Category: Society

Most of us curse out aloud when we are frustrated or facing a hard situation but did you know that cursing comes with its own bag of harmful effects. For example, a few studies have shown poor development in children who come from less than ideal homes and had been exposed to cursing and abuse on a daily basis. This is why it is important we take a closer look at cursing and see how we can avoid the same.

• Loss of companionship: If you are the sort to curse out loud and often at that, you will soon find that people have started avoiding you. Not because you have been cursing a storm but rather they do not want to be the focus of your anger or end up being a doormat for you to take out your frustration on. As a result, you may find that your friends often have excuses as to why they cannot meet you despite the fact you know that they are free.
• Dysfunctional family environment: Excessive cursing can cause several people to go to any lengths to avoid you but when it comes to your own family, you’ll find that they view you more of an embarrassment than anything else. As hard as this may be to hear, excessive cursing on your part can drive apart those close to you and in the process, help create a dysfunctional family atmosphere which is especially not good for young kids.
• Self-esteem: You’ll find that cursing too often can have an impact on you as well. As a result of frequent cursing, your self-esteem takes a hit. You are bound to feel that the only way you can communicate with others is through cursing and this can even become addictive to the point that you cannot utter a single sentence without a curse being rolled in.
• Abuse: The line between cursing and abuse is not much; it is just a thin line and often when you are cursing black and blue, you may be exposing your children to the negative effects of cursing. Children are bound to act out what they had picked up from you and as a result, may start acting out in school with their classmates. It is only a matter of time before the issue reaches the ears of the principal and soon, you would be asked to attend a PTA meeting as well.

These are some of the associated negative effects of cursing; so the next time you feel like cursing out loud, you may want to substitute the swear word with an innocent one; try it out a few times and soon you should get used to the same. Keep in mind that it is your responsibility to protect your children and that includes not using swear words in front of little children.

Prohibition was and still is employed by several governments as a way to curb alcoholism and to impose some sort of order. With alcoholism showing an exponential increase in the last few decades, it is fast turning into a crisis. With organizations such as SAMHSA reporting a sharp increase in underage alcoholics, governments are considering imposing stronger restrictions including asking customers to validate their age with additional proof. But despite the fact that prohibition was a dud in the past, several governments world over had imposed prohibition over certain zones in an order to curb underage drinking. But as in the past, the move proved to be more detrimental which is why we need to take a closer look at some of the negative effects of prohibition.

• Squeak easy: One of the effects of prohibition in the past as well as now was the rapid growth of illegal joints propping all over the place. And since these establishments are illegal, there is little to no restriction and various studies had indicated that it is more detrimental to allow such illegal establishments to function as it will affect the society at large. One of the reasons why prohibition was finally removed in the US had more to do with bootlegging and illicit liquor than anything else.
• Illicit liquor: While the law enforcement agencies can prevent companies from transporting alcohol to zones where prohibition was in force, this, unfortunately, led to bootlegging and to alcoholics opting for moonshine to get their high. The problem is that illicit liquor like moonshine and others are manufactured under less than ideal conditions, with the end result being that several of those who consumed the same got extremely sick with cases of blindness and even fatalities being reported in.
• Alcoholism: With their main supply being capped, most alcoholics would do just about anything to get their next high. If this includes drinking illicit liquor, then chances are high that they would do the same. As a result, any prohibition drive often led to several standalone establishments manufacturing illicit liquor with the expected consequences – form chronic liver disease, blindness to sudden fatalities.
• Crime: It was found that prohibition often led to a spurt in crime as most criminals started smuggling liquor into prohibition zones. The differences between Chicago where prohibition was in force during the 1920’S and today, where prohibition is in force at several countries’, the differences are not that much. In fact, you would be hard pressed to make out the differences; the same business model is being used as liquor is smuggled in and with the expected fatalities.

These are some of the negative effects of prohibition so the next time your government wants to either impose a city or state ban on alcohol, you may want to get them to reconsider the same given these negative effects. This is why it is essential for you to review these negative effects carefully; one of the most effective ways of preventing alcoholism is by ensuring that the youth are well informed about the dangers of the same.

