whenever we see older generations portrayed in the media there seems to be
portrayed in the media there seems to be
portrayed in the media there seems to be a distance laid out between their
a distance laid out between their
a distance laid out between their generation and ours we wouldn’t have
generation and ours we wouldn’t have
generation and ours we wouldn’t have done that in my day this is the sort of
done that in my day this is the sort of
done that in my day this is the sort of thing my granddad says to me and it’s
thing my granddad says to me and it’s
thing my granddad says to me and it’s the narrative that’s assigned to older
the narrative that’s assigned to older
the narrative that’s assigned to older generations in children’s films
generations in children’s films
generations in children’s films especially it’s a line which is used to
especially it’s a line which is used to
especially it’s a line which is used to substantiate generation or change one
substantiate generation or change one
substantiate generation or change one which implies were moving forward into
which implies were moving forward into
which implies were moving forward into the future to some extent we are our
the future to some extent we are our
the future to some extent we are our generation has overseen some changes so
generation has overseen some changes so
generation has overseen some changes so big that they’ve changed the social
big that they’ve changed the social
big that they’ve changed the social landscape of our world forever
landscape of our world forever
landscape of our world forever as of 2008 when I was actually just 8
as of 2008 when I was actually just 8
as of 2008 when I was actually just 8 years old the world’s urban population
years old the world’s urban population
years old the world’s urban population surpassed the numbers of us living rural
surpassed the numbers of us living rural
surpassed the numbers of us living rural II for the first time in history so why
II for the first time in history so why
II for the first time in history so why is this a big deal it’s estimated that
is this a big deal it’s estimated that
is this a big deal it’s estimated that by 2050 some 70% of us will be living in
by 2050 some 70% of us will be living in
by 2050 some 70% of us will be living in urban towns and cities this change is
urban towns and cities this change is
urban towns and cities this change is unprecedented not only by its very
unprecedented not only by its very
unprecedented not only by its very happening but by the rate that it’s
happening but by the rate that it’s
happening but by the rate that it’s happened as well the first pastoral
happened as well the first pastoral
happened as well the first pastoral societies those which came after
societies those which came after
societies those which came after primitive hunter-gatherer tribes emerged
primitive hunter-gatherer tribes emerged
primitive hunter-gatherer tribes emerged around 12,000 years ago now this dates
around 12,000 years ago now this dates
around 12,000 years ago now this dates back to the Neolithic Age or the Stone
back to the Neolithic Age or the Stone
back to the Neolithic Age or the Stone Age a time when humanity was going
Age a time when humanity was going
Age a time when humanity was going through a revolution of sorts large
through a revolution of sorts large
through a revolution of sorts large larger settlements replaced these tribes
larger settlements replaced these tribes
larger settlements replaced these tribes and became the urban hub if you like
and became the urban hub if you like
and became the urban hub if you like from which population grew so from then
from which population grew so from then
from which population grew so from then it’s taken 12,000 years for us to get to
it’s taken 12,000 years for us to get to
it’s taken 12,000 years for us to get to 50 percent of us living urban me if we
50 percent of us living urban me if we
50 percent of us living urban me if we work from the continued rate of social
work from the continued rate of social
work from the continued rate of social movement that’s forecasted 2050 – 2008
movement that’s forecasted 2050 – 2008
movement that’s forecasted 2050 – 2008 is 42 so it will take us just 42 years
is 42 so it will take us just 42 years
is 42 so it will take us just 42 years to get from 50 to 70% of us living urban
to get from 50 to 70% of us living urban
to get from 50 to 70% of us living urban lifestyles but it took us more than 280
lifestyles but it took us more than 280
lifestyles but it took us more than 280 times this to get to 50% in the first
times this to get to 50% in the first
times this to get to 50% in the first place this is what I call time travel
place this is what I call time travel
place this is what I call time travel the rate of in change the rate of change
the rate of in change the rate of change
the rate of in change the rate of change is increasing so quickly but even a
is increasing so quickly but even a
is increasing so quickly but even a decade’s different
decade’s different
decade’s different has huge implications viewing viewing it
has huge implications viewing viewing it
has huge implications viewing viewing it in this way allows me to empathize with
in this way allows me to empathize with
in this way allows me to empathize with other generations we’re used to this
other generations we’re used to this
other generations we’re used to this rate of change we haven’t known anything
rate of change we haven’t known anything
rate of change we haven’t known anything different there is no prior model to
