According to this Dec. 11 video from PragerU CEO Marissa Streit, Dennis is no longer breathing through a ventilator most of the time. Instead, he’s usually breathing through a cpap.
The latest update on @DennisPrager pic.twitter.com/6PvW4JiWCb
— Marissa Streit (@marissastreit) December 11, 2024
Using a ventilator for more than a few days has dangers:
Time on a ventilator can have lasting effects on a person’s mind and body for weeks and even months after leaving the hospital. This is called post-intensive care syndrome, and it can include physical weakness and cognitive dysfunction, sometimes called brain fog, marked by a loss of intellectual functions such as thinking, memory and reasoning. Patients with cognitive dysfunction have trouble recalling words, performing basic math and concentrating.
I don’t begrudge anyone fighting for their life soliciting all the help and prayers they can get. Vulnerability is scary.
When I first started listening to Dennis Prager on KABC radio in the fall of 1988, I noticed he loved hearing from people about how he had changed their life.
When I became a Prager fan, I knew what I needed to say to him to connect: “Dennis Prager, you’ve changed my life…”
Dennis gives people a recipe to feed him. Like Donald Trump, his appetite for praise cannot be quenched.
Gurus love praise from strangers, but many people find it creepy.
Would you like to receive a dozen roses from a stranger? I’m not sure I would. It might be disturbing.
Seeking praise from listeners via email is a bit like asking for roses from randos to your door. You’re seeking a one-sided connection with people you don’t know. You’re encouraging a parasocial relationship.
Just because you read my blog does not make you my friend. I don’t want parasocial relationships with people who listen to me online.
I suspect that healthy people primarily care about love from people they know.
Most women I’ve known did not appreciate attention and gifts from men they weren’t interested in, unlike actors who seem perpetually hungry for adulation from any source.
I can’t recall any public figure who so actively seeks praise as Dennis does (not just now, but throughout his career). I put into Google, “Why do people ask for praise?”
I got this AI response:
People seek praise from others because it acts as a form of social validation, boosting their self-esteem and sense of worth by confirming that they are doing things right and are valued by others; essentially, it fulfills a basic human need to be recognized and accepted by society, often leading to positive emotions when receiving compliments.
Key reasons why people seek praise:
Low self-esteem:
When someone has a low opinion of themselves, external validation through praise can be crucial to feeling good about themselves.
Social connection:
Being praised can strengthen relationships and make someone feel more connected to others.
Motivation:
Positive feedback can encourage someone to continue working hard and strive for improvement.
Dopamine release:
Receiving praise triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, making it feel good to be recognized.
Cultural influence:
In many societies, there is a strong emphasis on achievement and recognition, which can lead to a greater desire for praise.
Important considerations:
Excessive praise-seeking:
While seeking some praise is normal, an excessive need for validation can indicate underlying issues like low self-esteem or narcissism.
I grew up in Australia where it is socially unacceptable to ask for praise.
I asked Grok why do people ask for praise and it answered in part:
Insecurity or Uncertainty: Sometimes, individuals might seek praise due to underlying insecurities or doubts about their abilities or worth. Asking for praise can be a way to alleviate these feelings by receiving external confirmation of their value or success.
Attention Seeking: On a more surface level, some might ask for praise simply because they desire attention. This isn’t always negative; it’s a fundamental human drive to be noticed and acknowledged.
Emotional Regulation: Praise can act as a mood booster or a stress reliever. The positive emotions associated with receiving praise can help in managing one’s emotional state, especially in stressful or high-pressure situations.
A significant reason that I post so much is that I enjoy feedback, but it would never occur to me to ask for praise. I often find more value in accurate criticism than in praise.
When I was young, external praise and criticism often shaped my moods, but as I aged, my own opinion of myself became more important than the opinion of randos. I reckon that 2020 was the year when my internal sense of myself became solid and I no longer needed other people to tell me who I am.
I can’t imagine moving through my 60s and 70s and soliciting strangers to tell me how I’ve changed their life. If such praise from strangers uplifts you, then criticism from strangers will depress you.
