Emilee needs a life and her father needs his head examined for allowing it.

"I laughed and thought, 'That's nothing,' " Cox said Tuesday. Is he not concerned? She must do nothing in her life but text!

Imagine the RA and Carpal Tunnel years down the road...I am pretty slow at texting, it would take me a month to text that many times...learned how to do punctuation the other day so that was exciting...LOL
Suzan J

I think the kid needs a job.

Just watch kids sometime - you will see some that are constantly texting. It is a shame that the parents don't step up and say no to this. The nastyness that is spread sometimes is amazing - especially with young girls. Why does a 14 year old need to be texting 24-7 anyway?

I heard about this on the radio. The bill ran over 400 pages and $3,000!

Sorry, tough love. Cell phone in garbage and no replacement.

And people wonder why I recommend prepaid? Kid, if you need to text to the kid sitting next to you, YOU pay for it. Just another example of a spoiled brat raised by an incompetent parent. And they put parents in jail for going to work or falling asleep. Sheesh.

My friend's DD had 16,000 texts in a month one time last yr. Her dad was furious. I don't think she learned anything from this because they paid the bill not her and the phone was never removed from her fingers.

I think I'd cut off her thumbs... What's she doing when she's supposed to be going to school or studying?

She can't possibly know that many people.

Sue

Cynic said, "Just another example of a spoiled brat raised by an incompetent parent."

DITTO..WHAT IDIOTS! Bet that brat's grades are all F's, too!

I'll ditto cynic & granlan_tx. I can't believe her dad just laughed. I guess he doesn't realize that his daughter needs something more constructive to occupy her time. Maybe studying or a job?

Sad thing but I see a life of this for her. If the parents do not stop this now, it will only continue and I can see a real problem with future employers. I see it all the time now at work. We have to keep reminding people that their phones are to be used as an emergency only. Personally, I would rather phones be banned altogether where I work. If it is a true emergency, they get a call on the land line. We have one woman who insists on having her phone with her at all times because of emergencies but she is constantly on that phone. She says her kids need her. I say if they need her that bad either get daycare or quit. These kids are teens so they don't need her that bad. They constantly text and telphone to tell on each other. Give me a break!

First of all granlan from tx. She has a 3.6 gpa, participates in cheerleading, and volunteers at the salvation army on saturdays feeding the homeless. Why would you be so harsh to an innocent 14 yr old. I will pray for god to forgive you for being so harsh.

I have to admit, without kids in the house anymore, that I'm out of touch with a lot of things ... and I know it. But this really did disturb me. I saw a bit of a snippit on TV, I believe it was about this girl, and she was texting her girlfriend sitting right next to her.

I really don't understand it. I don't understand the kids for doing it, and I don't understand the parents for allowing it. But, I guess it's more common than I would have thought, and certainly encourages the 'full meal deal' when it comes to cell phone plans.

Lisaeddy seems like she knows something about this girl. She probably is a very nice girl, she certainly is social! I do find it hard to believe that she is that successful. I mean, it takes TIME to text that much. And there is only so much time in the day, if she is texting that much, something has to give. And it does seem dysfunctional-why would she have to text someone who is sitting beside her? Does she have trouble being alone and "quiet" or something? Does she always need stimulation?

I don't understand why the dad thinks it's funny. I would find it troubling.

If you go back and read the article, you will see that those figures are for BOTH messages SENT and RECEIVED. Not that the kid sent out 30,000 messages.

Easily a kid with school, a job, and sports or other activities, may know a lot of people who SEND messages - wanted or unwanted. People are assuming that the 30,000 text messages were all typed by the one kid and were all outgoing messages.

Even if the kid did send a lot of messages, some if not all of them could have been important ones. And the texting may have merely involved a "Yes" or "No" type response to a received message. For instance, a kid's job may text to see it the kid can work that evening. The kid just texts back "Yes" or "What time?"

Kids can't talk on their cell phones during class so if there is a message of urgency or a timely matter texting is the best way to handle it to get ahold of them.

