So, I come home for winter beak. It's December 2012. I am 20 years old, a month shy of my 21st. I come home one night at about one in the morning. The next day I get a text from my mom.
"Where were you last night"
"With my friends"
"Where?"
"This place."
"Who were you with?"
"I told you my friends"
"K"
"Mom I'm 20, you can't treat me this way"
This is a typical conversation between her and I. And it's always, ALWAYS, over text messaging. Why? I couldn't honestly tell you. It's like she only knows how to communicate over technology.
But that's how everything is now. People communicate only over technology. There are no more long phone calls or sending letters. Instead we have text messages and Skype. In a way this is better, but is it really so good to be wrapped around technology?
BAH. I love the content of this essay. My folks do the same thing when I'm home and I'm 22--though I try not to be bothered since they help me out pretty often.
ReplyDeleteI've been hesitant to thoroughly get wrapped up in technology-- or that is what I tell myself. I still insist on books and not kindles. But Skype is the only form of communication for my sister and I because she's far away. But I think you're right, this technology may just slightly diminish full-blown relationships. I fear what technology will be around when I have kids and how long I'll be able to keep it from them so that they still look me in my face to hold a conversation.
I really enjoyed this essay. I think your conversation that you quoted as well as how you talk about your mother emulates Eggers pretty well. :)
I find it funny that your Mom, in the generation above us, is the one to use technology as a crutch. The subject matter is funny and essay worthy, although I would honestly like to see this expanded in your own voice as a bigger piece. I've never seen the roles reversed like that.
ReplyDeleteI liked the conversation being recounted without attribution, that was a good use of the author's technique. I feel the same as tristan about the role reversal, usually it's parents complainin about their offspring being tech-obsessed, your situation is opposite. I think maybe if you meditated on what her constant use of tech means for society, it would have been more like the author and how he uses little things to make really big points.
ReplyDeleteI stepped on my g key on tuesday, so i'm trying to use words without the need to mash it (hence the nondescript reference to the author instead of his name)...you don't know what you got till it's gone
ironic use of "g" in the last sentence.
DeleteI think you really captured Eggers' writing style through your stort, throw-it-all-out-there sentences, the rapid-fire dialogue (well, text messages, I should say), and questions you ask yourself.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Tristan about expansion, and I would love to see more description of your relationship with your mother. Rather than a broad focus, I would like to see specific detail - which Eggers often uses to add honesty and reality to his writing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this essay and think the topic is very interesting. It would be great to expand on!
I think this essay is also missing commentary. I like the energy of the conversation, but we all know parents pester their young-adult kids. Can we know about her? About you? Can the conversation be embellished? Can you take on her voice like Eggers does with Toph?
ReplyDeleteI need a little more here to feel like you're 1) getting at the spirit of Eggers, 2) Aptly commenting on parent-kid relationships, 3) telling me something new about technology.
Could be expanded and revised.
Good start.
DW