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MTV: Mindless Television
Image courtesy of MTV HAT (Header Art Treatment)
Written by Caitlin Brands, Staff Writer
MTV and other reality networks are considered a staple for the current generation. We hear all the time about new shows and events through TV, but the question is, how is this benefiting us as a society? All over the networks, shows seem to glorify living as a teen parent, unnecessary physical fighting, drinking and partying, and sex.
All these shows and influences are targeted at teens and young adults. Kids today are starting to believe that it is acceptable to be disrespectful to authority, and not achieve in school because they see other young adults do it on television. Shows like 16 and Pregnant give kids an illusion that you’re going to be taken care of by your parents in a teen pregnancy, but in reality that is not the case. Finding out your pregnant is not a lighthearted subject. Just being a teenager is challenging, we go through so many changes, and having a baby only complicates things. Most teenage mothers discontinue their education, preventing them from going on to college, getting a good job, and even getting married. In our parents eyes, we’re still their babies, and babies can’t have babies! However, this is only one of many shows that send out a negativ message. Made also suggests the idea that you’re not good enough unless you’re someone else. Whatever happened to being satisfied with who you are on the inside overriding how you look on the outside? It’s sad seeing our world come to this– that kids and teens are being exposed to such a negative influence.
Reality TV is junk television that makes people believe that their lives aren’t exciting enough because they aren’t on a dating show, or having a camera crew taping their celebrity life. This series of shows is not educational and does not, in any way, give a benefit to our generation. It’s almost disgusting that teens don’t know what year the Declaration of Independence was signed, but they know who punched Snooki on last nights’ episode. Is this not a probable example of how bad reality TV has become? If we can balance out the junk that we fill our minds with the education we need, then maybe we can benefit as a society and return to the moral values we once had before the boom of reality TV.
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Facebook Fanatics
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Written by Caitlin Brands, Staff Writer
Since the turn of the millennium, the bulk of the American population can be found on some social network. These networks, more specifically Facebook, have recently been dominating the lives of adolescents. Why have we become obsessed with social networking? The answer is simple, because everyone else is. What’s worse is that the Facebook fad is affecting teens in more ways than expected.
Cyber bullying has been an issue ever since kids were able to get a hold of a computer, and it’s growing uncontrollably due to the increase in popularity of social networking. It’s a way for one to threaten another without putting themselves in direct danger. A new strain of cyber bullying, Formspring, is becoming more and more noticeable. An applicant can receive anonymous messages and questions through an account. Some can be compliments, but more often it’s a convenient way for people to abuse the system by making comments such as, “Why are you so stupid?” or “You’re so ugly, and everyone feels sorry for you.” By using these applications, some people feel that it’s alright to bash others, because there is no way for the victim to know who it is. Is this how teenagers are supposed to act? Are we supposed to hide behind a computer screen and never handle our problems verbally and maturely? People need to start thinking about how one’s words could hurt, even if it is “only a joke.”
If a teen spends a minimum of 3 hours combined, whether it’s on the computer or through their cell phone, odds are their schoolwork and grades becomes a second priority to the new updates made by their ‘friends’ on Facebook. Ever since the application to get Facebook and wireless internet on cell phones, students have been messaging each other during classes and have the ability to cheat on tests. Teachers can only go half way on teaching; it’s the students’ responsibility to meet them the rest of the way. But if they don’t have a clue on what the teacher is referring to, how can they learn? Spending hours a day on facebook isn’t going to get you into college, studying will.
Facebook is an addictive problem; it can be a huge distraction for daily responsibilities. If we all start putting limits on ourselves and how often we check our homepage, then maybe we can help improve the quality of life
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Prosthetic Beauty
Photo Courtesy of JaredR at Flickr.com
Written by Danielle Bradley, Op-Ed Editor
Obsession is what drives American society. People obsess over material beauty: luxurious homes and cars, clothing, celebrities, how much something costs, and more extremely, beauty. Annually, Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars on “get skinny quick” remedies, “miracle” anti-ageing cream, and thousands of other products that are nothing but a scam. Prosthetic beauty has been sweeping America, and needs to come to a halt.
We all know the basic beauty fixes that are done in homes all over the county, but plastic surgery is one extreme that has become too expected in society. Liposuction, nose jobs, and implants are among the more common procedures done, and here in Boca just embarking on a quick trip around town is like taking a class on cosmetic surgery. “Getting work done” should be doing something productive and worthwhile, as opposed to the way it’s used today. Whatever happened to just applying makeup? It used to only be about enhancing your beauty, but now it’s all about creating it.
“Only in America…” can you see fourteen year old girls with nose jobs, mom stopping to get some quick Botox before picking up their sons from soccer practice, and fathers frequently writing checks out to their monthly membership in The Hair Club. Rogaine anyone? Are we really that shallow? America needs to grasp reality and realize that, in the end, beauty is more than skin deep.
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Just Beat it!
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Micheal Jackson’s death has been over-publicized. Not only has his death distracted the common public from important political matters, but it has also distracted the masses from everyday life. Illustrator Jon Lezama’s take on the M.J. hysteria.
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