A funny look at a serious problem

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In case anybody has been living in a vacuum, here is a hilarious look at the problem of inappropriate uses of technology. In the case of Manti T'eo, the Notre Dame Football player, who was the runner up for this year's Heismann Trophy, technology became a substitute for a genuine relationship.

The question of online "friends" is a running argument that I have with my son, whose "friends," outside of friends from baseball and track, are Xbox Live friends. As parents, we make sure that Joe is involved in so many activities throughout the year, there is at least some limit to the amount of time he spends with his online "friends," but to me, Xbox Live relationships are empty relationships -- and I am unhappy with what he is learning online. Whenever Joe, my 14 year old son, crosses the line with inappropriate language, I am forced to confront him and shut him down. If only I could convince Joe that the amount of time he spends on Xbox Live is totally inappropriate, and in fact harmful ...

Here is a cartoon from GoComics that addresses the issue of empty online experiences ...