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Martin Hassel
Trondheim
Norway

Safety Engineer, Safetec Nordic

Host TED Attendee TED Translator TEDx Organizer Associate Language Coordinator

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What have you learnt from watching TEDTalks?

I often find myself bringing up things I have learnt from TEDTalks in conversations with friends and colleagues. What are some of the things you have learnt from watching TEDTalks, that you did not know before?

Related Talks:

Topics: Facts knowledge learning

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Muhammad Aizat Zainal Alam 30+
- +1
TED Translator

Jul 27 2011: Live life while it's still good.A very inspiring talk by Stacy Kramer.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/stacey_kramer_the_best_gift_i_ever_survived.html
timisha dadhich
- +2
Jul 27 2011: i have learnt that there are 2 types of people in this world :
1. the ones who divide the world into 2 types.
2. the ones who don't
i mean we must treat everyone as the family member of this global family where EARTH is our home (:
Amy Peach
- +3
Jul 26 2011: ...that any shred of cynicism I've had about our world's future is entirely unwarranted. Now well into my '30s, I'm in that middle ground between youthful optimism and veteran scorn. I now feel myself being pulled back toward optimism as I see SO many talented, creative, and (most of all) hopeful people striving to make the world better. That so many look and think nothing like me gives me an even greater sense of pride.
Mohamed Selim
- +1
Jul 26 2011: it's not what's learned, it's an experience that surely will have an impact on me later
seen more ideas, I came up with my own ideas
this keeps someone updated
this I guess can help people to make better decisions
what decisions are but some experiences, that compose someone's personality
Tim Capes
- +1
Jul 26 2011: I've learnt that the problems we see in society are not a reflection of society as a whole, but rather the voices that have the most power. I've seen amazing ideas, and found hope for solutions to potentially catastrophic failures of society. This hope comes not just in the presentation of these ideas, but in the amazing response to them that I've witnessed. TED gives me a genuine belief that humanity can work to overcome it's biggest problems, even as it appears abundantly clear that the political systems in the world cannot.
mojtaba azari
- +1
Jul 26 2011: Hi Martin
I've learnt that i need research and about all things will told in public.
Jocelyne . 10+
- +1
Jul 26 2011: I've learnt so many incredible things that the list would just go on and on and on..I feel like I'm part of a community, part of the world-strangely. TED liberates my mind into new ways of thinking and understanding. Seeing people really wanting to help one another in so many different ways and communicating about them together - plus actually listening! is remarkable.

Through watching these talks I mainly learnt that I NEED/MUST learn to be brave like the TED Speakers who stand up and express their ideas, and who try to do something about them in order to help make a positive difference in the world. This truly motivates me to want to try and be/do the same, even if it's in small ways.

I could really go on and on here.. :)
aksa bilal
- +2
Jul 26 2011: TED has taught me that if you truly want to make a difference there is nothing that can stop you, and if you put your heart into it anything is possible!

It is inspiring to see so many people at TED making a difference in their own way! THANK YOU
JULIA FARGAS
- 0
Jul 26 2011: Thanks!
JULIA FARGAS
- +1
Jul 26 2011: My english in not that good but some of the things I learned today:

- Knitting and crocheting is much coolers that I thought and I'm proud of my crafty hobbys.
- African literature is wonderful.
- Thandie Newton is mucho more than a pretty face.
- Traders might be evil they they come up with some pretty amazing ways to work.
- Rape and sexual abuse hurts much more than a womans body but still there is hope with people like Sunitha Krishnan.
- I still don't believe in God but I'm starting to havea sort of faith in some humans (such a few yet).
- Bees are important.
- Jimmy Strobl 30+
  - 0
  TED Translator
  
  Jul 26 2011: Julia, Welcome to TED!
  
  I think your English is more then adequate (nearly perfect as I see it) for communication with TEDsters, we are a very understanding community and errors in spelling and grammar don't bother most of us, and you'll find that as you write and read more you'll get better and better. This is a community for learning, teaching and sharing!
  
  We're glad to have you!
Kate Blake 50+
- +1
Jul 25 2011: have learnt many new things to feed my brain
have found hope and joy to feed my heart
have found like minded friends who feed both [oops, this one is from TED conversations not talks]
Jimmy Strobl 30+
- +1
TED Translator

Jul 25 2011: Part 2

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxSanDiego-James-Fowler-Back;Featured-Talks Taught me that what I do and how I do it I am influencing not only my friends and you but your friends and even their friends, I know that "We all knew this" but I didn't have it in numbers before! I leaned that what I do and say is even more important then I thought!

