Join DiveBuddy.com

Meet new scuba divers, maintain a virtual dive log, participate in our forum, share underwater photos, research dive sites and more. Members login here.

#51828
Solution to Violence in America - Go Scuba Diving
Greg - 12/18/2012 7:05 AM
Category: Survey
Replies: 32

In the wake of the recent horrible school shooting, I’d like to propose a solution that could squelch our violent tendencies. Rather than point to guns and mental health care, I think we should attempt to model the culture and standards of 50 years ago. Children should be required to play outside, talk to friends face to face, and start a hobby (like fishing, scuba diving, football, camping). Anything that gets them outdoors, away from video games and texting. I don’t mean to sound old, I enjoy my fair share of Halo and Call of Duty, but kids need more physical interaction and outdoor time.

Our society accepts compulsive gaming and addiction to technology as though it’s normal. It may be the normal thing to do now, but that doesn’t make it right. Today’s generation of kids NEED technology. They text while driving, tweet while at an interview, or facebook you instead of writing or calling. I’m sure some psychologist has written in-depth about the negative side affects of tech dependency.

So what can we do? I propose we set requirements for our children. For every hour of game time, they must spend 4 hours outside, playing sports, going fishing or scuba diving with friends, etc. At the end of each month, check their phone bill, and make them hand write a letter to a friend or grandma with a word count equal to 10 times their monthly text count. If they refuse take away games and their phone until they comply.

So what will scuba diving with friends instead of playing video games accomplish? It will make our children less socially awkward and more aware of the world around them. They will learn to interact nicely with others. Our kids will learn respect and the value of friendships.

Maybe if we focused more on changing our culture and less on gun restrictions and diagnosing the latest mental health disease, there would be less violence in our nation.
#732
allstarwa - 12/25/2012 5:59 AM
[Choose #1] When my boys where young we kept them so busy they didn’t know if they were coming or going. But as a side note to write a letter will take another effort, since many schools are doing away with "writing".
#97
Bloop - 12/24/2012 6:55 AM
[Choose #2] At least they can’t lip-off while they are under water. (Don’t give them ffm’s with radios)
#1406
Green_Achers - 12/19/2012 8:35 AM
[Choose #4] Add training/arming every teacher with a speargun (to protect their children) and I’d say this will work.
#387
rflesher - 12/18/2012 6:52 PM
[Choose #1] Agreed also agree with Brandonlea
#2344
malibu - 12/18/2012 3:17 PM
[Choose #1] parents also should not be told by the child what is what. Be the parent and not a wimp to the kid
#82
Brandonlea - 12/18/2012 2:22 PM
[Choose #2] I think God (Jesus Christ) should be reinvited into our schools. I cannot fathom a negative to this.
#1920
ArchimedesPrinciple - 12/18/2012 1:13 PM
[Choose #1] Well written Greg!
#91
rockwalldiver - 12/18/2012 1:04 PM
[Choose #1] Amen.
#465
depthcharge84 - 12/18/2012 1:04 PM
[Choose #3] Gun control on its own probably won’t help. Gun control with respect to troubled minds is critical.
#174
WB2GLP - 12/18/2012 12:31 PM
[Choose #1] Scuba diving requires many hours of training before you can even have a tank filled. There have been far fewer homicides using scuba gear than guns. The gun industry should have self regulated long ago like the dive industry.
#302
dmellett - 12/18/2012 12:00 PM
[Choose #1] And this is why I find time to be a Boy Scout leader, and teach camping, hiking and especially diving...
#12181
Eric_R - 12/18/2012 11:50 AM
[Choose #1] All of my boys are involved in extra activities outside the home.
#791
Mershark - 12/18/2012 11:12 AM
[Choose #1] Less circuits more nature!
#8046
Rich-D-Fish - 12/18/2012 10:32 AM
[Choose #1] That’s why my 8 year old does AYSO and Girl Scouts. She will get scuba gear and a paintball gun for her 10th birthday! :-)
#20451
LatitudeAdjustment - 12/18/2012 8:42 AM
[Choose #1] Because of his attention disorder he probably would have failed at scuba but he could still buy a gun :(
#910
BoneCrusher - 12/18/2012 8:31 AM
[Choose #1] nailed that one.
#4846
Eve - 12/18/2012 7:41 AM
[Choose #1] wow, I so agree
#4002
WarmWaterTurner - 12/18/2012 7:25 AM
[Choose #1] Lets not forget where these games such as Halo and Call of Duty originated. They are designed to train Soldiers - and not a toy for 10 years olds!