Posted by: Kate Woodley
on Jun 07, 2011
People who read this blog or follow me on Twitter would be aware of my interest in the science of positivity and its benefits, how to create enduring meaningful happiness and ways in which we can strengthen ourselves when the going gets tough. My emphasis here is on 'evidence-based' interventions - things that the research suggests will actually have a good chance of working.
A lot of my time is spent looking at other blogs, reading what the research literature suggests and 'keeping an ear to the ground' by reading the popular literature and the press. So I find it a little alarming that a 'fitness guru' or 'lifestyle expert' are published as being experts in the field of psychological wellbeing and development, when they may not be trained to make such assertions.
its a bit like asking your hairdresser what they thing of climate change; you may get an answer but not necessarily a helpful one. Not to put down the well-meaning types who practice such arts, I do however implore people to look for the credentials of the person they are reading or listening to.
Posted by: Kate Woodley
on Mar 07, 2011
Yesterday my adult son had an accident on his bicycle. He went across a car bonnet, broke the windscreen with his bare head then skidded onto the ground.
Whilst in the ambulance he logged onto Facebook on his iPhone, updated his status to alert that he had been hit by a car and 'checked in' to Royal Melbourne Hospital -then he collapsed. We were alerted to the accident via Facebook. We updated everyone on progress in the hospital via Facebook. Support and care poured in from all over the country, all day, via Facebook. Formerly ambivalent, I've got to admit it was really helpful, practical and useful. The mechanism is value-free, neutral and inert without our engagement. Social networking is neither 'good' nor 'bad'; it is only as helpful as our actions cause it to be.
