Henderson Oracle

Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: Opinions

Media Credit: Marko Head

You know what I hate? Bad grammar.
It's certainly one thing to read it on your Facebook wall posts, but worse than that, I feel, is the poor grammar used in text messaging.

Now, I know that SMS stands for 'short messaging system,' but that doesn't mean that one should write nearly unintelligible messages to the world.
I know that sometimes people are in a rush, but there is usually never the need for "ill c u 2nite!!!" I feel like, somehow, human beings are better than that.

A lot of people don't agree with me on the point of text messaging and grammar, and that's OK with me, but I think it has much deeper implications. I really think that once this "virtual grammar" becomes more acceptable, then it'll only be harder for the next generation of kids to cope with proper English grammar.

I've seen the kids in my generation
struggle with writing complete sentences with perfect grammar, and I don't think it was a problem 50 years ago.

But it's not only in this way that people are deteriorating. I'm sure you've heard of those Reebok or Sketchers shoes that are designed to work out your butt and legs when you wear them. If you haven't, well, they're shoes that work out your butt and legs when you wear them. Hey, here's a crazy concept, why don't people just work out? You know, go to the gym?
Or better yet, remember the times when people didn't need to work out because their jobs and lives as a whole were so physical? Oh, wait. You don't remember that time because it was 200 years ago.

Yeah, that's right. You think the Native
American or Aborigine took time out of their day to lift weights? No.

And then there's the lovely world of Kindle. You know, the book that's not really a book? Yeah, that thing. I really don't want to talk about it.

It's the same story with newspapers,
too. No one really takes the time out to read them anymore. Not only are sales plummeting, but with the virtual availability, I think we're looking at an almost extinct way of spreading news. It's like the Pony Express, only much lamer and slower.

I also recently saw a commercial for a new way to play video games. Xbox is introducing a completely revolutionary way to play ones favorite
games. With the Natal, a new device that attaches itself to the Xbox console, they've one-upped Wii and made the actual player the controller.

So, if you're playing a racing game, soccer, boxing, or skateboarding,
you're the one that has full control of your movements using
your own body, not some measly
controller.

It can even recognize everyday objects like your favorite skateboard,
so you have the freedom of using that instead of some fake virtual
version.

I like the concept of the Natal in terms of it being a potential response
to our rising obesity rates, but I still think it's way too much.

People will be that much more stuck in their homes, playing games or chatting with friends with the same console (yeah, they give you the option of using the Xbox like Skype, but better, because it's on your television).

Just wait, though. You'll wake up one morning with your Xbox creepily
waiting for you to play … next to you in your bed.

Yeah, in the future I see, AI is just around the corner. We should have listened to Tyler Durden.

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