07-30-2003, 05:48 PM
Hi,
Sudden death, violence, rape, animals fornicating, and killing your own food were all parts of human daily life throughout most of history. It is only recently that being exposed to those things as a child is unusual. And it is only recently that that exposure is expected to lead to the need for therapy.
Having evolved in the milieu we did, perhaps the *excessive* protection we give children nowadays is bad in the long run. It protects them from some evil, yes, but it might also weaken their ability to handle reality when it does smack them in the face. Much like preventing childhood diseases as a child can have negative impact on the immune system of the adult. The ability to know evil and survive it may be our mental "immune" system.
A few things along those lines: I am reading Norse and German folk tales at the present. These are the oral tradition that was used to amuse and teach children of those regions until (comparatively) recently. Rape, death and mayhem are primary plot elements. Perhaps this caused a few nightmares, but perhaps it also prepared those children for the realities they will have to face.
Second item, I suspect (but have no data to back it up) that children who've been raised on a farm, or at least who had experience hunting, have less trouble in combat and are less prone to "combat fatigue" than those raised in sheltered suburban neighborhoods. Those raised (and allowed to roam) in inner cities probably come close to the rural kids.
Like many things (e.g., walking, talking), the ability to handle the harshness of reality might need to learned over a period at a *certain* time in our lives. If we don't have the preparation so that we are "immunized" against life, then an event that should just sadden us might destroy us.
Sometimes the best long range protection is not to protect. Thus, parents now are intentionally exposing their children to minor childhood diseases to give them the immunity that will stand them well throughout life.
Of course, it is not a one sided course of action. Somewhere between totally "protecting" a child and totally exposing him/her to the ugliness of life is the (IMO) appropriate course. I simply present this argument because I feel that many, if not most, parents err on the side of over-protection which may just be why we have a nation on anti-depressants with weekly therapy sessions.
If the "common wisdom" is indeed wise, why are we so f'ed up?
--Pete
Sudden death, violence, rape, animals fornicating, and killing your own food were all parts of human daily life throughout most of history. It is only recently that being exposed to those things as a child is unusual. And it is only recently that that exposure is expected to lead to the need for therapy.
Having evolved in the milieu we did, perhaps the *excessive* protection we give children nowadays is bad in the long run. It protects them from some evil, yes, but it might also weaken their ability to handle reality when it does smack them in the face. Much like preventing childhood diseases as a child can have negative impact on the immune system of the adult. The ability to know evil and survive it may be our mental "immune" system.
A few things along those lines: I am reading Norse and German folk tales at the present. These are the oral tradition that was used to amuse and teach children of those regions until (comparatively) recently. Rape, death and mayhem are primary plot elements. Perhaps this caused a few nightmares, but perhaps it also prepared those children for the realities they will have to face.
Second item, I suspect (but have no data to back it up) that children who've been raised on a farm, or at least who had experience hunting, have less trouble in combat and are less prone to "combat fatigue" than those raised in sheltered suburban neighborhoods. Those raised (and allowed to roam) in inner cities probably come close to the rural kids.
Like many things (e.g., walking, talking), the ability to handle the harshness of reality might need to learned over a period at a *certain* time in our lives. If we don't have the preparation so that we are "immunized" against life, then an event that should just sadden us might destroy us.
Sometimes the best long range protection is not to protect. Thus, parents now are intentionally exposing their children to minor childhood diseases to give them the immunity that will stand them well throughout life.
Of course, it is not a one sided course of action. Somewhere between totally "protecting" a child and totally exposing him/her to the ugliness of life is the (IMO) appropriate course. I simply present this argument because I feel that many, if not most, parents err on the side of over-protection which may just be why we have a nation on anti-depressants with weekly therapy sessions.
If the "common wisdom" is indeed wise, why are we so f'ed up?
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?