Happy faces and crying souls (506 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0 on 6 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by PrescriptionX (View user info) at 2004-02-28 17:18:12 EST
Does happiness have meaning anymore?
With the branding of everything from sporting events to city streets^1 can emotions survive the onslaught against their actual meaning? Happiness used to be a great thing, used to mean the feeling of being loved and feeling secure and *happy*. Now, it's nothing more than another emotion conveniently bottled by emoticons and cliched drawings. The happy face, the most insidious of all has become a symbol for walmart, bouncing around spreading his joy (the joy of material possessions and lower costs so that more people can enjoy these possessions and be 'happy'. I'm not against possessions, I own my fair share of the consumer driven economy, but when did they replace the idea of happiness?
Everyone who chats on instant messengers can tell you that these little faces that you use to express whatever emotions you're feeling never truly do them justice. There's no emoticon for a wry smile, or a sad grin, or just a sad (depressed and serious not boohoo) face. Most are simply the basics: happy :) sad :( angry >:( and variations on these. But how often do you give a smiley face to someone when really it didnt make you smile, type "lol" when you didn't laugh? It's become a socially accepted (forced) formality to respond to people with these inane gestures, betraying your true emotions, to advance the conversation.
No one wants to talk to the depressed kid, find out why he's that way. People gravitate towards the wide dopey grins, the loud boasting laughter and the kids who always seem to be happy. What does it matter if inside they're torn apart by something, so long as their exterior is joyful it attracts people. I'm sorry, I did the whole smiling all the time thing but it doesn't work, I learned that no matter how wide the smile, the eyes never lie.
-X
1: Queen street Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Levi Strauss changed the street entirely with 3D billboards, neon lights and ads on the faces of buildings, effectively branding the street.
Kill Smiley
shoot.bmp (4 kB) [image/x-windows-bmp]
User Reviews
Submitted by bargled (user info) at 2004-02-28 19:16:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
which is why I only wear t-shirts i get from tournaments or blank ones.
i'm not a goddamn billboard.
Submitted by Jocko_Johnson (user info) at 2004-02-28 18:05:07 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I say fuck the depressed kid until he or she kills him or herself and then make designer candles out of the head, hands and penis or tits.
As for happiness, well...when I was banging your mom in the ass she said that was the first time she'd been happy in a long time.
I guess the answer for you is to go fuck your mom.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2004-02-28 17:50:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I think you've touched upon a philosophical debate about about consumerism and the facade people put up to modern life. This could have been an interesting, articulate post with a honest and heart-felt message. As it is, it's just another mildly diverting post. Just think, with a little more flair and a little less dramaticism, the world is yours. Oh, I want to watch Scarface now...
Submitted by Zeccs (user info) at 2004-02-28 17:34:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Kind of melodramatic, but i agree with you about walmart.
Submitted by Random Joe at 2004-02-28 17:27:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
okay whatever.
Submitted by hamilton (user info) at 2004-02-28 17:21:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
that pic launches paint