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Have your voice heard!
Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor
M opinions@theotherpress.ca

www.theotherpress.ca

When I was young versus kids these
days: Technology for romance

Elliot Chan
Opinions Editor
; Mopinions

| @theotherpress.ca

Tecnnoiesy has always
played an integral role in

the way people communicate
their affections, lusts, and
desires. From the age of
innocence and the composition
of handwritten letters to
the modern age of Tinder,
PlentyOfFish, and Snapchat,
we have always found ways to
showcase ourselves in the most
attractive manner. But times
have changed our behaviour;
online relationships are not
what they once were.

When I was young MSN

 

Messenger was at its prime, ICQ }

: was nearing extinction, and

: personalized HTML websites,

: such as Nexopia, were starting
: to make an impression on

: youths. Technology was giving
: us hormone-overloaded kids

: new opportunities to flirt and

: establish relationships digitally.
: Gone were the days of calling a
: girl’s home, having her father

: pick up, and then awkwardly

: inquiring after her. I was a part
: of the first ever generation

: to enter high school with a

: cellphone—albeit my plan was
: limited to emergencies. Either
: way, we were living ina new

: age. Socializing occurred in

: classrooms and hallways, but

: it also took place after school,

: online.

During that time, the

: Internet was a way to present
: our persona, but more often

: than not, our vulnerabilities.
: Kids were marketing themselves :
: in all the worst possible ways.

: We showed off our interest and
: begged for approval, but more

: often than not our efforts went
: ignored. The Internet became

: another playing field for

: popularity where only few can

: excel. Keep in mind that this

: is before the time of Facebook,
: and although connections with
: friends are common, as high

: school students, opportunities
: to expand our networks were

: limited and the risk of talking

: to strangers was high.

Kids these days have

? more communication choices
: than friends to talk with and

: the Internet infrastructure
: is now incredibly advanced.
: Apparently, with the right

algorithm, you can fill out

: some questions and havea

: computer find a mate for you.
: Such technology isa little

: eerie to me. Although we don’t
: understand how it works,

: we are no longer afraid of it.

: Internet dating is no longer

: taboo—it’s big business. But

: that’s an adult service and I’m
: talking about the children.

: Won't somebody think of the
: children!

With the improvement

: of technology, high school

: students are rejoicing in the

: convenience, but are also

: suffering from the danger.
Cyber bullying and permanent

 

Image from Thinkstock

: blemishes such as nude

: images have taken the lives

: of numerous young people,

: and will continue to cause

: casualties. In my day, kids

: were limited to the word of

: mouth. Now, relationships and
: defamation are at the tips of

: your fingers.

When I was young I was

: a part of a popularity contest;

: the worst thing that could

: happen was indifference. Now,
: the effects can last a lifetime.

: Tech companies that focus on
: communication for a younger

demographic need to finda

solution, a means to regulate

: without interfering. But then

: again, growing up is all about

: making mistakes. Figure it out
or log off.

 

A league of your own

» Sports are the catalyst for healthy relationships

 
   
  

Elliot Chan

>»... Opinions Editor
» & opinions

@theotherpress.ca

Fe things can strengthen
your relationship like
athletic activities. It doesn’t
matter if you are in shape or
not; getting out in the open,
breathing in the fresh air,
kicking a ball around, or going
for a hike does wonders for
your psyche, and builds bonds
with your partner. Sports
challenge people and nurture
competition, but also growth.
If you want your relationship
to flourish, don’t just go out to
movies or bars.

The thing about sports is

: that there are a lot of them out
: there. Don’t like golfing? Go

: play soccer. If you don't like

: swimming, go fora run. There

: is bound to be one that you and
: your partner will enjoy doing

: together.

It’s easy to be close-minded

: about sports and physical

: activity, especially if they're

: new to you. God forbid you

: embarrass yourself in front

: of the girl or guy you are

: trying to impress. But you

: know what is attractive? The
: courage to try something new.
: The willingness to go out and
: participate. Why not share a
: new activity with the person

: you care about? Why not make
: anew memory? If you really

: don’t like it, give it up. Nobody
: is forcing you to go pro.

Participating in sports

: doesn’t only flex your muscles;
: it also nourishes teamwork.

: Relationships, be they

: romantic or platonic, are

: people working together to

: accomplish something. And

: to accomplish anything, we

: must be able to communicate.
: Sports teach people to converse
: skillfully and patiently. If you

: can’t understand each other

: on the field, you'll lose. If you
: can’t understand each other at
: dinner, you'll be hungry.

Sports can also bring

: people together in other ways,
: such as being a spectator. There :
: is nothing like the camaraderie
: of cheering for the same team.

: The jubilation of a victory, the

: heartbreak of a loss—these are
: the emotions that bind people

: together. Understanding the

: variability and the odds against
: the team, yet still supporting

: them wholeheartedly is

: something couples need to

: learn how to do. They need to

: commit to something together.
: They need to commit to each

: other. A couple’s ability to sit

: down and root fora team is

: a good indication that they

: have a strong bond and their

: relationship has potential.

: It’s true that sports can offer

some important life skills and

: teach us to interact with friends,
: family, and co-workers, but they
: also present an escape from

: day-to-day life. It’s not about

: athleticism. It’s about vitality.

: It’s not about doing something

: well. It’s about the willingness

: to try and get better. lam

: talking about sports, but I’m

: also talking about relationships.
: You hear couples in troubled

: relationships sometimes say

: that their partner is against

: them. It should never feel that

: way. And when it does, sports

: and exercise together can

: help eliminate that horrible

: sensation.