Do teenagers today know how to do anything without technology?

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   moneyfairyposted 11 years ago

   For instance if you took a t.v. and a computer and cell phone away from a teenager for just a weekend could they figure out what to do with themselves or would they just sit and mope all weekend?
   Do they for instance want to go on hikes or fishing or read a book or play a card game etc.? or are they desperately connected to twitter and facebook etc...?
   I just wonder if they'll ever learn how to communicate without technology.
   Look forward to hearing your opinion on this subject.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well this is interesting ? no response? I guess all of you think teenagers are great communicators without technology. Wow!

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         psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I guess we saw typical inter-generational griping and were not interested. 
         
         Maybe you need to hang out with better teenagers. 
         
         The ones in my family are a champion swimmer, a gal who loves to camp and hunt, a developing artist, and a dedicated skateboarder.  They use technology but no more than I do as a middle-aged fogey.  In fact probably less.
         
         As for using a phone at the mall. Guilty.  I do look up during transactions though.

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            moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Well at least you look up at the person serving you so that's something . Glad to hear you have some wonderful artistic teens around you. Good to know they exist. Thanks!

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      Silverspeederposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Let me just check if I have an app on my IPhone to help me answer your question!
      
      Many will say its the evolution of humans, some will say its because of the ease that these items are available, I say well done Apple, Microsoft, HP and all the others producing the goods to keep the kids off the streets. (sarcasm)

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         moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Silverspeeder: Thanks for your humor /sarcasm

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      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There are plenty of teenagers who aptly know how to entertain themselves without technology. They read and indulge in other hobbies. They also talk and communicate with their friends face to face.  Hell, I know plenty of adult people who cannot adequately function without the use of iphones, cellphones, computers, and other gadgets.
      
      For example, I was watching a program on my computer.  The computer want BLANK.  I  tried to revamp the computer; however, it was a total no go.  Yes, the computer was dead.  That was my ONLY computer at the time.  I was totally beside myself.  So I had the computer repaired and renewed; I was not about to throw away a computer.   That process took about a week.  So in the interim, I ordered three more computers.  All in all, I have FOUR computers, in case one of them goes awry, there will ALWAYS be a backup.  I am a LONG, LONG, LONG way from being a teenager.  Once you go techno, you NEVER go back! NEVER, EVER EVER!

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         Kathryn L Hillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         It is possible that some younger people do not like to use the computer so much. I just ran into someone the other day who said he has ADD and computer use is hard for his eyes and brain. (- actually, I have a feeling he was putting me on as he was using his computer just fine as a checker at Pet Co / urging me to go to my gmail account to do whatever it was he said I need to do to check my points and receive my rewards. How I miss the 70's.

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         moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         gmwilliams: I guess I have never gotten hooked on technology as I am too busy trying to work and make a living. Glad you can make your living online. I just can't sit for hours at a time in front of a screen, I like human contact and interaction much better. I like recieving hand written letters instead of e-mails and I like physically talking to someone in person not on a screen. There is just something missing in technological communication. I guess it's the human factor. i'm just an old fart I guess LOL LOL. Glad you  love technology.....enjoy!!!

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 11 years ago

   ...why would they join us here?  it takes writing skills (minimal, I admit)  to be here on HP! They are playing their virtual games right now, donning pseudo characters and having virtual experiences and virtual challenges. They are far off in lands we never had or knew.
   Thank goodness.

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      moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Kathryn I never said anything about them joining us here on HP?? I wonder where you got that from? I just bought up a generalized question about teenagers being too attached to technology and that most of them have difficulty relating to others in a normal non-technological way and was just curious of others opinions that's all.

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         Kathryn L Hillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I guess I thought you wanted them to respond. I wish they would. There are many advantages and disadvantages to technology. The major disadvantage is that we loose concrete skills. We need to maintain our concrete skills. By consciously practicing and maintaining concrete skills (such as handwriting, spelling, drawing/painting, basic arithmetic, book/periodical reading, research skills, etc.) we can live safely with technology.

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      Shanna11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yep. All I'm doing right now is binge watching The Office, playing The Sims and eating flamin' hot cheetos.
      
      Oh, and I'm texting my buds and dictating this message to my laptop because I have no idea how to spell or write or anything like that.

