While perusing the newspaper and sipping a latte at my favorite coffeehouse the other day, I was aghast to come across a full-page Comcast ad. (Thanks to the miracle of iPhones and picmonkey.com, you can view the image above.) As you can see, it shows two kids in a tent, glued to a glowing laptop screen. The bold heading floating in the night sky reads:
WHAT’S POSSIBLE WHEN WI-FI IS IN MORE PLACES?
Hovering like some creepy cyber miasma just above the tent are the words:
FRONT ROW IN THE BACKYARD
What is wrong with this picture?
Let me be clear. First, I am not a fan of camping, and have been known to long for creature comforts (like beds, let alone wi-fi) when forced to spend time in a tent. Second, I am not above the judicious use of TV, DVDs, and other more modern forms of screen bribery when raising children, particularly before dinner during what a friend refers to as the Suicide Hour. Many a meal has appeared on the table, and many a death has been prevented, thanks to Mother’s Little Electronic Helpers.
But seriously, Comcast’s invasion of childhood strikes even me as going a bit too far. Kids should be out traipsing around the woods looking for ET, not streaming him or his Despicable cousins on a laptop while hermetically zipped inside of a tent.
So I have only this to say to despicable Comcast:
WHY? FIE!
I cannot imagine that Comcast got anything but complaints about this ad. Ranks right up there with that horrid Restoration Hardware catalog. Thanks for bringing attention to it.
Yeah, I sure didn’t see the Comcast ad anywhere else! Missed the Restoration Hardware catalog, though. You’ll have to write about it! Thanks for writing here, Marianne.
Couldn’t agree with you more. This is an issue in our household, especially since we have 2 boys! Screen time is such an issue and this ad is ridiculous!!
Thanks for writing, Maria. I bet this ad blows up in Comcast’s face. Good luck with your boys. I’m always relieved that with two girls now in their twenties, we escaped the worst of tech’s invasion of childhood.
Yes! I totally agree. Nice piece.
Thanks, John. Glad you like it!
I agree, WiFi and bring plugged in is great, but the wonderful moments of hanging out in a tent (even if it is just in the backyard) is to be out amount nature and all its noises and silences. Watching someone else’s creation will mean that these kids are missing out on making their own in their imagination.
So true, Heidi! Thanks for writing.
You really have a way with words–love this one, especially the Fie.
Thanks, Eloise. Always a special pleasure to hear from you–and to use an archaic word!