Jester wrote:S_Parc wrote:
The idea here, is the create a child, who was born in the early 80s vs a child of today.
So you're going to use the DeLorean?
I guess in this situation, the expression, "Go Big or Go Home" applies.
When I was growing up, despite the fact that I was living in a Jerry Springer household, the world around me was basically *all right*, the US Olympic hockey team had just recently won their 'Miracle On Ice' moment against the Soviets, the Boston Celtics were regularly contending for championships, and despite the level of pollution which was inherited from the 50s to the 70s, there was a huge effort to clean up our streams and harbors. Likewise, I could leave home, go to the public library and converse with someone there about Charles Dickens, the Boston Tea Party, World War II, etc. Ppl, in general, knew other ppl and believe it or not, you could actually go out for a cheesesteak and meet ppl from nearby towns and perhaps, later meet up with them for a baseball game.
Today, it's almost the opposite of the above, many ppl are hooked on their mobile devices, only interacting by texting. The ppl who're still able to interact with others, in the kinds of settings I'm talking about are all ages 35 and above. The kids from 15 to 25 are practically drones or tatooed to the hilt and border on douchebaggery. The more proper preppy/college bound crowd don't know a single person outside of their respective schools. Many of my friends' kids don't even know how to have a conversation with a grownup. Imagine what'll happen when all of those mobile devices are expert systems enabled? Basically ppl will only interact with their personal digital assistants (PDAs) and then, those PDAs will communicate with other ppl's PDA. Basically, our entire society will go catatonic.
With that stated, I believe that kids today in America, need to be separated from the junior high to high school culture which is a dystopia. They need to do this split frame where yes, a certain percent of time is in the US, knowing how to be a sales-y or sporty type but at the same time, a second life in let's say Latin America, where that America of the 70s/80s still exists to some extent. The idea is to be able to navigate between the mores of differing societies then to be immersed/blanketed by a system which sees them as a number.
Many years ago, the Best Picture of 1999, "American Beauty", telegraphed the message of Happier Abroad to the world.
Beware of long term engagements with AWs, you may find yourself in a coffin.
AB discussion thread
BTW, despite settling down with an AW, myself, the warning is still in effect.