Ripped from the Headlines...Manners Made More Fun

[MrsManners]

I thought that in order to get you all more active and talking about important issues that maybe I would start pulling things straight out of the headlines for us to debate and talk about.  I am curious as to your opinions on the subject.  Todays article is all about texting and the habits of the teen texter to be specific!  They are estimating around 50 texts a day per teen with only 5 or so phone calls a day.  In fact this means that we are looking at an entire generation who will use texting as their primary form of communication. 

Since we know that email has its own trappings for miscommunication, the abbreviations used in texting not only slaughter our language but also leave even more room for misinterpretation.  So what do you think?  We can't stop it, so there is no point in trying.  Now we need to teach our teens about responsible texting.  Here are a few to get us started.

1. No texting and Driving - EVER

2. No texting in class

3. No texting at the Dinner Table or at any meal for that matter.

4. No mean texts, if you wouldn't say it to someone's face then you shouldn't say it in text.  Also, I like if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.  Cyber bullying must end.

5. When you are spending time with someone (anyone) be present in the moment and not focused on texting someone else. 

6. Be sure and teach your teens effective communication skills, they WILL still come in contact with other generations for years to come and at some point they will need to get jobs from those people, so prepare them PLEASE to know how to communicate in other forums! 

7. Do not under any circumstances take inappropriate pictures of yourself and then share them with a friend.  The internet is FOREVER.

What rules would you add to the list? 

[Jonescatnj]

Apr. 20, 2010 at 2:15 PM

How about no texting during religious services?