The internet is such a blessing, but it’s also a curse.
Every day I have to shake my head at the way that some young ladies choose to portray themselves on Facebook and Myspace. Posing in mirrors half naked, updating statuses using foul language, and slaughtered grammar…it drives me NUTS.
I recently decided to say something about it to a young girl I know.What I said was harmless really, but the response I got was “Wait a minute…are you calling me dumb? You think I’m dumb?!?!”
I was shocked because that’s not what I said, or meant, and I’d never call a 14 year old dumb….at least not to their face.
“No, I didn’t say that you are dumb. What I am saying is that it’s ok to be smart.”
You should have seen the little girls face.
I turned to my sister and asked, “what, did I say something wrong?”
My sister laughed and said, “No, you didn’t say anything wrong but that’s because I know you, and I know how you are.You don’t mean any harm but you just have so much knowledge and you try to share it with people but if they don’t know you it comes off bad. I could see how she thought you were saying she is dumb because she doesn’t know you like I do.”
Then my younger brother chimed in, “yea…you are like a wise old grandma”.
Thanks.
Ok, what am I supposed to say? How do I communicate that it’s ok to use your brain instead of your body? How do I say that you don’t have to curse to be cool? What’s a good way to get that message through that once you put craziness out on the internet, it stays there?
How do you talk to teens?
5 responses so far ↓
1 Angela // Feb 20, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I gave up correcting people for Lent. I do it accidentally all the time, no matter how much I try not to. (Obviously, I have no problem ending sentences with prepositions.)
The best thing to do is ignore it unless in a classroom setting or asked for an opinion… But really, I should take my own advice on that one.
2 DJ Nelson // Feb 20, 2008 at 7:17 pm
There are things that I think back to in my life and I wonder “why didn’t anyone tell me that….”
That’s where my motivation comes from. How are young people supposed to know things if no one tells them? Should we just wait and let them figure it out themselves? I guess, but that can lead to unnecessary hurt feelings and bitterness.
3 Tee // Feb 23, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Good advice can never be a bad thing, so I think you should continue “sharing the knowledge.” BUT if you want people to be receptive to it you may have to soften your approach. lol I’m not always immediately receptive to all of the advice I receive, but I usually see the value in it sooner or later. So when I talk to teenagers I try to just think of it as planting a seed. Hopefully it won’t be too long before that young lady you know has an “aha” moment, and has you to thank for it
4 Tracee Sioux // Feb 28, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Maybe that’s why parents yell at teens? Cause they’re too dumb to know they’re dumb.
I thought I was so smart and knew everything. I imagine all teens think that.
I hear you about the nudey photos and that crazy stuff - I thought I was bad.
I talk frankly to teens in my life - I tell them straight up - you’re making yourself look dumb when you curse like that. You are telling everyone you don’t deserve respect when you post nude photos of yourself passed out on the floor. I know that’s not WHO you are - but that’s how you’re making yourself appear.
5 DJ Nelson // Feb 28, 2008 at 3:15 pm
LOL @ “Maybe that’s why parents yell at teens? Cause they’re too dumb to know they’re dumb.”
Ha ha ha ha
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