it’s a girl thing
by henrietta henry
The Techno-Littered Universe
I’m pretty amazed by how fast technology is advancing. It seems like only dangerously too much of a good thing. Your entire routine becomes constantly
yesterday that my mom got our first home PC and I was enthralled—my mom had interrupted because you can’t wait to read the next clever, sexy text from your
to practically pry me from it to spend any time on it. Then came AOL. Remember crush. I’ve totally been there too.
when AOL meant the Internet? It’s funny because now AOL is a total dinosaur, Then there’s texting etiquette, and some that I wish people would follow more
but back in the 1990s, AOL was IT. I can still hear that weird, electronic dial-up prudently. Like when you’re out on a date and you’re talking, and the girl’s cell
sound, that lasted for seven or eight painfully slow minutes while the computer phone goes off and then suddenly she’s texting. She’s nodding and smiling even
connected to the embryonic Internet. Then, when you FINALLY connected, there though her eyes are looking at her phone and her thumbs are moving a million
was the friendly, semi-human “Welcome! You’ve got mail!” Beepers were hot right miles an hour sending messages back and forth. Yea. No good; kills the whole
around this same time. I wanted one for so long before I finally got one along with mood. Texting while driving is another crappy, albeit dangerous habit. But you
my very own landline for my room. I felt totally hooked up. My friends could beep just have to let that person know you’re running late, right? Or how about trying
me, and then I could call them back from the privacy to get away with texting in a situation you know you
of my room without getting bitched at for tying up
“flirting via text becomes
shouldn’t be texting in. Like when I’m in class bored
the family line with my pointless conversations. It out of my mind with lecture, it takes everything in
was great! There was a slight lapse in my ascent up addicting; it’s almost danger- me to keep off my phone to see if anyone has texted
the technology ladder from about 18 to 22. I didn’t
ously too much of a good thing.
me something funny.
carry my beloved beeper anymore because alas, Probably the lowest of text etiquette is the text
they’d become lame. It’s funny because I don’t really
Your entire routine becomes
message break-up. I hope not many readers have
recall how I communicated with people effectively
constantly interrupted because
gone through that. There’s just nothing worse. Get-
during that time. I probably just made plans with
people, and either showed up or didn’t.
you can’t wait to read the next
ting a text that says “It’s over” is just sickening. I mean,
how low, disrespectful and impersonal can you be?
Then came the best advancement in technology
clever, sexy text from
And yet, “I love you” or “I miss you” are both totally ac-
for me hands down—my first cell phone. It was a to-
tal brick and had a green screen, hardly any features
your crush.”
ceptable and personal, right? Tiny pixelated words
emblazened across an electronic screen have come
and about ten different ring tones that all sounded to hold so much weight and mean different things.
tinny and slightly similar to one another. My girlfriend at the time hated that cell Technology has come a long way, baby, and even though the new seems to be
phone though, because for her it symbolized the downfall of our relationship, be- fresh for only a few moments before it’s replaced, I think texting is definitely here
cause I was texting...and I wasn’t texting her. I was texting other girls and setting to stay. I have mixed feelings about it. Part of me wishes it were a little simpler, a
up dates and trips to the bar, all without a trace and no audible conversation. All little more autonomous, because at times texting is invasive and annoying. But I
without the telltale paper trail of strange numbers in my pants pockets or purse. hate to think of losing the convenience and fun in texting. Like when I text my best
I’d become a horrible girlfriend. And while I can’t blame texting, it was certainly friend hilarious updates. “The hot guy you’re in love with is at the bar right now,
the means through which I carried out my seedy deeds. and his chest hair looks excellent.” Or, “Mariah Carey in that new video. Fierce!”
Ah, texting. It has it’s own galaxy amongst this techno-littered universe, with The world of texting is totally rad and I am glad to be part of it...except at 3:00
it’s own rules and definitions doesn’t it? Sending or getting the sweet “I Love You” a.m. when I’m sleeping and get the late-night drunk texts from partying friends.
text in the morning becomes important, something to look forward to, even “Where are you?! Come out now!” Etiquette, people, etiquette!
though it’s literally just a text. Or on the other hand, there’s the dreaded “We need
to talk” text. I cringe thinking of it. Flirting via text becomes addicting; it’s almost feedback?
itsagirlthing@ragemonthly.com
28 RAGE monthly | MAY 2009
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