Bravo Mary! It's essential to keep some public attention on this! One thing I find at least somewhat encouraging is that there are far more people ready to recognise the gravity of this issue today than back when Mander was writing. You did a great job of homing in on some of Mander's wonderful quotes. For instance - "one major result of modern science has been to make people doubt what they would otherwise accept as true from their own observation and experience." Forty years later that may haave on of the most important messages of our times.
As you rightly say, the nonsense of the Vivek Murthys of the world is well countered by an abundance of evidence from Jonathan Haidt and others. I'll add to that 'The Shallows - how the internet is changing the way we think, read and remember' by Nicholas Carr. Published 2010, it is a brilliant update to Mander, and also has loads of references to other writers, researchers and neuroscientists who can bury 'the Murthys' in evidence. Essential reading! (Plenty of new insights even for those of us well-versed with the issues.
Then again, it could even be less essential when we have such biting and humourous remarks as you have made in reponse to the well known issue of poor health due to too much sitting:
"Hmm... what could be the big inducement to sit for so damn long? Reading Tolstoy? Too much meditation? An epidemic of knitting?"
Thanks for the deep dive, Mary. I was one of those slow-to-embrace-computers/cellphones people, and I wish I'd held out. longer.. I'm lumping them all together with TV, etc., as you seem to be, too. I didn't watch much TV as a child - we were outside playing, even in the harsh Detroit winters. But, I do love a good movie and yes, there are a few series here and there that I indulge in. I love stories. I love reading. All of the above have been hard on my eyes. That's just one level of the damage you lay out so well. I don't have cable or watch the msm, but cutting it out altogether is a goal. I'm on high alert for the programming that is ever present. I went for several years with no TV. Not sure how or why I ended up with one again. At least it's old and not "Smart!"
And yet, here we are on Substack, right? I love to read and to write, and even type. I'm working on healing my eyes right now, so this was definitely timely. xo
Excellent article Mary! I had not come across the work of Jerry Mander and appreciate how you weave his arguments with other research and your own experiences. Thanks also for the shoutout to my recent article (I noted that the link seems to be down...).
Looking forward to more of your great writing on this curcial topic!
Mary, I can’t find enough superlatives to describe this critically important work! It is an eye opener as well as an astute observation of why everyone is on edge right now. Like you, I teach what I need to learn, and writing about the unconscious has inspired me to make more space in my life. One of my intentions is to reduce screen time, as well as eat and sleep better, so I’m with you on the digital detox. I’ll definitely need a device to keep up with your fabulous writing, though, unless you plan to send out your missives by carrier pigeon.😄
Jun 28, 2023·edited Jun 28, 2023Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin
I happened upon your page this morning and have been reading for a couple of hours. Excellent stuff (that I need to go back through more carefully.)
Small question: I'm not sure I understand how the Winnie-the-Pooh example fits in. The TV version doesn't overwrite the book illustration but does overwrite the one conjured while reading. Does that mean that a drawn image overwrites a conjured one? Because if so, the problem started way before TV. (if that makes sense).
Again, you are a good writer. Thanks for sharing it. You gained a fan today.
"Those images control us in ways we rarely consider. What was suggested early in the field of psychology is clear and accepted now: images have tremendous power to shape us, affecting our bodies and our emotional states. Athletes “mentally rehearse” to improve performance; patients use visualization techniques to improve health outcomes, both physical and mental."
Jacqueline Hobbs of oraclegirl.org talks about the science of images, that is part of the technology of the slave system - this is so Key to understanding control. Thank you for highlight it. I believe it's a subject that needs a lot of attention.
Another excellent, important installment in this series. Thank you!
It's almost funny - the lack of clarity among "studies". Because of course, intuitively we KNOW. And your report on how you're feeling, sleeping better... all that is of course, evidence.
What a massive control mechanism. TPTWB will never allow the obvious truth out. We need to simply claim it for ourselves. (And this applies to pretty much, everything.)
I didn't see this mentioned, sorry if I missed it. Have you done any research on the emf mind control radiation patents of the government through screens? I just reposted a video on this on my Facebook. Let me know if you would like the link.
