Our class just finished watching the Digital Documentary, and in my opinion, every single kid that w…

[Corbin Hoats]

Our class just finished watching the Digital Documentary, and in my opinion, every single kid that was interviewed was a total computer, who were all apparently antisocial. All of the kids didn't have a very good relationship with their parents and didn't have very many friends, which only further proves the point that too much electronic time really kills your vibe. I think that Facebook, Myspace, and video games are cool, but whippersnappers these days just get too much. I didn't understasnd at all how the kids in this video could just sit on the computer for hours at a time. I have a Facebook, and I check it every so often, but after about 10 minutes or so it starts to get boring. And another thing that was discussed in the video were cell phones.
Cell phones have become a social trend but I still think that its sort of crazy that my sisters friends who are about nine years old have cell phones. I can understand people needing phones for business and such, but I think it's really a waste of money for all of these kids to have phones. I also think its CRAZY how much kids text these days. Last week I went to see the Kings of Leon in concert, and at least 80% of the entire crowd was texting the whole time. And about halfway through the concert I began to think, If someone is going to go pay cold hard cash to see a band or artist in concert, dosen't it sort of defeat the purpose to text the whole time? I've never asked for a phone and never even had a phone, (GASP).......I know, I survived. My entire reasoning behind that is that I know that if I ever had a phone I would have to pay at least half of the bill, which is really expensive for something as pointless as texting freinds every 5 seconds when I could just go talk to them on the regular phone. I know it souns so 90's, but it's really more cost efficient to just go talk on a land line and occasionally pay for long distance. So to sum up all of my seeminglessly pointless lecture, people would be amazed at what they could create with their imagination if they just put down the Phone, or got off the computer, or whatever for 30 minutes or so. The Imagination is an amazing thing, but it needs a break from the flashing lights and sounds to work. TAKE A BREAK NERDy KIDS ON THE DOCUMENTARY......OR AT LEAST SEE A THERAPIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Corbin Hoats]

I agree with you, Mrs. Lindsay (and if it's not a Mrs., forgive me). I think that in cases such as that, yes, cell phones are quite useful. I didn't mean to make it seem that I was totally against cell phones in my post, because I'm not. I was just saying that I thought It was a little crazy for kids to have a phone just so that they can text their friends when they really don't have a "need" for one. I think that when kids are driving and are often away from home with their friends, it's a good idea to get them a phone so that you can keep up with your kids. In general though I think that cell phones are used more often than not, for unintended reasons.

[Julie Lindsay]

Ok Corbin, thanks for your honesty. The aim is for us all to have a balanced lifestyle and a sensible approach to the use of technology. I do agree with you, the use of tech tools such as mobile phones is often overdone, we seem to have this built in need to be in contact all the time....and suffer from withdrawal if we are not. As you say, this is also an expensive habit!
However, don't forget the safety and security issues to do with access to mobile devices. I feel much more secure when my daughter is out with friends or on a school trip when she has her mobile phone with her, and I think many parents now feel like this. We are lucky to be living in this technology age and have these devices, but we do need perspective.