Last weekend, I was at a USS swim meet and heard parents and coaches complaining about the "distraction" of many swimmers now. They blame this distraction (in addition to the rise of the boy/girl crazy period) on the advent of cell phones and IM-ing, etc. Apparently, at meets, and I've seen it, the kids spent scads of time on their cells phones, phoning friends, phoning kids across the pool, texting constantly (even to kids 5 feet away). Then they go home and IM for hours, checking and gossiping over the instant meet results and who beat who. Now, all the swimmers seem to know each other because, even if they're not on the same team or live in different states, they now can communicate easily via IM-ing and texting. I heard one coach say he's not sure how to get his swim kids to focus in this new techo-age. Obviously, some kids are focused like lasers, but I see an abundance of chatting and cell phone use too. Would kids do better without cell phones at meets? And is technology distracting them? Some seem to be swimming blazingly fast, but are others not swimming up to their potential because of this?
The text message phenomenon is a little puzzling to me. Why can't you just talk to the person? I guess I'm just too old :)
I talked to a masters swimmer friend at a meet last weekend about his daughter (12) being distracted. She apparently sits with her computer on with a video link, thus "talking" to friends, simultaneously IM-ing, listening to itunes and texting. I guess simply talking would interfere with multi-communication.
Also, I've heard of kids texting in bed after lights out when they can't be chatting. My son did this once. I heard the beep. Now my kids have to charge their cell phones downstairs at night.
I also think they just think texting is cool and they develop their own little language so they don't have to type actual entire words.
The text message phenomenon is a little puzzling to me. Why can't you just talk to the person? I guess I'm just too old :)
I talked to a masters swimmer friend at a meet last weekend about his daughter (12) being distracted. She apparently sits with her computer on with a video link, thus "talking" to friends, simultaneously IM-ing, listening to itunes and texting. I guess simply talking would interfere with multi-communication.
Also, I've heard of kids texting in bed after lights out when they can't be chatting. My son did this once. I heard the beep. Now my kids have to charge their cell phones downstairs at night.
I also think they just think texting is cool and they develop their own little language so they don't have to type actual entire words.
