Is today’s society teaching our kids “you don’t need your parents, you can have the internet”? Here is why I am pondering this question.
There is a commercial on television that shows a middle school aged boy sitting at his desk, profoundly nervous about his upcoming oral report. He then asks his tablet “What is glossophobia?” (its beyond me how this kid knew what that word was to begin with) In reply the tablet answers in a monotone, robot voice “Glossophopia or speech anxiety is the fear of public seeking”. His question turns up results of videos of great speakers and speeches of history. He does more research while in his tree house and sitting on the couch next to his mother. He practices speaking in front of the mirror (a tactic for overcoming fear of speaking) and then the next thing you know it’s night time and he’s fallen asleep in his bed reading (on his tablet) the book “Public Speaking for Success.” His mother comes in the room and as she removes the tablet from the bed to put it on the table she writes a positive message to appear on his tablet the next day just before his impending classroom speech (pulling on your heartstrings?). Next, he finally gets up in front of his class (with his tablet in hand) to give his speech. After the approval of the class with their applauding and the smile of a pretty girl, the boy now see’s he has another problem. He starts typing in “How do I ask…”, the tablet auto fills the rest of the sentence for him: “How do I ask a girl out.” The final message the commercial wants you to walk away with at the end? This tablet is “made for what matters.” More
Twiniversity 