Tweet Seats. A hard-to-believe it exists new trend that is so surreal you want to pinch yourself to be sure you’re not asleep and dreaming.

As noted in the LA Times:

“Perhaps the most unexpected thing about “tweet seats” is that they exist. Perhaps the second-most-unexpected thing about them is that they appear to be a growing trend.” 

Clearly the brain child of some group’s communications department, these high tech seats are popping up in arts venues big and small. The concept is to use what they love and can’t seem to live without to attract otherwise nonconcert and theatre goes to fill a seat: social media.

The problem is, the majority of arts patrons are happy with the unplugged event. In fact they prefer it that way. It’s one of the many reasons the arts is so refreshing given our very plugged in lives. Attending an event is a completely unplugged experience. It allows us to be in the moment and just enjoy what’s occurring. For a couple hours, we allow ourselves to get swept to another time and place and forget the issues in our lives that can weigh us down.

We don’t need studies to inform us of the benefit of these experiences, although they exist, because we’ve had them! If we allow technology to impinge upon them, though, the downsides to us as individuals as well as a society will be profound. This won’t be about PR buzz anylonger but our collective need to be disconnected from time to time and understand the boundaries of technology within our lives.

This description from a symphony concert goer in USA Today drives this point home, written from a concert goer who had to sit next to a tweet seat section:

“Their texting thumbs were moving faster than the violinist’s fingers…They would occasionally nudge each other and read what the other person had up on his or her screen. They didn’t even look up to applaud at the end of each selection. The fact that they were watching their handheld devices, they missed out on what was happening on the stage.”

Given the concerts and shows I’ve attended, I could see that easily occurring. When tweeting, you’re focused on the tweet, not what’s around you. Tweet at the wrong time, you’ll miss the highlight of a symphony or a soloists finest moment. You may miss the best scene in the play or musical – the one that causes the audience to laugh hysterically or clap out of the blue. Those moments are what create the magic of a live performance…not what you are posting or reading on a twitter feed, no matter how cleaver.

While I’m not a fan of tweet seats, I do think there is a way that twitter can be used to help Gen Y feel more comfortable with venues that they may not actually see themselves at – yet. Since Gen Y does love a good social media buzz, using twitter before a performance, during intermissions, and after could have the same effect as well as helping this generation stay engaged with the performance unplugged. The feeds could offer give aways that rely on answer questions from what occurs during the show. Chats could occur with cast members, musicians and conductors during breaks from the Playbill can be discussed.

So, tweet away, fellow arts lovers…but please, not during the show.

The best part of the flurry of the holidays preparations we’re all about to experience  is the excitement of the celebrating the holidays with friends and family. And, then, hopefully, benign able to steel a few days of R&R unplugged to usher out 2011 and say “hi” to 2012.

Each year my family becomes incredibly unplugged during the winter holiday break. Whether we go away or enjoy a staycation we call just power down and regroup. No email, texting, blogging, Vlogging, Facebooking…you get the idea! I highly encourage you to do the same if you can – it’s one of the best ways to refuel in the entire world!

As we all power down to celebrate whatever we celebrate with our families, let me share with you some holiday cheer I just found online. If you’re not in the holiday mood yet, these should do the trick!

Happy Holidays!

[Images:

http://images.baynote.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BAY.550.holiday.jpg

http://funnypicturesimages.com/images/image/funny-santa-cartoon.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-w8X_8OV18k/TPbwtUfXXuI/AAAAAAAAG40/GmrfdXDb-4U/s1600/cartoon%2Bsanta%2Boutsource.jpg]

Happy almost New Year! Have you made any resolutions this year? How about your kids? My daughters used to call them “revolutions” when they were younger and there are years I feel that my list falls into that category!

(click here to see larger image)

I know many people who take their resolutions very seriously and others who just jot down a few for fun. Regardless of which camp you fall into, I do believe each January affords us a unique opportunity to note only wipe the slate clean of areas of our past we want to move away from but tweak current paths in ways that improve our lives. We may even find a way to move into a new direction, although I’m not a big fan of dramatic path changes because I find they set us up for failure. We all do better if we move in baby steps with smaller and more easily attainable goals.

