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The Paris Diversion


A pulse-pounding thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The ...
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Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

Created: 01/14/20

Replies: 18

Posted Jan. 14, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

Kate complains about people taking selfies in front of the famous artwork rather than enjoying it. "Teenage girls were the worst offenders. Posing was second nature for these kids, selfie smiles rehearsed in mirrors, poses perfected after thousands of variations in body angle and head tilt, hair fluff and lip purse and peace sign, a permanent regimen of fine-tuning, akin to practicing piano or laying down a sacrifice bunt, skills never attempted by these kids, who instead know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers? Why or why not?


Posted Jan. 18, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

Most of the young people I know of are busy doing things that don't revolve around social media. Kids still participate in sports, drama club, band, piano lessons.... so I think this is an unfair assessment. Sure, they do still post selfies on Instagram, but they do much more than that.


Posted Jan. 18, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliep

Join Date: 04/07/12

Posts: 250

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

No, of course this isn’t a fair assessment, although the teenage years are when teens are most likely to be concerned with their looks, hair, makeup, etc. But teens need to get credit for their many other pursuits - school, family, sports, friends, etc.


Posted Jan. 18, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls

Kate's statement is a very broad generalization; no generalization is true for 100% of the people. However, for some people (this means adults like Kate's acquaintance the #Hashtag Mom as well as teenagers) who ARE busy on social media, the statement is true. And yes, those who are obsessed with the selfies do practice the poses. Many American theaters for musicals and other live productions now have a photo op/selfie backdrop in the lobby for just such social media moments. That area is often the most busy.


Posted Jan. 18, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
robertaw

Join Date: 04/20/16

Posts: 83

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

I think it's a generalization, but I definitely have seen teenagers behave that way---self-centered, narcissistic, and oblivious to others.


Posted Jan. 18, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
terriej

Join Date: 07/28/11

Posts: 422

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

It's not a fair assessment of teenagers. Teenagers know how to use social media successfully, but they have so many other interests and skills than posting on social media.


Posted Jan. 19, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 239

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

I feel that generalizing about teenagers is unfair to them. It's like saying that all elderly people are grumpy and narrow-minded. (For the record, I don't currently have any teenagers in my life and I am OLD.) It isn't right or necessary to paint any segment of the population with such a broad brush.


Posted Jan. 20, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
acstrine

Join Date: 02/06/17

Posts: 438

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

This is kind of funny to me. As a teenager, my son and his friends began leaving Facebook in droves because it was being infiltrated by "moms and other old people". Soon, the social media they flocked to in its place became overrun with older people. I can't tell you how many of my friends post pictures of themselves looking like bears or deer, thanks to filters available on Snapchat! And my son has respectfully asked me to stay off Twitter! :)

This is definitely a generalization, and a unfair one at that, based on Kate's own nickname for her middle aged acquaintance, #Hashtagmom I know more people in their 30's who travel with a selfie stick (and I actually saw a couple use one as the conveyor belt moved them past the shroud of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the Basilica in Mexico City). Haha!

I think Kate's comment reflects more on the feelings/resentments/distrust each generation has for those they are not a part of- -an example of this is that the millennials are now using "OK Boomer" in response to the criticism their generation has received.


Posted Jan. 21, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joycew

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 107

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

There is definitely a large group of teenagers who love to post pictures of themselves. If you don't want negative comments, don't do it; they are setting themselves up for bullying. When I was a teenager I did my own thing and kept my head down and sailed through. You can really lessen your stress this way.


Posted Jan. 22, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
katherinep

Join Date: 07/16/14

Posts: 374

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

Kate obviously does not have any personal involvement with teens--male or female. But then, she doesn't have much of a personal involvement with anyone, does she? No, there is plenty of hair fluffing, playing with nail polish, mirror grimacing, smiling etc among teen girls--of course, they are teen girls. But there is also sports, drama, student council, high school physics etc that these girls also spend time doing. Some even have part-time jobs of some sort. I remember PJ parties in my teens and sleepovers in my daughter's teens. That was the time for the being a girl and practicing looks, styles and language--necessary for growing into young women.


