Introduction to the Twentieth Anniversary Edition

I would like to start by saying that in reading the beginning of Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death I could not help but feel like an idiot. I think back to when I was younger and how much I loved to be outside playing sports or inside reading a good book. Now with reality television, trashy shows, and an endless number of sitcoms I find myself sitting in front of the television when there are a number of other things I could be doing. It is sad that even when I turn the channel to catch the daily news on current events around the world the breaking story is that Paris Hilton has the flu or Brittany Spears has gained a little weight. It is especially shocking because a war is going on and there are candidates fighting to become the LEADER OF OUR COUNTRY! I thought it was interesting that one teacher forced her students to be without electronics for 24 hours. I think it would be difficult. However, when there comments were about getting motivated to go see friends verses simply picking up a phone I thought that it was a very good assignment. It seems like technology while very extraordinary is dumbing people (especially young people) down. I have read that students become so obsessed with text messaging and instant messaging they can barely write a good report. I think that the reason students are more interested in this book now than five or ten years ago is because it is becoming apparent that technology may be being abused or at least over used. Who is to blame for this? This is a very good and I believe impossible to answer question from Postman's son.