How old do you think children should be before they join social networks like Facebook and MySpace?
It really depends on the maturity level of the child. I would say 12-14 years. That's a decent age range. MySpace seems to be flooded with kids, pre-teens and teens. (which made me feel less like the grown a$$ woman I've worked so hard to become...so I had to permanently sign off, lol). Anyway, for every child, there's a nasty little child-chaser waiting to see what he or she can get, unfortunately. That's why I say it depends on the maturity level of the child. How naive are they? How gullible are they? What type of decisions is the child known for making? Good decisions? Or decisions that constantly lead them into troublesome situations?
Facebook seems like it's more for the "sophisticate". But either way, kids have to be careful. They can't accept everyone's friend request on any of these sites - because people aren't always who they claim or seem to be online. That's the beauty of being online. People never have to see the "real you" unless you're honest enough to show them. Anyway, these social networking sites allow you to post your status at any given moment or location. Kids accept all these random friendship requests (i.e., "I only accepted him cuz he was ca-yute..."). If they're going to be doing that, are they going to keep these random strangers in mind when they update their statuses? They can tell the people they TRULY know just about anything, but they shouldn't be telling everyone they don't know that they're at dance class, or at the movies, or at the mall, or on vacation, etc. If they accept the wrong person as a friend...that person will know exactly where to look if they wanna find the kid! Parents should sit their children down and have the "internet safety" conversation. Parents, it's pretty much a fact that your kids are going to sign up for just about every social networking site available, whether they meet the age requirement or not. Give them some words of wisdom before they find themselves in a situation they'll regret forever...
Alright. I'll be the first to admit it: I watch entirely too many Lifetime movies. I read entirely too many fiction novels! I have a very dramatic imagination. What can I say? I'm a writer at heart. If I don't master the concept of melodrama, I'll never be the successful writer I hunger to be. So if I sound like a paranoid, overdramatic know-it-all, oh well...
The bottom line is this: All these sites have age limits (or do they? I dunno. I'm WELL over the age of acceptance if so, lol). Any way, back to the bottom line, lol: Kids LIE. That's what they do. They're LIARS. "Not my baby," you say. Well, either you're a liar too, or you've been deceived. Your "baby" is a liar, lol. Kids constantly alter themselves in order to be accepted - by their friends, by their family, by strangers, and yes, even by social networking sites that set age limits. Ten year olds pose as 14 year olds all day long. 35 year olds pose as 14 year olds. You can't really stop your kid from joining these sites, especially when they reach the age limit that's been set (or maybe you can stop them. I don't know anything about you! But you never know. Perhaps your "baby" is finding a way to make it happen regardless).
The least a parent can do is set some guidelines. Tell your kids not to accept random friend requests..."I don't care how sexy "Bobby" looks in that picture! DENY HIM!" If they insist on accepting these friendships, tell them to be VERY vague about the statuses they put up, and even the profile information they put up. Strangers don't need to know where your kids live, what school they go to, or where they get their hair done...lol. Even pictures need discretion. If your kid has on a cheerleading outfit, that's pretty much telling a pedafile where they can go to abduct your kid. Your kids also need to make their pages PRIVATE. Otherwise, random people will be able to see everything posted on your kids' pages without having to be their friend at all. Ask you kid, "Baby, is your page private?" lol...
The good thing about all these safety precautions is, your kids will be so stressed out from hearing about how careful they have to be that they won't even bother to accept random friend requests! YAY!
Well, anyway, I'm done. For now...lol.
Hmmm...I haven't even been here in a while! But at any rate, let me get back on point! LOL
Greatness...how happy are you with your life? Who cares if you're successful. So many successful people hate their lives and would trade every bit of their success for a quick second of real, true, happiness.
Who have you impacted? Whose life or whose lives have you help change? Let's say you are successful...financially, vocationally or whatever...with whom do you share the secrets of your success? Do you like to sit on the top of the world alone? Or do you give enough crap about a person to take them to cloud nine with you if they're willing to put in their fair share of work?
