When I was young my family used to gather around the TV to watch Star Trek. I was not very interested in the show (at all), but since the whole family was there, I watched too. Today I was reminded of Star Trek. I was handed a cell phone from a first grader and she asked me if I could help her call her mom. I looked at the phone, which was vibrating, and pictures were flashing. I could not even find the on button! Anyhow, I had to apologize to the child, I could not figure it out, and I sent her to another group of adults for help. . . I felt pretty silly.
I then thought of the Borg, from Star Trek. I often think of them when I see people walking around with things connected to their ears, their hips, and wires attached to devices on their bodies. Sometimes it appears people are talking to themselves as they are walking down the road, their devices are hidden. Anyhow, it seems that as the future unfolds "resistance is futile". But I have resisted, to a degree. We do not have a cell phone or any other gadgets. Our TV has tape holding the buttons on, it is from the 80's. If you adjust the cable wire in the back we can pick up a few stations (PBS is one of them). We get by just fine without all that "stuff". We do have a nice computer - which I am grateful for, they are almost a necessity now. Anyhow, it is weird to see all the gadgety technology that is out there now. It must be overwhelming to be a teenager in this day and age! There was nothing like it when I was a youth.
Don't get me wrong, I think cell phones are great, and I am sure all those other gadgets are useful - to some degree. Cell phones are nice - especially in emergency situations. Unfortunately, more emergencies are caused by them than solved by them (in cars).
Why are first graders walking around with phones in their pockets?? Silly. I do believe in making sure your children are current with computers, etc. Computers are the future, children NEED to know how to use them. I try and let my children play around with them, I especially LOVE PBSkids.org. I do think we can avoid overwhelming them with too many gadgets. The little girl today did not even know how to use the phone! Her mom just gave it to her without showing her how it worked? She was almost in tears.
Anyhow, it was just a thought I had today. . . funny times we live in! :-) Are you assimilated??
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We don't have cell phones, either, but I'm starting to want one. Mostly for those emergency reasons. I get a little nervous if I'm away from home while Julia's at school because the school would have no way of contacting me if they needed to. The only high-tech things we have are our computer and our cable/DVR!
ReplyDeleteWhat is a 1st grader doing with a call phone?
ReplyDeleteI had better not tell Luke this story. He is sure that he is going to die without a cell phone. I am sure that he is the only one in the whole highschool without a cell phone. I think that he will live. We got the twins phones when they started to drive and I am glad we did. It was nice to be able to keep in contact with them. Luke will just have to survive somehow for another couple of years, I think.
We used to use our cell phones for long distance in Alaska because the long distance was so expensive. Here in Washington, we have free long distance on our home phone.
I like having a cell phone. I feel safer when I am traveling and since I work in Yakima (77 miles from home), it is nice to know I can call Scotty and he will come save me if I have car trouble.