"A secret society" Otherwise Known as Texting

From a teenagers perspective parents do not understand anything; about school, friends, and most commonly, they don't understand anything about technology. When it comes to my parents, the latter situation is what they can't seem to wrap their minds around. I guess I can sort of understand where they're coming from; when they were kids, cell phones, if they were even around, were the size of a shoe box and couldn't do half of the things a generic cell phone can do today. The thing that is most annoying, though is when a parent doesn't get the technology and becomes nervous about it. They turn into helicopter parents, always hovering, because the truth is they really can't tell the difference between texting and e-mailing.

Last night for example I was texting my friend, when my dad went into helicopter mode, and decided to ask me who I was texting. I told him, and then he proceeded to ask what I was talking about. When I answered with the general answer, "stuff", my dad went off about how secretive texting is. Even saying that texting is "a secret society", my only reply to that was a hearty laugh. I do get his point though, it is annoying when someone next to you is texting and they start to laugh - the only thing you think is that they must be talking about you.

When I become a parent, I'll probably be like him; completely over protective. By the time I have kids, cell phones will probably be even smaller than they are now, and teenagers will have become more antisocial. I can only pray that this doesn't happen, because in a way our parents may be right - what happened to talking to people? But for now, it's agitating to have helicopter parents, always in your business.

Another advancement in technology that some parents do not get is Facebook. My parents don't have Facebooks and probably never will, unless they decided to get one when I go to college which, sounds like something they would do. So when I'm on Facebook, and random people I haven't talked to in forever decide to post a picture of something they thought was interesting, my mom also finds it just as interesting. She walks into our living room, nonchalantly, and then hovers around the computer chair actually reading updates and asking me about them. Then, when I try to scroll down she thinks I'm trying to avoid showing her something and questions that too. Mom, I don't care if this person put a picture of a bird on Facebook, I haven't talked to them since I was in about third grade, so that is why I am scrolling down. Honestly, there has to be an explanation for everything I do.

Parents are entertaining, and they keep us in line. My english class can attest to this; we have a regular parent venting session, oh about once a month, where we talk about the crazy antics of our parents. They try to make sure that some of their good habits rub off on us, like making our beds in the morning, so that we will be prepared for life. But I really don't think I will ever make my bed in the morning, what's the point? Especially if it's a Monday.

That is all

-"M"