Not too long ago a friend was catching me up on news about a mutual friend and her family. During the conversation she informed me that this friend's son was so adept at texting, he could do it with the phone in his pants pocket, without looking. I shook my head. I thought the accomplishment dubious. Here was a young man who succumbed to lust rather than the education he once aspired to at the Air Force Academy.
I thought little more about it until I listened to the noon news today while having lunch. LG Mobile has just finished up its 2009 National Texting Championship. A 15 year old from Iowa beat a 14 year old for the title and the grand prize - $50,000!
No wonder our kids are dismal failures when it comes to their studies. They have far more important pursuits with instantaneous and lucrative payoffs! It's not dealing drugs, though it is definitely an opiate of sorts! How else would you define an average of 500 texts per day?
In reading the description, this competition would appear to be the electronic version of American Idol or Britain's Got Talent! what with the qualifying events in cities around the country and competitions around the world with a grand total of 250,000 people participating!
A world championship, if you will, is planned for fall. The "mobile world cup", pitting the winners from the U.S., Korea, Brazil, and where-ever else these competitions have been held, against one another.
Okay, fun is fun. But you know what? I have a real problem with a prize of $50,000 for a 15 year old. One who "joked" about buying Coach handbags and a pony. Was she joking? How about stashing it away for an education that might give you skills to get through life after texting?
I know, I know. I'm old. I don't get it. Watch the video and see if you do. Then educate me!
In the meantime, I'll borrow the quote from the winner, to sum up my thoughts. "I'm just, like, stunned right now!"
5 comments:
Tsk, tsk: us old people (from the hula hoop era) must lighten up. However, "I too am, like you know, stunned right now. PAW
p.s. When downtown today, I saw two teen age girls walking side by side each conversing with someone else on their cell phones. If nothing else, they sure entertain me.
John, they were probably texting each other... they call it the silent conversation
I'm stunned too and really kind of frightened. These are the people who are going to be running our world when we are in our eighties. That is scary!
I use my cell for emergencies. I have better things to do with my time then texting or living on the cell phone.
I'm just, like, appalled.
I am SOOOO with you on this. I refuse to get a cell phone. I don't need to talk to anyone that bad. The dumbing of america.
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