Want to feel great about yourself? Take a look at someone from Gen X [considering we are a part of Gen Y] – they will seem way too naive and ‘backward’ if I daresay. Want to feel crappy? Turn around and take a look at the kids [Gen Z I think].
The other day I was with my friend at Croma, drooling over Macbooks when we heard a little boy scream at his mother.
“I want that!” echoed the boy’s voice.
Annoyed at who was disturbing my ‘lone time with the superb Macbooks, I looked up and saw the same expression on my friend’ face. We both then turned around to see who this person was. He was no more than 10 years old and he was creating havoc in the music players' section.
I leaned over to see what he wanted. I was shocked out of my very soul when I saw his tiny finger directly point to an iPod Touch.
I turned to my friend again for support because it felt like I was going to pass out from the shock. His eyebrows were raised so high, they threatened to disappear in his hair. I snorted and turned back to look at the kid who had drawn quite a lot of attention by now.
“No Varun! I’ll buy this one for you.” His mother tried to negotiate with him by pointing at an iPod Shuffle.
The boy glared at his mother as if she suggested that she was going to buy him an eraser in exchange of the iPod Touch.
“No!” he screeched. “I want that! Only that! This one doesn’t have video!” and with that, thick tears rolled out of his eyes.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned back to the Macbook selection, my mind plagued. When I was ten, I didn’t even have the guts to ask daddy for a walkman. All I cared about was my little teddy bear and the only thing that bothered me was daddy scolding me for getting my hands dirty from playing in the sand. I knew no music, I knew no video. I knew nothing but playing in the sand, jumping around with my loved brother, whispering stupid secrets in my friend’s ear and giggling at the silliest jokes.
From what I heard from my dear friend who made sure he saw every bit of the drama, his mother had given in and gotten the iPod Touch. I shook my head in exasperation. Indeed we are slowly losing that innocence in kids. Indeed, those careless whispers, those childish games and those naive smiles are a thing of the past. . .
Is the tech world going to take the childishness out of the coming? I shudder and I hope not. Because next thing you know, your five year old kid will demand ice-cream only from Creamstone and nowhere else! :D
