I remember the first time I used a computer.

I was quite intimidated by the thing and thought for sure I would break it.The woman who was instructing me on its use assured me that there was no way, aside from hitting it with a hammer, that I could break this wonderful and mysterious piece of office equipment.I don't remember much of what I was taught that first day, except for one thing she said decades ago: "Garbage in, garbage out" or GIGO.GIGO is an acronym used in computer science that means that bad input will result in bad output.For some reason, that GIGO phrase has been coming to mind lately.I have thought about it when I had to decide what to eat when I am hungry or when looking in the mirror in order to determine my attire for the day and not liking what I see: Garbage in, garbage out.I am reminded of it when I do not make the proper preparations before completing a task or a project, or even when I fail to thoroughly read the directions for doing or using something because I think to myself, "I got this."I once killed a beautiful azalea bush given to me by my daughters as a Mother's Day gift by overdosing it on Miracle Gro simply because I didn't take time to read the directions all the way through. (I did think that the water was awfully blue though.)Lately, as I observe people in my community and basically everywhere else, I see behaviors and thought processes that cause me to consistently shake my head and mourn the tragic passing of basic morals, values and ethics and I am pretty sure I know the cause: "garbage in, garbage out."For starters, I think that the music, movies, books and video games that we and our youth listen to, watch, read and play have drastically changed the way we think, speak and act; and not for the better.Things that were unacceptable and intolerable years ago are the norm now.I have witnessed the change in many young people over the years as their tastes in music have changed.All of a sudden it is OK, if not expected, to use foul language in every conversation.I have even listened to some young people try to convince me that some of these words aren't even "bad."It has become acceptable in the workplace and I have heard some say that kids curse in school without any reprimand or consequence from the faculty, and that sometimes, the faculty are cursing in front of students as well.Attitudes are deplorable.Drugs, alcohol and the "thug life" are glamorized and glorified.Purity and chastity are a thing of the past.If you are dating someone, it is expected that you will have sex with them.It doesn't matter if you are underage, or if someone in the mix is married, as nothing is sacred anymore.TV networks such as ABC Family (among others) air shows depicting teenagers not only having casual sex on a regular basis, but also being involved in sexual relationships with teachers and other adults, and then we hear about real-life incidents of the same in the news and are somehow shocked.Videos on social media depicting violent fights are considered to be "funny."If that isn't bad enough, these videos also depict the fact that no one steps in to try to stop the altercations.Movie ratings seem to bear little to no weight when deciding what is and is not appropriate for young viewers.I know parents who have routinely allowed their elementary-school aged children to watch violent and sexually explicit horror movies stating that they "like them" and that it keeps them out of their hair for a while; and then later on they will wonder why their children become unruly, violent or sexually active at a very young age.Garbage in, garbage out.Instead of allowing ourselves and our children to be filled with all manner of garbage that ends up being regurgitated into our (and their) daily lives, shouldn't we all be making more positive choices that enrich as well as entertain?Why not fill ourselves with wholesome things that promote knowledge, wisdom and imagination, compassion, understanding and humility; hard work instead of handouts, giving instead of taking.Things that teach how to be cheerleaders instead of tormenters, peacemakers instead of bullies, men and women of integrity instead of potential guests of the Maury Povich show or future inmates in a correctional facility.What about making a commitment to ourselves and our children to fill ourselves (and them) with things that glorify the attributes of Galatians 5:22-23 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?If the garbage in, garbage out theory can hold water, wouldn't the opposite also hold true?Isn't it time to take out the trash?