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Step into My World | Shaun Ditty | TEDxColumbusAcademy


[Music]

[Music] hi so we’re going to start things off

hi so we’re going to start things off

hi so we’re going to start things off this evening with a little bit of

this evening with a little bit of

this evening with a little bit of audience participation do me a favor

audience participation do me a favor

audience participation do me a favor raise your hand if you have ever had a

raise your hand if you have ever had a

raise your hand if you have ever had a feeling or an emotional response to

feeling or an emotional response to

feeling or an emotional response to something good we’re not all robots all

something good we’re not all robots all

something good we’re not all robots all right so but really think about this for

right so but really think about this for

right so but really think about this for a second we are a diverse group of

a second we are a diverse group of

a second we are a diverse group of people we’ve come from different places

people we’ve come from different places

people we’ve come from different places of the world some of us speak different

of the world some of us speak different

of the world some of us speak different languages we certainly all have

languages we certainly all have

languages we certainly all have different thoughts and opinions on

different thoughts and opinions on

different thoughts and opinions on things yet we were all just able to

things yet we were all just able to

things yet we were all just able to unanimously agree on a shared experience

unanimously agree on a shared experience

unanimously agree on a shared experience that shared experience being that we

that shared experience being that we

that shared experience being that we have feelings and emotions now I want to

have feelings and emotions now I want to

have feelings and emotions now I want to ask you this how often do you find

ask you this how often do you find

ask you this how often do you find yourself in the company of others having

yourself in the company of others having

yourself in the company of others having a conversation about your feelings and

a conversation about your feelings and

a conversation about your feelings and emotions depending on what your job is

emotions depending on what your job is

emotions depending on what your job is you know it might be often but most of

you know it might be often but most of

you know it might be often but most of us would say not very often at all I

us would say not very often at all I

us would say not very often at all I find that to be I’m troublesome we all

find that to be I’m troublesome we all

find that to be I’m troublesome we all just SAT here and agreed that it’s that

just SAT here and agreed that it’s that

just SAT here and agreed that it’s that we’re all having it um the problem with

we’re all having it um the problem with

we’re all having it um the problem with that is that if we don’t talk about it

that is that if we don’t talk about it

that is that if we don’t talk about it it’s not like they go away right if we

it’s not like they go away right if we

it’s not like they go away right if we close our eyes and pretend like it’s not

close our eyes and pretend like it’s not

close our eyes and pretend like it’s not happening it’s still happening we’re

happening it’s still happening we’re

happening it’s still happening we’re just not talking about it so um that is

just not talking about it so um that is

just not talking about it so um that is in and of itself as a problem the next

in and of itself as a problem the next

in and of itself as a problem the next thing we’re going to start things off

thing we’re going to start things off

thing we’re going to start things off with doing another thing we’re I want

with doing another thing we’re I want

with doing another thing we’re I want you to look at somebody one of your

you to look at somebody one of your

you to look at somebody one of your partners find somebody in the audience

partners find somebody in the audience

partners find somebody in the audience or make eye contact probably someone

or make eye contact probably someone

or make eye contact probably someone sitting next to you for the introverts

sitting next to you for the introverts

sitting next to you for the introverts I’m sorry I want you to look at them

I’m sorry I want you to look at them

I’m sorry I want you to look at them we’re going to ask a deep and personal

we’re going to ask a deep and personal

we’re going to ask a deep and personal question so are you ready the question

question so are you ready the question

question so are you ready the question I’d like you to ask the person you’re

I’d like you to ask the person you’re

I’d like you to ask the person you’re looking at and by the way I seriously

looking at and by the way I seriously

looking at and by the way I seriously want you to do this is how are you

want you to do this is how are you

want you to do this is how are you feeling today

okay so some of us are going oh man that

okay so some of us are going oh man that was not as bad as I thought it was going

was not as bad as I thought it was going

was not as bad as I thought it was going to be others are four other others of us

to be others are four other others of us

to be others are four other others of us are going that was exactly as awful as I

