Do you suffer from "Nature-Deficit-Disorder"?

[jon1jt]

author Richard Louv argues in Last Child in the Woods that many children are suffering from a condition he calls, "Nature-Deficit-Disorder", caused by spending hours at home watching TV or playing on the computer in chat rooms, IMing, emailing, etc. Adults are no different, actually worse, spending hours at work and at home in front of the computer. we're devoting less time in nature and therefore losing our senses.

do you agree or disagree? why?


ths poll can be found in book above, pp. 72-73 created by Professor Leslie Owen Wilson at the University of Wisconsin. the questions are designed to measure one's "naturalist intelligence," an "eighth intelligence" recently added to Howard Gardner of Harvard's monumental theory of multiple intelligence, which suggested that IQ testing was far too limited to understand human "intelligence."

Nature-deficit-disorder is a function of individuals who tend to lack an active participation in nature. SO ONLY SELECT THOSE CATEGORIES IN THE POLL YOU FEEL YOU PARTICIPATE IN FAIRLY REGULARLY.

hope this helps.

[Nightshade]

You need to explain it more....:nod:

[AimusSage]

I lost my senses a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, before I even knew what a computer was, in fact, I think I lost it somewhere in the woods, when I got lost between all the trees. Having said that, I do think people spend too much time in front of the TV or behind a computer, and should instead mingle more with real people. The children do not necessarely have to be nature's new tree hugging generation, but it would be nice if they got out and played in the street a little more. Because that gives me a chance to run them over. (insert evil laughter) :D

[Nightshade]

Mwahahaha, you mean? http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m235/Night-D/msn_sarcastic-1.png???

Hey do you know we have moved out of the Information Age? We are now part of the 'participation' age
:D

[dramasnot6]

I agree that this generation is getting too rapped up in technology, as wonderful and progressive as it may be. There are limits to how much people should engage in TV and the computer to stay healthy. A huge contributor to rising obesity is kids not getting outdoors enough and being brainwashed by the media to buy and consume huge amounts of very unnutrional food.
I personally make an attempt to be outdoors exercising at least 30 minutes day, especially during exams and other stressful times in school when it is easiest to get caught in a zombie whirlpool of staring at the computer screen and indoors reading off the screen or a book. TV and the internet are fantastic, I won't deny that I am a very happy user of both(especially the latter) but think there should be some serious limitations for youth because of how it is damaging their health.
Interesting topic!

[AimusSage]

Mwahahaha, you mean? http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m235/Night-D/msn_sarcastic-1.png???

Hey do you know we have moved out of the Information Age? We are now part of the 'participation' age
:D
I'm still living in the Iron age but that's only because of all the spinach.

[kathycf]

I suffer from reality deficit disorder. My mental processes are strained to breaking due to being completely out of touch with reality...:eek:

On a more serious note, I do tend to agree that harmony with nature is surely lacking in modern life. People spend much too much time indoors and don't see the need for going outside, or don't have much choice in the matter. Childhood obesity has risen dramatically in recent years, more likely than not due to sedentary activities indoors. (plus parents buying junk foods too).


My mother used to tell me frequently to "put that book down, and go out and play". Of course this was usually during a crucial scene when Nancy Drew was just about to solve the case, so I resented it. :p As a n adult when the weather is nice I bring my dog, my book and/or my laptop outside on my porch and then take frequent breaks from whatever I am doing to play with my dog.

[Nightshade]

ehem "adjsuts glases and shifts through the mountains of paper" I knew I did somthing on this and Im about to be tested on it so BTW thankx jon for giving me a free revision session.
Now actually I think its a bit of a con really you the reason we are so caught up in technology and its 'dangers' is technolgical determinism( TD). Now if we hold with TD then avoiding or breaking free of the technology is just as bad. Generally speaking I think we are over emphesisning the importance or maybe the dominace of technology in the role of shaping our exsistance, I think actually as backlash we are probably as people are pretty much obsssed with 'nature' and 'breathing spaces' and being green. Dont get me wrong Im exprely progreen myself, its just well I think technology is being used a bit like a scape goat.
:
.........here ends the revision for today :D

[kathycf]

Technology as a scapegoat? Well, I suppose to a degree, but the thing about childhood obesity is a modern phenomenon and is pretty well documented. I am referring to the US, though, this may not be prevalent in other countries. Also, conditions are not absolutely simple as saying "Kids are overweight and it is all the fault of computer games!"...there are a variety of causes at work here, and they tend to go together.


