The Pocket Curse

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THIS IS THE COMPANION TO THE BROADCAST. IT IS FREE. IT ALWAYS HAS
BEEN.
USE IS NOT CAPTURE. THIS MANUAL HELPS YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE —
AND THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT TONIGHT.
ACTION ARMY FIELD MANUAL NO. 7
THE POCKET CURSE CHILDHOOD INTERNET ADDICTION— THE CONSEQUENCES, THE CURSES, AND THE CURES
THAT WORK IN A REAL HOUSE
THE POCKET WAS SUPPOSED TO HOLD TOOLS. NOT THE CHILD.
WHAT IS INSIDE
THE EIGHT TELLS----------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE 3
THE SEVEN CURSES------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE 4
THE TWO-WEEK LOG------------------------------------------------------------ PAGE 5
 TONIGHT: THE 30-MINUTE RESET ------------------------------------------ PAGE 6
TAKE BACK THE HARDWARE-------------------------------------------------PAGE 7
 THE SEATBELTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE 8
 REPLACE WHAT YOU REMOVE ---------------------------------------------- PAGE 9
  THE HOUSE STANDARD ---------------------------------------------------------PAGE 10
   ONE LINE, ONE HOUSE ---------------------------------------------------------- PAGE 11
   WHO TO CALL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE 12
    THE HONEST PAGE ---------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE 13
    MARCHING ORDERS --------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE 14
NOT MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. IF A CHILD IS IN CRISIS — MOOD COLLAPSE, TALK OF SELF-
HARM, TOTAL WITHDRAWAL — GET LOCAL MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH HELP FIRST. IN THE
U.S., CALL OR TEXT 988.
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE 1 OF 14

START HERE
YOU DO NOT NEED A HEADLINE TO TRUST WHAT YOU SEE IN YOUR
OWN KITCHEN.
WORK THIS MANUAL IN ORDER:
❑ SCORE THE EIGHT TELLS — PAGE 3.
❑ READ THE SEVEN CURSES SO YOU CAN NAME WHAT YOU ARE  
FIGHTING — PAGE 4.
❑ START THE TWO-WEEK LOG — PAGE 5. FACTS, NOT GUILT.
❑ RUN THE 30-MINUTE RESET — PAGE 6. TONIGHT.
❑ POST THE HOUSE STANDARD AND SIGN IT — PAGE 10.
SCORING THE TELLS:
THREE OR MORE — YOU TIGHTEN THE RULES THIS WEEK.
FIVE OR MORE — YOU TREAT IT LIKE A HOUSEHOLD EMERGENCY  
PLAN, NOT A VIBE.
THIS PLAN IS FOR THE HOUSE OF: __________________________
WE START ON (DATE): ________________________________
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE 2
 OF 
14

THE EIGHT TELLS
❑ 1. SLEEP IS BROKEN. UP LATE ON THE SCREEN. CANNOT WAKE.
LYING ABOUT BEING ASLEEP.
❑ 2. WITHDRAWAL RAGE. TAKING THE DEVICE CAUSES EXPLOSIONS
OUT OF PROPORTION. DISAPPOINTMENT IS NORMAL — PANIC IS A
TELL.
❑ 3. LIFE OFFSCREEN SHRINKS. HOBBIES DIE. IN-PERSON  
FRIENDS FADE. THE ONLY JOY LEFT IS THE GLOW.
❑ 4. SCHOOL SLIPS WHILE THE SCREEN THRIVES. GRADES DOWN.
TEACHER NOTES. HOMEWORK THAT CANNOT HAPPEN NEAR A
PHONE.
❑ 5. SECRECY AND LYING. HIDDEN APPS. SECOND ACCOUNTS.
DELETED HISTORIES. PASSWORDS YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO
KNOW.
❑ 6. MOOD TETHERED TO THE MACHINE. FINE  ONLINE. FLAT,
ANXIOUS, OR HOSTILE OFFLINE.
❑ 7. CONTENT TOO OLD, TOO DARK, OR TOO SEXUAL FOR THEIR
AGE — AND THEY DEFEND IT LIKE A LIFELINE.
❑ 8. THE FAMILY CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT A FIGHT OVER THE
SCREEN. EVERY RIDE. EVERY MEAL. EVERY BEDTIME.
TELLS CHECKED TODAY: ______ DATE: ________________
 WHAT I ACTUALLY SAW THIS WEEK:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE 3 OF 14

