Technologically-Challenged Parents

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Technologically-Challenged Parents

                When I was in seventh grade, I started asking my mom and dad if they would consider adding texting to our cell phone service.  Every time, I was instantly shot down with a firm “No!” and given endless reasons why not.  First of all, they said, it is a waste of five dollars a month that we don’t need in any way.  Second, it encourages social isolation.  Third, it is annoying for the adults and too slow.  Fourth, it would give you arthritis in your thumbs.  Fifth, it would make our grades suffer.  Sixth, it would lead to drugs and alcohol.  The list goes on and on.  However, when they finally gave in and accepted texting, they quickly realized how great it is, and now they constantly rave about how they should have gotten it earlier.

                My mom especially loves texting, because it is the fastest way to communicate with a teenager, it is very quick and convenient, you don’t have to talk at length with people that you are trying to deliver a short message to, you don’t have to worry about disturbing a silence with a phone call, bad service doesn’t garble letters like it does spoken words, on and on and on.  However, ever since the whole smartphone with internet thing came about, I have been trying to convince them that this is another necessary addition to our cell phone service.  Again, I have always been shot down, because it was too expensive and all the same reasons they shot down texting.  I tried to tell them that they would finally get it and would love it just as much as they loved texting, but they just wouldn’t hear it.  Now, they have finally warmed up to the idea, and three of us will be getting iPhones within the next month, and my dad will when his contract is up. 

                My mom is raving about how great it is going to be before we have even gotten them, just like texting.  I swear, parents just don’t understand technology.  They sarcastically talk about how they are so stupid and need the kids to figure out all the technology, but it really is true.  They truly don’t understand their slowness and tardiness with the new great technology.  I will admit that having internet on a cell phone at this point is still a bit excessive, but as most people do now, they expect you to have it too, and it will probably become more or less a necessity within a short period of time.