The Lincoln Log

It begins innocently enough; a few dollars are exchanged for a typical monthly magazine. However, the pages between the covers are no longer limited to just “mindless gossip” about the ridiculous lifestyles of the rich and famous anymore. With the addition of personality quizzes, horoscopes, and the like, a new danger has arisen.

It’s become a monthly ritual for some to partake in magazine indulgence, but it’s gotten out of control for others – perhaps even grown.

Little things seem to have the greatest hold on people nowadays. For example, even though the results to personality quizzes may seem blatantly obvious to some, others react with loud, outrageous comments debating and refusing to believe that they could belong to such contrasting temperaments.

Whether pondering loudly or to themselves, the quiz-takers wonder if they are actually reflect their results. It’s normal to wonder this, but in this melodramatic society we live in, people never stop there. They continue on with full-on breakdowns and identity crises.

It makes little sense to me how these seemingly insignificant things play such a large role in many people’s lives.

Another key part of this religion is to constantly reflect their horoscopes. When their horoscopes correctly predict their future, people will often be struck with such consternation that the horoscope seems infallible. If things don’t happen exactly as planned, the popular belief is that they must have done something wrong; it couldn’t possibly have been the prediction that was wrong.

Daily habits and identity are not the only victims of this religion; the daggers are pointed at relationships as well. Whenever people have compatible astrological signs, they would dote on it, as if it were a foundation for a strong relationship. Contrasting astrological signs, on the other hand, would merely dismiss it as silly.

However, when people become all-consumed, they may lose their sense of reason and logic and forget the person in front of them, but only see a sign.

When people have a lack of faith, it leads only to their downfall, sometimes mentally, other times emotionally. This isn’t to say that the magazines are at fault here, but perhaps people are becoming a bit unsure in themselves. The occasional indulgence is refreshing, healthy, even. However, lacking the ability to realize that other people, maybe even their peers, are the creators of these small frivolities. It just seems silly.

At one point or another, we have all given into the magazine religion in one way or another and have not let it control our lives.