THE SEVEN CURSES
1. INFINITE SUPPLY. A BOOK ENDS. A BALL GAME ENDS. THE FEED
DOES NOT END UNLESS A HUMAN ENDS IT.
2. VARIABLE REWARD. SOMETIMES BORING, SOMETIMES  
ELECTRIC. THE BRAIN LEARNS TO CHASE THE MAYBE.
3. SOCIAL RANKING. LIKES, VIEWS, STREAKS, READ RECEIPTS.  
WORTH METERED IN PUBLIC BY STRANGERS WITH THUMBS.
4. COMPARISON WITHOUT CONTEXT. EVERYBODY ELSE’S  
HIGHLIGHT REEL AGAINST YOUR KID’S UNEDITED TUESDAY.
5. FEAR OF MISSING OUT, WEAPONIZED. THE GROUP CHAT  
PUNISHES ABSENCE, SO THE CHILD STAYS PLUGGED IN TO AVOID  
EXILE.
6. IDENTITY CAPTURE. THE ALGORITHM LEARNS THE APPETITE  
AND BUILDS A TUNNEL AROUND IT. THE CHILD THINKS THEY ARE  
CHOOSING.
7. PARENT EXHAUSTION AS A FEATURE. THE DEVICE QUIETS THE  
CAR AND ENDS THE ARGUMENT. THE CURSE LOVES A BUSY  
PARENT.
THE CURSE IS NOT THAT THE INTERNET EXISTS. THE CURSE IS
HANDING A CHILD AN OPEN FIRE HOSE AND ACTING SURPRISED WHEN
THEY DROWN.
 THE CURSE WORKING HARDEST IN MY HOUSE:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE 4 OF 14

THE TWO-WEEK LOG
DAY SCREEN OFF (TIME) HOURS SLEPT MELTDOWN? Y/N SCHOOL /
HOMEWORK NOTES
WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU ACTUALLY SEE FOR FOURTEEN DAYS. TAKE
THIS PAGE TO THE PEDIATRICIAN OR THE SCHOOL.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
PATTERN I SEE AFTER TWO WEEKS:
______________________________________________
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE 5 OF 14

TONIGHT: THE 30-MINUTE RESET
❑ PICK THE CHARGING STATION — OUTSIDE EVERY BEDROOM.
WHERE: ________________
❑ SET THE NIGHTLY DOCK TIME. ALL DEVICES LAND AT:
____________ P.M.
❑ NO PHONES AT THE TABLE. STARTING WITH TONIGHT’S DINNER.
❑ HOMEWORK LAND — PHONE IN ANOTHER ROOM. WHERE:
________________
❑ NO DEVICES IN THE FIRST HOUR AFTER WAKING IF MORNINGS
ARE A WAR.
❑ TELL THE CHILD THE STANDARD OUT LOUD, ONCE, CALMLY.
THEN ENFORCE IT THE SAME WAY TUESDAY AND SATURDAY.
❑ PUT YOUR OWN PHONE IN THE STATION WHERE THEY CAN SEE
YOU DO IT.
EXPECT A FIGHT ON NIGHT ONE AND NIGHT TWO. THE FIGHT IS NOT
PROOF YOU ARE WRONG. IT IS PROOF THE HOOK WAS REAL.
 WHAT HAPPENED THE FIRST THREE NIGHTS:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE 6 OF 14

TAKE BACK THE HARDWARE
DEVICE WHOSE WHO PAYS WHERE IT SLEEPS PASSWORD
SHARED? CONTROLS
ON?
IF THAT SOUNDS EXTREME — REMEMBER WHO HAS THE DEVELOPING
BRAIN AND WHO HAS THE CREDIT CARD. PARENTS OWN THE PHONES, TABLETS, CONSOLES, AND LOGINS THEY
PAY FOR. LIST EVERY GLOWING RECTANGLE IN THE HOUSE.
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE 7 OF 14