are going that was exactly as awful as I

are going that was exactly as awful as I thought it would be and there’s a

thought it would be and there’s a

thought it would be and there’s a variety of responses there in between so

variety of responses there in between so

variety of responses there in between so your next thought is probably well that

your next thought is probably well that

your next thought is probably well that wasn’t a deep and personal question at

wasn’t a deep and personal question at

wasn’t a deep and personal question at all right well I’m here to offer you the

all right well I’m here to offer you the

all right well I’m here to offer you the the answer that it is actually we don’t

the answer that it is actually we don’t

the answer that it is actually we don’t treat that question with the amount of

treat that question with the amount of

treat that question with the amount of weight and importance that we should

weight and importance that we should

weight and importance that we should write I’d like to tell you a quick story

write I’d like to tell you a quick story

write I’d like to tell you a quick story so my wife and I have a friend he came

so my wife and I have a friend he came

so my wife and I have a friend he came to the United States to do his undergrad

to the United States to do his undergrad

to the United States to do his undergrad and eventually got his master’s degree

and eventually got his master’s degree

and eventually got his master’s degree here and when he got here he was excited

here and when he got here he was excited

here and when he got here he was excited he was making friends friendly guy and

he was making friends friendly guy and

he was making friends friendly guy and he reached the point on campus where he

he reached the point on campus where he

he reached the point on campus where he recognized people they recognized him

recognized people they recognized him

recognized people they recognized him you know they’re doing the thing they’re

you know they’re doing the thing they’re

you know they’re doing the thing they’re walking he makes eye contact smile okay

walking he makes eye contact smile okay

walking he makes eye contact smile okay we’re off to a good start the guy goes

we’re off to a good start the guy goes

we’re off to a good start the guy goes hey how are you and he gets excited and

hey how are you and he gets excited and

hey how are you and he gets excited and so he stops you almost like gets in his

so he stops you almost like gets in his

so he stops you almost like gets in his way right and he starts talking to him

way right and he starts talking to him

way right and he starts talking to him and he’s animated he’s talking and he’s

and he’s animated he’s talking and he’s

and he’s animated he’s talking and he’s telling him all about his day for like

telling him all about his day for like

telling him all about his day for like 10-15 minutes right and then he starts

10-15 minutes right and then he starts

10-15 minutes right and then he starts to like slowly pick up on the social

to like slowly pick up on the social

to like slowly pick up on the social cues of like yeah this guy does not

cues of like yeah this guy does not

cues of like yeah this guy does not really care what I what my day is like

really care what I what my day is like

really care what I what my day is like so then goes on his day happens again

so then goes on his day happens again

so then goes on his day happens again and he starts to notice this pattern

and he starts to notice this pattern

and he starts to notice this pattern right and then it dawns on him that no

right and then it dawns on him that no

right and then it dawns on him that no one really cares about the answer that

one really cares about the answer that

one really cares about the answer that that’s given and slowly but surely we

that’s given and slowly but surely we

that’s given and slowly but surely we broke him of that habit think about that

broke him of that habit think about that

broke him of that habit think about that for a second we broke him of the habit

for a second we broke him of the habit

for a second we broke him of the habit of stopping and waiting to listen to the

of stopping and waiting to listen to the

of stopping and waiting to listen to the quiet earlier to answer the question how

