Teaching the skills to break the spell of machine-mindedness
When we focus solely on the language that directs us on when, where, and how to carry out tasks, we tend to overlook everything and everyone around us. This is the spell of machine-mindedness.
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No matter the skill level in an activity, highly trained educators help us break the spell of machine-mindedness by putting us into a bounded space and placing us into teams, not to win, but to get in each other's way so that we have reason to build relationships. Everyone is prevented from using language-based instructions to organize themselves and others into an efficient machine to take control, to dominate to win. Without language-based instructions, we naturally become more aware of the people around us. We start off by reading and reacting to a single opponent getting in our way. As we grow more conscious of the actions of all those around us, we begin to predict their movements, leading us to a pivotal moment when the spell of machine-mindedness is broken. We embody ourselves, not as cogs in a machine but as humans who use machines. Life becomes one of relationships not as cogs in a machine. Our movement connects into a rippling flowing dance of spacing and timing. We all act without needing to know what will happen because we know it will take us all somewhere. We navigate in zig-zags, discover shortcuts, and embrace non-linear creative leaps. We share experiences that reveal fresh perspectives, sparking moments of wonder where we see something in us that is much greater than we knew or could know. We answer questions we may not even realize we are asking. These instances evoke a sense of awe—Our human ability for Wowness.
11 reasons to break the spell of machine-mindedness
To reconnect with our humanity, to see something in us that is much greater than we knew or could know—Our human ability for Wowness.
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“I believe I've successfully condensed "The Matter with Things" By Iain McGilchrist into 1,000 words, making it easy for everyone to take practical action while preserving Iain’s core message” Jon Thorne - founder of SkillsofWow.org
1. When we give our full attention to language-based instructions we are less aware of our surroundings and the people around us. We can become dependent on language-based instructions to tell us what to do or we do something reckless. We have no common sense when thinking for ourselves. We have machined-mindedness. AI mimics our language structures. It can provide instructions that our machine-mindedness, is likely to follow unquestioningly. We become a programmable cog in an AI world. To stop this from happening we need to immerse ourselves in environments that encourage human collaboration with minimal language-based guidance. This allows us to forge authentic human connections that transcend the limitations of machine-mindedness.
2. Upholding high standards is undeniably crucial. Yet, we must proceed with caution. To achieve the highest standards, we must concentrate solely on the language that explains our role as a vital part of a larger system. We see each other as cogs in a machine. We become part of the machine. We start to perceive human errors as issues that need to be resolved in our shared pursuit of mechanical consistency and the seamless operation of a perfectly functioning machine. We experience life as cogs in a machine becoming increasingly anxious when we lack clear instructions to guide us to meet standards. We fall under the spell of machine-mindedness. To safeguard our humanity we need to break the spell of machine-mindedness to embody ourselves, not as cogs in a machine but as humans who use machines to uphold standards.
To experience life through our relationships, not our machines while maintaining high standards, we encourage members of governing bodies responsible for elevating standards to also actively engage with SkillsofWow.org
The only requirement for joining is to see yourself as a human rather than part of a machine. Come participate in events where we step away from being a cog in a machine, where errors are not malfunctions.
3. We often expand our potential by engaging in repetitive routines that help us build skills and knowledge, much like assembling Lego bricks. This process can lead us to think similarly to AI as if we were machines. When we overlook the risks of this machine-mindedness, it's easy to fall under its spell and believe that our value lies solely in being a flawless part of a system. When faced with opportunities to navigate in zig-zags, take shortcuts, or make creative, non-linear leaps within the vibrant and interconnected human ecosystem, we frequently interpret these options as criticism or betrayal. As a consequence, we become even more entrenched in machine-mindedness, developing a durability similar to that of a machine—we either excel perfectly or we fail. The allure of machine-mindedness grips us, leading to feelings of emptiness and isolation, even upon achieving our goals. This is why some members of SkillsofWow.org teach the skills to break the spell of machine-mindedness.
4. When we are under the spell of machine-mindedness, we see ourselves and others as part of the machine that either functions or doesn't. We monitor the performance of ourselves and others and swiftly fix or replace worn or broken parts to maintain efficient operation. We see our mistakes as malfunctions in ourselves and letting the machine down. When those we rely on malfunction they are letting themselves, us, and the machine down. They are stabbing us in the back. We need to fix or remove them. If we can't do either of these we are stuck in a broken machine. We have the resilience of a machine. When we break the spell of machine-mindedness we step out of our systems, processes, and machines, and our human resilience steps beyond this mechanical perspective. We see that the pursuit of excellence is always beyond simply aiming for the highest standards. It is accomplishing what we never imagined doing.
5. Fear activates our machine-mindedness, pushing us to steer clear of mistakes. We carefully gather and piece together data, much like constructing with LEGO, to build our confidence and minimize errors. This increase in self-assurance fosters a need to dominate our surroundings. Individuals who express alternative opinions or challenge authority are often seen as negative influences. We tend to overlook data that indicates our current approach is ineffective. By doing so, we confine ourselves and those we aim to manage within a machine-mindedness, driven by the fear of failure, leading us to persist in actions that aren’t working. Meanwhile, we should be stepping outside of our machine-mindedness. Stepping outside of our systems, processes and machines to embrace our humanity to craft those moments of discovery when we recognize something we didn't expect to see—our “wow” moments. We face uncertainty by embracing our humanity.
