TED Community » Leonard white

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• A reply on Conversation: Guns are designed to kill people. When are guns actually a positive influence in society?

  Feb 9 2012: yep
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  A comment on Conversation: Guns are designed to kill people. When are guns actually a positive influence in society?

  Feb 6 2012: I don't believe guns have any constructive implications on society.If we take away the guns from a society, other weapons will be used but if we add guns to society we encourage their use. Or at least facilitate it.
  Perhaps a gun is useful in a hypothetical society, one overrun by zombies for example but not in the civilised world.

• A reply on Conversation: How can we use art to build awareness of peak oil and start the public discussion on transitioning away from fossil fuels.

  Feb 6 2012: "Artists are notoriously selfish also - all that time they want to spend alone. " ?
  I've heard of artists work being self-indulgent (when it's self indulgent work)
  But to say they are "selfish" and work alone is absolute nonsense.
  The very essence of art is to communicate with and engage an audience (other people)
  How can this be a selfish act ?
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  A reply on Conversation: How can we use art to build awareness of peak oil and start the public discussion on transitioning away from fossil fuels.

  Feb 6 2012: I suppose an "art collective" with this agenda should exist.?? I would be interested to find out, If anybody knows any names or places ?
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  A reply on Conversation: How can we use art to build awareness of peak oil and start the public discussion on transitioning away from fossil fuels.

  Feb 3 2012: Ok..I'm not sure how popular this will be but I find it a little disconcerting when artists are deemed responsible for this kind of enlightenment. In some ways I feel it de-values art to think of it as a tool for communicating an agenda or a set of values, morals or facts. I accept that you are not advocating that all art should display this responsible position but it cannot be denied that the artist is termed as "responsible" if they do.
  I think moreover it is the responsibility of those people who wish to communicate an idea to find the best way to do it. It's not much use sitting around and hoping that an artist communicate what you want to hear but instead to create it, or at least implement this yourselves. After all there is no such thing as 'an artist' other than one who practices art.
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  A reply on Conversation: How about using mystical stories as a placebo to help people in difficult situations to cope? But telling them, IT IS A PLACEBO.

  Feb 3 2012: I love the idea of this sceptical doctor... "Yeah I'll give you this, it won't do a damn thing but, you are now part of a study into placebo effects. Good luck !"
  ha ha
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  A reply on Conversation: What if we refocus education on helping students learn what they can do with what they have learned?

  Feb 3 2012: It sounds like you had a good education there.
  I think a theatre production, as whimsical as it may sound, is the ideal classroom.
  I'm definitely not bias here because personally I find theatre a little uncomfortable, however.
  
  Every subject can be taught through a collaborative theatre production. All of the academic subjects, any chosen specific or hybrid subject and even things like life skills, social skills, business or physical exercise. All in one classroom. You even have the advantage of a critical audience aspect and then a presentation at the end for evaluation. Gives a whole new perspective on "play-school"

• A comment on Conversation: Is judging people good or bad? What are the effects both good and bad of both of the alternatives?

  Feb 3 2012: We have to make quick judgments of people's abilities in order to see if they need help or not.

• A comment on Conversation: How about using mystical stories as a placebo to help people in difficult situations to cope? But telling them, IT IS A PLACEBO.

  Feb 3 2012: People put a lot of merit into fabels and stories from the bible to help confirm a belief in god and these stories even manefest themselves as miracles or even disasters in the real world ...
  I think story telling as a form of cognatitive therapy could be effective, I don't know enough about this but I'm sure this is probably a valid method for recovery especially mental health issues like stress and depression.
  But tell a story with a fake happy ending ? could this be dangerous as you will enforce the patients dismissal of a problem... We protect children from pesemistic outcomes but should we do this to adults ?

• A comment on Conversation: What if we refocus education on helping students learn what they can do with what they have learned?

  Feb 3 2012: Teaching subjects through practical implication, real life examples rather than theoretic ones.
  I think subjects should cross over more.. wouldn't it be cool if the math teacher taught in conjunction with the physics teacher and the art teacher ?