different there is no prior model to
different there is no prior model to work to this really is the future and
work to this really is the future and
work to this really is the future and it’s up to us what we make of it there’s
it’s up to us what we make of it there’s
it’s up to us what we make of it there’s a myriad of other changes to consider
a myriad of other changes to consider
a myriad of other changes to consider but one which is becoming pervasive and
but one which is becoming pervasive and
but one which is becoming pervasive and divisive in our society is the Internet
divisive in our society is the Internet
divisive in our society is the Internet on the 6th of August 1991 the World Wide
on the 6th of August 1991 the World Wide
on the 6th of August 1991 the World Wide Web went live to the world look at our
Web went live to the world look at our
Web went live to the world look at our world now think about a day at work a
world now think about a day at work a
world now think about a day at work a day at school getting a job buying a
day at school getting a job buying a
day at school getting a job buying a house sharing ideas without it within
house sharing ideas without it within
house sharing ideas without it within these 26 years the Internet has changed
these 26 years the Internet has changed
these 26 years the Internet has changed how interact with the world how we
how interact with the world how we
how interact with the world how we interact with each other again it was
interact with each other again it was
interact with each other again it was only around a hundred years ago that
only around a hundred years ago that
only around a hundred years ago that planes allowed commercial planes allowed
planes allowed commercial planes allowed
planes allowed commercial planes allowed us to fly around the world thanks to the
us to fly around the world thanks to the
us to fly around the world thanks to the internet I can connect with someone on
internet I can connect with someone on
internet I can connect with someone on the other side of the world in fractions
the other side of the world in fractions
the other side of the world in fractions of a second I can talk to them in real
of a second I can talk to them in real
of a second I can talk to them in real time and I can see their face as well
time and I can see their face as well
time and I can see their face as well this is what I call time travel there’s
this is what I call time travel there’s
this is what I call time travel there’s no wonder my granddad wouldn’t have done
no wonder my granddad wouldn’t have done
no wonder my granddad wouldn’t have done that in his day he didn’t have the
that in his day he didn’t have the
that in his day he didn’t have the option to technological advancement has
option to technological advancement has
option to technological advancement has moved forward so quickly that it’s only
moved forward so quickly that it’s only
moved forward so quickly that it’s only our generation that have had these
our generation that have had these
our generation that have had these opportunities the point I’m making is
opportunities the point I’m making is
opportunities the point I’m making is that the world we live in today the only
that the world we live in today the only
that the world we live in today the only world my generation has known isn’t
world my generation has known isn’t
world my generation has known isn’t comparable to what came before it older
comparable to what came before it older
comparable to what came before it older generations didn’t have the option of
generations didn’t have the option of
generations didn’t have the option of free communication or relatively easy
free communication or relatively easy
free communication or relatively easy migration communities were much more
migration communities were much more
migration communities were much more defined and much less transient we live
defined and much less transient we live
defined and much less transient we live in a world where we are better connected
in a world where we are better connected
in a world where we are better connected than ever before we can travel more than
than ever before we can travel more than
than ever before we can travel more than ever before we have more opportunity
ever before we have more opportunity
ever before we have more opportunity than ever before to communicate to
than ever before to communicate to
than ever before to communicate to understand and to share so why aren’t we
understand and to share so why aren’t we
understand and to share so why aren’t we Max Weber one of the founding fathers of
Max Weber one of the founding fathers of
Max Weber one of the founding fathers of sociology was concerned with maternity
sociology was concerned with maternity
sociology was concerned with maternity he commented that the fate of our
he commented that the fate of our
he commented that the fate of our society was characterized by the
society was characterized by the
society was characterized by the disenchantment of the world
disenchantment of the world
disenchantment of the world disenchantment is defined as a feeling
disenchantment is defined as a feeling
disenchantment is defined as a feeling of disappointment about something or
of disappointment about something or
of disappointment about something or someone you previously respected or
someone you previously respected or
someone you previously respected or admired how can generations respect and
admired how can generations respect and