Being entrenched in the world of media, many of my resolutions include media in one way or another. Over the last couple of years, I’ve backed off on goal that didn’t make sense such as “I’ll blog twice a week” or “tweak once a day”. Instead, I now use a more “go with the flow” social media plan and find I’m more productive and the “health” of my sites just a robust.

One way I find useful to keep a busy family on track with media is to work together on achieving a balance that keeps everyone productive and thriving. My Family Media Use Plan is one such tool. Here are the highlights:

Dr. Gwenn’s Media-Friendly Household Family Pledge

* I will never choose media or technology over my family.
* I will use technology responsibly by not
o Texting or talking while driving
o using my cell phone in line for anything
o using technology to harm others by engaging in bullying or slanderous actions
* I will try and keep my total screen time to 2 hours a day except when doing a project for school.
* I will not watch shows or play games that scare me or are inappropriate for friends and family watching or playing with me.
* Kids: I will never give out personal information online or by text and will avoid all chat room except ones my mom and dad have looked at and approved.
* Parents: I will check what my kids are doing online and on their phones.
* Kids: I understand my parents have a right to check into my media history on my computer or phone.
* We will talk as a family at a meal a day with no technology in sight!
* We will agree to technology free times such as weekends and vacations.
* When in doubt, family first! If media gets in the way, we need to recognize we are utilizing it too much or in a way that is not helping our family.

You can download a copy for your family here.

Here’s to a wonderful 2012 with enough unplugged time to discover something new in the world – something that can only be seen with eyes wide open.

The first day of school is around the corner. As the day approaches, I’m again awed by where my kids are in their lives. This year is a big year for us with our youngest starting high school and our oldest driving and starting to think about college.

As we begin to gather all the essentials to start off the school year, I’m struck with a few simple hopes for each of them as they embark upon their new school adventures:

1. That they both discover something new about themselves.

2.  That they realize it’s better to have a small group of true friends than a large group of fair weathered ones.

3. That they each try  something new and slightly out of their comfort zones.

4.  That they start to learn to not  define themselves by grades or test score.

5. That the always remember how proud we are of them.

6. That they year the year feeling as great as they do today.

What are your dreams and hopes for your kids’ this year?? My best advice is to keep them simple…and let your kids do the rest.

“Stop the World, I want to Get Off!” I remember seeing that play years and years ago at summer camp. That phrase runs through my mind a lot lately as the pace of things seems to speed up more and more. I recently got one of those “smart phones” – phone, email, camera gadget. It’s really cool and can connect me anywhere any time to anyone. But, do I really want to be that accessible? On the one hand – yes and on the other: NO WAY! Sometimes not being reachable is a good thing.

We all know the drill: carpools, jobs, housework, shopping. Add to that “extras” like doctors appointments and after school activities and evening meetings and it’s no wonder most of us freeze completely when our Palm Pilots hiccup and erase our schedules.

Well, we can’t stop the entire world but we sure can slow down our own worlds. Perhaps if we focus on our immediate worlds – our kids, our family, our neighborhoods, our communities, life will once again seem in control and manageable. As part of my quest of sanity for 2004, I’ve been thinking a lot about the little things I can do at home to stop the clock and really let my kids know we are there. I’ve decided that to be a better mom I have to be a better me – we often forget ourselves as parents and somehow need to reclaim that first. Putting our kids first always may be what is causing some of the craziness.

So, there are two things we need to do: learn to just “be” with ourselves and learn to just “be” with our kids. I’d suggest that at least one to two times a day you find a way to have no way of being reached – and just “be”. Zone out to music like when you were a teenager. Blast the radio in the car or shower and sing your heart out. Read a good romantic novel or mystery – nothing too “literary”, just fun! Just sit in your kitchen and look out the window – no TV’s or radio or cells or beepers.You don’t need to do this for long – even 10-15 minutes a day will help.

Here are some things you can do to just “be” with your kid:

1. family game night
2. plan a picnic in the family room on a rainy day
3. bake cookies
4. make cards for relatives
5. read a book
6. watch a favorite movie together
7. cuddle while eating breakfast
8. play a game of cards
9. cancel a lunch date to be with your child
10. say “no” to an extra volunteer thing to just be home
11. run errands another time – do they really need to be done after school with a car load of kids?
12. Dance with your child!
13. Run around the house shrieking and laughing!

