The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/244282
Staff Editorial Opinion January 17, 2014 Page 2 Bandwaggoning... P eople want to be accepted. It's basic human instinct to change to fit in to a group. You see this all the time in highschool. People change their political views, their looks, even their religion to feel accepted. This is known as bandwaggoning, and it is common in all aspects of life. Humans first experience bandwaggoning from a young age, when somebody in their kindergarten class has a superman lunchbox, suddenly everyone has to have one. Can we talk about the Raiders? Even as a person who doesn't really watch sports, I've come to the conclusion that many people like the Raiders, but their team is pretty darn terrible. Sorry not sorry? It's another crystal clear example of bandwaggoning. While bandwaggoning is a vital piece to acceptance in a social situation, I find it to be rather important in a human's individual journey of self-discovery as well. When we as human beings bandwagon, we basically force ourselves into a faction of human beings that are forcing themselves to be there also. What does this teach us? We are all insecure individuals striving to find the acceptance of others in even the most ridiculous of situations, from owning a superheroadorned lunchbox to feeling pride for a sports team that's not really successful. Is bandwaggoning a bad thing? No. Just don't force yourself to be unhappy just to make people like you. That's just silly. Actually, it's completely normal, so keep doing that to continue the viscious cycle of cringing at our past selves, therefore recreating our present and future selves. It's human nature, I suppose. Just keep that in mind next time you go to grab that Star Trek lunch box, (I don't want to talk about it.) or that pair of Toms (I'm not wearing Toms while typing this.). Individuality is so precious and rare, and we must hold onto what we enjoy and believe in! Stick to your resolutions A s a current D+ student, my goal this semester is all AP classes with a solid 4.5 GPA, totally realistic right? Which leads me to the subject of my Editorial….. New Years' Resolutions: THE time for self-improvement. So, it's the beginning of a new year and everyone has new hopes and dreams. With New Years, comes the all important New Year's Resolution. Yet, how many people actually stick to their resolution throughout the year? Well, according to the University of Scranton, only a mere 8% make a permanent change. With the number one most popular resolution being losing weight, this resolution can be very difficult for most. Around 75% make it through the first week, 71% past two weeks, and then 64% past a month and so on. The percentages fall of the cliff from there which may leave you asking, why? The researcher John Norcross and his colleagues did a study about the most common reasons for failure among New Year's Resolutions. First and foremost, he describes them as "cultural procrastination," but the main reason for the extremely high failure rate is the people who make resolutions usually aren't ready for them, plain and simple. H m m . . . looks like my 4.5 GPA may be a little ambitious. If you made a resolution this New Years Eve, you may or may not have failed so far. If you are one of few that are still going strong, here are some tips from Mr. Norcross to keep you moving in the right direction. Focus on one resolution rather than several, set realistic, specific goals, take small steps, celebrate milestones, and stay focused on the present. Easier said than done, right? Now Mr. Norcross' tips may be helpful, but here are some of my personal tips that will really help. These tips are from personal failure and, well, zero success. First of all, don't wait until New Years to come up with a resolution. If you go back into early December and start thinking about a reasonable goal, that might work out a little better. Let's face it, one day to prepare for a year long goal just isn't enough. Another tip is to just believe that you can do it! And, if you are trying to cut back on a certain food, don't buy it! Lastly, when all else fails, try monkey hypnosis: monkey see, monkey do. With these few simple tips, I believe you should be able to last the whole year successfully, unless, of course, your resolution was to get a 4.5 GPA. Adam Swarthout Staff Writer The stress comes back Pick your team partners right where it left off carefully in your classes A fter a long rigorous and tiring semester a two week winter break is much needed. Coming into winter vacation, everyone is excited. Students are pumped from finals being over and Red Bluff High Schools Holiday Classic Rally and Basketball and wrestling tournaments. Basically all of the students are acting like it's summer break and we have two and half months off, but actually we only have two weeks off. It's easy to fall into new routines in a two week time period. We stay up later, get up later, and become lazier. Some students are assigned home work over winter break