A recent trend has emerged in modern society, which I feel is doing everyone a great disservice. It is the idea that everyone is special. I do not know when this societal view first came about but it was certainly in full swing by the time I started school. I understand and recognize that it is an idea with good intentions, helping to boost the self-esteem of young children. I agree that children with low self-esteem, is not good thing. However, it is equally as dangerous to build a child’s self-esteem on nothing concrete.
Children who are told that they are special from day one are not going to have the same drive towards improving and advancing themselves because, according to their parents and teachers, they are already special and unique. I also feel that this societal attitude is contributing to the abundance of trash reality TV. On every channel there are reality shows like The Kardashians, or the Real Housewives of New Jersey. These are people that despite having no discernable talent or skill still feel that they are so special that a TV series should be focused on their lives. Basically they feel that they deserve to be celebrities even though they can’t act, sing, or do any of the things that would traditionally bring fame. I can almost guarantee that these reality stars all had parents telling them they were special their whole lives.
The societal assertion that a child is great and special from birth is a dangerous message. Rather children should be constantly reminded of their potential to be special. We should encourage the idea that praise and esteem is something that is earned, and not something that is given to everyone. Because after all, if everyone is special then isn’t no one special.
This is a funny and interesting critique of a cultural trend that's mostly never seen as a bad thing. If you wanted to add onto or modify it, I would suggest mentioning how "special" can also be an insult. I was thinking of that the entire time I was reading the piece and made me consider the word and implications in a completely different way than how I believe I was supposed to.
ReplyDeleteI applaud your attempt at cultural criticism, however much of it falls into generalization. I would work on contextualizing your argument by painting a vivid portrait through details or anecdotes from culture that explore this trend. Can you catalogue references people would know in pop culture? What about the author's own experience of this idea?
ReplyDeleteYou are unique, just like everyone else. haha funny post.
ReplyDeleteI like the point of this, but I do feel that it needs more of you in it-- otherwise, it just falls into the "rant" category. I'm sure that if you developed this more, you would find a way to weave your own experiences into it, which would make it more engaging. But a good, interesting post, that I hope you build on.
ReplyDeleteAristotle (poorly paraphrased) tells us that everyone does not start in life as a human being, but rather has the potency to become one. To that effect, everyone has the potency to become special. Related back to this piece? It doesn't matter what you could do, but what you do-do; that's the message that I'm getting here, with the mention of the reality TV shows (I can't help but think of Jersey Shore and cringe).
ReplyDeleteI don't really understand why you titled this "Everyone is special" if you disagree with the statement. Because their isn't any sarcasm in this piece, it doesn't really work to have a sarcastic title. That said, I agree with you completely. If you are going to expand on this idea I would suggest that you use more specifics because your examples are the strongest way of making your point. I've often wondered myself how the kardashians got so famous and in the case of kim i think it had a lot to do with her sex tape with Brandy's brother. It might add some comedic relief to make fun of that fact, that someone can get famous from a sex tape that wasn't supposed to be released. Also, maybe define the kind of person that you think deserves to be deemed special, and put emphasis on the success of telling kids that they have the POTENTIAL to be magnificent with the necessary amount of effort.
ReplyDeleteThis has the tone and approach of an editorial, and though I agree with you, I'd like to see more creative in this nonfiction. Talk about your experience of being treated as "special." How did it manifest itself: everybody on all the soccer teams gets a trophy, etc.
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