It was beautiful outside and classes had ended for the day. Janet Frian, a student in Cohort A, was happy to go home and stare at her computer.
“After school’s out, I just stare at the computer, which is also what I do most of the time at school,” Frian said. “The thought of doing anything else is too much of a shock to my system. After all, despite my bookshelf full of books that I’ve never read, I prefer to do homework and play mind-numbing computer games where I die over and over again—dang it, it just happened. Thanks so much for interrupting my video game by interviewing me!”
Chaz Belford says that video games are the only way to have fun.
“Board games, card games and pretty much anything that’s not a computer game but has the word ‘game’ in it is a waste of my time,” Belford said. “And if I’m not in the mood for games, I just binge-watch Netflix. Besides, why get together with people in person when the virtual versions of my friends are way better? My computer is much more comforting. And I don’t even consider going outside when there are bugs. I hate all bugs, even the cute ones.”
Junior Doug Camp says his schoolwork is more important than doing anything besides using the computer.
“I have a bunch of homework that I do that the teacher doesn’t even tell us to do,” he said. “But when I show the teachers how much I care about their class, I get better grades on all my other assignments. It’s so important, and it’s a shame that it’s all on the computer, but that’s all I can manage right now. No time for reading books, video games or getting outside.”
Despite the fact that studies have shown that exposure to greenspace reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress and high blood pressure, Camp says he never goes outside because his schoolwork is more important.
“I have no time for any of this nature crap,” he said. “Harvard is more important for my long-term health.”
Camp agrees that on the rare days where he doesn’t have to kiss-up, his phone is his favorite way to spend his time—even if he’s been on the computer at school all day.
“I don’t want to go on a walk,” Camp said. “I prefer using my $700 VR glasses and experiencing the outdoors in the comfort of my home. This whole ‘living’ thing is a much better experience in virtual reality than in real life.”
Sally Treche, a sophomore, says that when she gets too tired of her computer she uses her phone.
“I know that staring at the computer for too long is really bad for me,” she said. “So when I come home, I go on my phone and spend the rest of the day on it.”
Treche says she mainly spends her time on her phone texting.
“In-person interaction is so 2019,” she said. “I prefer to communicate my innermost thoughts in less than 280 characters, rather than meeting up with my friends in person, and creating life-long memories of doing things together.”
Treche insists that she’s not that ignorant of the outside world.
“I know there’s a whole wide world out there.” she said. “But sometimes, my electronic devices are just so much more comforting, even if my life is passing me by.”
Photo by Sol Landman-Feldman/The ECHO
