Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

tuning out the road

I spotted something in this weekend’s Target advertising circular that made me start feeling downright curmodgeonly: a sale on a car DVD player that includes two screens and can play two movies at the same time.

Talk about spoiled kids. Not only do they get to watch movies in the car, but each kid gets their own movie and screen. Not that I’m all that keen on having one DVD player in the car to begin with.

Sure, putting the kids in front of a screen keeps them entertained and out of trouble, but I feel like there are important lessons learned on a road trip that a system like this completely sidesteps. What happens to learning how to make your own fun? Or learning certain key interpersonal skills, like how to establish a truce with troublesome siblings to keep the peace and evade parental wrath? Or developing an appreciation for what makes different parts of the country unique? Or creating shared family memories, no matter how hokey, of travel games, singalongs and storytelling? Or, if escapism is what’s needed, picking up a book (or listening to an audiobook, which could be shared by everyone in the car)?

What kind of a road trip is it if all you’re doing is staring at a video screen, oblivious to everyone and everything around you?