Question 1) When you were young did you ever notice your parents or grandparents (or old farts in general) complaining that the world was much better when they were kids?
Question 2) Now that your getting older have you noticed a tendency to look back on your own life and think that things were better when you were a kid?
Now come on, I need you to be honest! A pair of 'yes' does not make you a sad or pitiful person. In fact, you can absolutely love your life and still answer with a pair of yes'.
The reason I ask is that I have been pulled up a couple of times by my eldest son after giving him the good old "When I was a kid blah, blah, blah" argument!! Both times it has related to the use of computers, iphones, ipods and every other screen based device which seem to captivate 100% of his attention for 100% of the time.
I inevitably get a bit annoyed by this and point out to him that we used to spend all our time outside playing sports or riding bikes and that we lived in the real work as opposed to the virtual one. I have even told him that I'm worried that he's not not having any adventures of his own (not much happens when you stay inside) and that he's getting most of his enjoyment from the actions of others (eg. YouTube).
What do you think his responses have been? Well I'll tell you. On both occasions he's pointed out to me that the world has changed, it is no longer like it was when I was a kid, and how can he regret it if he doesn't know any different!!!
How can you respond to such logic? Personally I mumbled a few words and wandered off wondering when my son got to be so smart!