Comments on: Are You an Honest Person? I Mean Really Honest?

By: Caroline Middlebrook

Caroline Middlebrook — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:30:32 +0000

I’d like to think I’m an honest person but I suppose I would have to admit I am not completely honest, as in brutally honest. I was watching an old episode of Greys Anatomy last night and in it was a young man who had a neural problem that caused him to say exactly what he thought with complete honesty and of course to everybody else, he just seemed rude :)

By: Rob Moshe

Rob Moshe — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:44:15 +0000

In truth it is more the message than the medium. To say that “video games are not the problem, public schools and low expectations are. Video games are making children’s lives better” is a dangerous statement. Though I agree that schools and society need to raise the bar when it comes to the potential of a child, I also feel that subjecting children to highly violent and sexual games is very damaging on a young mind. Everything needs balance. The right games at the right time are a great tool for enhancing a child’s growth, but things to require moderation.

By: Julie, writer Surefirewealth.com

Julie, writer Surefirewealth.com — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:43:41 +0000

Thanks for the heads up on the links above. I’m on my way to check out writemindset right now. I’m not really knowledgeable or even remotely interested in various software programs and applications but this seems like a sign that I should start writing.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:50:19 +0000

One more quote on Video Games:
Wright proposes that video games teach ‘the essence of the scientific method,’ that ‘through trial and error, players build a model of the underlying game.’ To succeed, a player must establish a hypothesis about some aspect of the game, test it, and evaluate the results of the experiment. The organizer of a playground game explains the rules in advance, but a video game often hides its rules, revealing them only as the player figures out how to unlock the game’s secrets. And when that happens, a game player can experience an ecstatic Archimedes moment.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:44:14 +0000

@Chosha,
I agree with your take on the guy being creepy with women. I don’t buy the whole “total honesty” thing. I just thought the article had enough meat to really get you thinking about yourself.

About the video games, I do limit his time indirectly, I suppose. We do lots of family stuff, we go places, he has his school, he has to take break to eat, and he has to go to several classes at night. I do think video games are good for their minds. I think these games can prepare them for the world they are growing into and will need to shape. Personally I think a lot of this anti-video games stuff is pure fear mongering. There is good evidence to suggest video games are good for kids and are actually making them smarter. So yes by taking them away, I could be hurting his chances later in life.

Some people think the Flynn Effect is technology making us smarter.

By: chosha

chosha — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:43:37 +0000

As for the honesty thing, I think there’s some value in it, but one part of pissed me off. When he told those two different women that he would date or sleep with them if he could - why should they have to deal with his confessions? There are times when it’s better for people to know our true feelings, even if they don’t like them. But in some cases people don’t want to know, and there’s nothing to be achieved by telling them. Now the nanny just gets to feels creeped out each day she works there, and wondering if he’s going to bring up the subject again, and it’s not like he even had any hope of being able to act on the desire. Keeping your mouth shut is not always lying - sometimes it’s just an acknowledgment that your own shit is your shit and other people don’t have to suffer for it.

By: chosha

chosha — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:24:32 +0000

Video games are not destroying children’s lives. Parents who allow their children to play them excessively are destroying their children’s lives.

And you are not crushing your child’s dream for the future if you limit the time he spends playing video games. It’s not like that career even remotely depends on him being able to play video games (at all, let alone for unlimited amounts of time) when he’s four-years-old. I just hope these games he’s spending so much time on are age-appropriate. In the end no matter what a child loves and wants to spend all their spare time on, you still have to be the parent.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:37:37 +0000

Al,
Yes, overall spending per child in our public school district. It is 50% if you measure state wide.

As you might be able to tell…
I feel very strong about education. It doesn’t need reform, it needs to be revolutionized.

We need education that meets the needs of students and parents, not unions, corporations, or the government. As it stands right now students and parents (the education customers) are the 4th priority. They need to be the top priority.

By: Al at 7P

Al at 7P — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:12:42 +0000

Steve - the Montessori School sounds very impressive. It’s pretty awesome that you’ve invested in your child like that.

How did you figure out that the Montessori school is 30% less than the public school? Is it by the overall cost spent per child? I’m thinking that for parents, public school is free while Montessori schools likely have a tuition to pay?

I’m really impressed that your kid is being exposed to such a wide variety of languages. The mind of children are like a sponge, and they’ll soak up whatever interests them. Learning a new language is not just learning new vocabulary and new grammar, but it’s learning about new says of thinking beyond the Western style as well. I honestly believe a large part of creativity is attributed to the Medici effect.

Your kid will do well, so hope you’re saving up for an MIT or a Stanford tuition :)

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:32:39 +0000

Al,

Yes that is accurate. These kids today are going to be so far ahead of us. I only know english, and not that well.

He is learning them in Montessori School. I don’t think people realize how poor most schools are and it isn’t because of lack of funding.

70% of the kids in his school perform at the post college level by 6th grade. And few of them test as “gifted and talented.” When I tell people this they think it some school for freaks. But nothing could be further from the truth. Many of the students go on to become CEOs, Entrepreneurs, and professional athletes.

And you know what? They do it for about 30% less cost than a public school!

In our local public school they give elementary students only 15 minutes for lunch -including standing in line - no recess - and PE once per week.

My son’s school does it in a shorter day, with 40 minutes for lunch and 40 minutes for recess each day and PE twice a week.

I don’t think people realize how poor even the best public schools are.