Category Archives: Sociology

I Will Marry Your Creeper

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My peers are getting engaged and married. 90% of them are out of straight no where. I didn’t even know half of you had boyfriends. It seems like guys never have girlfriends to begin with so again, no idea what kind of witchcraft you all practice.

What make concerns me, but mostly makes me laugh, is when “creepers” get engaged/married. I remember thinking back in 2009 that no chick would ever date this obsessive weirdo in my class. I’ve seen their tactics yet now there’s a woman wanting to reproduce with them.

“I do” not get it. Here’s something I do get: ladies, whomever we decide to settle down with will have once been some other chicks’ creeper. Every guy is, at some point, gameless and shameless.

Your fiance: He’s intelligent. His family is kind. He makes you laugh every day. He’s getting promoted really soon. He takes you out on thoughtful dates. And oh, he used to whisper disturbing things to this girl in his PoliSci class back in college.

I’m not hating here. In fact, I’ve started to counter creepster behavior with extreme, non-reverse psychology. When a random guy (who knows nothing about what goes on inside your head or has even heard you speak) asks you out, make it real easy on him. Let him find out everything about you in the most maniacal manner.

Example: At the gas station

“WELL SAY GURL, what are youuu doing tonight?”

Normally women will scoff and drive off. New response:

“I’m doing lots of things tonight! But we just met so if you want, you can definitely get my number right this instant. Forget it, let me just call you now so I know you got it so we can FO SHO have each others’ numbers. In case your phone dies at some point in life, add me on Facebook! I wanna see your profile pics! My girlfriends will probably ask for them tonight anyway because I’m going to be talking about how charming this all is. Do you work? Ahh, lets connect on Linkedin. My gas is still pumping so lets follow each other on Twitter. I’m SO motivational on Twitter. It’ll be fun. Oh, you need to go? Well lets take a selfie and instagram it, BOYFRIEND.”

Do not let him get a word in this entire time. Ladies, let’s be creepin’ too. Its 2013 and all about equality now.

Girls’ Night

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I’m still not sure what we really mean when we say GIRLS’ NIGHT! I’ve been “out with the girls”, at “dinner with the girls”, had a “girls night in” and variations of this she-bang. But….why?

Maybe women are all secretly normal but on Girls’ Night, things become strange . There’s always this chick who needs a no-judgment situation to eat chocolate covered strawberries. They’re not even tasty. The flavors fight for your attention in your mouth—it’s sweet disaster.

There’s also a photographer of the group will document every critical event, providing you a play-by-play of the entire night for every social media outlet.

[Picture of the champagne and chocolate strawberries]

[Picture of all the girls toasting with chocolate strawberries in hand]

[Picture of all the girls pouting before they head out to town, oh haaaaay]

While this is going on, two members of this female clan will secretly be feuding over some kind of irreconcilable difference. Most of the night will include accommodating for their self-deprecating needs. THEN, one of the girls will begin the night with an almost rehearsed monologue about the benefits of being single, the overall sense of freedom, and the endless demand of boys she gets to entertain. Near the end of the night, this same girl will mope relentlessly as she has no one to pester via text.

Within this Girls’ Night dynamic also lies the  character who is totally content with her life. She may have a man but the point to remember is that she never needed one. She kind of has some extra squish but ugh, she works it so well. She never broadcasts how delicious her latte was that morning and you’ve only heard rumors that perhaps she enjoys the company of her cat. Listen girls, we hate her for this! During Girls’ Night, every time someone complains, she assures them that everything will work out in the end – the audacity!

Probably the worst kind of Girls’ Night is when its a Bachelorette Party. Every town once boasts a delightful Piano Bar but the tireless raid of women wearing feathers and tiaras suffocate Piano Bars. They request the entire Grease album, emasculating men and depriving other people of their Piano cover to Journeys “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The nerve!