THE SEATBELTS
THESE ARE NOT MEAN. LEARN THEM THIS WEEK — NOT SOMEDAY.
❑ PARENTAL CONTROLS TURNED ON AT THE DEVICE LEVEL
(PHONE, TABLET, CONSOLE, TV).
❑ WEEKLY SCREEN TIME REPORT SENT TO A PARENT — AND
ACTUALLY READ.
❑ APP LIMITS AND DOWNTIME HOURS SET TO MATCH THE DOCK
TIME.
❑ ROUTER SCHEDULE — THE HOUSE INTERNET SLEEPS WHEN  
THE HOUSE SLEEPS.
❑ SCHOOL-ONLY PROFILE OR SCHOOL MODE ON THE DEVICE
USED FOR HOMEWORK.
❑ APP STORE PURCHASES AND DOWNLOADS REQUIRE A PARENT
PASSWORD.
❑ AGE SETTINGS AND CONTENT FILTERS CHECKED ON EVERY
ACCOUNT — INCLUDING THE OLD ONES.
❑ ROSTER CHECK: I KNOW WHICH APPS ARE ON THE DEVICE AND
WHO IS IN THE CHATS.
CONTROLS BUY YOU TIME. THEY DO NOT RAISE THE CHILD. THAT  
IS STILL YOUR JOB.
 CONTROLS I STILL HAVE TO LEARN THIS WEEK:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE 8 OF 14

REPLACE WHAT YOU REMOVE
WHAT DAY TIME WHO GOES WITH THEM
IDEAS: WALKS. SPORTS. MUSIC. CHURCH. CHORES THAT MATTER.
BOARD GAMES. A JOB. A CLUB. READING. FRIENDS IN PERSON.
BOREDOM ON PURPOSE. YOU CANNOT DELETE AN ADDICTION AND LEAVE A HOLE SHAPED LIKE 
A FEED. PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR WITH A DAY AND A TIME. IF IT IS NOT
ON THE CALENDAR, IT IS NOT A CURE YET.
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE 9 OF 14

THE HOUSE STANDARD
 
DEVICES DOCK EVERY NIGHT AT __________________
DEVICE-FREE ZONES IN THIS HOUSE:
__________________________________
SCREEN TIME IS EARNED AFTER:
____________________________________
THE ONE RULE WE WILL NOT BEND:
__________________________________
SIGNED — THE ADULTS AND THE KIDS. EVERYBODY LIVES BY IT,
INCLUDING ME.
X ________________________
X ________________________
WRITE IT. POST IT ON THE FRIDGE. THE CURSE HATES CLARITY.
 IN THIS HOUSE, DEVICES ARE TOOLS — NOT OWNERS.
SLEEP BEATS STREAKS. SCHOOL BEATS FEEDS. FAMILY EYES BEAT 
CHAT EYES.
X ________________________
DATE ____________________
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE  OF 10 14

ONE LINE, ONE HOUSE
THE CURSE LOVES DIVIDED ADULTS. ONE SAYS NO, THE OTHER
SNUCK-YESSES TO KEEP THE PEACE. ONE RULE, ENFORCED THE
SAME WAY EVERY DAY, BEATS A THOUSAND SPEECHES.
❑ BOTH ADULTS HAVE READ THIS MANUAL AND AGREE ON THE
DOCK TIME.
❑ THE OTHER HOUSE — IF THERE IS ONE — KNOWS THE RULE
AND HOLDS IT.
❑ GRANDPARENTS BRIEFED: IF YOU HAND THE TABLET BACK  
THE MINUTE MOM SAYS NO, YOU ARE NOT THE FUN HOUSE — YOU
ARE THE HOLE IN THE DAM.
❑ SITTERS, COACHES, AND CARPOOLS KNOW THE PHONE RULE.
SINGLE PARENT? YOU STILL GET ALLIES. NAME TWO:
ALLY ONE: __________________________________
ALLY TWO: __________________________________
 WHAT I WILL ASK THEM TO HOLD:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE  OF 11 14

