Coming Soon to a Mini Van Near You
A lot of cars now come fully equipped with DVD viewing systems. I have stayed away from adding one to any car I have owned. I firmly believe that car time provides an opportunity to engage in worthwhile conversation with the family or, alternatively, to bicker ceaselessly with the family.
In any case, in seat DVDs are now pretty common place. As their popularity has grown, our fellow citizens have found new ways to use them. Take the recent case of a Fort Worth, Texas man who ran afoul of the law for his particular viewing habits. You guessed it. Mr. Walker was viewing pornographic movies in the car. He had the misfortune to be watching as a police lieutenant pulled up beside him. Some of the details can be read here .
This has not been the only case. Across the country in car DVD systems have been put to "adult entertainment" use in vehicles without tinted windows. I think if one were to cross reference these people with recipients of the Darwin Awards there would be a high match rate. If you receive a citation for porn while driving should you ever be able to purchase an in car DVD system again?
On a more mainstream note, I think these in car DVD systems are in their twilight. Much easier to equip the children with an iPod Video each and let them watch or listen as they chose (with some parental selection criteria in place).
And there is always the old car bingo I remember from my youth. Cow...Blue car....Tractor...Silo.....
In any case, in seat DVDs are now pretty common place. As their popularity has grown, our fellow citizens have found new ways to use them. Take the recent case of a Fort Worth, Texas man who ran afoul of the law for his particular viewing habits. You guessed it. Mr. Walker was viewing pornographic movies in the car. He had the misfortune to be watching as a police lieutenant pulled up beside him. Some of the details can be read here .
This has not been the only case. Across the country in car DVD systems have been put to "adult entertainment" use in vehicles without tinted windows. I think if one were to cross reference these people with recipients of the Darwin Awards there would be a high match rate. If you receive a citation for porn while driving should you ever be able to purchase an in car DVD system again?
On a more mainstream note, I think these in car DVD systems are in their twilight. Much easier to equip the children with an iPod Video each and let them watch or listen as they chose (with some parental selection criteria in place).
And there is always the old car bingo I remember from my youth. Cow...Blue car....Tractor...Silo.....
Wow. Car Bingo.
It has been years since I've thought about that game. Our family used to play 20 questions, I Spy, License Plate Counting, and Scavenger Hunt.
Now a days, kids can are actually playing Grant Theft Auto (GTA) in the car while yelling at their parents to hit the old-man with the walker for 50 points. Things are totally out of control.
I agree, the car is actually a great place for a good talk. Although my view of the car video trend is a little different. I personally think that car-based video systems may be the next major status symbol among soccer moms.
24 in HD monitors coupled with 7 channel surround sound, BlueRay, and Nintendo Wiis will be hitting suburban homes everywhere.
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I agree the TV in mini-vans are abused, but I don't think they should be discounted completely.
We recently took a vacation in which we had a four year old, two year old and one year old in the car for more than ten hours. It was a life saver.
We don't let the kids watch it unless we will be in the car more than two hours at once. It's our way of being with our kids most of the time, but being able to take a break during those long trips.
I can only listen to kids music for so long.
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You are right. I would have been very happy to have one years ago when the kids were young and we were on long road trips. Consider yourself lucky and enjoy the Wiggles.
Thanks for your post.
Warren
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