TED Community » Mario El Khoury

Comments

• TEDCred score: +0.80 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A comment on Conversation: How can we cultivate courageous, non-violent dialogue between youth and power?

  Aug 18 2011: Believe in youngsters. Give them chances. Let them breathe.
  They can be creative as well as they can be innovative (sometimes very professional).

• A comment on Conversation: How to build a Utopian society!

  Aug 12 2011: I suggest contacting Thomas More.

• A comment on Conversation: Narcissism; a means to self-preservation

  Aug 12 2011: Narcissism is what you can call an excessive self-love. The word excessive itself explains it all.
  It might also be called a kind of inordinate fascination with oneself (yourself).
  Psychology dictionaries say that it is an extreme selfishness with a grandiose view of one's own talents and a craving for admiration, as characterizing a personality type.
  Some consider that it's a mental disorder.
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: Why should listening be taught as a skill in school?

  Aug 12 2011: Life is a school. We are its students.
  The great greek philosopher, Epictetus once said that:
  “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
  And this is indeed a skill.

• A comment on Conversation: How can an individual help fight the current food crisis in East Africa?

  Aug 11 2011: Here's a Phoenician proverb:
  
  "One hand will never be able to clap alone."
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: Without spending money, how can I make the biggest impact on my community with 15 minutes/day?

  Aug 11 2011: FOCUS
  PUSH
  WORK
  CREATE IDEAS
  IMPROVE THEM
  SERVE THEM
  PERSIT AND FOLLOW THEM
  
  "Make from your life a dream, and from a dream, a reality."
  - http://mariokphotography.com/
  
  N.B.: Do not forget to be optimistic.
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: How young is too young for social networking?

  Aug 11 2011: In order to answer your question, you should consider the need of sharing "news" and "updates" when it comes to youngsters.
  Some feel that their Facebook Friends will appreciate a photo, a status, a joke, a video or so.
  Others think that they can grab attention. Some use it for making fun of others.
  Some enjoy sharing their "love" and other relationships. Everything is linked.
  Your main question ("How young is too young for social networking?") reminds me of a quote written by the Lebanese-Australian author called Jonar Nader that once said "How long does it take for your new friend to become your old friend?"
  Anyhow, I think that parents should have "sneak-peaks" from time to time and must check their children's social accounts such as Facebook; Myspace; Twitter; Youtube; Google+ and so on.

• A comment on Conversation: What kind of power can a film have?

  Jun 16 2011: Before analyzing what kind of power can a film have on us, we should focus on the types of movies. After that, you'll arrive to a conclusion that circles and unites a simple concept hiding behind every movie. Movies, shorts, films, video clips...etc. usually have an evident impact on the world. Be it on the younger ones or the adults. Take note that people watch movies, because they enjoy it.
  Young girls and boys can be influenced by an actress. This shows us how enormous the impact of movies is. It can not only change our hobbies, but also our cultural choices. Each and every one of us suffers two kinds of socialization. First, by his parents and family during his youngest age till his teen-age/young-adult age and second, by the companies, co-workers and colleagues he/she gets to meet in their careers. And all-along this period, the person watches movies and films. Sometimes, he admires the heros. Other times, he admires their acts. But most of the time, he or she tries to copy and imitate what others do.
  This proves what kind of power can a film have. It can easily change lives. It sometimes incites to reacting on a given event or so. None of us should overlook movies' impact on human beings. It can have a strong and influential power.

• A comment on Conversation: Can Poetry save the World?

  Jun 3 2011: Poetry can be a form of argumentation since old and great philosophers yet new and modern writers/poets used it to demonstrate, to convince, to argue, to persuade ...etc. Some used to in order to represent the reality, some used it to save the world, some to motivate, some to write, some to publish, some to tease, some to defend and others to attack.
  As you just said, politicians used it, artists used it, film-makers used it, youngsters used it and adults used it too.
  So I can think poetry can in a way or another save the World.
• +2

  A comment on Conversation: How can a talented teenager prepare himself for a scientific career? What do you scientists recommend? (Personal experiences, please).

  May 3 2011: Hello Sigal, say hi to your son. I guess you said it all, "talented teenager", because when it comes to sciences (maths, physics, biology...etc) you need motivation and love. You should love it. You should have it all as a technique. You should be talented, as you said. Usually scientific students are curious, they have a will to learn, and when there's a will, there's a way.
  Never let him fall in those silly acts that come from ignorant students not willing to learn, but to have fun. And those are "grades", everyone is aiming to have good grades, don't let him fall in such things. His teachers know him well enough, they know what he is and what he can be.
  Let love play the game. I know a lot of clever and intelligent students in sciences, but they prefer economics, history, arts... Let him choose, give him the right of choice, let him act.
  Studies are indeed interesting, but too bad schools remove and delete creativity. They have a mission to add and add and add rubbish into students' brains. They oblige them to learn. They want them to succeed and this is bad.
  Here's an example that keeps on scaring the students/kids/children: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I mean, come-on, why asking this when the child is only ten years old, or let me say 15 years old.
  Subjects change, some appear to be more "interesting" for students, some more "boring". Time will guide the student.
  Let your son choose, let him research about universities and colleges, give him the choice to answer, and then finally you can react and take control of the situation, give your opinion, let him know what you think, guide him, help him and suggest.
  I am following a French system, I am in a French school, and once the student arrives to the 10th grade, the school asks the student to continue his studies in Sciences OR Economics OR Literature (in grade 11 and 12).
  What I've noticed (being one of the students' council) is that the parents CHOOSE for their children, which is really bad!