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxSinCity-Bruce-Muzik-The-B-2;Featured-Talks Taught me (as other Talks have before) about the importance of honesty and openness. It taught me (as many Talks have before) the incredible strength of a single individual and the importance that strength can have to so many! It Taught me about Racism and Fear and the joy of concurring them!

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxYYC-Jamie-Furniss-Recyclers;Featured-Talks Taught me a lot about recycling that I did not know. Even though my country is in the top with 34% there are slums in the world that take care of 80% of their trash and turn it into resources. I've always thought that it was funny how something could be "useless" when the raw materials of the trash clearly had value. I also learned where I need to put my recycling efforts to make a change!

Yeah.... So that's some of the things I learned YESTERDAY by watching TED Talks, although I really want to point out that these are just the Talks I decided to share on Facebook and that the things I mentioned are just a FEW of the things I learned.
And I did not share all the different feelings all the Talks gave me...

(This was fun!) ^^
Jimmy Strobl 30+
- +2
TED Translator

Jul 25 2011: Part 1

Early on in this conversation I stated that I didn't know where to begin, and that's still true but scrolling through what I shared on Facebook yesterday might be a good place to start. so here it goes! (Thank you Joe Delsen for pushing me)

I'd like to say that the things I share about each Talk is just a bit of what I've learned about them and that i point to knowledge and not the feeling these Talks also gave me!

http://www.ted.com/talks/mechai_viravaidya_how_mr_condom_made_thailand_a_better_place.html Taught me not only how condoms can change a society and it's birth rate but how a country, or rather the inhabitants of a country are easily empowered to do so if you just educate everyone a bit and... replace Coca cola with condoms.

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxSaltLakeCity-Jason-Fairbour;Most-popular Taught me a new word "Micro-Franchising" and how sustainable it is in comparison to Micro-financing. I also learned the importance of providing cosmetics to third world places and how it improves on self-esteem.

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxTokyo-Gunter-Pauli-Balancin;Featured-Talks Taught me an ingenious way of harvesting both solar and wind power (and much more) and that there is actually a really good, well developed list of how to make the world (and your part) sustainable.

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxCMU-Luis-von-Ahn-Duolingo-T;Most-popular Taught me that every time I send an Email through TED I contribute to deciphering books that computers can't read, I also learned that approximately 750 million people have done this, just by contributing 10 seconds every now and then. I also learned of a great free language-learning website that you are doing good by using, and it's free!

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxManhattan-Dr-Melony-Samue-2;Most-popular Taught me about the possibility of farming in the Bronx, turns out all you had to do was educate some people and their neighbors will follow! (ran out of chars)
John Ware
- +1
Jul 25 2011: I've learned that there are like-minded souls and orgs out there who are not bound by demagoguery, platonism and the herd mentality. I especially like the fact that most posts come by way of well thought out and even-handed responses, as opposed to off-the-cuff and ignorant vitriol.
Nicolas Haguet
- +1
TED Translator

Jul 24 2011: General culture most of the time, but not things i can apply ... except for 1 talk : now, i lace correctly my shoes
- Joe Delsen 20+
  - 0
  Jul 25 2011: Nicolas, does that also mean to lace correctly everything else that you have the power to influence?
  
  Great ideas are a great start and is probably enough to transform our personal lives and impact our world. Could there be collaborative social network for actions too?
  - Nicolas Haguet
    
    0
    TED Translator
    
    Jul 25 2011: I am a student, so, my power is very low :-/
    For exemple, the way we learn maths is very bad and referring to a TED talk, i know that better ways exist, but i can't do nothing for that and my teacher can't do anything more.
    Things need to be changed but the persons who are able do do these changes don't know they.
    But later, i will apply all i learnt ...
    - Joe Delsen 20+
      
      0
      
      Jul 25 2011: Nicolas, you have great powers and you continue to build it up as you continue to open your mind and heart in your studies.
      
      Life has many dimensions and each positive influence you can give from your routines impacts the world around you in many ways much like the "butterfly effect".
      
      One of the best ways to learn math that I know is through khanacademy.org and you probably saw the founder's talk here at TED - Salman Khan, backed up by Bill Gates. Google also backed him up with 1 million USD.
  - Nicolas Haguet
    
    0
    TED Translator
    
    Jul 25 2011: Hey Joe, what you said is beautiful.
    I think i learn more on TED than at school and i'm of course a khan academy member :-)
    I think it is in another talk i see that what we learn in math classes is useless for our future jobs. We need to work on real problems and with the sames resources like computers and math softwares ... but we are still working on paper, like if computers were not yet invented.
    - Joe Delsen 20+
      
      0
      
      Jul 27 2011: I think that basic math and science is everywhere and it can practically help us in our daily life. In extreme cases, our aversion to math and science can cause problems.
      
