Are we disconnected from the outdoors?

[jay moe]

I have always enjoyed the outdoors, I am an avid hunter and enjoy fishing as well. We had a Nintendo growing up and we were able to do both without much difficulty. My daughters also love hunting and fishing but also play Playstation on a regular basis. We have found time for both in our lives.

[bos]

I played video games growing up but I still spent most of my days outside playing sports. I love my video games, but they aren't my life. Sometimes I wonder if the kids that do nothing but sit indoors playing video games are lacking some sort of social skills or use the video games as an escape from parents who dont give them enough attention. Alot of parents think its ok to plop their kids in front of the videogame/tv babysitter. So naturally that is what they come to think is normal.

[CyinCo]

My wife and I have always enjoyed the outdoors. When we lived in CO, we took up backpacking. The mountains are beautiful once you hike in on a trail far enough that you won't see a tourist. Camping miles out in a National Park, Wilderness Area, or National Forest is very peaceful. We'll really miss that being back in Iowa. We are already planning a backpacking trip for this summer to CO.

[Phaedrus]

I have always loved video games and think that in small doses, they can improve visual acuity and problem solving skills.

"Problem solving skills" that involved severely limited choices such as are found in video games, and visual acuity as are found on video screens are pretty pathetic, considering that the world is nuanced, shaded and severely analog.

[cybsball20]

I think we got a Nintendo when I was in 5th grade, I might have played it 10 times. I think my babysitters played it more than I did. I was very lucky to grow up where I did, there was tons to do. The summer day care at our country club was awesome. We would play golf in the morning, go to the beach, play tennis then hang at the pool untill our parents got us. If we weren't doing that we were playing baseball on the culdesac, fishing, golfing, skateboarding, you name it. I have never really had the patience for video games, I just don't see the fun in sitting in front of a TV destroying your thumbs...

[CyCloned]

I find a zen like calm whenever I am knee to hip deep in a stream fly fishing. The cool water flowing by, the sound of the stream gurgling it is all priceless.

Fishing never really did it for me until I moved out here and tried fly fishing. Maybe it is age and stress, but getting out into the mountains to fish really wipes away the rigor of living in the city.

I don't know about Zen, but fishing is really relaxing for some reason. Got the day off, I think I will go to the Wapsi and wet a line after the house is clean.

[garn91]

I've never been a big outdoors person. My idea of enjoying the outdoors is sitting outside on a warm summer evening listening to the Royals and having a beer or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or.......

[Cy Heavy]

One reason I like where I live is the ease with which I can enjoy the outdoors.

Nevertheless, I notice so many kids that are disconnected from the natural world.

I went on a Cruise in the Gulf of Alaska last summer and kids were more interested in playing their electronic games on board the ship than viewing sea otters, whales, bears, etc.

With all the electronic distractions, do you think that it matters whether there is a disconnect with nature with so many people and especially children?

I'm convinced most under 35 would die if they had to camp for a week. Personally, I've always perferred a fishing pole to a game controller.

I've already had my three week old daughter outside when the weather allows and plan to take her on her first bike ride in early may-weather permitting.

[ajk4st8]

Trout fishing this weekend! Count me as connected:)

[jdoggivjc]

I'm convinced most under 35 would die if they had to camp for a week. Personally, I've always perferred a fishing pole to a game controller.

I was born in Long Island, New York to parents that were lifelong residents up until 1982 or so when dad took a brief job stint to Davenport and then again in 1984 when we moved out here permanently. I grew up in the ultimate "indoor" family - well, not so much indoors as we would go on picnics, throw the baseball or football around, or go to the park, as much as being from suburban New York we didn't do camping, hunting, or fishing as you'd be hard pressed to find ANYBODY that does that on Long Island. That being said, although I didn't grow up camping as a kid, I do enjoy it, although I'd probably have to have someone with me that knows what they're doing when it comes to hunting or fishing as it's something I've never done. But I'm pretty sure I wouldn't die out in the wild if I had to spend a week out there.

[bos]

Ok this is sort of related due to the video game part. I thought this is impressive.

Mario Theme Played with RC Car and Bottles*Video

[isuno1fan]

Read the book "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv. It touches on this issue.

It is likely my daughter will never have a home gaming system. I don't see the point.

[bos]

Ive had every gaming system and love the outdoors. Its possible to have both in life. Moderation is key and not everyone abides by that.