If you could unlearn one thing for the new year, what would it be?

Published: 
Listen to this article

The ultimate Brain Game winner will win a pair of Apple AirPods Pro

Kelly Fung |
Published: 
Comment

Latest Articles

Climate change, urbanisation lead to early flowering of cherry blossom trees

Tatler to give fans 50% ticket refund for Messi’s Hong Kong no-show by May

An intense smell from a rare corpse flower attracts visitors in San Francisco

Hong Kong grocery chain DCH goes out of business after 39 years

Hong Kong logs coldest start to March since 2016

Icelandic peninsula sees fourth volcanic eruption since December

Every Wednesday we ask our Brain Game contestants one interesting, thought-provoking or just plain quirky question. Their answers will be published anonymously in Young Post. Then readers vote for their FAVOURITE answer. We will eliminate the contestant with the LEAST votes every week until we have a winner. The ultimate Brain Game winner will win a pair of Apple AirPods Pro.

Votes close at midnight on Sunday.

The contestants

Contestant 1

During my secondary school years, I’ve learned to be very dependent on my phone. I wish this was something I could unlearn. Having a smartphone has vastly changed my life. I recently checked my average screen time and was extremely shocked. Until then, I had no idea how much time I was spending on my phone and how much it has distracted me from my studies. Sometimes I wish I could just say “enough!” to my phone.

Contestant 2

I wish I could unlearn how cockroach poison works. I heard that  it attracts cockroaches so that they eat it and die. Then other cockroaches will eat the poisoned roach, which causes more of them to die. I hate seeing these nightmarish creatures, but I don’t want to feel guilty about how we get rid of them.

Contestant 3

I am stuck like glue to my mobile phone almost 24/7,  so you can imagine my  disgust when I learned that smartphone screens have more bacteria than a toilet seat. It was like finding out that McDonald’s McRib sandwiches contain the same chemicals used to make yoga mats. Namaste, rib lovers. If I could unlearn something this year,  it would be that revolting fact about my phone.

Contestant 4

I’m dying to unlearn the habit of hitting the snooze button every morning. I’ve long imagined how good it would feel to start my day early, but I always give in to the temptation of my alarm’s snooze button. I really wish I could unlearn this bad habit so I wouldn’t have to run to school every day.

Contestant 5 

I recently stumbled across a documentary on factory farming and was horrified to learn the truth about how the livestock that we eat are treated. Since then, I’ve been haunted by images of the brutality that is inflicted upon more than 160 million animals every day. I wish I didn’t know about the cruel fate that far too many animals face.

Contestant 6

If I could unlearn one thing this year, it would be the fact that talking on your phone too much can cause minor brain damage. Apparently the radiation from your phone can cause the cells in blood vessel walls shrink. At least now I know it’s better to use my earphones next time I make a call.

Contestant 7

I’d unlearn self-doubt and the stigma surrounding failure. I’ve always doubted myself – not because I wasn’t capable enough, but rather because I was afraid of failing. Somehow society got it into  my head that failure meant the end of the world. As the DSE examinations approach, I wish I could unlearn how to criticise  and doubt myself whenever failure is a possibility. 

Contestant 8

If I could unlearn one thing, it would be how to argue with my brother. We tend to fight over anything and everything under the sun. Sometimes it gets a bit physical, and that’s when the referees (my parents) come in. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all got along? I sure think so.

Contestant 9

Beauty standards. Too many teenagers, including myself, wish they looked like a supermodel. I must admit, I have gone so far as to starve myself in hopes of achieving  a slimmer figure, which I  know is terrible for my health. This is why I’d like to start the new decade without any desire to meet society’s impossible beauty standards.

Edited by Nicole Moraleda

&lt;a href="<a href="https://poll.fm/10490576">https://poll.fm/10490576</a>"&gt;Which answer do you like BEST?&lt;/a&gt;

*In case of disputes, Young Post reserves the right to make a final decision on the winner.

Sign up for the YP Teachers Newsletter
Get updates for teachers sent directly to your inbox
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Comment