The Assignment:
For a 1,200-word essay, develop an argumentative thesis that addresses the forces that cause a societal intellectual and emotional disintegration analyzed in Jonathan Haidt’s essay “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid.”
ChatGPT Response (March 2023):
The societal intellectual and emotional disintegration analyzed in Jonathan Haidt’s essay “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid” is caused by the combination of several forces, including the rise of social media, the decline of traditional media, the polarization of politics, and the weakening of shared cultural norms. These forces have contributed to a decline in intellectual curiosity, a lack of empathy, and a decrease in the ability to engage in civil discourse, ultimately leading to a societal breakdown.
The rise of social media is one of the primary forces that has led to societal intellectual and emotional disintegration. Social media has created a highly polarized and fragmented society, where individuals are exposed only to opinions that confirm their biases, leading to a lack of intellectual curiosity and a decline in empathy. Haidt argues that social media platforms have contributed to the polarization of politics, as individuals are exposed to extreme views that can lead to a lack of understanding and empathy for others who hold different beliefs. This lack of empathy and understanding can lead to the breakdown of civil discourse, which is essential for a healthy democracy.
Another force contributing to societal intellectual and emotional disintegration is the decline of traditional media. Haidt suggests that the decline of traditional media has led to a loss of shared cultural norms, which are essential for a healthy society. Traditional media, such as newspapers and television news programs, played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and promoting shared values. The decline of traditional media has led to the rise of alternative sources of information, which can be highly polarizing and promote extreme views that are harmful to society.
In addition, the polarization of politics is a significant force contributing to the societal disintegration analyzed by Haidt. Political polarization has led to the demonization of individuals who hold opposing views, creating an environment where civil discourse is impossible. This has led to a decline in empathy and understanding, as individuals become more entrenched in their own beliefs and less willing to consider alternative perspectives.
Finally, the weakening of shared cultural norms has contributed to the decline of intellectual curiosity and the breakdown of civil discourse. Haidt argues that shared cultural norms are essential for creating a sense of social cohesion and promoting a healthy society. The weakening of these norms has led to a lack of shared values and an increase in individualism, which can lead to a breakdown in civil discourse.
To combat the societal intellectual and emotional disintegration analyzed by Haidt, several solutions can be implemented. First, individuals can work to broaden their sources of information and seek out opinions that challenge their beliefs. This can lead to a greater understanding of alternative perspectives and a decline in polarization. Second, traditional media can be revitalized to promote shared cultural norms and values. This can help to counteract the harmful effects of alternative sources of information that promote extreme views. Third, political leaders can work to promote civil discourse and empathy, encouraging individuals to engage in constructive dialogue with those who hold opposing views. Finally, individuals can work to strengthen their own sense of shared cultural norms, promoting a sense of social cohesion and a healthier society.
In conclusion, the societal intellectual and emotional disintegration analyzed by Haidt is caused by a combination of several forces, including the rise of social media, the decline of traditional media, the polarization of politics, and the weakening of shared cultural norms. These forces have contributed to a decline in intellectual curiosity, a lack of empathy, and a decrease in the ability to engage in civil discourse, ultimately leading to a societal breakdown. To combat these harmful effects, individuals, political leaders, and traditional media can work together to promote empathy, understanding, and a healthier society.
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In his thought-provoking essay, "Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid," Jonathan Haidt delves into the intricate dynamics underlying the societal intellectual and emotional disintegration that has marked recent American life. While several factors have contributed to this decline, a key argument can be made that the proliferation of social media, the erosion of civil discourse, and the rise of tribalistic ideologies have played pivotal roles in fueling this troubling trend.
Firstly, the pervasive influence of social media has undeniably reshaped the contours of public discourse, nurturing an environment that prioritizes sensationalism over substantive debate. Haidt highlights how the omnipresence of social media platforms has led to the creation of echo chambers, where individuals are exposed primarily to information that aligns with their preexisting beliefs. This selective consumption of information not only reinforces existing biases but also fosters an atmosphere that discourages critical thinking and reasoned analysis. Consequently, this trend hampers the development of a well-rounded, informed citizenry, eroding the intellectual robustness necessary for a healthy democratic society.
