Kids Today Don't Chat-They Text

I came across this newspaper article entitled, 'Kids today don't chat-they text'. True enough, I agree to a large extent of this statement.

In the past when technology has not aroused, when there is only telephones and no handphones available, either we tend to call our friends or find time to meet up with them to catch up. However, now when we are late for an outing, what we usually do is to sms them saying, "Sorry, I will be late for half an hour. You all go first, can? When I have reached the destination, I sms you again." We rely too much on technology and sms to convey our messages. Nowadays, we hardly meet up with our friends we know years ago. Because we tend to rely on msn to start a conversation with them, read their personal blog and social networks such as facebook and twitter to know how are they doing.

Even young kids now in primary school own their own personal handphones. For my case, I prefer to text my friends instead of calling them, unless the issue is important then I will call them. Now the debate is if technology is changing the nature of kids' friendships. Will social networks help us to be more connected and supportive of our friends or the quality of interaction is diminished without the intimacy and emotional give and take of regular extended face-to-face time. Although we can webcam with our friends, but do we meet up with them often?

Sometimes when we are texting, we tend to use emoticons to express our feelings. But sometimes the emoticons we use, are they really what we feel deep inside? Or are we suppressing our feelings in order not to offend the other party, even if we feel sad and angry inside, we still put a happy smile in our text?

Also these few years, schools are indulging students to buy a personal laptop for e-learning. It seems like in polytechnic, most students do own a personal laptop. A laptop is highly encouraged in schools for e-learning. Some textbooks even have their own e-textbook. Thus, they may end up relying on technology more. With children's technical obsessions starting at a young age, even kindergarten pupils will play side by side on laptops during play dates. Their brains may eventually be rewired.

For example, there is a case of a 17 year old guy, who keeps up with his friends so much on facebook that he becomes more withdrawn about face to face interactions. When that day is his friend's birthday, instead of giving her a call and wishing her happy birthday, what he does is to go and write happy birthday on her facebook profile wall.

To solve this problem, his mum encourages him to get involved in more group activities after school. Last but not least, is technology controlling us now or the other way round?

Pets Suffer in High Rise Hong Kong

My dog, Milky

I happened to come across this article (30th April 2010) in the Channel NewsAsia website which had bought my attention. The link for this source is http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/lifestylenews/view/1053542/1/.html

I decided to use this article as a source of social issues on current affairs is because Singapore also has organizations such as Action For Singapore Dogs, SPCA etc. It is really disheartening to see thousands of healthy stray dogs are put to sleep every year, due to lack of space, resources and non acceptance by the majority of society. In SPCA, the organization has received approximately 700 unwanted pets and stray animals every month. SPCA is on the receiving end of the disposal of pets in Singapore. Each day, pet owners find excuses not to keep their pets. The hard truth is there are too many pets on sale encouraging and tempting impulse buyers. Hence, this has bought awareness to Singaporeans and concern to the government to do something to avail this situation.

Whenever movies such as 'Marley and Me' and 'Hotel for Dogs' are screened in cinemas, there will be a high demand for Golden Retrievers in pet shops. Hence, major cinema operators help spread awareness against impulse buying. The objective is to caution patrons against being tempted to buy cute dogs similar to those featured in the movie. These people are buying impulsively, without considering factors of owning one. Many say that they do not have time, but owning a dog is a commitment which takes time, patience and not forgetting the financial costs involved. After dog owners are tired of it, they get rid of it by putting them to organizations. It is really saddening to see abandoned dogs barking and jumping to crave for attention of their potential adopters and appreciating the second chance that they are given after being adopted.

As dogs are loyal to their family owners, they cannot do anything but to accept the reality that the family no longer wants him. This may pose behavioural problem such as fearfulness in them. Thus there is a need to educate the public by raising their awareness. There are educational seminars for dog owners from Singapore Kennel Club. Irresponsible owners can be traced and enforcement action taken against them. Every new dog from pet stores has a micro-chip on them, which is a safe identification system that can help lost pets be returned instead of being put to sleep unnecessarily.

On a lighter note, there are caring pet owners who bother to bring their pet for training, grooming, buy vitamins for them and to the vet if their dogs are not feeling well. I own a maltese breed at home, her name is Milky. Our family loves her and I hope this article will raise awareness of the public. I urge everyone who is considering to adopt a pet not to buy impulsively, and be a responsible owner.