Among many TED Conversations, below we are highlighting some of the TED.com community’s most-discussed ones:

Technology doesn’t create loneliness, it reveals it — Join the conversation here >>

Willis Phu: “When relationships become out of balance, would technology really fill the void or is it a vapid substitution? Like Dr. Turkle stated, the fantasies of technology have simplified interactions. When relationships become difficult, people look to technology as something quick to fill in the vulnerable gaps that they experience instead of dealing with confrontation. I think Dr. Turkle references technology as an isolating force because people often prefer to deal with interaction solely through technology. The idea of using technology to connect to an actual community is part of what Dr. Turkle would probably refer to as “first steps”. It is utilizing technology to affirm values in our own lives. If an individual is lonely, they may use these simple means to connect, but unless the individual takes further steps to foster actual human interactions, I believe that individual is still alone. The individual seeks out ‘virtual worlds’ that simplify interactions because the ‘real world’ is difficult to access, but when confronted with the ‘real world’ problems, that’s when the individual becomes turned off from dealing with their ‘real’ life, further perpetuating this vicious cycle towards isolation.”  >>

Matthew Ward: “Technology can fill a gap that missing in your life, so if the gap is friendship it can help. If the gap is connecting with people that have the same or similar interest as you it can help…”  read more >> 

Do introverts make better leaders?   — Join the conversation here >>

Farrah Charanek Dassouki: “I watched Susan Cain’s Video as well. I found it quite enlightening and motivating. As an educator it solidified my belief that each child is special and unique with their own learning style. Susan Cain’s video was an invitation to celebrate diversity and encourage it at various levels in our daily lives. To ask the question whether introverts make better leaders is really to generalize and risk stereotyping. I believe it depends on the disposition, inclination and expertise of that particular person in a given profession. Leaders, introverts or extroverts must be visionaries always mindful of the big picture or destination and the means to accomplishing the end.”  Read more >> 

Is history an important subject in school? Or should we be focusing on the future?  — Join the conversation here >>  

Jason Pounds: ” I feel that history illustrates our failures, and without history, we do not have the tools to create a successful future.” — read more  >>

Alex Cordero: “It seems irresponsible to not study history–history of anything! But to think that we “learn” from history is somewhat of an illusion. I feel that we only learn selective elements in history and probably pay more attention to history when it cost resources such as time, money or material. As we say in my field (information), if you want to learn from history, indicate how expensive the mistake was. Yet sadly, no mention is ever made of how many jobs a mistake cost meaning that welfare is an insufficient learning motivator. I know that this sounds terribly materialistic and almost wrong but I assure you that it’s probably not–just difficult to realize. Think of the number of times genocide has happened in our recorded history and despots–even today–continue genocidal practices falsely believing that their regime is justified. Study history because it’s the responsible thing to do but also realize that we don’t necessarily learn from it.” Read more >>

For more conversations, check out the TED Conversations page.