Talking about AI summaries and tik tok videos, I graduated high school and college well before the internet and our crutch was Cliff Notes. How many times I can’t count, people being caught with that notorious yellow and black striped book hidden within a text book by a stern looking teacher or professor, hitting us with that lecture about the dangers of taking short cuts. I’ve observed public space reading habits for over 40 years and I see a blurb culture, a skimming addiction. I’ve always blamed it on the drive thru, the right turn on red, people have become impatient and reading is an exercise in patience as much as discipline. One does not exist without the other. God forbid you mention reflection because that leads to my pet peeve, comprehension and the lack thereof. A child who can read well and comprehend what they read, has an unlimited future, there is nothing on earth that they can not do, because every job comes with a book. Now I realize only about 15% of your class will ever read well, another 35% will read at level, but I can hope it improves. Nature and history of course, says it won’t. That’s life
It’s really rough with the AI element now. I am so sad for students because so many of them are using AI for the work and ultimately, they cheat themselves. But it grieves me, certainly.
So much is lost when we don’t challenge our brains bc they are inherently lazy. And reading is a way to build so many skills like critical thinking and empathy.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment with your thoughts!
It’s like this piece i read yesterday from March 25, The Average College Student Today, by substacker Scriptorium Philosophia and he brought up AI also. I’ve been retired for years now and I’ve not had any working experience with AI, but I’ve read a few articles written by people who have been exposed to it, and it sounds bad. I wouldn’t even know where to begin to detect it in a students work or for that matter, the efforts of a novelist or faux historian. One thing is for sure though, as we move forward and computers eventually become sentient, and they will given time and research, lying politicians and dirty bankers will be the least of our worries.
Wow I loved that. As a reader I certainly understand the difficulties in reading long paragraphs, passages, or entire book. We truly do have to make our brain work harder just like exercising makes your heat last longer. Slow down and “Read. 3 great reasons await you, Happiness, Good Sleep and who couldn’t use more empathy.
This was so interesting. I love your idea that not only does reading promote empathy, but that we need reading because it teaches us empathy. I think the danger of losing empathy because we don't read (and I'm talking proverbial "we" here, because I have a reading habit that borders on a problem) is compounded by what we are doing with our time instead of reading: scrolling on our phones. In his book The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt argues that social media encourages us to wallow in our own egos. These platforms tell, he says, "Think about yourself first; be materialistic, judgmental, boastful, and petty; seek glory as quantified by likes and followers." Reading, on the other hand, allows us to do what Haidt calls, "transcending the self."
Thank you! I agree it's really important reality to consider that reading teaches our brains to be more empathetic. I'm not sure I realized that before, but more and more, we need that in our society. I have The Anxious Generation on my reading list! Can't wait to dive into it.
Talking about AI summaries and tik tok videos, I graduated high school and college well before the internet and our crutch was Cliff Notes. How many times I can’t count, people being caught with that notorious yellow and black striped book hidden within a text book by a stern looking teacher or professor, hitting us with that lecture about the dangers of taking short cuts. I’ve observed public space reading habits for over 40 years and I see a blurb culture, a skimming addiction. I’ve always blamed it on the drive thru, the right turn on red, people have become impatient and reading is an exercise in patience as much as discipline. One does not exist without the other. God forbid you mention reflection because that leads to my pet peeve, comprehension and the lack thereof. A child who can read well and comprehend what they read, has an unlimited future, there is nothing on earth that they can not do, because every job comes with a book. Now I realize only about 15% of your class will ever read well, another 35% will read at level, but I can hope it improves. Nature and history of course, says it won’t. That’s life
It’s really rough with the AI element now. I am so sad for students because so many of them are using AI for the work and ultimately, they cheat themselves. But it grieves me, certainly.
So much is lost when we don’t challenge our brains bc they are inherently lazy. And reading is a way to build so many skills like critical thinking and empathy.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment with your thoughts!
It’s like this piece i read yesterday from March 25, The Average College Student Today, by substacker Scriptorium Philosophia and he brought up AI also. I’ve been retired for years now and I’ve not had any working experience with AI, but I’ve read a few articles written by people who have been exposed to it, and it sounds bad. I wouldn’t even know where to begin to detect it in a students work or for that matter, the efforts of a novelist or faux historian. One thing is for sure though, as we move forward and computers eventually become sentient, and they will given time and research, lying politicians and dirty bankers will be the least of our worries.
I read that piece as well! So interesting and insightful. And sad too
Wow I loved that. As a reader I certainly understand the difficulties in reading long paragraphs, passages, or entire book. We truly do have to make our brain work harder just like exercising makes your heat last longer. Slow down and “Read. 3 great reasons await you, Happiness, Good Sleep and who couldn’t use more empathy.
I’m so glad you loved it! It’s so true that we have to work at it—but it’s so worthwhile. And yes, we can all use more empathy!
Thanks for taking the time to share with me by commenting ❤️
This was so interesting. I love your idea that not only does reading promote empathy, but that we need reading because it teaches us empathy. I think the danger of losing empathy because we don't read (and I'm talking proverbial "we" here, because I have a reading habit that borders on a problem) is compounded by what we are doing with our time instead of reading: scrolling on our phones. In his book The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt argues that social media encourages us to wallow in our own egos. These platforms tell, he says, "Think about yourself first; be materialistic, judgmental, boastful, and petty; seek glory as quantified by likes and followers." Reading, on the other hand, allows us to do what Haidt calls, "transcending the self."
Thank you! I agree it's really important reality to consider that reading teaches our brains to be more empathetic. I'm not sure I realized that before, but more and more, we need that in our society. I have The Anxious Generation on my reading list! Can't wait to dive into it.