Read through this first post. An outline of debate questions will be at the end. (You don't have to use them, but they help if you have an opinion that you're not sure how to write out.)

I used to think it wasn't bad for youth to have hand-held devices like phones, portable gaming systems, tablets, kindles, etc. In fact, I thought it was an amazing advancement in the technology field. More and more kids have been using these things from elementary school until now. At the time, it was unfortunate that my family could not afford these things. I didn't have a phone until middle school; even now, the only thing I can do with my phone is call people and take LQ pictures. I can't even text with them. I had a Nintendo gameboy and then the original Nintendo DS but nothing else hand-held. I would bring books and sketchbooks to busy myself at school, no big deal.

I was one of the first generations where these kind of advanced things were really being brought into the classrooms. In elementary school, kids would periodically play their gameboy's under the desks. In early middle school, kids would call each other on their phones between classes. In late middle school, kids would text their friends during classes, sometimes giving answers to each other during tests. None of this was a big deal at first. So what? They still did most their work, and they kept their portables to themselves. They still chatted with their friends yet respected their teachers, even if only a bit.

Then, we got to high school. In the past two years, my type of phone has become almost completely obsolete. Everyone has a smartphone that can access the internet, games, text messages, etc. During class, kids blatantly put their phones on the table and browse the internet; a lot of girls even shop for clothes in the middle of English class. They even keep their phones with them during gym.

When we don't have class or have free time, instead of talking to their friends, they just make a circle with them and shove their faces in their phones. When they do talk to them, they're also talking to someone else via text at the same time, only giving their "best friend" half their attention. I have never seen a kid armed with a smart phone at my school keep it in their pocket for more than a few minutes outside of classes. Even when they're at the mall or in a resturaunt, they're staring at their phone. The busses are so much more quiet now than in elementary school because very few people talk to each other anymore, whether it's the bus there or back. Then you have the kids who dare to COMPLAIN when kids talk. Fuck, at least they're communicating with their friends.

Unfortunately, this is not only with smartphones. My friends roleplay via text with their cheap phones like mine, and I recently had a disgusting experience. It's the end of the year so we have no gym class; we just sit on the bleachers for the last few days. So here I am, with two friends next to me, texting each other and roleplaying with other people instead of verbally talking. I looked at them in just awe. How dare you shove your face in your phone when you're right next to a person you call your friend? We barely talked the entire time, and they got pissed when I complained that we weren't so much as nudging or joking with each other. It's like we were complete strangers, as if what they were doing with their phones was more important.

This is not the first time I've been through it, and as the years roll on, I'm noticing it more and more with so many of the cliques. During these gym periods, it is so quiet you wouldn't believe there is a school there. Both girls and guys put their faces in their phones and don't even bother to look at their friends unless they're pointing something out that they did in a game on their phone or other handheld device.

In addition to this, many teens are very attached to their smartphones / kindles / ipods / ipads / etc. My teacher attempted to take a phone from a student during English class because she refused to put it away, and she was about a second from an all out temper tantrum. She pouted, shouted, whined; her eyes even watered. She finally was forced to go to the office because she tried to force the phone out of the teacher's hand. This was not the first time it happened, and many other kids felt bad for her and were hiding their phones from the teacher as if they would have done the same thing. Of course, it didn't last long, and he was a softie so he didn't take anyone else's phones away (which was a stupid move, but w/e). This just shows how dependent people are getting on their technology for personal necessity rather than social or economic necessity.

Needless to say, my opinion on this level of advanced technology has changed.

I feel that this is the modern zombie apocalypse. These kids can't even communicate with their own friends, nevermind with teachers or parents. Many of them can't even write properly because they txtlk instead of doing anything related to English. They only hate essay assignments because they can't do them; even my teachers have relayed to me the disgust they're feeling towards this, saying--even in junior classes--they are getting papers where students can't use simple punctuation or spell basic words.

If they can't speak, write, or put their phones down to look someone in the eye, how do they expect to succeed in society? Well, they will. Why? Because society has to adapt to each series of generations. The generation after us is the same way; these smartphones were being given to elementary schoolers for a while now. Even toddlers are being given iPads that have learning apps on them.

The cycle is repeating earlier and earlier. There will be no place in this broken society for people like me--like some of us--in twenty years.

We are the Generation of Zombies, and I believe the overuse of technology is to blame for the current disassociation with social interactions. Now, what do you think?

Concept Question
1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?

2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?

3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration?

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet?

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends?

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration?

7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?

8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?

1. I believe that yes, we do overuse them but they are as beneficial as they are harmful. They're not that important unless it's a life and death situation where you have to call the police via your phone but other than just for emergencies; we could live without them.
2. Absolutely not, during my class the boys take pictures of what's below the belt and send them to each other and the teacher does nothing. In another one of my classes they gather in a circle and play the game of life on their phones (ironic isn't it, when they could participate in real life.) I leave my phone at home most of the time and only carry it with me in case of an emergency.
3. With family, friends, and people near you yes; but I have noticed that social interactions between people like us have increased. I recently began talking to people all over the world about things like anime and I've made some new friends which is nice; so considering that social interaction has increased in some ways (unless you were talking about face to face conversations, which of course the answer is yes social interaction is exponentially decreasing.
4. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm not attached to my phone. But I am attached to my iPad, I don't really take it with me everywhere, I mainly use it at home and I find it nicer than a computer or a laptop and being an otaku I need something to watch my anime on X3 my iPod helps me concentrate in school (and tunes out everybody else that I don't want to hear and/or disrupt my work.)
5. Not really, if I have to talk to my friend and we're not in person I call her. If it's little things then I message and/or email her.
6. No, I don't think so. I don't blame technology for it, this was all designed to make our lives easier but we've become way too attached.
7. They know of the problem but it makes them money so I can't really blame them for continuing to produce "better and better" technology.
8. I would have to blame society; I'm an isolated person and I have to admit that was society's fault for hurting me and bullying me, I've never really felt accepted where I live especially since my family is fairly new to my country, so when I discovered vast communities like this one and all of the other otakus in this world who felt just like me I simply fell in love with it all. If society was more accepting, then maybe this wouldn't of happened.

Thank you for putting some intelligent substance back on Main, Bambi.

My thoughts:
1-Very. It's kind of hard to deny that they've become a very important facet of life in first-world countries.

2-Technology in the classroom? Yes, but for the teachers, not the students.

3-With people of a younger age than myself, yes. I feel like I'm kind of on the boundary line between it. I've been raised in a lower middle class family and because of it, I've learned some lessons in what's really important. The wealthier you go and the younger the person in question is, I think the decrease in human interaction rings truer. I can't really answer this too well though cause I've never been an extroverted person. I use electronics for communication more than real life social interaction, though most of that communicating is with family and friends from my old town like 1,000 miles away from where I currently am.

4-I have an iPhone and about 95% of the content on it is music. I'm a musician and due to that and my somewhat awkward demeanor in public (not due to technology, just cause I'm introverted), I usually have my headphones in. That said, I'm also fairly OCD when I listen to things, so I never start listening to an album or what have you unless I know I'll have the time to finish it relatively uninterrupted. It'd certainly throw a wrench into my routine not to have it walking to and from places, but I'd get over it as best I can as quickly as I can. I don't have a tablet and I sure don't feel the need to get multiple electronics that all basically do the same thing.

5-I suppose, though not in any particularly negative or positive manner. We talk about electronics sometimes and we mostly use them in moderation for communication. At least we use it that way for each other. They may text their girlfriends until 4 in the morning for all I know.

6-The more we rely on technology, the more profitable it becomes. I don't know if technology industries predicted just how sharply our use of technology would be, but I sure don't think they're unhappy about it.

7-See 6. It's more money in the bank for them.

8-At fault for what specifically? The creation and spread of technology? See 6 again. At fault for letting it influence who we are as people? I can't really say that there's any true answer to that. Someone uses something, other people envy it, they save up money to get it, tons of people get it, it becomes more popular and slightly easier to buy, and soon it becomes standard. Blame the person who first pushed for it? There really isn't any one person or group that did though. You can turn your back on technology and say you won't let it influence you...but you are being influenced by it. You're being influenced by it in order to oppose it. It'll be there, like it or not. Use it how you want, and let the consequences come to those that abuse it.

1) Yes, but mainly because mobile technology is a good area for useful applications. It helps people in emergencies and enables applications that are often very useful and sometimes even educational.

2) No. While I believe that the versatility of mobile devices makes them more than capable for amazing classroom functionality, there would be too many people texting.

3) Probably, but due to human nature, I'm also going to venture to say that it's probably less severe than you think. Also, if you want to start a conversation with someone, a very effective method is to just boldly go up and start it.

4) I'm fairly detached, but I don't have a land line, so it's my only phone. I also use applications such as Duolingo while waiting around sometimes. Personally, my computer zombifies me a lot more.

5) Yes, positively. I have texted friends to make plans. I find them good for communication when the friend is not nearby. I usually refrain from being rude and ignoring nearby friends.

6) Yes, but the predictions are less obvious than you'd expect. Star Trek was written when the technology existed but was very little known. They predicted the proliferation of the cell phone. As for the loss of social skills, Fahrenheit 451 predicted that to an exaggerated degree (and earbuds). Science fiction comes up with interesting technological predictions.
Did they take it into consideration? No, industry is not a sentient being with long term planning skills. The tech industry is just a collection of companies that make their money off of producing the next cool idea that someone has. These societal problems, are more of a long term evolution of trouble, that no one invention or prediction really fits well enough to really call out on it.

7) It's not a problem for them. You can't hold a company responsible for the idiocy of those who use its products. They don't care, and rightfully shouldn't really care about this issue, but they probably know about it.

8) Who is at fault? Human nature.

1. Handheld devices are important in these days. Population-wise, it's a bigger world, and that leads to all sorts of problems.

2. Well. I feel conflicted about this. I'm a cyber school student, so my education comes from the computer. Why? Because all my public school teachers could care less about people. I've always been weighed down by dumb teachers and dumb kids (no offense to you smart teachers and smart kids, but that's my overall experience). Student participation in the virtual real-time classes is much higher than when I was in public school. So I'm on the computer all day at school, but I'm actually learning. Online education? Yes. Goofing off in class? No. There's another level of risk in cyber school for this regard, that I could play PS2 in class if I wanted, but student willpower is key, and so online students should be serious students and very responsible. I was actually considering making a thread about online education, but this one will be good for the intended purposes. If you want, I have a list of pros/cons of cyber school I'll gladly contribute to this thread.

3. Yes. Case study: my brother and I would play soccer and board games a lot. Brother gets an xbox, no more soccer or board games.

