To the Editor:

We often are unaware of the impact media technology has on our emotional and psychological well-being. There is increased television viewing, especially with the growing [coronavirus] restrictions. The problem emerges when we realize we are incapable of gaining valuable insights in our lives as we search for continuous meaning. As social beings, students need to maintain emotional stability in this complex social environment that generates all kinds of stress. Yet so long as we remain focused on the regurgitation of disconnected facts, we ignore implementing a curriculum to nurture their mental and emotional growth. Many students remain disinterested in schooling, a stress reaction that manifests itself when learning has no personal meaning. Some students even drop out or resort to drugs.

The problem is further intensified when humans are subjected to constant viewing of violent behavior and multiple murders in television series, in movies, and in violent video war games. By the time a child reaches adolescence, it is estimated they have seen 5,000 murders. This inhuman visual environment produces crazed individuals who seek to fulfill their “televised fantasies” using deadly weapons against innocent children. Educators are unwilling to unite to challenge those who make millions producing this glorification of violence.

The problem may be that we fail to realize that violence molds human hearts and minds. This fascination with violence has consequences since people live inside their heads. As they try to deal with fast social changes that complicate living styles, adults also seek to maintain relationships with family, friends, acquaintances. But living with this “information anxiety” makes it difficult for them to sort things out to nurture their web of understanding necessary to navigate life. It becomes more stressful for them to develop relationships knowing that future discussions with others who will defend their established mindsets made by constant social/news media bombardment. Consequently, people avoid verbal interactions knowing that others are unwilling to be objective to explore diverse points of view. As long as this adversarial relationship continues, meaningful exchange of ideas is impossible. So long as parents fail to demand that critical thinking skills and abilities become an integral part of the school curriculum, we will see more students become easily agitated, opening the door to psychological and pharmaceutical therapies to help them function in school and society.

But many Americans still are incapable of recognizing the “obvious visual patterns” that spell future disasters. They believe that situations can be resolved by spending more money, not realizing that implementing creative ideas are “the currency of the future.” Instead of stressing critical/creative thinking skills, the average American family is spending more than four hours every day glued to their TV screen never realizing that their minds are bombarded with thousands of messages shaping their sense of self. Then add the thousands of TV messages to buy latest electronic gadgets, to buy the newest pharma products to treat your obesity, or to treat their neurotic/psychotic symptoms. All this adds to the ever-increasing emotional baggage being carried everyday.

Dr Rudy Magnan

Oakview Drive, Sandy Hook November 17, 2020