Here is an interesting twist to this message – you can actually teach your kids just to “be”. Help them find a few minutes each day to unwind and if you can’t find that time ask yourself if there is too much on your child’s plate. And, teach your kids to appreciate what the adults in their lives do for them.

Sad to think that we have to teach our kids to relax but that seems to be just part of the package lately – especially with tough world events in the mix on top of our usually daily grinds.

So, this week pick one stressful thing to give up and one new calm thing to try. Make this a family project and see where you are in the next week. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

I’m heading off on vacation and plan to stay unplugged while I’m gone – it’s a tradition we’ve been following for a while now on vacations.

For inspiration to keep your screens off this week, check out the following links:

Screens, Screens Everywhere and Time to Turn Them Off!

A Dose of Dr. Gwenn Show 20: Surviving April Vacation Unplugged

Regardless of what you do this summer for vacation, give some unplugging a try.

Power down, my friends, power down!!

What kind of family are you?

This kind?

Or, this kind?

I have to say, I see many more of the first kind as I go about my day. So many families are plugged into portable game consoles, iPhones, iPads, iTouches, cell phones and other portable devices when out with each other it’s disturbing and truly sad. The picture above was taken at a mall near me. The family was grabbing lunch together, multiple shopping bags in tow. They were seated with their food for all of a minute before everyone at the table pulled out some sort of device. The father had his iPad, kids game devices and mom started talking on her phone, at the table with her family.

That night, I was at dinner with my family when I noticed a family at the next table with all the kids with portable gaming devices.

I was run into a few months back by a child distracted by his gaming device while I was shopping at my local supermarket. His mom didn’t notice because she was on her phone. She just grabbed his elbow and pulled him out of my way. There was a time that parents would have nudged their kids to apologize for such mishaps – not that time.

The second picture is actually my family. My husband and daughter were on one of their weekend runs and I happened to catch them go by as I was on one of my photo walks. We don’t use technology when we’re together as a family – haven’t in a very long time since we realized we had become too entranced by our “i” devices. As parents, we realized we had to set the example and once we did, it was easy for our kids, now teens, to follow.

Next week is the first Screen Free Week of 2011, the second will be on October. It’s a great time to get everyone in your family unplugged and used to some old fashioned together time. Not too long ago, this week used to refer to televisions but these days applies to computers, phones, portable game devices…basically everything we all use in our 24/7 high tech, on the go, always on culture.

With Spring Break next week for many schools and the nice weather finally here, get your family outside and leave anything with screens and plugs inside. Once the week is over, have a family pow-pow and see how you can take away from the week ways to become more unplugged as a family.

Another way to look at it – why use an app to see nature when you can walk out your front door.

Sabbath Manifesto is once again hosting it’s National Day of Unplugging. It begins at sundown today and ends sundown tomorrow.

The goal is simple: avoid technology for 24 hours. That’s it – just 24.

Sounds daunting if you’ve never done it but it truly can be done. In fact, once you do it once, you actually start to look forward to your next unplugged time – at least that’s what I’ve found and many folks in my family and circle of friends.

So, join me and the many who are unplugging starting at sundown where ever we are today until where ever we are tomorrow and see how it goes.

If you end up giving this a try, let me know how it goes for you – next week, of course, when you’re plugged back in! You can find me on twitter (@drgwenn or @cybersafebook or email me at drgwenn@cybersafebook.com).

Recently I was at the market on the hunt for ingredients for a new salsa recipe my husband was eager to try. Thanks to the Food Network, we’ve discovered ingredients that I was convinced would require a plane ride to a foreign land, or long car ride to a specialty market! Who would have thought items such as tomatillos and red jalepenos or pobablo peppers would be at our regular supermarket…but, indeed, they were.

While en route to the tomatillos, I was run into by a small child, roughly knee high. Her mother was distracted on her cell phone. I looked down to see a cute little girl in pig tails in a very zen state with her portable PS 3. Her mother didn’t stop her conversation, or apologize to me, or nudge her to apologize to me, she just grabbed her by the elbow and steered her around my cart to where they were heading, and likely another collision with another patron at the rate they were going.

