Hello everyone! I hope you all have had a great week. Today's topic is on people and the Internet.
Is it me or is everyone putting their lives on the Internet? Every time someone gets a coke— “boom”—they tweet it with the hashtag #thirsty. If someone is having relationship problems, all of their friends on Facebook know by now. If someone thinks their outfit is cute and want opinions, hello Instagram!
I doubt that these websites were created for personal reasons-- well except Instagram-- and should be used as such. Facebook was created so people can connect with others they haven't talked to in a while. It's not for you to complain about how much you hate single life. It's not for the world to know how upset you are so don't mention it-- which makes me wonder why post it to the Internet in the first place. It's for you to say, "Hey! That's Ricky from kindergarten. I wonder how he's doing?" That is what Facebook is all about; it even states that in the signup screen. Twitter is made for you to know what's going on with big companies and celebrities-- people will actually care and publish what goes on in their life-- not for you to "inform" us on your recent beverage purchase.
The reason I'm ranting about this is because nothing is private anymore. You tick someone off, it's on Facebook the next hour. Your relationship status changes, you must update it for the world to see. Doing this is creating a lot of problems— relationships are being broken, friendships are falling apart, and people are getting more reasons to distrust the people around them.
Why are we compelled to let the world know what we're thinking—when we're thinking it— almost every second of the day? Why can't we just keep our thoughts to ourselves and write them in a diary like the good ol days? What changed in society that made it okay, to publicized everything?
Do you know the answer or maybe have different concerns over this that I have not mentioned? Note it in the comment box below.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Everyone Hates the Main Character
Hello everyone! I hope you all have had a nice week.
Is it me, or is everyone against the main characters these days? Everyone seems to be rooting for the supporting characters rather than the center character.
Back when shows like “Lizzie McGuire” and “Kim Possible” were on, I used to love the main character solely because they were the main character. You knew their background story, their interests, and what makes them tick, and that made me feel like they were the most important. The other characters were not as developed and, to me, we're made to be less important. The main character was really the center of the show and was usually the likable, sunny character (excluding shows like" Dexter's Laboratory" and "Invader Zim"). About 99% of the supporting characters would like them (usually there are like 3 or less girls who hate them, just to create unnecessary conflict) making you like them too. Don't get me wrong–they deserved to be liked in those shows. In "Lizzie McGuire", Lizzie always stood up for her friends and herself and taught us right from wrong. In "Kim Possible", Kim saved the world on a daily basis, while juggling schoolwork and a social life and taught us that we can do anything. Raven from "That's So Raven" taught me that I can make things better– no matter how bad it looks. With these values and how they were portrayed, it was impossible not to love them.
Nowadays, the main character is either really snobby or amped up. Also it seems as though producers are giving the supporting characters more backstory and depth than in the earlier days. Like in "Victorious", I believe most of us can agree that Tori isn't the best voice in the fictional Hollywood Arts. Some might say Jade's voice is the best or Cat's, maybe even Andrè’s, but we can all agree that it is not Tori. I don't really understand why Tori is portrayed as sensational in the first place. She's the "girl next door" stereotype that most of us are tired of seeing. The other characters are really interesting and aren't the conventional characters as you may think. A prime example is Jade West; if anyone would see her, they would automatically think she is some bad girl who constantly wants to put a nice girl, like Tori, down. That is true but there's more depth to that; it seems like she messes with everyone–not just Tori–and her father might have a cause for that. She is very talented, contrasting from the conventional mean-girl persona. She is not mean to Tori all of the time, and she knows right from wrong (example being when she gave Tori her spot in the Platinum Music Awards after she stole it). Now Jade doesn't seem like the cookie-cutter mean girl, right?
Another character that doesn't seem to be "omg I'll love you forever" is Kacey Simon from "How to Rock". From the episodes I've seen so far, all Kacey is teaching me is do whatever you can to be the best and just apologize to those you've hurt afterwards. Episode after episode, all she seems to care about is beating this girl, Molly, and most of the time, she ends up hurting her friends only to apologize later. What is the point of teaching kids something like that? Is it so they can be backstabbing, overachievers? Kids should learn to appreciate their friends and treat them right, not stomp on them so they can reach the top and just apologize afterwards.
Maybe that's why everyone is loving the other characters nowadays. The other characters are less diabolical and more loving than the main character. Agree? Disagree? Both and just want to add an opinion? Click that comment box below and voice your opinion. Until next week fellow readers!
Is it me, or is everyone against the main characters these days? Everyone seems to be rooting for the supporting characters rather than the center character.
