The Third Frontier

            After reading the Louv readings it made me think about nature a bit differently. Many of the ideas present by Louv seemed very plausible. Studies have been done that showed how nature had a calming and relaxing effect on children. I doubt children can have a sense of calmness and relaxation in front of a rough war video game. These days’ children do not play outside like they used to. They are glued to the television or the computer or some other electronic device. Some people may think these advances in technology trump our need for nature, but I disagree. It is necessary for not only children but also adults to experience nature every now and then. Nature provides you with an experience that electronics could never give you.

            Louv created a term for people of our generation called “nature-deficit disorder.” People he would label with this disorder are those who have nothing to do with nature. This “disorder” again goes hand in hand with technological advances, and having video games, TV, and computers to entertain you instead of nature. A definite generation gap is seen when it comes to the nature-deficit disorder. Older generations did not have electronics to keep them busy. They had to go outside and create their own entertainment. I think older generations had the advantage. They used their imaginations and were creative, and were also much more physically active than today’s children which created a much less rate of obesity. I think that more parents should encourage their children to play outside, or even take them to a park so the entire family can get out into nature. There are many solutions to this problem that will have to involve people detaching themselves from electronics.

            The third frontier is upon us, a new frontier that is led by technology. I think going into a long explanation of the third frontier would be a bit repetitive for this entry. The third frontier is everything I have discussed. It is the recent and abundant effect that technology has had on people’s interaction with nature. People no longer want land but technology, period.