      I of course wholeheartedly agree with you Nicolas when you mean that the power of our hearts also is essential in translatiing our math and science in caring endeavors, and expressing the limit of our words than only can art and music can show and expound.
  - Nicolas Haguet
    
    +1
    TED Translator
    
    Jul 27 2011: Hi Joe,
    I didn't say that maths are useless but only the maths we learn at school.
    We learn how to resolve simple equations on paper while in our future jobs, we will need to resolve difficult equations using a computer. So, it is a totally different problem and what we learn is very far from what we really need.
KarthikBabu Sankarachary
- +1
Jul 24 2011: Everyone has their individual skills..Not everyone has all skills..That shows in TED
Adam Elias
- +2
Jul 24 2011: Love what comes to light with the correct prodding. Excellent discussion thread. I have learned and built upon learning. I will take my ideas and spread them at large to everyone I meet. My 3 year old son Watches TEDtalks with me. Not for long mind you, but he is getting to know. Love TED.com and it's goals. Ideas-Worth-Sharing. Wanna vote some of these people into congress!
Ed Schulte 50+
- +2
Jul 24 2011: TED it is a place to observe ...\

first and foremost ...a place to observe the progression of the "consciousness of consciousness" ...not (only) on a local (western) level but on a global level. There is potential "learning" in these observation(s) for myself and the "consciousness of consciousness" I AM.
Jim Moonan 30+
- +2
Jul 24 2011: To be a true student. To think again... and again. To be ready for the moment when it comes.
A A 20+
- +2
Jul 24 2011: That there is still way too much arrogance in the business and scientific community (companies "discover" the public wants more than one kind of spaghetti sauce, become an ePatient because the Dr.'s not going to be there for you, etc.).
Education is broken.
Enlightenment isn't for profit.
Adam Elias
- +2
Jul 24 2011: Easily the most engaging website on the.. web. I have learned to respect an idea without having delivered it myself. I have learned to latch onto hope again. The takeaway here? Bring TED.com everywhere. Classrooms, Home, Theaters, Businesses, Billboards, Everywhere. It pains me that I can't tell the world all at once "watch this. you'll be amazed". Glad for TED's support base, and for the many, many speakers sharing their hearts and minds.
Pirawan Gantaran
- +2
Jul 24 2011: I have learnt how to think, live and communicate. This is just wonderful to know TED.
Adam Elias
- +2
Jul 24 2011: I have learned moderation with invigoration. I have learned a new side of conversation; one sided but inclusive and engaging. Like telling a story, but with global impact. I have learned that the power of the spoken word is not lost on the textual generations. I have learned that I can make a difference with a view, a comment, a share, a "like", a message. I have learned, and am learning a refurbished love of shared knowledge. This does not have to be a decade without a "name". The Information Sharing Age. Age of Industry, Technology, Internet, Information/Networking, -Global Sharing and Connectivity through mass broadcast of forward-thinking dialogue .. age. I hope it's a cultural shift towards awareness and application of research, rather than.. more internet .com name dropping, or revamped social platforms. TED provides more than intellectually founded speakers giving passionate lectures on high-tier subject matter. It's a starting point for ideas, it's a breeding ground for community, it's a way of life!! I have learned not to bookmark your favorite sites; have them open when you open the browser. Thanks to the TED team, for everything, all the time.
- Joe Delsen 20+
  - +1
  Jul 25 2011: Great enthusiasm Adam! My only complaint is my thumbps up for you have maxed out this week.
- simon roger
  - +2
  Jul 26 2011: Hi Adam, i like to use my own words (far too often...;-))...but you made it soooo clear in ur comment. I think TED is a sign that the sleeping "lion" is moving...that the feeling that "something is really going worng" is moving "up"...and I cannot say often enough THANK YOU to all of you for your courage and energy to help TED and thereby helping all people that feel "lost" or "alone" with their views etc. etc. (BIG thank you also to JIMMY).
  - Jimmy Strobl 30+
    
    0
    TED Translator
    
    Jul 26 2011: ^^ You are most welcome! (hoping I'm that Jimmy)
    - simon roger
      
      0
      
      Jul 26 2011: sure its you! ;-)
Anwar Dafa-Alla 500+
- +2
Host TED Attendee TED Translator TEDx Organizer Associate Language Coordinator

Jul 24 2011: A lot of stuff of life...but the most important one is Being Wrong isn't a disaster :)
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/kathryn_schulz_on_being_wrong.html
- Joe Delsen 20+
  - 0
  Jul 25 2011: Personally being wrong I hope, not globally wrong.
  
