I joined Odyssey because I had so many different stories and ideas to share along with every other college student in the United States and across the world. After being in the sunshine, we all need a little shade! Everybody needs that one person in life who calls them out on their BS, so here I am. Odyssey gives us so many different stories and perspectives, but there are some that I've just had enough of reading.
“Dear / To the [insert bad person here]”
There are horrible people out there. You’re gonna run into a few here and there as you go through life. (Hell, I might even be one of them.) Writing might help you process your thoughts emotions, but it doesn’t make all the bad people go away. Coaches can suck, and professors can too. But depending on your circumstances, you have the power to cut the bad people out of your life. Show the world that you don't have time or energy to dedicate to people who put you down, or don't challenge you, or just treat you like garbage. Once again, writing might help you process it, but the relief is only temporary.
“A thank-you letter to my BF/GF’s Ex”
Please don’t put yourself on a pedestal. You probably do things that your significant other can’t stand. I know I have, like hanging out with my best friends of 17+ years or taking some time to myself. Sooner or later you’re going to get into the fight you never thought you’d have and then you’re going to spend the next few days (or weeks if you’re that insecure) feeling all salty about it. Then they’ll write that “Thank you to my ex” letter to you. Now sure, there are some people out there who are objectively bad people but don't give them the attention by writing an article about them.
“College Majors as...”
Fruits. Liquor. Cartoon characters. Characters from The Office. Characters from Parks & Rec. What will they think of next? Every one of these I've read, I have never seen History listed as a college major. (We exist too, you know!?) And I never knew “Never Went to College” and “Dropped Out” were college majors. There are only so many majors you can cover and so many characters you can cover from television shows.
“Boyfriend/Girlfriend Checklists”
OK, this one really pisses me off here. Having a "type" is one thing, but this is a completely different bag. Read my lips: NOBODY’S PERFECT! That’s what makes relationships meaningful! You have to work through all the flaws by accepting the other for who they are and help them change what they want to change about themselves. Putting together a checklist for a romantic partner, especially one based physical characteristics, only makes you look shallow. True love and true connections come from taking a chance on someone.
Articles that target and alienate entire groups of people.
I began writing for the Odyssey because I came across one article that claimed addiction is not a disease with absolutely no evidence. Almost everybody in my family was enthusiastically agreeing with everything the author had to say, and I just shook my head in a mix of disgust and disbelief. That article alone sparked an argument between me, members of my family, and friends of my family. It escalated to the point where I actually pulled out my health textbook (brand new edition, might I add), turned to the chapter on addiction, and in bold print it said "Addiction is a chronic disease..." (I won't bore you with the definition).
Even after showing them the page of a textbook written by healthcare professionals, they were unconvinced. (That's confirmation bias for you!) I grew so enraged by reading that article because the author's claims have such harmful implications. It's not only contrary to fact, it destroys empathy. If addiction truly isn't a disease, then should we feel any remorse for the people who have died from the opioid epidemic? Should we just close down all rehabilitation clinics? If you don't know anything about addiction, that substance or behavior (it doesn't matter what it is) becomes part of your life. You cannot function without ingesting a certain drug, liquid, food, or satisfying your compulsions. If there is anything to take away from this part of the article, it's that addiction is a disease; that is a fact, not an opinion. (I really need a drink after writing this part.)
Another one I read essentially labeled everyone who would not date trans people as "transphobic." First of all, if you're a complete stranger to me, then my romantic life is none of your business and yours is none of mine. You don't get to call me a transphobe or a homophobe because I'm a straight white male who's attracted to women. Trans rights is indeed a critical issue today, but that doesn't give the author the right to demonize every "person of privilege" out there, especially because of their sexual orientation or identity. That only makes them part of the problem, the problem of destroying empathy.