and will often be too busy to do it, or at least use the excuse that they were. When winter break ends, unfortunately, after you were finally just getting use to hanging out with your friends everyday. You have to go back to your old schedule of walking up at 6:00 am to get to school by 8:00 am. On your first day back it's like a fashion show. Everybody is showing off their new clothes. Most students expect the first day back to just be a fun day. Most student want to talk to their friends and sleep because they didn't go to sleep the nigh before tell 4:00am, and no, we didn't stay up that later because we were so excited for school the next day. So as you could expect its a huge let down when your teaches actually expect you to do work that first day back and give you homework that night. In my opinion, teachers should slowly start giving you work. They shouldn't just jump back in where you left off. Students need to be eased back into old routines. Tymberlyn Bealer Viewpoints Editor THE STA FF News Editors Marissa Chase Josiah Vasey Viewpoint Editors Julia Liebert Tymberlyn Bealer A & E Editors Owen Ritter Features Editor Ceighlee Fennel Sports Editor Ryan Fisher Topics Editors Bailey Patchen Becca Blanchard Editor-in-Chief Marissa Chase W hen on the rare occasionan, a teacher tells the class they can pick their partner for the upcoming project or paper, everyone looks around the room to spot their closest friend but in most cases working with a "buddy" can lead to problems. Friends are great for talking at break and blowing off some steam after a long day of tests and quizzes. But, in the work place it's much too easy to get distracted, because what starts as a conversation about biology can easily lead to talking about the horrible comb over of today's substitute teacher when your among friends. Most assignments in class are timed and talking and messing around may take up the time needed to do a decent job. Another issue with picking a friend as a partner is when it's time to make decisions you may not always agree with even your closest friend and the issue may be hard to avoid when you usually see that person every day. The better alternative to working with a Kylee Bonds Grey Grotke Maggie Tallan Molly Shea Brianna Tackmier Taylor Nguyen Kayla Moore Lexi Pritchard Jeff Mandolfo Adam Swarthout A re we using designer brands to boost our self esteem? I see name brand clothes as a fashion show for both genders. Almost as if they are competing for a prize, but in reality it's a character f law in most aspects. The way you present yourself is a big part in how society judges you. Is that morally correct? Why should the clothes you wear define you as an individual? We are so worried about being socially accepted by others that we feel the need to purchase expensive clothes, when our primary concern should be focused on being true to ourselves and our peers. Society implants an image in our minds to be better than the person next to you, creating this constant competition in our everyday life. Consumers aim at designer brands because their prices in quality clothing make our social status greater. When a brand establishes a trend in a fashion line, they raise the expense once it has become prominent in society. Often times we are lured into these false ideas that better quality clothing means better quality YOU. Purchasing clothes at the Goodwill will last you just as long as the clothes you buy at name brand stores. Yet, they have most of the public believing otherwise. When you come to school, you shouldn't feel like your possessions will make or break you as an individual in a judgmental society. The outcome of being confident with yourself will send you on your way to success. Be true. Be you. Kylee Bonds Savannah Sutliff Staff Writer Staff Writer SPARTAN THUMBS Adviser Editor-in-Chief Advertising Director Kellie Rodriguez Alisa Pelanconi Josiah Vasey Staff Writers friend might be to work with someone you don't know as well or see all the time, because that way you can limit the distractions due to talking and messing around and if you come to a disagreement you'll both have plenty of time apart to let the whole thing blow over. So next time the teacher tells you to make the important decision of picking a partner choose wisely and remember that friends don't always work well together in a classroom setting. Clothes dictate society Cartoonist Karla Nowicki Editorial Policy: Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the district, staff, or student body. We welcome signed letters to the editor. Names may be withheld upon request. We also reserve the right to edit submission based on length and/or clarity. Spanish II Improvements Spanish II now has an honors program offered. College Football Season All the college football games are now over. New Semester The second semester means a fresh start for grades. Girl's soccer Girl's soccer is doing really well. Dry weather The real winter weather hasn't hit yet. *These Thumbs came from Mr. Wagner's 6th period class.