That's a good exception, Paul.

I like to read posts that address the topic at hand. Where is the distinction of "reality tv" vs. "scripted TV" enter in your post? I'm glad you are happy with your current viewing habits, but I'm not interested in them.

I too have a tv-free household. But that doesn't mean that friends and family do too, and surely you see the magazine covers in the grocery isle.

Look, not having a TV is obviously a way to avoid all television shows, but it should be obvious that the author meant that WHEN YOU TURN THE TV ON, it's almost impossible to avoid flipping through at least a few reality TV shows. He's not speaking about people who don't watch TV; he's speaking of an epidemic in current television programming, perhaps ONLY avoidable by "cutting the TV cord" entirely.

I feel sorry for her kids, nothing to discuss on the playground except disney movies till they are 15

Aw, Paxton: I neither said that nor implied it, but if *you* feel that way, you too can choose to turn off your television, so no worries! I just don't buy into the social fallacy that if you don't have or watch commercial television, you are somehow missing something - and my children don't believe it either. Jean: my girls have PLENTY to talk about on the playground. With the money we are saving on cable/dish service, we take them to live theatre shows and concerts plus do lots of traveling around the county. Those dollars add up and as someone else said, it's all about family choices.

Agreed. My concern is the youth. It's hard to go anywhere without hearing girls sound like uneducated robots. And, I think some of these shows have a negative influence on vocabulary.

Dang, Dave. Good catch.

What, somebody actually read the whole post,not just the replies

I was about to make the same comment. ;)

Not really that miraculous of a catch. Everyone reading this article who has been schooled in the English language should have been able to pick this out. Our education standards are just now much lower I guess...

lol btw FYI HAND TTUL

That argument's been made for hundreds of years whenever new technology transforms society. It was made against the printing press and newspapers and computers. It wasn't true then and it isn't true now!

Debbie, why? Your statement befuddles me because there is no explanation. Are language and constructive discussion techniques degrading at the same time?

QUICK Debbie, complain that Paul is in violation of the TOS policy

Joe, stop making this personal. There is a huge gray area here that deserves to be intelligently explored. Give Debbie a chance to respond. Your post is taunting and borders on bullying. You can do better, right?

Paul - I have attended several education conferences in the past 12 months. One presentation I attended, presented by Anthony Luscre, Director of Technology in Mogodore, had a series of examples used to explain the idea I expressed above:

* "Writing will be the death of thinking and debate." ~ Socrates (mid 400's BC)
* In the 15th century, people thought that the printing press would be the death of writing.
* "Abundance of books will be the death of scholarly writing." ~ Conrad Gessner (1550's)
* At one point, people predicted that newspapers would be the death of social interaction.
* Compulsory school would lead to the death of natural mental development of children.
* The typewriter would bring the death of handwriting.
* The radio would kill concentration, attention, & proper sleep. (1920's & 1930's)
* Television threatened proper cognitive development in children (1950's & 1960's)

There are MANY more examples here in Anthony's handouts:
http://www.neotechconference.org/uploads/2012-handouts/C-1_OMG_I_CNT_BLIEV_IN_SKUL_/omg_i_cnt_bliev_we_r_really_gttng_2_do_ths_in_skul_NEOTech2012.pdf

But the gist is this: every time a new technology comes out, there is a hue and cry about how it heralds the death of something else, but for the most part that does NOT hold true. English is and continues to be the dominant language of the world. Millions are and will continue to be proficient at it. Texting won't change this just like shorthand didn't change it!

Talk about TMI! I briefly glanced at your link, but didn't see anything that proves Tom Tucker wrong. While history does tend to repeat itself, there is no guarantee that Tom Tucker is wrong. He might be right. Only after the benefit of hindsight will we know.

Tom Tucker expressed an opinion with little detail or back-up, so it's impossible to "prove" anything either way. His opinion is as valid as mine, though I disagree - yea for diverse thought!

I'm sorry you thought my explanation was too lengthy. I took the time to type it out and provide a link because you asked me for a longer explanation and suggested that "language and constructive discussion techniques" were degrading, then told Joe that this area "deserved to be intelligently explored."

Your explanation was fine. Your link (a whole presentation) was too lengthy. I'm glad that you agree that all the intellectual "conclusions" you brought up are still just basically opinions.

Paul, why ask for Debbie's thoughtful opinion if you're only going to bash her for giving it? I notice you didn't bash the actual opinion, just her presentation of it. Frankly, it's not Debbie's fault if you can't be bothered to read a whole paragraph.

Debbie, your logic (if it's true then, then it's true now) is flawed.

Kate, I was referring to the monstrously long PDF file linked to by Debbie. Did you look at it before criticizing me? Debbie also seems to think that academic opinions are facts. A simple example would have helped, but was never presented.

So, you mean to tell me that Bikini Bottom is a fictional location?
(slamming laptop down lid in frustration).

:)

Brian Williams is about as biased as they come, spongebob is more truthful and honest

"Brian Williams is about as biased as they come,"

I was wondering what that stench was, and it was THAT steaming pile of BS.

You partisan punch-drinkers have no problem taking your shots from the grassy knoll. That is until you're called out and asked to PROVE the crap you sling. And one's opinion does not constitute fact. Or because Rush or Sean or that hack Brent Bozell.

Ok tom I will restate
Brian Williams and Rush are about as biased as they come, spongebob is more truthful and honest

So you're now comparing an actual journalist (Williams) to an entertainer (Rush)?
Good grief.

Tom, is it exhausting to be so angry & rant-filled all the time? Geez.

"an american family" or something like that was the first reality show on tv and it was on PBS. sorry, Anita.

and she never uses the internet

"your DVR is filled with episodes of jersey shore and dance moms :

Not anymore. I had to make room for that new Bristol Palin train-wreck. ;)

you're doing the lords work paxton, it has been recognized.

wrong. commenting on patch articles is the lowest form of entertainment.

I will agree with that point...it's definitely entertainment by and for people with no original thoughts.

see? and while the lowest, it's still entertainment.

anita loosen your hat pin up, I am sure Paxton was making a joke

I totally agree with you. They are always adding new words to the language. That's the reason new dictionaries come out all the time.
The English language is complex because of spelling and double meaning for the same word. Now in the electronic world, new words are endless.

I have to agree with Debbie, cursive needs to follow the path of hieroglyphs. I like the idea of teaching it as an art form. And anita my 10 year old brought home 18 lbs of books one day (I weighed the book bag) to me loading all those books into a ipad would make more sense, and would in the long run cost the school much less in upkeep costs

I don't ever use cursive except to sign my name - I print everything! But personally I am totally low tech when it comes to books, which is funny because I am a total geek when it comes to everything else. But there is NOTHING like the feel and weight of a great book, especially at the pool in the summer! You have a good evening as well, Anita! (-:

I don't think it's a financial issue as much as an issue of time and quantity of knowledge. There's much more kids need to know now and there is much LESS that many parents are teaching. It's not just facts but knowing how to learn so kids can sustain the life-long learning now required. They need various literacies (traditional AND digital), higher level thinking & reasoning, and cultural awareness (of both ours and others'). It's critical that they know about world cultures, too, since technology and transportation have shrunk it for today's students. Cursive is just way down on the list of necessary skills, in my opinion.