All of the biggest technological inventions created by man - says little about his intelligence, but speaks volumes about his laziness. ~Mark Kennedy

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about technological advances and what it has meant to our world. Cell phones, Social Networking websites, Internet, Cable TV with more TV channels than ever before, DVR......the list goes on and on in so many different ways. 

Obviously, they all have pros to them that cannot be denied. But what about the cons...the bad side to living in a technology driven world? A friend of mine ( a real live friend that I have known since grade school...not someone that I only know in a "virtual" world) posted this video on Facebook. I watched it and I have to say I completely agree with Louis C.K.'s assessment. Cell phones (through texting) and social networking sites ARE taking away a part of our emotional growth as well as our ability to show sympathy and empathy for one another. In today's world, we DON'T allow ourselves to just BE...be alone....be bored...be ourselves. We have to stay plugged in 24/7 without even realizing what that is doing to us. 

My mother and I were just talking the other day about how bullying has become such an issue in today's society. Now, to be fair, bullying has been around FOREVER, it seems. Kids in school have always teased (or bullied) schoolmates about their clothes, being what they perceive as being a nerd or how they look. 20 years ago, you bullied someone on the playground or in the halls at school and at the end of the day you went home and it all ended until the next day. Most of the time bullying eventually stopped because the bully got bored with it or become a bullying victim themselves. Often times, the bully would actually see what their actions did to the victim and they would stop...even if it did take some time. 

Know what makes bullying stop now? When the victim ends up dead. There has become this disconnect because of technology now. Bullying has stepped up a notch and the bully never even has to see the effects that their actions has on the victim now...often until the victim is dead. Bullies are now using Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking websites. They find out the victim's phone number and text-bully them. 

Now it's just a game to them. Bullies can do this all day every day through the internet and cell phones. They never have to see the tears....the shame, the sadness and depression. Parents aren't monitoring what their kids are doing online or who they are texting or talking to on the phone. Parents need to wake up. Talk to your kids. More often than not, if they don't have a child that is a bully, there child is the victim. Monitor what your kids are doing!!!