Does beauty mean no brains?
Just this Monday, Miss USA, Nila Sanchez was the subject of ridicule in social media when she failed to name the capital of her home state Nevada during a radio interview.
Does this necessarily make her dumb?
Apparently so according to the internet which had this to say for her gaffe: "Pathetic, all there is to it. What a moron".
If we all take a moment to consider our tendencies to autonomously brand all beauty queens as "air-heads" the moment they make the smallest fumble then we might realise the malign nature of journalism, interviews and the media of the twenty-first century.
Let me demonstrate.
Caroline Zielinski of The Age newspaper defended the beauty queen in her article 'Ugly truths: the nasty questions we ask of beauty queens', describing questions given to beauty queens are often "difficult" and "loaded".
She provides the example of a question asked of Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2007 who was asked to explain the results of "Recent polls [which] show that a fifth of Americans can't locate the US on a world map."
"Yes, this questions can be answered well - in a thesis by a scholar dedicated to examining the American school system, or a journalist who has worked in the field for years and researched the topic extensively.
Yet, as we watched Miss South Carolina Teen USA fumble her way through her allocated 30-seconds, but I'm not quite sure what we expected. Do people genuinely believe that a teenage girl - and I mean, any teenager, really - can provide an intelligent and articulate response to such a loaded question?"
She has also noted how these girls are "forced to answer difficult and loaded questions in 30 seconds. While wearing a diamond-studded bikini. During a BEAUTY CONTEST." Not to mention their sheer irrelevance to anything beauty pageant related. Why does she need to interpret poll results under a time pressure? Entertainment for idiots of cause. We were faced with a similar dilemma last year when Miss Utah in the Miss America 2013 beauty pageant was asked to explain the results of "A recent report [which] shows that in 40 percent of American families with children, women are the primary earners, yet they continue to earn less than men. What does it say about society?"
Got an answer? No? Well you've got about 25 seconds left to answer, and remember: no fumbling.
The truth is, interviewers and the media are ridiculing these girls for the entertainment of judgemental idiots (who are presumably the twenty percent of people who can't locate US on the world map) so it leaves the remaining eighty percent of us to question the morals of modern media. Are these questions fair by moral standards? No.
But that doesn't seem to stop comments like these from surfacing on the world wide web:
"What a bird brain...she must be extremely embarassed to be such an airhead, since she is in the public eye. At least know the basics, about your own hometown! Women like that, give us a bad name.
As I always say, beauty comes and goes...dumb is forever!"
What a bird brain, you must be extremely 'embarrassed' for not being able to spell 'embarrassed' since you're comment is public. At least know the basics, about your first language! You've said it "dumb is forever".
This person is probably part of the 'twenty percent', and judging that they can't find the US on the world map, I wouldn't be calling a teenage girl an "airhead" for not knowing the capital city of Nevada.
But no, the comments don't stop there. Let's see what other hypercritical imbeciles from around the world have to say about Sanchez:
"well / at least she was born beautiful ~ who needs to be
the sharpest tool in the shed ~ a trophy wife in training >"
Thanks for painting out the role of women in modern society for us. It's assuring to know that the world is waiting, ready to pounce on us for any and all mistakes we make before branding us as 'pathetic airheads'. Not to mention that the media only seems to encourage such primitive behaviour. This all really begs the question of where society is headed; are we still making progress or has the world suddenly gone into a state of lies, hatred, sadism and schizophrenia?
Let me know what you think, I'll be compiling and presenting the best overall comments below in our next issue.
SockMonster1
TALK Magazine Columnist
The Great Technology Debate
What would you do if your internet crashed? How would you communicate with your friends if your phone no longer received messages? How would you feel if there was no Twitter or Instagram to keep you updated on what your friends were up to?
"I would have no idea what to do with myself," is the exact response my best friend gave.
If the thought of these things happening to you, like my friend, makes you feel lost and stressed then you are clearly not the only one. Just ask any one of the 2.9 billion internet users worldwide.
Modern technology is a brilliant thing. It has completely modernised the way we communicate, learn and work. Modern technology now allows us to be anywhere, see anything and have unlimited amounts of information with just a few touches of a button. However, as modern technology continues to advance, many people begin to argue that we are now, as a general population, too dependent on technology.
I would be one to agree with them.
Recent studies have found the average person is awake for almost 16 hours a day. 45 percent of this time is spent either online, attached to a mobile phone or watching television (Liz Thomas, 2012). This means that the average person will spend approximately 7 hours a day using some kind of technology. Can you imagine what else you could do with a spare 7 hours? Can you imagine how much more quality time you would be able to spend with friends or family?
In past times people would entertain themselves by going outdoors, starting a hobby or seeing friends and family. However, in current times one of the most popular forms of entertainment is computer games and television. I mean, really, hands up if you've ever stayed in bed all day and watched re-runs of that silly reality show when you could've been doing something much more productive.
Another example of how modern technology has created laziness can be found in the form of online shopping. Why get dressed, drive to the shops, find a park and then walk around the shops to buy what you want when you can simply just order it online and have it delivered to your door?
With it becoming easier to run errands, do your shopping and check in your family without leaving having to leave your couch, I can see the appeal. However, because of this the amount of physical activity and even face to face contact that people now have is dwindling.
I mean could you imagine actually having to write someone a letter every time you wanted to talk to them instead of sending them a text? Could you imagine the only way you could hear someone's voice or see their smile was if you went and visited them in person? Or even having to check a clock instead of your phone? Whilst more time and energy consuming it would be possible.
Another issue that the general population faces with modern technology is the increased pace that daily life now runs at. We are now expected to reply faster, have the information quicker and work more rapidly because of it.
As soon as you receive a message you're expected to reply straight away, or call someone back immediately.
I mean, really, how many times have you heard someone say to you; "Why didn't you reply to me faster?" Or, "Wait, you didn't see my post online?"
This attitude towards technology almost creates a fear that if you turn off your phone for a day that you're going to miss out on something 'important.'
When the fear that you will miss out on something when you shut off your laptop overrides spending quality time with your family or friends, is in my opinion, when the dependence on technology becomes too much.
Yes, I hear many of you now saying 'but technology has done great things for our world!' and yes, I agree with you. Technology has helped scientists work towards cures for diseases. Modern technology has also increased the standards of education that is taught worldwide.
However whilst modern technology has had many positive influences, it also has created negative habits such as laziness and a dependency on technology that can rule ones life.
So as technology continues to advance, just remember to slow down and look up from the screen and use that brain of yours! Log off your computer, turn off your phone and go outside and enjoy the moment with someone! Just simply be there and enjoy the moment, before it passes.
Amelia
Mikky3