Two Day Magazine

PART ONE

Parents in the last few generations had it easy.  Sure, they had to worry about ridiculous things that never even happened, like nuclear annihilation by the Soviet Union, Vietnam, and the entirety of the 1980s, but that is nothing compared to the sorts of new problems we have to approach with our young people. 

For example, when most of our parents gave us "the talk," it was awkward, sure, but it was a very simple conversation.  Biological truths were unveiled and how one chooses the person with which to explore those biological truths was explained depending on individual beliefs.  However, when my daughter sits down for "the talk," we have to cover a broad number of awkward and inexplicable topics that our parents would have not even known how to broach.  Which brings us to "Sexting."
 
Sexting is a word that has only recently entered the vernacular, but seems fast-tracked for instatement in the 21st-Century lexicon.  A "sext," or sexual text, is either a text message or picture message of a sexual nature, and it is becoming increasingly common.  Sadly, I have not had too many pictures of breasts or thongs sent to my cell phone, but the few that I have received were always pleasant and welcome surprises.  However, as with any emerging forms of electronic communication, it should probably just be avoided, but if one insists in engaging in some sexting, there are certain rules and etiquette to follow.
 
First, and in all seriousness, this is a terrible problem with the underage lovers or the awkward phase where one is over the age of 18 and one is not. Despite how advanced our kids seem to be in the landscape of love, we must remember that they are, at heart, children. It is imperative, that no matter how awkward we find the conversation parents engage their children in responsible use of a camera in the digital age.

Entire pornographic websites are devoted to pictures stolen from cell phones and webcams.  Since these photos can be submitted and posted by the users themselves, there is a very real chance that what was once an intimate, sexy, and perhaps even artful picture shared between young lovers is now in the spank file of thousands of hard drives across the globe. 

And for those over the age of 18, possession of a nude picture of someone under the age of 18 can land someone on the sex offender list with rapists, molesters, and fellow collectors of child pornography.  Ultimately it is up to the parents to teach their children what is appropriate and not appropriate when they are straddling the line (pun intended) between puppy love and adult relations.
 
So, it is a bad practice for children to engage in, but what about adults?

"Seriously? You're a GROWN-UP!" said Bella, a retail executive in her thirties, "DON'T do it." 

Yet, a few minutes later she admitted, laughing, "Well, I used to send pictures of my boobs to [my friends] if it looked good." 

Angelina, also in her thirties, "I feel like I've seen this in [magazine articles], to, like, spice things up in a relationship," but she remained unconvinced.   It ultimately comes down to how much you trust the recipient.  "[Your picture] could end up ANYWHERE," said Angelina in a serious tone. (But possibly with a hint of experience?)
 
However, sometimes the recipient isn't even in control, since phone companies keep records of text messages and perhaps the pictures that are attached to them. 

So, even for adults, it's a bad idea, but, according to Bella, "just because it's a bad idea, doesn't mean I don't DO it."
 
And Bella is far from alone.  Compared to drinking, drugs, and sex without rubbers, of-age sexting is far from the worst mistake one could make.

However, Tiger Woods might disagree with me.  "Texting is EVIDENCE,"

Bella reasons, also seemingly from experience.  If you are cheating, she warns, "[your partner] will find it." 

So perhaps take advantage of the freedom the digital format has given us to take sexy photos of ourselves, but that doesn't mean that you must send it off into the ether.  Said Victoria, a cautious girl still in her twenties, "I'll show someone a sexy pic of myself but it never leaves my [phone or camera]."
 
After taking all this advice into consideration, I have come up with a set of rules to follow, so that if you decide to sext, you'll be facing a minimum of blowback or embarrassment.

Look for those rules in PART TWO, tomorrow. Until then, keep your photos to yourself!