I'm a sucker for advice columns, always have been. I never much liked Dear Abby, but Annie was pretty interesting. I'm also quite drawn to "Ten Step" workout sheets (though I almost never work-out), or those articles with multiple tips on everything from hair care to family relationships.
I'm not sure why this is, but I --like most humans-- love giving advice, too. Perhaps we all like to feel needed and wise... and I probably read that in an article somewhere about how to make people feel comfortable in conversation. It's also true that almost none of us actually like getting advice. I can think of multiple times when I sought guidance and ended up doing my own thing. It's a shameful thing to admit, but it's true.
As of about five or ten minutes ago, I've decided to avoid reading secular newspaper columns, Answerology, MSN's Lifestyle section, etc. Of course, this is insane.. right? I mean, the wealth of knowledge about "Getting a Better Outlook in Ten Days!" or "Making Yourself More Approachable" is rather tempting. When we aren't being egotistical and self-satisfied, we humans try to find ways to make ourselves even more "worthy" of our self-inflated self-image. Well, I'm all for improving myself, no question. (Around the same time I decided to stop reading "Dear Prudence" -She's not just a Beatles song, she's an award winning psychologist too!- I decided that I need to get better with thank you cards.) I realized, however, that atheist academics are no place to be getting an attitude, body language, or career adjustment; even if I deem myself discerning enough to pick out--and throw out--the worldly influences in these articles, what reason do I have to be reading them in the first place? Nothing I glean from the twisted counsel on the web is worth the junk I could stumble across.
Now, if there is anything I have noticed about most of the advice on the web, it's that it pertains to romantic relationships. Whether it's a plaintive fourteen-year old on Yahoo Answers lamenting over a crush who has a girlfriend or a self-proclaimed pick-up artist posting advice for his challenged peers, people seem to flock to conflict and resolution of the love variety. What's more, and this is a huge reason why I think this sort of advice is so dangerous, such sources tend to focus on the individual getting the most out of a relationship--getting "what they want" without any sacrifice; it's all the same story over and over: A woman wishes her boyfriend would marry her so she can change him, a man whines that every girl he dates wants a commitment. There isn't a speck of biblical wisdom or Christ-like love in the whole caboodle. In a question of fidelity to one's spouse, one contributor stated "You have to choose what matters to you most"
What matters to you!? What about what's RIGHT!
Perhaps it's my lack of respect for the conventional, but I've had enough of this tripe.
Comments (6)
Excellent post. Right on the money.
I know exactly what you mean, for me it's stuff that could never pertain to me that gets my attention, things that I have no business reading advice for--mostly out of complete curiosity... things like, "how to win your ex back in ten days!" or "how to lose 20 pounds in days!" and even the classic "secrets of hamster rearing!"
I guess I just have a curiosity thing because I don't have an ex to win back (nor would I want to if I did), I don't want to lose 20 pounds (I would like to gain a few in muscle), and I don't think people rear hamsters... most of the time it's a hit and miss thing; I would skip over useless articles as I'm passing by, but if I'm bored I just click on the link, kinda impulsively. I don't ever find wisdom, I just feel like, "I need to be getting work done, I can't be wasting time on crap like this!" and so I go back to work with hours flown by never to be taken advantage of.
having something important to do is really my best guard against useless secular wisdom. the pressure to keep my mind focused really keeps the wheels turning and it keeps the mind from wondering. I'm pretty sure I haven't read a random online article in months (unless you count random political articles ;D )
I too have grown tired of reading about the "10 ways to please my man" (imagine my confusion!). I read Dear Abby or whatever article like that pops up mostly to see if I think they're giving advice I'd give.
When the occasion arises though, how do we respond to our non-Christian friends? That is my question for you, hence the question mark at the end of that statement. It is possible to give a Christian word of wisdom to a non-believer, even if it doesn't involve talking about God directly. Ultimately our lives are the best way to show someone why our faith is so important of course. And we can find those lovely Christian boards if we need to read advice columns (like say, ericandleslie.com for example).
Random thoughts...which mostly wandered away from what you were saying...that's what happens when you get old. You tend to ramble and fill up comment boards.
Proverbs... best and soundest advice column ever written. :)
I liked this; I wish I knew more people who view things the way you do.
Thanks for sharing. Hope you and your family are all doing very well!