By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Halloween is the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season.
Once the night dedicated to spookiness, horror and lost souls is over, we turn our attention to Thanksgiving and Christmas. But Halloween typically receives its due with customs, parties, movies and scary pranks.
People will use your fears against you on Halloween to get a scream of terror out of you. While stupid horror films don’t do the job of scaring me, I have some real life fears like snakes and spiders.
Also a tornado warning or upcoming bill will break me out into cold sweats. As you get older and mature, you have real fears. The things that place knots in your stomach are based in reality. Those childish things like Boogie Men, Jason, vampires and ghosts make you laugh.
Real fears are no social security when you retire. Your 401K being eliminated and having your job shut down are horror scenarios.
I am about to outline seven current things that scare this Halloween 2023. Why seven? It’s the number of completion. If we address these seven issues, our world would be a safer and nicer place.
7. Plastic Surgeries
Liposuction and nonsurgical procedures remain popular in 2023 because some people want to take the “easy way” out for instant beauty. We have social media profiles to maintain and having a slim, trim figure is a business investment. Many plastic surgery patients want to stave off a surgery and take advantage of a variety of minimally invasive procedures that are available at their surgeon’s office. Face injections and quick weight loss fixes are trending up.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Brazilian Butt Lift. BBL are popping up, pawns intended, everywhere.
Seeing a bunch of people with emotionless faces, catfish mugs and extremely large posteriors is hilarious, but the trend is starting to create a society of copycat people. With many women participating in this trend, they wear similar hairstyles and makeup. It’s like a bunch of Barbie dolls walking around, hunting for attention, likes and validation on their booty and beauty.
6. Social Media
Nearly 60% of the world’s population uses social media. Social media has given us the power to control our image and create content. Facebook is the outlet for older people and Instagram is the favorite of younger adults who are seeking attention. Children are drawn in by TikTok.
Things like the “For You Page” on TikTok or the explore page on Instagram, both of which fuel a video or photo’s chances of reaching a widespread audience.
Instead of seeking something meaningful or worthwhile, we tap on our phone screens to just be entertained. The more foolish, ignorant and crazy, the better chance of going viral. In the United States, our social media is a den of sin and marketplace for depravity. Meanwhile in Asian countries, children have a social media curfew and they display excellence in their youth’s achievements.
Our trend of seeking attention and popularity is going to doom us.
5. Wokeness
A state of being aware, especially of social problems such as racism and inequality defines being woke. It’s safe to say the pendulum has swung too far over at this point.
Common sense is gone and people virtue signaling has become the rallying cry for our politics, government policies, workplace environments, sports and educational facilities.
Most people claiming to be woke are giving expressions, opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate their good character or social conscience. They want to be the moral authority and take a position of righteousness. In reality they tend to have a superiority complex and want to be a savior for those who preserve the less fortunate and beneath them.
4. Inflation
The annual inflation rate in the U.S. accelerated to 3.2% in July 2023 from 3% in June. It marks a halt in the 12 consecutive months of declines, due to base effects. A year earlier, inflation had started to fall from its peak of 9.1%. But the overall rates are still too high and we see that on a daily basis with our purchases of gas, groceries, household items and even homes. Will this ever end? Inflation is terrifying. I likened inflation to Jason in the Friday the 13th movies. It slowly chases you down and once you fully encounter the murder, the attack is vicious and ruthless.
3. No More Cash?
Are we going cashless? Physical currency isn’t becoming more obsolete every day with debit/credit cards, Google pay and cash apps on our phones. so it’s important to weigh up your options before deciding to go fully cashless in 2023.
Going fully electronic with our ways of paying scares me because it places more control of our purchasing power in the hands of the businesses. The government can track our spending and interests even more with a data trail.
Last month I heard about the Krystal in Corinth, Miss., announcing the business is no longer accepting cash as of August 28 as part of a test. I guess with inflation, we can’t buy too many things with the coins we have in our couch and seat cushions. I pray we have a balance and continue to accept all forms of payment.
2. Lack of Faith
In the United States, between 6% and 15% of citizens demonstrated nonreligious attitudes and naturalistic worldviews, namely atheists or agnostics. It’s scary to live in a world where people don’t fear a higher power. They believe there are no consequences beyond man for their actions and treatments against others.
That’s why you see people stealing cars, attacking people over disagreements, having broken homes and rioting. We’re out of order in our spirits and that translates to our behaviors in everyday life.
When you don’t fear and respect God, it is easier to disrespect a parent, educator, authority figure, law enforcement and “those you love.”
1. 2024 U.S. Presidential Election
I am old enough to remember when the process started for our presidential race, it was decent and in order. Since the 2000 election, all bets have been off. The race for president has become a reality TV show, slugfest, slander free for all and content for social media. We ignore the important issues like inflation, safety, building back the nuclear family and healthcare. Instead we focus on election denials, Hunter Biden, soundbites from 20 years ago and who is racist because of one statement. Who is the best person to get us out of this mess and get us going in the right direction because there is no more social security, World War III happens and my debit card is paying $10 for one item at the Dollar Tree? My brothers and sisters out there… these are the real horrors this Halloween.
THOMAS SELLERS JR. is the editor of The Millington Star and both the sports editor and a weekly personal columnist for West 10 Media/Magic Valley Publishing. Contact him by phone at (901) 433-9138, by fax to (901) 529-7687 and by email to [email protected].
