Blacklisted TED Talks - Ones You Shouldn't Waste Your Time On

There might be something in them, but the ethical thing to do is to reduce them to a single slide so that people can spend 30 seconds on them rather than 10 minutes!

Culprit: Engineering the Human Nervous System: Megan Moynahan at TEDxBrussels

Takeaways:

1. We can restore movement after paralysis using existing technology.
2. Muscles still work — we just need to reconnect the signals.
3. Engineering alone isn’t enough without access and support.
4. Small patient groups get left behind by profit-driven models.
5. Nonprofits and new ideas can finally close the gap.

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What is a Thought? How the Brain Creates New Ideas | Henning Beck | TEDxHHL

Statements are outdated - in fairness, chatGPT was more recent than eight years ago..

✅ Do's

1. Focus deeply, then step away — Engage with the problem fully, then take a break with something unrelated to spark new connections.
2. Create space for inspiration — Like the ancient idea of the muse, set up a relaxed, open mindset to invite creativity.
3. Welcome boring or automated tasks — These give your mind room to reframe ideas in new contexts.
4. Escape your echo chamber — Seek out viewpoints that challenge your beliefs.
5. Have productive disagreements — Talk with people who see things differently.
6. Provoke your thinking — Read things you disagree with; challenge your mental routines.
7. Appreciate your imperfect mind — Embrace being slow, irrational, and human — it's an advantage, not a flaw.

❌ Don’ts

1. Don’t stay stuck in focused mode — Constant immersion doesn’t allow for creative breakthroughs.
2. Don’t surround yourself only with like-minded opinions — It limits perspective and stifles innovation.
3. Don’t consume media that only confirms your beliefs — It reinforces cognitive bias.
4. Don’t think like an algorithm — Avoid rigid, rule-following mental habits.
5. Don’t fear imperfection — Reject the myth that perfection is the path to insight.

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TBC.. Oh, yes, Roger King definitely makes the cut :)