Maybe I'm Just Getting Old

with Johnny Fletcher

REELED IN BY CATFISH

Ihave a painful confession to make: I'm no better than you. When it comes to getting hooked on a bad TV show, that is. We all fall prey to guilty pleasures on the screen, right? Right??? Perhaps you are the exception. I suppose it's possible that someone out there in the tristate only watches worthwhile, educational programs that enlighten and expand the mind - but I'm not too proud to admit that lately I've been wasting precious time (I'm old, after all, and every day could potentially be my last) following the investigative adventures of Nev Schulman on MTV's Catfish. If you're out of the loop somehow, this ridiculous show is now in its umpteenth season of documenting the "truth and lies of online dating" (mostly lies, btw). But really, it's just a sad commentary on the youth of America - and that's why I can't look away. What that says about me is a whole separate issue; I guess I'm just morbidly fascinated by the generation gap at play and how young people today seem totally uncomfortable with face-to-face interaction, preferring to keep a safe distance and communicate electronically in various forms.

I should note, of course, that I wouldn't be surprised if much of Catfish is scripted, heavily edited, etc. It's TV, for Christ's sake. But the young folks that are featured in each episode do act like real millennials and GenZers - they're overly sensitive, easily offended and, above all, desperate for a personal connection with someone, no matter how superficial. So desperate that they willingly ignore GLARING red flags - i.e., the person they've been in a "relationship" with online looks like a model in their pics (that should be the first clue that something's, uh, fishy) yet refuses to video chat and avoids meet-ups at all costs. However, this rarely deters anyone from continuing to pursue the "love of their life," because, you know, they just can't walk away from something so promising. I particularly get a kick out of the horribly clichéd texts these potential lovebirds send back and forth, classics such as "I can't live without you, boo," "You mean the world to me, babe" and the ever-popular "I'll always be there for you." But eventually Nev gets the call to investigate - and inevitably discovers that the reason why the catfishing individual has hidden their true identity is that they're suffering from low self-esteem or any number of maladies. And, as always, the tears flow. And I keep watching.

I GUESS I'M JUST MORBIDLY

FASCINATED BY THE

GENERATION GAP AT PLAY

AND HOW YOUNG PEOPLE

TODAY SEEM TOTALLY

UNCOMFORTABLE WITH FACE-

TO-FACE INTERACTION

to the dismay of evangelical constituents who view this as one of the, if not the main, issue when going to the voting booth.

Tomes will more than likely get a pass based on his reasoning that the bill didn't go far enough. So consider him safe for now. As for Becker, well...

Essentially, she believes that this bill will do more harm than good for Hoosiers overall and will hinder physicians to perform their duties. While her reasoning seems well thought-out, this isn't going to fly when she speaks to citizens when she returns home to district 50.

Becker, who will be up for re-election again in 2024, should expect a primary challenger. Especially in an era for the Republican party where you have to decide if you support Donald Trump or not. And if you don't, be prepared to get chastised. If Becker does get a primary opponent, they could paint her as another Liz Cheney or a RINO.

Or Becker could surprise us all and not run. After all, she's 72 now and has been in the General Assembly for more than a generation if you count her times in both the House and Senate.

Either way, her vote on abortion will follow her and could be her undoing.