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Has technology zapped our children's brains?

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by Tammy.Cavadias

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This morning I got a phone call from my 14 yr old son. He is a freshman in High School and wanted me to email him his homework that was on his computer. Seems he tried to copied it onto a disc, and rather than double check to see if his homework was indeed on that disc, he just assumed it had copied as its suppose to. What?! You mean computers are suppose to actually always do what you expect them to do? Without doubling checking to ensure and not assume? His assumption will cost him but it will also serve as a lesson in always double checking first.

This phone call got me to thinking - Just how much does this generation depend on technology to function in this day in age? What would happen to them if all the technology in the world all of a sudden just disappeared? Would they survive? Would they know how to survive when they can't look it up on Google? Would they have any friends when they can't fire up Yahoo!? Would they know how to spell or even do basic math equations?

Don't get me wrong, I love today's technology - it can make things easier (and fun) for me, but I also know how to get things done without depending on it. For me at least it's a tool to be used to make my work and everyday life simpler - it's not something that makes me go "Oh my goodness I can't add 2+2 because my computers calculator doesn't work" (as was the case recently when I went to Mickey D's and the cashiers computer couldn't tell her how much change to give me back).

Has the ease of technology zapped our children's brains? Has it taken away their ability to function and think for themselves? Has it made things in life "too easy"? Are they too dependent on technology?

-Tammy :-)

PS: And no, I did not email him his homework, as cruel as that may sound, it is not my responsibility to email him his homework. It is my responsibility though to teach him lessons in life and this is one of them.

47 replies

by boxfiddler Hot topic

could be asked of our generation as well. [i]Are they too dependent on technology?
[/i]
You speculate as to what might happen if technology just disappeared. [i]What would happen to them if all the technology in the world all of a sudden just disappeared? Would they survive? [/i]

I think particularly in terms of urbanites. Do they know how to grow and preserve food? If they do, is their property large enough to grow anything? Potable water and waste disposal become paramount. I don't have a deep well, disappearance of technology cuts off my water supply.

IOW. I think the disappearance of technology leads to much larger questions of survival than you broached. (I think in these terms way too often! :D )

etu

by the scummy one

could I survive -- yes, would I be bored out of my mind -- yes, would I suddenly decide everything sucks too much to allow anyone else to live -- yes
If I needed to, I could create (build) some tools from rocks/plants/trees. However, living without Pesticides, power, and computer :0 :0
What a very CRUEL thought that you have had!!! Off with your head!

Oops, bump this post up a few... I was not paying attention :0

by tink!

It's not just our kids, but a couple of generations are at a loss of what to do when the technology fails.

The survival techniques of old are only known by a handful these days. If all the technology were to disappear there would be a mass chaos. In the end, though, those who weren't killed in all the riots and looting would learn from those who already do and practice primitive and basic skills - such as the Amish, and our plethora of wilderness experts who all have their own TV shows. :D

by jdclyde

New York and California would be toast within a week.

Floridas OLD population would start dropping like very old flies within days.

Obama would sure wish he had a god and some guns to clutch onto about that time.

If we are talking no electricity (which runs everything), 90% of the global population would be dead within a year.

by boxfiddler Hot topic

The ones in rural areas would most likely do alright. They have deep wells, freshwater canals nearby, along with the knowledge somewhere in their brain of how to do without the conveniences technology has given us. Many of them employ solar technologies to pump and heat their water.

In many ways, the oldsters are best equipped for dealing with the failure of technology. Location, location, location is the next digit in the equation.

etu

by Tammy.Cavadias

.. it could very well be asked. It does make me wonder though - just how dependent we are on technology - for better or worse.

I personally enjoy a lot of the conveniences that go with it - but I also know if it was all taken away tomorrow - I can still function.

It is interesting to think about - what our world would be like today if all technology disappeared tomorrow. Granted this is for those of us who actually have these benefits per se, as there are plenty of countries that live every day without some of the items we enjoy and take for granted.

