Final Project: Toddlers and Tiaras, Do We Love It or Hate It?

My Response to Jane McGonigal

I am totally in line with Professor McCauliff when it comes to video games- I don’t know much about them, nor do I care much about them. I feel like I gained some insight to them through our readings in class.

            Growing up, my mother never allowed my sister and I to own a gaming system. She always thought that kids who own them don’t do anything else but play video games. She easily got this idea through my cousins, who did little but playing video games when we were kids. They were addicted. Because of this biased exposure, I have never been too keen on video games. The articles we read and the TED talked viewed in class offered a view I wasn’t used to receiving: video games can and are helpful to society.

            The TED talk we watched completely took me by surprise. I never thought that the claim would be made that in order for the young leaders of our new world to prosper, more video games must be played. Not sure I agree here. I understand the theory that video games can help foster problem-solving skills and can help one master a quick reaction time.  I simply think the claim that was made was a bit extreme. I do not think it makes sense to prepare for real life scenarios by playing in a virtual world. I think the main component that prepares doctors, scientists, lawyers and various other occupations is real-world training. A doctor should shadow others in a hospital, and a scientist should spend many hours in lab. Video games just don’t seem like the answer to me. It may help as a supplemental tool, but I do not believe our society needs to play any more than it already does.

Haters Gonna Hate

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Spoiler alert: My group and I did our video project on Toddlers and Tiaras. Before completing this project, I was not a huge fan of the show. I had seen it more than a few times, but never watched it regularly. If it was on and I was bored, it was definitely sufficient. I always thought it was kind of stupid, but entertaining enough. My views have definitely changed.

            I now DESPISE Toddlers and Tiaras. My main issue with the show (along with most Americans’ issue) is the values the parents are teaching to their children. First off, putting that large amount of makeup on a small child is already instilling an opinion that society reinforces as they get older: makeup is necessary for a girl to be pretty. Young girls already struggle greatly around the middle school age with learning makeup tips and tricks. Being introduced to that realm at such a young age will only increase the concern at an even younger age. The same theory applies to the added hair products, fake tans, fake teeth and any other unnatural enhancements. Notice the key word here? FAKE. The girls are not being taught how to act in a genuine manner. The crucial lesson that people should and will like you for you are is entirely missed.

            Not only do girls learn skewed values, they are also put in danger at times. Mothers and fathers place a high priority on how the child performs at a pageant as opposed to basic health. This can be seen with the large amounts of sugar that the parents feed their children in order to hype them up for the performance. Makes me sick.

            I now refuse to further support TLC in general, seeing as how they exploit the children and families in such a poor manner. I feel bad for the children who will hate what they read about their past selves when they are older.

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Spoiler alert: My group and I did our video project on Toddlers and Tiaras. Before completing this project, I was not a huge fan of the show. I had seen it more than a few times, but never watched it regularly. If it was on and I was bored, it was definitely sufficient. I always thought it was kind of stupid, but entertaining enough. My views have definitely changed.

            I now DESPISE Toddlers and Tiaras. My main issue with the show (along with most Americans’ issue) is the values the parents are teaching to their children. First off, putting that large amount of makeup on a small child is already instilling an opinion that society reinforces as they get older: makeup is necessary for a girl to be pretty. Young girls already struggle greatly around the middle school age with learning makeup tips and tricks. Being introduced to that realm at such a young age will only increase the concern at an even younger age. The same theory applies to the added hair products, fake tans, fake teeth and any other unnatural enhancements. Notice the key word here? FAKE. The girls are not being taught how to act in a genuine manner. The crucial lesson that people should and will like you for you are is entirely missed.

            Not only do girls learn skewed values, they are also put in danger at times. Mothers and fathers place a high priority on how the child performs at a pageant as opposed to basic health. This can be seen with the large amounts of sugar that the parents feed their children in order to hype them up for the performance. Makes me sick.

            I now refuse to further support TLC in general, seeing as how they exploit the children and families in such a poor manner. I feel bad for the children who will hate what they read about their past selves when they are older.

Pray for the Perpetrators

     

When I first read the article about the Matthew Shepard murder, I was instantly horrified, as I'm sure most people had the same reaction. The fact that any humans could commit such an intense hate crime is far beyond my realm of understanding. My deepest sympathies go to the family of Matthew Shepard and all those affected.

                As I reflect on the incident more, I divert my attention to the two young perpetrators. Along with Shepard’s friends and family, my deepest sympathies go out to the perpetrators and their families as well.  Any human who would commit such a crime obviously has issues in their life, whether that is mental issues or perhaps personal issues that have caused them serious distress. I am by no means justifying what the two young men did, I just do not agree with how they are attacked by the media. The way the two were de-humanized is also a crime. More than anything, those two men need a re-guidance and re-direction in their life. This cannot happen if they see themselves portrayed by society. Repercussions of course needed to be had, and I do believe they both received what they deserved by their life sentences in prison.

