Machines have completely taken over our lives. We use machines of various kinds, shapes, sizes, utilities to help us in our day to day tasks. It is indeed a matter of debate on whether the consequences are good or bad. We will debate on that later but now, let us concentrate on how and what are the various machines the author is referring to.
Children do not go out to play games, as they prefer sitting indoors and spending time on their favorite play-stations or the latest video games. Outdoor games which is essential (or should I say was) part of growing up has taken the back seat. This leads to all kinds of complications as physical activity which is an absolute necessity is missing from the lives of our children. Video games and the constant glare of the television affect various faculties of the human body. Children tend to spend in the confinement of their living rooms, which does not allow to be familiar with others thus leading to a society which does not care for its’ neighbor; where each man fends for himself.
People tend to spend time on the walker or the treadmill with the air conditioner on full-blast rather than go for a walk/stroll in the neighborhood park in the fresh air. It is needless to mention the benefits of a brisk morning walk along with so many others. There were times when people across all walks of life and generations spend quite some time walking together, which was good not only for the health but even for the society as this leads to so exchange of ideas, a sense of comfort, a re-assurance that they are so many more like me and if the need arises I can reach out to them.
Most of do not even remember the last time we wrote a letter. It would not be an exaggeration if today’s generation tell us that they do not know how does a letter look like. Benefits of writing one were enormous. First and foremost the shelf life of a letter compared to its counterpart which is an email was tremendous. Letter s were preserved and read and re-read many times, simply because of the emotions attached to one. But, yes there was a distinct disadvantage of letters compared to emails and that was time. We have forgotten how to write, I know this is exaggeration but the day is not far off when this will become true. Again, the reason is simple we hardly write these days. The day is not far off when we might not recognize our own signatures or forget how does it look, simply because we do not indulge in it so often. Our fingers move but for a different reason and that id to punch keys on the PC.
Children of this generation do not want to remember or memorise anything as they can google almost anything under the sun. So, what is the need to remember and take pains for the same. Important dates in history will actually become history as it will lose its importance in the school curriculum.
