David Bowie predicted in 1999 the impact of the Internet in BBC

Interesting interview excerpt from David Bowie in 1999... this is trending around the instagram world at the moment. 

Which made me wonder ... 

When did texting first start ? (1992)

When did FB start? (2004)

When did Myspace (for those who remember this) start? (2003)

When was the first computer invented? (1943)

When did Apple begin? (1976)

Microsoft? (1975)

Google? (1998)

Twitter? (2006) 

When did people start trolling ? (1980s haha .....that came from this article)

 

I'm not on Twitter. Thank goodness. But, I do find it interesting to look up accounts just to see the "Tweet & Replies" section. I wonder if this says a lot about someone? Some people are really angry! I wonder how it would look like if someone were to just filter out my social media comments to things... Hopefully I am not that angry as well. I looked up an account recently and it was simply "you're an idiot" "get lost" "you're stupid" "You're a son of a Bitch". "grow the fuck up" "you're a piece of shit". Wow. How easily detached we can be when we anonymously hide behind a neutral account.

I will admit I get "triggered" by some of the nonsense I see on social media. I often write my response then delete it. I should not be surprised by how polarized our society is right now. It is easy to say we are strong enough to be immune to it, but what we really are saying is that I can't deal with stupid people. Which is interesting to think that those that we may think are simply stupid, actually feel the same about us as well. 

I spent way too long talking with a patient last Friday about this. She is a lady in her 80s who is left wondering why on earth a friend of hers who she has known for years, who she thought was a good friend and someone close to her, who had the same values as her, a friend she holds dear, how can this friend support something soooooo opposite from her. She believed her friend to be kind and thoughtful but she was struggling what this opposite view point meant. Can she really BE that evil? It's like she doesn't know her anymore. She was contemplating stopping this friendship. Which made her very sad. She also did not want to hear the WHY? Why her friend felt she needed to support this opposite view. 

I asked why she did not want to hear the WHY? She said she was afraid. Afraid of hearing more evil things or more afraid that her friend may convince her to change her mind and she would become evil as well. I think she meant to say she was afraid that hearing the why of the opposite view would shake her very belief in her own values and what she feels is true. 

I am realizing lately that this fear of going deeper and asking the why of the opposite view - the fear that we will also fall into the abyss of being lost, this fear of the opposite position - is what is keeping and growing this polarization. Maybe I am being overly dramatic but I agree with the idea that this can lead to an all out civil war, and chaos. Its not easy to hear out the other side. Its not easy to not get emotional (especially me haha). And I agree, its just easier to press MUTE on their Instagram or FB or BLOCK. 

Ideally speaking though....

I tried to tell my patient that there is a reason her friend is her close friend for many years. There is a connection. And if she is strong in her belief yet she loves her friend, she can maybe dare to listen to her friend's Why. This will not change her views that she holds, but it will bring her closer to understanding her friend, instead of writing her off as an evil anomaly, and it could possibly make her friend more open to hearing her Why as well. I feel like usually people want the same things in the end. A greater good. That people need to meet people in the middle. Have that communication, break down the misunderstandings, dive into the hurts and the fears. Only then this divide will become narrower. I mean, whats the worst that can happen if you truely try to understand the other person? I guess it would be to find out that they are actually the evil devil we already believe them to be and have this be confirmed - so since we are already there, assuming the opposite is simply evil, we shouldnt fear that conclusion anyways. But think about what can be gained by understanding the other's whys?  

I said this to her because I see it around me. Lets just forget about society and strangers on the internet.  But look at families, and close friends (like my patient has), so much divide is already happening among people who do love each other. And there is not only two extreme sides like social media and politics like to paint it out to be. United we stand, divided .... we fall. 

 

Why You Hate Changing Your Mind | 25 Cognitive Biases

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New Year!

Happy New Year. 

Lets hope we are more prepared for this year, not like last year. And I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, connecting with those you love however it may look like. 

Strange how the world is so different now. 

I was thinking the other day of how the world is so different not just because of the pandemic, but also because those we have lost are not with us anymore. How dimmer it is for me, yet realizing that the light that remains is actually much brighter than I realized because I look at it in a different way now. 

I realized in the last few months that even though we are all trying to keep healthy and covid-free, this whole pandemic is taking away from our health in other ways, so don't forget to keep everything healthy. 