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         gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Shanna11, this is a gross generalization of the younger generation(Milennial). Yes, your generation is more technologically savvy than mine(Boomer) but that savvy and knowledge DOES NOT preclude intellectual and academic knowledge.  One has nothing to do with the other.  Many young Milennials know how to do PLENTY without the aid of technology.  Shanna11, sadly many of us Boomers have forgotten what it is like to be young and were criticized by the older generations because we lived in a society that was different from theirs. HOW WE FORGET!
         
         
         
         Shanna11, in the Boomers' youth, the older generation(the World War II generation) maintained that we were a bunch of  bell bottom wearing, marijuana smoking radicals who "did not know the value of morality, ethics, and hard work".   The World War II generation said to us Boomers what we are NOW saying to the Milennial generation (yours).   Yes, history yet continue to repeat itself!

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            Shanna11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Seriously. I think sometimes older generations forget that they're the ones who raised us!

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               Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

               That's a good point. I work with kids everyday from teens to 20's and I can tell you, other than the obvious stuff... they're just miniature versions of their parents... all the good and all the bad.

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      Zelkiiroposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There is so much stupid in this post that it's almost impossible to believe that a human being produced it.
      
      Are you trying to act superior because you lack understanding regarding a widely-popular form of storytelling medium? Are you trying to say that you have to be an illiterate to enjoy something visual and interactive? Are you trying to justify your lack of knowledge of modern technology by labeling all those who take part in it as inferior?
      
      Because that's pretty damn reprehensible.

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         moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Zelkiiro: No I am not trying to be superior. I am not saying teens are illiterate or not intelligent. I am saying that I have noticed at the airports and shopping centers and at coffee shops etc..teens just sitting thier texting and with ear pieces etc...even when ordering coffee etc.. totally ignoring the person behind the counter who is trying to serve them. It's just rude. So I was just asking generally if others were annoyed by these rude actions. When you are speaking to another human being shut your damn phone off and pay attention to what you are doing in the moment and treat other human beings with some respect. It seems as if thier electronic devices are an appendage that they can't live without, just wondering if anyone else noticed or was bothered by that.  And some said above about parents having something to do with it too and that's true I guess if they didn't buy thier child a cell phone or iphone or whatever they wouldn't have a problem. But I know that some parents think it is a good idea to keep in contact with thier child 24/7. So in that aspect for saftey and for emegencies it is a good thing but to be totally addicted to it is not really healthy. So I am just wondering if they could live without thier cell phones or internet access for even just a weekend without going into withdrawls. I know some adults even who couldn't so in that aspect it's not just teens.

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            Kathryn L Hillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            They also don't mind if their kid is quiet... ah, so quiet.  Now I can get back (to sleep?) in my little life...
            However, it its terrible to put THEM to sleep
            through this potentially insidious technology.
            And indeed, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."
            Maybe parents should apply this phrase to their child the next time they hand over their technological mind-vacuuming device.
            Don't pretend it will make your child intellectually advantaged
            Maybe it will on some level.... But not on truly vital levels...
            as, moneyfairy has clearly explained... in dealing with real life.
            
            Thanks for letting me chime in.

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               moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Thank you Kathryn for understanding what I am trying to get across.
               Some understand communication without technology and others simply don't have a clue or are just too lazy to try normal communication. And you are very right when you say "a mind is a terrible thing to waste". So very true.

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                  psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Technology is also a form of communication.  A very rich one.  So maybe people who do not use that modality much should respect those who do--especially when raising the issue on an online forum which by your argument none of us should be on?

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                     moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     Yes technology is a mechanical way of communication but I am discussing the human communication factor which is highly lacking these days and it's just sad that's all. I'm not against technology for learning and writing articles etc...but to constantly be on facebook and twitter and breaking up with someone on line etc...it's just a cold mechanical way of communicating that's all I'm saying.

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                        Kathryn L Hillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        ...witness children shoved in front of monitors in every inconvenient situation. Cars, restaurants, even in strollers!
                        luckily not in classrooms...too much. Yay teachers!  I hope they can keep it that way!

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                           moneyfairyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           Yeah teachers is right!!!! Thanks Kathryn. I found it interesting that even on the news they talked about people in general not being aware of their surroundings when crossing the street or walking on the side walk....that they are so entrenched with their I phones etc...that they don't even care if they get hit???It's just craziness. Just like driving and texting or being on the cell phone....does human life not matter anymore....is technology so damn important that it's worth a life???

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