More

Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributors
GET UPDATES FROM Maia Szalavitz
 

Evil Internets Trying to Hook Your Kids on Digital Drugs: Either that, or the MSM is Dead

Posted: 08/10/08 11:05 AM ET

Are the evil internets trying to hook your children on aural drugs? Either USA Today and ABC News don't read the opinion columns they post on their websites, or the mainstream media is so far gone that it's beyond help.

From the column in question, by a radio host named Kim Komando: "websites are targeting your children with so-called digital drugs. These are audio files designed to induce drug-like effects." Called binaural beats, according to the article, "It is incorrect to call binaural beats music. They're really ambient sounds designed to affect your brain waves."

And that differs from music, exactly how? Has the woman ever heard the term "psychedelic music"? Or "meditation tape"? Or relaxation? Onwards we go, beyond parody:

Some sites provide binaural beats that have innocuous effects. For example, some claim to help you develop extrasensory powers like telepathy and psychokinesis...[ed note: and these would be innocuous, how, if they were physically possible?] However, most sites are more sinister. They sell audio files ("doses") that supposedly mimic the effects of alcohol and marijuana.


But it doesn't end there. You'll find doses that purportedly mimic the effects of LSD, crack, heroin and other hard drugs. There are also doses of a sexual nature. I even found ones that supposedly simulate heaven and hell.

She goes on to worry that:

The sites claim binaural beats cause the same effects as illegal drugs. These drugs impair coordination and can cause hallucinations. They've caused countless fatal accidents, like traffic collisions. If binaural beats work as promised, they are not safe. They could also create a placebo effect. The expectation elicits the response. Again, this is unsafe.

So, if someone claims something works -- even if it doesn't -- it's dangerous? We'd better ban everything advertised everywhere, pronto because if buying the right product doesn't make the opposite sex fall at your feet with desire, it might create the expectation that it does and therefore wreak havoc. And they say people on drugs are out of it!

The piece ends with the classic, "So, talk to your children. Make sure they understand the dangers of this culture. It could be a small jump from digital drugs to the real thing."

Right. And while you're at it, make sure they never play sports, read books, have friends, spin around on chairs, eat sugar, watch TV, play videogames or even look at you or hug you -- because every single experience that can cause pleasure alters consciousness, otherwise, you wouldn't be conscious of it!!!!

The lack of critical thought evident throughout the article is so mind-blowing that it's hard to imagine an editor could have read it before posting. Either that or it was posted simply as link-bait-- to draw negative commenters from all over the web, and thereby, pageviews. At this, it seems to have been quite successful.

Is this the future of media -- drawing pageviews by publishing articles so far past stupid that people can't help but respond? Pass the binaural beats please, we're going to need them!

 
 
 

Follow Maia Szalavitz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/maiasz

Are the evil internets trying to hook your children on aural drugs? Either USA Today and ABC News don't read the opinion columns they post on their websites, or the mainstream media is so far gone t...
Are the evil internets trying to hook your children on aural drugs? Either USA Today and ABC News don't read the opinion columns they post on their websites, or the mainstream media is so far gone t...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 5
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Recency  | 
Popularity
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Guitarsandmore
devoted father, community activist, musician, reti
12:15 AM on 08/12/2008
According to the cruelly misnamed USA–PATRIOT Act of 2001, anything the authorities now decide to define as “advocating terrorism†– including: home computers, libraries, diaries, and music – can be targeted and seized by the FBI….



An ancient (451 BC) Roman law defined the singing of bawdy songs as "a disruption of public order", an infraction punishable by death....!!!

...Crusades to ban music-usually in the guise of "protecting society"-have been woefully misguided, often destructive, occasionally comical, and remarkably unsuccessful.


Hitler forbade any Jewish music or music written by sympathizers.


http://www.tabootunes.com/thebook.html
03:07 PM on 08/11/2008
Wouldn't the music in just about EVERY TV COMMERCIAL be considered

"ambient sounds designed to affect your brain waves." so that the mindless consumer goes and buys whatever piece of spit they're selling.

But cause it's happening on the internet, its BAD, VERY, VERY BAD.

???????????????????
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
magicmary
11:48 AM on 08/11/2008
Oh, and where is the evidence on all the car accidents that have happened from tripping on binaural beats? How many and how does the statistic compare to drunk driving?
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
magicmary
11:31 AM on 08/11/2008
I've been "using" for years and yet can still maintain my professional career and manage my household. I really like the Theta CD by Dr. Jeffrey Thompson. Puts me in my happy place which is a place I need to get to once in a while. The binaural beat stuff is just irritating unless it's embedded in music and I have to say, it's way over-rated as a consciousness altering medium. Plain old blogging is more dangerous... I used to have a life! LOL!
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Thad
03:26 AM on 08/11/2008
...The amazing thing is that you would link it and THEN complain about how successful it's been as link-bait.