What Is The Point

  Hey, do you remember the time in school, kindergarten, was it? When did we learned about being kind and respectful to one another? There were songs, too, that we had to learn and sing for assemblies.  But as we graduated to higher classes, we no longer had to sing these songs or give exams on whether or not we comprehended a lesson on kindness. Because by that time, it was supposed to have been etched in our minds that this is what humanity is like. We must show respect to other human beings.  When we went off to college, we didn’t have to be reminded that, by the way, that person who just fell down, maybe just ask if they are okay. Because all of these sympathetic feelings stem from humanity. We all have it. We are supposed to act humanely towards each other.  But now that we have social media, and every aspect of our lives must be posted and analyzed, suddenly, these basic manners have become a feat.  It’s not a simple act of kindness anymore. These acts hav...

You have your popcorn ready, a cold soda close to your hand, and the movie on and playing the opening credits. You've heard such great things about the movie and can't wait to see what the hype is all about. The studio names attached to the movie are still playing, but by now, you've finished almost half of your popcorn. The movie finally begins, and minutes into it, you realize you were duped into thinking this was a watchable movie. It sort of is if you have a strong stomach. But remember all the popcorn you chowed down while the credits were still going on? One of the gory scenes comes on, and you feel some of the popcorn coming up your throat. It’s graphic, and the camera zooms in on every single disgusting detail.  Your hand pauses, hovers above the popcorn, waiting for the scene to pass before you can eat again. But by then, more guts, blood, and slime are splattering on the screen, and your appetite is gone. Your stomach clenches and lurches at the same time. Then it...

I'll be your idol. I'll be the one you look up to. The one who influences you. The one who takes space in your mind. And since you bought my album or movie ticket, you believe you have access to me 24/7. Hold up! When did it become mandatory for a celebrity to give in to all of your demands? When they sign contracts, do they also check a box that says they are public property now? In recent news, there are plenty of stories about celebrities, especially music artists, who have been attacked at their own concerts. It's either the fans throwing stuff at the star or them running on stage to get their one minute of fame and a selfie to post on their social media. Disturbing videos become viral online of fans pulling celebrities or jumping on them and manhandling them. Since when has it become acceptable to treat another human that way?  There was a time when fandoms were about discussing the attributes of a star, glorifying their achievements, and celebrating their ...

  It is with deep regret that I must inform you that so-and-so celebrity has passed away. Let’s look back at their life in pictures.  Except…wait a minute…did that celebrity just send out a tweet about enjoying ice cream at the beach? Has social media turned into a tool for ghosts to communicate through? Nope. It’s yet another example of reckless journalism, driven by the pressure to be first instead of being an authentic news source. It’s all about TRPs and getting enough views and likes for posts about celebrities who have just passed away. But of course, they haven’t, as evidenced by their recent posts or statements from their families and friends.  Death hoaxes have not been invented recently. In fact, it goes back to decades when famous writer Mark Twain was reported to be dead, only for him to come out and state it himself that he was very much alive.  Many famous celebrities have been 'killed' on the news, deceiving viewers who rely on these channels for relia...

  There must have been a moment while watching a romance scene or a movie, where you must have scoffed at the character for making such a fuss after being dumped. The character is completely devastated, and all you can think of is: just move on already. What’s the big deal?  Sitting on our high horses, we look at displays of affection and care with contempt. We like the idea of being with someone, but true love? The kind of love where you are ready to make sacrifices, and drink yourself to death, and not be able to even move? That kind of love is for the storybooks.  As long as you are practical about it, your heart will never break.  Except it does. And it’s not because you fell deeply in love with someone. It came when you poured your time, energy, and effort into something or someone, and in return, ended up with nothing.  It could be for a job you worked so hard at, but were casually dismissed. The reason for that dismissal is something so trivial, like you ...

Want to join our loyalty program ? It has a fancy name. It’s thanking you for your continued support of their business. There is a promise of discounts , freebies , and possibly a gift on your birthday.  So, of course, you sign up. Everyone is so nice at the store after all. They are being polite, helpful, and assisting you in filling up forms. Everything is going swimmingly well for you, because this is your favorite store and you have just become an exclusive member of a club that guarantees you returns in some form or the other.  Excitedly, you share your number, address and email, ready to reap in the rewards. The staff is all smiles and you feel like you’re some sort of celebrity.  Your first few purchases go well. People are nice, the procedure to collect points is simple, and you’ve already received a coupon for some off-brand headphones . But that’s okay. Even if you’re not going to use it, at least you know the rewards are coming.  Weeks later, after receiv...