4. Well, I'm proud that I still have a ABC keypad on my phone, not a QWERTY keypad. I can text, but rarely do; I'm not too attached to my phone. Although, if I see 9 year olds huddled in a group, all on iPhones, I make it a point to take out my phone and slowly look at it, with no other purpose that to say 'look at this fine piece of technology, little children'. I only have a walkman CD player and it's pretty broken, so I don't care much for it. My computer still has Internet Explorer from 2001. Not 2011, 2001. I admit, I would like something better for a computer. In 2 I said I was a happy cyber student; I'd have a lot of trouble parting with my school computer, despite all those firewalls and restrictions on the thing.

5. No friends besides a pen pal, partly because other kids are too preoccupied with technology for me to even consider becoming friends with them. My mother is always texting, though, and it ticks me off how she can start to neglect the kids because of it.

6. Hm. As the kid of a computer programmer/engineer who was the kid of an electrical engineer who was the kid of another engineer who was the kid of that's as far back as I remember, I think the industry was originally trying to make things better, before it got a bit out of hand. I will recommend to you all the course "Internet History, Technology, and Security" on www.coursera.org . Again, online education can be great.

7. A blind eye. Ignorant masses make for good marketing targets.

8. Everyone. The technicians invented things, the public liked those things, the technician's company wanted to press more, the public again approved, and off we go into a spiral. It might've started off with good intentions, and I believe some technicians honestly still have good intentions, but human greed can win.

>>5 I have no problem with computers or cyber schools. I'm talking about portable devices and how they affect face to face interactions specifically.

>>6 Ah, okay. Even though you had mentioned all portable devices I took it as the negative points of technology as a whole, sorry.

Are schools getting lax in their no video game, phone, etc policies? Last time I was in public school, most people were too afraid of the teachers to bring phones out in class. I have to wonder if some parents raised fits that the school was taking away their kid's expensive devices (even if only for a class period). I wouldn't be too surprised.

Take it from a teen, during summer break I am very attached to my phone and computer. It's the only way I can talk to my friends because I can't drive so I adapt. Also, in school I detach from electronics and actually talk unless my friends text me first (but not IN school). My friends don't do the whole "electronics in school" thing. During school I direct my attention to books more though. However when we have free period they're out so I do think it is kind of an issue. It's hard to say they're bad, but at the same time it's hard to say they're good. I am on the fence on this one.

It's more likely that society will accommodate these forms of technology in the future than see it as a problem now. Some public schools are already incorporating iPad usage into their curriculum; licensed nurses are expected to own work-related smartphones. These cases might not hold negative consequences on their own, but handheld devices are becoming more widely accessible to the general public. I would even say that it's more unusual not to text, or to lack the option, than otherwise. What scares me though is the fact that we're starting to prioritize technology over direct human interaction. You could call it an exaggeration, but by how much?

In the business world nobody cares how you got the right answer as long as its right. Anybody who tells you different is just being childish

>>10 That has absolutely nothing to do with what we're talking about. Either respond to the OP, start a relevant discussion, or don't post here.

^

1. I think they're more convenient and efficient, but not necessary at all. We got by without technology for thousands of years after all.

2. I think they have potential to be used properly in the classroom, but it all depends on the maturity of the class and how responsible they are.

3. Social interaction has most definitely declined over society as a whole.

4. I absolutely love my phone and iPod, however, I use them to listen to music and talk to people that I'm not currently in the presence of.

5. They've only affected my interactions with friends in that we can hold extended conversations when not face to face, or we can quickly send information back and forth.

6. This could have been predicted, but I doubt it was taken into consideration.

7. Most likely, they're rich so they don't give two fucks.

8. Mostly, I believe it's the parents fault for not teaching their kids how to act responsibly.

1. They're pretty important for people who need to quickly get a hold of someone, like me with my parents, but we use them way to much. Why do you need to be texting your friends if you have friends right there to talk with?

2. My school is trying to promote cellphone usage in classrooms for academic purposes, it's a mistake.

3. Yeah, I once saw two "friends" on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney. They were sitting next to each other, completely silent, texting people. Seriously? You're on a ride at an amusement park, with a friend, and you have to be on your phone?

4. I'm pretty attached to my phone because it's often the way I can communicate with my friends and make plans to meet up in real life with them. When I'm actually with friends, I don't hold conversations on my phone, I might text someone back to tell them I'm busy so they don't think I'm ignoring them, but otherwise, I don't use it.

I'm certainly attached to my ipad. It has movies and entire series of anime that I bring to friends' houses so we can watch it together, pictures that I want to show people, and games to keep me entertained at the doctor's/dentist's office or on long car rides. I don't often play games while I'm around my friends unless we're playing video games at someone's house and it's not my turn.

5. Yes, I don't hang out with those people anymore.

6. It probably could have been predicted. I remember emailing and later instant messaging people on the computer about 10 years ago. I'm not surprised it grew like this. They basically took everything we could do on a computer and put it on a device we could carry around with us. It wouldn't surprise me if the technology industry knew it was coming.

7. They probably don't care because it makes them money. Why kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?

8. Society for making it acceptable, parents for letting the kids get into it, kids for having no self control.

1. Not very. If you can live without it, it’s not important enough for you to worry about. Though, this is my personal way of judging most things. They are convenient to have, though.

2. Not for the teachers or students. Mainly due to inefficiency of handheld devices in classes. A computer/traditional pen and paper should be more than enough for an ordinary class.

3. Not particularly. Not where I am, anyways.

4. Slightly, mainly due to financial reasons, though. Technology isn't cheap. And it would hurt (my wallet) if I were to lose my phone, but when it comes down to it; it’s something that can be replaced.
A device I currently wouldn't be able to live without though, would be my alarm clocks.

5. No. Not that I have known.

6. Fifteen years ago? No. At the speed technology is advancing at, it’s not likely that we’ll be able to predict how said technology affects social culture. There’s just not enough available data to draw a conclusion. Yet. Technology is an extended form of a “tool”. We do not blame tools, but the people using said tools. Mainly due to the people being sentient and being in the position of decision making. Blaming them (the industry) wouldn't really do anything either. Most of them are just doing their jobs of advancing technology, and I’d have to say that they’re doing a pretty good job of it. For the last part, yes. That’s an extension of marketing. You change the business plan as the times changes.

7. Saying “they’re turning a blind eye to the situation” would be feigning ignorance on several levels.
Why? Because that directly assume that they caused the situations that you've brought up.
Did they cause the problems? Possibly indirectly, but no.
Basically put, they manufacture tools, albeit ones with more functions than necessary these days, and how said tools are used depends solely on the people who use them, which is where the issues that have been brought up stems from. It all boils down to how each individual acts. In this case, society has taken it as a norm, so much that, this issue isn't something that can be taken lightly anymore.
The industry has no obligation to care whether or not their products cause a social collapse. As long as it makes a profit, that is. The best part of this is that they’re not in the wrong for what they’re doing, as it’s legal. They make products. People buy products. People then cause problems with said products. It’s a vicious cycle.

8. Human Nature. The problems posed are possibly a type of addiction. Well, from what I've drawn from the other replies on this thread, the behaviours of those affected seem more like symptoms to me.
Science and technology are basically one and the same, they are a tool, or a means in which something is accomplished. Which is pushed forwards by Society, which is driven by human nature. We want things. The best things. It’s almost like there’s an insatiable need for this throughout society in this day and age, creating a throwaway culture, where we easily dispose of the things we do not need, wasting resources in the process, creating a downward spiral that can’t be stopped. The bubbles going to burst soon, but hopefully we’ll learn by then, as much as it seems like wishful thinking.

Basically put, we're humans, we mess up. Badly sometimes.
In all the technological rush/push/shove, we've somehow compressed everything we've never needed into a tool which started out as a means for communication, which somehow distracts some of the population into forgetting about the original point of communications to begin with.

Phones were meant to connect people who were distances a part.
We must have really messed up somewhere along the lines.

Interesting topic you brought out here. You shot down two birds with one stone if you know what I'm thinking. Whether or not you'll use our opinions for some high school essay assignment is up to your discretion. If you're using the Dollars for something like that, I commend you; it's a sly and smart move.

1. For today's standards, handheld devices are a necessity. When used correctly, they can easily reach afar and organize plans in productive scales. And because of the prevalence of handheld devices in use each year, it would be stupid not to have one. Eschewing handheld devices easily puts people in a disadvantage who wish to be part of this fast-paced society. These devices are necessary to keep up with society's standards.

2. I'm ignorant on how kids act in the classroom. But the seductiveness of handheld technology that grasps a kid's attention will certainly be appealing in a classroom setting. However, that is a classroom conforming to modern sense, and with the association with speed and attention span to modern technology, I feel that it will correlate with a student's learning capacity-- pretty bad. Introducing technology in a classroom setting, especially in the early stages of school, can mess up their attention span for future endeavors. However, one can argue that by taking advantage of the seductiveness of these devices somehow, one can possibly provide interest in learning specific subjects.

3. An introvert cannot answer this question without making some assumptions. For the sake of length, we'll just assume that direct and personal social interaction have been lessened due to this. If it is so, then it's clear that what is in the device is more interesting. But that does not mean technology is to blame with this one. In fact, technology provides people the excitement and fulfillment that they cannot obtain in reality or it can be that the person's apathy to the world is speaking. And concerning your RP friends... Have you noticed that RPing via text and acting out a scene are entirely different methods of expression? RPing via text is much easier and removes confusion for the recipient. Plus, your friends might have not wanted to look and/or sound silly in front of others; so RP with texting even when their nearby is justified in this case unless you all don't give a damn about others' impressions. Anywhooooo, I think what technology has changed is not social interaction, but the subject of discussions. From what I have seen, if people are not on their phones shopping, they are looking at stuff in order to share with others. What I've observed is that people now frequently like to share what they have found whether silly or otherwise. I think that's a plus.

4. My phone isn't anything special. It's as obsolete as yours. I've kept the "stupid" phone for texting and calling. As for my tablet, not so much. I mainly use it as backup for my laptop or if I want to read a book. The problem is that I've seen people that own a smartphone AND a tablet. Their functions are nearly identical!

5. I'll say this. If these devices do affect one's interactions with friends, then maybe that person is better off with none at all. Improving those interactions just comes to show that it's the device doing the magic. Not the person. Harming those interactions instead shows that the person's interests lies more on the contents in the device, not outside the device.

6. Predicted? Perhaps so, just like how Orwell painted us a future in 1984. But techonology cannot be blamed. Blame the person, not the gun. Turns out, things like these are inevitable. People will always strive for efficiency, and the consequence of that change these days are easy to adapt to. Whether the changes are for the better or for the worse is still an opinion of what is observed.

7. Money talks. And techonology is THE product to invest in. What people do with it is entirely up to their faults and justifications. What people such as you have established, is the importance of the previous generations' values and the lack of acknowledgment of these values is a the problem. Raising awareness of old values by actually using the devices themselves is a good scheme to remove this problem. Otherwise... Welcome to the New Age.