It perplexes me to no end that adults have to walk around in public places on the phone all the time, especially when they have their children with them. And, I’m dumbfounded as to the reasoning behind allowing kids to walk while playing a video game. It’s bad enough that we allow our kids to listen to their MP3 players while walking. They are usually listening so loudly that they can’t hear conversations around them, their names being called or oncoming vehicles. However, at least they have their eyes to guide them as they walk. To play a game, one is looking down. That is dangerous on every level and not a good precedent for behavior in public.

If a parent is going to take a child out in public, especially a school age child, why does that child need the distraction of a game or MP3 player? Have we truly become a society where we have to entertain our children all the time and can’t expect them to behave in public for regular errands and outings? What lessons are they learning by allowing that?

Kids need to learn how to act in public settings and what the norms are of those settings. We must also teach them boundaries of technology and social skills. To allow our kids to be plugged in all the time deprives them of learning how to get along in the world and interact with others in society. How will their fare when they are on their own someday if we keep them masked behind a device all the time and fail to teach them how to deal with the every day goings on in one’s life? I fear they won’t do so well.

How’s your 2011 going so far? Already back to your normal routines after the down time and celebrating of the holiday season?

One of the perks I love of the holiday season is the way it pulls us away from technology and towards the world of true social connection with friends, family and society. We tend to spend more time in our kitchens, around dining tables, and in true stores than we do any other time of the year – and with real people, not online likenesses of those people.

I have a theory that one of the reasons the holiday season is “the most wonderful time of the year” is the true connectedness we have with the people we care about. I have to be honest with you, as I’ve started 2011, I’ve had a bit of trouble getting back into the swing of my usual manic pace of Facebook, Twitter and blogging!

As I reflect on 2010, I’m not so sure I want to return to that manic pace. It truly was insane at times! Honestly, I’m not sure how I pulled off Tweeting on 2 accounts, Facebooking on my account and the ones people asked me to do for them as a contracted spokesperson, writing for my 3 online sites (my website, blog and this site), and the many other places I write for. And, let’s not forget the early part of 2010 when I was finishing CyberSafe!!

I lost count of how many times I’d tell my teenage daughters I’d take them somewhere and be ready in “a minute” only to have many “minutes” go by as I wrote that one more post or checked that one last email. It became a joke in my family that a “mom minute” meant at least 30. Pathetic, I know!

So, for 2011, I’m going to do things a bit differently. Offline is my priority. Interesting goal for someone whose profession is online, huh? And, I’m going to suggest you do the same.

Here’s my thinking and there’s a correlary to clinical medicine in this, too.

When I “grew up” in medical school, we didn’t have fancy computers and high tech tests. We had basic lab tests and CT scans, MRIs and that sort of stuff but basically we were taught to use our brains and physical exams, complete with stethoscopes. As more high tech and computerized life has evolved, today’s doctors have flipped that around. They don’t rely on the physical exam to the same extent and that’s a concern. What would they do during a power outage or if they ended up practicing somewhere without the fancy stuff?

Well, just like in my medical world, my real world was once upon a time not so high tech. As my kids love to remind me, I grew up in the “dark ages”. Not so dark as my parents. My parents, after all, only had one phone in their home, TVs were just evolving and cell phones didn’t exist. I remember when the first VCR was developed and we had to wait in line to get movie tickets!

My friends and I used to call each other on the phone, and still do. We used to sit around and listen to records and talk. We didn’t freak if the power went out.

I want my kids to be able to handle a power outage without freaking! Card games, board games, talking…those are all still important skills to have.

Just like tests are an adjunct in medicine, technology and the digital world should be an adjunct to our real, offline lives. It can make our lives better, faster and sweeter but should never replace the true work of living.

With more unplugged time, I can share with you that I’ve found not just more time for family, but I’ve been more productive with work and had more time to pursue hobbies and sports that only a few months ago I would get to at fleeting and unpredictable times.

My advice to you this year is plug in, connect and friend away…but be sure to unplug and do so frequently and daily. That’s where the true living occurs and if you’re as plugged in as you have been, you’ll miss it.