  Writing is considered to be a powerful form of communication. It is supposed to be informative, descriptive, invoke emotions, and enrich the lives of those who read.  Yet, this powerful tool is often suppressed.  Now writers have to take permission in order to write anything that many people could possibly find offensive. It is no longer about hiring a good editor to check for grammatical mistakes or developmental issues. It is about getting the PR involved to make certain that the writing will be approved by the masses.  The writing, be it in a novel, or essay, or a social media post, all of it needs to be approved before it is made available to readers. There is a lot to get offended about after all.  For example, why does the novel only have a particular race of characters? Why are they not more inclusive when it comes to race, age, and orientation? Why did the writer insert their political views into fiction? It doesn’t matter that the political views are...

"I'm done hiding, now I'm shining, like I'm born to be...." The song Golden from Kpop Demon Hunters has received 3 Grammy nominations! It's not much of a surprise, considering the single has spent several weeks on the top of the charts since its release in July 2025. KPop Demon Hunters is the not-so-surprise hit of this year, well-received by critics and audience of all ages.  Its story and soundtrack resonated with the audience, making it one of the top movies of Netflix for several weeks. In fact, it is still in the Top 10 list on Netflix, making it the most watched movie of all time. The movie boasts of a clever and peppy soundtrack, easily integrating into the movie without breaking the pace.  Admittedly, Golden was not my favorite song from the movie. I liked the musical arrangement and beats of Your Idol. It can be very much labeled as a horror song based on the ominous lyrics and the video. It took me some time to relate to Golden, but by th...

Do you know what's happening in the world?  It doesn't matter if you don't. Do celebrities know what's going on in the world? Well, they are better. Because they are out there. They can't be only about fancy dresses, tons of makeup, and expensive cosmetic surgeries. They need to have the depth to hold proper conversations. It's okay if you don't know what's happening in your neighborhood. Or in your city. Or the country. What's important is that when you go on social media and check out the star's account, they should have commented on a global or political issue. But why? Being a celebrity can be challenging. They need to spend hours working on scenes and performing on camera. But then they have to do the press tours, and that's when they encounter even more challenges. Now, it's common knowledge that celebrities work with PR teams to get them interview-ready. The questions they are asked are vetted, the celebrity is sometime...

  Food is expensive. Even if it costs one buck, you have the privilege of spending that one buck on food that someone else does not have.  I am all for experimentation, especially when it comes to creating new delectable dishes. I mean, a lot of foods that we eat today were a result of an experiment or mistakes that were made during the process.  However, when someone takes the time out to spend enough money on cookware and bakeware, then the ingredients, and makes a video of it to post online, it’s just so irksome.  Here we see a content creator dumping ingredients into a dish, then throwing it either into the oven or freezer, then removing it and piling on either cheese or heavy cream. Ta-da! Here’s your messy, undercooked but disguised dish that tastes like the worst thing you will ever eat in your life! Seriously, what is the point of wasting so many ingredients in the first place! The worst, and I mean the absolute worst, is when people buy a perfectly good cake...

 Welcome to the 21st century, where movies now include female characters as leads and give them prominent and pivotal roles. They are no longer damsels in distress, and they aren't standing in the background while the male characters indulge in lengthy monologues. They are strong, resilient, are backed by writers who totally know how to portray a strong, independent woman. Or do they? Let's face it, no matter which century we find ourselves in, female characters in movies are stereotyped as shallow, selfish, and clumsy women who constantly need to be aided. Their careers are limited to either kindergarten teachers or personal assistants, or some obscure executive who needs to visit a small town to close down a business. The movies are not about her career. It is about what truly matters in her life: a family with kids. Okay, so there's nothing wrong with that. A woman can choose to have a family and be a housewife, and build a home. But it is the lackadaisical writing that ...