Furthermore, the erosion of civil discourse has significantly contributed to the decline in intellectual and emotional resilience within American society. Haidt's analysis underscores how the current political climate has become increasingly characterized by ad hominem attacks, vilification of opponents, and a pervasive 'us versus them' mentality. This hostile environment not only stifles meaningful dialogue but also engenders emotional polarization, breeding animosity and division. Such a toxic discourse undermines the capacity for nuanced understanding and empathy, ultimately impeding the cultivation of a cohesive and emotionally mature society capable of grappling with complex challenges.
Additionally, the rise of tribalistic ideologies has further exacerbated the fragmentation of intellectual and emotional coherence within American society. Haidt's insights shed light on how the amplification of tribal identities has led to a narrowing of perspectives, fostering an 'ingroup-outgroup' mentality that impedes constructive engagement with divergent viewpoints. This tribalistic fervor not only stifles intellectual curiosity but also engenders an emotional myopia that hinders the capacity for genuine empathy and understanding. Consequently, this narrow-minded tribalism engenders a polarized society that is unable to foster the collective intelligence and emotional maturity necessary for effective problem-solving and societal progress.
In conclusion, the forces delineated by Jonathan Haidt in his essay have significantly contributed to the intellectual and emotional disintegration that has plagued American society in recent years. The insidious influence of social media echo chambers, the erosion of civil discourse, and the rise of tribalistic ideologies have collectively fostered an environment that impedes critical thinking, stifles meaningful dialogue, and undermines the cultivation of emotional resilience. To reverse this troubling trajectory, it is imperative to prioritize efforts that foster open-mindedness, empathy, and a culture of reasoned discourse, thereby cultivating an intellectually and emotionally resilient society capable of confronting the challenges of the modern age.
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In her Ted Talk "Connected, But Alone?" Sherry Turkle, a renowned psychologist and technology critic, discusses the impact of technology on human relationships, emphasizing the consequences of our increasing reliance on digital communication. Turkle highlights several causes of loneliness in the social media age, drawing attention to how our digital habits and the pervasive use of technology can contribute to feelings of isolation and disconnection. Some key points she makes include:
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Superficial Connections: Turkle argues that social media platforms and digital communication often encourage superficial connections, creating an illusion of intimacy without fostering genuine emotional bonds. This tendency to prioritize quantity over quality can lead to a sense of loneliness, as individuals may feel disconnected despite having numerous online connections.
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Fear of Intimacy: She also points out how the use of technology as a buffer can prevent individuals from engaging in meaningful face-to-face interactions, leading to a fear of intimacy and a preference for the controlled environment of digital communication. This fear can inhibit the development of deep, authentic relationships, ultimately contributing to feelings of loneliness and alienation.
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Constant Connectivity: The perpetual need to be connected, always reachable, and consistently updated with the latest information can also result in a sense of social fatigue and isolation. Constant connectivity can create a pressure to present oneself in a certain way online, leading to feelings of inadequacy and loneliness when faced with the curated, idealized lives of others on social media.
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Diminished Empathy: Turkle emphasizes how the digital age has the potential to diminish empathy, as online interactions often lack the nuanced emotional cues present in face-to-face communication. This can lead to a decreased sense of understanding and connection, exacerbating feelings of isolation and loneliness.
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Comparison and Inadequacy: Social media platforms often foster an environment of comparison, where individuals constantly compare their lives to the curated and often exaggerated versions of others' lives. This can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and isolation, as individuals may perceive themselves as falling short in comparison to their peers, leading to a sense of loneliness and disconnection.
Turkle's analysis underscores the need for a balanced approach to technology use, highlighting the importance of fostering genuine, meaningful connections in order to combat the increasing sense of loneliness and disconnection in the digital age.
Sentence Fragments
Sentence fragments are incomplete thoughts presented as dependent clauses or phrases.
A dependent clause or a phrase is never a complete sentence.
Types of dependent clauses:
Whenever I drive up windy mountains,
Because I have craved pizza for 14 months,
Unless you add coffee to your chocolate cake recipe,
,which is currently enjoying a resurgence.
