This morning I read an article on startribune.com about "what kids want" these days.
"I tried to get away with getting her an MP3 player that was $100 cheaper," Stangeland explained sheepishly.
"I was in the biggest dog box," she said, recalling Erika's crestfallen response. "She went to school, and everyone else had got an iPod for Christmas. It was like, 'How come everyone else got one, and you couldn't buy me an iPod?' So we got one for her birthday two months later."
Wow. A $300 MP3 player for Christmas AND her birthday? Ok, maaaaaybe I can see that. I mean, I was a little on the spoiled side myself growing up but I was a damn good kid who got fantastic grades AND did community service. It's not like I was out sniffing drugs and stealing my parent's credit card. What really blew me away was this:
I am almost 28 years old and I do not have a cell phone. Can you believe the horror? I don't have a cell phone and I don't have television - I should clarify that this is by choice. Sure it's pretty amazing I even know how to THINK without advertisements and shows telling me what to do every other second, but I have worked my ass off to get a job that allows me to drive a safe, spiffy car and take pictures with a even spiffier camera. Just in case anyone was wondering cell phones are not a necessity, they're a luxury.
I think everyone should "unplug" and go without a cell phone and a television for one month to see what it's like. None of that, "Oh, well I don't ever WATCH television" bullshit. No no, literally unplug your tv tv's and put it them away. Take the cellphone and stuff it in the back of an old cupboard. What would you do with all that extra time and silence?
In other news, Madonna has pulled all kinds of strings to get her 10 year old daughter a credit card with a $10,000 limit. To teach her the value of money, of course.
You know what taught me the value of money? NOT HAVING ANY. Has it escaped anyone's attention that she's 10? When I was 10 I wanted a new barbie. The one with all the peach ruffles.
Wow. I mean really, wow.
[As an aside, Steve is the onnnnnly person I've ever met that won't take a phone call while he's with me. You go Steve! Nothing irritates me more than, "Oh hold on a second, someone more important than you is calling me and I need to have a conversation with them about nothing that can't wait another moment!" Just as bad is the, "Yes I'm texting, but I'm tooooootally listening to what you're saying. Go on talking, eventhough I'm not making eye contact and my attention is completely focused on someone else... it's ok, I'm listening." Rudeness. Sooooo rudeness.]
Comments
I am SOOOO with you on the cell phone thing. I haven't had one in YEARS and I am DAMN happy about it. Remember when life existed *without* them? We all still managed to escape danger, handle emergencies, and meet our friends at designated locations. Imagine that!
FYI - My daughter's friend just got a new cell phone for her 11th birthday. Un-freaking-real.
You used to have a cell phone but I'm not sure I ever saw it in use. I think you would carry it just so you could look cool. ;-)
And I NEVER take a call when someone else is around, cell or otherwise. I know it's probably dorky of me but there is a hierarchy of attention that puts people in immediate contact on a higher level than anything else. They are right there after all.
The only reason I carry mine is I get cheaper long distance which is important when your family lives five or six hundred miles away. Otherwise I'd dump it too. I hate ringing phones.