Comments on: Status Symbol, Insecurity, What Do You Think… http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/ Ten Authors. Five Genres. One Blog. Because the only thing scarier than a loaded gun pointed at your head....is writing about it. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:45:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jen http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/#comment-223592 Jen Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:41:57 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=927#comment-223592 Margaret, it's just sad that many parents find their phones more interesting than their kids. Your daughter if very lucky! Natalie, ah yes, the texting. I watch my youngest son (age 19) text and he blows me away how fast he can do it. Texting a sentence is a major achievement for me. Oh yeah, Natalie, too funny on giving the boy a right because it's the only way to get them there! Margaret, it’s just sad that many parents find their phones more interesting than their kids. Your daughter if very lucky!

Natalie, ah yes, the texting. I watch my youngest son (age 19) text and he blows me away how fast he can do it. Texting a sentence is a major achievement for me.

Oh yeah, Natalie, too funny on giving the boy a right because it’s the only way to get them there!

]]> By: Natalie http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/#comment-223590 Natalie Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:11:05 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=927#comment-223590 Great blog, Jen. I was telling my daughter the other day that kids are not learning social skills because they text instead of talk. I took my daughter to her ballroom class the other night--and I give her partner a ride, because that's the only way to get boys there!--and they were sitting next to each other and TEXTING the whole way. Right next to each other. I think we need a "no text" week. Great blog, Jen. I was telling my daughter the other day that kids are not learning social skills because they text instead of talk. I took my daughter to her ballroom class the other night–and I give her partner a ride, because that’s the only way to get boys there!–and they were sitting next to each other and TEXTING the whole way. Right next to each other.

I think we need a “no text” week.

]]> By: Margaret A. Golla http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/#comment-223589 Margaret A. Golla Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:31:33 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=927#comment-223589 Thanks, Jen! I'm so glad that I wrote a paragraph at the end of PMR just to remember HOW the story came about. I have something that many moms will never experience. I treasure our stories. Margaret Thanks, Jen!
I’m so glad that I wrote a paragraph at the end of PMR just to remember HOW the story came about. I have something that many moms will never experience. I treasure our stories.
Margaret

]]> By: Jen http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/#comment-223588 Jen Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:17:40 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=927#comment-223588 Chris, I can think of one person without a cell phone and that's because he's stubborn ;-) But yeah, you are right. And I agree that common courtesy has disappeared. Heck, look at the rude drivers who aren't on their cell. I'm sure you get them in NJ like we do in So Cal. Chris, I can think of one person without a cell phone and that’s because he’s stubborn ;-) But yeah, you are right. And I agree that common courtesy has disappeared. Heck, look at the rude drivers who aren’t on their cell. I’m sure you get them in NJ like we do in So Cal.

]]> By: Jen http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/#comment-223587 Jen Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:15:33 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=927#comment-223587 Margaret, that is a beautiful story! What a lovely time you and your daughter had making up these stories. She must be so excited that you wrote them out and submitted them. I will be keeping my fingers cross that you final, but you've already won in the way that really counts--with your daughter! Margaret, that is a beautiful story! What a lovely time you and your daughter had making up these stories. She must be so excited that you wrote them out and submitted them. I will be keeping my fingers cross that you final, but you’ve already won in the way that really counts–with your daughter!

]]> By: Chris Redding http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/#comment-223586 Chris Redding Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:13:28 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=927#comment-223586 First I don't know anyone without a cell phone so I don't know how it can be status. Second, I think people are just more rude and it is easier with cell phones. If I don't have my kids with me, the cell is on. I have a hands-free device for the car because it is the law in NJ. But it stays in the car when I'm not driving. Common courtesy has gone out the window. First I don’t know anyone without a cell phone so I don’t know how it can be status.
Second, I think people are just more rude and it is easier with cell phones. If I don’t have my kids with me, the cell is on. I have a hands-free device for the car because it is the law in NJ. But it stays in the car when I’m not driving.
Common courtesy has gone out the window.

