JWilsonphoto
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Dear Anwar,
You should know by now that there is no "off topic", here  Unfortunately there is little that can be done to curb the behavior you witnessed. The Au Pair adds yet another layer of distance, but in our increasingly self absorbed world one can find the scenario that drives you crazy anywhere, a cafe, a plane, a lobby, really anywhere. Sadder yet is the fact that we are now a generation in and our behaviors are reflecting back at us. You know how precious I consider time with our grandchildren to be, never have I picked up an iPhone/iPad and acted as if they weren't even there. Unfortunately their parents have/do and because of a number of factors, affluence being one, the afore mentioned self absorption being another (who really gives a damn about what I'm having for lunch?! Or wants a photo of it?!!) Everywhere one looks relationships at every level are being impacted by our technological wonders. Go to an Apple store and walk by the low tables with bean bags where toddlers can try their hand at our addiction, yeah, let's get them started so early that there's no stage of life where we relate to one another on a personal level. Bill Gates, who I technologically admire but am no huge fan otherwise, severely limits access to technology where his children are concerned.......uh, wonder why? Pretty obvious he saw this coming. Problem is, how do you fight it when it's everywhere, when it's used in school for education, when YouTube "families" make millions because they have a gazillion kids following them instead of being involved in their own families? Kids today are losing the ability to communicate on what we used to consider a "normal" method, can they even utilize eye contact anymore? Sheesh! it's all emogees and texts, this has to be having a huge impact on interpersonal relationships at all ages and I believe the spiral has just gotten started. Take it a step further, look at Facebook posts and Tweets, in your wildest dreams did you imagine that people would regularly treat other human beings the way social media's anonymity allows? I dare say that there would be a bunch of folks walking around with black eyes and split lips if this behavior was going on in person.
I love technology as much as the next person, but like in all things, man nature finds the dark side of anything good in short order. Believe me, I love my Apple products, but I'm constantly reminded that this company, one of the wealthiest in the world has a graphic that relates to the fall of man, the beginning of all of our problems, think about it. So, the way this tide can be stemmed is for parents to get off their damned devices and parent, mentor, just give a flip! Those 50 zillion political posts on Facebook that changed nobody's mind..................they are already history, that time could have been used to get to know why a teen is thinking about ending their life, or having a breakfast/lunch/dinner as a family so kids might feel like no matter what is going on in there world they have a strong nucleus that cares and with whom they can share what's troubling them.
I give Chandler no end of grief about picking up his iPhone when we're together. I hope he's listening when I tell him that I love him, I'm darn near 70 and unless the Lord returns in the near future, he's only going to have memories of us at some point in th not too distant future. What some friend of his texted him while we were having lunch is probably going to pale the day that reality dawns on him.
Think you hit a nerve? I'm with you Bud, now go get down on the floor and look Bunny in the eyes and tell her how much you love her and that you always will.
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