8. There isn't any substance to blame here. Thing is, if one blames humanity, his/her cynicism is raised. Better blame it on God or the Devil. It's far more healthy. But if you're asking for a factor, then one would have to be location. If people are surrounded by boring things that do not evoke fulfillment, then they certainly might have contracted the Zombie virus. What better method to dwell in your smartphone when something in front of you isn't very interesting? Apathy speaks, but the effort to compromise it is just too sad.

1. These days I think a large part of the world would crash without it. It is useful in many ways indeed, but it isn't extremely needed - humankind would survive without it, I believe it has just gone from useful to somewhat near overused in many ways - therefor I don't see it as important, more likely to be something as said before; Useful but overused in many ways.
But then again, if you were to take down all the devices today, I do believe a large part of the world would crash. So maybe, in a way, it is important.
Maybe not really in a good way then though because as I see it then is that the technology are controlling us rather than we controlling it if such a large part of the world would crash without it.
(I hope I'm making any sense here..)

2. No I don't. I survived my years of school without them and so would any other person do too.
To learn all you really need is pen, paper, teachers and books. You shouldn't need more than that.
But the human race has gotten lazy. Instead of a reading a book it's easier to look it up and find what you are looking for in two seconds - so therefore people do that instead.

3. Indeed. Especially when looking at the younger generation, but also on my own. I notice my friends having their phones with them everywhere, checking on it every five minutes, disappearing into a chat or game or w/e. I often try to get them away from it all by doing more social things but you notice rather fast how easily distressed they get if they don't check their phone every five minute..
(I hope I got this question right, it was some heavy big words for my poor tired Swedish brain at 5 am without any sleep..)

4. Extremely little. The most used thing would be my laptop and it's mostly to chat with people across the world - I can't really walk outside and knock on their door like I can with my friends here around me. But I would survive without it without any problem. I can also leave my phone off at home for days/weeks without even getting bothered by it, and if my laptop would break I wouldn't really panic. Well maybe a bit though if I hadn't got the time to copy my book to somewhere else first, it would suck to lose all of my work just like that, ha..

5. Probably the other way around. Especially now days when you have internet on your phone. I'm rather introverted, insecure and shy, so to be able to write to someone online I've been able to open up and be more social with others and been able to get out from my shell more and make plans fast through text. I've gotten closer to my friends rather than the other way around because of this. But as I mentioned before my friends are very focused on their phones..

6. No. Nothing can really be predicted, I guess. We can guess and we can have our theories but nothing is for sure until it really happens. No one would know this is how the future would turn out to be. And especially because technology is a really amazing thing once you think about what it can do - and because of that ,in the past, people wouldn't stop such a amazing device to be created or developed. Now days I think most of the development is for money rather than anything else. And no, I don't think they took it into consideration at all.

7. I think they are turning the other cheek around and giving the whole situation the blind eye indeed. It's all about money these days and humans are stupid enough to fall for anything and buy whatever is upgraded and created and this is known and therefore more things are created/upgraded/what not. It's rather sad.

8. In the long run...? Every individual itself, I guess. Many of us are blind and naive and thinks that as long as things are still going forward we are going towards something better.
But of course not all human race are to blame for, we still have somewhat control over our own actions and choices in life, therefore we can't blame human kind all at once but instead, if the need to blame is there, blame each individuals separately.

Technology isn't all bad, it does has its good side as well even though I might have sounded rather negative against it in my answers.

And once again I hope I understood the questions. It was some heavy big words for my poor tired Swedish brain at 5 am without any sleep indeed.. Fun subject to think about though!

>>16 Nah, I'm just curious to see what everyone's thoughts are. It would be an interesting essay topic though.

>>16 "Have you noticed that RPing via text and acting out a scene are entirely different methods of expression? Plus, your friends might have not wanted to look and/or sound silly in front of others; so RP with texting even when their nearby is justified in this case unless you all don't give a damn about others' impressions."

Wat. I wasn't suggesting they should liveplay with me :I

I roleplay just as much as they do; however, I use my computer, and I would never write out a roleplay post on any device when I'm talking to them. It's simply rude. And roleplaying itself isn't the problem - the problem is they wouldn't even talk to myself or one another because they were too attached to what they were doing with their phones.

Ah okay. So they'd rather RP than verbally talk? Gotcha.

>>20 Yes, and by the way, they weren't roleplaying with each other either. They were doing their own separate roleplays with people they met online.

I personally think the generation of idiots that Einstein anticipated has arrived and I am ashamed to be in this generation. I don't use my tech much and I haven't turned my phone on in months. I usually just surf the web and do research on my iPod and I don't talk to many people as they take up valuable time (but recently I have started becoming more sociable).

1. Relatively important, but not enough so to warrant use in class.

2. I believe that as in my school, if you use them apart from adding homework to a diary, you should have your phone confiscated and possibly you should be excluded from class for the period.

3. There is a huge variety of research that has been done in the way social networks have stopped face-to-face conversation and how this is having a very bad effect on the well being of people.

4. I wouldn't say that "I can't live without it" as I've been hearing a lot... But I use it mainly to watch anime and do research. I don't listen to much music and I don't really play games so I wouldn't miss it too much, I'd just need the world to become a tad more exciting.

5. Yes! It is way too easy to misconstrue what is being said online and this has a really damaging effect to relationships. You really shouldn't say powerful words in text form, it can be devastating; I once saw an incident where the police had to get involved.

6. It WAS predicted. Einstein himself said (pardon, not an exact quote) "I dread the day when there will be a generation of idiots and machines do the work". That day has come.

7. Turning a blind eye. In this disgusting culture we have the onerous is on getting rich and not on doing what's best. It's a sad truth.

8. That's a really difficult question. I don't think human nature per se but it's definitely down to our own individual interests that can be fulfilled by digital screens. I mean, tech is simply incredible, but it's not safe tbh.

>>21 Thanks for clarifying.

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Any other opinions?

I promise, the OP wall of text isn't as scary as it seems.

I'm surprised to see something like this on the main page. But, I understand your point. I've seen kids at school complain about their parents not buying the iPhone 5 for them as I'm here on a cell that is almost the 2000 era. Now to your questions:
1. I think that if used properly, handhelds can be very beneficial.
2.Only in very, very specific situations. (Almost never)
3.Don't make me laugh. Of course they have. I used to be able to go over to my friends house and just hang or duel (Yu-Gi-Oh), but now, we don't do that much because of his fucking X-Box or PS3.
4. Phone; meh...not really. Music; definitely. Too much, really... Tablet; seeing as how my music is on it....
5....only every now and then.
6.I don't think this could have been predicted, and if so, not in this large of a scale. No, I don't think it's the tech industries fault, not entirely. I think people should know when to say enough is enough and know when to put the phone down.
7.Blind-eye
8.The people doing this. Who else can you blame?

>>28 Why is it surprising? lol

We have a lot of good discussions on Main. They're just buried because most of the points have been beaten to death already and/or they haven't been bumped recently. There also haven't been many made these past few months, unforunately.

wow...i never knew something like this would actually come up on this board. But I can see their point, I don't know the answer of course.

1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?
I believe they are important! But not necessary. (I never had a phone until I was in high school) But it is important for your parents and love ones to contact you while you are away. Apps and etc are, needless to say, unnecessary but sometimes helpful depending.

2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?
In university, cell phones are used as a mean to answer multiple choice questions on the projectors. This will then be followed by the % of people who answers "a" or "b" which is pretty neat if you asked me. But it's only useful in this circumstances. Other times it can be distracting if you really cannot control yourself (which is not me)

3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration?
Yes. I'm just so glad that I've come from a generation where smartphone weren't introduced after we learned manners, respect and etc. I was with my friends the other day and one person had his nose buried in his phones texting and all my other friends were joking/taunting (lighty) about how he was not interacting with us. It was a good laugh and eventually he put his phone down and we had a nice chat. I have a hard time texting my friends because of this. They ask me "You reply so late!!" and It's just rude to text (regularly) during social a social outing.

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet?
Not very. But I have a baby cousin who is two and have a tablet LOL. She's very attached.

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends?
As mentioned, no. Indirectly, yes. B/c it's so much easier/convenient whenever i need to reach them

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration?
I don't know anyone could've predetermine this social phenomenon. Maybe with mass experimentation? Maybe. But I don't the technology industry can be blamed for this. They're just building stuff. Which is cool. Technology has the power to influence and shape us. And I have already been shaped and influenced by things that weren't really considered advance tech. (Yay SNES!) So if you've introduced a tablet to a young individual whose identity has not been shaped yet then I believe that their identity would be dependent on that tablet or piece of device. So I'd blame the parents I suppose :/ Though that can be argued against.

7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?
I wouldn't say that. Some would even say that this isn't a problem. That our society is advancing. People in the 80s will always say the music of the 80s were golden and the music industry of today is turning stuff to shit (Looking at you Bieber!) But in reality, music today is advancing and it's getting better... I guess. So maybe there isn't a problem in today social interaction, maybe it's just advancing. (But who are we kidding, 80s music is awesome)

8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?
Not science, not technology. Probably society, probably ignorance. I really believe the age you are introduced to technology makes a huge difference. Technology is made to make things in life easier. And today technology make things SO much easier. And they say hardship build character, and I totally agree with that. So if you grow up in a world where you can wash dishes with a push of a button and where you can say "SIRI! FETCH ME A COFFEE!" Then, well, how are you suppose to know what you're capable of?

Of course I'm only able to reply to this post through the help of technology. You can say it has it's flaws and benefits

**Right... and you can't be asked "You replied so late!"
You'd think technology would've corrected me on that in this day in age. Maybe in the future

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All bumps lately and no replies? C'mon, people.

its a choice,
i choose to take advantage of the technology.
not being a fool to buy it for show.

Yes, technology has been affecting everyone. I hate to admit it, but I am attached to some electronics. I don't care to try being friends who have their faces shoved into some silly smartphone, texting people right across the room in class! Why can't people wait to talk until after class?! Yes, technology is separating us. We rely on the internet to communicate to people. I do it too. But I don't want to be in a relationship were my "friend" only chats with me via text or instant messaging. Some people just buy these electronics to fit in, when they don't need it to be friends with people! Go out and meet people in person! I admit I use electronics to communicate, but thats because most of my friends are across the country, and I use my phone to make plans to meet people outside the house.

