Get A Life!

If you're like me, you've noticed a steady decline of intelligence in the average American since the invention of the Internet. The evidence is everywhere, from the decreasing test scores of our students to the increasing weight of the typical citizen. Instead of eating well and exercising, the masses -- including billionaire Oprah Winfrey, an obvious non-masser -- now ingest drugs to diminish their appetites and girth. But perhaps the most telling sign is the overwhelming interest in the personal lives of celebrities, most notably a singer named Taylor Swift.

I, a former Woodstock Music Festival attendee who saw just about everyone who was anyone in the music world perform live in concert, have never seen Swift's act or heard any of her music, at least not that I know of. But being alive on the planet, I do know that she is dating a pro-football player and they are now engaged. Their relationship impacts my life not one iota. So imagine how little I care about rampant rumors that she is pregnant. The news is going viral! In fact, her fans are going absolutely wild over the possibility, excitedly exchanging tweets online. 

Here's what I don't get: Why would anyone except for the immediate family of the singer and her boyfriend, and maybe some of their friends, care? How can anyone get excited over the birth of a child they will never meet? What's the difference?

As the popular saying goes, people need to get a life. I usually avoid "sayings" but that one is very appropriate to several generations of today's youth, most of whom exist wholly online, forgoing their own lives and instead living vicariously through celebrities and influencers. This is a sad mistake that many will realize too late.

Earlier today I read about a 38-year-old Brazilian fitness influencer with 61,000 Instagram followers who drowned during the swim portion of an Ironman triathlon in Texas, shortly after she told followers to "savor every moment of life." Now what the heck are all her followers supposed to do?