Also, I personally would find life very boring without my access to technology....that is why I take my laptop outside with me. :lol:

[Nightshade]

are a variety of causes at work here, and they tend to go together.
:

HAHA A supporter of Action network theory.... more revision :D:D
actually I tend to agree with this.

[jon1jt]

You need to explain it more....:nod:


hey guys, i included an elaborate questionaire for you to consider whether you might be suffering from "Nature-Deficit-Disorder." the object of the questionaire is just to see which activities tend to lack participation in.

hope that helps as a starting point. enjoy.

[Taliesin]

No.
s10cr

[B-Mental]

Actually Jon, I can click on almost all of them, so maybe your poll is flawed. I can honestly say I spend scores of days every year in wilderness areas. I'm a geologist that studies glaciers as a hobby, and that overlaps my interest in wetlands and environmental impact. I can stand all day in a marsh discovering things on both a macroscopic and microscopic. Camp outdoors in all seasons. Have visited 64% of the National Parks in the US(monuments included). Anyways, the time I spend in the woods and mountains is serene...I don't let electronic gizmos enter this world.

[jon1jt]

Actually Jon, I can click on almost all of them, so maybe your poll is flawed. I can honestly say I spend scores of days every year in wilderness areas. I'm a geologist that studies glaciers as a hobby, and that overlaps my interest in wetlands and environmental impact. I can stand all day in a marsh discovering things on both a macroscopic and microscopic. Camp outdoors in all seasons. Have visited 64% of the National Parks in the US(monuments included). Anyways, the time I spend in the woods and mountains is serene...I don't let electronic gizmos enter this world.

something tells me you're going to be the exception. :lol: wow, that's what i call being 'plugged in' nature, and quite enviable! hey, i say click on all of them, b-; hopefully others will vote too to get a healthy picture of participation in nature, or lack of. thanks!

[Basil]

I have a highly developed sense of echolocation that allows me to emit pulses of noise at ultrasonic frequencies. These frequencies then bounce back from nearby objects, thus allowing me to navigate and hunt insects, even in total darkness.

[papayahed]

I have a highly developed sense of echolocation that allows me to emit pulses of noise at ultrasonic frequencies. These frequencies then bounce back from nearby objects, thus allowing me to navigate and hunt insects, even in total darkness.

Do you sleep upside down as well?

[Basil]

No, I have a futon.

[papayahed]

No, I have a futon.


Is it in a cave?

[Basil]

Wrong again! It's located underneath an interstate overpass.

[Nightshade]

something tells me you're going to be the exception. :lol: wow, that's what i call being 'plugged in' nature, and quite enviable! hey, i say click on all of them, b-; hopefully others will vote too to get a healthy picture of participation in nature, or lack of. thanks!

Ermm not really they all apply to me :rolleyes: :D

[jon1jt]

Is it in a cave?


:lol: :lol: i love it!

nightshade: okay, you're the other exception then! :)

[genoveva]

The poll is confusing...are we supposed to click on one thing that fits us?

[jon1jt]

The poll is confusing...are we supposed to click on one thing that fits us?


you got it gen---only those that you think you match up with and leave the rest alone. thanks for participating!

[genoveva]

OK, but the poll only lets you pick one choice.

[Sancho]

Grandpappy took me hiking, backpacking, tracking, canoeing, fishing, camping, tree climbing, rock scrambling, blueberry/blackberry/cranberry picking, bear watching, and bought me a subscription to Ranger Rick Magazine (which wound up being my childhood nickname for much longer than was appropriate or comfortable).

Oddly, that’s the stuff I still most enjoy today and I can’t help but to notice a relationship between the mileage down the trail from the parking lot and the trail’s population density.