 Anyhoots ... this was funny (the first video)... and and yet sadly true. Similar to my thoughts on when people state "I can't wait for this covid to be all over." Its not like a light switch you turn off after it is on... 

(btw the last video of this is so true also haha, why do people in movies always eat runny, melting ice cream? haha how many takes did they do that the ice cream is already melting?)

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Boy George en Cuarentena canta 'Karma Chameleon' de Culture Club - Radio...

Wonderful version. Boy George is looking great and happy! 

Mirror Mirror on the Wall...

What if, what you thought about someone was exactly how they thought about you? 

Recently I needed a certain imaging test, requested by my doc for follow up. I've been going to this particular hospital for imaging because it is not overly crowded and the staff (except one older lady) have always been pretty patient and kind during my appointments, no matter how many people are waiting on them. 

I remember this one Ultrasound Tech that I recognized who went to my school about 20 yrs ago. In the evenings, after school I would work at the front desk of my school so I recognized many of the faces of staff and students. Now, during one appointment I had at this hospital, we somehow acknowledged that we went to the same school because we recognized each others faces. I never really hung out with her in school, nor were we friends or acquaintances. After the recognition we had some small talk about how life is going so far, where I am working, and if we have families of our own. Then she said something that took me by surprise: "I remember your face because I remember thinking that you are so pretty." 

haha... no, no she was not hitting on me. But she said it in some a matter of fact honest way. I said something like Ha, Oh really? I didn't think so but Thanks....

What was so surprising to me, is that I actually thought the same thing of her back then! I am not sure if I told her the same thing, which would make the situation a bit more awkward but I left thinking that it was such a compliment, especially when it comes from someone you are thinking the same thing about them as well! 

-----

I had this Scottish senior lady that had her appointments booked with me at work every 6-8 wks. And she was such a joy to have come in. Quick witted, fast talking and active and just real and honest. When she talked about what was going on with her she would always make a joke of things somehow. Even if she talked about things that bothered her she would make jokes about it. And these things would often be things that bothered me too so we had a fun conversation agreeing with each other and having a laugh over it. Ever since she made some joke about her corn being similar to having a baby, it would just always be laughs when she came for her appointment. One day as I was seeing her out the clinic door she mentioned to me "Oh I always enjoy coming here and talking to you, it is such a joy! I always leave feeling great and I look forward to seeing you!" I said without hesitation "And I enjoy whenever you come in to see me too, I feel the same way! So fun having a chat with you every time you are in!" 

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These instances and similar ones here and there make me wonder, what if , whatever you think about someone, they think exactly the same way about you? It's a wonderful feeling to have a unified connection with someone, especially if it is positive, no matter how minor it is. But imagine if the same goes for when you think a person is just ... shitty. Imagine they think the same about you. Easy to judge others and separate yourself from them by believing you are better. But this thought that crossed my mind makes me think twice about quick judgements and assumptions about others and at least makes me pause for a second to give someone the benefit of the doubt. And if I want people to think nicely of me, then it would help at least to try to think nicely of them. 

 

France and onion

 Good grief. 

I'm sitting at home working with a whole Tres Marie Pannetone right beside me. Longo's has started selling them early enough. And I sit here with no one to share it with.... my folks can't eat more sweet carbs, and neither can the bf, my nephew can't due to traces of nuts, and I cannot bring it to work to share since too many hands on a bread cake you need to hold and cut or tear apart is a no-no for these covidized times....

So my sugar filled mind thinks randomness:

I took a break to look at FB and was thinking of some of the comments on my professional group site, and reflected on how important it is to at least hear a person out and understand it... even if you don't agree. I guess its easier when the topic is not a passionate one. 

The thought of saying its ok to have a difference of opinion.....led me to focus on the term

Difference of opinion....

Then I tried to say it more fancy with a French accent (from France, not Quebec) with a sing-songy tone that stretches the words out..... 

"Dif- FRANCE of opin-IIEYON"

French accent with emphasis on the pronunciation of France and opinion like you are saying ONION.....

I think it adds that extra something that makes it seem more gentle and elegant when you disagree..... ha. 

Winter is coming .....

 I just remembered that I bought a pair of snowpants at the end of last winter season and never used them. 

I was bummed about not being able to wear my sun dresses anymore .... but now I am getting excited for winter!