Phrases
Enamored by the music of Tupac Shakur,
Craving pesto linguine with olive-oil based clam sauce,
Flexing his muscles with a braggadocio never seen in modern times,
Lying under the bridge and eating garlic pepper pretzels with a dollop of cream cheese and a jug of chilled apple cider,
To understand the notion of Universal Basic Income and all of its related factors for social change in this disruptive age,
Running into crowded restaurants with garlic and whiskey fuming out of his sweaty pores while brandishing a golden scepter,
Examples
I won't entertain your requests for more money and gifts. Until you show at least a modicum of responsibility at school and with your friends.
I won't consider buying the new BMW sports coupe. Unless of course my uncle gives me that inheritance he keeps talking about whenever he gets a bit tipsy.
I can't imagine ever going to Chuck E. Cheese. Which makes me feel like I'm emotionally arrested.
I am considering the purchase of a new wardrobe. That is, if I'm picked for that job interview at Nordstrom.
Human morals have vanished. To the point at which it was decided that market values would triumph.
No subject
Marie Antoinette spent huge sums of money on herself and her favorites. And helped to bring on the French Revolution.
No complete verb
The aluminum boat sitting on its trailer.
Beginning with a subordinating word
We returned to the drugstore. Where we waited for our buddies.
A sentence fragment is part of a sentence that is written as if it were a complete sentence. Reading your draft out loud, backwards, sentence by sentence, will help you spot sentence fragments.
Sentence Fragment Exercises
After each sentence, write C for complete or F for fragment sentence. If the sentence is a fragment, correct it so that it is a complete sentence.
One. While hovering over the complexity of a formidable math problem and wondering if he had time to solve the problem before his girlfriend called him to complain about the horrible birthday present he bought her.
Two. In spite of the boyfriend’s growing discontent for his girlfriend, a churlish woman prone to tantrums and grand bouts of petulance.
Three. My BMW 5 series, a serious entry into the luxury car market.
Four. Overcome with nausea from eating ten bowls of angel hair pasta slathered in pine nut garlic pesto.
Five. Winding quickly but safely up the treacherous Palos Verdes hills in the shrouded mist of a lazy June morning, I realized that my BMW gave me feelings of completeness and fulfillment.
Six. To attempt to grasp the profound ignorance of those who deny the compelling truths of science in favor of their pseudo-intellectual ideas about “dangerous” vaccines and the “myths” of global warming.
Seven. The girlfriend whom I lavished with exotic gifts from afar.
Eight. When my cravings for pesto pizza, babaganoush, and triple chocolate cake overcome me during my bouts of acute anxiety.
Nine. Inclined to stop watching sports in the face of my girlfriend’s insistence that I pay more attention to her, I am throwing away my TV.
Ten. At the dance club where I espy my girlfriend flirting with a stranger by the soda machine festooned with party balloons and tinsel.
Eleven. The BMW speeding ahead of me and winding into the misty hills.
Twelve. Before you convert to the religion of veganism in order to impress your vegan girlfriend.
Thirteen. Summoning all my strength to resist the giant chocolate fudge cake sweating on the plate before me.
Identify the Fragments Below
Identify the Fragments Below
I drank the chalky Soylent meal-replacement drink. Expecting to feel full and satisfied. Only to find that I was still ravenously hungry afterward. Trying to sate my hunger pangs. I went to HomeTown Buffet. Where I ate several platters of braised oxtail and barbecued short ribs smothered in a honey vinegar sauce. Which reminded me of a sauce where I used to buy groceries from. When I was a kid.
Feeling bloated after my HomeTown Buffet indulgence. I exited the restaurant. After which I hailed an Uber and asked the driver for a night club recommendation. So I could dance off all my calories. The driver recommended a place, Anxiety Wires. I had never heard of it. Though, it was crowded inside. I felt eager to dance and confident about “my swag.” Although, I was still feeling bloated. Wondering if my intestines were on the verge of exploding.
