Obese vs The World

25 stone British mother of two Christina Briggs has described her alarming story to reporters yesterday. Briggs accused her obese situation as the result of her lack of wealth, claiming that she is fat because she ‘cannot afford organic food and gym membership’. Instead, the unemployed Brit, living on benefits, suggested that the government should fund her quest to lose weight as she cannot afford to eat her favorite takeouts while paying for health classes and activities.

Rather than a cause for concern, this horrific new statement is being met by the public with an unexpected sense of compassion. A recent survey conducted by a reporter measures the upcoming generation, middle school student’s opinions of the upcoming widespread issue that is obesity. Astonishingly, rather than anger, the results of the survey revealed that many students feel remorseful towards the situation, with no less than 100% of participants stating that they felt that society judges the obese and makes them feel unwelcome.

After much research, the unfortunate fact was that one cannot change the economic growth of fast food chains around the world, but what they can dig deeper into is the word society thrown into the statement of obesity. Is society judging Briggs what fuels her ignorance, or is it what she believes of herself and what she deserves? Maybe our next candidate will change your opinion:

Our reporters embarked on another survey, based on the mixed public reactions to British burlesque dancer Charlene Taylor. The ‘claimed to be’ size 16 dancer told reporters of her campaign to inspire fellow obese women to take on her seductive occupation, with the belief that you don't need to be skinny to be attractive. Some felt enthralled by her bewitchment of the ritual that is skinny people playing seductive roles like burlesque dancers, while others were disgusted by Taylor‘s more anti seductive approach, with 60% stating that being unhealthy is not at all attractive.

Which is more attractive, skinny or obese people? It is now becoming a stereotype to see people accusing companies of using stick thin models, and encouraging the ‘coat hanger’ body shape. But being obese is just as unhealthy as eating a peanut everyday. Is shovelling twinkies into your mouth everyday really what society wants attractive to be? The reason why it is so difficult to pick one is simply because the answer is neither. In the 1950s, when the idea of pop culture and seductive women began to intertwine, the idea of a perfect woman was not someone who felt comfortable in their own skin, it was someone who was healthy, curvy and attractive. As a private psychologist quoted to our reporters, ‘people often mix up the definition of seductive and beautiful. The definition of sexy is a stereotype that will always be there, but the definition of beautiful is spontaneous beyond belief. Being beautiful is being charismatic and genuinely comfortable with how you look, regardless of your weight. That is what being comfortable in your skin really means. But being healthy comes first.’

For all the obese people out there, this article is not going to bring you down. It is meant to inspire you to make that difference. In 2050, 50% of Americans will be obese. Every person counts to that statistic. If society starts to accept obese people thinking they are fine the way they are, nothing will change. What happens when it’s 75%? 80%? Do we really want to be that world that gave into the second chicken nugget? We cannot all be rich and sexy, but we can all be beautiful, and that should be something the obese, including Taylor and Briggs strive towards to make this world a better, healthier place. If they really want to be those things, they will be accepted no matter what if they chucked out their twinkies and hit the treadmill, as will the other 2.1 billion people, nearly 30% of the world, will want to strive towards. You can be beautiful and not be skinny, but you can be healthier and happier. Research indicates that 20% more people are happier being healthy than wealthy. So make those changes today, do what you want to do, be who you want to be, but remember, the only goal that society will ever have, whether it’s 2014 or 2050, everyone has the right to be beautiful and happy, and that’s what it takes for society and the obese to truly comprise.

Computer games is a major addiction for the young generation. In the end, is it really worth it?

Has this generation of people been infected by a wannabe ebola virus? As far as adults can be concerned, there was no such thing as technology back in their day. There was something else that existed though. It was usually a life with no screen at all. As kids, they would go outside and enjoy the fresh air, as they would play outside with friends and socialise in person. However, generations have changed. Now there's technology like iPhone’s, PC’s and console’s. However, one of the most effective and deadly creations of them all is computer games.

Jane McGonigal, who is a world-renowned designer of alternate reality games-or in other words, create games that require people to solve real life problems, had also taken many thoughts about computer games itself. She had been on TED talks and have discussed the issue about computer games. Although she is a video game designer herself, she was conflicted whether to say it was really all that worth it. When she began she said, “Currently, there are more than half a billion people worldwide, playing computer games and video games, at least an hour a day. Alone, 183 million people play video games in the U.S.” Half a billion people playing computer games is more than the population of Indonesia and Brazil put together, who rank top 5 in the most populated countries since 2014. Not only that, a survey conducted in 2007, had 1,102 kids taking the test. The games of choices had the top 5 games being Guitar Hero, Halo 3, Madden NFL, Solitaire and Dance Dance Revolution, according to ABC news. This proves on how the majority of the video games played by many is not games that require you to solve issues that could help you in real life. Jane McGonigal also had to add on how we spend 3 billion hours a week playing computer games as an entire planet, which is not a good thing. That is around 125,000,000 days, and with that amount of time, people could be doing so much more to benefit the world or themselves.

