The internet effect
 

Hello, yesterday i took the dog through Priestley clough and Bullough park and got nostalgiac as i grew up in that area and have wonderful memories of playing out etc, as do other accywebbers as iv read all the threads in the nostalgia section. It struck me how quiet it was to say its the school holidays. I also noticed the disappearance of old footpaths (short cuts) i used to take in the area, you know the type- a line of bare soil across a sea of green. We used to make dens on the 'pens' at the top of hopwood street. What im getting at is that kids dont play out like that any more. All socialising is done online. I think this is a shame and will also breed a generation of obese people due to lack of exercise. Its hard to believe that 15 years ago people didnt possess mobile fones like they do now. When i have a girlfriend, all the flirting etc is done by text or online etc, it makes you wonder how folk managed before. I myself love the internet but can also see the downsides to it. Technology has moved on at a ferocious rate this last decade.

Re: The internet effect
 

Not all kids are like you say. My 10 year old lives outside and only comes home when he is hungry or we phone him to come back.

Re: The internet effect
 

When I was 13 you had to go out to look for smut.

Strangely, hedgerows, and derelict houses were favoured spots, where things like that were stashed.

I'd never have left the house if they'd have had the internet thirty years ago.

:D

Re: The internet effect
 

There are negatives regarding the internet, and peoples' habits will be changed for ever.

However, I do thing the amazing benefits far outweigh the negatives, that having the world wide web bring us.

Re: The internet effect
 

At the age of 10 (like Groove and Neil's child) I was also out all day with friends, we played in Farmer Jacksons fields (top of Dill Hall Lane) and down on the canal in the old WW2 bunkers and on the swing bridge. A real adventure playground and we didn't have mobiles to keep in touch with home! Don't know if I'd have been different if we'd had the internet then - I do know that I wouldn't want to swap and be a 10 yr old nowadays though. I had a carefree childhood, was very naive compared to todays youngsters and didn't have anywhere near as many gadgets and toys but was very happy all the same.
Glad we have the internet now though, it's a fantastic tool with almost never-ending possibilities. If I'd had it as a kid i'd have probably been an even bigger swat than i already was...:enough::o

Re: The internet effect
 

the internet has been a lifeline fer many folk imho, as been said good n bad wi it,but then there always has been wi anything, we used to be out all day unsupervised n had a ball, never did us much harm, whilst i love the net,i can accept things move on, don't always like it, but thats life, i can agree much is being missed by kids today, but don't think thats soley to do with fact we got internet, going backwards aint n option,so accept n move on.;)

Re: The internet effect
 

the internet is good if used correctly, im now in contact with 3 of my 1st cousins who live abroad & just found a "second cousin" who lives in montreol, all proven of course am busy with one of my "over here cousins doing the family tree, its damm fasanting(sp) plus ive met a load of nice people on accyweb. mez

Re: The internet effect
 

n plus as well as those,yeh met me.:D

Re: The internet effect
 

Well from my prospective the Internet is a lifeline, I have met lots of people on line who I haven't seen for years and contacted people all over the globe, in fact just prior to logging on Accy Web, I received a few photos from my daughter in China, of my two grandsons on there first day of the new school term they only went home last week. There are drawbacks too, but if used correctly the Internet is a very useful tool

Re: The internet effect
 

I do the same walk with my dog several times a week .

The park I played on as a child , which used to be full of kids , is regularly pretty well deserted , even on sunny , warm days .

Most of present-day children are inside on their computers , play-stations , electronic games , or watching the many children's TV channels .

There is concern now for children's health because of being in a sedentary position for long periods . And that does not include the mental , emotional , and spiritual damage brought about by their overuse of high-tech entertainment .

Re: The internet effect
 

I think there is another reason why kids don't "play out" like we did as youngsters JCB is the fact that kids are no longer safe and parents, quite rightly don't like there kids moving far away from there own homes. When I was on school holidays the only time I was seen at home was lunch and tea time and sometimes not even then, if we decided to go on adventures and take sandwiches with us, can remember catching the bus to Cock Bridge then following the River right though the countryside to Whalley or a trek over Pendle Hill, don't think that kind of think happens today

Re: The internet effect
 

I agree Jaysay , and I put the blame on that infernal invention called the automobile .

Re: The internet effect
 

Some great replys there...i agree the internet is a wonderful thing and opens up lots of avenues that were'nt possible before. I suppose its a sign of the times but im glad we didnt have it when i was a youngster as i would have missed out on loads of experiences like playing out etc. During the summer we would play football till 9 pm or whenever it got dark, now kids play on playstations etc.

Re: The internet effect
 

What sort of "Smut" are you talking about?

I think kids shouldn't use the internet till they start secondary school. The idea that you learn more using it I think is a total myth!

Re: The internet effect