Friday, August 11, 2006

The Rant

Well, my dear friend Elissa has been calling for me to re-post the rant that I posted a few days ago. The subject of this rant was the anti-social behavior that has resulted from kids being allowed to practice their social lives completely over the internerd and how parents need to make sure that there is a balance struck between kids finding a group of their peers (on the internet in the case of the kids I was talking about) and kids being educated in social graces that they will need later in life, like the art of conversation and the arts of interacting with one's peers in a face to face manner (and in some cases being able to resolve conflict that may arise in a civil manner). These are things that CAN be learned. Yes, some people are naturals, but that doesn't mean that the shy kid that loves talking about slip knot on the internet with other kids who might be a bit nerdy can't learn to also interact well with people outside his/her peer group. I think parents are doing a great disservice to their kids by not encouraging them/forcing them to join social activities and allowing them to hang out on the internet all day. When they grow up to be adults they are going to have to find jobs and interact with others and they will need to draw on social skills they should be learning as kids. I was forced to go do things i didn't like as a kid but I can honestly say that I'm better for it now. I was and still am a huge nerd, but if my parents hadn't forced me to get out and interact with people I'd probably be a socially awkward nerd, which I'm not. I'm not saying it's cold-turkey, no internet, what I am saying is that they need a diverse range of interactions with others. Always hanging out with people just like you prevents you from growing socially.

Letting your kids sit in their rooms and play on the internet is EASY. Making them get involved is HARD. Parenting should not be easy. Some things that your kids hate now will make them better people in the future. Balance in important. I hope this sounded a lot less a-hole-ish this time.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see. You are probably right...social graces need to be developed in social situations. There's very little theory involved (the golden rule), but lots of practice needed to make sure you apply it consistently.

Did I mention there was a prize for posting the rant? No? Lunch at Aunties and Uncles, Fresh, or Vegetarian Haven...ranters choice.

I have a rant of my own on a related note, but one that I doubt would be very well received by doctors and aspiring doctors who deal with people with real problems and probably have a low tolerance for complaints that are pretty much petty in the world of medicine. Remind me to tell you about the (very young) receptionist at my doctor's office who could use some instruction about interacting in person and on the telephone with patients.

Anyway, I don't know how the original rant sounded, but this one doesn't make you sound like an a-hole.

--E

medstudentitis said...

I think I'm going to have to go for... Aunties and Uncles for 1000 Alex. I would very much like to hear your rant about your doctor's receptionists.

Can we do a weekday lunch as I will be at the cottage on the weekend? I finish work next Wednesday - on a side note woohoo - so i'll be downtown every day until then.

Anonymous said...

Yup...but this week I can only do Thursday since I have to be at work tomorrow and Wednesday and I am going out of town Friday. Does that work?
--E

medstudentitis said...

Thursday will be my third day of lunching in a row! Sounds good to me!

K

Anonymous said...

Hoo-rah! What say we talk Wednesday evening to plan?

medstudentitis said...

I say yes to that. I'll call you from shakespear in the park because god knows I'm going to need a break.

K

Anonymous said...

Good. You'll have to call me because I don't have your number. A colleague of mine hated Shakespeare in the Park this year and left at half-time. Yes, half-time. Mixing theatre and the outdoors licenses sports-talk. It should be nice out tomorrow...I hope we get to sit outside. I also hope nobody threatens the chef.