Many people agree that computer games is something that really shouldn’t have been introduced to people. Many authors like Terry Pratchett had to say, "Over the centuries, mankind has tried many ways of combating the forces of evil... prayer, fasting, good works and so on. Up until Doom, no one seemed to have thought about the double-barrel shotgun. Eat leaden death, demon…” Other people have to say the same on computer games. Student, Aaron Kiss, who is from an unsourced school says, “Computer games is a waste of time, I don’t really like it but I must admit, I did use to play it frequently. Although I would get mad when my parents would stop me from playing, I was definitely not addicted.”

Mr Raisdana, a sophisticated English teacher has daughters, who also can be addicted to computer games. “My daughters have an iPad and love playing Minecraft, however, I usually see a risen amount of procrastination during their time when playing computer games. So I’d usually have to unhook them from the game, but it isn’t easy, as whenever I tell them to get off or when I take the iPad away from them, my children will sometimes get mad or will even enrage,” says Mr Raisdana. Studies show that the younger you are, the more likely you are to start playing computer games. With 99% of boys under 18 and 94% of girls under 18 reportedly playing video games, they could rack up 10,000 hours of gaming by the age of 21. The issue is that when 18, these grownups should be heading into college. However, the 96.5% of girls and boys who choose to game, miss out on what would’ve been the next step in their future, and as said before, the games played by the majority of people are not games that can help improve life skills. Not only has it taken the ego of some people, but it can even take even more than that, it could take lives. There have been cases of killings, just over computer games. That includes a 13 year old taking his mother’s life with a .22 caliber. He was so enraged that he even made efforts to rape her before killing her, and all of this, just because of his mother taking his Call of Duty game away. With so many hours wasted on these computer games that are usually violent, it can drive people crazy, even to the point where depression takes place. From depression, it could only get worse.

With computer games that drive people to the edge, and with the young generation at risk of cutting themselves off from the real world, computer games is definitely not worth it. The amount released into stores should be reduced, and if computer games were to be released, the games should positively improve the logic and the mind thought of the people playing the video games. Still, there are better and more important things to do in life than to just play computer games. There are hobbies like board games or sports, or to even just be social with family in the real world, as you could do everything together as one, and all of this can easily improve the attitude and the mindset of one. Unless the computer games played by majority of the people is something that can make a positive impact onto the lives of many people, the best choice as a hardcore gamer, is to stop gaming.

Simple Hapiness

The Grade 3,4 and 5’s stood in the 40 degree heat on the American British Academy in Muscat, Oman. They all lined up in front of goal for the Crossbar Challenge. Basil Haider, a grade 4 student, was known for his terrible football skills. He stood up to take the penalty. Sweat dripped off of him as he got ready to take his run up. “he could barely lift the ball off the goring, let alone hit the crossbar” said an anonymous friend of Haider. He took the run up and toe punted the ball towards the goal. The ball curled, dipped and smashed the white bar. Haider and the others present stood in shock, then got up and cheered for him as he just stood there. Then the question arises. Why do the most simple things in life give a person so much happiness.

Farah Zia, mother of Haider, said that “ People don't need much to be happy. Money and material can't give you happiness, but a simple thing can.” According to Haider’s brother Samar, “ Its in human nature. The first humans had nothing complex. They were happy from the very simple things, like food. That has been carried through the generations and thats why simple things can make a person happy.” A lot of the time world famous stars and celebrities are very unhappy people. A quote from an anonymous source said that “Celebrities can be too focused on the money and the glamour and not on the simple things in life, like keeping themselves happy.” Many times, celebrities can live too extravagantly and not do things simply which makes them happy. It is very important to keep yourself happy.

thehappinessshow.com said that “Happiness is so important to us, both as individuals and as a world, primarily because happiness is really all there is.” Happiness can come with big and complicated things. But that won't last. Looking at happiness from the perspective of a 8th grade student, our reporter asked a student who has requested to be anonymous said that “Happiness can be in big, glamorous and money/material related things. But that happiness is only temporary. The happiness of winning a game of Rock Paper Scissors, having a chocolate bar or understanding something in math can last longer. True happiness has to simple, but meaningful.” A lot of times doing something difficult and succeeding can make people more happy than doing something easy over and over again. Zia Haider said “ It is because you feel like you accomplished something.”

In a conclusion, simple things give you happiness because it requires little effort, and if feels the best.