I don't get why everyone assumes that a young person who embraces communication technology is a failure in academics. I sure their are lots of kids failing in school who don't own cell phones. Then who do you blame?

I don't think people have formed a negative opinion because she has "embraced technology". The problem is, her texting is extreme. No matter how you look at it, she's texting excessively. And I don't think she needs to be texting in class either. If it's that important for her to be reached, the office should call her down to give her a message.

Lisaeddy didn't mention her having a job, and volunteer agencies can wait until after school to arrange for her volunteerism. Yes, there sure are lots of kids who are failing in school, but that isn't what this thread is about. I haven't seen it reported that she texts while in class, but it makes sense that she does, just due to the volume.

For years I was a parent council advisor, with the local school board, and I also do some employment and job maintenance counseling at work. School is not strictly all about the grades, but is also about developing employment skills. Your behavior at work, will be an extension of your behavior at school (with an adjustment for maturity, somewhat). There are many bright kids who can maintain decent grades with unacceptable attendance. That does not prepare them for the work force, and I've seen many people struggle with job maintenance when they've had attendance, punctuality and other issues at school; and excessive texting would be an issue. Our council would not allow that kind of distraction into the class room.

Dilly Dally makes some very valid points.

LISAEDDY, what makes you think I want or need prayers from YOU! Get a life and stay out of mine!

I agree with mariend...trash the phone!
I have 4 g-kids, each having one. Ages 6-11 I don't understand! I have issues with children having cell phones.

You know how rude it feels to have people whisper and giggle in front of you? Well, it's the same difference to me when these little farts sit next to each other and text!

Cheryl, I feel the same way about the young ones with cell phones.

Don't know if this point has been made but texting is like email. A one word text like "hi" could be send to everyone in the phone's contact list. So one text could be counted as 100 or even more messages by the cell phone provider.

lisaeddy, is this your daughter or niece? Your comments to Grandlan were uncalled for. The phone should be taken off of this kid, all that texting is just crazy. I doubt this kid has good marks in school or even pays any attention in school.

I didn't read all replies. Though I don't know, if someone mentioned this:

Poor girl. Her parents are allowing her to waste away. No one is teaching her any social skills.

Texting is worse than sitting in front of the boob tube all the time, in my humble opinion.

Moni

Add me to the list of those that think that kids shouldn't be spending their life texting. Verbal communication and social activites are far better for a child. Frankly younger children don't need phones in my opinion. I can see a teenager needing one for emergencies but it would be a plain phone used just for emergencies with a limit on the calls available.

There's something radically wrong with a kid who has to text 100 people with the message being "hi".

Let's quit rationalizing that they COULD have been important!!! Get real. Let's say in arguendo that only 1/4 of the messages were sent by her and also i.a. let's say that another 1/4 were "important". Even of earth-shattering importance. (Yeah right) That still makes 250 text messages sent per day.

And REALLY, do you think the schools can't get a hold of the kid in an emergency? How many crises happen that require the kid to be contacted so urgently? No wonder the kids come out and can't read or write.

I'll grant a couple minor valid points, but mostly lacking.

Kids natural advanced relationship with technology is a fabulous thing. But let's not lose sight that there's a time, place and limit too.

People sure get sensitive over some very minor things, don't they? :)

And people wonder why I say kids do NOT need cell phones. Whatever happened to face-to-face conversations?

golly I wish I had had one when I was her age just something no one ever knew about then. My problem would be that the keys were too tiny and the letters also. On my new cell phone a missed call came up not only on audio but it converted into a text message I thought that was pretty neat. and it is a way to communicate without everyone nearby knowing what you are saying. I just don't think I could get the hang of it.

I also don't buy into the "important message" idea of why kids need a cell phone at school. Unless they are on a transplant list - they don't need it with them during school hours. If the parent has that urgent of a message - I am pretty sure most schools have phones and the message can be given to the kids.

If they have one to arrange transportation, etc. after school, fine. It should be turned off and kept in the locker.

My kid has a cell phone, but no texting. The phone can receive text, but not send. The cell phone is to be left in the car during school hours.