1. I don't think handheld devices are very important. Even if you're out, and your parents need to know, it's not like they need to check on you every five minutes until you get back. It is good to have something handy to contact emergency services, however.
2. Definitely not. In fact, I am completely against any portable devices being used in class. My only exception would be if students are specifically studying the technology.
3. Social interactions have definitely been reduced. I actually like to refer to this as the "awkward age." The media has also been pushing the message of awkwardness in many ways lately, which does anything but resolve the issue.
4. For my phone: I can honestly say I'm not very attached. I'm thinking of getting a pre-paid phone with maybe a card that supplies 30 minutes. It would probably take about a month for me to use that much. One of my co-workers borrows it sometimes, and probably uses it as much as I do (but not in a bad way).
For my PSP: I use it for gaming at home from time to time, but never really take it anywhere else (except for maybe a roadtrip). I also listen to music on it for a few minutes before I sleep.
For my 3DS: I game on it occasionally, and that's about it.
5. No. I don't really have many friends I hang out with though, so I guess that's not saying much.
6. I'd probably need to dive into history on the era, and get a good idea of society from that time. However, you seem to be referring to the "technology industry" as just one big company that runs everything in developing computerized systems today. But really, different devices can be developed by all sorts of different people around the world to aid their use. An "industry" is just a branch of manufacturing, such as the textile industry, or the industry of agriculture. It isn't just one organized, unified group. Developers are independent. If there somebody were to just run an industry, it would be like having only one brand of clothes to buy, ever.
7. Again, the is discriminating against various developers of various technology. An industry cannot think for itself. There may be manly greedy pigs selling junk for more than it's worth, but you can't really logically discriminate against an entire industry.
8. I don't think we can really blame anyone for these changes as much as we blame ourselves. You can't blame scientists, only individual scientists. You can't blame technology, only the developers. You can't blame all of society, but rather those that conform as opposed to those whom do not. It would be vain to say that all human beings practice generational ignorance, while claiming one's self not to do so. Human beings develop machines to make tasks easier. A machine can be as simple as an inclined plane. Would it honestly be so wrong as to use ramps to roll items into a shipping vehicle, as opposed to attempting to lift it all by hand? The problem is, there can always be too much of a good thing, and there isn't a way to draw a line on it all without infringing on our rights.

Also, as far as solutions go... I've got nothing.

Bump.

>>41 You have . . . well, parents that definitely aren't mine according to your (1). Mine had me let them know what was up every 15 minutes.

>>41 Let's clear up some misconceptions here.

I don't consider the technology industry "one big company" at all. It's an industry; I promise you that I understand the terminology I'm using. In addition, I personally don't blame the industry nor any particular mobile tech developer. The questions referring to it were just food for thought like the rest of them. Like I said in the OP, using them wasn't even necessary; I was just trying to help those who have trouble writing out their opinions to something like this without the assistance of a preset guideline.

"It would be vain to say that all human beings practice generational ignorance, while claiming one's self not to do so."

Generational ignorance isn't something that affects all individuals and certainly not the entire human race in many cases (or at least, not until a long enough amount of time has passed). It refers to the changes in moral values from generation to generation becoming commonplace in eyes of modern society. (A lot of religious groups use this word obnoxiously, so I'll give a lighter example.)

We could use short skirts as an example. A hundred and fifty or so years ago, a woman wearing a short skirt was very rare; when it did occur, the woman was looked at in a negative light. This belief slowly dissipated. Even now, not everyone believes short skirts are appropriate; in such case, they may call society considering it appropriate a form of generational ignorance in a negative light. We would look at it as positive generational ignorance which directly results from our beliefs that the previous generation was in the wrong.

This is the biased nature of the concept of generational ignorance; as biased as it is, however, it is not vain.

This directly relates to what I said in regards to the unsocial behavior of those who are heavily dependent on their mobile devices; this will not negatively affect their futures in society because within the next few generations, it will become the full norm with only a few people like myself still debating it. That is a form of generational ignorance.

I believe that form of it is starting up now. With many people looking forward to the advancement of technology and the increasing revenue of the industry (it's the only thing keeping America's economy even moderately positive these days), they haven't taken the chance to look back to what it used to be like; when they do, they get caught up on how long it took to look something up at the library rather than looking at the negativity of the more drastic changes that have occurred, in this case regarding their face-to-face social interactions/habits and general privacy.

Anyway, I just wanted to clear up my own opinion since you're not the first to react as if I have something vendetta against the industry as a whole.

One more explanation that I missed out on:

The reason it is biased but not vain is because no matter what you say, generational ignorance exists, and not everyone is affected by it in the transitional generations. The only thing that could be honestly considered vain would be whether the person considers it positive or negative - blissful or detrimental.

Ooooh this will be fun!

1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?
Their importance changes due to circumstances: Does a teenager need it in class? Hell no! Does a travelling businessman need one? Of course! The importance of handheld devices from person to person, however the people who use them the most also tend to be the ones who need them the least.

2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?
Funnily enough just this year my school has rolled out an tablet program. one tablet for each student, which replaces the normal textbook levy and we keep all our stuff on our tablets. This has greatly enhanced the learning and curriculum of my school as writing, emailing and submitting assignments has become a breeze compared to the archaic laptops the school supplies. However the negative of this is the huge amount of mobile gaming. People use apps such as Snapchat and Clash of Clans all day in class, but luckily the attitude of the students in the school doesn't make this too much of a problem. Overall, the boons of this program have been tremendous, and the responsibility of the students has been surprising, maybe because the misconduct consequences were very high.
In conclusion, they are not necessary, but damn they are useful!

3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration?
Yes. simply Yes. I used to commute by boat daily and the boat used to be full of rowdy kids swearing and smoking and public rudeness. Then they released the iPhone and by the 3gs the boat was awfully quiet. I am lucky that my friends are not as device attached as other teenagers, but one has a girlfriend who is overseas at the moment and it has literally become an umbilical cell phone. In conclusion, yes it is lessening social interactions, but it is not as bad as you might think.

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet?
Sadly, I have found my school supplied tablet to be rather alluring. And is starting to suck up my holidays. However that attachment is based on not wanting to do music practice rather than being umbilical. As a professional classical/jazz musician I listen to lots of music, but my portable devices are rarely used for music. I usually whip out the old walkman and put in a random CD from my fathers huge collection and listen, where as on my phone I have a few favourite albums for long road trips. I am contacted a lot by my friends through my phone, as I live close to many of them, visiting is rather spur of the moment. And as such checking my phone every hour is a bit of a habit, however when I am visiting a friend or hosting one I never look at my phone, I guess its just courtesy and talking to my friends face to face

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends?
Yes, one of my closer friends is always on his phone, and when he is we, as a group, try to include him but if he just ignores us we move on without him. He understands that we dislike him being unsociable, but he continues anyway, which is rather annoying.

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration?
I guess that it would not have been considered 15 years ago. Letters where still popular and phones were really business only. The rise in CPU power (Moore's Law) would have easily predicted the devices capabilities, but definitely not the effects of the devices.

7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?
It is hard not to notice the teenagers on your bus with their faces lit up by LED's, but the problem is not as large as it seems, and when kids graduate from school, their phone habit does as well. The fact that new iPhones come out every 6 - 12 months shows that companies know that their consumer base will keep purchasing them, and they are smart enough to know that teenagers are attached to them, and make them prettier and more attractive than the intelligent, sentient life forms around them. It is exactly what BarabiSama said, it is an INDUSTRY, and in order to sell, you need to be competitive, and that means you need fresh ideas that your audience will soak up, and who is that audience? the tech-hungry teenagers. It is an Industry, and if the employees of the companies want to keep their jobs they need to do what they need to sell. Which is probably what is causing this 'Modern Zombie Apocalypse'

8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?
Nobody is to blame, people need to have jobs, and people have their own little niches and worlds and social lives. We should just leave the little mini skirt zombies alone and let them mature and graduate from such social segregation.

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1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?

I'd say that with the way society has developed, they're pretty important, and they make it much easier to communicate faster over larger distances and send files and such back and forth, but in all honesty, I think we could survive fairly well without them.

2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?

No. Not at all. I agree they do help in some places, but tell me. Did Einstein ever use a tablet? A smartphone? An iPad? A mp3? Anything?

3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration?

Yes, definetly yes. I swear the bus ride to and from school is completely silent, minus before we leave the school when the wifi is accesible until we're fairly far from the school.

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet?

I'm sad to say, I am fairly attached. Though, if you give me a laptop I won't feel to bad about losing my phone and iPod. I'll just carry a notebook ad chapter book when I go out. (I already do that anyway.)

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends?

Not my friends, no. We're kind of the weird group. I love my friends, they're awesome, but when it comes to texting? I hardly EVER text them, at ALL.

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration?

Not at all, and I don't think we can really blame them--we have no right. It's not their fault, they were just doing their job.

7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?

I think it's a mix, I don't know, maybe they just don't want to think about it. Here's a quote I heard somewhere: "Screw thinking! It's so depressing!"

8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?

Society and General Ignorance. Definetly. Yup.

so,here are my answers..hehe :)

1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?

well,truthfully,for me,they are quite important,that is,in the aspect of helping me to communicate with others.yup.kinda like when you need to discuss/sort things out.talk with someone who's far away.things like tht.

2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?

nope.they have never been needed before so i dont see why they should be now...

3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration?

yes.nowadays people just spend their time fiddling with their handheld gadgets.its hard to find people who just sit down and chat together

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet?

quite attached with my phone.cause it'd be problematic if i dont have it with me..

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends?

nah,not really.my close buddies are far away so it helps to be able to chat/sms with them

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration?

don't think so..anyway,they were just trying to make cooler things..i guess?improving our lives..something like that.

7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?

yeah...well...'its not really a problem if its the newest trend'.i guess they might think tht way.

8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?

society..of course.

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Bump with a quote from a family member: "At work, it's sad. There's hundreds of people there and during the break, it's quiet. Everyone is looking down, not even saying hello to each other. They're all on their phones."

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Concept Question
1. In the case of an emergency, a hand-held device is possibly vital in order to

2. Hand-held devices can be used in the classroom. We've been asked to look up things in class so that we could better understand the source material that we're working on. For example, in my choir, one of our members was asked to look up a word's meaning in conjunction with the time period that we were studying. In cases where kids are using it for non-educational purposes and just texting, though, I don't particularly agree with it simply because it can cause distractions like phones being dropped in the middle of a test, plausible cheating, and such.

3. I would agree with you in that face-to-face social interactions have noticeably diminished, but in some cases, the world has simply opened up and we've begun to prefer interactions through text rather than face-to-face interactions.

4. When I had a cell phone, I would chiefly use it for texting and to tell time. How attached I would be would fluctuate, but I eventually almost stopped using it entirely unless I needed to get in contact with somebody, and if that were the case I would call them. I don't necessarily listen to music on a portable device unless I'm at home or taking a walk. I'm on the Internet often via laptop, but use it for communication between peers, professors, and so forth. Never owned a tablet, but if I had a smartphone I wouldn't necessarily see the need for one.

5. I would try and "leave all distractions at the door" whenever interacting face-to-face with friends, and put my cell phone either on vibrate or silent. The friend(s) in particular, depending on the friend, would sometimes spend minutes at a time typing furiously away at their cell phone, where there would be long breaks between their secluded conversation and the one that we were presently having between each other. It could get annoying at times.