Greatness isn't just mediocre. It isn't acheived just because you have the job you want or the money you want...bla bla bla. Greatness is earned. You have to work hard for greatness. Too many people are great in their own eyes...but for reasons only they can understand. They have self-centered greatness. One dimensional greatness that in my opinion, accounts for nothing.
Say you die. People will have NO problems expressing how they truly felt about you during your time spent here on Earth. In order for positive, great expressions to be revealed, that's the type of life one would've had to live. What type of life are you living now? When you pass (and may you R.I.P when you do), what will others have to say about you? If you're not leaving a 'great' legacy behind...dont expect much...
What have you lost that you wish you could get back?
Submitted by, Witch Hazel
Time.
Money.
Not one more than the other.
But both, equally.
New Yorkers are sad to say goodbye to their much-loved Yankee Stadium.
What would you miss most from your home town if it were torn down?
LOL, the mall. No really!
Well actually, a few years ago the hospital me and my siblings were born in was torn down due to financial issues. I feel as if a piece of my history is gone now, and it's a bit sad. There are some hospitals that need to get torn down, yet they're still standing. Of course I've never been a patient at Columbia Hospital for Women (except for being born there, lol), but now it's too late. I would've loved for my children to be born in the same hospital I was born in. Little things like that mean so much to me. But now, I'll never have the chance.
Tyler Perry'sIf you could star in any fall television series, which one would you choose?
House of Payne
How do you know when a relationship has run its course and it's time to call it quits?
I'd say it's time to call it quits if the fool stops calling you. I once was ENGAGED to a guy who took it upon himself to not call me/return my phone calls for who knows how long. Turns out his car was stolen. As if it made a difference because the thief didn't take his CELL PHONE! Nor did he break into his house and steal the fool's HOUSEPHONE! I guess he felt that his own fiance didn't need to know about something as important as that. Needless to say, little problems like that lead up to the big problem of me not being so sure he was "The One." I had told him before this incident occurred that I needed to wait a while for marriage, because I just wasn't ready. Afterall, I was eighteen going on nineteen, and he also had a five year old son - so I was going to become a wife and a mother. Too much for a teen to deal with (my fiance was three years older than me). Needless to say (again) we were broken up not even a month later. Other than not calling me, he kept telling me I didn't spend enough time with him. I lost track of how many times I was around his friends...none of which I liked too well. But I guess it just wasn't good enough for him. I took dance classes back then, but did he EVER see me perform? Once. Wow...I think I should've been the one screaming the "you don't spend enough time with me" line! He only saw me perform ONE TIME - as many times as I sat at church functions, gatherings, and outings with people I barely knew and DIDN'T EVEN LIKE? All that was overlooked and I guess I needed to become superwoman. Well tough tutus mister. I wasn't superwoman then. And you'd need to be a far better man to get superwoman out of me today. Who knows? He may be a decent fellow now (I don't know for sure) but he was a COWARD back then. He broke up with me over the phone, first of all. That's about the tackiest thing; breaking up with somebody and not having the DECENCY and RESPECT to look them in the eye when you're doing it. I see what he was doing by not calling me. He was planning to ignore me to the point where I'd assume we were no longer an item! What a prick he was back then! And on top of all that, I REALLY believe he was cheating! We broke up in April. By September of THE SAME YEAR he was MARRIED! What a jerk! Like I said. He could be a decent fellow by now. I was eighteen then, and I'm twenty six now. That would make this guy twenty nine. One should hope that he's changed by now........
