Out of touch

Diana Kingsbury, my co-advisor, and I were talking last night about our weekends before our weekly meeting.

"I feel so out of touch now. I'm back in the stone age!" she said very impatiently. "I don't know how I'm going to survive!"

You see, Diana had an unfortunate experience with her cell phone and some dampness. Her cell phone didn't make it.

This conversation got me thinking more about this wave of technology and how much our daily lives are wrapped around it. When I was in 9th grade I had a pager and that was considered VERY risky (and a bit trendy). Now, cell phone providers are targeting kids of all ages using the array of family plans to sweeten the deal.

And actually, to tell you the truth, they are doing one heck of a good job in advertising to this young generations.

For example, we've all seen the T-Mobile commercial with the parents engaged in a conversation on awarding their kids with more minutes based on their behavior - with a clever shot in to the driveway showing these same adorable youngsters fighting while washing the car and the father saying something clever about also taking away minutes too.

This ad will hit home for the parents and the children looking for yet another reason to ask their parents for a cell phone.

I can just picture it...

Father: "You don't need a cell phone."
Daughter: "Yes I do! Pleaaaase?"
Father: "No. Why do you think you need a cell phone? You are ten years old!"
Daughter: "Because! Everyone else has one! I promise I'll be good!"
Father: "How can you promise that?"
Daughter: "If I'm not good then you can take my minutes away and I won't be able to use my phone but just to call you and Mom!"

And just like that, T-Mobile sells another family plan to this family. Why? The son has a point, everyone else DOES have one. Plus, it is good to have on you for emergencies and it is an excellent way to keep track of your kids.