Sorry, it's been a few days since the last blog, the three donks have been busy living the dream. Today I'm going to hit you with something a bit deep. How our entire population is growing up with no concept of reality, and how we can stop this.
I am by no means an old timer, however growing up in the 1990s, their are some huge differences than kids today. When I was growing up, all the kids in the neighborhood would go outside to play, we'd play capture the flag, football, hockey, rundown, baseball, our knees would get scraped pain, would be felt, life would be felt. Sometimes we would make believe that we were superheros, or villains or a plethora of characters. The important thing about growing up this way is that you actually use your muscles, to run jump move things, explore move. Additionally, by reading books, playing cops and robbers or whatever it is that we did as kids, you had to use your imagination, you could imagine rocket ships, castles, whatever you wanted. Third we interacted as a neighbourhood, we all were friends we knew each other if we wanted to meet we had to call their house ask their parents politely if johnny, or Sam could come out to play and if they could we had to meet them physically, so we could pal around. I would say that growing up like this is the very lifeblood of childhood, whether it's in suburbia, the country or an urban environment. Your crew is your crew you were doing things together you got to know each other you had your bumps and bruises, and you lived life to the fullest.
Flash forward 2011.....
Today, we have an enormous problem with childhood obesity, kids are staying inside watching TV all day, on the computer getting on face book, texting on cell phones playing ps3 online. Here are the problems with that; they are not getting a clear picture of human reality, and thereby have no clue what it means to really have friends, enemies, physical pain, imagination.
When a kid today sits inside and watches TV all day (any recent study will tell you it's way to long something like 40 hours per week). When kids do this a couple things happen, one they are exposed to thousands of commercials, advertisements, ect. which all appear in short commercials, that interrupt the TV program. What this does is changes a child's focus rapidly from one thing to another (can you say ADHD). Two students are watching programs that give them some sort of inflated idea about reality (Jersey Shore no one actually lives like that it's all acting, Jerry Springer same, The Real World same). So kids naturally do what they see done on the television and accept it as reality. Next kids are not getting to use their imagination, the most powerful part of the brain. This is the part of the brain that let's us create rockets, skyscrapers, spaceships, microwaves, facebook what have you later in life. When someone reads a book they need to conjure up the images in their brain (or think) when someone is watching TV all they have to do is focus visually.
When a kid plays ps3 all day instead of going outside to pick up a football, basketball, baseball:
This is the dumbest shit I've ever heard of, little johnny wants to sit inside and play madden or a sports video game instead of going outside and actually learning how to play the game. This does lead you to getting a bunch of kids with absolutely no concept of the game(physically), when your a coach but their is a much more serious problem that occurs. Kids aren't getting exercise, their bodies are getting molded into some blob of fat slime instead of burning all the calories, and having kids grow up with a normal figure. People the NFL has got to
advertise to kids to get out and play. What the fuck is wrong with our society whenever we have to dedicate a public service announcement for kids to get outside and play, its just fucking sad.
When a kid texts, chats, tweets with his friends and people of the opposite gender
What do you think is happening to the social skills of today's youth with texting, let's be honest. Texting is an epidemic, and it has to be contained. Today's youth are constantly texting one another which once again leads to more distractions (ADHD). Your sitting their doing whatever your doing, and then all of a sudden your phone goes off and you stop what your doing to text back. Immediate gratification. Immediate idiocracy. Kids today are now saying and doing things via text message that they wouldn't dare do face to face. This shit happens at thousands of schools across the US girls taking pictures of themselves and then sending it to their boyfriend, who then shows all of his guy friends(ummm....you go to jail for that shit). People threatening other people. Which the stupidest part about both these is that when you do this and it gets in the hands of the cops or the principal it's an open and shut case. Additionally, when things are posted on the Internet and shit like that they last forever. Lastly, when kids don't say things face to face but rather communicate to ten, or so friends instantly they in reality aren't communicating with anyone.
I have a strong feeling that a large percentage of the populous of this great nation feels the same way that we do. So what's the solution? I say that it comes down to parenting. Their are no laws that can be passed to regulate this kind of stuff (for the most part), kids won't stop doing it because their kids and I mean come on kids will do whatever come easiest. So America this is what you need to do, have family dinners, let your kids play, let them come home with scrapes and bruises stay involved in their life. Know who their friends are regulate inside play time. Regulate TV hours and programs. Force them to read. Have bed times. Lead by example. Dedicate time to your children. You know what they're gonna fight you every step of the way, they're gonna the uncool kid cause johnny's parents let him do whatever. They will hate you now they will thank you later. Kids need discipline, love and time when you make a baby you make a lifelong commitment honor it America. It's our only hope.
Drew
