I've been a fan of Bruce Sterling for many years. I'm pretty sure we were introduced by Wired Magazine (way back in the first year of publication). From there I started reading things like
Neuromancer,
Islands in the Net, and
Snow Crash. I was never a fan of Sterling in terms of his narratives but his ideas are top notch and used by others to great effect. That's probably why I liked
The Difference Engine best out of all of his works as he collaborates with William Gibson. Interestingly enough,
Henry Rollins' tiny role in
Johnny Mneuomnic kick started my interest in the Rollins Band, mostly because, before Keanu's involvement, Hank was rumored to be up for the lead role. Of course I new Rollins from a guest appearance on
Undertow and the breakout album
Weight which preceded the movie. However, the rumors of Rollins as Johnny and even a (far better) screenplay had circulated the BBS/early internet for since about 1993.
Back to the main story. Sterling has written a
new short story about being a teenager in the future, though it's just as much about being a teenager now.
I'm not a parent, I probably never will be, but let me say this. Kids need to get in trouble and be unsupervised. Teenagers need to be allowed to make mistakes and use their judgment in order to grow up into adults. Things like forcing college students to live in dorm under strict supervision, zero-tolerance anything, closed campus highschools and other restrictions are turning teenagers into adults who are used to the state taking care of them and allowing unprecedented restrictions on their liberty. Heck they don't even vote; the government knows best.
In my worldview this all started with MADD and the raising of the drinking age to 21. It continued on into smoking bans and has catapulted to putting restrictions on 18 year old adults in college. Someone, somewhere, should challenge this idiocy but we're all too worried about what standing up for our rights would do to our future job prospects.
The driving source behind this over-protectiveness is, of course, parents. Boomers gave their parents a hard time when they were teenagers to the point that they want so much not to screw up with their own kids. Likewise, they are terrified that their children will repeat their mistakes. If this protective impulse was out of any feeling other than self-interest the end result would be different.
No, parents don't want to hold themselves responsible. Instead teachers and administrators are held to account. Inevitably teachers and administrators then ask for and receive permission to place further restrictions on teens. My personal belief is that, without a adult-free outlet, this leads to even greater pressure to conform. Of course, that idea dovetails into my explanation for Columbine and the subversice idea that schools are used for brainwashing. It's a whole vicious cycle that continues along an Orwellian downward spiral.
Where are we now? We are acclimating teenagers into living in a totally controlled environment with no privacy, constant surveillance, and an acceptable list of topics to discuss.
How can anyone wonder why over the lack of outrage concerning violations of civil liberties when parents demand that their children be monitored and adults emerge from teenhood thinking such invasion is the norm?
It all comes back to over-protective parents, baby obsession, and paranoia over being a good parent. A frame of mind started by "The worst generation" I'm speaking of course of the baby-boomers. Who are at this moment racking up so much debt buying ATVs, Snowmobile, and flipping condos in their search for self-fulfillment that their gluttony will be a burden on this country for generations after I die. It is a chilling observation to see the children of the boomers regarding their offspring as an investment that must be protected. Being human is about self discovery, too bad self-discovery isn't a good investment.
It's a pretty big stretch from a "Technology omni-present babysitter" story to blaming the worlds problems on the boom generation, I know. Regardless, I've stated my case. Even if you disagree with my crochettey rambling, read "
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by Google."
For the record my hobby is bitching about injustice.
Previous Bruce Sterling Short Story