6. As someone had stated before, considering the mass use of IRC and IM, the Internet and worldly connections were bound to grow as were our ways of connecting to it and other people. Since we can be connected to the Internet virtually all the time now especially with the flux of fairly inexpensive smartphones on the market, this could have possibly been predicted as cell phones got cheaper, more powerful, and more accessible. Of course, the drastic amount of usage among users of mobile devices couldn't have been predicted, I don't think.

7. I'm fairly certain that mobile phone companies are worrying about how to make more money than the societal effect that their products has on its users.

8. Pointing fingers won't do much; the question is, where will we go from here?

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1. Not nearly as important as people make them out to be. They are good for emergencies, but that's pretty much it.
2. Absolutely not. Not only do some people not have access to expensive technology, but I shudder to imagine modern education getting any worse than it already is.
3. Honestly, I think social interaction is currently at its lowest. Which is very detrimental to the mind. It is my belief that people need other people, over use of technology is deleting other people from the equation, thus turning everyone into mindless zombies.
4. The only thing I use my phone for is to keep in touch with my friends so that we can plan face to face meetings. And for emergencies. My music is what I am most attached to. I say if music no longer exists in this world, then neither will I. And I don't have a tablet. No need for one.
5. Luckily, me and my friends make a point not to follow society. So that is not a problem for us. We think very differently from the majority of kids our age, and sadly, most adults as well.
6. Predicted, or planned? Sorry, I think alot about conspiracies.
7. I think the industries are far too happy with their green paper wads to care about the negative effects. They ignore it, the higher ups use it. How easy is it to control a group of zombies? Just get their attention and your puppet strings are attached.
8. Everybody. They started it, now they cant end it. But it's too late for blame. We should try to find a solution. Though I suppose that the first step is admitting you have a problem. More people are starting to see these things, so its a step in the right direction.

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1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?

before this generation i believe they were not as important as they are now considering the fact that its the most popular mean of communication in the modern day world and the main reason people find it important is thier they cannot communicate or just really enjoy it but for me its not as important




2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?

no they should not since well it may and will distract the students from the class and this then will be blamed and when the device is taken they will do nothing but find a new way to distract them selves .

3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration?

i believe they are lessening as before you would drive or walk to a friends house while now you would text , use a social website such as facebook or just call them using skype

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet?

to my phone not much as i dont even have service and my phone is my music device and i cant exercise without it

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends?

no it has not in fact most of the days im only using my phone to talk to my parents to arrange a time in which they would pick me up from my friends house .

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration?

this could have not been predicted 15 years ago but the technology industry has been growing for the main purpose of making lives more convient and also the phone industry just wanted a easier mean of communication and no i dont think that they took this into consideration but when they saw it happen they helped it .
7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?

i dont believe that its entirly their fault considering that a human can control themselves and if they feel that have a addiction they can stop .
8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?

i believe it is humanities fault since well we are the society , the generation , the inventors of technology and the discoverers of science

bump

Alright, being a highschooler who loves the internet, I thought I'd give this a go.

1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?
Depends on their usage. I try to keep my phone on me at all times, since I have health problems and often need to be picked up early when I go see my friends or even at school. My parents sometimes need to call me during school to inform me they won't be home, that kind of thing. In this day and age, I think it's important we have a way to contact our guardians when we aren't at home.
Things like iPods, not so much. Unless you have a music project recorded on there, it's not really necessary. But if you were to take them away, people would be outraged.
They aren't important, we just like to think they are.

2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?
I think technology is great at schools! My teachers email us work to make sure we don't miss it, even if we're absent. Students at my school are allocated laptops which have all the necessary programs installed so we can do work at home or during recess and send it to our teachers.
But it depends on the device. Things like MP3 Players have no real use in the classroom most of the time, nor does a DS. If you bring it to use during recess or a free period that's fine, but I don't see how it could be incorporated into actual work.

3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration?
Well, some people are more social than others. Even though most people at my school love their iPods and such, they still speak to each other. I can't believe you would text to someone right next to you when you can talk.
I've always got earphones in my ears at school - to block out noises that trigger my headaches. My friends and I often listen to music when recess rolls around, but we still talk.
Some people are more reclusive than others when it comes to technology, it would seem.

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet?
I could live without it, but I like having it around.

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends?
Not really. I still talk to my friends in class an at recess, even though most of us have phones or other handhelds which we may/may not be using at the time.

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration?
I don't know, really. Personally I wouldn't expect dependence to this degree, but some might have

7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?
Turning a blind eye. They just continue to make more products for us to gobble up.

8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?
Ignorance and carelessness as a whole. People now are just used to it and don't care enough to go against it.

Bump.

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um, i'm not gonna answer all the questions, but i just wanna say that even the teachers at my school are using their phones too much
when we're taking tests, some of them just go on Facebook and play games. our yearbook team has proof O_O

don't you think you're being one-sided in treating everything they do on their phones as being worthless? yes I agree that some people are "married" to their phones and don't take enough notice of their actual surroundings but the majority of their "world" probably takes place on their phone network whereas your "world" mostly takes place in reality.

>>71 I never said what they did on their phones was worthless. I actually tend to some very important business on my computer, and I'm sure they do the same on their phones periodically. But regardless of where their "world" exists, in what way is it healthy to cast aside reality and live in your phone? How is it acceptable to ignore and disrespect people simply because they don't live in your phone?

In the end, you can't rip your heart and brain out and merge with your mobile device; whether your world exists there or not, your body doesn't, and tending to your body and reacting to the body and existence of yourselves and others is more important than texting people in another room; those people in the other room aren't going to be able to tell you if there's a fire underneath the bleachers or if an axe murderer is behind you. They can't even tell you if the teacher is staring at you on your phone.

So in what way does it matter whether their reality is there or here? It doesn't change my argument.

I never said that you did mention that what they did on their phones was worthless, but that's how you came across in my view and where are you getting the assumption that I said they rip their heart and brain out of their bodies and then merge them with their phone? all that reality and world stuff occurs in the mind, not through a physical connection. not to mention, since when did their personal reality only consist of text messages between other people and why would you need to take an axe murderer or a fire beneath the bleachers into consideration when they are only potential hazards rather than permanent ones that will have a factor in determining the usefulness and worth of their personal realities? if you really think that their phones will render them unable to provide for their own body then I think their are more factors to consider than just the phone such as personal trauma, OCD, psychological disorders e.t.c and it isn't casting away reality and living on your phone, it's integrating your own reality/world into the reality shared between the rest of humanity.

>>74 Could I request a side of proper English with this post?

You did say that I was suggesting what they did on their phones was worthless. I'm pretty sure that's the first sentence of your last post. As for the rest of it, I'd like to respond, but I can't fully decipher what you're saying behind your lack of grammar and don't want to respond to what I can only assume you're saying.

I feel that phones, tablets, computers are things that are susposed to used as tools that help to enhance our lives. And they do in some ways but i feel that the negative things to come with the advantages of these things may be too great. Gaining the ability txt and send emails isn't worth losing the ability to communicate with the people standing right beside me. And thanks to technology and the internet you here more and about things like child pornography, human trafficking, drug trafficking, online bullying etc. being more and more accessible to people along with innocent people having their identities stolen and their lives ruined.

I think that in this day age we've made things that were suppose to be used as everyday tools into a everyday necessity to live in this modern world. And it's only going to get worse as we go further into this "cyber age" in history.

I hope that any of this made sense. I sometimes have a hard time wording things.

Typos. So many typos. I guess thats what happens when i type on my phone with these fat thumbs.

1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?
I think they make life easier for people in the sense that if you need to know something or communicate with someone right away you can, but other than that I think they're being over-used.

2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?
Things such as phones and tablets are obviously not helping students learn, they just get distracted because of all the other possibilities these things give us. Technology such as smart boards that are used for teaching only are not a problem.

3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration? I wouldn't say they're lessening no, not that i've experienced. Sometimes this technology gives people more things to talk about. Sure people keep their faces in their phones but they still interact with their friends.

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet? Not at all actually. I'm a little attatched to my computer because I get to talk to my friends who I have moved away from and because it opens me up to a world where I can learn about things and use my time wisely (if I'm in the right mood).

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends? Only to the point where they talk about things they've seen and expect me to know certain things. Ihave a friend who thinks I know everything that goes on in her life because she posts it. In the future a lot of the stories we tell our grandkids will be about stuff that was posted on the internet.

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration? Personally, I think if they knew they were going to make money off of it they would do it anyway. Regardless, we the people are the ones to be blamed. We let this technology brainwash us and become a thing we can't live without. It has all our lifelines and we feel lost without them because we spend all our time on it.

7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?
I can't really say what they think since it is made up of many people. I'm sure they all have their own views on it, bu obviously someone in charge thinks that what's going on is okay. Think about it, nobody is just going to get rid of all this technology. Nothing like that has ever happened before and I don't think it ever will.

8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?
The society. Everything now-a-days has it's own facebook profile or instagram. You can even scan a bar code to get to their webstes because EVERYONE has a smart phone. I don't have one and I certainly don't want one. People don't acknowledge this as a problem so they incorprate technology into every.single.thing in our lives. I started reading Farenheight 451 this year and every time I turn a page it makes me fear for what the future holds. Technology in this generation is having a huge golden age there's no doubt about it, but i'm not sure that's exactly a good thing...

what about it was grammatically incorrect?

1. Well.. Ofc you can live without them. We have been doing that for so long. Though I like that they exist, it is easier to call and contact people. If you live a bit from your friends it is really nice to be able to call and socialize like that instead. The problem is how addicted everyone gets. All the apps and oppertunities makes you forget the real world.
2.I prefer when you don't use them in school actually. It would be easier to take notes and stuff but on the other hand teachers starts to assume that everyone can connect to the internet through the phone and when you don't have one you kind of get in trouble because you can't do what they want you to. (That have happened to me)
3. I do. My social skills is a lot lower than before I started to hang out on the internet. When I meet people I barely know but know enough to say hi to it always turns out really awkward and it is almost like that with friends to.
4. A lot. Really. More than I should but at the same time less than most people.
5. Yup. I was on a movie night just the other day and everyone sat with there phone, including me, at some point playing games and such.
6. I think that you couldn't predict this. Like... no one could have known how big the internet and such would become. But I wouldn't blame technology industry for it. Like.. No one is forcing you to get a computer or get that game for your phone. They might be selling it but in the end, it is you who is buying it.
7. The only think that would make them try to make things better if they somehow would lose money otherwise. Let's be real, if something is working and gives you some cash, would you want to remove that!? I would have a hard time doing that and I think that goes for most people.
8. It is no ones and everyones at the same time. I can't really blame just one person or industry but at the same time because someone did something something else is going to happen. But, as long as no one actually planned this.. I wouldn't like to blame someone. And if people sees this as a problem... You just have to start with fixing yourself and influence your friends to do the same.