There is also the self-proclaimed Game-Stopper, the anti-christ of a Wingman. Her goal the entire night is to make sure no other member of the Girls’ Night breaks the one rule: No Boys, No Toys. She’ll be all, “Excuse me, I get that you’re a handsome Surgeon but my girl friend isn’t interested in you. We’re having girls’ night.”

And at last, the ~:~Girl Who Loves Her Boyfriend <3 ~:~. It was difficult to convince this girl to come out, she probably hasn’t even had estrogen exposure in months because she’s always so busy with the love of her life. Most of Girls’ Night will be her expressing her unyielding gratitude for such great girl friends and how she really should do this more often. And that’s the last time she ever does Girls’ Night.

“Surprise” Birthday Dinners: Lets Stop Doing This to Each Other

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Picture this nuisance with me: You walk in and the restaurant is filled with an ambient clutter of loud music and chatty hosts, helping you warm up to a sense of fun importance. There are maybe 2 others in your group who came before you. You are number 3 of 15. No one is on time and absolutely everyone is there for someone else. By the time you all sit down, watch the Birthday Person fake a yelp of glee when they walk in, you are famished. The waiter hasn’t even taken the orders yet.

You then engage in surface level conversations about work, school, and significant others. The entire time, you wish you had sat next to that one person you really want to talk to but they’re too busy juggling three conversations themselves. A total of 15 minutes will be spent on everyone asking the other what they’re ordering. That way, you can know what they’re having and order what you were going to order to anyway. Everyone is loud and complicated and the waiter hates you. Two people will decide it’s not a problem to come half way through dinner. The worst part of this whole pretense is that the Birthday Person carries the burden of making significant impact with all 14 of you before the night ends. He or she will wonder why you invited a random group but not their other close friends. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

You will most likely get your food last and yeah, it was over priced. As checks are being paid, there are murmurs of what the rest of the night holds. The acquaintances all have other engagements and the real 5 friends will stick around for the actual birthday celebration.

Surprise Birthday Dinners: why do we do this to each other? Having a dinner for yourself is acceptable. This angle of it being a surprise is like a game of tag: if one person decides to throw one, a chain reaction is started for the next 364 days for everyone and their respective subgroups.

Not sure what a guy’s excuse is but ladies, I like to make an art out of getting ready as much as you do but planning Surprise Birthday Dinners are not the answer. You know what is? Something fun. Let’s be frank: the person in honor really just wants to hang out with their friends. They’re just glad you’re there. So as their friends, to channel all our efforts into finding a date that works for everyone, picking a restaurant that’s quaint and delicious—all while attempting to surprise the Birthday child—is wasted effort.

Why can’t we all skip the dinner pretense and plan something catered to what the person would really enjoy? Go to sports games, improv shows, karaoke bars, food festivals, support local musicians, a play, the arcade, a boat party, fishing, barbeque, set up a beach/lake picnic, a cooking class, pottery, a drive in theatre, or visit an obscure bar or specialty restaurant. Basically, surprise them with anything else.

Let me be super original and say that there’s an assumption about being in your twenties: you’re out to enjoy to life. You want experiences. With that in mind, why are we using our free time to sit at a giant table of 15, at a quazi-fancy restaurant, celebrating our friend reaching another year? Surprise Birthday dinners can be nice at times but it is mostly the strangest thing we have all made a tradition of.

What We Imagine

The Reality

Having Opinions: Be Prude Yet Shrewd

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I struggle with extremism. Overly strong beliefs provide a harbor for narrowed ideas and anchor any potential progress within a thinker. We have invested our views upon only a few media conglomerates, making us susceptible to any mismanaged fact. We react without much thought to misleading statistics. We respond to outrage with more rage or obsession. Our news sources throughout the years have diminished from full-fledged articles, to blogs, to tweets, and memes that grossly generalize complicated ideas.