                I thought it was humble and courageous the way the father of Matthew Shepard rose and stated that the families and perpetrators needed love and prayers. If Americans are so appalled by heinous acts of these two men, citizens should do everything in their power to take preventive steps to ensuring an incident like this never happens again. How incredible would it be to hear a story of gentlemen such as these two as “converts?” Showing that they were remorseful and perhaps wanted to apologize and speak out on the wrongness of their actions. A scenario such as this could really bring about societal change and get a message out, in my opinion. I’m not saying these two would definitely do that, but they have not been given the chance. The media has already labeled them in a way that portrays they are not average citizens, just horrible human beings, or perhaps not even that. This does not foster an environment that the two can maybe turn their lives around.  Also as we discussed in class, showing that the two were not average citizens reinforces the idea that society does not need to change, which is obviously not true. I hope more prayers go out to all three victims involved in this case.

Maybe it's not so Bad

    

Throughout our discussion and readings of different articles concerning the princess culture, I had agreed with the vast majority of the text being presented. I completely agree that the princess culture is affecting all girls, whether they be deemed weird for not embracing it, or whether they are becoming young narcissists because of the obsession. The more I reflect on the articles however, the more I start to think things are being taken too seriously.

            The main issue is not Disney or the princess movies themselves, but instead the parents who do not know how to raise a humble and non-narcissist child. Solely watching princess movies or playing with princess toys will not make a small girl feel like she is an actual princess and needs to be treated as one. When a parent spoils their child, giving them whatever they plead and relinquishing all control to the power, they are creating a small monster. Children with this foundation of an upbringing will undoubtedly feed off of the princess culture easily. The products and story lines will manifest into a spoiled and demanding child. This is not the fault of Disney. If a child simply sees the princess stories, engaging his or her imagination in a “new world,” while also having parents who raise the child to be caring, selfless and humble, the princess culture will not have much of an effect.

            In the article written by Laucius, she discusses the elements that define princess. She states one element as being that the girl believes she is someone special. I really disliked that she saw this in a negative light. As cheesy as it may sound, I really do think everyone is special. Coming from a religious standpoint, I believe everyone was hand-crafted in the image of God, and that is about as special as it gets. I believe children need to be taught that they are special in order to instill confidence at a young age. Being confident, not cocky, is important for a young girl. It can go so far as to prevent an abusive relationship. Or it can simply help a girl withstand a mean bully. Knowing you’re special is a beautiful gift that all girls should be taught. It’s highly different from thinking you’re better than everyone else.

A Response to Clive Thompson

After reading what Mr. Thompson has to say concerning how tweets and texts affect long-term meditation on ideas, I'm not so sure I agree with him fully. Thompson makes the claim that the more recent form of posting ideas through short messages, such as tweets or texts, fosters both a desire and action of more long-term mediation and recitation. 

While I’m not totally opposed to Twitter, I don’t think it usually has this effect that Thompson claims. I myself am a frequent user of Twitter, and I think it’s a great tool for our generation. It can get a short, simple message out to the public extremely quickly. Twitter can help lead a movement or rally millions of people in an easy and instantaneous way. 

What I like most about Twitter though, is not my actual intimate friends that I follow, but instead the news sources that utilize the social network. I enjoy logging on twitter either between classes or whenever I have a free moment and seeing what’s going on all around the world in a brief, 140-character text. When reading the headlines from either politicians or new sources, I always have the intention of returning later to the internet and searching the story more deeply; however, this does not always happen. What tends to happen more is I get busy with school, work, my friends, my mother, my sorority sisters, or one of the other many things I probably have to do that day. While I love reading the news and staying informed, I usually have higher priorities as a college student, such as studying, socializing, or working to pay that rent.  I am also fully aware that it is not just college students that lead a hectic and crazy lifestyle, as do many adults who work 40 or more hour weeks and juggle other responsibilities on top of that such as families, volunteer positions, or second jobs. 

 I think Thompson does have one thing right—with bloggers utilizing Twitter for “the little stuff,” it perhaps allows them to feel more compelled to write more frequently a detailed and well-thought out analysis on the subject at hand, in comparison to the short posts on Twitter. However, I do not think this is a mutual exchange. I don’t think it necessarily makes readers jump to those long, though out blog posts. Granted, for some readers it may. I have seen that other readers are content with the mere 140-character or less description of the story, which often leads to a false understanding or biased view of the story. 

I was in class the other day, and overheard a highly entertaining conversation. Two girls were talking about something a local news source had tweeted. Being familiar with the story they were discussing because it was written about a good family friend, I knew one of them had stated a blatantly wrong fact about the story. In the next few seconds, I heard the girl discuss the fact that she read the story on Twitter. She was obviously satisfied with the shortened version and didn’t care to think any more on the situation. My point exactly.  And that’s all I could think about as I read this article.