I am really enjoying the posts regarding how air conditioning helped to change the habits of so many people back in the 60's. I totally agree that it was the advent of air conditioning that helped to move people indoors during the warm summer days and nights. However, I think television played a much more important role. I am guessing the good folks in Mayberry were much like the good folks in Dorchester as they probably had no more than two TV channels to watch. We had two and when we wanted to change channels we had to physically turn the antenna on our roof in order to pick up a new signal. As televisions improved and color sets came on the market and with the advent of rotary antennas and then cable television, people began to spend more and more time sitting in front of the TV. As prices of televisions dropped, families added a second and third set to their homes. Families no longer spent time together just sitting around talking or playing games. Kids no longer rushed outside after dinner to play with their siblings and friends. Needless to say, now with the addition of all the new electronal marvels families spend even less time talking with their family and neighbors.. With televisions in our campers and vehicles we no longer need to communicate while traveling. Add to this the fact that movies and TV programs can now be accessed on all sorts of electronal marvels and the lack of communication between people even worsens. Why we don't even have to talk to the people who sit near us at work. We can send them an email. I sit out on my front yard every night from early spring to late fall and I am just amazed as to how few people are out and about - especially the children. We have lived in our current home for 17 years and we do not know any of our neighbors by name who live two or more house away from us. We just never see them. Sorry about all my philosophical meanderings, but it really saddens me and I miss so much those days when we really did take the time to know our neighbors. I think that is one of the reasons TAGS means so much to me. It is one place where people still take the time to know and care about their neighbors. I was visiting with a friend today and she told me they just found out yesterday that their neighbor directly across the street was killed in an accident more than a month ago. Enough said.
Kenneth G. Anderson 2906 May Street Eau Claire, WI 54701 715-839-8470 www.mayberryreflections.com [email protected] _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