admired how can generations respect and admire concepts they don’t understand
admire concepts they don’t understand
admire concepts they don’t understand with values that don’t match up I think
with values that don’t match up I think
with values that don’t match up I think we’re at risk now not only of becoming
we’re at risk now not only of becoming
we’re at risk now not only of becoming further removed from those older than us
further removed from those older than us
further removed from those older than us but becoming further removed from anyone
but becoming further removed from anyone
but becoming further removed from anyone whose views differ from our own with so
whose views differ from our own with so
whose views differ from our own with so much to so much opportunity to
much to so much opportunity to
much to so much opportunity to communicate with anyone from anywhere at
communicate with anyone from anywhere at
communicate with anyone from anywhere at the drop of a hat I think we’re all
the drop of a hat I think we’re all
the drop of a hat I think we’re all guilty of seeking to affirm rather than
guilty of seeking to affirm rather than
guilty of seeking to affirm rather than seeking to challenge our opinions we’ve
seeking to challenge our opinions we’ve
seeking to challenge our opinions we’ve seen criticisms in the news of companies
seen criticisms in the news of companies
seen criticisms in the news of companies tailoring our online content in line
tailoring our online content in line
tailoring our online content in line with our search history we’re literally
with our search history we’re literally
with our search history we’re literally doing the same thing to ourselves not
doing the same thing to ourselves not
doing the same thing to ourselves not only do we choose to communicate with
only do we choose to communicate with
only do we choose to communicate with those who share our opinions but we
those who share our opinions but we
those who share our opinions but we choose not to communicate with those who
choose not to communicate with those who
choose not to communicate with those who don’t at worst we openly criticize them
don’t at worst we openly criticize them
don’t at worst we openly criticize them without ever having met them in our
without ever having met them in our
without ever having met them in our lives the prospect of anonymity online
lives the prospect of anonymity online
lives the prospect of anonymity online adds a new dimension to this it’s easy
adds a new dimension to this it’s easy
adds a new dimension to this it’s easy to leave an insulting or sarcastic
to leave an insulting or sarcastic
to leave an insulting or sarcastic comment online but the person who leaves
comment online but the person who leaves
comment online but the person who leaves that comment likely has no intention of
that comment likely has no intention of
that comment likely has no intention of entering into the dialogue with the
entering into the dialogue with the
entering into the dialogue with the creator of the content it’s easier to
creator of the content it’s easier to
creator of the content it’s easier to communicate than ever before but we’re
communicate than ever before but we’re
communicate than ever before but we’re arguably getting worse at it for the
arguably getting worse at it for the
arguably getting worse at it for the progress that’s been made I see this as
progress that’s been made I see this as
progress that’s been made I see this as a step in entirely the wrong direction I
a step in entirely the wrong direction I
a step in entirely the wrong direction I think there are certain values we can
think there are certain values we can
think there are certain values we can learn from other generations basic
learn from other generations basic
learn from other generations basic face-to-face interaction is fundamental
face-to-face interaction is fundamental
face-to-face interaction is fundamental to a cohesive society after all words
to a cohesive society after all words
to a cohesive society after all words are just one of three elements that work
are just one of three elements that work
are just one of three elements that work together to achieve good communication
together to achieve good communication
together to achieve good communication the use of tone and body language often
the use of tone and body language often
the use of tone and body language often convey more meaning than the words
convey more meaning than the words
convey more meaning than the words themselves from this perspective I get
themselves from this perspective I get
themselves from this perspective I get the criticism of our generational
the criticism of our generational
the criticism of our generational obsession
obsession
obsession with instant messaging we’re skipping
with instant messaging we’re skipping
with instant messaging we’re skipping fundamental aspects that we need to
fundamental aspects that we need to
fundamental aspects that we need to develop good social cohesion but this
develop good social cohesion but this
develop good social cohesion but this isn’t to say that we shouldn’t use the
isn’t to say that we shouldn’t use the
isn’t to say that we shouldn’t use the opportunities we have we can use the
opportunities we have we can use the
opportunities we have we can use the Internet well we can use it to support
Internet well we can use it to support
Internet well we can use it to support each other we can use it as a platform
each other we can use it as a platform
each other we can use it as a platform for meeting other people but it can’t