I think it’s great that many people have responded so sensibly, pinpointing deficiencies in news coverage and reflecting on the morality of any given situation. However, we have become prisoners to our ideologies, our small worlds, and tightly held beliefs. We’ve stunted learning any new information and filter our minds to find what specifically pertains to us. I’m not saying there is an easy solution to revamping the American media. I’m saying that as any other concerned individual, we have to bring it upon ourselves to uncover whats right. For every stance you take—for every post you share—read twice as many opposing articles. Not only can that further cement your position on a subject, but it may also enlighten you to the true issue at hand.

Despite the weight of an issue, it’s important to remain rational and choose leveled words when making an argument. Without the concept of moderation during critical events, we lose sight of what’s at the core of an issue.

Relevant example: there are enraged gunmen committing serious crimes at places one would never hope for. Regardless of what you feel is at the core of these events (whether it is gun control, fair coverage, or pure injustice), be cautious by how you intake new information. Not only heed caution when learning about such tragedies but practice temperance when speaking on it. We aren’t surprised by how stories unfold, not because there isn’t crippling information, but because we have already predetermined our stance. Isn’t it possible that you are immune to reason because you are so deep at one end of an issue? Aren’t we all clouded by a plethora of right and wrong information?

Another relevant example: A chicken sandwich chain and the supposed jeopardy of free speech at one end of the extreme and freedom of religion at the other. Both sides can substantially argue that their first amendment rights are in question. If you are truly appalled by the situation, regardless of which end you stand on, make sure you empathize and rationalize yourself out of an extreme end. Failing to do so will cause your frustration to linger, in which case, your cause has already lost effectiveness. Think of the last time you read something by the extreme opposition and miraculously altered your views? Never. Rage fails us. So, do your research: what other corporations support groups that you feel are opposing your liberty? Or at the other end: Whom else do we quiet as a society for simply speaking their mind?

There is truth to both sides but radical ideas don’t constitute a viable stance on their own.

Really, disproportional and bias news coverage is an old topic. However, the same way a physician takes an oath to practice honest care, journalists need to carry a heavier burden of presenting well-rounded information. Do justice to your beliefs and remain educated. It’s been a work in progress for me to do this as I read/watch the news but it has provided me with a more positive psyche. Change the way you read, be weary of extreme language, and empathize generously to opposing arguments.

This is all my opinion so perhaps I sound extreme myself. If you are easily persuaded by this or don’t agree at all, maybe I failed to make my point.  Also relevant: The Best New Show for America

I Do vs. You’ll Do

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I want to say that I would never get a tattoo because it’s tacky but really, I’m afraid of commitments that involve eternity. We see that two people fall in love and wither away once deeper factors begin to join the ruse of forever, “I do”.

Our parents grew up outside of the digital realm, which limited their personal encounters to their small towns. They automatically shared a large common base with everyone they met. With the omnipresence of the Internet today, we are given unlimited choice for companions paired with more tolerance for divorce than our predecessors. We marry outside of our ethnicity, religion, city and even lifestyle. We assume that by fine-tuning our needs, we can perfect our decisions. However, several studies have formulated the Paradox of Choice: the more options there are, the less likely you are to be satisfied because your decisions are subject to comparison.

The explosion of options has made men and women only more uncertain of their decisions, in all aspects. Regret tarnishes what is good. Perfection is complicated and, ironically, leaves a lot of room for the inevitable mistake.

Freedom of choice has been an integral aspect of our individualistic society. And although some choice is good, what America offers its society now—as a consumer, as a student, as a parent, as a person—is confusion. Something basic like milk has nine different options at the grocery store. If I want to “see what’s out there”, nothing is keeping me from joining a plethora of dating sites or browsing a social network.

The excess of choice is conditioning us to search for contrived happiness, crippling our outlook on trueness. In the pursuit of perfection, we distort necessity. I have high expectations for a pair of shoes; the level for a spouse runs even further. It is too easy to imagine the attractiveness of the options you reject. Just the digital presence of someone seemingly perfect can diminish your current state of happiness.