Sweating under the nightclub’s outdoor canopy. I smelled the cloying gasses of a nearby vape. A serpentine woman was holding the vape. A gold contraption emitting rose-water vapors into my direction. Contemplating my gluttony. I was suddenly feeling low confidence. Though I pushed myself to introduce myself to the vape-smoking stranger with the serpentine features. Her eyes locked on mine.
I decided to play it cool. Instead of overwhelming her with a loud, brash manner. Which she might interpret as neediness on my part.
Keeping a portable fan in my cargo pocket for emergencies. When I feel like I’m overheating. I took the fan out of my pocket, turned it on, and directed it toward the serpentine stranger. Making it so the vapors were blowing back in her face.
“Doesn’t smell so good, does it?” I said. With a sarcastic grin.
She cackled, then said, “Thank you for blowing the vapors in my face. Now I can both enjoy inhaling them and breathing them in. For double the pleasure. You are quite a find. Come home with me and I’ll introduce you to my mother Gertrude and her pitbull Jackson. I’m sure they’ll welcome you into our home. Considering what a well-fed handsome man you are.”
“Thank you for the compliment,” I said. “I would love to meet your mother Gertrude and your mother’s pitbull Jackson. Only one problem. My breath smells like a rotting dead dragon. Right after eating spicy ribs. Which reminds me? Do you have any breath mints?”
“I don’t believe in carrying breath mints. On account of the rose-water vape. That cleanses my palate. Making my breath rosy fresh.”
“Wow. Your constant good breath counteracts my intractable bad breath. Making us a match in heaven.”
“I agree. Totally. You really need to meet my mother. Because she’ll bless us and make our marriage official. Since we really need her blessing. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“Now let me smell your breath. So I can identify the hot sauce.”
“Why must you do that?”
“So I can use the same hot sauce on our wedding cake, silly. To celebrate the first night we met. Capisce?”
“Capisce.”
She approached me. Affording me a view of her long, tired face. Covered in scales. Reptilian. Evocative of something primitive. Something precious and indelible from my childhood lost long ago. I wanted to run from her, but I could not. Some mysterious force drew me to her, and we inched closer and closer toward one another. Succumbing to a power neither of us could fathom.
Commas are designed to help writers avoid confusing sentences and to clarify the logic of their sentences.
If you cook Jeff will clean the dishes. (Will you cook Jeff?)
While we were eating a rattlesnake approached us. (Were we eating a rattlesnake?)
Comma Rule 1: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) joining two independent clauses.
Rattlesnakes are high in protein, but I’d rather eat a peanut butter sandwich.
Rattlesnakes are dangerous, and the desert species are even more so.
We are a proud people, for our ancestors passed down these famous delicacies over a period of five thousand years.
The exception to rule 1 is when the two independent clauses are short:
The plane took off and we were on our way.
Comma Rule 2: Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase.
When Jeff Henderson was in prison, he developed an appetite for reading.
In the nearby room, the TV is blaring full blast.
Tanning in the hot Hermosa Beach sun for over two hours, I realized I had better call it a day.
The exception is when the short adverb clause or phrase is short and doesn’t create the possibility of a misreading:
In no time we were at 2,800 feet.
Comma Rule 3: Use a comma between all items in a series.
Jeff Henderson found redemption through hard work, self-reinvention, and social altruism.
Finding his passion, mastering his craft, and giving back to the community were all part of Jeff Henderson’s self-reinvention.
Comma Rule 4: Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined with “and.” Do not use a comma between cumulative adjectives.
The adjectives below are called coordinate because they modify the noun separately:
Jeff Henderson is a passionate, articulate, wise speaker.
The adjectives above are coordinate because they can be joined with “and.” Jeff Henderson is passionate and articulate and wise.
Adjectives that do not modify the noun separately are cumulative.
Three large gray shapes moved slowly toward us.
Chocolate fudge peanut butter swirl coconut cake is divine.
Comma Rule 5: Use commas to set off nonrestrictive (nonessential) elements.
Restrictive or essential information doesn’t have a comma:
For school the students need notebooks that are college-ruled.
Jeff’s cat that just had kittens became very aggressive.
Nonrestrictive:
For school the students need college-ruled notebooks, which are on sale at the bookstore.
Jeff Henderson’s mansion, which is located in Las Vegas, has a state-of-the-art kitchen.
