If I were to work towards a Ph.D. in Sociology,  it would be hard for me to pick just one topic for a thesis.  Some topic ideas include: 1) why do people do the things they do?; 2) why do you live in your car? or better yet; 3) what made you purchase those hideous clothes?  All of these topics delve into the movements of the human race, people’s places in society, upbringing and more.  Of course, it could all be psychological, but who cares about that.

During my graduate school days, I have had a theory that the United States would be overpopulated to the point of having a very limited caste system of the “haves” and the “have-nots,” with great disparity between the two classes.  The huge, sloggy government will have to control the birth rate, similar to what was done in China; our natural resources will run out; and we will live on GMO, and drink soy sauce for nutrients.  But then along came virtual reality, and it has changed my opinion, kind of.

From 1900 to 2000 there have been 5 great generations.  Then, starting in 2001, along came Generation Z.  I can hear the conversation between parent and child now.  “Honey, you need to write a thank you note to your grandmother for the $1,000 check she gave her for your 10th birthday.”  “But mommy, I don’t know how to write, and what’s a thank you note?”

Savvy Gen Z’s will wear out credit cards on the latest technology because that is all they know.  An example of what’s available is Samsung’s Gear Virtual Reality Goggles.  You can go to another world, and the only thing bringing you back to reality is the need to recharge with actual electricity.  For a plaid hating Gen X’er, I am pleasantly surprised that I can use them, and think they are cool!  If you have a room with 4 walls and no furniture, a Samsung phone and these Goggles, you can see amazing places, experience flight without wings, visit the planets, and battle it out with zombies without risk of injury.  And this is just the beginning.  Why on earth would you need anything else?  http://usat.ly/1qmHrHI (great story from USA Today).  Previous generations can just kiss Gen Y and Z goodbye, unless we are part of their VR, or need to write their thank you notes, they have no use for us.Although I read somewhere that there have been more Gen Z’s born than during the baby boom, my theory of population overload in the US has changed a little bit.  I now think that virtual reality will far out interest Gen Z’s, and they will have little interest in actual human interaction causing the birthrate to slow down.  Unless, of course, satellites fall from the sky taking everyone’s internet connection down for a day or two.  What else will there be to do?

Carpe Diem!