Today's generation missed the good stuff

[drh4683]

I should have been a victim of the video game generation but thank god I wasn't. I was interested in being outside, taking things apart or building something.

I was out to dinner with a couple friends a few weeks ago and couldn't resist but to take this photo as its just so typical of what I see today. If this doesnt explain that there is a serious problem than nothing will. Here two people go out to dinner on a date and instead they ignore each other and both are texting. I see this all the time and it makes me sick. Everyone (especially my age) is so dependent on their little cell phones. That all gaze into them like nothing else in the world matters.

In my own experiences while dating, I've been interrupted numerous times as she "had to go outside and text someone really quick". Sorry, I don't go for that.

I thought the idea of a date was to be with the other person and talk to them and enjoy their company? I guess I'm not up with the times....

Technology is really hurting people, social skills are going way down. Everyone wants to email or text instead of call on the phone as this way, they can avoid the confrontation and the emotional factor if the call is for unpleasant reasons, or avoid being put on the spot if someone asks a question you dont have a good answer for. I deal with this all the time at work too. People also like to email and text as a log to cover themselves incase of a problem or something goes wrong. "I told you about that in my email on september 8th, what the hell, hurry up". Now you're automatically at fault as there is conversation proof. To sum it up, it basically goes like this: "screw you hooray for me".

[batterymaker]

Not to mention this fact:

The advantage of a cell phone: You have access to contact anyone at anytime.

The Disadvantage of a cell phone: Everyone has access to contact you at anytime. Especially your colleagues at work.

So, you wind up with an electronic ball and chain. You never can get away from your workplace.

[Greg B.]

Originally Posted by drh4683

I was out to dinner with a couple friends a few weeks ago and couldn't resist but to take this photo as its just so typical of what I see today. If this doesnt explain that there is a serious problem than nothing will. Here two people go out to dinner on a date and instead they ignore each other and both are texting.

Well, they look like they were made for each other...

In some ways nothing has changed that much -- if you are of the generation that grew up in the 60s or 70s you will recall how most teenage girls could spend all night on the home phone talking to their friends. It's just now that the mode has changed and they can do it anywhere.

Texting is something I simply do not get. I don't want to have to respond instantly whenever someone decides to contact me. But obviously the present generation accepts it as normal.

I have so far been able to avoid having to accept a Blackberry at work. I despise the things. They are terrible as phones, and hugely compromised as a text entry mechanism or email reader. But to me the most important thing they do is cause you to be forced to respond to someone at anytime. My colleagues think nothing of sending messages at midnight. It is simply ridiculous.

[Glenz75]

I have a cellphone but don't like using it much, only when I really have to and text when needed.

As a kid growing up in the 1980's (34) I recall watching TV and seeing the adverts for computers and basic gaming machines, back then it seemed all so amazing. I remember the excitement when we got out first VCR and new colour TV back in 1984. That VCR is still going (National NV-450) but the TV died years ago.

To me life seem simpler back then, or maybe this is my own perception as I was only a kid? These days it seems that most people are rushing around to get things done rather than slowing down or am I imagining things?

By the way I have been a lurker on this forum for a wee while as I have a collection of b/w and colour TVs.
Here in New Zealand we first got television in 1960 and colour in 1974 for the commonwealth games, so I guess NZ was a little behind the 'eighth ball" in comparison to some other countries.

I have never seen a full tube operated colour TV in the flesh. All our colour sets were full solid state being the 1970's. Some of the 1950s-60's colour sets you guys have are really awesome

I hope to post some pics up of my TV collection one day so you can see some New Zealand made televisions.

Cheers!
Glen