The Pepsi Generation
To start with, I would like to emphasize the following:
“Thank God and all that is Holy that I was born in the 70’s and grew up in the 80’s and 90’s. I am part of the only generation that got to witness 4 decades and 2 millennia before hitting 40! Now ain’t that something?!”
My kids asked me once what it was like to grow up in the 80’s and 90’s. So, for the entire weekend, I took away their electronics, turned off the home Wi-Fi, allowed them to only watch local TV channels — no Netflix or anything VOD (by the way VOD is video on demand for all you fellow dinosaurs) — and they could only play with toys or games they created and didn’t require power or batteries … it drove them completely and utterly bananas!!! 😁😁😁😁
All they could think about was how my generation could survive on just 5 TV channels and only have fun with stuff we created. Because let’s face it, not all of us could afford Nintendo’s and Game Boys.
Well folks we DID have all the fun, BUT our generation is lucky to still be alive!
Our parents (and us later) drove cars without seatbelts, babies had no car seats, we played in the streets, we rode our bicycles in the streets between cars with no helmets (heck… I even rode motorcycles without a helmet), we were outside from morning till sundown and our parents had no clue where the heck we were! I can go on and on with all what is considered today to be safety hazards and freaky stuff…
Today, I keep tabs on my kids, my daughter’s phone has a locator app that helps me pinpoint her wherever she is. I have shadow apps on all my kids’ devices to make sure they are not seeing inappropriate content.
Our parents didn’t know what they didn’t know! Or maybe the fact that they didn’t know is the reason why we grew up to be so resilient, self-reliant, and don’t act like babies all the friggin’ time.
According to the table (and I know there are many), my generation is called: Generation X.
On the tech-savviness scale, we still rate pretty good (I think!) because we got to see the world with and without smartphones, tablets, and other advanced electronics.
Our generation had real fun (me thinks!), we did so much crazy stupid stuff, and the best part of it all?? There is no record of it except in our memories and some old pictures that were developed some time in the 90’s and are barely visible now.
Bottom line, every generation has the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am not saying tech is bad. Technology helped us reconnect with people far far away, learn new things, be entertained like never before… and even made this blog possible 😊. But what I’m saying is, keep it moderate and every now and then, lock your kids outside without tech and Wi-Fi so they can live a little 😁😁😎.
Well folks, this was my Verbal Breakdown for this week. Have a great week and see you in the next one.
Till then, keep it safe, keep it real, and keep it simple.
Ralph
Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organization, committee, or other group or individual.