  I do see TED as globally transforming our world into a just and sustainable world.
Anton Hvornum
- +3
Jul 18 2011: I find myself spreading the word of TED almost every 3:d talk that comes up here, just because you do learn a thing or two or TED acts as a great news source that actually gives you real live news about interesting topics.

I've learned a lot about the human study, the brain and the body..
How society works and what's going on around the world.

Stories that facinates me like the one about "Suspended animation" or the outcome of putting children in charge of modern day problems.
TED, as Stephen below mentioned, acts as a gateway between people that are interested or knowlage.

And on TED, everyone is equal, this is the only forum that i know where gender, age or race does not matter.
I'm glad to be able to take in the information that is shared from within the community!
Stephen Frey
- +2
Jul 18 2011: TED provides a gateway to ideas, passion and inspiration. It is a well I drink from often and share widely. Listening and watching TED talks widens my heart and acts as a gateway to learning. I buy books of TED speakers from talks which inspire me to learn more and dig deeper.

TED offers a mechanism for learning which I couldn't have predicted being possible 20 years ago. The liquidity of the internet and democratizing of knowledge is profoundly moving, especially so with TED shedding light on the ineffable power of the human spirit and imagination.
Stephen Lewis
- 0
Jul 17 2011: It has shown me that I'm voting for the wrong man for President of the US and the right man/woman is not in the running.
- Joe Delsen 20+
  - 0
  Jul 25 2011: Stephan, perhaps there is still something we can do to positively influence our nation. I think that there is no need to wait. All of our efforts to help our governments are crucial and specially for the US which has great power to transform our world.
- Jimmy Strobl 30+
  - 0
  TED Translator
  
  Jul 26 2011: Chris Anderson (the curator of TED) shared this link on Twitter yesterday, check it out! http://www.americanselect.org/
jaeyun hwang
- +1
Jul 16 2011: We are doomed. The rich will live well. The poor will succumb to global warming. Population will start collapsing soon due to world wide famine caused by natural disasters. Internal strife will lead to civil wars and poor countries will implode leaving an anarchic mess. Pirate countries like Somalia will increase. Sea levels will rise and biodiversity will drop. But a new equilibrium will be achieved in a hotter wetter world where humans will still roam due to advances in technology.
- Joe Delsen 20+
  - +1
  Jul 17 2011: Jaeyun, maybe you can add the adverse effects of solar storm (http://www.solarstormwarning.com/) as ominously foretold by the mayans and graphically portrayed by movies about 2012.
  
  I believe we do have the power to transform our world and this is the reason to hope as can also be gleaned from TED talks like Debra concludes. http://Bit.Ly/ThePowerInfo
  
  Our future depends on what we do with this power and whatever happens in the future, we can be somehow comforted by the bigger picture that awaits us as can be peeked by NDE research. http://bit.ly/NDEresearch
  - jaeyun hwang
    
    +1
    Jul 17 2011: Of course we have the power to change the world. We could stamp out every disease on the planet, cure cancer, end hunger and reach for the stars. So why aren't we doing so? Want to cure aids? easy. Let everyone who has it stop using dirty needles and unprotected sex. That is not very difficult. Are they doing it? No. Want to fix global warming? easy. Get every nation to use electric cars. Plant trees in the deserts using scientific know how. Stop eating red meat. Fertilize dead ocean areas. Are we doing it? No. Doesn't matter if we have powers close to those of GOD if we are not going to use them. That is the reason for me being fatalistic. As for your funny doomsday scenarios those are might happen scenarios with low probability of happening. Global warming on the other hand is unstoppable. Making fun of it doesn't make it less real.
    - Joe Delsen 20+
      
      +1
      
      Jul 17 2011: I'm with you Jaeyun, our scientific knowledge and power as of today is enough to solve all our problems and my hypothesis is the power of our minds is not enough to solve it as you noted, we also need to ignite the power of our hearts to apply our solutions.
      
      But some solutions are paid with some sacrifices if we are to get a better global soceity, but it's worth paying for as PM Gordon Brown noted. (http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/gordon_brown_on_global_ethic_vs_national_interest.html)
      
      I also agree with you on focusing on climate change (http://bit.ly/ClimateChangeFocus) and we do need a fast implementation of our soulution strategies. But we can not do all these if there are other possible risks that may further weaken our global economy.
      
      I would be glad if the scientists agree with you that there's really nothing to worry about solar storms.

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