>>79 Basically everything .__.

I can't exactly number all the answers to the questions but in my honest opinion I am a pretty attached to my iPod and laptop, and yes it is due to social media. However I still talk with friends and hang out sometimes, and even though I might not want to I do join in the conversation with family business and such, so it's not like I would cry if I got my stuff taken away (which did happen but I was more annoyed than actually hurt). I can actually sit through a movie and not take my stuff out (if I do then it is a really really really bad movie). So yes it did affect how I socialize with others but at least I can still talk to people in the face.

But what made it grammatically incorrect?

But what made it grammatically incorrect?

But what made it grammatically incorrect?

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I think some people will fail their course if they keep doing the chatting with your friends during class using cellphones and there is a biv risk of losing the expensive cellphones or getting confiscated

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>>83 If you're going to be so persistent, fine. I'll correct what I can understand. First I'll write what you wrote; then I'll correct it. I'll even fix bad wording.

"I never said that you did mention that what they did on their phones was worthless, but that's how you came across in my view and where are you getting the assumption that I said they rip their heart and brain out of their bodies and then merge them with their phone?"

I never said that you actually mentioned that what they did on their phones was worthless, but that's how you came across in my opinion. I never said that they should rip their hearts and brains out of their bodies and merge it with their phones.

Here, you had one very large run on sentence which was fixed. The word "assume" doesn't work in this sentence at all since you were using it improperly, and there was no other variation of a question that I could think would work reasonably. You were also mixing singular and plural nouns improperly.

"all that reality and world stuff occurs in the mind, not through a physical connection."

All of those reality and world things occur in the mind, not through a physical connection.

You did not capitalize your sentence and screwed up your singular/plural nouns (again). Also, this doesn't make any sense at all; of course reality has everything to do with the real world. If you're living in your personal reality made in a virtual world, then you're affecting REAL reality and your physical world; that's what this thread is about, for God's sake.

"not to mention, since when did their personal reality only consist of text messages between other people and why would you need to take an axe murderer or a fire beneath the bleachers into consideration when they are only potential hazards rather than permanent ones that will have a factor in determining the usefulness and worth of their personal realities?"

Not to mention, since when did their personal realities only consist of text messages between other people? Why would you need to take an axe murderer or a fire beneath the bleachers into consideration when they are only potential hazards rather than permanent ones that will have a factor in determining their usefulness and the level of their worth in their personal realities?"

You didn't capitalize the first word of the sentence. This was basically a giant run on sentence. You also screwed up singular/plural nouns and inappropriately worded basically every sentence.

As a personal response to what you said: 1) You're the one who suggested that their phones were their personal realities and that we shouldn't be judging them for talking to people through their phones instead of face to face when they're right next to each other because their phones are their realities. 2) Those are "potential hazards," but they're also permanent ones and important ones. Whether or not you text your friend the answer to their test on time is the temporary hazard; dying in a fire is a permanent one. Get your facts straight. 3) If their level of self-worth is decided by how frequently they use their mobile devices, there's an issue, and they need to get some confidence outside of a screen.


"if you really think that their phones will render them unable to provide for their own body then I think their are more factors to consider than just the phone such as personal trauma, OCD, psychological disorders e.t.c and it isn't casting away reality and living on your phone, it's integrating your own reality/world into the reality shared between the rest of humanity."

If you think that their phones will render them unable to provide for their own bodies, then I think that there are more important factors to consider rather than the phone like personal trauma and psychological disorders. It isn't just casting away reality and living on your phone; it's about integrating it into the reality shared with the rest of humanity."

Again, you couldn't even be bothered to capitalize your first words. Again, the entire thing was a run on sentence. Again, you mixed up your singular/plural nouns. Again, everything was just worded wrong.

As for a personal response: 1) What I said was a dramatization in response to you suggesting that the reality in their phones are more important. 2) Psychological disorders have nothing to do with this. 3) Of course it's about having balance. You're the one who was saying that the "reality" they have towards their phones was more important; don't try to change up your opinion after you realize what an idiot you sound like.

Anyway, I normally wouldn't go into this, but you're the one who was begging for me to point out your grammar mistakes. I also had to assume what you were trying to say since the way you worded everything was difficult to understand.

BAMP. And Hi Barabi. lololol

>>92 FORTE, YOU-
When did you get back here .-.

Hi c:

>>93 I posted a small story in random in the faces thread. lol

and I just recently started increasing my visits hahah

"I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots." ~ Albert Einstein

New rule: Please don't quote Einstein and post it like it's your argument. Enough people have done it already.

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Is it ok that me and my friends talk over Skype all the time?

>>99 Of course :I

This thread is mainly talking about handheld devices that interfere with unrelated, day-to-day activities and communication.

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I will admit I use my phone often at school, not in class, but during a breaks like lunch or afterschool before extracurriculars. But not because I have a choice. All of my friends are engulfed by Facebook or what somebody they don't know said about their post on twitter. I literally get shunned if I'm not on some kind of device. I love talking to people face to face, I love talking to teachers, students, principals and so on. But the students who I see more often really don't give a flying f***. Barabi I feel for you! SO SO much. I invited my friend over to hang out cuz I hadn't seen her for like a month, I thought, omg this is gonna be so much fun! We're gonna talk and talk and catch up and it's gonna be so great! Yeaa no. She spent 5 minutes to give me a recap of her life and we talked about any new and cool animes and so on then she started talking about Facebook. Now, I don't have Facebook so I don't understand half of what she's saying but it sounds like gossip and I'm like ok, ok, she said what about who? (Isn't social media wonderful?) and when she was done she went on her phone... I thought she was just gonna check if anything important came but nope... She just sat there for an hour not saying anything and when I tried to talk to her she got pissed off. Really? She's a wonderful person, just without her phone, like many people are.

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We all kind of want the zombie apocolypes to happen just saying.

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Hmm, old and bitter I see.

>>116 Wat.

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If a zombie apocalypse happens, you really only have to survive for a few months. because the people are dead, their muscles will start to decay, and once they have decayed to a certain point it will be physically impossible for them to stand and eventually move.

>>122 You're a fucking idiot.

122 is right though its a flaw in every movie

>>123 im actualy not. I was not talking about the post, it was an unrelated statment, this post made me think about it.

im in the same financial boat, but the only thing handheld is my phone and books.. and i think that phones shouldnt be allowed, just for like concentration purposes..cuz some of us are trying to get a couple of scholarships (me)..

>>125 Why post it on the topic then? There is a thread on Random about surviving a zombie apocalypse, post it there.

1. I find them to be a very useful advance in technology. Despite the setbacks that you brought up, I find them to provide benefits such as GPS and more options for communication tech.
2. I do, in fact, think they should be a part of the classroom, but not in the same way you depicted in your post. I believe that the future of industry will require some sort of technological knowledge, so being adept at computer usage or phone usage will be a very valuable asset to you in the long run, however shopping online or facebook during class can be a major distraction and detriment to one's learning ability.
3. Yes. Though it may provide benefit in that people cities apart can easily contact one another, physical social interactions have greatly decreased and though they may not have changed in quantity, the quality of time people spend together has become much worse.
4. I love my phone. I also use an Ipad to take notes during class, and it conveniently records the lectures, so I can easily playback to what the professor was saying at a particular time in my notes.
5. Yes, it has. People are forgetting how to spend time with each other unplugged. That "awkward silence" didn't used to be awkward. People knew how to interact without being withdrawn from society. People are forgetting how to appreciate others deeply and fully because they are losing their sense of physicality. We've become a culture addicted to others' "likes" because we have this sense of insecurity that is fulfilled when we recieve instant gratification for what we say, but in reality it makes is more physically withdrawn because we're less willing to put ourselves out there and do the same in the physical world.
6. I don't think anyone could have predicted the way things would turn out. Nobody ever knows for sure what will happen in the long run. However, looking back on this, it can easily be pointed out that it is a product of corporations' selfish nature. Naturally, they want the best for themselves - to make more money, to build up a stronger userbase. In doing so, they have to make their product enticing, even addicting, causing people to use their product more.
7. I'm sure they know. It's all a part of their research of their own product. It's not that they don't care, but it isn't in their benefit to help the situation. Making their product less enticing means they make less money. In addition, if they were to make their product less addictive, another corporation will quickly fill in its place.
8. I honestly don't like to point fingers. Fault doesn't matter, it's what you do to change things for the future that matters. You can blame the corporation for making an addictive product, you can blame users for using and thus funding the product to success. There are tons of directions to point in, but in the end it is you who chooses or doesn't choose to use their product, and that's what makes the difference in the end. If everyone chooses to use these handheld devices, they are free to, and if you choose not to, you are free to make that choice as well.
I'm not saying nothing should be done about this "zombie apocalypse" at hand, but it starts with the consumer. If you want to change something, you have to do something about it because corporations won't.

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I used too much of my brain power on a debate earlier to think of anything for this so take a bump until later.

I am sort of torn on this issue.

One reason people seem to use their phones or other stuff so much is because people are unpredictable. If you talk to someone, you could have a lot of fun, the conversation could be interesting, etc. However, talking to someone could result in a very awkward conversation in which neither person has anything to say. In the latter situation, each person goes through a lot of effort trying to make the situation fun and somehow rewarding, only to essentially waste it.

However, using your phone is very predictable. Checking your texts has a set routine that you do, and there is an assured gain from doing so. You can get a new message, which provides gain from reading the message. Or, you can see that you have no new messages, which in itself provides some sort of satisfaction that you are on top of things. As a result, teenagers have lost some ability to communicate effectively, or at the very least, lost some ability to tell if they are communicating effectively.

However, they don't view this as a problem. Using your phone is easier than talking to other people. Your phone does most of the work, serving you entertainment while you just have to take it in. In a conversation, you have to put forth effort to provide something worthwhile and you have to interpret other people's responses. It's definitely more difficult.

Do I view it as a problem? Well, it certainly is disheartening to me seeing people who don't really pay attention to anything I say as I speak to them. Communication is two way. If someone is so addicted to the ease of their technology that they cannot put it away and pay attention to me, that's a problem. If they know I feel insulted when they look at their phone when I am speaking to them, and they do it anyway, that's a problem.

It is a problem with the technology. Naturally, humans want things to be easier. So, in that sense, you could say it is people's fault for using the technology. However, the technology makes it way too easy to avoid doing basic things like talking to people. I consider that an issue.

I don't think using it educationally early on is a problem. Technology can more easily find the best way to communicate with children faster than evolution can change humans to do so naturally. This does get them more familiarized with the technology, which I supposed means they may use phones earlier in their lives.

However, I once again have proven myself wrong with a simple example from the past. Imagine an expert butter-churner coming into the future and finding no one knows how to churn butter. They may think that is very bad, that everyone knew how to churn butter back in their day. What if you couldn't buy butter anymore, and you didn't know how to churn it properly? They might think it is madness.

