IM's could be hurting our kids

Newsflash - technology makes life easier and quicker. No kidding, right? It might also be restricting you from developing as a person. USA Today released results from a poll that show teens are using instant messaging to keep out of "OMG" moments. They use it to ask for and reject dates, break up with people, and generally communicate altogether. The problem with this, of course, is that they are not developing the emotional skills, or even emotional courage, of actually talking to a person face to face. Expressing an opinion or position on a subject is much easier when you are not within physical proximity of another person to witness their potentially negative reaction.

I can't imagine any girl that would agree to go out with someone when asked over IM. To me, there's no romance in it, or much investment on the guy's part. In fact, part of what makes a guy attractive (I'm told) is the courage it takes to come up and speak to a girl face to face. Any idiot can send an IM or text with a catchy line, but does that cut it for today's women? I hope not.

I'm all for technology, but when it allows a person to develop inside an egg that doesn't prepare them for the real world, it's doing a disservice. Can you imagine a young employee that doesn't know how to communicate with his/her boss except through the safety of IM? That kid wouldn't survive very long in the real world. It takes guts and communication skills to make it. Neither of those are fostered through IM or text.