Another sign is when a guy continually tells you something about yourself that he can't stand. For me, it's always been the fact that I'm quiet. I mean...excuse me if I don't feel like it's necessary to go running off at the mouth 24/7. Give me something I'm passionate about or interested in, and I will speak to no end. I am not mute. I know how to open my mouth and form words. I'm at least that intelligent. These fools act like all I say in a month's time is two and a half words. My thing is...since you're so big on talking, then why aren't YOU the one doing it? Give me something to talk about since you love talking so dang much! And the shameful thing is, the last guy I dated had a COMMUNICATIONS DEGREE! The nerve of that man! Now, he's a decent guy, at least I think I know for sure. But we're only on a hello and goodbye basis, and maybe some quick chit chat. But hey. He don't think I talked enough, and it was outside of his 'comfort zone' to be with someone who's 'quiet' like me. Well listen here, sir: I'm going to be exactly what you think I am. Quiet. Shy. Non-responsive. Personality-less. I mean...you're a decent guy and all, but do you REALLY deserve more from me? I think if you were TRULY interested in me, you would've pushed a little harder to get to know me. You would've pushed a little harder to show me that you were someone I could feel comfortable talk to. Obviously it takes a little more than a smile to warm me up to you. But instead of expressing interest in me, you went straight to my problems. Your constant discomfort made me feel even more distant from you. You weren't willing to dig that deep - so I will be whomever you think I am until I feel you deserve to know the real me. That is a privilege that you gave up. Stupidly, might I add. Okay, okay...I'll admit it again. It does take time for me to leave my shell and get comfy around some folk. Some folk I automatically warm up around and can be my silly, goofy, dorky, sarcastic self. I'm finding that if you're not the kind of person I'll automatically feel warm around, you're just not the man for me - and to be honest, you're not the friend for me either. I'm tired of breaking my neck trying to impress people who will never like me for who I truly am. I'm tired of trying to please people I barely like myself! Who wants to play pretend all their lives? Actors and actresses get paid to be other people. But who's gonna pay me? LOL...let me get a little deeper. This is something my pastor said: "If you're busy being someone else, then who's busy being you?" I pretty much know right off the bat who I'm going to feel comfortable around, and who I'm going to freeze up around. I give everyone a chance, though. Some people I've 'frozen up' on turned out to be wonderful people, while others turned out to be exactly who I thought they were. The only problem is, I'm willing to give people a chance, but men aren't so giving, it seems, lol. With friends it's not so big of a deal. Girl talk, make-up, relationship talk. We have so much in common, lol. But men? They're the ones that freak out! I don't have time for weak men who act like they can't handle moments of silence every once in a while. What if something horrible happens? What if a crises arises? They can't even handle riding home in silence! How can I trust them to be there for me should things get a little rough? I mean...GROW UP! All you're going to do is COMPLAIN that I'm SO QUIET! I am so sick of having that conversation with men, and I promise you now, the next conversation will end badly. I'm going to be like..."If I don't enjoy talking to you, it's for a good reason." Then finally, I'll be the one to break things off, lol. Or I'll say something like, "Just because I don't talk to you don't mean I don't talk!" or something equally sassy and obnoxious, lol. Either way, the convo will end with dude getting kicked to the curb. I hope it's NOISY enough for him there, lol.
