How SMS silenced a generation

This is an extract from The Sunday Mail on June 17, 2007.

Only reason i have posted this is because this is a gaming community, believe it or not, which is (or was originally) centered around a free MMORP which young children play when they cannot do anything.

The issue with SMS - SMS, or Short Message System, allows us to easily contact our friends or relatives for (usually) only 20c. The convienience of SMS is what makes it so popular with the modern generation who like to get things done ASAP without much drama.

The issue with the internet - It's addictive. Alot of people do not know how to manage an online life and a real life.
The internet allows us to type up a whole message, edit it THEN send it. Much easier then real life where you cannot edit it what you say.
Playing RPG's allow us to live the life we wish we could without the hassle of money (in some cases) skills, or even whether it exists or not.
Alot of people with shitty lives spend their life on a computer because it allows them to be who they want to be and sometimes, helps them block their problems in life for that time they are online.

Discuss.

 

My Opinion -
Parents and peers are to blame. thats my opinion, don't sit there and say "LIAH NEWB!!!1" because that's just my opinion based on my life.
Alot of children are street smart because their parent let them out and about.
Others are not allowed out, cooped up in the house, so they rely on their computer for company.
Being cooped up in the house prevents us from socialising with people in our area, sometimes resulting in our friends (met at school) living 4 suburbs away or only having online friends.
Because they don't socialise, they cannot expand their skills and sometimes dont gain a proper hobby (other then the computer).

Because you haven't got the skills, hobbies and socialising skills, it is hard to get along with alot of people at school.
The "invisible student" is often subject to pointless bullying on whatever small mistake the more dominate personalities see.

Personally, i believe parents should let teenagers go to shopping centres by themselves or go out skating/riding without friends.
This gives them a sense of responsibilty and independancy.
Who cares if they get in fights? It can build character.
Dont worry if they get in with gangs, make sure you educated you child from an early age about the problems caused by smoking, drinking and doing drugs.

To my fellow teenagers: Go out and enjoy your life. Go out on your BMX or your skateboard and practice tricks. Go to bowls, make jumps from dirt, if you see someone our riding/skating nod you head at them, its a sign of respect.
Ask them if they can do any tricks, if they are sitting around, ask them if they know where any jumps are.
If there is a well known jump, their will always be people there.
Socialise with the people.
When it gets dark, go home, hop on your computer and play your game.
relaxation is more rewarding then.

 

why would you want to go riding or to the mall alone? so you can look like a loser with no friends

 

I think being social is VERY important in life. If you work in a business, you always need to work with other people. Working in a law firm, you have to know people. When your sick or down, theres gotta be someone to help you. Some of the richest people in the world have many "connections" that put them where they are.

 

i think that its the oppisite for me, like they said parents and peers are to blame for that, but although mmorpg's cut down on my social "time" ive become more outgoing cuase on rs i can just be mylsef and act how i want and talk and meet ppl all the time and it helps me become more like that irl

 

Another thing there, caring what people think.

Obviously meet up with some friends or do something, who gives a shit if some random person you'll probably never meet again says: "Look at that loser by himself! LAWL"

 

=() he speaks!

 

That just about sums up all my complaints about the education system in Australia.

Technology isn't the problem, it's the overyly-high expectations (students/children must spend their time doing homework/study while not at school) that drive people to try escape reality.

 

I don't mean your by yourself the whole time.
I mean that you don't have to neccercerily have a set time with friends.
You just got out and ring up some friends and say, 'Meet up at..' i do it all the time.

 

Its called self controll
its able to live in a balanced life not to much of one thing just balanced
i know some people who cant get off the sms Machine (phone)
He uses $200 Credit a Month

Also Apparently the txt messaging is declining literacy in Australia
Thats Bull they always just want to blame it on Something

 

I agree with x9, i have believed that since the age of 7.
Teachers seem to believe the only important thing in a students life is school, when in most cases, it isn't.
The youth of today (age 6 - 19) care about mainly 3 things, not in any order:

1) What people think about them (hence Sp Pker's sarcastic comment)
2) Keeping their friends (especially girl/boy friends for the teenagers)
3) Their sporting commitments (Does not exist for some)

Also, Sythe has brought forward a good point of view which has made even me think...

This ties in with x9's comment.
Multiple assignments (essays for the Americans), pieces of homework and teachers can make school life difficult.
It also doesn't help when you get an after school detention, especially when it interferes with sporting commitments (i just dont go to the arvo, fuck school).
I'm glad you mentioned the friends expectations as well, Sythe.
Peer pressure is an un-avoidable aspect of growing up.
Bullying, i believe, is just as bad as the school assignments.
The sad thing is, bullying is often carried out into the real world and in some cases, gangs of children are picking on the one little kid.

 

This is why i believe going out as soon as you get home is a better option.
Go out in your school clothes if you can and wash/dry them overnight.

Not true, there is proof in my school that 1337 (leet) speak has caused a massive decline in literacy.

Although it can be seen as the teachers fault, it can become a common thing writing 'u' instead of 'you' or 'rents' instead of 'parents'.

Also, the use of slang ('whats happening') can be used to blame for the poor grammar and sentence structure used today.