Youths now under 20
Youths now under 20, live better lives than all the kings in history. In fact, WE ALL LIVE BETTER than any of the kings throughout history.
A recent 50 mile trip illustrates this point. This trip transported about 2,000 lbs of materials on a 95 degree day. The AC was on medium so as not to freeze. I had my favorite sounds on in the background, sipping a milkshake, while speaking about an upcoming webinar with someone in California. Several generations ago, perhaps 3, it would have been a 3 day or more trip each way. You are in the elements, no showers, no AC, all while luging the 2,000 lbs. No phone, no milkshake, no internet, no music-unless live-while moving slow instead of 70mph.
Do you truly believe that more than a small percentage of our children & youth under 20, could even understand this? Taking a trip without a car, walking 50 miles over 2 or 3 days, each way. Perhaps a wagon could help with the 2,000 lbs., yet, they would not have their music, nor food choices handy. Also, without AC, no phones, no computers.
Today, to make a trip as described above, without a car, AC, etc., would be considered rugged. Candidly, most of today’s youth will consider a camping trip without the internet and their phone, harsh. This was reality for 1,000’s of years before America made many advances, including transportation, the internet, cell phones, …
Our children, the Alpha Generation, 0-10, and most of the Z Generation, 11-26, have grown up in a VIRTUAL WORLD. They could not relate to a trip like this.
We live in a world of convenience, most of us in America at least. We have instant coffee, dozens of handy beverage choices, cold or hot. We get to reheat and cook meals with our Microwave ovens. We have AC everywhere, even in the desert. We have TVs, Instant World-Wide Communication, (Phone-Texts-WhatsApp-VoiP).
We can record 4 or more TV shows, movies, and events on our Digital Platforms. We have world-wide flights like the Boeing 777-200LR and the Airbus A380. Both aircraft have a maximum speed of Mach 0.85, or about 650 mph (1047 km/h). We can go to the most remote places in the world, relatively quick. Usually with the latest, up-to-date technology.
What if Shakespeare has a Word Processor? What if Mozart and many other great writers, of words and music, had current technology? The list goes on, just use your imagination.
Social Media, various apps and games, have become daily, as VITAL to our youth as food and drink is to us. Technology is extremely seductive. Much is very gratifying, useful, even therapeutic. And our business marketplace could not exist as it does now, without technology. It has done and continues to do much good for the world we live in.
Yet, there is also a dark side to technology. My next website is going to be on Ai, Artificial Technology, so I shall not wax philosophically on it. When preparing the content for this website, it was quite similar with all the layers, to pealing an onion. Each layer revealed more darkness, some light, yet definitely more detailed information, that we, as parents, grandparents, and guardians, should be aware of.
Please understand, time is growing short. Our youth, without the Experiences of Life, that only time will bring forth, are not prepared for the future. They may know more about Technology than we older ones do, yet life is far more than Technology.
A foundation quote that has encouraged me to take more initiative, is quite simple. What you don’t know through Experience, You Gain Through Exposure.
Playing games, using these apps, quickens their minds, helps with quick decisions, and multitasking is less challenging for them.
Perspectives, Part II, will be in one of the future weekly blogs, which are online every Monday.