I realize that the following thoughts may in fact qualify me for one of the two slots recently vacated among the golden girls. But I can't help it. Bring on Sophia's wicker purse and/or Dorothy's transgenderish outfits because here it is.
Texting - this to me is one of the more problem wrought areas of communication created by man since the grunt. First, people sometimes text because they want credit for communicating, but don't actually want to talk to you (or me more likely). Second, people often say things over text they wouldn't say out loud. Some may find this liberating, but I think there is often a reason you won't say certain things. They may be unkind, unfair or even untrue. Perhaps we should not discount the test of verbalization when choosing our words. Third, texting while driving. Really? Really? This to me is the height of self-deluded narcissism. It is essentially saying that whatever you and your BFF have to "say" to each other in a given moment is so important that it cannot wait until your next stop even though you are endangering the rest of us unlucky enough to be sharing the road with you at any given moment. Would you read a book, or write one, while driving??
Cell phones in general - seriously people why can't we (and by we I mean you b/c I am often w/o my phone w/o really meaning to be) leave our phones behind for anything? We take them to work, to the gym, to church, to the game to the store etc. We are one them in the check out line, the changing room, the bathroom stall, in our cars, our houses and everywhere we walk in between. Sometimes I think we are afraid to be alone with our thoughts. I know my head can be a scary place to be. Also here comes my own insecurity, but when I am out with a friend who insists on placing their cell phone on the table in between us it tells me that you are hoping someone more interesting or more important than me will contact you and give you a reason to ignore me. It worries me that as a society we are so unwilling to be disconnected for a moment and yet equally unwilling to be connected to just one person, group or event for even a small amount of time.
Reality shows - enough is enough. I confess I found myself drawn to Rock of Love a few years back for the train wreck that it was, but I really think reality shows are a sign of the end times (no not really really in case anyone is wondering). Some shows are interesting and have an admirable purpose, but for the most part they represent the lowest common denominator in our society and are creating a generation of people who aspire to fame for fame's sake. And they just keep dialing up the ridiculous meter. From Temptation Island to the Real Housewives of somewhere or other they are often us just watching people's lives fall apart (Ala Jon and Kate).
Clothing - ok this one is the quintessential "kids these days" but it cannot be helped. I'll keep it simple. Guys wear their hair too shaggy, it falls in their faces and makes me think they are trying to hide something. Also their pants are too low. I do not want to see a good foot of your boxers or worse yet your butt crack when I am walking behind you in Wal-mart. As for the girls - with summertime approaching the shorts are coming out and I sometimes wonder if the teenagers I see accidentally put on their five year old sisters clothes. These shorts, which have been earning their name more and more each season, cover not leg at all and often do not even conceal all of the the wearer's derriere. As I already acknowledged this makes me an old lady I feel ok in saying - seriously people have you ever heard of modesty? Leaving something to the imagination? How about just plain being sanitary because, as a friend once pointed out, if these short shorts are combined with thongs I am seating on benches, chairs and car seats that have in fact touched your actual butt cheek and I just don't want that.
And then there's Facebook. Which I love. I am in touch with people from highschool, college, family and beyond who I probably would never have heard from in my life,but for Facebook. So I think it is a great thing. My only issue with it that fits here in my old lady rant is I fear we are substituting Facebook contact for actual contact. When I post something on your wall, add a comment about your status or shoot you a message these are all good ways of keeping in touch. However; they are decidedly without actual touch. When it comes to my outside of Facebook friends who also happen to be my friends on Facebook my concern, for myself at least, is that I equate a wall post with a phone call to check on a friend who is having a hard time. That I consider my comment on your child's silly antics as a valid substitute for actually seeing her. That I assume my status update indicating I am going through a rough time is really reaching out. Facebook is a great online community, but cannot be a substitute for the real thing. Oh and also some people share way too much and frankly way too often on Facebook. Some people seem to think that despite the five hundred friends siting there on their profile page their Facebook is really like a private journal. There is such thing as oversharing in the virtual world just like the real one. Just because you can't see the look of censure on our faces when we read your status does not mean it isn't there. Also although Farkle is a really fun word to say please stop sending me requests involving it. I don't understand what it is and this is only because I care less about it than about the fate of a piece of lint I am currently eyeing on the booth across from me.
