Recently my
father had watched a show in the Discovery Channel which showed how in Korea (north
or south I do not remember) kids especially teens, addicted to mobile phones
and the video games are becoming mentally ill. A guy in his twenties died after
playing non-stop video game for about 50 hours.
And they too
have a Rehab center where the parents send their kids to help them return to
normal life.
Now, does
that ring a bell on your head? No? Yes, it didn’t mine either while I sat in
the couch checking my Facebook updates on my phone beside him watching the
show. But the same was not the case with him. After that day he has been
intimidating any kid/teenager, usually my nephews and cousins by offering them
some piece of advice or the other on the disadvantages of the mobile addiction.
Previously I used to get away easily on the long hours on my laptop as my
parents thought I was working from home
but not now. My father checks on me every 30 mins asking me to rest my eyes. And
the arguments like “I am reading the news headlines on the mobile” doesn’t work
anymore.
“You know in
Korea….”, he would start while I had to cut him short by saying “Yes yes Dad, I
watched it too but I am no kid anymore.”
Just like my
parents kept an eye on me to check me from watching too much of TV, I think it’s high time now to put a check on the excessive
television and the content they are
watching. I think it would also be a good Idea to show a senior citizen disclaimer
before some shows.
Few weeks ago
all of us were going out on a dinner and
we were late. We were in a hurry and my father was locking the front door when he
saw that the main door of the neighbor was half open and also the elevator
collapsible gate was not closed properly. He stood there staring at the half
open door and putting on his deducing hat while I kept reminding him the time.
We had a new family moved into a vacant flat a day before and we had not had
our introduction yet.
“Don’t you
watch Crime Patrol”, he hissed, “they tell us to be alert at the end of each show!”.
“Daddy, they
must have just forgot to close the door!”,I sounded Irritated.
“Hushh..”
And he started peeking into their flat!
My mother
had unlocked our door by now and is searching something from the Diary kept
beside the telephone. I was literally embarrassed and watch the whole thing
jaws dropped.
My father
knocks on the neighbors door and the Son of the family (who may b in his early
twenties) comes out after taking longer time than usual wiping the beads of
water droplets in from his face in a hand towel. I could sense his confusion
looking into may fathers panicked expression by then.
“Ummm… Errrr..
I … Actually I saw your door half open.. And you know its better to be alert…and
also we have not had our introduction So..”, my father is surely searching for
words. My boy smiled re-assuringly and told that everything was OK and agreed
that it had been careless of him as he returned from his class in a hurry. I
was very embarrassed and rolled my eyes on my father and went inside our flat
to see what my mother was up to.
"What are
you doing Mom?”
“I had noted
down the number and m not getting it now.”
“Whose
number?”
“The Crime
Patrol people…it was...”
“What!! ”
Just then my
father entered after having our formal introduction with our neighbors and said
“Its all fine….the kid…. He left the door open in a hurry…. Nice boy…”
“Shall we go
now.. we are already late..”, I interrupted.
All through
the dinner the topic of discussion was the crimes happening all around even in
places we think that are very safe while I ate my food silently.
P.S.: I love them anyway.... :) :)
