Both Sides of the Fence
A Tosa resident since 1991, Christine walks the dog, cooks but avoids housework, writes and reads, and enjoys the company of friends and strangers. Her job takes her around the state, learning about people's health. A Quaker (no, they don't wear blue hats or sell oatmeal or motor oil), she has been known to stand on both sides of the political and philosophic fence at the same time, which is very uncomfortable when you think about it. She writes about pretty much whatever stops in to visit her busy mind at the moment. One reader described her as "incredibly opinionated but not judgmental." That sounds like a good thing to strive for!
Get real. . . then again, maybe, don’t
From today’s (November 29, 2007) New York Times:
“Yunice Kotake, of San Bruno, California, recently purchased a Fisher-Price Knows Your Name Dora Cell Phone. . . But a few days later, (Kotake and her husband) returned the play phone to a local Toys ‘R’ Us. . .”
It seems that the girls prefer their parents’ real phones, and they don’t want a fake one. So they’ll be getting what they want.
The girls are one-year old.
Their parents deserve the text messaging bill they’re about to receive.
It seems that kids no longer play—they too have (or don’t have) “leisure activities.” They don’t have any use for toys. Even “starter lap tops,” which come, I regret to say, in the shape of Barbie’s purse and Darth Vader’s helmet, are drawing kiddie yawns.
Six-year old Sabrina wants the real thing, “’Cause it’s cool.”
I wonder if Sabrina’s the model in one of the repugnant holiday ads that “adulterate” children and make them really creepy . The one I'm thinking of is set in a posh party. Clueless yet relentlessly groomed adults ask the equally expensively dressed “Sabrina” whether she believes in Santa.
“I believe in cashmere,” she replies, archly.
Back to the real Sabrina. Mommy and Daddy are holding off a bit before indulging her with a real lap top. You should be seven or eight before you start expecting $1000 toys. I mean, really.
But I’m not going to talk about Kids Getting Older Younger or ask whatever happened to waiting until you’re old enough or have earned an expensive (electronic device, gown, car, insert object of desire of your preference).
I’m not going to talk about the possible health perils of too much screen time, or the intellectual and social effects of replacing imaginative toys with work tools.
Never mind the effects of tossing used “playthings” with toxic elements in the landfills.
I’m just going to point out that technology increases the price—and, maybe, the costs—of everything it touches.
Parents, your kids are watching you and doing what you do. How about doing something more interesting than talking on the phone?
On the other hand, you could send them off to get a job. Why wait?
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