Madam, - Kevin Myers's piece on the impact of technology on children and childhood (An Irishman's Diary, January 21st) will surely strike a chord with many, and a raw nerve with a few.
Like every invention known to man, modern communications technology can be used for the greater good, or as a weapon by the evil few. The pervasiveness, relative cheapness, speed and possible anonymity of mobile technology puts us all at risk. As with all evil, the most vulnerable people are our children. As individual adults it is our responsibility to protect them, thus protecting ourselves and the future.
Mobile phone technology can bring us closer to our friends, but also expose us to dangers in a way never previously possible. How strange that many governments throughout the world have held auctions to sell so-called 3G licenses to the highest bidder. What price our children's childhood? What price the future? - Yours, etc.,
DANNY O'GRADY, Meadow Court, Newcastle West, Co Limerick.
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Madam, - All new technologies are and will stand accused. Caxton's printing press, magic lantern slides, film, television, the internet and now camera phones.
Human nature will always adapt the medium of the time for its own nefarious purposes. - Yours, etc.,
KEITH NOLAN, Caldragh, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.