The Social Network

pic from aceshowbiz.com

Kid 1 refers to himself as part of Generation i (lower case is important here). He spends a lot of time on a certain social networking site, often via his iPod at the same time as not watching telly with the rest of us. Occasionally I visit him there to see what he and his buddies are talking about - not stalking, exactly, just keeping an eye on him. He knows I do it.

It's usually typical teenage boy nonsense - youtube videos of great basketball shots, complaining about school/homework/exams, photos of them all pulling ridiculous faces ... Imagine my surprise when I came upon a long conversation between Kid and several of his friends, discussing the assassination of Bin Laden, the potential repercussions, the situation in the Middle East, etc. And all extremely earnest and rational. It may sound silly, but I found it altogether cheering. Just because he doesn't read books (which KILLS me) doesn't mean he's an ignorant, unengaged buffoon. Or not entirely.

PS. It was an excellent movie, I thought.