In middle school, one teacher told my class that whenever he told new acquaintances that he taught 13-year-olds, their responses tended to fall somewhere on a spectrum between laughing incredulousness and outright shock. “You’d subject yourself to more time in middle school?” they’d demand of him. “But aren’t the kids horrible? That’s the worst age!”
Teenagers, at least those of us between the ages of 13 and 18, tend to get a bad rap. Adults are reportedly baffled by our behavior, frustrated by our moods, and generally unable to believe that they ever acted the same way. Teenagers, in turn, are often entertained by adults’ cluelessness and irritated by the parental restrictions that we secretly know are established with the best of intentions.
What causes the gap of understanding between the ages? Why do adults seem to forget what it meant to be a teenager? No one can say for sure, but one of the most outstanding symbols of the disparity between the generations today is the cell phone, especially texting.
My parents cannot comprehend why I so desperately need unlimited texting on the phone I share with my sister. As giddy as my father was when I sent him updates via text while I was across the country this past summer, he seldom used his phone for that purpose. My brother mercilessly mocked my mother when she first discovered the texting function on her phone and sent him a message replete with all the abbreviations she’d heard were all the rage among the texting generation — something along the lines of “hi i no how 2 txt C U tmrw :)”. She has not sent a text message since, preferring email, phone and plain-old face-to-face conversation.
“What is the purpose of texting?” my parents want to know. “Do you really need it?” After all, I could use email or call, or, yes, even wait to talk in person.
First of all, needless to say, texting is an easy way to stay in touch with my friends in far-away places. I can slip multiple people a text asking how they are or wishing them a happy holiday, and once my friends reply we can have individualized conversations. Texting is just an easy way to reach out, but it’s very casual, too, without exacting the same demand for time as a phone call or lengthy email requires.
Some people bemoan the death of the English language and seem convinced that all inclination to learn proper grammar and speak or write well will disappear as the “texting generation” grows up. I think that’s ridiculous. Just because you like to read the comics doesn’t mean you will give up the classics, does it? Similarly, texting is a kind of “communication lite.”
Sure, serious conversations probably shouldn’t be carried out over text messaging; break-ups, asking out, and heart-to-hearts should be kept to in-person chats. Texting is for small talk and catching up; recently, a friend used texting to fill in a group of us on the progress of her date when she had moments away from the guy.
As the exchange between my mom and brother proved, almost no one uses those silly abbreviations – at least not to such an extent. We mostly stick to proper grammar and spelling — if not, say, punctuation, which just takes too much time to work out on a cell phone keypad.
Texting is fun, OK? It’s an easy way to stay in touch with friends; photos and quick updates can be quickly exchanged. And, while I’m not letting out a huge secret here since even the teachers partake behind their desks sometimes, you can’t call or email during class but you can text. And sometimes a nice message from a friend after a hard test is all you need to lift your spirits.
Also, if the adults in our lives don’t understand us, at least we know our friends do, and with the advent of texting they’re always available to commiserate. That’s one sentiment that hasn’t changed much over the years.
BHS senior Julia Ringo writes a monthly column.