Even if you choose the perfect person, you allow your self-induced opportunity cost to gnaw away at your decision. This is still not to say that we don’t limit ourselves when choosing a partner. Whether you have self-imposed or parentally mandated filters, your mind still acknowledges your constant freedom of choice. Unfortunately, equating freedom with choice has not facilitated our social well-being. We are too prone to feeling defeated by our wants, especially if we barely know what it is.

To keep myself from feeling derailed, I’ve spent the past few years simplifying my general “wants”. Now that I’m 22 and have acknowledged the word “marriage”, all I feel is uncertainty for the stability in the future of my generation.

The Mating Game Part II: Beware of the Sirens

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Before you begin to dance away with her on the ocean floor, beware: she may be a Siren. Sirens are bird-like seductresses originating from Greek Mythology, notably in Homer’s The Odyssey. Odysseus and his men were venturing through the treacherous oceans to finally make it home when they ran into the Sirens. Their song is equally sad and sweet—luring sailors into their ultimate death.

You’re a player who’s starting to feel sly and in control. Women are throwing themselves at your sultry, suave demeanor… yeahhh. Unfortunately your complacency will most likely prevent you from filtering women, dooming you to hear song after song from vicious Sirens who have no intent of letting go of their ravenous grip.

Sirens entrap men. They are typically bright, alluring women with a thick layer of charisma to mask the decaying spirit inside. If your relationship consists of cyclical break ups and fictional love then you are probably in a Siren’s empty trance.

A Domestic Siren is the trophy on your mantel. She makes gourmet sandwiches, folds your socks while you watch ESPN after dinner and the dishes are totally cleaning themselves. But all that time at home, all work and no play, turns the Siren straight away. Yes, I advocate milfhood and glorify domestic duties, but without hobbies and interests this Siren will feel caged. Goodbye Domestic and hello Desperate Siren from Wisteria Lane.

The Carnivorous Siren can start off as the beak to your worm. And as delightful as woodpeckers can be, this Siren is more naughty than nice. As psychology would reiterate, the lack of a good father figure, traumatizing first boyfriend experience, or unyielding need for attention will cause her to gnaw your heart away. Carnivorous women are convinced that all men are evil and use it to justify their selfish tendencies. These women first manipulate and then learn to chirp your tune. She lusts you but she lusts herself more. Vultures.

Some women do not have confidence and Flightless Sirens sing this pitiful song. At first, it’s precious, their self-loathing antics and cute failures. However, there is dust gathering on her wings. Life isn’t about finding yourself, but making yourself and if you’re too busy helping her, you’ll both fall. And yikes, it never helps that insecure women are usually boring because they’re too afraid to just be. Flightless Sirens are prone to fling their man-woes on “the universe”, never themselves. They preach cynicism and predict holes in others’ happiness. Keep thy ears covered!

The Migratory Siren is a Player’s female counter-part. Perhaps this is your ideal gal. She’s the right balance of party owl and career chick but in that shuffle, you hardly come up. If you were trying to keep score in the mating game, you will see no victory with her. She’s the only Siren that will want things to end between you two—and that very objective is what keeps you clasped on.

Running into one of these Sirens marks the end of your Playerhood. Women who display Sirenistic qualities (look at me, making up words already) are hopefully in a phase as well. So if you’re wasting your time, at least know what you’re wasting it with.  What’s worse than a woman without standards? A man without standards. Men are supposed to maintain composure so when they’re found at a dark corner wallowing in their female misery, it only fuels the darkness of the pit a Siren wishes you to remain in. No, women don’t like “jerks”, but we’d like to secretly know that you can make a firm decision when necessary.

“Nice guys” don’t finish last, push-overs do.

 

The Mating Game Part 1: The Player Phase

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If you are undeniably old, as in a forty-something loser who has yet to grasp the woo-ing process, then you may find yourself hitting on some poor twenty something who’s just trying to buy kit-kats in the self check out line.

GET A GRIP, old man.

