Courtney Balaker

He found his way out of it through cognitive behavioral therapy, which he credits as saving his life that one weekend that he went to an institution. And he said, I see it happening in young people and it doesn't have to. And not only is it happening, it's almost being taught to them by administrators.

He found his way out of it through cognitive behavioral therapy, which he credits as saving his life that one weekend that he went to an institution. And he said, I see it happening in young people and it doesn't have to. And not only is it happening, it's almost being taught to them by administrators.

It's almost being created in a culture on a campus where if you're upset, have a warm cookie, go color in a coloring book, protect yourself properly. leave that space of discomfort. And as Ted just said, I mean, this is where people become terrified of the real world. They experience anxiety much higher. We all do if we continue to do that. So I hope this is answering your question.

It's almost being created in a culture on a campus where if you're upset, have a warm cookie, go color in a coloring book, protect yourself properly. leave that space of discomfort. And as Ted just said, I mean, this is where people become terrified of the real world. They experience anxiety much higher. We all do if we continue to do that. So I hope this is answering your question.

As we were talking to these young kids, so much of this was, yeah, I thought people didn't like me because I didn't have an activism or... Something that I was on board with. I didn't have my crew. I didn't, or I was saying one thing, but thinking another because I didn't want to be ostracized. What a miserable way to live. How do you live like that?

As we were talking to these young kids, so much of this was, yeah, I thought people didn't like me because I didn't have an activism or... Something that I was on board with. I didn't have my crew. I didn't, or I was saying one thing, but thinking another because I didn't want to be ostracized. What a miserable way to live. How do you live like that?

You're thinking one thing, but you're saying another. I mean, that's really a huge part of it. And we all do it a little bit. But when you're doing that on a daily basis and that's how you're forming relationships or finding your interests, it's very cognitively dissonant. And that was what was really concerning, how many young people we were talking to that said, oh, yeah.

You're thinking one thing, but you're saying another. I mean, that's really a huge part of it. And we all do it a little bit. But when you're doing that on a daily basis and that's how you're forming relationships or finding your interests, it's very cognitively dissonant. And that was what was really concerning, how many young people we were talking to that said, oh, yeah.

But it was very encouraging that they saw the light. You know what? I don't have to experience Wi-Fi. I don't have to think that way. I can put my thoughts on trial, as we all should. Is this negative thing that I keep thinking true? Put it on trial. What's the pro-con list? What's the evidence?

But it was very encouraging that they saw the light. You know what? I don't have to experience Wi-Fi. I don't have to think that way. I can put my thoughts on trial, as we all should. Is this negative thing that I keep thinking true? Put it on trial. What's the pro-con list? What's the evidence?

that I'm a horrible person or I suck or all of these things that are very normal to being a human, put it on trial. And it does affect young people. And, you know, I don't think we're beyond the point of no return. I think that there's a lot of hope. And just let's start that conversation and get them on that path.

that I'm a horrible person or I suck or all of these things that are very normal to being a human, put it on trial. And it does affect young people. And, you know, I don't think we're beyond the point of no return. I think that there's a lot of hope. And just let's start that conversation and get them on that path.

Well, sorry to interrupt you. A couple people said, well, why didn't you make the case for DEI training being good? Because our film goes a little bit into DEI and is that helping people? Is that making people happier and really better to other people? And when I was posed that question, Ted and I discussed it and we're like, well, That argument has kind of already been made.

Well, sorry to interrupt you. A couple people said, well, why didn't you make the case for DEI training being good? Because our film goes a little bit into DEI and is that helping people? Is that making people happier and really better to other people? And when I was posed that question, Ted and I discussed it and we're like, well, That argument has kind of already been made.

I teach at a college, for instance, here in San Diego, and I had to do DEI training. It was online, virtual. I didn't have to go to a room with a bunch of people and someone talking to me about it. I just answered questions online, and I found myself personally answering questions not truthfully, but giving the answer that I think they wanted to hear. Because I didn't want to get in trouble.

I teach at a college, for instance, here in San Diego, and I had to do DEI training. It was online, virtual. I didn't have to go to a room with a bunch of people and someone talking to me about it. I just answered questions online, and I found myself personally answering questions not truthfully, but giving the answer that I think they wanted to hear. Because I didn't want to get in trouble.

And these were like very, you know, innocent questions. It was just like, but some of them were very convoluted, right? And I wish I could think of one right now, but I think we all know if we've gone through DEI training or any sort of corporate or educational training. And I'm like, is that really making us better or get along better if we're falsely answering just to pass the quiz?

And these were like very, you know, innocent questions. It was just like, but some of them were very convoluted, right? And I wish I could think of one right now, but I think we all know if we've gone through DEI training or any sort of corporate or educational training. And I'm like, is that really making us better or get along better if we're falsely answering just to pass the quiz?

So my response to, well, why didn't you have a case in the film of when DEI really knocks it out of the park or helps people? I think it's because that's what we're all exposed to sort of on a day-to-day basis, that this is good, that we need this corporate. Haidt talks about it in the film. Corporate America demands it. You can't avoid it if you teach at a university or a college.

So my response to, well, why didn't you have a case in the film of when DEI really knocks it out of the park or helps people? I think it's because that's what we're all exposed to sort of on a day-to-day basis, that this is good, that we need this corporate. Haidt talks about it in the film. Corporate America demands it. You can't avoid it if you teach at a university or a college.