subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Sun, Nov 22 2009 

Published January 01, 2009 05:03 pm - I don’t want to be a creepy old guy who sends text messages to their children in order to stay hip. Or whatever it is kids say today to signify hipness.

Mike Pound: Creeping into the 21st century



Monday night, while I drove to Bolivar to watch the Missouri Southern women’s and men’s team play basketball, my wife sat next to me and sent texts to people. In the back seat, our 10-year-old daughter, Emma, and her friend, Olivia, were sitting next to each other and sending one other instant messages.

But wait, there’s more. I also listened to music I didn’t like playing on an iPod Shuffle.

I was a 20th-century guy trapped in a 21st-century world, is what I was.

First of all, I don’t text people. I don’t text people for a couple of reasons.

Reason No. 1: I don’t know how to text people.

Reason No. B: I can’t think of anything so important to say to someone that requires a text.

And:

Reason No. 3: I can’t read the little letters on my cell phone keyboard.

I don’t send instant messages for pretty much the same reasons. And I don’t listen to music on an iPod Shuffle because I’m uneasy with products that begin with a small letter. And finally, I don’t like new music unless the new music is by someone named Jimmy Buffett.

I have become one of those grouchy old guys. I have become Mr. Wilson.

The thing is, I don’t want to be one of those grouchy old guys. I don’t want to be Mr. Wilson. But, at the same time, I don’t want to be one of those creepy old guys that tries to embrace all things new. I don’t want to be a creepy old guy who wears a baseball cap backward. A creepy old guy who has seen all of the latest movies and is into the latest music. I don’t want to be a creepy old guy who sends text messages to their children in order to stay hip. Or whatever it is kids say today to signify hipness.

If I did send text messages, I would send Emma the same text message over and over again. That text message would be brief and to the point. The text message would be “Stop it.”

But nobody wants that. Nobody wants their dad sending them the same text message over and over again.

The problem is that many people my age have adjusted to the 21st century. My friend Robert Corn has mastered the art of texting. And from what I understand, his eyes are older than mine. My wife texts all the time now. So do her friends and, let’s face it, my wife is no spring chicken. My wife knows how to use an iPod Shuffle. My wife knows how to download music. My wife can understand Emma when she talks about music.

So I don’t know. I’m starting to rethink my grouchy-old-man status. I mean, sure it was fun for a while to make fun of everything new. To say things like, “When I was a kid we didn’t need cell phones,” or “In my day, if you had something to say to someone you sent a telegram.” But after a while that sort of thing gets old. People don’t want to hear an old guy complain about new stuff.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements



Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!




Featured Jobs

EXPERIENCED FULL TIME AUTO TECH
EXPERIENCED Full time Auto Repair Tech for very busy repair shop! Apply at Iveys Service Center, 301 E. 7th, Joplin...>MORE

DRIVER LONG HAUL
Driver, long haul or regional, for small Joplin company, home weekly, good pay and benefits, must have 3 years verifiabl...>MORE

ROUTE REPRESENTATIVE
Route REPRESENTATIVE Odor control and commercial hygiene service route. Monday-Friday. Benefits, incentives, company v...>MORE

OWNER OPERATORS
with equipment for truck and trailer, drive in or reefer. 624-2755...>MORE

SALES MANAGER

Must have sales experience.
$28-$36,000 base salary.
Flexible hours and 10% travel required. Apply onl
...>MORE

WALLER TRUCK COMPANY
Waller Truck Company is now seeking Company and Lease Drivers. Call Recruting today at 1-800-821-2196 or apply today onl...>MORE

LOCAL YARD WORK
1ST SHIFT
We are a specialized carrier seeking an individual at our Baxter Springs, KS location. Duties include F
...>MORE

CARE COMPANIONS FOR SENIORS
Care companions for seniors. CNA experience helpful but not necessary. Older workers please apply. Must be able to work ...>MORE

CMA
cma with insulin certification. Whispering Pines, (417)781-0099....>MORE

EXPERIENCED TAX PREPARERS,
enrolled agents and CPAs. Make extra money after the holidays with very flexible scheduling and top pay working for the ...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

MAZDA, 1996 626,
4 door, sharp, $1875
loaded automatic, fancy wheels. 437-4424
...>MORE

JEEP, 2007 COMMANDER,
loaded, 22,000 miles, $12,950. 417-781-1409, 529-5606...>MORE

