[WildChild]

I'm of an age that I know what people did before video games. We got our first TV when was 5 or 6, it was black and white. There were no videos, no computers, no texting, no cell phones, no cordless phones. I remember transistor radios being a big deal (bet some of you have never seen one LOL).

People talked face to face or on a corded land line. They visited each other and they ate and chatted, took walks, had hobbies. Men didn't spend hours staring at a screen, women didn't spend all day watching soaps. There were no dating sites.

With all the benefits of technology, how do you think it has changed how people relate? Are our relationships generally more superficial? Or has it expanded our horizons? What percentage for break ups do you think are related to excess use of TV, computer, games....?

What do you think would be a solution to dealing with the problems caused by all this? I know there are a lotof people out there who prefer the screen to sex or actually speaking to other people.

[Fatin]

huh?? :s im sorry but is everything alright??

[Joy]

I get what you are saying Wild Child. I know even the last 10 years has changed so much. Its much easier to be at "home" and cheat having online affairs and ignoring the one that is in your house and in your bed each night.

It also makes it easier to always stay in touch with your s/o if ya want to be that close and share every moment.

really depends on the couple

[mr.mansview]

one thing i have noticed is women's acceptance of pornography form their bf or spouse now that most homes have computers..when i was in high school most girls were disgusted by the boys that had playboy or penthouse in their lockers..now they have free access to it in their homes..on this site it seems to me that for every girl who is repulsed by it,there are 3 others who say it is no big deal..like alcohol or drugs it is an addiction that can take over a man's life..

[WildChild]

Addiction is a matter of degree. Not everyone or even most go to that level. I once knew a woman who had to have intervention because she was close to losing her kids for neglect. What was she doing? I kid you not, praying. Hours and hours, not feeding, not changing diapers....praying. ANYthing taken to extremes is a problem.

[blondie80]

again dr mansview I think this is something over time that has been drummed in through de-sexualisation of tv and the "free" access to pornography over the internet that its become more acceptable, basically its something that most women will just deal with now, we have become more open about sexuality and sex itself where it was once a closed off subject behind closed doors. Has it made the world a better place? Im not sure, women have become sexual objects to a degree instead of finding their own sexuality and where they are comfortable they feel as though they have to compete with all the naked women on the internet, we see that all the time on here, its easier to do anything, like Joy said you can escape in your own home find a new partner cheat and all other things without leaving the comfort of your chair with your very own bum impressions on it! lol
It does make you wonder though if in the last few years we have seen such a high rate of divorce of people being unfaithful what is in store for our children we are growing up in an increasingly aware environment is monogomy going to become something of the past?
So wildchild i would think that yes relationships are becoming more superficial, wher eit is easier to just move on these days if something happens that something doesnt work, lets face it its still not really that easy for women being abused as they still have fear in them, I think to a degree its alot easier these days for women to second guess themselves and probably leaves more room for depression in both men and women in the end is there really anything any one can do about it? If you live with no tv and no computer are you really in any better of a position??

[Mommy2Eryn&DJ]

I think technology has affected this generation massively....facebook, myspace, our cellphones..texting for me (my cellphone I will completely admit I have an ADDICTION to im LOST w.o it) can sometimes cause more tension for you cant see how people are actually feeling when texting something to you , things can be misinterepreted and sometimes do not even get resolved and get even worse because or trying to chat through texts...

[BlueJeans&Pearls]

i did a paper last semester on the loss of interpersonal relations due to the advancement of technology. it's a very interesting and controversal topic. technology allows for faster and more efficient communication, infact, we wouldnt be having this discussion without it. but, at what cost? growing up my parent were always like, "why don't you go ride your bike to your friends and just stop by" my thought was, i can't just go over, i have to call first. times went from just stopping over, to calling, to texting before hand. what's wrong with email? texting? instant messaging? the loss of interpersonal communication is devistating in a world where anything and everything can get misconstrued. people get easily offended when they cant see the smile on your face when they tell a joke. Or hear the sarcasm in your joke when you answer them. texting has become a popular thing, its faster and easier at times. especially when your not suppose to be on your phone.

i think it would be interesting to see a study done on the amount of time a couple spends texting vs talking on the phone and the strength of the relationship...

a couple weeks ago i was at the gym working out and listening to music when i looked up at the television. on the news they were interviewing a girl who won a texting competition and won 20,000 dollars. its sad when society starts buying into it and condoning such behavior. i wont lie, i like testing but i would never say it has helped any of my relationships. growing up i got in more fights on instant messenger than i can count and now conviently you can be on 24/7 by hooking your buddylist so it can be viewed through your phone and recieve IM's by text messages.

i know the first post was geared towards television and i kind of spun it a little. nonetheless, these are just some of my thoughts on advancing technology...

on the not of television though, studies show a correlation between hours of television watched and gpa among students. those who watch less tv are shown to have better grades and higher IQ's. granted nothing from studies are 100% generalizable...