]]> By: Margaret A. Golla http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/#comment-223585 Margaret A. Golla Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:21:52 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=927#comment-223585 I had to make a comment to Jen's observation about moms and dads chatting on the phone while driving the kiddos to school. We live behind my kiddo's school, 5 houses into the neighborhood and I walk my daughter to and from school every day--4 minutes, one-way max. Last May, DD (first grader) saw a tiny filled trashbag and commented that it was a bug's trash bag. So writer that I am, I asked her pertinant questions: why did the bug have trash, what type of bug, and his name. I made up a story using her character, and when I returned home, I wrote it--PETER'S MESSY ROOM was invented. Now, I don't write kids books, prefering paranormal RS or UF, but I thought it was cute, so I looked for any online contests and found the Spoonful of Cheerios contest. I cut 1/3 of the story to fulfill the requirements and sent it in. I also wrote 5 more Peter stories, and entered them into the contest. Now, I'd love to say I finaled in this contest, but I'm not holding my breath. Last year, they had over 1000 entries. But what I did do was connect with my daughter on a different level when I wrote these stories. I used her input to make Peter and his friends and the silly situations he found himself getting into. None of the above would have happened if I had been mindlessly chatting on a cell phone about nothing really important. Margaret I had to make a comment to Jen’s observation about moms and dads chatting on the phone while driving the kiddos to school.
We live behind my kiddo’s school, 5 houses into the neighborhood and I walk my daughter to and from school every day–4 minutes, one-way max.
Last May, DD (first grader) saw a tiny filled trashbag and commented that it was a bug’s trash bag. So writer that I am, I asked her pertinant questions: why did the bug have trash, what type of bug, and his name. I made up a story using her character, and when I returned home, I wrote it–PETER’S MESSY ROOM was invented.
Now, I don’t write kids books, prefering paranormal RS or UF, but I thought it was cute, so I looked for any online contests and found the Spoonful of Cheerios contest. I cut 1/3 of the story to fulfill the requirements and sent it in.
I also wrote 5 more Peter stories, and entered them into the contest. Now, I’d love to say I finaled in this contest, but I’m not holding my breath. Last year, they had over 1000 entries.
But what I did do was connect with my daughter on a different level when I wrote these stories. I used her input to make Peter and his friends and the silly situations he found himself getting into.
None of the above would have happened if I had been mindlessly chatting on a cell phone about nothing really important.
Margaret

]]> By: Jen http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/#comment-223584 Jen Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:05:56 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=927#comment-223584 Terry, my husband and I look for cell phone people too. We say, "CPA" Cell Phone Alert. If we're in public, people have no idea what we're talking about. Of courses, now I've just given it away. Terry, my husband and I look for cell phone people too. We say, “CPA” Cell Phone Alert. If we’re in public, people have no idea what we’re talking about. Of courses, now I’ve just given it away.

]]> By: Jen http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/#comment-223583 Jen Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:04:45 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=927#comment-223583 Dru, when I walk early in the morning, I see the same thing! People backing out of their driveways on cellphones. I can't figure out who they are talking to either. The other thing I see is all the moms/dads driving their kids to school while on cell phones. It's an obsession! Dru, when I walk early in the morning, I see the same thing! People backing out of their driveways on cellphones. I can’t figure out who they are talking to either. The other thing I see is all the moms/dads driving their kids to school while on cell phones. It’s an obsession!

]]> By: Terry Odell http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/09/22/status-symbol-insecurity-what-do-you-think%e2%80%a6/#comment-223582 Terry Odell Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:53:01 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=927#comment-223582 Let's not talk about those who drive while blathering on their cells, either. When we stop for red lights, we count the number of people on cells going by in the other cars. Frankly, I don't WANT to be that accessible. If I were a doctor on call, maybe. Otherwise, what can't wait? Ah, I remember the days when you dialed phones, and there were no answering machines, or call waiting. If someone wasn't home, you called back later. Let’s not talk about those who drive while blathering on their cells, either. When we stop for red lights, we count the number of people on cells going by in the other cars.

Frankly, I don’t WANT to be that accessible. If I were a doctor on call, maybe. Otherwise, what can’t wait? Ah, I remember the days when you dialed phones, and there were no answering machines, or call waiting. If someone wasn’t home, you called back later.

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