You know how I’ve talked before about Facebook and MySpace and Twitter being PUBLIC, and how I don’t think that some people truly understand what PUBLIC really means? Welp, you’re gonna love this one, and it even comes with a story.
I started driving a school bus when I was in my early 20’s. It was never my only job — many mornings I put on my ‘mortgage lender’ clothes, but still had my ‘bus driver’ hat on. I look back now and realize why the kids thought my bus was the coolest. I had AC/DC piped throughout. Still, I demanded (and received) respect from those who rode. I made sure that I smiled when they got on, asked about their grades when report cards came out, and let them know that drugs were bad, and an education was the most important thing they could do for themselves. Many of those in high school CHOSE to ride right behind me so they could talk about what was happening to them at home or at school. I listened. That never changed throughout the 20 plus years that I drove. Many of my ‘bus kids’ are now adults and are my friends.
So right before I quit driving just a few short years ago, I had a boy that rode my bus tell me that he was gay. He asked if I was still his friend. At the time, it concerned me to think he might be experimenting with sex at his young age — not that he might prefer a male partner. I can remember thinking about it afterward, wondering if I should’ve said something about that. Instead, I only said, “of course you’re still my friend.”
Still with me? This story is about to culminate…
This bus student added me as a friend on MySpace. I can remember commenting on photos that he posted, and asked where they were shot (the landscapes were local, and were awesome). That’s all I remember, because along came Facebook and I ditched MySpace like a bad habit. MySpace wants me to come back. They want me back bad. They send me email updates to let me know what I’m missing trying to get me to come back! The email subject is, “Shelley, see what your friends are up to”, and begins, “Shelley, check out what your friends are doing on MySpace! Below are some of the activities your friends are taking part in. Take a look!” So I read on, and here are some of the activities:
So I marked out the name, but holy cow!! This is a HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT! Don’t get me wrong. I could care less that what he’s joining has to do with a gay lifestyle. I am totally amazed, shocked and (looking for a word that describes how I really feel) blown away that a young man (or a young woman) would publicly announce that they are into Internet porn. I’m not naive enough to think that you (YES, even YOU) have not secretly checked out a few sites that are sexual in nature. If I told you that I wasn’t shook up, concerned for this kid’s safety, and in wonderment that someone as smart as he is would put private stuff out there publicly I would be lying. Oh. Wow.