Disconnect
Don’t get me wrong, I love my ipod. I find it a wonderful way to not disturb others with my music selections while I work out… and I get a better workout with music… but have you ever been in San Fran on the Bart and looked at people not communicating with one another? It’s kind of frightening. (And by the way, in San Francisco, EVERYBODY has an ipod… and are plugged in).
While I was getting my hair cut there was a family of two teenage boys and their Dad…Dad was on his Blackberry and both boys on ipods. I wonder who tuned out first…were the kids reacting to Dad being out of touch, or was Dad needing someone to communicate with? Or am I off base?
At work this week, I encountered a six-year-old boy who owned an iPod Touch… Then yesterday, I was telling a guest about that boy, and commented to her that I thought he was spoiled – whereupon she replied that her four-year-old niece was being given one.
Aside from my own personal foot-in-mouth moment (anyone got any mayo? I want my foot to taste nice if it’s going in there), I was stunned… (and jealous, admittedly)
Aye, getting some music from time to time to relax is one thing, But this….. The only thing even more annoying are imnsho those people who try to ‘entertain’ the whole train/bus with their music, switching to external speakers and full output volume….. 🙁
Yeah, constantly plugged in people are pretty annoying. I’ll be sure when I have kids that they aren’t on their iPod 24/7. And they won’t have one at four, it’s not good for their ears and it can’t be good for the “first six years = most important” development stuff.
But what really gets my goat is when they sing with both headphones on, with volume up loud. There is a VERY good reason recording artists have a thing in their ear to hear their own voice :).
As a teacher of young children, Meghan, I thank you for your good parenting intentions!
Meghan: There’s a guy who rides the bus sometimes, who “sings” along with his music player (and no, it’s not me – you’ll find out about me shortly 🙂 ) – he sort of sings “Oooooh…” along with the music, and it’s really excruciating!
Now, I know that I can’t sing, so I just end up miming along with the music, even when I’m back at home… it must make me look like I should be in a padded room! Mind you, given that there are a lot of people riding the bus who should be in a padded room, I probably don’t attract a great deal of attention 😉
Things my 11 year-old daughter has: iPhone, Nintendo DSi, laptop, desktop, and an internet tablet. 8 or 9 social networking accounts like Facebook that are designed for kids.
Number of times she answers the phone when I call her: Zero…but she “friended” me.
I wonder where the ipod/facebook/internet generation will wind up. I’ve watched computers change the way we do things… I embraced the Sony Walkman when it came along… I own a Mac and an ipod. But I know HOW to get away from these things… and the joy of time spent out in nature, etc. I wonder if a 6 year old plugged-in-kid will know these things…. or how to properly interact and make friends…. I’m impressed Elemental that you were “friended”…
You might like Dan Beck’s song “Airport Shuffle”…..check out http://www.outhousestudios.net to hear a clip.
Raven: I love the “Airport Shuffle”! It mirrors exactly what I was thinking at San Jose International the last time I flew out! Airports are strange places where individuals are in transition, alone, and “not where there are.” Leave it to artists and musicians to think about and artify this stuff.