Wrap your brain around this logic given by a trained neuroscientist. After years of unfounded hand wringing and doomsday predictions about how the Internet and Twitter are destroying our brains, neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield unintentionally started a meme of her own. Oddly enough, she points to the wholesomeness of television to contrast the dangers of the Internet.
When I was a kid, television was the centre of the home, rather like the Victorian piano was. It’s a very different use of a television, when you’re sitting around and enjoying it with others, compared to when you are going up to your room and watching it until two or three in the morning on your own.
Yeah, remember how “experts” claimed television was the soul-sucking brain draining boogieman of the 70’s and 80’s? How could reporters not want to follow up with someone making nostalgic statements about television being all warm and fuzzy for our mental and emotional development? During a follow up interview by The Guardian in August of 2011, she was asked to cite studies or provide more data to prove her claims of brain damage being linked to modern technology, she gave the quote to end all quotes about her theories.
I point to the increase in autism and I point to internet use. That’s all.
Carl Zimmer, a popular science writer and blogger for the New York Times and Discover could not handle this total abuse of logic and disregard of the scientific method and he started a twitter feed which lead to the birth of “Greenfieldisms.”
He tweeted:
I point to the increase in esophageal cancer and I point to The Brady Bunch. That’s all. #greenfieldism
A few minutes later, more tweets came in—all applying the same type of logic. A meme was born! Try it the next time you are losing an argument. At the very least the momentary confusion of your opponent will last long enough for you to change the subject.
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@carlzimmer I point to diabetes and I point to cats. That’s all. #greenfieldism
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@carlzimmer I point to the increase in global warming and I point to porn. That is all. #greenfieldism
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@carlzimmer I point to the deliciousness of waffles and I point to Belgians. That’s all. #greenfieldism -
@carlzimmer I point to climate change and I point to a dramatic decrease in seafaring pirates, that is all #greenfieldism -
@carlzimmer Peanut allergies and the Kardashians rose to power simultaneously. I’m sure it’s a coincidence. #greenfieldism
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