Why does this happen? How do people go through high school and even college unaware of the intricacies behind getting a woman? The advantage that women have is that we never have to pursue anyone unless we really want to–which we never do because it’s too easy to then categorize us as a sluts. Noted.

The woo-ing process is necessary and do not let yourself turn thirty without knowing it. This is for the men without sisters: YOU NEED A PLAYER phase. Guys with sisters do not seem to have any confusion when it comes to understanding the basics of women.

You need that player period where you dream of a different woman every other night and fall in love as a hobby. You need that phase where all you want is women in general. That chapter of enlightenment may be more valuable to you than the years sprung on one girl. The player period will quickly reveal what women are sensitive to. You learn that women interact completely differently with each other than men do with one another. You need to know that periods are not a myth and what impresses fictitious women in movies is not real life. And as a player, you learn how to harden yourself against our bitchy tendencies and adapt to our childish nuances.

You learn that you cannot just start a conversation with “Can I have your number?” Because as funny as that one Mad TV clip is, it is disturbingly true. “Nah I don’t think I’m interested, but thanks!” I plead. I also used to be an honest idiot who would go ahead and admit that I didn’t have a boyfriend and of course the creepiness took a sudden leap towards psychopathy, justifying an arrest warrant. So do I have a boyfriend? Absolutely I have a boyfriend—all year long, in fact.

If you don’t have sisters to become perceptive with, I suggest a player phase for any guy. Wear Ed-Hardy and cause scenes in public places if you must but just do it. You will appreciate real women so much more afterwards because you’ll easily be able to detect them and attain them.

It’s become a carrying joke that this blog thrives on lists so I’m going to avoid spilling the ancient secret known as The Female Woo-ing Process because it’s up to all the players out there to discover it.

The kit-kats were totally worth it.

Defining a Villain

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Serial killers destroy families. Corporate, religious, and political psychopaths ruin societies.

Author of Men Who Stare At Goats, Jon Ronson, explores the underlying causes of psychopathy and characteristics that define a psychopath. The book, of course, took a journalistic approach—adding background research, personal insight and humor.

Why is the world so unfair? “Why all the savage economic injustice, those brutal wars, the everyday corporate cruelty? The answer: Psychopaths”

For some time now, I have believed that there are no villains in this world. Every action is a product of nurture and people’s experiences define their morals. To the villains, they are the heroes—they are right. They are just. So what are rapists, murderers and schemers? They are just “jagged rocks thrown into the still pond.”

They are charmers. They are people who study the rest of us being normal and then imitate. They are eloquent, capable of disguising madness as logic. They will listen to you ramble about your morals and beliefs but pity you in their head for being restrained by your conscience.

If you were to unknowingly marry a sociopath (basically synonymous with psychopath), just leave. You will not hurt that person because they associate no real emotions with that kind of a loss. In the book, Ronson describes an experiment that reveals a critical, physical difference between a psychopath and a normal person.

When intense electro-shock therapy was legal (before the 1970′s), several psychiatrists would conduct tests on prisoners for their research. Psychopaths were then considered to have personality disorders. Prisoners would volunteer to be a part of these experiments, unaware of what it entailed. They would be seated on the chair and told that they were going to be shocked at high levels. The prisoner would begin to sweat and tremble at the anticipation of the shock and after it was done, they would never volunteer again. That’s a normal person. The prisoners that were labelled to have personality disorders would not even sweat or twitch before the shock was delivered. It was as if their mind could not process the anticipation of pain and once it was endured, the memory of the pain would be fleeting. It was later discovered that psychopaths have a short-term, emotional memory—basically they lack a functioning amygdalae.

Stare hard enough and you'll see what I mean

Psychotic prisoners are easy though; they like meeting researchers to break the monotony of their day. CEO’s and politicians, however, find ways to bury their madness.

