New Technology

"I just don't like it!" Fred complained to his wife, Inga.

"Like what?"

"All this new technology."

Fred paused, but Inga didn't speak.

"Just look at those kids," he continued. "All they do now is sit around with their necks bent and their eyes glued to some pretend world that has nothing to do with reality! They talk about places and events that never happened and get so absorbed in them that they don't even know what's happening around them! I even had to tell Fred Jr. to come to dinner last night!"

Inga set her knitting down.

Before she could speak, Fred asked no one in particular, "Remember when we were kids?"

This time, he looked at Inga, who glanced up from her seat and nodded her head. Her agreement, of course, did nothing to stop his tirade.

"When we were kids, our parents had us doing chores all morning and then shooed us out of the the house all day to play. We grew strong, had lots of fresh air, and learned a lot about life."

The fire crackled and Fred began pacing around the room. Inga focused on her knitting. She'd heard this speech, or some variant of it, several times before.

"But now, it seems like every day something new comes along that causes the children to become more and more isolated. I don't care if those things are 7" or 19" or 60" I think they're all evil. Just think of all the things our kids aren't learning as a result. Why, this whole generation is going to have no social skills at all when they become adults!"

"Now, Fred," Inga finally spoke up. "I think what the kids are doing is good for them. If they don't learn how to use this new technology young, they'll be left behind. We want them to do well in school don't we? Well, part of school these days involves technology."

Fred took a stick and jabbed it in the fire. It flared up briefly and he continued to poke at it without any real thought or intention. After a few minutes of reflection, Fred's shoulders drooped and he turned back to Inga.

"I guess you're right. Technology is here to stay."

Fred frowned, "Our kids have to learn how to make the best use of it. But I still wish we had run Gutenberg out of town the day he showed up."



(c) 2014, Kevin H. Grenier