Social Networking: Death to Human Interaction

Now a days everyone is so caught up in the hype of social networking but has anyone stopped to take a look at just how "social" we have become. Sure we hear complaints from adults about how their kids cant seem to get off their phones or computers, but what about the adults themselves? It seems like social networking is used more for airing dirty laundry and causing unnecessary drama in peoples lives than actually "socializing". My intentions for social networking were to keep in touch with people whom I care about. Whether it be friends from college who live thousands of miles away or spouses I meet along my marital journey who I'd like to remain in contact with should we meet again later down life's road. However, on a daily basis I feel shut out by these so called friends and even worse by family members. I find it absolutely disgusting that a family member or close friend would "post" a happy birthday or "how are you feeling" rather than actually pick up the phone and say it to me like a human with some common decency. I am a little less anal about all this in regards to "friends". Perhaps the two of us aren't as friendly as I thought. So be it. But a family member...really? I mean if you are not on my friends list to actually keep some kind of line of communication open, go ahead and delete your self. And if you cant pick up a phone every now and then just to see how someone is doing, don't bother calling yourself a friend. Now I'm not saying call everyone you know everyday but once a year isn't too much to ask. And if you do find that it's too much to ask then at the very least shoot them a message. Something personal to let them know you aren't just using them to have bragging rights that you have 500 friends. It's really disturbing how much social sites have impacted the way we interact with one another. True it was bad before social networking, what with text messaging and all. How hard is it to pick up a phone or sit down and write a letter? People claim these things are time consuming but how about you shut down your computer, turn off your TVs and gaming systems and grab a pen and a piece of paper or pick up the phone and make an actual call rather than sending a text? A person can spend an hour social networking and another 3 online gaming. Yet a simple one page letter to your mom, brother, friend you haven't seen in years...takes a mere 30 minutes at most out of your day. Even still, a phone call can take 5 minutes. There is no excuse except you dont want to, which is fine, but dont call your self a friend yet alone family. Thus being said, I challenge everyone to stop being "busy" and take a friend to lunch, write a letter to grandma, take a walk with your roommate. Do something to interact with a human in a humane way. Start with once a month, move to once a week...and by the end of your life you just may deserve the title of an "actual friend".

America Desensitized?

I am an avid horror fan, but these days I just cant stomach the garbage be produced by the film industry. To me horror should be cerebral, not all this chopping people up in a dark forest mess. Have Americans become so desensitized that we constantly need our entertainment to be more and more graphic just to get a thrill? Its disgusting. These people clearly are not good writers if it takes blood and gore to capture their audience. A good horror film does not need to be graphic in order to be good. In fact some of the greatest (in my opinion of course) horror movies have had little to no violence or gore. For example Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds...one of the scariest movies I have ever seen! And to this very day I am still thoroughly freaked out when I see a large number of birds perched in one location. Another great film, Nosferatu. Amazing movie. I just cannot comprehend what has lead to the deterioration of the horror flick. Not only are they gruesome, most of them don't even have a decent plot or story line. How is it possible that kids-in-woods-have-sex-get-slaughtered is still selling tickets? Aside from film, even television has become sex, sex, and more sex, with a dollop of violence on the side. Talk shows used to be about talking now its about "Is My Husband My Sisters Baby Daddy?" really? People are truly this ignorant? What happened to family shows like The Wonder Years and Family Matters? Families today are sitting around watching crap like The Secret Life of an American Teenager and wondering why their kids are so messed up. Really? You don't see the connection? We are products of the things we take in. If we take in garbage we in turn are going to release garbage for someone else to take in creating a cycle of ignorance.

Toddlers and Tiaras

Seriously, I don't even know where to start with this topic. The show is absolutely horrendous! Since when was it okay to exploit you little girl like that! Now before I get down to the nitty gritty I will say I do not find MODEST pageants for children to be a problem. Like most early childhood competition I believe very strong foundations can be formed by competing. For example, how to win with humbleness and how to lose with dignity. Now that being said...Toddlers and Tiaras is about the most awful thing I have seen in a good long while! Those little girls are dressed inappropriately and they are little brats! First, the parents. There is no reason to allow your child to wear gallon of make-up and 2 inches worth of clothing. Kid's need to be kid's not 3 foot prostitutes. Seriously parents, look at what you are doing. And I'm not just talking about the parents on the show but parents in general. Stop trying to be your child's friend and be their PARENT! Then maybe your kid wont be bullying other kids, pregnant at 15, or shooting up schools. Despite popular belief IT IS OKAY TO BE ALL UP IN YOUR KIDS BUSINESS. That's what it means to be a parent. They want to go out but don't want to tell you where, with who, our agree to be back when you say, fine, don't let them go! Put your foot down and let them know you run your house, not them. Forget all this nonsense about "but my kid wont like me." So what! Be a responsible adult and if you do it right they will love you in the end when they are adults themselves. Now as for those bad little girls on the show. They look like little hookers and talk like they don't have any dang on sense! It's all fine and dandy if they want to be in a little pageant but they should not look like a Playboy bunny, nor a Sunset street walker. They should know what they are doing is a privilege and not a given. Therefore when their little butt starts throwing a tantrum because you used the wrong color eye shadow and starts going off on you like you're the child, you spank that tail, pack up your stuff, and inform the judges your kid wont be competing 'cause they can't act right. Done. Bet it they want to compete in the next one they will be acting right. Another problem. The kid is 7 and wind $200. Why in your right mind would you give them that money to do whatever they want with it???? Okay they won, perhaps get them a toy or a candy bar, fine. As for the rest of that money, how about a college fund so you hooker looking daughter can get an education and not end up working the corners or the pole for real. Just a thought. Should my daughter end up it something like that I guarantee she will not be acting or dressing like the little girls on that show. And should she lose because of those things I will be more than happy that she lost. No lady, no matter what age, has to devalue herself to make it to the top.

Day Uno

"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." Thomas Paine
Some times life throws curve balls but it's up to us as to how we take it. I am taking my curve ball one day at a time. Sometimes you just have to dig down deep and find that strength in you that you never knew exsisted. Be brave, fight on, and stick up for yourself against this cruel cruel world.