Is everything always getting worse, or does it just always feel that way to everyone?

[FriarTed]

If someone else already noted this, sorry.

But I skimmed to the end here just to say that actually Alvin pops into his mouth (and spits out soon after) the shit of one of his brothers.

See, that’s not so bad.
From the other side, however… You’re right. It is all getting worse. Just as the Bible foretold. But thankfully we have the blessed hope of the Rapture when Christ returns and…

[msmith537]

@Hostile Dialect

I’d say yes and yes. The nice thing about the era we’re living in now, though, is that it’s easier than ever to escape the clutches of mainstream entertainment and pop culture. I suggest you do so. (You might want to switch to decaf while you’re at it. I’m serious.)

The thing is, the more you watch the stupid crap mainstream pop culture is made of, the worse you feel about the world. My dad watches Cops every day, and every day he gets more depressed about today’s youth.

I would take it a step further and maybe just turn off the TV and computer for awhile. Go find something else to do - go to the gym, call some friends, go read a book, whatever. Spending hours a day cooped up in your room playing videogames, surfing the internet and/or watching TV is isolating and depressing. Especially so with TV which is non-interactive and constantly broadcasts a steady stream of warped reality. And I don’t just mean reality TV. I mean ALL TV. It’s a constant barrage of images of attractive people having tons of fun, living well above the means of their real-life equivalents, and not suffering any consequences for their actions. It is natural that you will begin to compare your own lifestyle against what you see on TV, if only subconsciously, and start to feel depressed.

@Charger

I remember rolling my eyes as someone described the “hilarious” scene in one of the American Pie sequels where they did the same gag (that of eating shit to prove it was chocolate). Not only is it painfully dumb, but it is now being repeated in other genres.

Maybe you should ACTUALLY WATCH a film before critiquing it?

The American Pie films are actually pretty funny, once you get past some of the gross-out gags. And taken together, the three main films (I’m excluding the direct to video sequals) are a funny, lighthearted tale of a group of friends voyage from high school to adulthood. Each film chronicles a major change in the characters lives (graduating high school, first year back from college, first friends marriage) and the challenges they face keeping their friendship together.

But yes, the “last days of high school” comedy has been done before:
Porky’s -> Fast Times at Ridgemont High -> Dazed & Confused -> American Pie -> and now Superbad

But these movies are also completely unrealistic. Or at the very least, they don’t portray any of the negative consequences of their actions. No one ever gets pregnent, or arrested (other than in a comic manner) or beat up (other than the superficial black eye), or taken to the hospital for alchohol poisoning or develops an addiction. OR, if you are watching a serious drama, they OVERSTATE the potential consequences (if you drink, you will either be date-raped or kill someone in a drunk driving accident).

[Ghanima]

The signal to noise ratio is incredibly low these days. If you take the time to filter, it’s not so bad. American Pie sequel? No, thank you. House reruns? Yes, please. Star Magazine? Take a pass. National Geographic? Get a subscription.

It takes effort, but it is worth it. One can’t live in a cave but one can live in a fort.

[Colophon]

@msmith537

OR, if you are watching a serious drama, they OVERSTATE the potential consequences (if you drink, you will either be date-raped or kill someone in a drunk driving accident).

From a UK perspective, that is so true of American drama. Given that we have a pretty relaxed attitude toward alcohol, it’s always funny watching an American show knowing that the second a group of teens start having a couple of beers (and why do they always drink beer out of those teeny-tiny, brightly coloured plastic cups?), someone’s going to die or get pregnant or be maimed horribly and it’s ALL DUE TO ALCOHOL! :eek:

[Zsofia]

@Colophon

From a UK perspective, that is so true of American drama. Given that we have a pretty relaxed attitude toward alcohol, it’s always funny watching an American show knowing that the second a group of teens start having a couple of beers (and why do they always drink beer out of those teeny-tiny, brightly coloured plastic cups?), someone’s going to die or get pregnant or be maimed horribly and it’s ALL DUE TO ALCOHOL! :eek:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the worst offenders. Even when the grownups have a beer somebody gets turned into a demon. Every stinking time.

[Hostile_Dialect]

@Colophon

and why do they always drink beer out of those teeny-tiny, brightly coloured plastic cups?

Probably (1) so that the show doesn’t infringe on any trademarks by showing beer cans/bottles and (2) because teens and college students really do drink out of those things–beer at keg parties, mixed drinks anywhere else.

[msmith537]

@Colophon

(and why do they always drink beer out of those teeny-tiny, brightly coloured plastic cups?),

Not sure. The most popular drinking cup in real life is usually the 9oz clear plastic cup (cups usually indicate that people are drinking keg beer instead of cans or bottles).