We live in a culture of #YOLO. And it makes me sick.
#YOLO, if you didn't know, means "you only live once."
First of all, we all know you only live once. Congratulations, you've discovered the facts of life.
But that doesn't mean you should do the most idiotic actions you can think up.
If you only live once, you should make something with your life. You shouldn't throw it away on making dumb assertions like "getting drunk with my cat #yolo." (Yes. That is an actual tweet. Yes. It is the first tweet that came up when I searched #YOLO on Twitter.)
No one cares. Seriously.
#YOLO, made popular by "The Motto" by Drake featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga, is the dumbest statement I've ever heard from my generation. And I've heard some truly concerning statements in my time here.
On April 19, the Chicago Tribune published a column written by Rex Huppke lamenting the death of "Facts," in the wake of a claim by Florida Rep. Allen West that at least 81 of his fellow representatives are communists.
I'd like to put another idea to sleep. Forever.
#YOLO, which seems to be the motto of Ball State and many other colleges at the moment, needs to die.
Just because you only live once doesn't mean you can do anything you want. If you truly want to prove something in your only life you've been given, work for something great.
There are plenty of examples of this on Ball State's campus. Even the Daily News' editor-in-chief, Sarah Boswell, is a perfect example. She had a goal of running a campus organization, and she did it. Former SGA president Kayla Stanton had similar ideals. She wanted to make an impact on Ball State's campus, and she did it.
And they didn't stop there. Boswell helped change the face of the Daily News. Stanton transformed SGA into one of the most transparent organizations on campus. Thanks to her and her executive board, we all know where the small amount of our student fees which benefit SGA are going.
That is a true #YOLO philosophy, and I applaud them all for it. They make the stupid statements made on Twitter seem like raindrops in an ocean of greatness.
#YOLO, in its current state, deserves to be sent off with a Viking funeral, burning at sea.
If you're posting on Twitter about how you only live once, you're not living. Make an impact in your community.
Whether it means reaching an executive position in your organization and making changes that define your career at Ball State or professing your love to that cute person you've had your eye on since freshman year, make your presence known here.
I hope to do so as editor of this publication during Fall Semester 2012.
If you're not aspiring to do something similar, and you're posting updates proclaiming "#YOLO" right now, then you're part of the problem.
So for the sake of my sanity and that of my colleagues, don't post it unless you're truly living your life.
Because, truly, you only live once.
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