quiet earlier to answer the question how

quiet earlier to answer the question how are you feeling today I think that’s

are you feeling today I think that’s

are you feeling today I think that’s incredibly sad to be honest with you

incredibly sad to be honest with you

incredibly sad to be honest with you right see where he came from you asked

right see where he came from you asked

right see where he came from you asked the question and you stopped you cared

the question and you stopped you cared

the question and you stopped you cared you wanted to know and you wanted to

you wanted to know and you wanted to

you wanted to know and you wanted to share so all of these sorts of things

share so all of these sorts of things

share so all of these sorts of things combined have led me to start to think

combined have led me to start to think

combined have led me to start to think about some ways that we can start

about some ways that we can start

about some ways that we can start having conversations about emotions how

having conversations about emotions how

having conversations about emotions how we can start starting a dialogue about

we can start starting a dialogue about

we can start starting a dialogue about the things we don’t talk about and

the things we don’t talk about and

the things we don’t talk about and taking the time to do it so that led me

taking the time to do it so that led me

taking the time to do it so that led me to a project that I call step into my

to a project that I call step into my

to a project that I call step into my world step into my world is a

world step into my world is a

world step into my world is a three-dimensional art project that uses

three-dimensional art project that uses

three-dimensional art project that uses virtual reality technology to allow

virtual reality technology to allow

virtual reality technology to allow people to express their emotions in a 3d

people to express their emotions in a 3d

people to express their emotions in a 3d space right we can’t they come in and

space right we can’t they come in and

space right we can’t they come in and it’s super simple we just we just did it

it’s super simple we just we just did it

it’s super simple we just we just did it really I say how are you today and they

really I say how are you today and they

really I say how are you today and they say blank and I go great show me let me

say blank and I go great show me let me

say blank and I go great show me let me see what that feels like let me

see what that feels like let me

see what that feels like let me understand what that feels like so then

understand what that feels like so then

understand what that feels like so then they get to to stand in this this

they get to to stand in this this

they get to to stand in this this limitless space and create right and

limitless space and create right and

limitless space and create right and express their emotions in this artistic

express their emotions in this artistic

express their emotions in this artistic way it’s so amazing to see somebody do

way it’s so amazing to see somebody do

way it’s so amazing to see somebody do it the look on their faces just sheer

it the look on their faces just sheer

it the look on their faces just sheer joy or terror but usually it’s joy right

joy or terror but usually it’s joy right

joy or terror but usually it’s joy right when they get to experience that but

when they get to experience that but

when they get to experience that but that’s actually not the really cool part

that’s actually not the really cool part

that’s actually not the really cool part what I get most excited about is what we

what I get most excited about is what we

what I get most excited about is what we do after the arts go mate see after the

do after the arts go mate see after the

do after the arts go mate see after the arts we made I bring in other people

arts we made I bring in other people

arts we made I bring in other people right and we we put them in it and we

right and we we put them in it and we

right and we we put them in it and we offer them the opportunity to actually

offer them the opportunity to actually

offer them the opportunity to actually step into the world of the person that

step into the world of the person that

step into the world of the person that created it they get the same field of

created it they get the same field of

created it they get the same field of view they’re using the exact same

view they’re using the exact same

view they’re using the exact same technology right in essence it’s a

technology right in essence it’s a

technology right in essence it’s a window into their world into their brain

window into their world into their brain

window into their world into their brain so I didn’t do slides because I’m gonna

so I didn’t do slides because I’m gonna

so I didn’t do slides because I’m gonna actually show you what this looks like

actually show you what this looks like

actually show you what this looks like as a word of caution I seriously cannot

as a word of caution I seriously cannot

as a word of caution I seriously cannot see so I’m going to expect some empathy

see so I’m going to expect some empathy

see so I’m going to expect some empathy and if I’m about to fall off the stage

and if I’m about to fall off the stage

and if I’m about to fall off the stage someone yell

just a second all right so on if we look

just a second all right so on if we look over here this is exactly what I see see

