I think this s another one of those pictures that just proves a lot of things wrong. We are told so many lies through the media that certain people hate other people. But I know for a fact that not everything we are fed through the media is true. What gets me though, is the fact that we are brought up to be unconsciously turned off by another religion. I believe that, people have the right to believe whatever they want to believe. Who is to say that one religion is wrong and another is right? Religion is one of those things that is so personal that it shouldn't be up to one group of people to say that Christianity is better than Buddhism. I also love that the media portrays the conflicts in the middle east as religion wars, but I call bullshit on that. The reason they are fighting is because of the goons in charge are so out of whack. If it weren't for the media, everything would be peaceful. This picture is just one of many reasons why people should learn first hand instead of eating the garbage that is fed to them by the media. I was raised Christian, but many of my friends were raised otherwise. It makes no difference what religion we practice. People are people, we all wake up, live our lives and go to sleep. The only difference is the God we find answers in. If we all just realized that, i think the world would be a better place.

I think the media is to blame (once again). We see thousands of news reports, tv shows and movies that show child abductions and other child related crimes. Although, these events rarely happen in real life. So our parents have always told us to stay away from strangers, but in reality, most strangers are quick to help in these events. It is also, after the fact that parents will act and step up their supervision on their child. I grew up in a pretty safe area, where these things rarely happened. In State College, you rarely ever hear of child abductions, but they do happen. Which is why my parents taught me at a young age to never speak to or accept anything from strangers. It is parent's job to plant these ideas into children's minds so they can grow up to make good decisions. When in reality, i think it is just human nature to stay away from the unfamiliar. As i grew older i realized how to decipher the bad from the good. Obviously not all strangers are bad. I've witnessed stressful and chaotic events where complete strangers have helped one another out. So for the media to portray the world, and the people in it, as wrong, unethical and bad is completely far fetched. What will happen when a child is lost or gets separated from his or her caretaker? Will they just wonder along until they find their parent or guardian? I think children should know to a degree that they can find people who can help them. A wondering child in the streets or mall is a target for those who are looking for trouble. I think parent's should teach their children in the event that they do get lost, that it is acceptable to seek help from a stranger. Because 9 times out of 10, they will be better off than to just wonder along aimlessly looking for their parents.

You can't help laughing at this video, but at the same time it really makes you think about how inclined we are to follow the norm and follow trends. We have seen it through history, that if there is a trend that everyone is following, so many people will follow that trend. Sometimes they even make drastic lifestyle changes. We also have seen that if there is a group of people gathering to view something, people passing by will most likely stop just to see what all the hype is about. As for the video, I think the people, who were following the group in the elevator, felt somewhat inclined to "conform" and follow what everyone else is doing because nobody likes to feel like an outcast. Even in the media people follow and conform. If a huge celebrity or athlete is loved, you will see everyone love them just because others love them. We call this the "bandwagon" effect (or at least that's what i call it). You see this with winning teams because people like to see teams win because its entertaining. And if you aren't a fan of that team people will say, "They are good? Why don't you like them?" So in a sense, they are pressured and like the team because everyone else does, because they do not want to feel like an outcast. It works both ways as well. Lebron James left Cleveland to play for the Miami Heat. Obviously fans in Cleveland were outraged because he was one of the best players to play in Cleveland, and some may say he is one of the best to ever play the game of basketball. But I have noticed that people in State College, who have no association with Cleveland or Lebron James, absolutely dislike the man because it is the thing to do. People crave the feeling to be accepted, and they will completely change their ways to fit in. As seen in the video, the subjects in the elevator did things that they would have never done before, just because everyone else was doing it.

I personally think that this whole topic is outrageous. Once again, the media is blowing things out of proportion and the news has to broadcast pointless segments such as this one. Honestly, who really cares? Yes, i think it is disgusting that these little girls are put through beauty pageants where they dressed risque' by their parents. Yes, I think that it is all about the mothers trying to live out their fantasies or what not; because, let's be honest, unless you are sick in the head or some kind of perv, you aren't going to make your child get on stage dressed like Madonna. I think the news should focus on better, more worthwhile topics instead of this stuff. These mothers obviously are somewhat forcing these girls to put on these outfits. No 2 year old girl is going to say, "I want to dress like a slut and get on stage and have people judge me". Kids that young can barely use the bathroom by themselves, let alone think for themselves.

As for teenage and young adult women, i think that it is a little bit more acceptable. Because as girls get older they can choose what they want to wear, and they can choose whether they want to be in the pageant or not. But these 2 and 3 year old girls can't. Sure, they can complain and whine all they want, but you and I both know that there is a heavy influence from the mothers. And for that mother to say that fathers are on the sidelines pushing their sons to play football and living out their dreams vicariously, yeah probably, but you don't see those boys running down the field in a cone bra dancing for the crowd. I think that all children are forced into things, i remember my parents pushing me to play sports and other things, but it was in my best interest. They didn't want me getting in trouble so they kept me active, which i think is perfectly fine. But it crosses the line when you are pushing your kids to get their eyebrows waxed and wear a cone bra.

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