The right information is not covered about Anthony Weiner; he is a likely psychopath. Faking tears is the first thing they learn to do. His life ambitions are limited to fame and power and having (attempting to have) extramarital affairs is common. Let’s be real, most congressmen do not have sext worthy abs. Each of his six packs seemed to need a virtual mistress. This kind of superficial tendencies and need for continuous admiration encompasses a psychopath. His wife is intelligent, beautiful and accomplished, so he obviously had to be cunning and manipulative to deceive her. Yes, any politician would be all of these to an extent but Weiner displays a little more that aligns with the research Ronson did.

Jon Ronson even took Bob Hare’s course on identifying psychopaths; he describes it as both a power and flaw. After reading the book, it was difficult not to over analyze the people in my life. However, it’s also really helpful to notice these traits unwillingly. The Hare PCL-R (Pyschopathy Check List-Revised) lists all the characteristics that allow psychologists to diagnose psychopaths. If you read these and think “I’m all of these things sometimes, I may be a psychopath!” then you’re probably not. It’s those who ways to justify their behavior and psychotic ideologies that score high on this list.

Clearly, I really enjoyed this book. Buy it, Kindle it, Nook it, iPad it, Torrent it, Read it.

Deafening Silence: Muslims Against Radical Islam

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Until Muslims want more from their people, there is little room for complaint. The anger and frustration against my own religion has been numbed by sadness and displaced acceptance.

I want to feel ashamed by the silence I maintain when people around me express their disdain towards my religion, Islam. For some reason, however, I feel no shame. Because I don’t want to feed Islam’s greatest misconceptions, I avoid engaging in frenzied debates or displaying my frustration with strangers and even some friends.

Take a tough moment to sympathize with anyone who has ever degraded you, attacked your most precious beliefs, or has unjustly left you without spirit. Sympathize because everyone hates and everyone is a victim at some point.

It took long, mindful thinking to realize that I too would be left with a bit of inescapable contempt towards Muslims after everything that has happened in the Muslim world. The emotional, physical, verbal attacks against the Western world from Radical Islamists are endless.

Radical mentality cannot exist without and is only supported by stubborn ignorance. The greatest display of ignorance is in the leaders of suppressive governments. Recently, it was the Bush Administration that first discovered the complexities and inanity of Islamic Regimes. And now beyond Iraq and Afghanistan, corruption is unfolding from Tunisia to Indonesia.

Muslims, who live outside the tiny scope of Radical Islam, feel betrayed. They are victims to their own kind. No one retaliates the way militant Muslims do in this era. Their methods are unwarranted and accomplish nothing but notoriety—fueling the ignorance and hypocrisy of fanatical “Muslims”. Despite everything, more people in the United States acknowledge the discrepancies between real Muslims and the fanatics. I am always so proud to be American.

Ignorance exists everywhere but Muslim-Majority nations are letting it cripple their image with the rest of humanity.

The association of terror with Islam cannot be limited to Western ignorance. The fear is perpetuated by false practices of Islam by the militant leaders. Under the guise of morality, extremists in these nations maintained a theocracy—dictated by distorted interpretations of Islam’s holy book, the Quran. They ignore the basic, crucial principles of peace, compassion, and true faith.

Before Muslims can defend themselves against hate, they should condemn radical Muslims for their ignorance.

The Quran is beautiful poetry, outlining the need for compassion, accepting that God gave everyone freewill, and leading a life of humility. Violence is limited to defense, women (especially Mothers) are held with the highest regard, charity is a must, and there should be no limits to education. Yet, these radical leaders and their followers continue to arouse chaos, fight against social reform and keep their people silenced—all in the name of Islam. What validity of faith, peace, and worship exists after acts of any violence?

Small cries soon lead to fierce shouts against what was once silence. The chain-reaction of peaceful uprisings against fascists in Africa and the Middle East has enthralled everyone. More than hope, there is now a progressive social reform in the Muslim world. People broke free from dictatorship and corrupt regimes with movements loud enough to show truth in Islam.

This picture made me feel again.

