Student
Example: Two-Article Example—two sources “Yes,
You Are Addicted. Now Put Down Your iPod and Cell Phone.” In Sullivan writes that boredom is a positive
feeling because “we are forced to find our own means to overcome it” (379).
As a small child I would often complain of being bored. In response to
these complaints my mother would suggest I find something to do quickly, or
she would find something for me. Knowing her option would surely involve
a dust rag or toilet brush, I promptly
found something to do on my own. Typical adventures included climbing trees
or making up silly games with my brother. You wouldn’t think that we could
play a baseball game with only two people, but we did, and it was great fun.
Sometimes we made up imaginary players; naturally, it was always their fault
for a loss. This was thirty years ago and sadly A USA Today
issued an article states, “The average American home now has more television
sets than people.” I can honestly say this is true in my house. We also
have three iPods, three Xbox consoles (no I am not kidding), three computers,
and three iPhones. As I sit at one computer writing this essay, my
husband is on his laptop shopping for a new truck, my daughter is watching Hannah Montana in her bedroom while
looking at her iPhone, and my son is in his bedroom playing Xbox Live with
his friends. Even though we are home together, we are all sitting in
separate rooms of the house fixed to our electronic devices. Surely, we
are not an exception in today’s common household. Because of this excess of
technology, many families miss out on valuable interaction time every
day. Not only is
technology alienating families inside the home, addiction
to it has commandeered our entertainment
while walking to school, riding the bus to work, sitting in the hallway, and
even standing in line at the grocery store. I guess the feeling is why should we interrupt our favorite song to see how the grocery
checker’s day is going. Many people can’t even enjoy sitting with a friend at
a restaurant without checking their cell phone at least once during the
meal. Even heartfelt letters are now replaced with quick emails and
texts. In Sullivan's words, this is “society without the social”
(378). Yes, technology
provides us with very cool toys, and as Sullivan points out, our recreational
devices can be a “. . . chance to slip away for a while from everydayness”
(378). But this entertainment comes at a cost. When was the last
time we had a long conversation with our neighbor? Or the last time we took a
jog in the park? Unfortunately, not everyone can remember the last time they
just sat down quietly and did nothing at all. The desire to constantly
be entertained by technology is depriving our lives of simple blessings and
the wonders of imagination. Family life is being compromised and
opportunities are being missed. I am not saying that everyone
should throw their tech-toys in the trash, but put them away more often and
enjoy life. Works Cited “Average home has more TVs than
people.” USA Today 21 Sept. 2006. 14 Nov. 2010 http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-09-21-homes-tv_x.htm.
Sullivan, Andrew. “Society Is Dead: We Have
Retreated into the iWorld.” Viewpoints. Ed.
W. Royce Adams, 7th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2010. (377-379). |
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