Posted on 05/16/2009 12:12:33 PM PDT by giant sable
Technology in all of its forms - social networks, smartphones, the Web, instant messaging, on-line gaming - is a net loss for today’s young people. At least according to one group of Silicon Valley 8th graders.
“It’s bad for us, but it sure is fun,” says Eric Bautista, 13, one of the students in Sister Jolene Schmitz’s junior high school class at Resurrection School in Sunnyvale, California.
Admittedly, this informal survey offers, at best, only anecdotal evidence. Still, it is pretty shocking that a group of young teenagers, all of them technologically very astute, and living in the very heart of Silicon Valley, would come to such a conclusion.
(Excerpt) Read more at pajamasmedia.com ...
Maybe they know more where this is headed than most other!
The is a glimmer of hope.
These kids see their technology dragging them down as an alcoholic sees his drinking as dragging him down.
They have no intention of giving up the “booze,” but at least they do clearly see the significant downside. And their parents are more than happy to supply them with this booze as long as it doesn’t interfere with their 2-income, warehouse-our-kids-with-strangers, we-want-stuff lifesyles.
Parents have abandoned their kids today like never before.
I’m thrilled about where we’ve come from technolgically...... and really look forward to where we’re going technologically, but as much as I like and look forward to future tech, I see huge negatives also.
Someday soon, my kids and grandkids will be tracked and monitored by both their employers and gov’t. Nothing will be secret or sacred. Every aspect of their daily lives will be an open book.
Good for those kids for seeing the failures of the electronic society. I think growing up was more fun before we all got attached the fruit of the electron. Now everybody, both adults and kids, are hooked, but I feel for the current kids missing the charms of the older simpler days.
That is the root evil. The Internet makes a mighty poor substitute parent.
If these kids weren't on the net, these same people would be shouting, "Hey you kids, get off my lawn!"
My mom grew up before all this stuff and she had the greatest quote when my dad wanted to move back to the country. "Yeah, that's just what I want to do, sit on the porch and watch the dogs f***. I'll go, but when you die, I'm scheduling your funeral in the morning, cause by noon I intend to be driving back towards a city." She also told me she'd picked every boll of cotton she ever wanted to pick.
Don't live on the net, but it's a very cool thing.
>>but I feel for the current kids missing the charms of the older simpler days.
Riding your Sting-ray bike with the bannana seat and sissy bar until 11:00 PM (in the summer) without ending up on a milk carton!
Making a treehouse or a blanket and cardboard fort — with electricity (OK, an extension cord) and telling scary stories until the wee hours. Getting bottles and then cashing them in for tons of junk candy and watching “Fright Night” or playing Monopoly (house rules).
I feel so sorry for the kids today who are in handcuffs and straight jackets.
And, of course, no parents at all.
When I think of heaven, the closest thing I can think of is summer in the old days for a kid.
>>When I think of heaven, the closest thing I can think of is summer in the old days for a kid.
*sigh* So many great memories. We had some local fields with huge grass that we would knock down and spend all day playing Rat Patrol.
Now that I think of it (seriously) we seemed to like to “cocoon.” Forts, tree houses, grass forts.
Childhood is lost — mostly to 2 income families.
And, your momma kiss you with that mouth?
In truth, we love living in a rural setting. We call it the ‘sticks’, but city folk don’t really understand that term. We have ‘lectrisity and runnin’ water.
In addition, we have a network of friends who all look out for one another. We don’t ask for a handout, but we know we can always get a hand when we need it. We do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
And, when push comes to shove, we give as good as we get.
I’m not crackin’ on city life, but I do think that a rural upbringing is a lot better for kids.
how about fishing for bluegills or perch at the local pond?
Banana sets, blanket forts, and Monopoly.
Those were the days.
(Followed by Spades, Risk, Space Invaders, and...
...a short while later...
Free Republic!)
Cheers!
>>how about fishing for bluegills or perch at the local pond?
Yep — (Bluegill are called Sunfish in some areas). A 5 dollar pole and 1 buck worth of worms.
City folk like me could certainly enjoy a rural enjoyment.
Someday?
I think someday is Now.
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