NYC Guerilla Radio

Sunday, November 21, 2004

Depression and Americans

Each Generation is becoming less human, and more depressed

It’s obvious to everyone in America, and around the world; people are more dissatisfied, ill-tempered, a lot more depressed and not too caring of others.

Each generation is becoming less social; this maybe due to the revolutionary advances in modern day technology?

For example: before Barney, the internet, electric story books, and talking dolls; who would play with a child? Who would teach the child? And who would talk to the child?

Why mothers, fathers, siblings and other parental figures such as aunts uncles and good friends!

Nowadays, we have electronic story books reading to our kids, Barney video tapes etc …

(I was having a conversation with a boy not too long ago and he told me he wanted to be just like Barney when he grew up).

These videos however, give the parent’s much needed time to perhaps relax or do a daily chore. However, how effective are these tools/methods? Are machines second best to mom or dad? I don’t think so.

Lets put this into perspective, the machine is just a plain electronic, emotionless, piece of plastic that will not ask your child the important questions that will develop his/her language skills, social skills and overall trust and happiness of the child.

Are machines 2nd best to mom and dad? Are they asking the important questions?

Did you like the book? How did it make you feel? , No!, we don’t bother to ask these questions because as long as this piece of inhuman plastic is keeping “Junior” occupied, we can go smoke a cigarette, we can have time NOT to handle our responsibility. And then we wonder (why don’t our kids talk to us anymore?).

Look at the internet, people prefer chatting online then going out on dates. WHY? Well maybe because we can be someone else online, we can create and re-create who we are online: maybe we can be someone less depressed, less ill-tempered and for a moment in that chat we can relieve some of our anxiety.

People are growing up to be more and more depressed. We are social animals, now don’t get me wrong I feel we SHOULD use technology, however, we should not be replaced by it.

Americans want superficiality and glitter instead of substance.

El tiguerito