Journal 4- Fred Rogers
Something uncanny happened with me today. This morning, as most recent mornings, was the same. I woke up early, cleaned up my room and had a nice breakfast. I only picked up my phone twice till afternoon and both of the times it was to the sound of notifications. The second time as I was picking up the phone, I thought to myself almost cursing at my phone," Why am I being bombarded with notifications on this device?" It reminded of Fred Roger's speech at the senate to help stop the funding being cut for the programming of PBS and his show. You can watch the speech here.
In speech he had said he considered cartoons as bombardments. I had seen this clip years ago and at that moment I didn't really put focus on this one word. And then today it hit me like a truck on a highway. Modern life is constant bombardment. As to with what- you already can feel it. I wonder if Mr Rogers was around what would he think of the life we live today? I dont think we are really living. We are living life in between crevices of devices with internet. An hour or maybe two on average I reckon a person in the modern world gets to really live without "bombardment".
If every parent was themselves not under the spell of internet technology and devices then they would all be marching to the senate and Human Rights Commissions offices to get the big tech charged against crimes against humanity. Although this is supposed to be a journal entry, I realise I am writing this like an opinion piece. You see, I am worried. Really unfathomably worried. Everyone is hooked on smartphones and I feel like talking about this in real world has become a social taboo now. The kids should not be exposed to iPads and smartphones for "education" purposes. The damage being done to their attention spans and thinking skills along with emotional skills is irreparable. The algorithms are designed to give you the most provocative and negative feeling inducing content. The growing years revolving around content are taking away the social skill of children and creative skills too. There is a reason 'I want to become a YouTuber' is the most answered profession when asked what you want to become when you grow up to pre teens.
I do not believe Fred Rogers could have been Fred Rogers if had started his journey to make the world and especially children better today. The algorithms would have never rewarded his content. It was too boring and entailed qualities like empathy, trust and safety. It would be too human to be Fred Rogers today. You would want to be a streamer like Clavicular, Logan Paul, Kai, Mr Beast and others. This is what gets pushed to the masses. I refuse to keep up with the names of internet celebrities for the sole reason that they are responsible for what is happening to kids today. They are all chasing fame and attention like their favorite content creators. Content creators only exist to keep the machine running because it means more advertising dollars. They don't exist to help the kids grow up to be good humans.
Someone might argue that cable television had its downsides, yes. But it also had something very important- social filtering. Content being produced by streamers of YouTube, Kick and others would never make it to television because of social contract. When you have cable tv streaming to every household, you ought to agree to an unsaid social contract. Lets say people of New York wanted to see Logan Paul on CBS but the people of Chicago wanted Steve Irwin. Its a weird sounding comparison but please follow along. Who decides what gets shown? The show that depicts good and morally right values would get shown because it's advantageous to the greater good of our society collectively. People of New York might complain that Logan Paul is not on CBS and they might make a fuss. But most others across the country would agree that Logan Paul would be bad, even though entertaining for their kids. I believe when content is not behind an algorithm, it incentivizes the population to collectively choose and pick content for everyone that helps them in some way or the other. Perhaps to think better, do better or just be a better human being. But what the algorithms have done is that they have decentralized content for individualistic consumption. Now since no two people need to agree to watch something together- there is no incentivization to content that pushes us to be better neighbors, playmates, classmates, office colleagues, or strangers. This is also leading each and everyone of us to live in our own bubbles too. You can feel it too I know. People are more on the edge than ever and wary of each other. Why? Because we don't watch, read or think about same things anymore. This is why I feel Mr Rogers is even more important today. Would we have another Mr Rogers? No. But can some of us carry his message forward with us? Yes.
This is for my next door neighbours, I know I will go and say hi to them this afternoon. Will you?
It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood,
A neighborly day for a beauty,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you!
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.
So let's make the most of this beautiful day,
Since we're together we might as well say,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?
Won't you please,
Won't you please?
Please won't you be my neighbor?