Would you tolerate this?

Philippines
March 13, 2010 11:32pm CST
Are children nowadays so dependent on the internet? I just don't get it why so many teens nowadays are so dependent on the internet that they can't do a simple task without having to use the internet. My cousin is very dependent on the net and just copy and paste everything for her projects. Today I was using the pc and she wanted to use the internet for a simple project, her approach was rather irritating as she had a sour face and was impolite in asking me that she wanted to use the pc. I got irritated as this behavior is rude. My aunt asked her what project she was going to do, she said she has this homework for her personality development class in effective communication. My aunt asked what happened to her last homework for that same class,and my cousin said it was a different one. I have no problems with her using the pc but as I have pointed out to her that we had so much resources at home other than the internet. In fact good books about the topic. But she is so lazy to search and read and prefers copying and pasting from the net. I just don't like that at all its like plagiarism. Back when I was in college not so long ago I had no pc or internet to use. I spend time in the school library diligently reading any material related to the topic I was working on. I wrote my own projects and spent time polishing my work. I did not just copy and paste. I survived school by working and studying diligently but it is not the case with my cousin. Her study habits are almost non existent. She flunk nursing school and had to switch schools and shift courses. She just studies when she has major exams but does not study regularly or prepare for her classes. Teens today are very different in every way. No matter how you try to instill good values into them and teach them good study habits they would just turn a deaf ear and do what they want. I have been observing my cousin, when she wants to use the internet she would try and manipulate her way by lying she has projects to do or study for an exam. But what kind of studying is that when one tab is running an anime video clip, the yahoo messenger box is open and she is chatting with her friends, another window is open with her facebook account open? When someone would pass by she would try to immediately switch to the google page with some search result. Why she could not lie to me is because I am way clever than her lol, she forgot that the pc is facing the mirror and you could see from the mirror what is on the pc monitor! Well she stomped off and left and went to the internet cafe because she could not wait. I was in the middle of filing important forms online for a job offer and I can't just leave it that way because I already clicked the apply button. She does this to try and threaten me and gain sympathy from the old folks. Duh... as if I could be threatened by such behavior and as I have told her before " remember who pays for the phone and internet bill". Clearly she is just asking a favor to use the internet and she has to keep in mind she does not own or pay for this, so she must learn to ask nicely.
2 people like this
8 responses
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
14 Mar 10
It seems that the younger generation tries to get away with murder. I admire you for standing to her and showing her that other's must be respected. I do teach teenagers like her. It's amazing how they spin their own parents and make them believe what they want. When parents come to me complaining that their children are staying long hours on the internet the first question that I ask, in which room is the computer situated. 100% answer that it is in their children's bedroom. I don't think that this is a wise decision since you''ll give them the liberty to do whatever they want without having some kind of supervision on them.
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
I agree with you there ronald placing a pc with internet in a child's room will just give them the liberty to do anything they desire. When I was still in school I could not watch tv or play the family computer ( if you remember what that was lol! something like the modern play station). My folks was so strict with me back then. So I learned to live without tv or anything. It became ingrained in me that during weekdays I cannot watch tv or play games on the family computer. But I just wonder why these days with my cousins they tend to be so lax? I also had to help out in the small store we ran every single day even during weekends and I manage to do my homework and I never had my aunt tutor me like them or help me out with any school project. I grew up just fine. During my time we had a laptop but I never was allowed to touch it until I was in college, I can only use it when I have projects and gee my folks will check it after wards to verify if I really had a project. Sometimes I wonder why they treat each of us so differently. I do believe that by being lax with discipline made her so lazy and irresponsible. Teens like her as you mentioned spins her parents to get what they want. I'm so disappointed sometimes because she is unreliable even with simple tasks. It feels as if I have a 6 year old around that I could never rely to do something. wonder if there is any remedy for this?
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
14 Mar 10
Looks like internet has really made people lazier in doing their own research and rely solely on the net to get their works done. Those who were born after internet was launched find that they can't go without internet and naturally those who depend on the net to help them in their college assignments are not as competent as those who have spend hours of doing research in the library. They can never parallel with those who sweat to pass exams.
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
You nailed it zandi! lol nothing in life is easy and you have to sweat hard to get to the top. the many hours spent in the library reading and studying does pay off well in the end. that's what makes me appreciate my sisters compared to my cousin. not because they are my sisters but because they belong to the same age group but my sisters are determined to finish college and they give their all when they work on projects and homework, in spite of the hardship that they are facing since my father got really sick and could no longer contribute to the family income. My sisters do not depend much on the internet but takes time to research stuff in the library. I'm glad to say that they did not fail school even if they don't really use the internet much.
@krisnel (498)
• Philippines
15 Mar 10
based on my observation with todays generation. teens rely it on in surfing the net in making some projects, assignments and etc. they never have time to go to the libray or to research in one place. they dont know that it is more enjoyable but they could also enhance their ability. they dont know that some of the stuff in internet are not true. teens today are so lazy and they are not creative or they dont want to use their mind. when im in school before though internet is in trend before, i will prefer to go the library to read.
@kaylachan (57716)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
15 Mar 10
No, I don't tolerate rude behavior. Because its rude. The internet existed when I was a teenager, but not like it is today. And, to out lie to you that's insanity. Does she not realize, one you can see what she's doing, and two if you couldn't you could browse your computer's history. And copy and pasting for "projects Is plagerism not like it, but IS.... And, if her teachers knew... she would be in big trouble.
@cnn0831 (27)
• Philippines
15 Mar 10
I wouldn't tolerate this. Even though I'm not a parent yet, I can relate this with my siblings. I want them to learn their studies thru their hardwork and patience but not being too dependent on the internet. We can't deny that internet is very useful but we need to educate them that there are things that only ourselves can answer it. Nowadays, attitudes and beliefs of teenagers are affected and changing. They don't know what is good moral/ manners at all. It's kinda sad but it's the reality. They were addicted. As much as possible, we need to take the PC or internet away from them if not needed. We need to help them manage their time.
• Canada
15 Mar 10
The computer and internet stepped into my life when i was in my ealy thirties.By then, i have well developed my reading and reserch skills in different ways,so i will never see internet as my meal and drink as some younger friends of mine do, they told me that they hardly live without internet.I have realized how much the younger generations depend on internet. it cannot be denied that internet has changed our life in many good ways,but it is very complicated system , sometimes it could be very dangrous, especially for teens ,the kid are too young to distinguish right from wrong. They can easily miss out . I think the parents should spend more time with the kids,talking and listening to them,reading books,playing sports with them. It is part of responsibilities to help your kids develop good habits and health life style.
• Australia
14 Mar 10
The internet is not to blame, and the solution is not to control the children in a fascist sense.
@common_man (1799)
• India
14 Mar 10
iTs really the problem being faced in most of the places. Teenagers trying to do whatever they want o do, in whatever way. They use different technics to gets the things done the way they want. As reagrds use of internet for study, it is good, but not copying andpasting. And definately not by doing chat and video watch parallely. The person doing so must be warned, and if possible stop access to internet for few days.