Opinions needed, please

[Ashley]

Everyone, I would like your opinions. I'm about to start prepping for an art project targeted towards teenage girls (13-15ish + )--in other words, typical shoujo audience.

The question is on theme. Please vote and if you feel like it, explain why. No I won't answer any further questions, so just wait and see!

[The Doctor]

Go for it. We need Godly shoujo. Too much unGodly shoujo that gives girls AND guys (yes, there are those of us who like shojo) bad messages and views on romance and such.

Frankly, BOTH views are exteremley important, but today's day and age I shall vote for the former.

Go with God; strike hard; conquer and dominate the shojuo arena.

[Roy Mustang]

Hard to pick. Both are good and I don't know which one would be better. I know think the Internet safety would be the best, I think.


Wingzero22

[Aka-chan]

I'm going with internet safety as well. Maybe it's just the type of people I hang out with, but that seems to be the issue that teen girls are far less aware of (despite what they may think.)

[Photosoph]

I think both are important; it was hard to make a decision, since both are relevant. But for me, I guess I voted for internet safety since it's an issue that concerns me, as well as it's one that can danger someone physically. The other is more of an internal struggle. Both good issues, as others have said.

[Ashley]

BTW, the Doc, I didn't say I was writing a shoujo manga. I just said this was a project geared towards girls of that audience--using a term on an anime board that I know almost everyone would understand. I don't want what I'm doing to influence anyone's choice.

[The Doctor]

I'm sorry about my mistake. Ugh.

However, I still think the former message is one that needs to be heard more than the latter choice. In today's world anyway.

[soul alive]

hard to pick, as both are important, but i think the latter has been a bit overdone. i always like going for something that isn't all that well known, or done much, because i can do it without having to deal with viewers' preconcieved notions about how it should be done. but that's just me. and internet safety is an important issue, and is becoming more and more so. good luck with your project.

[Zedian]

Internet safety is certainly an issue of concern but not everyone has access to the internet yet or are not on it a significant amount of time to even meet anyone, so if you want to reach a much wider audience go with girls idolizing pop idols and such.

With that subject you can discuss why is it that young people (Though mostly girls) want to be so much like who they see on television or film when in actuality that is artificial and not real. There is a problem with girls, in particular who try everything to look too perfect, so they starve themselves and pretend to be something they are not.

The second one you can be a little more elaborate with, and again, the target audience is wider. But number one, you can even go a little 'techie' and start talking about bits and bytes and why you should have a properly secured system....blah blah.

Good luck on either issue.

[Debitt]

The internet safety may not be as cliche as the other concept, but I think it'd be a bit more difficult to pull off well (especially if you want your project to "show" more than "tell", if you get what I mean. ^^; ) and like Zedian said, it may not be able to reach as wide a target audience.

[Shinja]

internet safety becuase most pop stars wont rape you

[Joshua Christopher]

The internet one would be good so parents make sure their kids stay away from people like me. : P

I voted for the Hollywood one, as I feel it more relevant these days, since not everyone has the internet.

[ClosetOtaku]

I think the Internet safety one, especially aimed at that age group, is more appropriate.

Realistically, idolizing pop stars may be a problem for some, but probably just as many kids are led astray by relatives - friends - sad to say teachers and even preachers - who are considered by those kids to be role models but turn out to be less (sometimes far less) than they appear. It's an important life lesson, but I'm afraid it could come across either preachy or too focused on "Hollywood". "Do not trust in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils". The evil lies not so much in Hollywood as in man himself.

So, my vote is for the Internet. Thanks, Ashley!

[Fsiphskilm]

Internet

[White Raven]

I voted internet safety, because everyone is effected by that. And not everyone is effected by pop stars and such.

[termyt]

Part of your choice should be the topic you are best suited to discuss.

That said, I believe Internet safety is more relevant. The dangers on the internet are still relatively new and need to be addressed. Many parents do not understand the scope and breadth of the danger since the nightly news is the only real outlet reporting on internet dangers and they do a pretty lousy job of it. A non-sensationalized, rational, real approach to dealing with the online world would be an excellent tool for young girls to have.

