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Teenage Troubles



Do you know what I hate about being a teenager? I don't care if you do, I'm still going to tell you. I feel like a good, old-fashioned rant is in order in response to the "when I was your age, life was so much harder because Larry Page and Sergei Brin weren't around" thing.

For starters, there's this idea that adults seem to have that the day you turn thirteen, you'll start behaving oddly and be seized by sudden desire to do drugs or drink. In my case, at least, that's not true. I quite enjoy being in full possession of my mental faculties, thank you very much (what limited part of them I possess, as it goes ;). I know there are teenagers out there - numerous ones - who are into drugs, but here's the thing: telling us repeatedly that we're highly likely to get into drugs because we're teenagers isn't going to decrease that likelihood.

Another problem I have: unpaid labour. This isn't really a teenage problem, it's something which (as far as I know) every kid between the ages of four and sixteen goes through. We're constantly told to "bring this" or "buy that". We're trying to play hyperviolent videogames that drastically increase our chances of becoming serial killers over here! I'm sure all you adults went through it when you were our age! I'm also fairly certain you swore to yourself that you'd never make your kids do that, and yet here you are, making your kids do it. Honestly, I ask you! Adults sometimes...

Thankfully, though, there is an upside to all of this. For instance, you learn to drive when you're a teenager. You realize that Tom and Jerry is funny no matter how old you are as a teenager. You eat excessive quantities of junk food and then try overly hard to make up for it by going to the gym as a teenager. When all's said and done, I suppose it isn't so bad.

P.S. I'd just like to make it clear that this article wasn't meant to offend people over the age of 18 - I'm sure you're all wonderful people who treat their kids like emperors and empresses. So for all the adults who read this, no offense intended.

P.P.S I apologize for my long absence. I've been busy goofing off and being generally lazy and not blogging an awful lot (read: not at all).

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