The media’s portrayal of people isn’t only responsible for body image, but also for social image. I know that sounds strange, but think about it. How many times do you see a guy in a movie who’s a douchebag that snags all the ladies and then sees the error of his ways? How many times do you see a movie where every female character is held high on a pedestal for being overreactive and not thinking something thru because that’s “who they are?”

I bring this up because I recently heard a tidbit of information spoken by someone. In reference to someone telling her she was overreacting, she said “What do mean? That’s how you’re supposed to react to something like this!” Now, I’m not one to divulge any further details regarding this encounter, but let me assure that this was indeed an event that shouldn’t involve going wacky over. But what really confused me was how this person said they were “…supposed to…” as if that’s just the way it is.

People in this world seem to take for granted how their society affects their attitude when it doesn’t have to do with racism or sexism, but let me tell you that people learn from a very young age whether or not it’s worth it to be rude or unreasonable in this world. When you’re growing up, somewhere along the lines, your parents will say these words to you: “…and don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.” Now, what comes before these words will be the most strongly affected by them, but when your mind is that young, it takes those words and extrapolates them further. Whether you like it or not, those 8 words shape who you will be for the rest of your life because they give you a sense of entitlement. They give you your first chance to be ignorant of others which extends to the whole of your life. It’s a valuable lesson to not take shit from others, but it’s an even more valuable lesson to use reason and respect in response to this shit.

Now, some of you internet types might be saying “Well, that doesn’t sound like me at all. I’m always perfectly nice and reasonable to people!” and that may be true. However, that’s because your personality doesn’t allow you to develop that way. This tidbit hits everyone differently, and a select few of the population, not at all. This however, is not the point. The point is that we, from an early age get told to believe in ourselves and not others. Then movies like Crazy, Stupid Love have Ryan Gosling’s character. He plays this guy who is a total one night stand dickhead, but what do you know? He finds the perfect girl who changes him and makes him believe in love. What do you think this does to people? Well, first guys start to think that being a dick will get them laid (Which it will, because science.), so that’s no good, but what happens next is even more startling. On some level, Men and Women start to believe that those asshole folks out in the world can be changed. I know this may sound offensive to some, but it’s true. Women and men alike will start to believe that they can be the one person that changes someone and then they get hurt and freak out about it. This further extends a violent hatred within society in it’s own way. Now, I say women and men because just look at 10 Things I Hate about You. Same exact idea with a role reversal.

Now, let’s look further into society. Let’s trace thru your life even. From the moment we start High School, what are teachers and staff doing? Pressuring you to compete with everyone else on the planet in order to get into a good college. Competition.
Now, let’s go to college. Everything’s on a curve so what are you doing? Competing with your fellow classmates for the A and not giving a damn about how well anyone else is doing. More competition
Grad school? Competing over who gets to work in the top dog’s lab or as their head TA.
Work world? Promotion competition.

All of this competition makes all of these aspects of our lives hold so much more gravity than they ought to. This is what makes the media able to influence our attitude. We’re searching, whether it be consciously or unconsciously for a way to win that competition and anything can slip into our minds. We all want to succeed. We all want to find love. We all want sex. So, if it works in a fake universe, we’re willing to try it just because we’re desperate.

So, I encourage all of you to think for a second what you yourself draw from. I draw from films all the time simply for things to say but what do you look at? Do you pull from that one star’s dickittude? Do you pull from  that person who just cares too much about their significant other and it causes them to overreact? Whatever it may be, it’s probably affecting you more than you might think.

Please, think about it. Try to figure it out. Try to be a better person and stop letting media influence your personality. To quote a great film, “You are who you choose to be. Choose.”