Posted Jan. 25, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorinned

Join Date: 10/13/14

Posts: 176

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

Generalizations are never fair assessments of anything.


Posted Jan. 25, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliaa

Join Date: 12/03/11

Posts: 276

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

Although many teenaged girls, boys, and adults do enjoy posting on social media, I do not think it is a fair assessment of today's teenagers. Kate is being unfair. Her kids are boys, but still, she was once a girl and should not be so judgmental, especially about girls she doesn't know. I am blessed by the presence of many teenagers in my extended family, and find them to be intelligent, socially aware, committed to justice, tolerance, and social action. I really hope this isn't how Pavone himself feels!


Posted Jan. 27, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
barbarao

Join Date: 10/18/12

Posts: 29

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

It’s a pretty broad paintbrush description but it isn’t wrong either. I see preteens emulating older teens and adults posing for selfies and heavily drawn into social media interaction. It’s an unfortunate cultural phenomenon that I hope goes away some day. I don’t like the anonymity social media has provided that gave rise to several kinds of bad behavior on a number of sites used by young people and in some cases, people of age that should know better.


Posted Jan. 29, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
pnelson384

Join Date: 05/13/19

Posts: 47

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

No, it's not a fair representation, but it is a commentary on the culture that our kids have grown up with. Social media is an intense draw for young impressionable women who want to fit in and be part of something. Just when young women are trying to define themselves, they are presented with 'perfect lives' everywhere they turn. They are just trying to belong.


Posted Feb. 05, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Junebug

Join Date: 01/25/20

Posts: 21

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls

I feel like teenage girls would respond "Okay, Boomer!" and they would not be entirely wrong. While I am somewhat befuddled by my daughters' need to take so many "selfies", I find that there are just as many of my adult friends who feel the need to do the same. I feel like it is a little bit self aggrandizing. Look how pretty I look today, look what a wonderful meal I am eating, look what a wonderful place I am vacationing in. If it gives them pleasure, it seems fairly benign. I also feel this is 100% a generic slam of a generation. I am sure they are so much more than their "selfies".


Posted Feb. 09, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
djcminor

Join Date: 03/14/19

Posts: 208

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

I don't think Kate is fair in her assessment. Painting with a broad brush is not fair to any group. In my community, I see young women who are involved in a wide variety of activities, both civic and social.


Posted Feb. 10, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marks

Join Date: 02/25/19

Posts: 112

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

There are definitely teenagers who believe that almost anything they do needs to be "selfied" and shared with the world so that we can all share their happiness. Then again, there are also adults and even "boomers" who still feel the need to do the same thing. To each his/her own. As a high school teacher, I see more teenagers reading/looking at what other people are posting than actually posting themselves. In fact, I hear more of them questioning why people would spend so much time posting on social media. There has always been a small group of people who (somewhat) control the narrative during the teenage years. The only difference is the platform being used.


Posted Feb. 12, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ireneh

Join Date: 11/22/19

Posts: 31

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

I agree with the members who consider Kate's comment to be a generalization. There's no category of humans who ALL do any one thing, that's part of the joy of being human in a diverse world.
What I found interesting was the fact that the character made the comment at all, given the complex set of behaviors in which she was engaged. She seemed to have a great deal of time to complain about her job, her status, her husband, and changes in Paris while also functioning in a labyrinth of overlapping schemes.


Posted Feb. 12, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lc8558

Join Date: 02/12/19

Posts: 8

RE: Kate complains that teenage girls "know how to do mainly this one thing: look like they're having a great time in social-media photos…" Do you think this is a fair assessment of today's teenagers?

No it’s not a fair assessment. It’s a generalization and something of a stereotype. Teen girls are so much more than selfie posters.


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