Communicating Thoughts

So... for my first official post on this blog, I'll like to discuss something that struck me while I was reading the papers today.

The article was from the THE NEW PAPER ON SUNDAY, pg 37, "SHE WANTS HANDPHONE: Should I give my 8-year-old daughter a mobile?"

The article was written by S. Murali, a Dad in a dilemma about whether to give his 8-year-old daughter a mobile phone. This article is an example of the new age predicament for parents, who are obviously pressured to provide more material goods (hence, non-essential goods) to their children. It must be said that children today have many more extra activities even in primary schools and most of the current generation of parents are both working to make ends meet; resulting in less time to run about and pick after their children and therefore the mobile phone provides the next best alternative communicating tool.

But is there such a need?

I'm in no position currently to discuss whether or not to give the kid a phone as I am not yet a parent, so I have no clue as to what my priorities might be when it comes, but this evolution of
technology has definitely changed the lives of humans forever.

Today, most people wouldn't be able to leave their homes without their mobiles, since pay phones are becoming a rarity and we somehow or rather have this niggling constant urge to communicate with someone, with today's most common channel being through SMS.

Murali's article was very well written, pointing out his initial fears (like the phone being a "plaything" rather than a "real functional item"), but he also highlights the changing times and the hectic schedule of his daughter already causing a few mix-ups where either her parents/grandmother/aunt not picking her up on time or they waited hours for her because they didn't know that she had extra activities. He next takes about the pros and cons of giving his daughter a mobile, and is she too young for it? He than has a discussion with two friends with two different opinions and perceptions, the first one saying no to giving the mobile and the second friend reminding him that he is now living in the "dark ages" and emphasis why he should get his daughter a handphone simply because "you can buy a new phone for $50 theses days. Daughters costs a little more." His article ends with him agreeing with his second friend, and it ticks three very important aspects of an article, it appeals to the ethos, pathos, and logos, with credibility (him being a father, so knowing the fears of a missing child), emotion (the importance of your child not being lost ?? ), and reason (why he should indeed get his daughter the phone she craves).
My take on this?

Give the child a phone(a simple one, like those above, should suffice, since they would usually argue that it is for them to call you in case of emergency ;) as it will not only provide a better means of communicating device to their parents, but it will also allow them to blend in with all the other kids in school, who might have the latest nokia or iPhone, and not let them feel left out and be made a mockery off, after all, we all can't live without one too right?