and socializing is one of the main points of life.

I'd even say I was stunted socially early on for not participating in much pop culture. Sports and music were important even all the way back in elementary school.

That's not really the problem though is it?

The threat is becoming another pondskipper on the ocean of human experience.

When you know 40-something people who've spent their entire existence revolving around popular culture, you know somebody with no opinions or ideas or feelings the box on the wall didn't package and deliver to them.

It's important to be able to relate to other people, but when so many people are consumed by something, religion, politics, 'popular culture', then I think it is fair to wonder why you'd want to relate to that, they look a lot like dead ends.

I'm not sure why you think they're dead ends. Religion is often a lifelong thing and can be very beneficial for you and your community. Politics and history are important throughout your life. I hope I don't have to explain that one.

Revolving a good amount of your life around popular culture absolutely does not mean you don't have your own opinions. If everyone had the same opinion about characters on a show, then there wouldn't be much to talk about. Sure, not everyone is going to have their own opinion on if the latest P=NP paper has any legs to stand on, but who cares?

In addition, what's the difference between watching a high quality TV show or movie and reading a fiction book? Sure, the book may be longer and more detailed, but there are plenty of extremely high quality TV shows being produced now.

I wonder about the efficacy of banning the devices entirely until a certain point. Is that all that is done or is an attempt made to teach children how to responsibly use the devices so they don't gorge themselves when the ban is lifted?

There is an attempt and they are conscious of the fact that outright bans never work. It's more about preventing media from influencing the childrens' development, especially early on.

That's great then. As adults were are left to our own devices to figure out how to use new technology. Giving children those mechanisms will serve them well long-term.

It's for grown-ups like us to be able to remember "Oh yeah, there was a time that I wasn't umbilically tethered to a screen at all times and places, and I got along just fine."

Will that be the effect on children though? I don't see how prohibition gets us there on its own. It doesn't work for any other addiction.

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