Archive for the 'Living' Category
American youth entitlement culture
Melinda, 25, has just posted on Facebook how she's booked upcoming trips to Las Vegas, Miami, and Toronto. People who know her know she's the type who goes on these trips with three priorities: shopping, clubbing, and lounging by the pool. Friends have joked about her regularly posting links to expensive clothes on her timeline, wondering where she gets the money.
Darien, 24, drives around in a brand-new Ford Mustang that he customized with rims and a nice stereo. He wears Diesel jeans, Guess shirts, and Fossil watches. He also makes it a point to buy every new iPad and iPhone when they come out. Weekends for him are usually about cruising to the clubs and getting a booth with bottles of vodka, generally $250 per bottle.
Melinda and Darien both sound like they have fun lives, but there is a catch. Melinda skipped college and works as a low-paid receptionist/assistant for an insurance company, and Darien has just graduated from college and is working an entry-level position in an ad agency. Both live at home with their parents, have zero savings, and loads of debt. This lately seems to be a common story with much of America's youth.
Enough with the attacks on "sexy" Halloween
Lately, I'm seeing many blogs and news sites coming out with their "great Halloween costume" ideas like one would see every year. What I notice now is how many are tossing in some kind of pot shot at any women who basically wear a "sexy ______" (insert name of character) outfit. I see the comments usually saying things like "grow up", "show some class", and even one who went out saying how much it demeans women in general.
Are you kidding? While I will write entries attacking when people live irresponsible and careless lives, I also live in the real world. I'm not speaking as some guy desiring to see scantily-clad women, but more just as a voice of reason stating that all the complaining in this matter won't change anything.
Have we lost our minds?
The other day, my sister-in-law posted a link on Facebook to this article written by author Lisa Bloom. Bloom was obviously advertising her new book Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World, but it was this paragraph of startling statistics that made me take notice:
This week ABC News reported that nearly half of all three- to six-year-old girls worry about being fat. In my book, Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World, I reveal that 15 to 18 percent of girls under 12 now wear mascara, eyeliner and lipstick regularly; eating disorders are up and self-esteem is down; and 25 percent of young American women would rather win America's Next Top Model than the Nobel Peace Prize. Even bright, successful college women say they'd rather be hot than smart. A Miami mom just died from cosmetic surgery, leaving behind two teenagers. This keeps happening, and it breaks my heart.
Don't Completely Discount the MRS Degree
I tend to chat on a lot of message boards about love, relationships, marriage, etc. I can't help it. It's a fascinating subject, especially with the vast amount of ups, downs, and difficulties many out there encounter in the quest for Mr. or Ms. Right. It's fascinating to see the modern day fears of both men and women, especially in terms of marriage.
Lately, I'd see articles, blogs, and discussions about women who seem to have only one goal in life - to get married. In the past we men would have seen this as a good woman, especially if she could cook, clean, is loyal, and virginal. Nowadays with scary tales of divorce with pain and suffering on men, opinions changed. Even fathers now tell their sons to seek out that educated woman who has a career and more to offer than just a pretty face and loyalty.
No Complaining Allowed
Ok...I've had it.
I am thoroughly sick of people who waste my time as well as their time and energy mindlessly complaining about every possible “wrong” that they have endured in the world.
Are we mothering our children to death?
I think about a friend of mine who recently had a baby. It was an accidental pregnancy with her then boyfriend, and she did not believe in abortion. As time passed, the boyfriend started to grow more distant with each passing week until he more or less decided to end things and just call my friend "the girl who's having my baby" as opposed to "girlfriend". He would get online and go through dating sites and social network sites, flirting and now looking for a younger hotter woman to get into sex and fun with, while ignoring and neglecting my friend.
Now jump to the present day. The two have separated simply because of his attitude that he wants to "replace" her ASAP, plus will now cause drama to paint my friend as a crazy psycho ex to his mom and family.