6. Being socialized to maintain the happiness of our leaders—whether they are parents, teachers, coaches, or bosses—often leads us to internalize high standards they set for us. This pressure frequently results in a machine-mindedness to meet those expectations. We bring together what is required and synchronize them to meet standards. We fix and substitute substandard components. Falling short of these standards can result in feelings of personal inadequacy and a sense of letting down our leaders. However, the quality of our relationships holds far greater significance than simply operating as flawless machines to achieve these standards. This is why it's essential to break the spell of machine-mindedness and step outside of our systems, processes, and machines to celebrate our humanity and individuality, our wowness, to thrive in an increasingly Artificial Intelligence-driven world.
7. Exams are intended to assess students' ability to collect bits of information and convert them into standardized responses. This resembles the functionality of AI. Consequently, AI can assist with homework and even grade assignments. This suggests that merely holding qualifications may not be enough to fend off competition for jobs that AI can handle. Securing desirable positions will require us to step outside the machine-mindedness we need for exams to embrace our humanity and uniqueness, showcasing our ability to perform tasks that AI cannot.
8. With access to remarkable systems, processes, and machines that monitor our body's performance and wear, it's easy to think our health and well-being depend solely on fixing or replacing what is malfunctioning. This leads us to perceive our bodies and minds as machines. By breaking the spell of this machine-mindedness we stop viewing our bodies and brains as machines and see ways to adjust the complex web of interdependencies, relationships, and ecosystem of connections between parts of our bodies that make us human. We have the opportunity to enhance our overall health, performance, and well-being, which may help us avoid the necessity for doctors to rely on machines for major medical interventions.
9. Given the crucial impact that systems, processes, and machines have on improving educational standards, schools must depend on them extensively. As a result, it is nearly impossible for teachers, students, and parents not to feel like cogs in a machine. When children see themselves as part of the educational machine, they often feel the pressure to conform and perform like their peers to fulfill their roles. If they manage to do this, they are then burdened with the anxiety of knowing that any failure to achieve their academic potential could disappoint those involved, resulting in considerable stress. The greater the disparity between a child's thinking and that of the system, the more challenging it becomes for them to avoid disappointing those within it. They might find it easier to believe they are at fault and withdraw, leading to significant heartache and stress for both the child and those trying to assist them in adapting. Nonetheless, it is far more advantageous for everyone to develop the skills to break the spell of machine-mindedness. We recognize that we are not cogs in a machine; instead, we are human beings who utilize machines to connect with our humanity, celebrating our individuality and our incredible capacity for wonder.
10. When a team leader effectively brings team members together to coordinate and align their efforts toward executing a plan, this reflects machine-mindedness. It embodies the resilience of a machine, where everything must proceed according to plan; otherwise, it is deemed a failure. This is exactly why AI can effectively manage this kind of work. When a team leader stops team members from falling under the spell of machine-mindedness, the team can utilize systems, processes and machines to create more space and time for their innate humanity to flourish. They start to feel, connect, and function within a vibrant ecosystem that taps into their human resilience, enabling them to achieve more than efficiently running systems, processes, and machines.
11. Because systems, processes, and machines are so helpful in elevating standards, it is almost inevitable that sports coaches take charge of the machine and athletes seek to be selected to play a role within the machine. But, when athletes give their full attention to executing instructions that tell them where to be, and at what time, they become less aware of their surroundings and the people around them. This stops them from seeing what else to do when the instructions they are following are not working. They are under the spell of machine-mindedness. When the machine is dominant it wins. In close competitions, the machine loses more often than it wins because athletes can’t adapt to find other ways. When coaches give athletes opportunities to learn the skills to break the spell of machine-mindedness they can instruct players on when to go off plan and find other ways to win close games.
Our Events
Think less like a machine
01
We play basketball to step away from being a cog in a machine
Without really knowing how to play basketball we step away from being a cog in a machine. Errors are not malfunctions.
03
We sail tall ships to step away from being a cog in a machine
Without really knowing how to sail we step away from being a cog in a machine. Errors are not malfunctions.
05
We swim to step away from being a cog in a machine
02
We improve at sports by thinking less like a machine
When your coach instructs - athletes go off plan and find other ways to win close competitions.
04
We generate ideas worth sharing by thinking less like a machine
We share experiences that reveal fresh perspectives, sparking moments of wonder where we see something in us that is much greater than we knew or could know. We answer questions we may not even realize we are asking.
We move beyond viewing our arms, legs, heads, and bodies as components of a swimming machine, and celebrate our humanity by integrating all parts of our bodies into a flow
This weeks community sessions
- Thu, 31 OctHemel Hempstead31 Oct 2024, 20:30 – 21:30Hemel Hempstead, Hill Common, Hemel Hempstead HP3 8JH, UK
SkillsofWow.org is the governing body for those who coach the skills of Wow.