My youngest sister, who plays left wing on the soccer team, now lives at The Sands, a beach house near Los Angeles.
Avoiding Comma Splices and Run-Ons
Two complete sentences need to be joined with a period.
When we don’t use a period, we create a run-on sentence:
There are two run-ons in the following passage:
Jim Crow 1.0 transformed the post-Civil South into a hellscape however let us not think Jim Crow died it transformed into Jim Crow 2.0.
Another run-on:
She doubted the value of medication she decided to try it once.
A comma splice is different than a run-on. In this case, two sentences are incorrectly joined with a comma:
Klee's paintings seem simple, they are very sophisticated.
Love sneaks up on you, it shows up at your doorstep without warning.
I don’t drink diet soda for my caffeine intake, instead I drink coffee.
I was strongly attracted to her, she was beautiful and funny.
We hated the meatloaf, the cafeteria served it every Friday.
When You Can Use a Comma Between Two Complete Sentences: FANBOYS
You can use a comma with FANBOYS (for, and, but, or, yet, so), but you can't with conjunctive adverbs (however, instead, to the contrary, in contrast, etc.)
I love ice cream, but I rarely eat it.
I love ice cream. However, I rarely eat it.
I don't work out at the gym, but I do use kettlebells at home.
I don't work out at the gym. Instead, I exercise with kettlebells in my garage.
After each sentence put a “C” for Correct or a “CS” for Comma Splice. If the sentence is a comma splice, rewrite it so that it is correct.
One. Bailey used to eat ten pizzas a day, now he eats a spinach salad for lunch and dinner.
Two. Marco no longer runs on the treadmill, instead he opts for the less injury-causing elliptical trainer.
Three. Running can cause shin splints, which can cause excruciating pain.
Four. Running in the incorrect form can wreak havoc on the knees, slowing down can often correct the problem.
Five. While we live in a society where 1,500-calorie cheeseburgers are on the rise, the reading of books, sad to say, is on the decline.
Six. Facebook is a haven for narcissists, it encourages showing off with selfies and other mundane activities that are ways of showing how great and amazing our lives are, what a sham.
Seven. We live in a society where more and more Americans are consuming 1,500-calorie cheeseburgers, however, those same Americans are reading fewer and fewer books.
Eight. Love is a virus from outer space, it tends to become most contagious during April and May.
Nine. The tarantula causes horror in many people, moreover there is a species of tarantula in Brazil, the wandering banana spider, that is the most venomous spider in the world.
Ten. Even though spiders cause many people to recoil with horror, most species are harmless.
Eleven. The high repair costs of European luxury vehicles repelled Amanda from buying such a car, instead she opted for a Japanese-made Lexus.
Twelve. Amanda got a job at the Lexus dealership, now she’s trying to get me a job in the same office.
Thirteen. While consuming several cinnamon buns, a twelve-egg cheese omelet, ten slices of French toast slathered in maple syrup, and a tray of Swedish loganberry crepes topped with a dollop of blueberry jam, I contemplated the very grave possibility that I might be eating my way to a heart attack.
Fourteen. Even though I rank marijuana far less dangerous than most pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol, and other commonly used intoxicants, I find marijuana unappealing for a host of reasons, not the least of which is its potential for radically degrading brain cells, its enormous effect on stimulating the appetite, resulting in obesity, and its capacity for over-relaxing many people so that they lose significant motivation to achieve their primary goals, opting instead for a life of sloth and intractable indolence.
***
Review
Reviewing Jonathan Haidt’s Essay
Overview:
- We are living in a fragmented world where we disappear into rabbit holes of social-media curated reality silos. These silos or bubbles cater to our cognitive biases and pre-existing opinions. Living in a world that flatters our subjective reality makes us more stupid.
- Our societal fragmentation leads to chaos and distrust, which strengthens tribalism. Blind obedience to the tribe makes us more stupid.
- Living more and more on social media, we want popularity and attention reflected through likes, reposts, and subscribers. We don’t aspire to create legit content. Rather, we hunger for a dopamine hit of virality. The algorithms reward aggressive, extreme, and obnoxious behavior so that we can be popular with our subscribers and “friends.” In this regard, we no longer build real friendships but create parsocial (imaginary) friendships. This behavior makes us more stupid.
