3 ms·

My daughter began an extremely unhealthy relationship with screens during COVID. She watches YouTube for hours on end, usually 15 second meme videos that alter

My daughter began an extremely unhealthy relationship with screens during COVID. She watches YouTube for hours on end, usually 15 second meme videos that alternate between vacant and toxic. She’s obsessed with memes to the point where it’s impossible for her to hold a conversation with someone who doesn’t have a similar browsing history. She’s lost a shared common vocabulary with even her closed friends. Maybe iPads are the problems.

erikerikson 5y ago
It's almost as if the way you use the tools is what matters. I hope that works itself out for her.
ben_w 5y ago
That is fascinating and surprising; I previously considered a Darmok-like language to be implausible, but it sounds like that’s exactly what you’re experiencing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darmok https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darmok (Edit: my inner cynic just popped up the question “are you sure she’s not just being a stereotypical teenager?” even though you didn’t mention her age).
- Izkata 5y ago
  I'd argue we've had hints of it for centuries in the form of idioms, such as "kicked the bucket".
  - ben_w 5y ago
    The important part of the Darmok episode is that the language is just catchphrases from longer stories, not that it contains some examples of that.
- pyuser583 5y ago
  She’s 10, not a teenager. And I meant “cultural vocabulary.” It’s difficult for her to talk about anything but memes. And if you haven’t seen the same memes she has, she’ll try to tell you about the YouTube videos she’s watched. If you don’t find this interesting (nobody does), she’ll stop talking to you. Again, not a teenager. A little girl.
lilyball 5y ago
It sounds like she’s seeking stimulation that she doesn’t get otherwise. The iPad isn’t the cause here, it’s just the tool of the moment.
- goldfeld 5y ago
  I'm also steeped on wine all day through since it provides stimulation burp I don't get otherwise, it's just the heat of the moment! Cheers!
  - lazyasciiart 5y ago
    Most people have access to alcohol and do not drink all day. Among those that do drink all day, it's common to use alcohol to self-medicate for various mental issues like depression and anxiety. Removing the alcohol will not fix the underlying problem and may simply result in a different choice of self-medication.
- PsylentKnight 5y ago
  I'd argue that the more you're stimulated, the greater your need for stimulation becomes.
  - lilyball 5y ago
    Why?

erikerikson 5y ago

It's almost as if the way you use the tools is what matters. I hope that works itself out for her.

ben_w 5y ago

That is fascinating and surprising; I previously considered a Darmok-like language to be implausible, but it sounds like that’s exactly what you’re experiencing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darmok https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darmok (Edit: my inner cynic just popped up the question “are you sure she’s not just being a stereotypical teenager?” even though you didn’t mention her age).

Izkata 5y ago
I'd argue we've had hints of it for centuries in the form of idioms, such as "kicked the bucket".
- ben_w 5y ago
  The important part of the Darmok episode is that the language is just catchphrases from longer stories, not that it contains some examples of that.
pyuser583 5y ago
She’s 10, not a teenager. And I meant “cultural vocabulary.” It’s difficult for her to talk about anything but memes. And if you haven’t seen the same memes she has, she’ll try to tell you about the YouTube videos she’s watched. If you don’t find this interesting (nobody does), she’ll stop talking to you. Again, not a teenager. A little girl.

lilyball 5y ago

It sounds like she’s seeking stimulation that she doesn’t get otherwise. The iPad isn’t the cause here, it’s just the tool of the moment.

goldfeld 5y ago
I'm also steeped on wine all day through since it provides stimulation burp I don't get otherwise, it's just the heat of the moment! Cheers!
- lazyasciiart 5y ago
  Most people have access to alcohol and do not drink all day. Among those that do drink all day, it's common to use alcohol to self-medicate for various mental issues like depression and anxiety. Removing the alcohol will not fix the underlying problem and may simply result in a different choice of self-medication.
PsylentKnight 5y ago
I'd argue that the more you're stimulated, the greater your need for stimulation becomes.
- lilyball 5y ago
  Why?