WATCH THE TV!

I believe that our generation is becoming increasingly self-absorbed with ourselves, too busy in our own heads to be active participants in the world around us.

I believe this is for a number of reasons:

1. Advent of everything on as Computer.

Our communication tools have advanced steadily in technology in my lifetime. Drastic changes like cell phones and personal messaging have removed us from face-to-face communication. We no longer go bowling or have picnics or fly kites... There is now a virtual picnic chat room in which you and your friends "share" virtual food icons with each other as you type the conversation. And the only images we see of these amazing outdoor activities being done are on prescription drug commercials after they offer you a way to cure your "Restless Leg Syndrome".

2. Marketing for the Individual.

After our school systems began to adopt the whole "You can be yourself" school of thought, people have been trying to define themselves through their self-image, and marketers have been quick to realize this change. Now advertisers try to market their product as something "You" would wear, that "You" fit into the image we are selling. This creates a generation of people who believe they can buy their own self-perception from the Gap ad that so cleverly presented its new sweater vest for $59.99.

3. Popularization of Prescription Drugs.

This is definitely a product of my lifetime, where a kid (plenty of my friends throughout my schooling experience where the "kid") has trouble staying in his seat in school because he can't wait to play ball at recess... What do we do? "Oh, your son, Mrs. Laramie, he has Attention Deficit Disorder". You're going to need to get little Timmy on some medication." These pills are becoming increasingly