Comments on: The Single Strongest Predictor

By: Chenyong(Jessie) Zhu

Chenyong(Jessie) Zhu — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 05:27:21 +0000

This sounds interesting. But in China, we always have regular family mealtime. I didn’t realize there are much influence before i read this post. This might be true no matter in which country.

By: Corrine Ellsworth

Corrine Ellsworth — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:52:49 +0000

UNICEF did a report last February that does a comparision of children’s well-being, part of which including eating a meal with family. Here is a summary http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6359849.stm but if you want the juicy stuff, download the pdf and use it as a reading at your next dinner theatre. http://www.unicef.org.uk/press/news_detail.asp?news_id=890

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:15:47 +0000

I don’t have a problem with the rhetoric of “family values” except that it is often used to imply…well, a specific kind of family. I want more details about this family meal-time. Is it the specific practice of having a meal together or is that the types of families that sit down and have a meal together have different characteristics from those that don’t (besides the controlled-for factors). Also, I find it intriguing that the previous two comments imply that “dinner time” can be simulated as mediated communication (besides the traditional mediating factors of tables, chairs, etc.). I wonder if the “family dinner” effect is important precisely because it is face-to-face. Just thoughts…

By: Lee Kraus

Lee Kraus — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:08:25 +0000

Call me old-fashion, but I think this is so true and I am glad to see the research to back it up. We have to use all these new wonderful and cool technologies so that we can actually spend more time at home with our kids.

By: Marion Jensen

Marion Jensen — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:10:45 +0000

Maybe we need a web app? Dinner 2.0, virtual edition? The app could simulate dinner, allow people to twitter what they are eating, swap recipes, give each other virtual pats on the back or hugs.