Killing us Softly

Honestly if you're an intelligent, objective person then this shit shouldn't affect you at all, but it does.

I don't want to sound blunt, well, actually I do, but this is complete crap. I seriously can't understand why people let this stuff get to them. Sure if you're a mindless zombie then by all means, make yourself look like a plastic doll with no soul.

I think that the advertisements only affect those who actually think about them. I understand the severity of these advertisements and their effects on people. Sure, I wouldn't mind having a 100^nth "pack of abs", but I dont particularly care what I look like to other people. It's what I think and what I do that matters to *Me*. I wouldn't mind wearing pink to school if I liked the color pink, but I don't so I won't. Call me self-centered, egotistical, arrogant.. whatever. That's your problem. Not mine anymore.

There are plenty of ads that "support" her points. All of those obnoxious makeup commercials like Revlon and all that junk. All these super fake looking girls really piss me off. But it's sort of getting better but barely. There are "plus-sized" fashion shows not and stuff but that isn't as main stream as the non "plus-sized" shows.

To be a consumer means you buy stuff. It doesn't matter if you saw it in an advertisement or not, if you buy it, you're a consumer. Everyone is a consumer, unless they NEVER EVER buy a single thing, EVER.

In my opinion, everyone is affected by advertising. It doesn't matter if you don't go out and by a product, the images in the commercials shape your perceptions of society. Like those pictures of the "perfect" girl in the commercials. People won't care about the product because there is this "hot" chick there and they'll aspire to find someobdy like that or try to be as "hot." Now, I try to remain as objective as possible, because quite frankly, I don't care. I don't want to go on a giant rant about how I dislike what our species has become, but whatever.

There are plenty of other sources of media besides advertisements that have obvious gender roles. Look at music and movies for example. Though it doesn't matter if it's male or female, a lot of songs are about sex. One thing I read about was how in a lot of those cheesy romantic-comedy movies, the main actress always has some crappy office job. Catwoman is an example of that.

Speaking in Tongues Reaction

The first part of this short story was a difficult read for me. I am not religious at all. The whole idea of "speaking in tongues" is foregin and barbaric to me. When I was reading this section, I could not stop laughing at how rediculous their actions were.

I think that the meaning of the story was that there are these sub cultures that aren't recognized very well.

I thought it was funny that the girl decided to run away to Alabama. Her home life isn't that horrible. Atleast she has somebody there that cares for her, even though their views on everything are beyond twisted. She left this comfort and ran away.

The guy she runs into is a complete creeper. I remember thinking of him as a pimp or drug dealer even before we find out that he is one.

I'm surprised by her willingness to just hang out with the guy. She thought that because he was cool with the younger males that she would be fine. I guess she didn't think that because she was female nothing would happen.

In the end she gets away, like in most stories. Unlike most stories, though, we don't know if she ever makes it to safety, or if he ever catches up to her.

It was a very different story than the ones I'm use to reading.

Trying to "Fit In"

Yesterday we discussed a situation where we were trying to fit in. I'm going to post my experience on here.

So, at the end of sixth grade, I was invited to a party by Micah Riggins. It was suppose to be a "End of School / Beginning to Summer" type party. I thought I was so cool being invited to this party.

The day was very dismal and cold and rainy and I was driven there by my mom. When she left, I was alone with people I wasn't very well acquainted with.

Everyone was in Micah's basement. I won't name names but they know who they are. They were all dancing and being nasty little 6th graders. Someone knocked over a drink onto the floor near where I was sitting and I was quickly becoming bored.

When I decided to leave, somebody who I won't name, confronted me and I guess she was pissed off still that I use to like her, hence why her and Lydia put diapers in my locker earlier that year. But I won't go into that.

Anyways, after this situation I decided it wasn't worth it being "cool" and "popular" and doing what everyone else was doing. To tell the truth, 7th grade wasn't my best year.

Today, I'm not antisocial like I was after the incident. I still think people who try to act unlike them selves are just pricks who will only end up bagging my groceries in the future.

end rant.