[uc pseudonym]

Personally, I think the latter is more important and more applicable... but I'm continually amazed by how naive and foolish people can be in regard to the internet. There are many sexual crimes facilitated by the internet, but millions of people are negatively influenced by their idols. Worse yet, these idols are seen all over the world, in many cases fueling hatred against "the American way of life" despite the fact that many Americans disagree strongly. Now, there's nothing you can do about that fact, but in general I feel the latter is more important.

[Mangafanatic]

I voted for "Don't idolize pop stars." Internet safety is a theme that public ad campaigns have been devoted to, but the idea that there's little to admire in hollywood is a theme that is almost entirely overlooked.

[kaji]

Number 2 please.

Honestly I think #1 is drilled at us from all directions, where as our idolization/ imitation of the worlds elites (‘stars’ that is) is something that is actually encouraged by the world around us... A clear biblical prespecitve for youths in this area is definitely a must. ^_^

I will be praying that your project speaks loudly to those who see it Ashley (no matter which subject you choose).

-kaji

[Mithrandir]

I'm with Kaji on this one. I try to hammer that point home to every kid I meet, so it's likely going to be like the fly that ended up in the milk pail (he went in one ear and out the udder).

Anyway, I'm kinda surprised how close the vote is at this point.

[Godly Paladin]

#2, for the same reasons as Kaji stated.

[Rev. Doc]

Having a teenage daughter I can only make a choice based on what I see at home. Therefore I went with internet safety. Young people are spending more and more time on line. And while it is true that this is an area that has been hammered home quite a bit, I don't believe it can be stressed enough. So much rational thinking flies out the window when emotions kick in and the internet definately plays big time on that area.

[olorc]

I didn't really take the time to read why others voted the way they did but I voted for the internet safety one because I feel that out of the two options given this is the one that is much more probable to lead to trouble and actual risk of safety and well-being. If you idolize a star, although yes, you will have you focus and motivation in the wrong place and may be cause to stall-out in you relationship with God; will you put your own safety at risk? not as likely. Just my opinion though.
~ollie

[Joshua Christopher]

It's like election year now. And just like the last one, the red guy is ahead (As I write this).

What really matters is what YOU feel best doing.

[agasfas]

Well, as everyone has already stated both are important.

Internet safety wise, it's harder to tackle in my opinion. Well, not because we don't know better, but many tend to be naive. Most people have common sense, but it's whether or not the person wants to listen to it or not.

Superficial hollywood I would say would be a better topic to address. It's something we all know about... Like how many of the models are made-up (touched up) through computer editing orlook at all the problems they have ... yet people can't stop comparing themselves to these stars. It seems to me that there are far more teens faced with esteem issues then anything else.

It's easy to say, don't meet up w/ someone you don't know because it's common sense. Most learn not to be naive through life lessons and experiences. But telling another they are beautiful the way the are is a much harder task to get through to a person. Well, because many base their beauty on another; living up to unrealistic ideals rather then inner beauty. At times we all need to be reassured that we are loved.

In my opinion, teenage(or adult) self-esteem is much better issue to deal with. Because it's not only the self-image but many times the depression that comes along with low esteem issued cause by idolizing others.

[Fsiphskilm]

[quote="ILov

[Zedian]

Volt brought up a very good reason there, that's why I suggested the second topic but both are win-win either way you slice it.

[olorc]

BILLIONS of poeple all over the world WORSHIP britney spears alone... many of them little girls

That's just ONE popstar

a good point, but lets also keep in mind that not all those billions will be reached by this project and that either way the issue isn't the number already effected by the number that can be reached. I will admit tho that there would be more targets to aim at with the popstar idol issue. I still hold that a girl can bring herself more actual danger through the internet saftey problem.

[Ducky]

I voted for the latter option mainly because looking to pop-stars and Hollywood's views of worth and value not only disappoints but leads young girls to have serious image issues. When they look to hollywood as a role model it can lead to the sort of problems that culminate in severe, even suicidal, depression, cutting, eating disorders. Seeing thier identity in Christ instead of focusing on hollywood's image of perfection can give them what they need to be happier and healthier. Plus kid's with image problems are going to be more susceptible to internet predators because they learn to look to others for meaning and worth thus leading them to be less guarded around anyone who makes them feel more valued in the face of the things in themselves that hollywood portrays as shortcomings.

There's my two-cents ... haven't been around in a while but anyway.