A couple of weeks ago I took this class "technology and the individual". I didn't expect to like it that much , just because I am a science lover student. Anyway, I was surprised that indeed it caught my attention. I mean, who doesn't own a computer these days, or have a cell phone? My first reaction was "what? tech is good". It helps me everyday. What would I do if I would have to wash my clothes by hand or not have a computer? All the gadgets and the widgets helps us to perform better at work, move faster, communicate over seas.
Now, after I had all this technology thoughts in my head, I go to work. By the way, I work in a little nice family and kids friendly restaurant. So, on this Sunday evening, I get a table of four, parents and two school age kids. Nothing new or abnormal. Anyway, what I notice happening next gave me a reason to choose to talk about on my little blog. They pull out of their backpacks an Ipad and a Ipod. The only time when they actually communicate to me or their parents was when they ordered their food.
Instantly I get this image in my head of me, my sister, my mom and my dad at our dinner table. I am not that old, so it wasn't actually long long time ago. I remembered all the word games that we use to play, or how my parents told us stories since we were toddlers, or chatting about our school and friends. I miss those moments a lot right now.
I felt angry. But in the same time I realized that there is nothing that I can do. World is in a continuous motion, every day something new that will improve our life is advertise on TV. I think a lot about my 3 year old son and how it's going to be when he will grow up. I wish that he could experience the fun that I had when I used to play outside with the neighbour's kids, the simplest games ever that kept us busy for hours. I don't see that happening anymore and it is sad.
So, is that the new tech is helping us or destroying us? I feel that we are losing values.
By the way, I saw the family again for dinner in the weekend and guess what: Ipad was there too.
Have a great week! Anca
That's interesting. Personally, I could never be a waiter.
ReplyDeleteBut I think the new technology is helping us, but we are turning away from our past culture childhood that we all know and love. Today, we're living in a digital world. I can't even imagine how it's going to be for our kids honestly. It's scary/exciting to think about it.
Anyways, you did a good job on your blog. I look forward to reading mmore.
Anca, I actually had a similar situation happen to me a couple of days ago except that I was a customer at a restaurant and not a waitress like you. I was waiting for my order when a family of four sat across from me. Throughout their entire meal both the mother and father were busy with their iPhones, their son was busy with his Nintendo DS and their teenage daughter was listening to an iPod. The only time I heard them exchange any words was when they made their orders. I personally think that technology is great and like many people out there I would be lost without my cell phone, but I think that it's sad that a family can't even dedicate 30 minutes of their day to enjoy each others company. Parents should lead by example and if it doesn't bother them that their children are in another world then oh well, all I know is that my parents would never have let this happen. I was raised on values and technology or not I will pass them on to my children.
ReplyDelete"Parents should lead by example" is worth a million words. So many of us parents just give up or dont focus because of busy life and problems. Children need help to figure out life and family values.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is both good and bad. We need it to make our lives convenient and faster. However, I believe technology has made most people impersonal and lazy. Most people don't talk on the phone anymore, they send text messages. We have all these acronyms for texting because we are too lazy to spell the whole word. I try to imagine if I was able to have a cell phone at the age of 8. I believe the children of this generation lives are very easy thanks to technology..
ReplyDeleteAnca,
ReplyDeleteTechnology is just like anything else, too much of anything is not good. I so agree with you that everyone is wrapped up in their technical devices. One day when they raise their heads they will be old and gray. What will they tell their children, I too remember the days of old. We would stay outside until the street lights came playing hide n seek, kick can, and double dutch.
Mention some of these games and kids say "HUH". That connection isn't there anymore. The social interaction that technololgy has broken, when and will it ever recover. Will people begin to go back to social interaction as opposed to Technology interaction.
Alice
Everything is relative in our world, therefore technology has it’s advantages and disadvantages. Technology has changed our way of living. With the help of technology we became more productive, we can communicate easier, we can use internet to find answers about different problems or even ask questions about different problems. Although some people may argue that technology has made us lazy, I think it doesn’t prevent us from doing a little jogging during the weekend or playing different sports. It is true that we are too dependent in technology, but with a better influence from media and our families we can change it.
ReplyDeleteTechnology could be a good thing but a bad thing as well. Good becuase it helps enrich our lives with music and different apps. Bad becuase we take away all personal interaction that people need to have. Parents and adults should do more to prevent technology to revolve around them. There should be a limit of where and when technology should be out of mind and out of sight. Especially when it is a family time.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. I mean to see the comments that you guys posted.... For a moment I thought that I am crazy and people would say "look at this lady, old fashioned that doesnt want to let go to old habbits and embraced what future brings..." (or something like that; you know what I mean).
ReplyDeleteIt is great that I have a computer, really, because I would be dead without it. There are so many good things about the new technology, about internet, cell phones; it just makes my life easy.
The problem is to know how to handle everything that makes your life easy and not get tech obssesed. It happens frequently, especially among teenagers. Too much is not good, but not allowing them is not good either. There is a fine line that parents need to be aware of. I am a parent myself and I try as much as possible to have fun family time , bond and laugh together, play games and joke. Try to build a healthy family that will stay together, united always, count on each other and trust one another.
I really think that is very important to show the value of family to kids and have them express their concerns and happy moments with the parents and not online with strangers.
Thanks for sharring my thoughts!