The “Look-At-Me! Generation”
... Paris Hilton, Brittany Spears and Other 21st Century “Role Models”
By
The Savvy Old Lady©
Joan Giorgianni

Let me make it perfectly clear, there is absolutely nothing that a young adult and teenager does that completely surprises me. Paris Hilton, Brittany Spears, Janet Jackson with her wardrobe malfunction and the other icons of the “LOOK-AT-ME! GENERATION” with their outrageous behavior, probably seems somewhat tame compared to the stunts of many other teenagers and young adults.  The only difference is they’re famous and when our kids behave in a similar fashion they are considered infamous.  Paparazzi and the media, even supposedly serious media, just gobble up their antics. The media use it as the main story when there are no hurricanes, wars or Presidential elections to over dramatize, overanalyze and overexpose.  These teenage/young adult luminaries and let’s not forget the sports jocks and rappers become cool (or are they hot?) and they are THE people to emulate.

Speaking of Paris Hilton “She” is now out of jail and has proclaimed to the world that while she was in the hoosegow she found God.  I do hope, in my Pollyannaish sort of Motherly way that this is sincerely true; that would be a good thing, particularly if she let some of this rub off on the kids that idolize and emulate her.  But wait; there is more to this very, very old tired saga.  ABC television news has reportedly offered Paris Hilton (as if she really needs it) a million dollars to get an exclusive interview about her “time in the slammer”.  You know what, some folks are cynical about that kind of a money deal, but The Savvy Old Lady thinks she absolutely should take ABC up on their offer.  But then to validate her new found religious fervor shouldn’t she donate that money to a few faith based charities...the legitimate kind, please, not the bogus sort of razzamatazz non-profit foundation that John Edwards (the Presidential Candidate and Loophole-Lawyer Extraordinaire) got caught red-facedly engaging in.

I know the kids are always doing something to rattle the old adult chains; that’s their job you know.  Just think about how many bare bottoms you have seen hanging out of a limo on prom night in your day and you’ll know what I’m talking about.  I remember one of my kids being so outraged at being told that he was going to have to go to the barber to get a hair-cut “…or else” that he went to his room and promptly shaved his entire head clean as a cue ball and proudly announced, “Now, what do you think of this ?  Ha! There is no reason to take me to the barber now... so there!”.  Ah excuse me, was that a teenage cry for attention?  No, it was an “I’m pissed at Mom and I’m in control reaction”.   Was Mom upset?  No, since it saved her the price of hair cuts for at least two or three months and the hassles of trying to get the boy there in the first place!
  
As my children are all older now and feel that they now have a safety net it never fails to amaze me that at most family gatherings a story or two comes out of their teenage pranks that leaves me with my mouth wide open.  For example, how Mom and Dad prided themselves in having non-alcoholic after-the-prom overnight parties in which they checked each teen for alcohol as they entered the house and took their car keys until the morning in order to insure they would not be on the road and in danger of some drunk driver.  Only later to find out that some genius hid a ladder in our back yard and was bringing in a case of beer through the upstairs window, grrrrrr.

Hmmm, all I can do is look at pathetic Paris, Brittney and the others and recognize “The Circle of Life.  Sadly, this is only recognized by those who have gone before the current generation and big surprise the current generation doesn’t really care about the old folks perspectives.  So on and on it goes, “Hey Look At Me!”  Oh, I can’t wait to see who the icons of my grandson’s generation will be and what antics they will be up to.
 
I want all of you to sit back right now and remember the most outrageous thing that you ever did.  I sure bet it doesn’t pale in comparison to the icons of the day.  Wonder who out there, can come up with the most outrageous prank they or their offspring took part in and lived to talk about it?  Why don’t you write and tell me about it? 

STAY SAVVY!

Hugs:
The Savvy Old Lady