However, the evolution of our species depends upon discarding skills and knowledge and gaining new ones. If every person had to keep every skill that had ever been learned, we'd still be in caves. So, in this sense, entire generations losing skills is not automatically bad, and can even be considered good.

However, I don't actually agree with this type of social evolution, and I think we should have to learn everything we do. It would significantly slow our technological evolution as a species, which means we would evolve alongside the technology rather than the technology evolving much faster than us.

Basically, I think it's a problem now, but in the bigger picture it isn't really a problem at all.

I'm still thinking about it.

'Modern Zombie Apocalypse'... that's a bit extreme. Don't you think that if technology has caused this much of a problem, they would have abandoned it by now. Phones connect people to others regardless of distance. Our lives may never cross and in doing that I might of not met a person who brought up this subject, however the topic has intrigued me, never the less I read this on my laptop wile procrastinating from my studies. The very definition of social dosen't refer to talking to a person face to face or even talking at all, to socialize just means to connect with others. As far as the blame goes, its no ones fault, and if you really want to blame someone, blame yourself after all you bought the phone, you text your friends...
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The world isn't as bad as you may think...

I feel like if you're at least aware of what you're doing and why you're going on your phone, computer, etc., then at least you can take steps to help yourself ease off of technology. Pretty much just realizing you're addicted can help in the long run

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I just now noticed, but the other kanra commented...omygoodness...

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At the start of middle school lots of people took up musical instruments, I took up trombone, and we all frickin loved it. But zoom ahead to late high school an the guys who I used to play in bands with have either given up on music or just practice once a week.
This is basically cause people would much rather spend time on their computers that take extra effort to go to a band practice. It's all getting a bit out of hand...

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1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?
I believe that handheld devices are important to some extent. They are very useful in school and work situations as in typing up reports and essays. Its a lot faster and saves paper as well. Today's society is very fast paced and high in demand. An example would be when someone calls 911 and the operator has to fill in the information on the computer. The computer gives the operator a chance to fill out the information fast and effectively so that the operator can then send the information (via computer) to first responders.

2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?
Like I said in the first question I believe that they are useful for writing essays and such especially during final exams when students have a time limit. I do think that some schools are more strict than others when it comes to using cell phones in class. I don't think they should be on students during class or even between classes. They should be stored in lockers during school hours. It can be argued that cell phones have the internet that helps a student learn but its up to the teacher to decide if that is relevant for what the class is learning. If the class as a whole had to use computers then the teacher would have booked the computers ahead of time. I think that there should be no tolerance at all with cellphones in class because they are a distraction that keeps students from learning. If teachers see a cellphone in class then it should be taken away from the student. The fact that this happens and students throw a tantrum over it is ridiculous. Students need to be more disciplined and have to know that they are in school to learn.
3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration?
Yes and no. As for face to face interactions, yes they have decreased dramatically. In my opinion, when you're with friends you should be talking to them and not be on your phone. The human race is in general a sociable type. Its healthy for us to maintain stable social interactions. And in order to keep a healthy relationship with friends we need to talk to them verbally. The full extent of emotions and facial expressions cannot be expressed though texting even with emoticons. In saying this, the internet has opened up new opportunities for me. I met my current boyfriend online and he lives in a different country than me so in order to stay in contact we talk through Facebook and Skype. I think that the internet is a great way to meet new people and get to know them better. As long as your careful and don't use your webcam right away. In a way its safer meeting people online because your behind a computer screen and there is no risk of a negative physical confrontation. I think that its up to the individual to determine whether a person is safe to meet face to face at this point. Its up to that person to determine whether or not they can trust this new friend. To wrap it up, since this is a faced pace world, it can be challenging to meet new people so meeting them online can be an interesting new experience as long as we put safe boundaries up in order to protect ourselves from potential predators.

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet?
Being and Okatu, I am very attached to my computer and use it almost every day. Its a great way to watch anime and keep in touch with my boyfriend. As for my phone, i have a cheep plan with no data and i only use it to phone my mom and tell her where i am or too phone friends if we got separated in the mall. I don't use my phone in school because personally I don't see why I would have a need too. I'm in high school and with my income I could only afford a phone until recently. So being that I received my first phone this year, I don't understand how people can become so attached with their phones. I think thats how it should be. I don't agree with toddlers being exposed to phones at such a young age when they should be learning. I think that students should be given phones in high school so that their parents can keep tabs on where they are and in case of emergencies.

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends?
Yes they have. There have been times when my friend has used her phone to text her boyfriend when I was trying to start a conversation. I personally find that very rude and I have told her this. Since she is an understanding friend she doesn't stay on it to long and puts it away. I haven't even considered taking my phone out when talking with friends other than to tell my boyfriend that I'm busy and that i'll talk to him later. And even though I can become attached to my computer I do take time to spend with my friends and participate in other activities such as reading and sports.

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration?
I don't think this could have been predicted. Adults today seem to be astonished by how addicted to phones kids can be. I don't think that industries can be blamed. I think it depends on the person and their values. People need to learn to be more disciplined and not abuse the use of technology. The tech industry just provides us with these devices. Its our decision on how we use them.

7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?
It depends on the person and not the industry in whole. There are people in the tech industry who think like us and there are those who don't. Whether they turn a blind eye or not doesn't really matter. We need to start making these choices for ourselves.

8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?
I think its society. We as a whole have become too dependant on technology and should act upon it. I think teachers and parents in general need to be more strict with kids and we as individuals need to find out for ourselves if this is becoming an issue in our lives.

*Otaku and fast paced. sorry but that. dyslexia gets the better of me sometimes lol ^_^

guns wouldn't work I guess swords. the ammo for guns will run out so sword or some how we get powers and shoot Kamehameha's or rasinshurikin

>>166 Ot generally helps to not look like an idiot if you reqd through the thread before posting.

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>>178
You had me going there

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Well i am not going to answer all the questions but to cut it short i would say technology or the society itself has restricted their own articulation of thinking.

The internet allows the media to spread further,from a young age , a child is exposed to religious , racial and superiority/inferiority discrimination through leaks of the unsecured internet. Not only that but stereotypes are plastered all over their virtual world that they cant even tell apart between a fact and a fraud.

It is very obvious that those whom often check out or use social networks, with wide usage are bound to be overall unable to comprehend or rationalise with their own way of thinking.
Meaning they are heavily influenced

Example

Country A takes education very seriously
Student A from country A happens to be upset with what the govt is doing
Stating that country A is a country with high rates of people with depression
And that majority does not agree with that(note ; student A takes not of how sad everyone has been, and majority of the world does not understand how they feel.

Student B is from a foreign country and states the students in country A are thinking too negatively of their education system.

(note; in a very nice polite tone)

However these are the reactions

*Wow ! student A is right. I thought no one understood. Sadly we are the minority

*Student B you dont even understand!

and etc

These people dont even know what they are doing.
They wanted to be the minority
They wanted to be better.
Matter of fact is that the Media shows depression as something pitiful
people want to relate to it.
People want to express their sadness. That very depression that was mention was caused by the influences onto these peoples thinkings.Bluntly, they are all delusional and illusional people whom symphatize with themselves due to their dependence on the internet.
In other words, they dont find their own knowledge and have lesser exposure to reality. They never consider the challenge their own thoughts.

I personally am biased towards a certain side of this subject , i disliked the fact that verbal cyber bullying was such a big thing so im really not very sure.

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Science and Generational ignorance

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go to a military headquarter and steal a tank

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Nya!

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Nya!

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1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?
I don't think handheld devices are that important. But, of course, that depends on what you are using it for. I use my phone as a computer away from my computer. I have my photos, music, and all of my contacts. I access the internet and use my email on here frequently. I'm even using it now, to answer these questions. I would not say I am attached to my phone like a child to its mother. I could go without it. But, it is convenient for when I need to contact my family or friends. Almost all of my friends live in different parts of the country or in other cities. Now, I will tell you, I am 15 years old. So perhaps this seems strange. But, I don't think my phone is important to me. The only reason I don't want to lose it is because it wasn't cheap and I like to go to different places. I need my phone to make sure I can contact my mother when I need to. So, I mostly own it for emergencies and to keep close to friends. And, of course, for music.

2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?
Absolutely not. I think phones being in the classroom is a distraction. I only use my phone for music during class when we are working separately, when I'm in study hall, or at lunch. I can understand for music, considering music helps me to concentrate, but texting? Hell no!

3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration?
With first-hand accounts, yes. In my own house we speak to each other less. We were just watching Saving Mr. Banks in the living room Friday. We were all pretty excited to see it and so we turned it on. We got all comfy on the couch and shut all the lights out. Not even ten minutes into the movie my dad and older sister are on their phones. It seems you can't even try to have a movie night with the family without someone *needing* to get on their phones. Its rather frustrating. Same thing has happened when I am with my friend. Both of us do it, and we both get annoyed with each other.

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet?
Well, as a phone, I'm not very attached at all. But, because my phone has all my music on it, I am a little attached. Music is a huge part of my life so, I always have it playing. If my phone was separate from the music, I wouldn't mess with it even half as much. Oh and, the closest thing to a tablet I own is a Nook. But that's for reading, which is super awesome. Love my Nook.

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends?
Not really, considering mobile devices have allowed me to stay close to my friends. Though, there have been a few times where my friend would be talking to someone through text or Skype. I have done it a few times too, but we all try to avoid it.

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration?
I don't think this could have been predicted fifteen years ago. This kind of technology wasn't even invented then. Fifteen years ago, no one knew what a "touch screen" was.
I do believe technology can be blamed, but not entirely. Yes, if it weren't for this technology we might talk to our friends more, but the human element must be considered too. We have had the choice the entire time not to take advantage of this freedom to access anything and everything from anywhere and at anytime.
I also don't think the technological industry considered this, because they couldn't imagine what this freedom could or would do. Plus, they don't really care. As long as they get paid.
7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?
I think its a mixture of both. The multi-trillion dollar industry would turn a blind eye because they like the money. Humans tend to be greedy, so they tend to not give that up. Not all, but many. But, perhaps their turning a blind eye is causing them to believe this is no issue. Maybe they are lying to everyone and have some how convinced themselves?
8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?
It's hard to pick just one. I think it was more of a chain reaction. It all started with science. Science is the study of the world and how it works. It's also expanding our knowledge and intellect. Because of expansion of knowledge, people like to create new things, which led to technology. Again, more science and advancement. Society jumped in later on, when technology got bigger. Adding in social networks and things like that. As technology became very big, people got lazy and so generations became ignorant.
Its pretty easy if you look at it the right way. I'm not sure who I would blame. I can't say science or technology, because they have both helped humanity in many ways (e.g. medicine). Perhaps society, the human element?

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Interesting opinions \o\

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>>134 Wow.