WHO TO CALL
 
 
PEDIATRICIAN: ________________________________
SCHOOL COUNSELOR: ____________________________
TEACHER / DEAN: ______________________________
FAMILY THERAPIST: ____________________________
IF THERE IS TALK OF SELF-HARM, TOTAL WITHDRAWAL, OR
VIOLENCE — YOU DO NOT WHITE-KNUCKLE THAT. YOU GET LOCAL
PROFESSIONAL HELP NOW.
IN THE UNITED STATES, CALL OR TEXT 988 — THE SUICIDE AND
CRISIS LIFELINE. IF SOMEONE IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 911.
 WHEN THE TELLS STACK UP
SOME KIDS HAVE ANXIETY, ATTENTION, LEARNING, OR MOOD
CONDITIONS THAT SHOW UP AROUND SCREENS. THOSE NEED REAL 
CLINICAL CARE— NOT JUST A ROUTER UNPLUGGED.
WHAT I WILLSAYWHEN I CALL:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE  OF 12 14

THE HONEST PAGE
NOT EVERY SCREEN HOUR IS ABUSE. NOT EVERY GAMER IS AN
ADDICT. NOT EVERY QUIET KID ON A TABLET IS BROKEN. NOT EVERY
BAD MOOD IS THE ALGORITHM’S FAULT.
HIGH CONFIDENCE: HEAVY, UNSTRUCTURED USE IN CHILDHOOD
TRACKS WITH SLEEP LOSS, ATTENTION TROUBLE, MOOD TROUBLE,
AND FAMILY CONFLICT — AND THE PLATFORMS ARE ENGINEERED
FOR ENGAGEMENT.
HIGH CONFIDENCE: THE CURE STARTS AT HOME WITH RULES,
REPLACEMENTS, AND ADULT EXAMPLE.
MEDIUM CONFIDENCE: ANY ONE-SIZE NUMBER — ONE HOUR, NO
SCREENS BEFORE FIFTEEN, BAN EVERYTHING. FAMILIES DIFFER. 
THE PRINCIPLE DOES NOT: THE ADULTS SET THE TERMS OF THE
TOOL.
WHAT WOULD PROVE THE PANIC WRONG IN YOUR HOUSE: A CHILD
WHO SLEEPS, WHO CAN STOP, WHO HAS A LIFE OFFSCREEN, WHOSE
GRADES AND FRIENDSHIPS HOLD. THEN YOU ARE IN MANAGEMENT
MODE — KEEP THE RULES ANYWAY.
 WHERE MY HOUSE ACTUALLY IS RIGHT NOW:__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE  OF 13 14

I AM JOHNNY ACTION. AND WE FIGHT BACK. MARCHING ORDERS
❑ CHARGING STATION IS OUTSIDE THE BEDROOMS — STARTING
TONIGHT.
❑ DINNER RULE WITH NO PHONES — STARTING TONIGHT.
❑ ONE REPLACEMENT ACTIVITY ON THE CALENDAR WITH A DAY
AND A TIME.
❑ HOUSE STANDARD WRITTEN ON PAPER AND POSTED WHERE  
EVERYBODY EATS.
❑ TWO-WEEK LOG STARTED.
❑ IF THE TELLS ARE STACKING — CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN THIS
WEEK.
❑ RECRUIT ONE OTHER FAMILY. AGREE ON THE SAME DOCK  
TIME.
THE FAMILY I RECRUITED: ____________________________
SIGNED X ______________________________DATE ______________
NAME THE CURSE. APPLY THE CURE. DO NOT HAND YOUR CHILD TO A
FEED AND CALL IT NORMAL.
 JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • 855-88ACTION(855-882-2846)
THEACTIONARMY • POBOX 3492 • PALMBEACH,FL33480
FIELD MANUAL NO. 7 • FREE AT JOHNNYACTIONARMY.COM • PAGE  OF 14 14