-Tammy :-)

PS: One of my favorite tech things? As trivial as it sounds - I love my programmable thermostat that adjusts the temp in my home without me needing to get out of a warm bed, pad through a cold house to change it.

by maecuff

But I DO know that if you zap them with a cattle prod often enough, they get a little loopy.

by tink!

this morning. My 10 year old refused to take a jacket with her on this chilly September..er..October day. Said she didn't get cold yesterday.

"It's colder today than yesterday." I said.

"We're only outside for a minute." was the reply.

GRRR.

Note to self: stay away from Mae's house as she keeps shovels and cattle prods handy. :D

by maecuff

My 10 year old wears his jacket when I tell him to. :)

Actually, that's a great, big lie. If he doesn't want to wear it, he won't. I've had the exact same argument as you.

by jdclyde

That when push comes to shove, mom won't lend a hand?

This is a very common thing, even at the college level, and has been for a long time. I got in the habit of using a USB drive AND emailing it to myself, just in case. Drives go bad, or are sometimes not compatible, or worst case, the school has the drives disabled. Another issue they are dealing with that we didn't was having it in electronic form, it is EASIER to forget than that piece of paper you stuck in your book. I would have cut the kid some slack if that was first offense.

As for our kids, they are the smartest dumb people I know. They have advanced in many areas, but because they never needed to REMEMBER a phone number, they can't. How many of you are unable to call a friend if you don't have YOUR cell phone? Is tech making you dumb, allowing you to not have to deal with things, or both?

The biggest crime against our kids is the stupid/lazy parents that throw them in front of a tv/computer/game system to keep them occupied. I refuse to get the game/dvd system for the car because it is pathetic that people can't go 20 minutes without electronic stimulus [i](different than GG's electronic stimulus, mind you).[/i]

It is lazy parents that make for dumb kids. It is also lazy parents that look for anything but themselves to blame it on.

by tink!

You see it everywhere! Parents suing companies for using likable cartoon characters on sugary cereal boxes, parents suing McDonald's for promoting fattening good-tasting foods to their kids, parents complaining when their kids get punished at school. If I was within shovel reach of those people I'd hit them for sure!

I'll be the first to admit that my children are spoiled, they have TVs, VCRs, Game consoles, etc etc. They don't have cell phones, not until they can pay for them on their own. I have 1 cell phone which is given to whichever child will the be the farthest from a phone.

There are still rules, limits and ideals being taught to them by...their parents. They bicker and fight like any normal siblings would. But when push comes to shove they look out for each other. They know that swear words are bad and unnecessary in most cases, they memorize their friend's phone numbers, they know how to WRITE their homework and only use the computer for homework when it's absolutely required.

Living in an electronic age filled with amazing technology is no excuse for lazy parenting.

[oh yea - one more peeve - all the teens who are hooked on highly caffeinated drinks like Mountain Dew, Red Bull and other energy drinks. I've seen so many parents allow their young children to drink these things - what are they thinking! Mountain Dew is a RARE treat for my kids.]

by jdclyde

There are only two things I have ever been addicted to in my life, sex and mt dew. I kicked the dew.... ;\ Two 8packs a day, every day, is an addiction. couldn't SLEEP if I didn't drink a bottle first.

Having your ex-wh0re have her affair with the pepsi rep goes a long ways towards helping you kick an addiction like that.... B-)

I to this day, refuse to purchase pepsi products. Childish I know, but feck it.

ThingTwo has always been more likely to grab a glass of milk or water, while ThingOne was a coke hound. with running, he is drinking a lot less, and his GF has been a big help in him cutting it almost completely out.

I buy cases of gatorade/tea/juice, so there are plenty of alternatives around, ready to go.

It is rare they are allowed an energy drink.

