Inappropriate Ads

These days, there are inappropriate ads everywhere you go. Whether it's a pop-up on the internet, a billboard on a busy highway, a television or radio commercial, or something in newsprint - it is hard to go one day without seeing some kind of disturbing or disgusting advertisement.

When I open my Yahoo email account, it has a disgusting 'character,' who is bloody and zombie-like, and the sight of him just makes me sick, which, I suppose, is the point of the ad. It's for a "Howl-o-scream" event at Busch Gardens or some place like that. And yesterday, I saw a billboard with the same disgusting person on it. If it disturbs me, I can only imagine how some children might react. Then again, they might be desensitized to things like that, so maybe it doesn't even bother them anymore. Isn't it sad that children have lost their innocence and naivety?

My sister Jill told me about one ad that featured gross (and I would go as far as to say porn-like) pictures of people on a billboard somewhere, and it said, "Life's short. Get a divorce." Days after it was first posted, the law firm that put it up had many people coming in to get a divorce. It was later taken down because people complained about the images on the sign. Here's the link, so you can see for yourself: http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/LegalCenter/Story?id=3147979 Like FOX News says, "We report-- you decide."

There are signs galore on the interstate advertising strip joints and other disgusting places, television commercials for problems people should share with their doctor--not me, late-night TV commercials for "hooking up" with some creepy stranger, and the list of examples goes on and on. Why is this filth allowed to be shown to and paraded in front of the population--and to youth people especially? Like the people outraged about the divorce billboard, we should stand up and call for the removal of tasteless things we see. I know society has become accepting of so much, but I think it is past time we label the ads as the immoral, disgusting ads that they are.

Whatever happened to family-friendly ads? I don't need (nor do I want) drugs, promiscuity, alcohol, obscenities, and violence used to sell me something. I prefer ads with professionalism, intelligence, good taste, and clean humor--not to mention ads featuring people who are dressed. Is that so hard to ask?

Finding Old Friends

Isn't it great to find old friends? Wednesday night at choir practice, the director asked if we remembered a guy that went to our church a while back. I was friends with his sister, so of course, I remembered him too. They had moved to Indiana or Michigan probably ten years ago, and I lost touch with my friend (Heather). It turns out that her brother, who I remember as a cute little 5-7 year old, is now in college(!!!), and he's in Orlando for some kind of project or something. Anyway, the choir director is planning to invite him to church Sunday, where he used to be a regular--back in the day. If he decides to come, it will be great to to see him and catch up with what he and his family have been up to for the last decade. :)

So, while I was on Facebook tonight, I decided to look Heather up (which I had before but did not find her), and now we have been reconnected. It's so interesting to see what long lost people you once knew are doing now. That is one of the great things about Facebook. Besides the fact that it is addictive and a great procrastination tool, it helps you keep in touch and reconnect with people. ;) :-D

Not only is it interesting to find long lost people, but it's pretty weird that they become long lost people in the first place, isn't it? I mean--you never really expect people you're around every day to one day be completely out of your life for the rest of your life. I don't know--it's just weird when you think about it.

And then again, you never know when you'll meet someone who will touch your life forever.

Money & Gender

Last night I read an article in which young women were complaining about their mates or dates who complain about the fact that they (the women) make more money than they (the men) do. The women said that their dates often openly admitted or implied in one way or another that they were not comfortable with women making more money than they did. For some reason, the women took offense to this. They wondered why men couldn't accept women being more driven and/or successful in business than men in some situations. Why?

I am one who is all for a woman being successful, getting a top job based on her skill, knowledge, and experience, and bettering herself instead of staying at home making children. As a woman, I am no less qualified or less able to do jobs that formerly were dominated by men. I can tell from the article, that those women agree. But unlike them, I am able to see why men would be upset with women making more money than them.

If my mate/date made more money than me, it would bother me too! I don't buy into the 'conventional wisdom' that says the man is the "breadwinner." I believe a couple should work together and contribute equally in a relationship. The scales should not be tipped one way or the other.

I believe that no matter the gender, people are naturally competitive. So, if a woman makes more than a man, he'll probably be upset. And if a man makes more than a woman, she'll probably be upset. I don't think it has anything to do with which gender earns a better salary.

The women in the article were also saying that sometimes they dated older men because they were more on the same financial level as they were. To me, that is stupid. If you are looking for a mate based on what they make, rather than what makes them a great person for you, then how will you ever be happy? Look for personality--not money, people!

It's time for people to accept the fact that people will be upset when they make more than them--no matter which person in a relationship makes more.

Here's the link to the article if you're interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/fashion/23whopays.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&oref=slogin