for meeting other people but it can’t
for meeting other people but it can’t replace real human interaction having a
replace real human interaction having a
replace real human interaction having a vested interest in someone you’ve only
vested interest in someone you’ve only
vested interest in someone you’ve only ever spoken to online is frankly
ever spoken to online is frankly
ever spoken to online is frankly unnatural and it gives us a false sense
unnatural and it gives us a false sense
unnatural and it gives us a false sense of security I use social media as much
of security I use social media as much
of security I use social media as much as the next person person but I truly
as the next person person but I truly
as the next person person but I truly believe it’s never a substitute for
believe it’s never a substitute for
believe it’s never a substitute for actually going out and meeting people
actually going out and meeting people
actually going out and meeting people equally someone’s presentation of
equally someone’s presentation of
equally someone’s presentation of themselves online isn’t a substitute for
themselves online isn’t a substitute for
themselves online isn’t a substitute for who they really are it’s misleading and
who they really are it’s misleading and
who they really are it’s misleading and we often make judgments about those
we often make judgments about those
we often make judgments about those people that go far deeper than the basis
people that go far deeper than the basis
people that go far deeper than the basis were used for our judgment this culture
were used for our judgment this culture
were used for our judgment this culture of being connected via a common platform
of being connected via a common platform
of being connected via a common platform but increasingly isolated into virtual
but increasingly isolated into virtual
but increasingly isolated into virtual social groups is dividing our generation
social groups is dividing our generation
social groups is dividing our generation before we even had a chance to meet each
before we even had a chance to meet each
before we even had a chance to meet each other now it would be forced to assume
other now it would be forced to assume
other now it would be forced to assume that removing the internet would stop
that removing the internet would stop
that removing the internet would stop this classing clashing social groups
this classing clashing social groups
this classing clashing social groups have always existed but the ease of
have always existed but the ease of
have always existed but the ease of communicating online makes us all more
communicating online makes us all more
communicating online makes us all more likely to retreat into comfortable
likely to retreat into comfortable
likely to retreat into comfortable virtual social worlds the world we live
virtual social worlds the world we live
virtual social worlds the world we live in doesn’t and won’t ever fit on a
in doesn’t and won’t ever fit on a
in doesn’t and won’t ever fit on a screen it’s messy and it requires
screen it’s messy and it requires
screen it’s messy and it requires attention just as much as we do and as
attention just as much as we do and as
attention just as much as we do and as we move forward into the future more
we move forward into the future more
we move forward into the future more layers will be added to its complexities
layers will be added to its complexities
layers will be added to its complexities and require us to communicate and to
and require us to communicate and to
and require us to communicate and to understand each other even more
understand each other even more
understand each other even more just as our world is becoming more
just as our world is becoming more
just as our world is becoming more globalized and more accessible there has
globalized and more accessible there has
globalized and more accessible there has never been a greater need for good
never been a greater need for good
never been a greater need for good communication communication means
communication communication means
communication communication means listening to ideas as much as it means
listening to ideas as much as it means
listening to ideas as much as it means sharing our own we don’t need to share
sharing our own we don’t need to share
sharing our own we don’t need to share beliefs exactly to become harmonious but
beliefs exactly to become harmonious but
beliefs exactly to become harmonious but we need to be respectful and we need to
we need to be respectful and we need to
we need to be respectful and we need to understand if we learn how to connect
understand if we learn how to connect
understand if we learn how to connect with each other with other generations
with each other with other generations
with each other with other generations we can acquire the skills to connect
we can acquire the skills to connect
we can acquire the skills to connect with the generations that
with the generations that
with the generations that after arts we need to learn to connect
after arts we need to learn to connect
after arts we need to learn to connect again in the real world otherwise we run
again in the real world otherwise we run
again in the real world otherwise we run the risk of travelling back into the
the risk of travelling back into the
the risk of travelling back into the past thank you for those
past thank you for those
past thank you for those [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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