over here this is exactly what I see see

over here this is exactly what I see see the question I asked was how are you

the question I asked was how are you

the question I asked was how are you feeling the response I got was good so

feeling the response I got was good so

feeling the response I got was good so take a moment to understand what well

take a moment to understand what well

take a moment to understand what well good is see what I see is that good is

good is see what I see is that good is

good is see what I see is that good is one two three four faces all that look

one two three four faces all that look

one two three four faces all that look different it’s a moon I’m pointing

different it’s a moon I’m pointing

different it’s a moon I’m pointing because that’s my reality it’s a son

because that’s my reality it’s a son

because that’s my reality it’s a son right it’s also a tornado back here

right it’s also a tornado back here

right it’s also a tornado back here right all of a sudden good has so much

right all of a sudden good has so much

right all of a sudden good has so much more depth than understanding oh it’s

more depth than understanding oh it’s

more depth than understanding oh it’s also I don’t know right suddenly the

also I don’t know right suddenly the

also I don’t know right suddenly the dialogue of how are you feeling becomes

dialogue of how are you feeling becomes

dialogue of how are you feeling becomes so much richer here I’m going to take

so much richer here I’m going to take

so much richer here I’m going to take this off and that dialogue piece is

this off and that dialogue piece is

this off and that dialogue piece is actually what it’s all about because

actually what it’s all about because

actually what it’s all about because after the Arts done and after someone

after the Arts done and after someone

after the Arts done and after someone has viewed it we get to have a

has viewed it we get to have a

has viewed it we get to have a conversation see in that conversation

conversation see in that conversation

conversation see in that conversation they talk about what it felt like to be

they talk about what it felt like to be

they talk about what it felt like to be in someone else’s shoes right to have a

in someone else’s shoes right to have a

in someone else’s shoes right to have a better understanding of what that

better understanding of what that

better understanding of what that emotion was it’s truly the opportunity

emotion was it’s truly the opportunity

emotion was it’s truly the opportunity to stand in someone else’s shoes I don’t

to stand in someone else’s shoes I don’t

to stand in someone else’s shoes I don’t know if you heard that as a kid I was a

know if you heard that as a kid I was a

know if you heard that as a kid I was a small I was the smallest of three so I

small I was the smallest of three so I

small I was the smallest of three so I heard that a lot how would your brother

heard that a lot how would your brother

heard that a lot how would your brother feel so um it’s an incredible experience

feel so um it’s an incredible experience

feel so um it’s an incredible experience but what ends up happening is that

but what ends up happening is that

but what ends up happening is that people want to talk see suddenly the the

people want to talk see suddenly the the

people want to talk see suddenly the the topic that people wouldn’t talk about

topic that people wouldn’t talk about

topic that people wouldn’t talk about they’re engaged they want to talk about

they’re engaged they want to talk about

they’re engaged they want to talk about it it’s unique all right so they have a

it it’s unique all right so they have a

it it’s unique all right so they have a conversation with me but then they want

conversation with me but then they want

conversation with me but then they want to go talk to their friends about it all

to go talk to their friends about it all

to go talk to their friends about it all right first it starts about the

right first it starts about the

right first it starts about the experience he was so cool

experience he was so cool

experience he was so cool look around I can move in this 3d space

look around I can move in this 3d space

look around I can move in this 3d space and then slowly but surely the

and then slowly but surely the

and then slowly but surely the conversation drifts towards like I

conversation drifts towards like I

conversation drifts towards like I totally understand why they drew a moon

totally understand why they drew a moon

totally understand why they drew a moon or like I don’t understand that I would

or like I don’t understand that I would

or like I don’t understand that I would have drawn that and now all of a sudden

have drawn that and now all of a sudden

have drawn that and now all of a sudden were having a conversation about a topic

were having a conversation about a topic

were having a conversation about a topic that we treat as if it’s taboo but we

that we treat as if it’s taboo but we

that we treat as if it’s taboo but we all just agreed that it’s something that

all just agreed that it’s something that

all just agreed that it’s something that we’re all experiencing so I guess what

we’re all experiencing so I guess what

we’re all experiencing so I guess what I’m encouraging you to do what I

I’m encouraging you to do what I

I’m encouraging you to do what I challenge you to do is after you leave

challenge you to do is after you leave

challenge you to do is after you leave here figure out a way to navigate the

here figure out a way to navigate the

here figure out a way to navigate the world so that you stop so that you wait

world so that you stop so that you wait

world so that you stop so that you wait you listen you care about the question

you listen you care about the question

you listen you care about the question you care about the response and that the

you care about the response and that the

you care about the response and that the response now has greater depth and

response now has greater depth and

response now has greater depth and meaning than it ever had before see

meaning than it ever had before see

meaning than it ever had before see because stepping into someone else’s

because stepping into someone else’s

because stepping into someone else’s shoes isn’t just a phrase it’s a

shoes isn’t just a phrase it’s a

shoes isn’t just a phrase it’s a possibility now it’s also a way of life

possibility now it’s also a way of life

possibility now it’s also a way of life it’s the way we do things I also

it’s the way we do things I also

it’s the way we do things I also encourage you to go out and to have a

encourage you to go out and to have a

encourage you to go out and to have a conversation start a conversation that

conversation start a conversation that

conversation start a conversation that you’re not comfortable with I promise

you’re not comfortable with I promise

you’re not comfortable with I promise you I promise you whatever happens after

you I promise you whatever happens after

you I promise you whatever happens after you start the conversation will be worth

you start the conversation will be worth

you start the conversation will be worth it thank you

it thank you

it thank you [Applause]

”

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