I am a snob, and I don’t care what you think. That used to be the standard character of many writers — smart, dedicated, and passionate. Being a writer up until about, let’s say twenty years ago, was still a pretty elite field. What I mean by elite, is that the content that was being produced was of a much higher quality than it is today.

Writing, especially online writing, has taken a sharp turn for the easy and popular. Conscious articles about world issues or grounded pieces depicting real life have become far and few between. How many articles about "Why 'Friends' Taught You Everything You Need To Know About Being A Woman" do we actually need? So many puff pieces about the vainest subjects are taking over our lives and spaces that should be used for something bigger.

As a writer who has tried to write for various online sources, what I’m noticing is that articles about broken hearts, friendship, health, and school are extremely popular — all interesting subjects that people aren’t going in-depth with. It’s as if they’re modeling their lives after Carrie Bradshaw’s from "Sex And The City." She wrote half a column and somehow had a walk-in closet and could afford new Manolo Blahniks every month? That is a complete fantasy. Writing is hard work and it takes research and time.

I know people are going to say, “You're one to talk Cher, isn’t this you voicing your own opinion?” and then they’re gonna stab me with a pitchfork. Joking! I’m not saying who can and cannot write; there’s no way for me to bar people from writing. What I am suggesting or just acknowledging is the lack of effort and thought that goes into some writing

I honestly feel that the lack of good writing stems from this notion people have been spoon-fed: “Anyone can be a writer, writing’s not hard, and writing's not a real job.” When people say this, I wonder if they realize how absolutely insulting it is. "Your job is worthless." Thanks, I really appreciate your opinion, although I didn’t ask for it and don’t care. The qualifications to be a writer now have been whittled down to having a general opinion on anything.

If you’re an English major, or honestly any other creative major, your family has already dragged you for trying to go into that field. “What kind of job can you get with that?” is usually the question asked, always accompanied with a scrunched-up face as if they just walked by an open dumpster

When people write clickbait articles or stories they’re contributing to a trend that is only out to make money. Sites will publish the most scandal-ridden, over-hyped, badly written trash out there, all so people will click on the link and a few unearned cents roll into their bank accounts.

I may be pretentious and bougie, but I refuse to read something titled “Girl Lives Three Months in Baby Stoller to Make Stance on Why Babies Deserve Cars,” or “Insane Video of Dad Yelling at Plant.” Why do these exist and who is actually reading this crap that they are compelled to keep making more of it?

All I ask of the public is for them to stop killing their brain cells by reading these vapid articles. I ask writers who actually want a career in this field to not stand for this toxic waste. Write for a better world where the arts are valued and deemed as important as STEM careers.