Back when shows like “Lizzie McGuire” and “Kim Possible” were on, I used to love the main character solely because they were the main character. You knew their background story, their interests, and what makes them tick, and that made me feel like they were the most important. The other characters were not as developed and, to me, we're made to be less important. The main character was really the center of the show and was usually the likable, sunny character (excluding shows like" Dexter's Laboratory" and "Invader Zim"). About 99% of the supporting characters would like them (usually there are like 3 or less girls who hate them, just to create unnecessary conflict) making you like them too. Don't get me wrong–they deserved to be liked in those shows. In "Lizzie McGuire", Lizzie always stood up for her friends and herself and taught us right from wrong. In "Kim Possible", Kim saved the world on a daily basis, while juggling schoolwork and a social life and taught us that we can do anything. Raven from "That's So Raven" taught me that I can make things better– no matter how bad it looks. With these values and how they were portrayed, it was impossible not to love them.
Nowadays, the main character is either really snobby or amped up. Also it seems as though producers are giving the supporting characters more backstory and depth than in the earlier days. Like in "Victorious", I believe most of us can agree that Tori isn't the best voice in the fictional Hollywood Arts. Some might say Jade's voice is the best or Cat's, maybe even Andrè’s, but we can all agree that it is not Tori. I don't really understand why Tori is portrayed as sensational in the first place. She's the "girl next door" stereotype that most of us are tired of seeing. The other characters are really interesting and aren't the conventional characters as you may think. A prime example is Jade West; if anyone would see her, they would automatically think she is some bad girl who constantly wants to put a nice girl, like Tori, down. That is true but there's more depth to that; it seems like she messes with everyone–not just Tori–and her father might have a cause for that. She is very talented, contrasting from the conventional mean-girl persona. She is not mean to Tori all of the time, and she knows right from wrong (example being when she gave Tori her spot in the Platinum Music Awards after she stole it). Now Jade doesn't seem like the cookie-cutter mean girl, right?
Another character that doesn't seem to be "omg I'll love you forever" is Kacey Simon from "How to Rock". From the episodes I've seen so far, all Kacey is teaching me is do whatever you can to be the best and just apologize to those you've hurt afterwards. Episode after episode, all she seems to care about is beating this girl, Molly, and most of the time, she ends up hurting her friends only to apologize later. What is the point of teaching kids something like that? Is it so they can be backstabbing, overachievers? Kids should learn to appreciate their friends and treat them right, not stomp on them so they can reach the top and just apologize afterwards.
Maybe that's why everyone is loving the other characters nowadays. The other characters are less diabolical and more loving than the main character. Agree? Disagree? Both and just want to add an opinion? Click that comment box below and voice your opinion. Until next week fellow readers!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Politics These Days
Happy holidays to everyone! I hope that you all have had a joyous and restful break during the season. This week I would like to talk about teens’ involvement in politics as of late.
In my circle, my friends and I were never interested in politics. We were "going through the motions" when it came to Election Day and the presidential campaign. We didn't care,and when we found out who won, our reaction was "Oh really? Cool." Then repeat for the next four years.
When I saw Obama running for his first term back in 2008, I, all of a sudden, became enamored of politics. I really wanted Obama to win because he seemed to be for the middle class. Also it was exciting to see history being made since he would be the first African-American president.
This change in teens’ political involvement was pointed out to me by a friend. She agrees that teens and young children are more interested in politics these days. One of my colleagues, at the age of 16, has a blog based on politics. Nickelodeon has a school-wide poll, letting kids vote for who they want as president. First Lady Michelle Obama has reached out to kids by starring in children's shows like “iCarly” and programs like Nickelodeon's “Worldwide Day of Play”.
I believe children are getting more interested in politics because of the outreach from politicians, and I think politicians are reaching out because they feel like children should get more involved; it's only a matter of time before they're voting themselves.
I think this is a good change compared to earlier years. Now children will have an idea of what to expect when they turn 18 and start to vote. It also makes children feel better about themselves knowing in some way their voices are being heard and they're making a change for their country.
I will post the link of my colleague’s blog below. Also feel free to comment and I will reply.
http://campaigningforteens.blogspot.com
In my circle, my friends and I were never interested in politics. We were "going through the motions" when it came to Election Day and the presidential campaign. We didn't care,and when we found out who won, our reaction was "Oh really? Cool." Then repeat for the next four years.
When I saw Obama running for his first term back in 2008, I, all of a sudden, became enamored of politics. I really wanted Obama to win because he seemed to be for the middle class. Also it was exciting to see history being made since he would be the first African-American president.
This change in teens’ political involvement was pointed out to me by a friend. She agrees that teens and young children are more interested in politics these days. One of my colleagues, at the age of 16, has a blog based on politics. Nickelodeon has a school-wide poll, letting kids vote for who they want as president. First Lady Michelle Obama has reached out to kids by starring in children's shows like “iCarly” and programs like Nickelodeon's “Worldwide Day of Play”.
I believe children are getting more interested in politics because of the outreach from politicians, and I think politicians are reaching out because they feel like children should get more involved; it's only a matter of time before they're voting themselves.
I think this is a good change compared to earlier years. Now children will have an idea of what to expect when they turn 18 and start to vote. It also makes children feel better about themselves knowing in some way their voices are being heard and they're making a change for their country.
I will post the link of my colleague’s blog below. Also feel free to comment and I will reply.
http://campaigningforteens.blogspot.com
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