Islam does not justify suppressing women, burning schools, and stoning adulterers. Although the reality of Radical Islam is difficult to grasp for normal Muslims, we should display spirited defense. Political and social movements took perseverance. The recent efforts in Northern Africa and Middle East are truly noteworthy. For once I know: it can be done. The bubble has burst and the aspirations of modern men and women can no longer be ignored.

Why was it ever so hard for me to say: “I’m a Muslim and my religion does not support that.” That’s almost all it takes.

Break the silence against ignorant, illiterate, radical “Muslims”—the real enemies against Islam.

To Infinity And Beyond: Generation Alpha

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Generation Alpha

My mother hates it when I refer to myself as an “American” because I am, first and foremost, Bengali. Well, someone has to be American, right? Its no longer “white people” and it never really was. Generations X,Y and Z are differentiated according to pop culture, technology, and mentality- each churning our melting pot a bit more.  Born between the start of the 80′s and the Clinton scandal, I belong in Generation Y. Anyone before Y is either a Baby Boomer, or their child: Generation X.

There isn’t much analytical research on this (not online at least) so the specific cut offs for the generations vary. Its easier to distinguish each of these unique time periods with labels for the varying characteristics and motives.

Generation X 1965-1979

Generation Y 1980-1997

Generation Z 1997-2010

Generation AA 2010-…

Generation X has a subculture rooted against the norm. They caught up on music and even fashion from MTV, knew the importance of higher education, and like my parents, felt America to be the model society. They left home, liberated society, and made progress a major goal.

I feel lucky to have been born in the time frame for Generation Y. Computers shrunk before my eyes, one of the greatest Presidents was involved in a scandal, history was made with the attacks of 9/11, the King of Pop died, our first African American President was elected and social networking became a hobby-this list is beyond extensive. “No Surprises” would best fit this Generation because we have dealt with an intensive amount of change.

The children in our current society are already an intriguing biproduct of America’s melting pot, exponential progression in technology and societal views. Both Generation Y and Z are crucial targets for the media and advertising because they were inherently raised to keep up with the times. Generation Z has a major head start on everything-using technology, making their own social rules, and accepting change. While Generation Y is a part of the main workforce, Generation Z will be graduating high school and discovering the limits to all that we are accustomed to now.

The past decade has included murmurs about the bad side effects of extended cell phone usage, our role in global warming, loss of traditional values and major changes in human communication. Traditional structures of family no longer apply-children born out of wedlock and divorces are becoming alarmingly common. These are all issues we face but what does it mean for Generation A, my offspring?

Generation A will be born accepting the desire for the highest formal education- attending college will probably be required for any profession. Technology will likely have a base in everyday functions. The internet paired with smartphones have already facilitated getting directions, mass spread of knowledge to even picking a place for lunch. I read and know everything just on Twitter at least minutes before it airs on any news channel. The constant need to keep up, progress further, and establish a mark will be the greatest and toughest aspect of Generation A. It’s a little daunting to think that social networking, smaller families, text etiquette, etc. will passage into a life style rather than mere choice.

Of course, these are only my predictions. As a Bengali-American, I feel like I’m a part of the experiment group. I juggle two cultures, languages-all in the midst of practicing a faith in a society that is based on constant change. Different cultures and backgrounds are still fascinating in America but will they be once the cultures Generation Z and A, B, etc. are only defined as American? Perhaps Generation A will grow weary of the race to the future and strive to head back to their roots. Maybe my children will be more curious about their ancestral roots and opt out of a semi-real society based on the Internet. Maybe the Kindle will seem like a joke to them and paperback books will once again be cherished. Generation A may become economically savvy to contrast its parent, Generation Y, who has spent more in a time of recession than any other. I personally feel that there will be a great backlash against our current culture into a focus on simpler goals and traditional values. Ideally, Generation A will reignite a movement similar to the renaissance and take more political initiative- finally putting original definition to “American”.

Generation A will be a pivotal outcome of all that we have placed importance on today. They have no option but to be pioneers for greater social, cultural, and technological changes. And with our greater life expectancy, we should all be alive to see it.