I found this article on Facebook and thought I'd post
excerpts from it because I found the content to interesting and relevant to
today's society. The comments were found beneath this photo:
It is very clear that these teenage girls are too preoccupied with
their phones to enjoy each other's company or the fun that is going on around
them. The girls seem to be together, but instead of talking to each other and
spending time with each other they are all looking at their phones and ignoring
what is around them. In the background you can see that they are at an
amusement park or carnival. However, they are not going on rides or playing
games; they are too busy staring at their phones.
We do not interact with other people face to face anymore. We are
always calling, texting, emailing or video chatting with each other. And when
we are together we do not talk to each other. Instead we are on our phones
checking emails, social media, texting other people, etc. Our relationships are
going downhill because of this and it is only going to get worse because
technology is going to keep improving.
It is really sad because nowadays children who are 10-years-old or even
younger are getting cell phones and iPads and parents do it so they do not have
to pay attention to their children or spend time with them anymore. It is an
easy way out of parenting your child. This generation of children are on their
cell phones, iPads, playing video games, watching TV and not going outside or
playing with toys anymore. This is not only effecting our relationships with
others, but also the health and development of children.
Take a moment to look up, right now, at the people around
you. Any bet you will see someone on a cell phone, iPad, laptop, or some other
type of electronic device which (more likely than not) has their complete and
FULL attention. One way you help change this growing 'electronic dependency'
with children is by taking away the electronic devices for a predetermined time
period each day. To fill the void, interact in some manner with your children.
Whether that be reading them a story (from a real book), playing catch, tag or
some other sort of physical game in the yard to simply sitting and conversing
with one and other.
As for adults... put the phone down during meals and other 'traditionally'
social interactive times. You need to realize that you are actually insulting
those around you when you pick up that phone to text, call, etc. It makes the
people around you think they are not as important (in the moment) than
something you are doing on the cell phone. Unfortunately,( unless they are like
you too, and pay more attention to their cell phones than other humans) these
same people you insult in that manner will likely cut ties with you completely.
People prefer people to interact with them, not only in
person, but one-on-one without interference or interruption of electronic
devices. It's a given fact that many a relationship has gone the wayside
because one or both individuals failed to see the absolute need for physical,
personal and uninterrupted time together— away from their cell phones!
Now, I'm
not even going to get into what nasty role electronics such as Nintendo DS's,
video games, iPods, iPads and such come into play with the normal, healthy
growth and development of our children because it's simply common sense that
children need parents to teach them, entertain them, educate them and raise
them— not videos from Youtube, Vimeo, LiveLeak, etc. They need to interact with
their children on every level possible without the use of electronics to ensure
they grow up to become healthy, well-rounded people who, in turn, will raise
their children in a similar fashion.
Enough said. I could go on and on about this particular
subject but I think you all get the big picture, right?
