PlayStation Generation Never Climb Trees - Daily Mail
Kids need to get out more, says tree-climbing propagandist
The Daily Mail chooses to run yet another misinformed ‘PlayStation generation’ news story today, claiming that kids are more likely to suffer injuries from videogames than they are from climbing trees.
According to today's paper, there has been a 35 per cent increase in Repetitive Strain Injury amongst children since 1999, yet a corresponding drop in the number of children treated for falling out of trees dropped of 36 per cent.
These ‘shocking’ statistics are reported in a story headlined "PlayStation generation that will never climb a tree" and, according to the Mail, have "further fuelled fears that British children are being robbed of their childhood."
Bizarrely, the paper then goes on to quote a man called Alan Stock about climbing trees. Alan informs them that, "My children are never happier than when they're up a tree. I used to climb trees when I was younger and my friend fell out of a tree and broke his leg. Now I don't think I even see children climbing trees, apart from my own kids. It's the culture we are in - the computerised age."
Alan adds, "At least climbing trees gives kids an appreciation of our surroundings. But playing computer games doesn't really teach us anything. It's easy to end up sitting indoors for hours on end."
Alan, it transpires, is MD of a company called The Mighty Oak Tree Climbing Co, which organises climbing with ropes and harnesses for children and adults. It could be argued that he has a vested interest in promoting tree-climbing.
In other Daily Mail news today, "Little Britain gets the blame for classroom violence" and not, as is in SPOnG’s opinion perhaps a little more likely to ‘blame’, the deepening social divisions in British society.
As our increasingly frightened and cash-rich middle class moral majority seeks refuge from an increasingly disenfranchised working class by choosing to embrace an individualistic and consumerist approach to life, and as all notions of responsible citizenship rapidly disappear and slide into conspicuous consumerism, it could be viewed as a ‘rational’ course of action to blame all of society’s ills on videogames and poor-quality TV comedies.
According to today's paper, there has been a 35 per cent increase in Repetitive Strain Injury amongst children since 1999, yet a corresponding drop in the number of children treated for falling out of trees dropped of 36 per cent.
These ‘shocking’ statistics are reported in a story headlined "PlayStation generation that will never climb a tree" and, according to the Mail, have "further fuelled fears that British children are being robbed of their childhood."
Bizarrely, the paper then goes on to quote a man called Alan Stock about climbing trees. Alan informs them that, "My children are never happier than when they're up a tree. I used to climb trees when I was younger and my friend fell out of a tree and broke his leg. Now I don't think I even see children climbing trees, apart from my own kids. It's the culture we are in - the computerised age."
Alan adds, "At least climbing trees gives kids an appreciation of our surroundings. But playing computer games doesn't really teach us anything. It's easy to end up sitting indoors for hours on end."
Alan, it transpires, is MD of a company called The Mighty Oak Tree Climbing Co, which organises climbing with ropes and harnesses for children and adults. It could be argued that he has a vested interest in promoting tree-climbing.
In other Daily Mail news today, "Little Britain gets the blame for classroom violence" and not, as is in SPOnG’s opinion perhaps a little more likely to ‘blame’, the deepening social divisions in British society.
As our increasingly frightened and cash-rich middle class moral majority seeks refuge from an increasingly disenfranchised working class by choosing to embrace an individualistic and consumerist approach to life, and as all notions of responsible citizenship rapidly disappear and slide into conspicuous consumerism, it could be viewed as a ‘rational’ course of action to blame all of society’s ills on videogames and poor-quality TV comedies.
Comments
Joji 2 Apr 2007 20:48
1/1
Trees are cool and I used to climb them, as well as cross streams and get up to no good, but that world is a far away dream now thanks to our lovely government.
No parkland or trees to play in because they sold them all and any trees left are too young to climb or protected. I understand where Alan is coming from but I'm wondering if he's played a Wii. Another person commenting on what kids should be doing, instead of giving them the optional places to hang out.
I'm not gonna rant on this one, done it before but we know the score already.
No parkland or trees to play in because they sold them all and any trees left are too young to climb or protected. I understand where Alan is coming from but I'm wondering if he's played a Wii. Another person commenting on what kids should be doing, instead of giving them the optional places to hang out.
I'm not gonna rant on this one, done it before but we know the score already.