  Your favorite content creator has dozens of funny and relatable videos. Their life seems perfect. They know so many people. They are being invited to exclusive events. They are sponsored by big brands.  Anyone who is coming up with a new product or service wants an Influencer to boost their sales. Before you know it, the Influencer is meeting celebrities, living in expensive apartments, and eating exquisite food.  But that is when their followers begin to dwindle. They are no longer relatable to a large population of people. There are some who like the ‘rags to riches’ story, but chances are the Influencer was already wealthy to begin with, based on the large villas they shoot videos in, and the props and equipment they use. So it is usually a ‘Rich to Richer’ story.  So how can one keep their followers fixated on their channel? By exploiting emotions, of course.  One minute, the Influencer is going to a fancy event, and in the next, they set up a “crying vide...

Once upon a time, people used ASMR videos to find calm and to lull themselves to peaceful sleep. With so much going on around in the world and in their lives, they desperately sought a helpful mechanism that would minimize the anxiety they felt.  The ASMR videos were helping people all around the world relax and breathe. The gentle sounds of whispering, crinkling or squishing sounds would soothe many which is why these videos gained popularity.  Unfortunately when things become too popular, a lot of people start doing it to, you know, follow trends and gain more viewers. And then what happens to the one thing that was designed to soothe our nerves? You guessed it! ASMR videos have now moved on to become annoying.  Not all of them. Luckily, there are a few creators out there who still value the tradition and try to invoke a calm response in their viewers. While others have resorted to turing this into a travesty.  Seriously, what is with the overly-painted talons tapp...

  Coffee isn’t just a hot beverage that gives you that morning fuel to get the day’s work done. It’s a status symbol. Tell someone you are a coffee drinker, and they are automatically impressed.  Because coffee isn’t just a beverage. Yes, I already said that, but it bears repeating. And here’s why: your choice of beverage determines your personality. If you drink coffee, that means you need the caffeine. It means you lead such a busy life that you need that extra energy just to cope or make it through the day. Your workload is so heavy that without coffee, you would collapse.  Tell anyone you’re a tea drinker and you may just notice a subtle scoff. Tea is considered a relaxing beverage. People automatically assume you are sitting all prim and proper in a chair, with a plate of accompaniments on the table, and having a social event. Biscuits and savouries, anyone?  So yes, coffee is highly regarded in the modern world as the drink of active people. The busy people. Pe...

  Remember when there used to be songs about facing and overcoming challenges, loving someone unconditionally, and having faith, because that is the only thing that can get you through life? Yeah, those were the good old days. They were the songs that we could either dance to, or exercise to, or help us relax. The lyrics were almost poetic , their meaning profound. Just listening to these songs helps us feel motivated to keep going. Or at the very least, offered comfort when we were down.  And now we have these songs about breakups . Let me correct that…the artist’s breakups. It barely relates to the common folks, us, anymore. It’s all a gossip column given a tune and an obscure music video. Songs are no longer about finding motivation; it has become a game about guessing which ex the artist is singing about.  The song, no matter how boring it is, goes viral because of what it represents: a clue to the celebrity that the artist has dated in the past. Conspiracy theory vid...

  Another hit movie. Another box office success. Another critically acclaimed feature. Another opportunity for the studio executive to milk more out of it.  And that’s when a sequel is born.  But that is also when disappointment is born. In most cases.  How many successful sequels can you name? You probably used only one hand. Now let’s talk about the disappointing ones. How many do you remember? Did you have to use your toes and someone else’s fingers and toes as well? Most sequels are not even needed. We see the protagonist get their happy ending in the first movie. The fans loved it and began working on fanfiction based on what they believed happened after the events of the movie. The studio executives begin to think, why not cash in on this. The movie is a hit and has a solid fanbase. Why not give the fans what they want? You know what the fans don’t want? A stale story that drags until the end. They don’t want the protagonist to go through similar events of the ...

Blood is thicker than water, but what if that blood demands constant sacrifice? Family is supposed to be your foundation for growth. The people who are always there for you, who lift you up, and support you. They are the ones who celebrate your wins, lend a shoulder when you are down, and pick you up when you can’t bring yourself to do it on your own.  But when the very people meant to be your anchor push you down until you’re barely afloat, are they still your family? Family always comes first. It is an unspoken emotion that is etched into our minds. But when it becomes a rule that you need to follow, that is when you realize that you have stopped becoming a person for them. You are no longer an individual or a family member to them.  You’re just someone they can constantly exploit.  It’s not about what they’re doing for you, or about working together as a synchronized unit. No, you’re just someone, a catalyst that can make them grow.  The exploitation and manipulat...