'What are they teaching kids these days?'

I've always been one of those people that mock English classes because I think that they are pointless after a certain point. I mean, really, what more can you really learn about sentences year after year? I am sad to say, I was disappointed to see exactly why we need English all 12 years of our school life, and then some in college.
There are websites up for people who want to write, they can freely publish their stories and have fans, and fans get free books. Total win for someone who reads like I do, but unfortunately, not all stories are up to par. It really is sad, because I see these writers with these awful plots and I understand -- Oh, we weren't really taught that, maybe on another try. Then there are the people who are writing their stories in 'txt tlk', or as I like to call it: "Retard Talk". Really, no offence, but I'm much more impressed if you can spell text and talk. There are the people who can't put a sentence together to save their life, really, I assure you my darlings, it is not that hard!
When we can finally get past the grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and sentence structure fails, we have to deal with these Grade D characters. They all seem to be the exact same lately, the guy is perfect with a tortured past, the girl is in a crap situation and needs the guy to save her. Not only does this royally piss off feminists (Malak, I'm thinkin' of you, girlie) but it makes our whole gender look a little bad. I mean, I know some girls are like that, but I know far more who have a backbone and stand up for themselves. Maybe not all the way, we all need some assistance, but we don't need a knight in shining armor, or even a nerd in tin foil. The point I'm getting at, is they make us look like we need all this help, when that isn't always the case. The guy's never have physical imperfections, they are always the object of every one's desire, they are always arrogant and cocky and they are usually jerks.
There is also usually a power struggle. Whether it be money or actual powers - there is a struggle. Money is a fabulous motivator, but it isn't used to it's rightful power. It is merely a means to an end, it is never really questioned anymore. Now, it seems almost... irrelevant. Which is preposterous! The plots all seem maddeningly cliche, which, I admit, aren't always bad. It's only really bad when the characters are borderline cardboard cutouts. they have no personality to make the story interesting, they have no thoughts to make them real and they have no reality to make us as readers relate to them.
Speaking of these cliche plot lines. These are some I continually see lately:
 Of course, we have the EVER popular Vampires. Unfortunately, they are pretty Twilight in their nature, some even retain the creepy sparkling stalker thing. Don't get me wrong I didn't HATE Twilight (I did however, hate New Moon, and Bella's character just went down hill from Twilight.) The unfortunate thing is people forget the Dracula Version or undermine the newer and much better idea's coming from books like Blood Lines, Argeneau, Vampire Academy, Nightworld, Buffy(Angel), or even Blue Bloods(great back story, characters get slightly boring after 3rd book, IMO). All of those have a new or interesting take on the vampire scene, and yet they are severely unknown compared to the..... amateurish ways of Twilight. (Seriously, no hate on Stephanie Meyer. I admire her style and I love her book, The Host. Mostly due to the better written heroine). So in all, vampires are the epitome of good lately, which isn't all bad, it is just a far shot from it's origins.
Another is the weird obsession with werewolves. I am prepared to blame Twilight again for this. Werewolves are cursed to change during the Full moon, it is a painful process in which they often turn into dangerous and even murderous creatures. No wonder wolves get such a bad rep, right? After the release of Twilight, it was an ever popular idea that they could change at will, control their inner beasts and even find love. Who's to say they can't, I suppose, but once again we have lost sight of everything they really are. Original werewolves don't like to change, it hurts them. I mean, imagine your body suddenly morphing, your bones would have to break and regrow and hair would force out of your skin, your body would basically no longer be yours. Great image right? Well, that's my point. Not only are they astoundingly popular, but they are always set in a romance conflict between the 'rejected' Mate and the Alpha. No love stories for the regular supernatural creatures, hmm? By the way, rejected? In an overall thought, when you think of 'mate' especially in this sense, does it really seem likely that you can reject your mate? Especially over something as stupid as 'they aren't pretty, or popular' or some such nonsense.


Alright, I have to stop for tonight. I deeply apologize for not updating anything in so long, but really, I just haven't felt like writing. I decided I would rant about this because I have been doing so on Wattpad for the past few days or so. Talking about the horrible things that have surfaced lately. Come back later for the scary Student/Teacher relationships that are disturbingly popular along with the even worse step siblings in love story line. Can you say, creepy? Well, I can-- Until I rant again my darlings! By the way, the name of the post is a quote out of a very famous book by a very famous Author. it is even said in the movies that were made. Can you guess what it is? Until next time!
Curiously,
Fyredancer911

Contraception? Please! Our ignorance will save us!

     Would you like to hear my newest rant? Well, it does involve a highly controversial subject. Sex. Better yet, contraceptives. So here I am, in the state of ignorance - sorry, I meant Utah - reading about the same old things in the news. Well, surprise, the subject of banning talk of contraception in schools is being pushed through the system. 
     As of right now, at least in the state of Utah, schools have the right to choose as a district whether or not to talk about contraception, although they may NOT advocate their use. Many states do not require by law that schools teach any type of sex ed. Do I think that smart? No! Although I will get to that later. As I look it up, I see that only roughly 5 states require a sex ed AND talk of contraception and prevention. From my short-term memory, about 40 didn't even require a sexual education course at all.
I have a couple problems with trying to ban talk of contraceptives. 
          1.) They wish to promote only abstinence. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of abstinence, but let's look at some reality. Teenagers. Have. Sex. Yes, yes - gasp. So yes, promote abstinence, but don't be IGNORANT and think just because you say it that people will listen to you. Doing so is bound to cause a thousand more problems than it solves. Abstinence is a thing that I personally believe in because I respect myself and my body. I don't feel like bringing a child in or giving the future love of my life herpes, or worse - telling them that I have herpes. (I don't have herpes - abstinence, remember?)
          2.) People are SO worried about their tax dollars covering the education in the schools. Here is my question to them. Would you rather it paid their doctor bills when they get pregnant? So when they drop out of high school and start living on welfare (ahem, the government - your tax dollars) you get to pay for their food, medical bills, housing, clothing and other essentials. As well as the babies needs. Then there is the pregnancy itself - you have to have a lot of check ups, and yes, you help pay for that too. Even better is if your money goes towards their doctor visits when they are spreading herpes, AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea.. So go ahead, tell me how much you'll save as your son's girlfriend - with syphilis or herpes because at some point somebody didn't use a contraception that might have stopped it - gives the herpes to him. Then as he gives it to his next girlfriend, and on and on.
          3.) Many people have this one argument for not teaching about contraceptives and only promoting abstinence; that "Contraception doesn't always work, abstinence is is the only way to be completely safe." Yes, you're right. That said, I file this under the 'Turning a Blind Eye' and 'Ignorance' files. Once again, I would like to ensure you that I am in no way saying to promote sex or contraception, but the truth is that people will still have sex. If you do not have sex, you don't have to worry, but people do have sex. So why don't we teach them what methods are available to prevent AIDS, Herpes, Pregnancy.. The list goes on.
         4.) Lastly, this law would force parents to talk to their children about sex and contraception. This is a problem because not every parent can do that. Parents and teenagers are uncomfortable with this subject which can make it hard to get information. Parents do need to inform their children, but many parents will avoid the subject. In doing this, the results may be even more detrimental than expected. It expects the parents to do something that they may not do.
     If you would like to know what got me off on this subject please go to Salt Lake Tribune. Now, what do you think?


Curiously, FyreDancer911