Fame Is the Name of the Game.
A. State the article's thesis.
"Wanting to be a celebrity is not the same thing as wanting to be good at something [...], to many people, the point isn’t really being proficient; it’s the acclaim one receives (from vast numbers of strangers) for that proficiency. That’s why so many people, including children, scramble for visibility on YouTube regardless of whether they’ve done anything particularly notable."
B. What are the author's main ideas that support the thesis? State them in your own words.
"...anyone whose priority is to be rich, famous, or attractive is disproportionately likely to be anxious or depressed". The desire for fame may be the cause of a life that does not satisfy people's want to fill those needs carefully.
"When parents are “cold and controlling,” the researchers wrote, “their children apparently focus on attaining security and a sense of worth through external sources.” Needs experienced at home, they want to be filled with material things (money and luxuries)
"The trouble is that even in the unlikely event one attains great wealth or celebrity status, it’s unlikely to provide meaningful satisfaction.". Material objects do not compare to the attention or love that you can receive from others; not even all the money in the world would make it.
C. What do you think was the author's strongest of most convincing support?
"Fame, more than wealth, is about social validation, and that fact underscores the sad irony that people who crave it are likely to feel isolated and alienated from others".
People live always anxious to acceptance of society, and on many occasions looking elements like fame and money to be accepted.
Social validation makes these seek high social status, being part of the top of the pyramid and not be isolated, but followed by others.
D. What ideas of the authors did you agree with? What ideas did you disagree with? Explain why.
I agree when the author talks about young people often do not feel good about themselves; they have pressures, problems, and emotional difficulties, which leads them to seek to be part of a social group.
Also, I like the arguments used when talking about the lack of attention from parents to their children, it is very clear to him, and explain it is quite right. Young people who feel alienated from their parents seek love outside their homes.
And finally, social acceptance is a big factor affecting the youth, affects them as others see or what they think of them. There are young people who do what it takes to be accepted and taken into account by the "friends"
E. Do you know other evidence that supports or does not support the author's points? F. What is your own opinion on the subject of the article? Why?
I don't know of any evidence. But I promise to investigate more about the subject, and maybe I will use the support of this topic for my final test of the course because it has ideas that will serve me a lot to talk about YouTubers and digital platforms.
Finally, I think that fame and acceptance of society is not important, it is better to love themselves and be happy with the things we have because nothing in life is forever.
