Comments on: They (Literally) Don’t Know What They’re Missing

By: Michael E. Gordon

Michael E. Gordon — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:57:14 +0000

Since I won’t be breeding, I haven’t read this book (Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder; http://tinyurl.com/nbtx9b) but it sure looks like a good one for urban parents.

By: Rakesh Malik

Rakesh Malik — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:16:03 +0000

Well said, both of you… I applaud parents who take their children out into the back country for that reason. During a recent backpacking trip, I met two or three families who were bringing along their children, some as young as 13/14 years old. I found that to be pretty refreshing, especially since it was such a tough hike into the area.

And you’re right, those are the kind of people who are most likely to want pictures of that sort of place on their walls.

By: Guy Tal

Guy Tal — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:06:20 +0000

Thanks guys!

Jack – great point about childhood times. It’s easy to forget that pure fascination, unencumbered by the drudgery of life, that all kids have. I try to keep those memories in the back of my mind when I find myself distracted by other issues while in the field. It saddens me to think of these impressionable minds being molded by TV shows and video games, laying a foundation for life based on artificial human creations rather than an understanding of the real world.

Guy

By: Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:31:40 +0000

Hi, Guy -

This really resonates with me. So often when I’m out “in nature” I realize that there is no way I could _not_ find it beautiful – I am both a product and a part of it, and cannot fail to respond to its sights and scents and sounds and rhythms and harmonies. I greatly miss childhood times when to be “in nature” only involved stepping out our back door…

- Jack

By: Scott Bacon

Scott Bacon — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:04:55 +0000

Outstanding insight from E. O. Wilson. Thanks for sharing that.