There are some other things too. He's starting to show disinterest in you. He used to sound like he loved hearing your voice on the phone, but now it's a whole bunch of "let me call you backs" and "I can't really talk right nows." Perhaps you finally get him on the phone but you regret it because he's so nonchalant he's got you feeling like you're wasting his time. Been there. Time to let him go. A few years ago I would've blamed myself, sulked over it, cried over it and made excuses for why he wasn't 'feeling' me no mo! Then I would've stayed with him anyway to avoid a painful breakup. The things I'd do just to say I'm in a relationship. Well, thank goodness. I'm done with all that time wasting garbage these days. This is why I support friendship. I'm not saying that every friendship-turned-relationship feels like Heaven on earth, but a lot of times one partner in the relationship gets disinterested in the other. They end up discovering something about their partner that they don't like. Then they're too coward to call it quits in a mature fashion, so they just ignore their partner 'til they get the picture. (I'm not man-bashing. I know some female cowards too, lol). This is what happens when you jump into these dating relationships, 'play the field' and all that. Through friendship, you save a lot of time because you're already seeing the things you really like or really dislike about the person. No need to approach anybody asking for a date...no need to develop waste-or-energy "crushes", no need to waste time if you already know a person isn't what you want...which brings me to the thought...after this 'comfort zone' escaper ditched me for being on the quiet side, he proceeded to date I don't even know how many girls. Relationships came...relationships went. Does anybody even KNOW what they want in a relationship? Men, I'm a traditional chick. I don;t care how much I drool over you behind your back I will NEVER approach you. I believe men do the chasing...so when women say they need to FIND themselves a man...well, that just doesn't compute, lol. So I'm asking the men...do you even know what you want from a woman? What qualities and characteristics are NON-NEGOTIABLES to you? Females (well at least me) do something that you guys might see as pointless or prissy or unnecessary: we write lists of what we wish our future husbands will be! Now..the list may start up in in dreamland somewhere, but as we get older, or required man qualities get a bit more realistic. Sometimes...we get lonely and stray away from what we really want - and then we get disappointed. "Man, you're not living up my expectations," is what we want to say, lol. But at least we KNOW what we want. My "ex" went through so many relationships because I'm sure he didn't know what we wanted. I don't know who he's dating now, or if he;s even dating now and I don't care - but I know I wish I could urge him to make sure he knows what he wants before more hearts get broken (if any hearts have been broken at all).
Where is the most inspirational place you have been?
Submitted by Seventh Rain
Wow. This is my first time on any of my Vox Blogs in a while. The most inspirational place I've been? WORK. Yes. Who'da thunk it, huh? Church is inspiring, yes. I love me some Jesus. But work? Work inspires me to chase all sorts of dreams.
I'm not about to work bash or boss bash. I'm thankful to have a job. But I work day, and I work night. Yes, when I should be fast asleep in the bed, I'm stocking merchandise at the local Target. I'm tired of 'work'. For once in my life I'd like to have fun from nine to five (and from ten at night to six thirty in the morning). So right now, nothing but chasing my dreams is making me happy. Imagine me in ten years, still complaining about not being able to do what I love. Now is the perfect time. Hey, I'm single. And childless. I don't want to be that way forever, but at least I won't have to deal with the pressure of chasing my dreams while taking care of a family. I like my life how it is right now. There are tons of attitudes I need to change before marriage and there are tons of accomplishments I need to, well...accomplish! Singleness is my life right now, and I have all the time in the world to get done what needs to get done with my life.
Being a Customer Service Representative by day and a Target Shelf Stocker by night is NOT my idea of a well lived life. At least not in the diary of my life. I dang near want to cry when I think of all the things I could be doing right now. But, no. I here. At work. Working. And no where in those mini-sentences did you see a smiley faced emoticon.
Work inspires me to be so much better than what I am. Work inspires me to set clear goals for my life and work hard at accomplishing them. Work makes me want so much more for myself. No more settling for jobs just because they pay the bills. Work makes me want to take chances and risks. Work makes me want to stretch my faith and believe in God even more. Good 'ole work.
Are you going to watch Season 5 of Project Runway?
What's your favorite moment from previous seasons?
I most certainly plan on it! I didn't start watching it until last season. My favorite/least favorite moment was when I saw the person who designed that hot dress for the Sarah Jessica Parker line.
Good news: I
got to see how it was supposed to be worn.
Bad News: I
never bought it...because I didn't know how it was supposed to be worn. :-(
Do you ever read the "Acknowledgments" at the beginning or end of a book? Why or why not?
Bonus points: What book contains your favorite acknowledgments?
Submitted by Strive2Be.
Sorry....I gets no Bonus Points :-(
If you could take a class right now and learn anything in the world, what class would you take?
Well....because I am a lover of learning.....I'd learn:
*sewing
*spanish
*screenwriting
*novel writing
*acting
*teaching theatre to children, teens, and adults
*female self defense
*wedding planning
*event planning
*biblical studies (and how to apply the Bible practically)
*website design
*marketing/advertising for small business owners
*double dutch
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