Don’t let social greedia take away our magazines and newspapers

By Breda Nathan

Another one of our favourite reads disappeared this month. Social media or social ‘greedia’ I call it, is changing our world and it’s not for better.

How many of us love reading our newspapers after breakfast or dinner or sitting down with our favourite magazine in a spare hour.

What’s better than reading your library book.

It is so relaxing to feel the pages and look forward to continuing the read later. How could one of those mad phones ever replace this.

Going back to the days of comics and remembering learning to read was so wonderful.

We all had our papers, magazine and comics ordered in the local shop and I remember Tuesday was my favourite day because of my preference. Then we could get a swap from a pal who ordered a different one.

Who in Dublin could forget the stories, some for boys and some for girls, but we read them all.

In Dublin we had weekly chapters of stories, we referred to as ‘follyin uppers’ they were brilliant.

Who could forget Desperate Dan, Minnie the Minx and the mad tales of all the other characters involved.

At Christmas we got the annuals as well as a few extra story books in our stockings and by the new year the swapping started. The knocks on the door to see if we had one that maybe they missed. We usually had, there were six of us in our house.

The libraries too are disappearing fast. I remember we had to behave and not talk in our local one.

The Librarian lady was stern, but would kindly allow us to order a book not there that day and hold on to it for us.

Recently I entered a library some distance away and there was mad music and everyone screaming… so different. Still I hope what’s left of them stays.

My feelings on social media are obviously antisocial media.

Looking at children with their faces focused on that blue light for hours is frightening. It’s ludicrous to think they can’t access certain apps, they will always have a ‘friend’ who knows it all.

Sport is also gone to hell too. The games all streamed and no meeting up with friends at the weekly match and buying a programme at the entrance.

It’s all gone on to laptops and phones. Will the day come when football grounds are closed I wonder.

It’s mostly older people you see at the games now.

I know there are some people relying on phones to keep in touch with family or friends away from home for work or business reasons, but not everyone has to have these dangerous, obnoxious objects attached to their bodies day and night. It’s nerve wracking to see especially the children.

Dangerous too when you see youngsters on those mad scooters and scramblers.

They always have them and appear to be communicating with someone while speeding along busy roads.

There is nothing you can say or do, just try and stay clear of them, even if you are delayed going to school or work or just shopping.

I actually saw one riding around the local supermarket, while one of the attendants tried to escort him out.

What is the answer… They believe the laws are there to be broken for the craic.

The radio is also disappearing with younger people and their earphones listening to someone on the moon or stuff from tubes to hell. Where will it end.

I still have my newspapers delivered daily and intend to stay reading as long as my fading sight remains.

A ‘smart’ phone will never replace my choice of magazines or newspapers.