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Mar 18, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

I’m a psychotherapist. I often ask people (adults) what they do to cope with stress, anxiety, etc. “I play video games” is a very common answer. Most initially include that activity in their tool belt of positive strategies and often are dismayed when I ask if they have alcohol, drugs, or gambling in that belt. It’s a very prevalent addiction in the western world. Not only does it give you dopamine hits, one experiences a sense of accomplishment and self efficacy that is the substitute for real-world risk-taking with all of the messiness and frustration that is NECESSARY (sorry to yell) for human development. If you are a parent, get your kid off the sauce: video games, social media, smart (lol) phones, etc. Don’t wait. Don’t excuse it. Get yourself off the sauce while you’re at it.

We have a nine year old daughter. No video games. There will be no smart phone while she is under 18 and under my roof. Flip phone at the start of high school. At this point there is no desire for any of that. She already understands this bc we discuss it. She loves to read and play outside and access her imagination. We have gone on (nearly) weekly hikes since she was 10 weeks old. This kid knows all of the birds that live in our area, not just the species but adult vs juvenile, male vs female, and even individual birds in our yard (complete with names she has given them). She is close to bilingual despite a totally English speaking household. The only non negotiable activity thrust upon her is attending jiu jitsu class which she has done, happily I may add, for 2.5 years. I train, too I support of her efforts. I learn Spanish, too, to support her learning in school.

Video games? What the actual F are we doing? No. I choose to be engaged with life and I model that for my daughter. Video games are not only not a problem in our house, the idea that we would start using them is ridiculous to not only myself and wife but to our daughter as well.

Btw, I was involved in MKP, did my weekend in March of ‘96 in southern Indiana. What a mess they have become as an institution. I am in a circle of men today, most of whom are former MKP guys, and we sweat 6-8 times a year. We honor any tradition that cultivates good relationships between humans, within our own hearts, and with all of our Relatives in the more-than-human world. Cultural appropriation? I’m a human walking for awhile on the Earth like any other. Hopefully, I can keep my mind and heart open to learn from my many brothers and sisters of numerous traditions. No one owns culture. “Culture is the Earth speaking through people in a particular place.” Paraphrase from Pat McCabe/Woman Stands Shining

For All My Relations! Peace.

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Mar 17, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

Sad for you, William, in your loss of Snake. 'What Would Snake Do?' seems a worthy bumper sticker.

I have no answer on the video games and what they represent, other than reiterating Fat Rabbit Iron that they do seem self-aware. I think that the seed you planted, with your questions, will stay germinating with them. I wouldn't be surprised by a complete reversal in our culture, maybe after 5G ravages the planet and the survivors shut off wifi for good. Dark, I know. But I think some change is coming and I feel it will turn out for the best ... in the long run.

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Mar 17, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

That the wayward wizards' death cult programming is working is a heartbreaking tragedy of epic proportions. Man, keep saying and doing what you know to be right. Your frequencies — physical, mental, written, and spoken — ARE making a positive difference. 💖

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Mar 17, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

These are pretty self-aware kids. I certainly couldn't articulate that video games were "sugar" when I was their age.

Piggybacking off of Bob's comment, a large part of the problem is that all the "adults" today grew up playing video games. They don't see anything wrong with an 11 year old playing hours and hours of video games because they did it themselves. I think it's natural at that age to *want* to do nothing but play video games, but there needs to be some kind of imposed restraint. Kids can't self-regulate when they're that young.

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Mar 17, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

All social species are hackable animals.

Try to get your young'uns interested in things other than video games. Because nowadays, video games are marketed to adults, especially grown ass men.

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Mar 17, 2023Liked by William Hunter Duncan

💯🤍🙏🏻💪🏻

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