Well, I guess I changed my opinion slightly. I think discarding skills and using technology to replace them is really, really bad. Doing so will effectively cause humanity to restart from square one once we wipe ourselves out. If no one can actually write having relied on a computer for so long, we'll be in a shitty spot when our computers fail.

I guess I understand why it's not completely bad to forget some things. Butter churning is easy enough to pick up on. However, writing takes a very long time to learn, and going from scratch with barely anyone that knows how is bad.


Also, should mention I don't have a cell phone. I am a very outnumbered minority in my age group in this respect. I have two jobs and I've never needed it. It's possible, although a little more inconvenient, to live life without a cell phone.

>>233 I lost my cellphone about a year ago. Not that I used it before then, honestly. The only time my minutes ever got a dent in them is when I was dating a guy without a computer :\ Phones, nevermind smart phones, are not necessary for life.

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Bumb again -.-

1.on a scale of 1-10 (10 being very important) 6.9
2. as long as it is not a every day thing
3. a bit
4. very
5. never
6. no
7. blind eye, they are making money
8. Society

>>234 It's unfortunate that so many people think that is true. They have hinged their life on the ability to use one piece of technology. This is what I'm afraid of.

I thought you were talking about real zombies..

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These are all very valid points.

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Isn't this exagerated ? Sure people are kinda like that, but at least where I live ( France ) we do speak to each others a lot, and you can't just get a phone out in class ( no one does that except me anyway, playing GTA on a tablet during school, and they listen to classes too ). Well I still hate how people are too shut in their circles and you can't just talk to strangers ( which basically means I can't get a girlfriend ), but they aren't like zombies yet.

>>246 My first post has no exaggeration in it. It may be worse here in American than it is in France.

>>247 So, how do you live ? I'm interested in how love affairs work out in your place.

I think I'd be arrested in a single day ( what's more the stereotypical american would sue anyone, so I'd quickly end up in juvie ).

>>247 It is kind of exaggerated. At the very least, it's not that bad everywhere else.

Yes, people are getting worse at communication (much worse), but they still talk to each other. I would say the phones come out when nothing is happening, so if people are talking, generally all the people listening will not use their phones. But, when there's an awkward silence, instead of thinking of something to say or continuing conversation, they avoid it entirely by checking their phone.

The attachment is just as bad as Barabi has said. I'm not surprised someone would start crying if they lost their phone. I know a few people that would happen with here.

Teenage relationships hinge heavily on texting, for the most part. If your partner texts you, not replying soon after is a heavy offense. But, like I said before, I do not have a phone, so my experience is limited in that respect.

>>249 It's not exaggerated in my own experiences, no. That doesn't mean it's as bad everywhere else.

>>250 Damn. That sucks. No wonder you're so angry at them, then. That's horrible.

>>251 I'd like to put it out there that it's not just kids. My friend's mom texts constantly (even when driving, which is why I avoid going anywhere with them). One of my friend's family also ignore calls on their home phones and knocks at the door unless they get a text ahead of time about it or were expecting a delivery, or you go and knock on a window so they know who it is. Not to mention all the people (both kids and adults) who have come to pick me up and not bothered coming up to the door, instead messaging me on Facebook or calling me to tell me they're here. Maybe I'm missing something, but it all just feels ridiculous.

>>252 Oh now that's some FUCKING SERIOUS SHIT.

>>249 The social awkwardness of others makes myself a social retard. I seriously wonder how I am going to get laid.

Well, I guess I'll become a necrophile ( time for a shitty joke ) !

ha ha

>>246 I live in France too, and in my school phones are forbidden (or they must be turned off). I totally agree with you,it's really hard to talk with strangers. When you want to make new friends and just talk to someone with no particular reason, they look at you as if you were a moron.
For the moment, there are only a few zombies.We aren't all infected.

>>255 Are you in middle school or what ? It's quite surprising to hear about phones being forbidden, otherwise, I wouldn't have expected that somewhere, unless you're part of the elite.

not really it was banned in my high school also... though no one followed the rule and the students did not care about the punishment for it. ... though my school had no respect for most of the teachers.

Talking to people is faaar better than talking to phone and things like that. Come on people...humans are turning into ordinary thongs. I dun want do just exist ...I want to live... technology cant give me warm smile like people can.

I feel like this belongs in the random section, but hey, that's just me I guess.

Mainly because its not really practical. Either way it is whatever you take ot for, I just personally believe the main board should he reserved for information we can use in our day to day life or critically important Dollars nees/update bulitons. Not used for people to keep up their status quo by posting stuff that sounds logical but its actually a matter of opinion that any on could have anyway at all and it still wouldn't be wrong.

>>260 news*
>>260 it*

Blah blah blah

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>>260 Main is for discussions, pertinent information, and getting started info. This is a discussion. Don't like it, don't participate.

This is quite interesting... :)

Before I start I want to apologize for the inevitable grammar and spelling mistakes.
1. They sure are convenient... In society's eye they seam to be always the center of attention.
2. As a student, I always make sure I never use my personal electronics during class. During class to me is a time of learning; however, most of my classmates have trouble with even that level of personal discipline.
3. Ofcourse, I too have noticed a decrease in the social activity of my peers and an increase in personal technology.
4. I am in some way attached to my technology, but at the same time I take time to read books, excersize, and generally do activities that don't involve tiny screens.
5. I never was a social person, I mostly use my devices to kill time. My phone has helped me to keep in contact with friends at other schools that I may have otherwise lost all connection to.
6. It was indirectly predicted by Ray Bradbury 61 years ago in his book Fahrenheit 451 (written in 1953), if you are interested in this topic I highly recomend reading it. I wrote 3 essays on this book for an English class one of which had a lot to do with the topic of this thread. It changed my opinions of phones and other things like it.
7. As to whether a "blind eye" is being turned on this by the tech industry, I don't think they care. As long as there is profit through it, they will continue to supply the electronics.
8. There are many variables that have pushed to this point. Some of them with good intent, the invention of the phone and the cellular phone where probably meant to help communication, but through time it has become a hindrance to face to face communication.

"I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots."
-Albert Einstein

>>266 Haven't heard that one before.

This is interesting and I agree with it. The name is pretty smart too. We are modern "Zombies". Although this is inspiring, I don't think many people will stop what they're dong on their cell phones and laptops because they need to feel equal to everyone else who believes electronics are all you need.

What a joke, here you are complaining about the modern technology when you're on the internet, complaining. I don't really think you thought out the situation...sorry but someone has to say it.

1. How important do you believe handheld devices are?
It depends on their uses. Just like any other inanimate object, it is based off a human's use, so to judging its importance is not so easily done.

2. Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?
As a classroom, once again depends on the use by humans. If the students are focused on actually doing their work, then such things are laptops are great helpers (especially with the fast access of information off the internet).

3. Do you believe social interactions have been lessening over the years, with or without taking the first-hand account presented previously into consideration?
This also depends, as I find some people who are 'constantly on their phones' are almost scared of human interaction for some reason, and most likely find it easier to communication with written words than a face to face conversation where their body, voice and personality are on clear show.

4. How attached are you to your phone? To your music device? To your tablet?
I'll admit that I'm quite attached to my phone and laptop, as I'm a technology lover and quite materialistic, and I find that my phone is fantastic for doing everything I need to do on a laptop/computer, but portable, as well as having uses that my laptop does not.

5. Have mobile devices ever affected your interactions with your friends?
Once again, only the ones with slight social fear have been affected, most of us have easily managed to hold entertaining conversations. And I've remained in touch and become closer to friends that I wouldn't have otherwise done (after all, it is easier to admit things over text while 'safe' under your blankets, than in broad daylight, face to face where judgment is anticipated).

6. Do you think this could have been predicted, say, fifteen years ago? If not, do you still think the technology industry can be blamed for it? Do you think the technology industry even took this kind of turn into consideration?
I don't think it could have,with the evolution of humanity happening as fast as it does. And, I'm sure a communication method is the last thing to worry about when there would've been much more important issues (war, racism, sexism, etc.)

7. Now that this situation has been brought to light, do you believe the multi-trillion-dollar technology industry is turning a blind eye to it or honestly does not believe it is a problem?
Well of course they cannot do much, as it isn't their fault at all. They created technology that allows the world to run more efficiently, so I don't see why they would have to consider it a problem when they can't control how consumers use their products. Even if they did change it to prevent this so called 'Modern Zombie Apocalypse' they'd most likely lose lots of money. And for what reason? There'll still be problems with people communicating.

8. Who do you think is at fault in the long run? Science? Technology? Society? Generational ignorance? Nobody?
I don't think the current generation is at fault, nor technology or science or society. As a whole of humanity, our fear of interacting with others and being judged has been contradicted by our desire to be around others. Really, technology has just revealed that. And that is nobody's fault, not even humanity's. If anything, we could use as an example of why more important issues in society need to be fixed. (Although, most of the present issues are due to the nature of humanity, but that's a topic for another time).

@269, I agree with you, the very reason this topic even saw the light of day was because of the technology that has caused the 'Modern Zombie Apocalypse'.

As for the whole situation about bad spelling and grammar, there are a lot of possible different reasons. Technology might be a reason, but ultimately it's not possible to blame everything on one thing, when all the little things do add up.

And that is my opinion on the topic. I personally have a mistrust in most people, so I may be a little biased in my material needs, but I do try to present a logical presentation of my point of view.

1.) How important do you believe handheld devices are?
~A device's use is its main importance. I am deployed overseas and I have to use mine to not only keep in contact with my friends back overseas, but also to speak with locals. I use a language converstion text app to be able to speak to the general populace because I don't speak Korean. Without my phone, I'd literally be lost. What you're using something for determines its import.

2.)Do you believe they should be a regular part of the classroom?
~I'm slightly picky on this subject. Personally, if they are being used the correct way then it shouldn't be that big of a deal. However; how manytimes do you catch yourself wandering around on sites other than what you intended to be on? It is very easy to be distracted from what you were originally trying to do in the first place.I have difficulty staying on task while on the internet, much less a kid. I also didn't have computers or the internet when I went througb school and I know more than the kids who use them day in and day out for classes.

3.)Do you believe that social interactions have been lesseningover the years,or without taking.the first hand account previouslyinto consieration?
~I agree with this statement. Although I'm guilty of this too. I have a bad habit of talking faster than my brain calculates so when I speak I normally end up beating around the bush until I get what I want to say out. I find it easier for me to type or write out my thoughts before speaking due to my overactive and somewhat hyperactive brain patterns.

4.)How attached are you to your phone? to your music device? Your tablet?
~Very. After going through Basic Training and having it taken away from me, I felt lost. Even if I'm not on the internet or playing a game on it, I use it to listen to my music as welk as check my bank account, make sure that I get up in time for work and so on.


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Personally, electronics aren't bad things. They're extremely useful devices, depending on how and what you use them for.