Non-threaded

Forums » The Lounge » Read Thread

A place to sit back, hang out, and make monkey noises about anything you'd like.

No tech days

23 hours ago
Does anyone else's family do this? My parents might just be weird, but we started this in December. Nobody can use any devices on Saturday except for my mom's phone for emergencies or work.

I resented it at first because I felt like I was too old for it and it meant I was having to spend most of my time entertaining my sisters. Neither of my parents are all that religious, not enough that we ever go to church more than a couple times a year anyway, but "this is for the Sabbath" now if anybody complains so that's been a little lol.

After recent events on this website though I'm grateful for them taking steps to make sure we don't become mentally ill shut ins who can't do anything but stare at a screen. I've even had a friend ask me "well what do you DO" all day as if he couldn't think of anything to pass the time that didn't involve his phone.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has ever had their parents do this, I think it might be a good idea for younger kids at least.

No tech days

23 hours ago
I had a once in a blue moon power outage that effectively managed to do the same thing lately. It did really highlight how depended I'd become on technology to manage my free-time, from simply meeting up with friends to plain doomscrolling

No tech days

23 hours ago

You are younger than I thought.

My parents had pretty strict rules regarding electronics, to the point where school was the only place I had access to them awhile, but they never had rules like that. I can see downsides to it, but it doesn't sound like the worst idea ever.

No tech days

23 hours ago

Throughout my childhood, my family had a rule that we could only play videogames or spend time on devices when it was raining. It was to encourage my siblings and I to use our imagination and not become dependent. Of course, I hated it like you did at first but as I got older I appreciated what it's done for me. I will say that a lot of peers within my age bracket (gen z) didn't have the same experience. I don't think it's common but I do think it's not unheard of.

No tech days

21 hours ago

My primary school had a 'Screen-Free Week' each year to encourage non-screen dependence, which my parents enforced (for us kids, not themselves). Now that homework is invariably set via online apps and all my schoolwork is in digital format screen-free weeks are pretty much impossible to have now.
Even my old school gave up on it and moved to computers as well, especially during Covid. Note that before this learning at the school was fully paper-based, projectors were used only for assemblies, and the only time computers were used was for Computer Club.
I agree that screen-free days are a great idea for younger kids, they should learn how to use their own imaginations for entertainment like we used to, instead of getting it all fed to them by streaming and social media services. However, the way the world is now going screen-free for a long-term period is largely unfeasible or impractical for most people over 13.

No tech days

20 hours ago

Gosh I can't imagine recess nowadays, probably a bunch of kids sitting around on screens instead of playing tag or Floor is Lava. That's depressing.

No tech days

20 hours ago

How could you suggest that high-contact, dangerous games such as tag are better than phones??? Do you not realise how much safer schools are now that students' eyes are so preoccupied during break times? Are you suggesting that teachers should advocate risk-assessment-requiring activities????
And by golly, imagine all the paper cuts that children could get from 'real' materials. Nope, it's clearly better to keep kids on screens 24/7. Saves on paperwork form-filling and work in general. Cost-effective, too :).

No tech days

20 hours ago

Are you British?

No tech days

20 hours ago

Yes. Why do you ask?

No tech days

19 hours ago

"realise"
Murica spells things with a z for some reason

No tech days

19 hours ago

We're just more French and cultured.

(I dread the day 'beez' and 'releaze' become ztandard American wordz.)