When it comes to movie genres, there’s none that’s seen more controversy than this particular niche. While the reported negative effects of watching any movie depend more on the individual and their susceptibility to the same, the fact remains that watching horror movies does come with its own negative effects. A few studies have even conclusively established the link between rising incidences heart attacks and horror movies; this is why it is time we took a closer look at some of the negative effects of horror movies.

• Adrenaline: Watching a horror movie can cause you to experience several psychological cues and since the effects of the movie can vary depending on the individual, this can cause you to either be terrified or remain unaffected. One of the reasons why cult horror classics like ‘The Exorcist’ caused massive outrage and reaction was because the audience found the movie thoroughly terrifying. While being terrified, your body jump-starts its natural defense mechanism and as a result, causes an overproduction of adrenaline. Adrenaline has been known to trigger heart attacks and true to the norm, there have been several cases of cardiac issues being reported in, from audiences watching horror movies.
• Sleeplessness: Watching a terrifying movie is bound to cause you to experience bouts of sleeplessness. You may find it hard to even close your eyes for a few minutes; and as mentioned earlier, the effects of the movie depends on the individual. If you happen to be one of those who often find it difficult to watch horror movies on the television, then chances are good that you are bound to find watching the same on the big screen quite terrifying and as result, would be unable to attain any good night sleep for a while.
• Panic attacks, anxiety: Watching a horror movie after you had experienced a traumatic event can cause you to relive the same event and in the process, cause you to experience more stress, and even cause panic attacks. As a result, watching the movie is bound to leave you on the edge with your anxiety levels being ramped up.
• Desensitization: Watching too many horror movies can leave you desensitized to the extent that it can impact your empathy. As a result, you may find it harder to empathize with others; it should be pointed out that this is not a rational or even a conscious act but rather an unconscious one on the part of your brain. Again, it depends more on the individual and the makeup of their personality

These are some of the associated negative effects that come with watching horror movies. And if you are planning to watch a few, then you need to make sure that you are not risking your health by doing so.  A recent study even highlighted the fact that horror movies have inspired several criminals to carry out their various criminal activities. But since the study is yet to offer any conclusive proof on the same, you can discount it for the moment.

Cyber bullying is for real and one that most teens face online these days; cyber bullying is a form of harassment where one minor initiates an attack on another minor online for a variety of reasons stemming from their need to feel good about themselves. As inane as it sounds, one of the most touted reasons for most cyber bullies to continue doing what they do is just so that they can feel powerful and good about themselves. As for the victim, they are often made to feel guilty like it’s their fault, that they are the ones to blame for what’s happening to them. Cyber bullying can be vicious; never ending and can have tragic results. So let’s take a closer look at some of the negative effects of cyber bullying, shall we?

• Violence: Cyber bullying on its own includes anything from name calling to threatening bodily harm, but there have been cases where one minor started cyber bullying another which soon descended into actual violence. In fact, most bullies often prefer to avoid violence altogether but some do indulge in it but that’s mainly on account of peer pressure. The number of cyber bullying cases where acts of violence have been committed either by one person or more has grown incrementally in the last few years. This does set a disturbing trend and if cyber bullying is allowed to grow unchecked, such acts may take place more frequently.
• Loss of self-esteem: Often the victim experiences a sharp dip in his self-confidence as a result of cyber bullying and along with it, self-esteem as well. As a result, he will become more withdrawn, less prone to socialize and may even become a recluse. He would be less likely to confide the cyber bullying to anyone and often the perpetrator knows this and uses it to label the victim a coward. This further starts another cycle of vicious cyber bullying which can often end in tragic circumstances.
• Suicide: One of the reasons for the increase in teen suicides over the last few years has been the uptick in the number of cyber bullying acts being reported in from all across the country. All the victims are minors and they are at a vulnerable stage of development that makes them more susceptible to other influences like peer pressure, peer validation. And when you add cyber bullying to the mix, it becomes a toxic cocktail with expected results. Often the victim is tormented and egged to feel guilty about their actions. In fact, most of them are pushed to think of themselves as being worthless and a burden on society and are often pushed to commit suicide. Inevitably, a few teens do take the inevitable step with tragic consequences.

These are some of the negative side effects of cyber bullying which is why this needs to be checked and eliminated right away. And guidance counselors should be available to help young minors deal with the issue of cyber bullying and to provide them with the required guidance.