2018-12-01_Discover

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Under Pressure

People aren’t the only ones

capable of peer pressure, it

seems. A recent study says

robots can influence kids as

young as 7. We covered the

news on our website, where

it sparked quite the debate.

VOLLMER ET AL., SCI. ROBOT. 3, EAAT

John Little -

omegashock - com:

So, this means that the

mainstream media and

“mainstream” social

media really do have the

power to manipulate

— especially the young.

And yes, this holds true

for adults, too — just

somewhat less.

It’s a “brave new

world” out there, kids

— the Orwell version.

MULTIMEDIA FEEDBACK

Common

Misconception

(“Tongue Twister,”

September 2018)

The Vital Signs feature

in this issue perpetuates

a misconception with

an unfortunate and

undeserved stigma.

The article correctly notes that

the herpes simplex virus, speciically

herpes simplex type 1, is the common

cause of both herpes encephalitis and

common fever blisters. However, it is

not commonly a sexually transmitted

disease, but rather transmitted by oral

secretions or skin-to-skin contact.

Kissing and sharing eating and drinking

utensils, plus any other contact with

infected oral secretions, are typical

ways the virus is acquired. It may also

be shed in the saliva whether or not

a fever blister is present. Although it

can be transmitted sexually,

that is not the usual route

of acquisition for this very

common virus.

Herpes simplex type 2, on

the other hand, is the usual

cause of genital herpes and is

typically sexually transmitted.

It rarely causes encephalitis

in older children and adults,

and more commonly causes

benign and self-limited meningitis. It is

important to distinguish between these

two viruses and their very different

presentations and typical modes of

acquisition. Failure to do so may lead

to a good deal of unnecessary grief.

Aryeh Baer

Hackensack, N.J.

The social robot

used to pressure

kids in the study.

ADDRESS LETTERS TO: DISCOVER

21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612

Waukesha, WI 53187-

EMAIL: [email protected]

Feedback is edited for space and clarity.

December 2018^ DISCOVER^7

Atlas Shrugged:

This isn’t limited to robots — kids can be

influenced by anything.

Woodsy the Owl was designed to

influence kids not to pollute — don’t throw

that trash on the ground, Dad, Woodsy the

Owl says to give a hoot! Don’t pollute!

Ditto, Smokey the Bear.

Joe Camel and Spuds MacKenzie were

banned due to fears that they would

influence kids.

Toy commercials, cartoon characters and

Muppets have been influencing children

with peer pressure for

generations.

So no real surprise

that you can do the

same thing

with a couple of

robots, too.

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