Pseudo-Science Strikes Again

The trouble with most so-called "studies" is that they tell us what we already knew ages ago. Money not well spent.

Yesterday, I was singularly depressed by a TV commercial for a van.

The commercial shows a "family" all piling into the van and each person disappearing up their own asshole playing with a different electronic device. One boy is on his X-Box, two kids are playing some other thing, mom is on her computer, dad is driving and watching a movie. Everybody is having a grand old time. The van gets to a spectacular cliff overlooking a beautiful sunset-draped beach. Everybody continues playing with their toys.

This is, apparently, the groovy new family configuration. Great.

So this morning the Vanier Insitute for the Family announces with front page fanfare that "Family Time is Losing out to Technology." Apparently, they have discovered that people "can be isolated even when under the same roof."

Brilliant.

Why the study? Why the announcement?

All they had to do was ask the ad agencies. Or you and me.