Anyone else ever try redbull in gatorade? mmmmm. Not as good as with jager, but oh well. B-)

by the scummy one

someone creates a 'virtual Parent' website? Where all of he parental tasks (as much as can be) are done through the virtual parent instead of actual parent :0
Hmmm, maybe thats a money-maker :D

by oh smeg

Just sit your kid in front of the computer tuned to [b]The Church of Scums Virtual Parent[/b] and let em be.

We only charge $1.50 a minute. Payment required in advance and we chose when =to run the Virtual Parent. :D

Col the Treasurer. :p

by Tammy.Cavadias

..to an extent. What I mean is - in this case, this is the child who I often have to explain why one should "double check" and not assume the first time around all is well (course when in a hurry I am guilty of this myself) - not double checking can cost someone their life (though that is putting it to extreme considering we are talking home work - but I often use my husband as an example who is an electrician and not double checking power is really off - can cost someone their life) - not to mention I asked the child - did you check when you did your copy? Well no, I assumed it copied, so no as cruel as it sounds I was not going to bail him out. (This little thing though turned out well for him - he spoke with his teacher and got permission to email it to his teacher within 15 minutes of arriving home - which he just did) We also had another talk about double-checking - at which I got - ok, Mom, I get it now.

A lot of the kids I know are extremely smart (Technology doesn't make someone smarter no more than not knowing how to use it makes someone dumb - my grandfather knew nothing about technology or computers, etc.. but he was one of the smartest men I had ever known) and I don't question that - I just wonder how dependent on technology has this generation become (and as Boxy pointed out, our generation as well) and if so, if that was all taken away tomorrow - could they still function/survive?

Then again, I guess I could also ask - How dependent are companies and the government on technology and could they still function if gone tomorrow?

Yeah I know, I wonder about some weird things sometimes :D

-Tammy :-)

by jdclyde

The technology is such that I should not have to, and if I have to, there is a hardware failure that needs to be replaced.

by jdclyde

The key is no sympathy for them when they do get cold.

Kids go through the stage where it isn't cool to be warm......

It is a myth that cold gives you a cold.

After a few times of being miserable AND not having to keep it up to show they aren't going to back down, they will start on their own.

All I do is mention it is suppose to be chilly/rainy/snow, so it is never an issue of just forgetting.

by maecuff

But it can give frostbite or hypothermia. I agree with you to a point.

If it's REALLY cold and the kid is only 10, a forced wearing of a coat may be in order.

by jdclyde

if it is in the 40's or lower, it is not optional. [i](that would be about 8c for you metric folks)[/i]

If it is just chilly or rainy, whatever.... ;\

by jdclyde

And lets be clear, I am not talking "Mae" elderly here of just being "pretty old". We are talking people with walkers and wheelchairs. Imagine the ones that got their "free" amigo? Can't plug them in anymore.....

Now, here in Michigan where you have the old farmers, we will be fine. Lots of corn, potatoes and deer. Mmmmm, stew..... :D

Wouldn't it be grand to see the anti-hunters singing a new tune? :p

by cmiller5400

I know what you mean by mt dew... my soft spot is coke. I can drink it all day and night not feel any effects of the caffeine. I am trying to kick the habit though, I switched to coke zero; that way I don't have all the high fructose corn syrup... ;\

by jdclyde

My big falling off the wagon is on Thursdays. Wednesday night is dart night, and after a night at the bar, I find I NEED a coke to feel alright.

Other than that, lipton green tea (diet) is very good, and we go thru a few cases of that a week, and even the boys like it. That, and lots of black coffee, made strong.

I have not had a single Mt. Dew in years. B-)

by ganyssa

to get down to about a dozen diet Mt. Dews a week. I was probably drinking four times that, so it was a struggle. I have to get them all in at work, to keep them away from my daughter. She's allowed maybe one or two Sprites a week. Other than that, its water and milk.

by jdclyde

Submit your perfect little copy of yourself to us, where we will implant a cellular module that uses cell technology to download instructions directly into the precious ones minds.