TOYOTA 1994 T100
TOYOTA, 1995 T100, extended cab, 4x4, high miles, $3950. (417)843-2613....>MORE

CHEVROLET 1998 S10
Chevrolet, 1998 S10, 4 cylinder, 5 speed, high miles, $1750. 417-214-0022....>MORE

MAZDA 2000 B4000
Mazda, 2000 B4000 extended cab, V6, automatic, loaded-nice, $3450. 434-5503....>MORE

FORD 2003 TAURUS
FORD, 2003 Taurus, silver, 95,000 miles, premium sound, leather, sunroof, 6 CD. $3,600. 417-438-4252....>MORE

SAAB, 1999 SE,
4-cylinder, convertible, all power, 74,000 miles $4800. 417-423-0125...>MORE

1993 120FL FREIGHTLINER
1993 120FL Freightliner, day cab, 572,541 miles, twin screw, 60 series Detroit, 9 speed Fuller, air ride and 2000 step d...>MORE

LAND ROVER 2003 DISCOVERY
LAND ROVER, 2003 Discovery, 51,000 miles, all wheel drive, leather, heated seats all power new tires $9,500/best offer ...>MORE

FORD, 1996 EXPLORER,
4x4, sharp, $1650
full power, cold air, must see. 437-4424.
...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

525 E 41ST FOR SALE AT AUCTION
525 E. 41ST, Joplin, MO will be offered for sale at Auction
Saturday, December 5th 9:30 AM AAA Auctions Bob 417-
...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-5 P.M.
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-5 p.m. New construction, 3 BR, 2 BA, 3 car garage, newer neighborhood, mature trees, 3 minutes from...>MORE

ATTRACTIVE 4 BR ORONOGO
attractive, comfortable 4 br, 3 ba, 2-level, 2600 sq. ft. home. Greystone Subdivision, $194,900. 103 Jason Blvd., Oronog...>MORE

LEASE/PURCHASE
Executive Home, 4 br, 3 ba, 3000 sq. ft. on 5 acres. 605-521-0971...>MORE

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

2802 MASSACHUSETTS, JOPLIN
2802 Massachusetts, Joplin You won't believe the price! 3 bedroom, new central heat and air, new roof, appliances.. Cl...>MORE

2 BR COTTAGE
2 BR COTTAGE, small but cute, all electric, small down, $450. Owner finance. 609 W. 15th. 417-439-4104....>MORE

3BR, ALBA
3 BR, 1 ba, 1 car gar, large fenced yard, Alba $550+ deposit. Hud ok 417-540-4674...>MORE

2 BR, 1 BA,
excellent location, 208 E. Lexington, Jasper, $325. (417)830-0873....>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

SIBERIAN HUSKY
Siberian Husky - female, 2 years old; Husky mix - female, 2 years old. Both spayed, housebroken, and vaccinated. Very en...>MORE

BULLDOGS-ADULT
Bulldogs- ADULT 4 female, 1 male, adult English Bulldog; 6 females adult French Bulldogs; ages 1-4; Cream/Brindle. 417-...>MORE

BUY NOW,
small down, rest with tax return, vet checked/shots, small Chihuahua’s. (417)439-3647...>MORE

50CC 4 WHEELER
50cc 4-wheeler with remote kill, $350; dining room table and 4 chairs, $100; 3 year washer, dryer combination, $300; ant...>MORE

DOBERMAN PUP
Doberman pup, ACA, black/tan, male, 11 weeks, neutered. (620)922-3531....>MORE

KENMORE GAS RANGE
Kenmore gas range; G.E. portable dishwasher, $150 each; both are 3 years old (417)624-4546, (417)439-9740...>MORE

CLOSE OUT PRICES
close OUT prices on beads, jewelry, and Longaberger products. Bring this ad for 10% off beads and jewelry. Saturday, Nov...>MORE

5TH WHEEL,
2000 NoMad, 27’, 1 slide, $7995. 417-385-8306, 417-825-7782....>MORE

2 ATV'S FOR SALE
FOR SALE: Two (2) 2004DS 650 Bombardier ATV's. Used as displays only - 0 hours. Red and black, perfect condition. Will s...>MORE

PLASTIC LIGHT UP YARD
plastic light up yard decorations for all holidays! 620-362-3020 leave message....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition