Opinions

We all suffer a bit when we hold opinions. Many of us do not share our opinions for fear of being labelled. Currently the use of terms such as ‘denier’ (to convey one’s opinion of someone else who holds a contra opinion) and ‘cancel culture’ (public backlash against anyone conceived as having behaved in an objectionable way or shared a questionable opinion) is rife and often toxic.

In my job as a GP, I am often asked my opinion – especially around issues relating to medical events and sociological events as they relate to families.

In 1959, my dad bought a Bell television, which had the added advantage of having a stereo as part of the cabinet kit.

Up until that time, apart from family and school, auditory input through radio occupied most of the influence from the outside world on my development. I was a lousy reader.

So, when the ‘test’ pattern – which consisted of nine alternating black and white squares – appeared on the screen starting at 6 o’clock and finishing at 7, I was transfixed. After some months, the nine squares morphed into 81 squares – presenting a very interesting chequered screen for me to watch for two hours a night. I sat close to the screen wanting to be the first person to see movement, and it was a long time coming. Then one night, a hill of sheep appeared and remained stationary for some months – although I was sure one of the sheep moved. Finally, and I don’t remember quite when, a head appeared and spoke. Awesome, amazing, and tantalising, I had never seen anything like this in my 7 years of life.

In an effort to broaden my horizons, my mother bought me a record to play on the stereo and I remember it being George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

I must admit I had never heard anything like that in my life either and those early years of watching a chequered test pattern whilst endlessly playing Rhapsody in Blue contributed to my very positive attitude towards the electronic devices that we and our children have the pleasure of having today.

Over the ensuing years, I sat close to the television and absorbed as much information as I could. Programs like ‘You Asked for It’ with Jack Smith fascinated me, and adventure programs like the Australian production ‘Ask the Leyland Brothers’ rapidly broadened my horizons.

So, when I am asked if tablets and iPads are instruments of the devil, I boldly voice an opinion without fear of a label.