This day in age, most people are not caught dead without their cell phone or some form of electronic in hand. It is not uncommon to see people texting while driving, people eating dinner with their phone in hand, and even on their phones during church. However, is that really how we want our society? Do we really want to walk around like zombies with our heads in our electronics ignoring the world around us?
There are two currently airing TV commercials that are driving my crazy. The first one is an AT&T commercial staring a family that has lost their internet connection. The family is going crazy and acting like lunatics because their internet connection has been lost. The commercial goes on to show the family doing crazy things and acting like the world is going to end because they aren’t sticking their heads in electronics. This particular commercial makes me so mad. Why? Because it is ridiculous that family can not spend an hour without the internet. Now, I know for the point of the commercial that family is going a little overboard. But think about this, how many people do you know who act like this when the internet is connecting for just a few minutes? If your answer was like mine, it is not too far off from this portrayal. Not to say that I am perfect, because I definitely don’t love my internet, but this is a little nutty. Not once in that commercial do they show the family talking to one another, playing games, or even go outside for a little exercise. In the words of my mother, “I am glad I do not know this family”.
The next commercial is the DIRECTV commercial with the family sitting in the airport waiting for a flight. Now this one rubs me wrong in two different ways, the first is when the little boys tells his mother, “this is the worst vacation ever” because his flight was delayed 2 more hours. I looked at the TV screen with my jaw dropped when I heard that. I mean think about it, he is sitting in an airport with his family either coming home from vacation or going to vacation. Do you know how many families do not fly to get to their vacations? In fact, do you know how many families can not even go on vacations? And this little boy is telling his mom it is the worst vacation ever because he has to wait two hours? People do not appreciate the things their parents do for them anymore. They are always wondering what thing they will be doing next or what new things their parents will get them. They are not appreciative of what they have. The second thing that bothers me about this commercial is when the mom brings all of the family members their electronic devices with DIRECTV playing. I remember sitting in airports with my family and playing a game of cards or tic-tac-toe, telling stories to one another, reading a book, or even just people watching. But now-a-day, you can’t go anywhere without your device to keep you company! Forget human interaction, that is a thing of the past!
The reason I am writing about this is because society tells us this behavior is okay. We are told that walking around with our phones in our hand and not paying attention to where we are going is the norm. I don’t want this to be the case. I want families to get together and have fun with each other, without electronics. I don’t want the next generation to be so wrapped up in technology they do not know what to do without the internet.
Next time you are sitting around with your family and everyone is on their phones, how about dropping them and suggesting to play a game. It might be worth a shot. You never know the memories you will make by doing it!
