Our society is going down the toilet...

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

pretty much, Sad ain't it?

It IS sad. I remember somewhat recently when they changed the format of Sesame Street - I was so mad. And now the show is a showcase for the attention defecit generation - critics say the show promotes a low attention span because of the fast pace and such - no more running story line throughout etc....I definitely don't like it now...and my nephew never did either.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

It IS sad. I remember somewhat recently when they changed the format of Sesame Street - I was so mad. And now the show is a showcase for the attention defecit generation - critics say the show promotes a low attention span because of the fast pace and such - no more running story line throughout etc....I definitely don't like it now...and my nephew never did either.

Wow, I haven't seen this. That sucks.

How about music videos? I felt out of it when I saw some out at a bar a couple of weeks ago. The longest time an image or clip was on the screen was about 2 seconds before the video jumped to something else. It seemed really odd. How's your 2 second attention span?

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

How about music videos? I felt out of it when I saw some out at a bar a couple of weeks ago. The longest time an image or clip was on the screen was about 2 seconds before the video jumped to something else. It seemed really odd. How's your 2 second attention span?

is over-the-top with imagery, you won't be gaining the attention of anyone now-a-days.

What happened? When did most attention spans shrink? Did I miss something, or did I not get the notice in the mail?

Brian "Last of the dinosaurs...I listen to an album from start to finish, Not just the single because that is only what my attention span will allow" j.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Wow, I haven't seen this. That sucks.

How about music videos? I felt out of it when I saw some out at a bar a couple of weeks ago. The longest time an image or clip was on the screen was about 2 seconds before the video jumped to something else. It seemed really odd. How's your 2 second attention span?

Seriously! A lot of stuff geared toward younger people is so fast-paced. And researchers are genuinely concerned about that because it's teaching young people that they don't have to focus on one thing for more than a few seconds...

So attention defecit - is it a real disorder or a man-made one? I'm thinkint the latter myself

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

So attention defecit - is it a real disorder or a man-made one? I'm thinkin the latter myself

a little of a real disorder, and a whole helluva lot of man-made.

[Kelly]

Letting a kid watch a movie in a shopping cart is ok, as long as they know how to behave in a store and in public. The tv should not be a substitute for parental guidance etc but it also does not mean that the parent is not doing his or her job if they let their kid watch it. Grocery shopping with kids is a pain..its the summer right now and trying to read labels, look at prices, keep track of money, remember what you need while you have three kids under ten with you.. ain't easy. My kids are very well behaved but they still talk, bicker with each other, laugh, goof off, ask to buy things, ask questions and it makes the whole shopping experience a bit hectic. I let the older one push the cart and they always get to pick out their cereal, juice, ice cream, fruit and dinners for the week. However, if they wanted to watch a video, I probably would not have a problem with it, especially the little one, who hates grocery shopping. (except when he gets cheese from the deli lady or counts the lobsters) Will it make my life easier? Yes. Is that wrong? Not if I have done my job as a parent, which includes teaching them how to behave properly in public.
It is also very different to take one older child (4 plus) to the grocery store than it is to take two or more or a very young child. A young child's attention span is only so long and sitting in the grocery cart when they are tired or cranky can be a challenge. Is watching a video for a half hour such a big deal? is it really ruining society? I can think of many, many other things that are much more detrimental to a child and societies future than watching a half hour of Peter Pan......

[DrummerDeanna]

^^

Well yes, my "society is going down the toilet" title was a bit harsh

But you give an interesting point....and yes, as long as parents are parenting - a little video in the store isn't going to do harm - but I guess the bigger issue is why is it that it seems as though the answer to everything lately is "stick the kid in front of the tv?"

[sara1998]

I don't recommend letting them watch TV from the time they get home from school until the time they go to bed, however, letting them watch for a bit while you do something that needs to get done is not bad. It's OK to let the TV be a babysitter for a while. It's when that's all you allow them to do does it become a bad thing. If I had to entertain my child every waking moment that we're together, my home would be a mess, my bills would go unpaid, and my school work would go undone. Sara has a television and a futon in her playroom, and while I'm in here screwing around on the computer, she has her radio on, and is piddeling around with her toys. So, it's also raising them to find other things besides the TV to keep them busy. On the other hand, we're going to Kings Island on Sunday, and you bet your ass when we're making the 2 1/2 hour drive, she'll be in the back watching TV!

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by sara1998

On the other hand, we're going to Kings Island on Sunday, and you bet your ass when we're making the 2 1/2 hour drive, she'll be in the back watching TV!

I do have to say - that travel DVD players have been a godsend on long road trips (with the nephew)

[tuigirl]

From someone who works every day in a large supermarket with screaming kids, anything to keep them quiet is a good idea. However, I do think it's the parents in a lot of cases who need sorting out NOT the kids.How many times have I seen them ignore their child when theyr'e screaming (a few words to divert their attention would be good..but no, they let them scream!)How many times have I seen parents shouting, ignoring and belittling their kids in front of others (by telling them theyr'e in the way, or hopeless at packing)...too many times to mention.Parents today can be crap and we wonder why the kids are too???
Some little kids incidently are lovely and thankfully, theyr'e in the majority.

[skcin]

You know, I was a pretty much a TV kid. I turned OK. I think. (I don't have a huge problem with the cart idea, but I would hate to see a mom or dad walk in, dump the kid in the cart, turn on the TV & ignore them for the rest of the time in the store.)

BUT! My parents weren't afraid to say no to me. They weren't afraid to punish me. Yes, I was spoiled to an extent, but I was also disciplined. I had a TV in my room after the age of 10, but that didn't mean I could watch it every night or for hours on end. That's what bothers me about some people that I know who are raising kids today - they can't (or won't) say no to their kid(s). Instant gratification - I want it & I want it right now!!!

For example - the kid next door is very obese. Mom thinks it's OK because he's also tall for his age. She actually said to me once "He ate 2 pieces of pizza and then ate his brothers' piece!" I asked "why did you let him have it" and she said "he said he was hungry." That same kid rides his bike without helmet, and gets yelled at once or twice. He does the same thing 10 minutes later, but nothing is said. WTF?!?! You're just going to give up? Grrrr......

I just don't get it. It's easier to just give them what they want, I suppose. I know raising a kid is hard - that's why I don't have any. But I wish the people that do decide to have kids would really think it through first.

Too many people say "I want a baby!" when they should think it out first. Can you honestly say "I want to have children & give them a loving supportive family, and work hard to raise a good person & productive member of society. I want to take on more responsibility than I've ever had in my life and work my ass off to be great at it." Because if not, you shouldn't have kids.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by markolas

Oh, god, if I ever have kids they're probably going to hate me. I would refuse to have a TV in the house, let alone allow them to rot their brains as they ride through the grocery store.

You might just be onto something there.