Ok rant over. Did I miss anything old ladies go on about?
Texting - this to me is one of the more problem wrought areas of communication created by man since the grunt. First, people sometimes text because they want credit for communicating, but don't actually want to talk to you (or me more likely). Second, people often say things over text they wouldn't say out loud. Some may find this liberating, but I think there is often a reason you won't say certain things. They may be unkind, unfair or even untrue. Perhaps we should not discount the test of verbalization when choosing our words. Third, texting while driving. Really? Really? This to me is the height of self-deluded narcissism. It is essentially saying that whatever you and your BFF have to "say" to each other in a given moment is so important that it cannot wait until your next stop even though you are endangering the rest of us unlucky enough to be sharing the road with you at any given moment. Would you read a book, or write one, while driving??
Cell phones in general - seriously people why can't we (and by we I mean you b/c I am often w/o my phone w/o really meaning to be) leave our phones behind for anything? We take them to work, to the gym, to church, to the game to the store etc. We are one them in the check out line, the changing room, the bathroom stall, in our cars, our houses and everywhere we walk in between. Sometimes I think we are afraid to be alone with our thoughts. I know my head can be a scary place to be. Also here comes my own insecurity, but when I am out with a friend who insists on placing their cell phone on the table in between us it tells me that you are hoping someone more interesting or more important than me will contact you and give you a reason to ignore me. It worries me that as a society we are so unwilling to be disconnected for a moment and yet equally unwilling to be connected to just one person, group or event for even a small amount of time.
Reality shows - enough is enough. I confess I found myself drawn to Rock of Love a few years back for the train wreck that it was, but I really think reality shows are a sign of the end times (no not really really in case anyone is wondering). Some shows are interesting and have an admirable purpose, but for the most part they represent the lowest common denominator in our society and are creating a generation of people who aspire to fame for fame's sake. And they just keep dialing up the ridiculous meter. From Temptation Island to the Real Housewives of somewhere or other they are often us just watching people's lives fall apart (Ala Jon and Kate).
Clothing - ok this one is the quintessential "kids these days" but it cannot be helped. I'll keep it simple. Guys wear their hair too shaggy, it falls in their faces and makes me think they are trying to hide something. Also their pants are too low. I do not want to see a good foot of your boxers or worse yet your butt crack when I am walking behind you in Wal-mart. As for the girls - with summertime approaching the shorts are coming out and I sometimes wonder if the teenagers I see accidentally put on their five year old sisters clothes. These shorts, which have been earning their name more and more each season, cover not leg at all and often do not even conceal all of the the wearer's derriere. As I already acknowledged this makes me an old lady I feel ok in saying - seriously people have you ever heard of modesty? Leaving something to the imagination? How about just plain being sanitary because, as a friend once pointed out, if these short shorts are combined with thongs I am seating on benches, chairs and car seats that have in fact touched your actual butt cheek and I just don't want that.
And then there's Facebook. Which I love. I am in touch with people from highschool, college, family and beyond who I probably would never have heard from in my life,but for Facebook. So I think it is a great thing. My only issue with it that fits here in my old lady rant is I fear we are substituting Facebook contact for actual contact. When I post something on your wall, add a comment about your status or shoot you a message these are all good ways of keeping in touch. However; they are decidedly without actual touch. When it comes to my outside of Facebook friends who also happen to be my friends on Facebook my concern, for myself at least, is that I equate a wall post with a phone call to check on a friend who is having a hard time. That I consider my comment on your child's silly antics as a valid substitute for actually seeing her. That I assume my status update indicating I am going through a rough time is really reaching out. Facebook is a great online community, but cannot be a substitute for the real thing. Oh and also some people share way too much and frankly way too often on Facebook. Some people seem to think that despite the five hundred friends siting there on their profile page their Facebook is really like a private journal. There is such thing as oversharing in the virtual world just like the real one. Just because you can't see the look of censure on our faces when we read your status does not mean it isn't there. Also although Farkle is a really fun word to say please stop sending me requests involving it. I don't understand what it is and this is only because I care less about it than about the fate of a piece of lint I am currently eyeing on the booth across from me.
Ok rant over. Did I miss anything old ladies go on about?