Bravo Mary! It's essential to keep some public attention on this! One thing I find at least somewhat encouraging is that there are far more people ready to recognise the gravity of this issue today than back when Mander was writing. You did a great job of homing in on some of Mander's wonderful quotes. For instance - "one major result of modern science has been to make people doubt what they would otherwise accept as true from their own observation and experience." Forty years later that may haave on of the most important messages of our times.
As you rightly say, the nonsense of the Vivek Murthys of the world is well countered by an abundance of evidence from Jonathan Haidt and others. I'll add to that 'The Shallows - how the internet is changing the way we think, read and remember' by Nicholas Carr. Published 2010, it is a brilliant update to Mander, and also has loads of references to other writers, researchers and neuroscientists who can bury 'the Murthys' in evidence. Essential reading! (Plenty of new insights even for those of us well-versed with the issues.
Then again, it could even be less essential when we have such biting and humourous remarks as you have made in reponse to the well known issue of poor health due to too much sitting:
"Hmm... what could be the big inducement to sit for so damn long? Reading Tolstoy? Too much meditation? An epidemic of knitting?"
Wonderful! Would that it were true!
Thanks for the deep dive, Mary. I was one of those slow-to-embrace-computers/cellphones people, and I wish I'd held out. longer.. I'm lumping them all together with TV, etc., as you seem to be, too. I didn't watch much TV as a child - we were outside playing, even in the harsh Detroit winters. But, I do love a good movie and yes, there are a few series here and there that I indulge in. I love stories. I love reading. All of the above have been hard on my eyes. That's just one level of the damage you lay out so well. I don't have cable or watch the msm, but cutting it out altogether is a goal. I'm on high alert for the programming that is ever present. I went for several years with no TV. Not sure how or why I ended up with one again. At least it's old and not "Smart!"
And yet, here we are on Substack, right? I love to read and to write, and even type. I'm working on healing my eyes right now, so this was definitely timely. xo
Excellent article Mary! I had not come across the work of Jerry Mander and appreciate how you weave his arguments with other research and your own experiences. Thanks also for the shoutout to my recent article (I noted that the link seems to be down...).
Looking forward to more of your great writing on this curcial topic!
Mary, I can’t find enough superlatives to describe this critically important work! It is an eye opener as well as an astute observation of why everyone is on edge right now. Like you, I teach what I need to learn, and writing about the unconscious has inspired me to make more space in my life. One of my intentions is to reduce screen time, as well as eat and sleep better, so I’m with you on the digital detox. I’ll definitely need a device to keep up with your fabulous writing, though, unless you plan to send out your missives by carrier pigeon.😄
I happened upon your page this morning and have been reading for a couple of hours. Excellent stuff (that I need to go back through more carefully.)
Small question: I'm not sure I understand how the Winnie-the-Pooh example fits in. The TV version doesn't overwrite the book illustration but does overwrite the one conjured while reading. Does that mean that a drawn image overwrites a conjured one? Because if so, the problem started way before TV. (if that makes sense).
Again, you are a good writer. Thanks for sharing it. You gained a fan today.
Oh, and re images;
"Those images control us in ways we rarely consider. What was suggested early in the field of psychology is clear and accepted now: images have tremendous power to shape us, affecting our bodies and our emotional states. Athletes “mentally rehearse” to improve performance; patients use visualization techniques to improve health outcomes, both physical and mental."
Jacqueline Hobbs of oraclegirl.org talks about the science of images, that is part of the technology of the slave system - this is so Key to understanding control. Thank you for highlight it. I believe it's a subject that needs a lot of attention.
Another excellent, important installment in this series. Thank you!
It's almost funny - the lack of clarity among "studies". Because of course, intuitively we KNOW. And your report on how you're feeling, sleeping better... all that is of course, evidence.
What a massive control mechanism. TPTWB will never allow the obvious truth out. We need to simply claim it for ourselves. (And this applies to pretty much, everything.)
Well done, as always. Best.
I didn't see this mentioned, sorry if I missed it. Have you done any research on the emf mind control radiation patents of the government through screens? I just reposted a video on this on my Facebook. Let me know if you would like the link.