I fear for our youth. And I'm not talking about a deep fear of social destruction or drugs and alcohol or even the collapse of financial institutions. These are, of course, something to worry about. No, I'm referring to the fear that our children will not be "nerdy" enough to make an impact on the world as they mature.
Star Wars. When I was growing up, Star Wars was in our blood. We had the action figures, the blankets, even the underoos. We battled with light sabers (cardboard tubes) in the living room. The neighborhood kids would ride their bikes in a perfect X-Wing formation down the street, blasting any tie-fighters (neighborhood animals and girls) we could lock our sights on. Flashlights could be used to display a hologram on the wall to warn rebel sympathizers of an oncoming attack from the Empire. ("Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.") The two-seater swing with loop handles on the metal swing set in the back yard made a perfect 74-Z Speeder Bike from the forest moon of Endor chase scene in The Return of the Jedi. And of course, I was always Han Solo and our dog, Odie, was Chewbaca and we would sit underneath the picnic table on the patio and we would make "special modifications." Sure, she didn't look like much, but she would make "point five past light speed."
As my generation grew up, we started seeing these things slowly coming to a mild reality for us. Touch-screen tablets that were obviously replicas of the control panel from an Imperial Cruiser. Blue tooth technology became a communicator device that was a viable tool for our generation. Laser scalpels in the O.R. are a nod to the preferred weapon of the Jedi knight. And robots vacuuming your house? I mean, come on! Even the GPS in my car has taken on the role of droid navigator in my Millennium Falcon (Okay, it's a silver KIA, but I still like to pretend).
Note: The only problem with my GPS is the fact that I don't listen to it. Probably, because it has a woman's voice. "I know you want me to turn left, Karen, but I know a short cut. So, why don't you just sit right there, suction-cupped to my dash, and continue to sound adorable." And I can't get over the attitude she gives when I ignore her. "Recalculating." I can almost hear the eye-rolling and a subtle "jackass" under her breath.
Vampires. pirates and wizards. I can't think of any more humiliating genres for kids to have for mental and social provocation. I can understand, slightly, the allure of pirates, as it can prepare children for an post-apocalyptic world in which they will be forced to loot and fight for survival. And a lot of wizard story lines have included the science behind the mysticism, so there might be an opportunity for young minds to explore the possibility of what now seems like magic into some sort of substantial break-throughs. When you think about it, centuries ago, the ability to conduct simple physics-based parlor tricks was perceived as witchcraft.
But everything about these genres creates a dreary, morose look at life. I guess that says a lot about the outlook of today's youth. "Emo" is not only accepted, but actually a mainstream identity for lots of kids. I remember when these kids were the social outcasts and seen as misfits. All black clothes, dyed hair, and a attitude filled with so much apathy that it could suck the life force out of Richard Simmons. "Nothing matters." The un-dead, the cold, stone castle schools, and rickety sailing vessels wandering the unknown earth filled with criminals and miscreants...Even with the oppression of the Empire, we still had the possibility of "A New Hope."
Now don't get me wrong. The Nerds of my day were not seen as mainstream, either. But we had a direction with the fantasy of possibilities. We saw cool things that were yet to be created, and we made them. The true technological revolution was made by the wide-eyed kids from thirty years ago watching the scrolling text fly across the screen and imagining the day when these things could be a real life occurrence.
Now, if only I could get a set of Gamorrean guards to walk with my daughter when she enters the teen years...
Star Wars. When I was growing up, Star Wars was in our blood. We had the action figures, the blankets, even the underoos. We battled with light sabers (cardboard tubes) in the living room. The neighborhood kids would ride their bikes in a perfect X-Wing formation down the street, blasting any tie-fighters (neighborhood animals and girls) we could lock our sights on. Flashlights could be used to display a hologram on the wall to warn rebel sympathizers of an oncoming attack from the Empire. ("Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.") The two-seater swing with loop handles on the metal swing set in the back yard made a perfect 74-Z Speeder Bike from the forest moon of Endor chase scene in The Return of the Jedi. And of course, I was always Han Solo and our dog, Odie, was Chewbaca and we would sit underneath the picnic table on the patio and we would make "special modifications." Sure, she didn't look like much, but she would make "point five past light speed."
As my generation grew up, we started seeing these things slowly coming to a mild reality for us. Touch-screen tablets that were obviously replicas of the control panel from an Imperial Cruiser. Blue tooth technology became a communicator device that was a viable tool for our generation. Laser scalpels in the O.R. are a nod to the preferred weapon of the Jedi knight. And robots vacuuming your house? I mean, come on! Even the GPS in my car has taken on the role of droid navigator in my Millennium Falcon (Okay, it's a silver KIA, but I still like to pretend).
Note: The only problem with my GPS is the fact that I don't listen to it. Probably, because it has a woman's voice. "I know you want me to turn left, Karen, but I know a short cut. So, why don't you just sit right there, suction-cupped to my dash, and continue to sound adorable." And I can't get over the attitude she gives when I ignore her. "Recalculating." I can almost hear the eye-rolling and a subtle "jackass" under her breath.
Vampires. pirates and wizards. I can't think of any more humiliating genres for kids to have for mental and social provocation. I can understand, slightly, the allure of pirates, as it can prepare children for an post-apocalyptic world in which they will be forced to loot and fight for survival. And a lot of wizard story lines have included the science behind the mysticism, so there might be an opportunity for young minds to explore the possibility of what now seems like magic into some sort of substantial break-throughs. When you think about it, centuries ago, the ability to conduct simple physics-based parlor tricks was perceived as witchcraft.
But everything about these genres creates a dreary, morose look at life. I guess that says a lot about the outlook of today's youth. "Emo" is not only accepted, but actually a mainstream identity for lots of kids. I remember when these kids were the social outcasts and seen as misfits. All black clothes, dyed hair, and a attitude filled with so much apathy that it could suck the life force out of Richard Simmons. "Nothing matters." The un-dead, the cold, stone castle schools, and rickety sailing vessels wandering the unknown earth filled with criminals and miscreants...Even with the oppression of the Empire, we still had the possibility of "A New Hope."
Now don't get me wrong. The Nerds of my day were not seen as mainstream, either. But we had a direction with the fantasy of possibilities. We saw cool things that were yet to be created, and we made them. The true technological revolution was made by the wide-eyed kids from thirty years ago watching the scrolling text fly across the screen and imagining the day when these things could be a real life occurrence.
Now, if only I could get a set of Gamorrean guards to walk with my daughter when she enters the teen years...
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