This can be used to track their every movement and thought as they go about their busy days, as well as provide some electro-shock therapy if you think they deserve it or if you are just having a bad day.

by ganyssa

that the she has to wear a coat when Mom is cold. She might as well start off life learning that it isn't fair. Of course, she's 7, so she's a little more malleable. I figure I've got about a year and a half before I lose complete control.

by Tammy.Cavadias

..said child just came upstairs - Mom I just copied some new stuff onto my disc for tomorrows homework and I double checked this time to ensure it was there - but its gone.

So I go downstairs with said child to see his disc - its blank - he goes Mom honest I really truly copied it and double checked this time to make sure I had what I needed - so I ask said child to show me how he did it - so he opens his files, tells it to copy and then goes - See! and I go - ummm... it helps if you copy to the disc and not to your desktop and he goes - so that is why I had no homework this morning and that is when my head hits his keyboard.

-Tammy :-)

by w2ktechman

ok, I'd better not go there. I am sure you dont wanna hear about nametags in his future :0

by jdclyde

People save a file, but have no idea where it is saved.

Also seen where people open a spreadsheet directly from an attachment, add data and hit save. To bad it was opened from the temp folder, and is now gone......

Users need to be taught the lost art of file management.

by tink!

I've seen those poured at the bar, but don't know the name (not that I'm going to try one :D ). Just curious.

I've made a point of buying Crystal Light (or generic brand) singles and leaving them accessible. This helps my girls drink more water than pop. I'd have more Gatorade around but it's expensive as far as drink options go and disappears far to fast to be economical.

My son still loves his milk and drinks that more than anything, even when we go to a restaurant (not including Mickey D's).

My 10 year old loves my coffee - with all the sugar and flavored cream. So I've started letting her get her own cup - Decaf - and put sugar and cream in it to her taste. It looks much like how I started drinking coffee as a young teen... [i]would you like some coffee with that sugar and cream? [/i] :)

by jdclyde

And it is goooooood! :D

Gatorade, it isn't really more expensive than soda, and I buy it by the flat. (24 pack). Worth it if they aren't drinking the soda.

I taught my boys a need trick. Take a bite of snickers bar, and then take a drink of black coffee. mmmmmmm.

My boys put SOME cream/sugar in, but not as much as I used to. Partly because I shared when them how much I put in until the day in deer camp that we ran out of sugar!!! GAWD!

I spent the next week chocking coffee down black, and quickly got used to it without all the sugar.

I have also found if you make it stronger, you don't NEED the cream/sugar to give it flavor. Most people make weak coffee. A nice "robust" coffee. I get Folgers and HATE maxwellhouse.

by tink!

That's why I load it with cream and sugar. I like strong coffee for the caffeine, but as far as taste - a nice light to medium roast is perfect.

by jdclyde

You like coffee as long as it doesn't have flavor..... :p

Bet you drink budlite too, huh? :0 ;\

by tink!

Many users don't know how to navigate their own files. I swear my co-worker asks me every time she saves a newly created file. "Where did it go?"

LOL!

I do have to admit that I have saved something and totally missed where I put it, but at least I can navigate through my computer and find it.

by tink!

I'm a mixed drink gal. I've only actually drank a beer once - and it's because I was too f'd up on something else to care about the taste. LOL!

No, I don't care for the bitter taste of black coffee. But I will drink variations from mildly sweetened all the way to super duper drowned. :p

I hated coffee as a kid. Only started to like it somewhat when I accidentally bought a Mocha bar that I thought was a chocolate bar. Then my twin and I would get small cups of coffee at the cafeteria with half milk and sugar and half coffee.

by ganyssa

to demand to know what we did with her email archive. Someone in desktop support set up her archiving, and she never asked them where the archive was going. She transferred to another department, her network access was moved, and her email archive vanished.

by jdclyde

The first thing I do is teach them file management. it doesn't matter how great the file is if they can't find it.

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