- The extremism of social media causes us to reject the epistemic reality of science, expertise and norms; instead, we live inside conspiracy anti-expertise bubbles and political purity bubbles; living inside these bubbles makes us more stupid.
- Social media floods the zone with BS. “Anything is possible; therefore, everything is equally BS.” This false moral equivalency makes us more stupid. This is also called whataboutism. “You still haven’t paid me back the five thousand dollars I lent you two years ago.” “What about the time you took a bite of my peanut butter sandwich?” Whataboutism makes us stupid.
- Social media learned that outrage sells and gets our attention and since outrage creates dopamine, social media has encouraged us to get drunk on the dopamine of outrage. As a result, we have become more stupid.
Part 1: Adaptation, Survival, and Cooperation Vs. Animosity and Chaos
Haidt is arguing that living in the Internet, we suffer from the following:
- No context in a world of soundbites and image fragments
- Shortened attention span so that we memory-hole everything
- No sense of history
- Loss of critical thinking skills
- Living in separate information silos or bubbles resulting in political polarization
- Living in digital world more than real analog world tends to make us see other humans as abstractions; we dehumanize them more easily and behave more like barbarians toward one another
- No shared reality or agreement with what reality is so that can’t even agree on facts, statistics, science, studies
- Increased gullibility and eagerness to embrace conspiracy theories
- Loss of trust in major institutions: government, “deep state,” military, CDC, education, media, etc.
- Polarization leading to animosity, fragmentation, and at the very least a “cold civil war” peppered with violence
- Polarization leads to “mutual incomprehension”: We don’t even speak each other’s language so we can’t connect, resulting in alienation and hostility
- Polarization leading to chaos
- Chaos creating a desire to support an autocrat or totalitarian leader
Part 2, Early Internet of the 90s and the Promise of Togetherness
From 1999 to 2011, the Internet was fun, brought people together in Chat Rooms and promised to spread democracy throughout the world.
However, 2012 was a transitional point when the zero-sum game of political tribalism took over.
As social media platforms fought for attention in the Great Attention Economy, they realized that setting their algorithm for outrage could suck people into their platforms with the greatest power and potency and turn those people into angry social media addicts.
Social media personalities didn’t connect so much as perform. These were generally extreme performances of outrage, self-pity, exaggerated self-destruction, and self-righteous indignation.
Retweeting, reposting, and liking became ways of amplifying one’s alliance with a tribe and society began to fragment into these tiny niche groups governed by their own information silos.
To create outrage, social media needed to trigger the emotions targeting “anger at out-groups.”
By pressing people’s outrage buttons, you could go viral and become “internet famous” for half a week.
The above social dynamics and enraged psychological state is not conducive to a civil society or a functional democracy.
“Chipping Away Trust”
Trusting their tribal leaders, social media users lose trust in institutions--elected leaders, health authorities, the courts, the media, the scientific community, academia, etc.
Being Obnoxious and Aggressive for Attention
“Trolls and provocateurs” are “silencing good citizens.”
Breakdown of Critical Thinking
“The most pervasive obstacle to good thinking is confirmation bias, which refers to the human tendency to search only for evidence that confirms our preferred beliefs.”
We are less inclined to consider opposing views, especially in a polite manner, and it is precisely these opposing views that strengthen our thinking and help us arrive at more carefully-thought positions.
On the Extreme Right, a loss of critical thinking has resulted in a myriad of conspiracy theories regarding masks and even the popular Qanon, which believes that liberals are lizard-people who traffic children for nefarious purposes.
On the Extreme Left, a loss of critical thinking has resulted in purity tests and a purity orthodoxy that cancels anyone who slightly deviates from the tribe’s official doctrines. For example, “Karen” became a word that means horrible person.
We need to make changes:
Haidt makes this warning: “If we do not make major changes soon, then our institutions, our political system, and our society may collapse.”
What changes could be made? The genie is out of the bottle; the toothpaste is out of the tube.
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