Half-witted Hoosiers

I don't like to see people cry. I tend to be an upbeat person and prefer the company of upbeat people. \nThe other day I was walking back to my dorm behind a girl who was talking on her cell phone, clearly distraught. \nNow, I don't make it a habit to eavesdrop but she was very loud. \n"How could you forget? I reminded you over and over and you still forgot! You knew how much I was looking forward to it!" \nShe was wailing into the phone, and I thought she was going to start crying. \nI could only assume that a friend or boyfriend had stood her up or forgotten an important date, and I found myself feeling bad for her. \nBut then she said, "You know how much I love the 'O.C.'! I even bought the blank tape for you!"\nAre you kidding me?\nShe was throwing a hissy fit because her friend or whoever forgot to tape the "O.C." for her? Oh, heaven forbid! The ultimate betrayal. \nI can say without a doubt that that girl would probably cry over a broken nail or seeing someone wearing the same sweater as her on the same day. \nI find superficial, spoiled babies like this to be utterly pathetic, and I have very little tolerance for them.\nUnfortunately, I find myself outnumbered by them. And that is the real tragedy.\nMost of us are lucky enough to live in the type of society where we don't have real problems or worries. At this statement, some might protest how they are stressed out or how they fight with their parents. OK, fine. But they can handle those types of things -- they aren't huge deals. \nBefore you begin to argue with me, just think of other countries and their drowning economies and abysmal literacy rates. In fact, why look that far? Just look at more impoverished regions of the United States such as the deep South or the Appalachian Mountain region. \nWe are the lucky ones; for the most part, we are free to focus on our lives, educations and futures. \nBut sometimes this abundance of privilege leads to lack of responsibility or goals. \nMommy and Daddy spoiled you so you are going to go to class in the new outfit you bought with Daddy's credit card, and text message your friends with the phone whose bill you don't pay, and ignore the professor and instead ponder if you're the right shade of tan for that wild party on Saturday, and if you should go tanning or not because God forbid you might miss "Laguna Beach" -- and then what would happen? It would positively just ruin your day. \nBe grateful for what you have and grow up a little bit.\nNo, I'm not condemning wealth or fun. I simply find pursuits like spending time with good friends, working hard and participating in worthwhile clubs and activities more important than makeup, keggers and the season premiere of "Desperate Housewives"