It’s painful to watch them interact, period. I’m not sure
how teachers stand it. When I am with a group of kids, there are always at
least a couple of them spouting the most painful and embarrassing lines of
bullshit you can possibly imagine. I am nice and pleasant, I nod, smile and
encourage – they are children, after all – but inside my head I am screaming,
“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! For the love of God, stop talking!”
And the worst is when they are trying to flirt with each
other.
They often insult each other without realizing it. Even
when they are trying to tease, they lack the finesse to keep the teasing
playful. Sometimes, they go way too far. Sometimes, they take offense when none was meant. Everything comes to a screeching halt.
They can’t decide whether they like each other or not. In
fact, if they think the other one likes them back, they may very well decide
they don’t like that person after all.
They just consider each other trophies. Girls in
particular want a boyfriend to show that they have been “chosen.” One of my
daughter’s friends started dating a boy but was dismayed to discover that he
wanted to talk. (Eww.)
They don’t ask each other out on dates. They don’t go to
movies or hang out at each other’s houses. Some only see each other at school;
others only know each other online.
They are inordinately concerned with what their friends
think of who they like – even though their friends are clearly just as insecure,
competitive and squirrelly as they are.
It’s a wonder the human race reproduces.
Were we as bad as this?
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