Seriously Guys what the Heck? | Teen Ink

Seriously Guys what the Heck?

May 19, 2010
By alex radke BRONZE, Holland, Michigan
alex radke BRONZE, Holland, Michigan
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Teenink writers just don’t write well. Seriously guys what the heck? How many poems about how he doesn’t love you can you write? How many times does this magazine tell about some life changing event that really only applies to the writer? Teenagers have enough problems already this magazine only makes it their lives look less pathetic.

The poetry. This section has never made me feel like cracking a smile, telling a joke, or having a good time. The section is filled bunch of soppy depressed teens that have no better way of relieving their sad struggle to search for themselves in the dark corners of the English language. I’ve seen happier suicide notes. Besides what some of these “poets” writings will be forgotten in more than a week. Why not just send these soppy, over dramatic scribbles to a therapist and get these kids on the mainstream.

I’ve always been a fan of fiction. Anyone can write about anything happening anywhere… if you’re a talented writer. Most of these writers are not so talented. From what I’ve seen most of this fiction is either put in a real life situation with a couple events tossed about to add interest or they’re a cheap knock off of some published story. Enough with the vampires and werewolves already! Nobody, other than the devout dreamers that read this magazine, wants to read about some new couple falling in love. These stories get old after hearing them over and over. To even make a submission you have to sign a statement guaranteeing originality. Sure most of them might not be exact copies of one another but if you take and change up said story it will still be the same story. It’s like taking a all the best fruit form the best gardens and picking them up after sitting out for a while so all the ingredients have gone bad and blending it, it might look the same but it will make the drinker sick.

Non-fiction tends to be stranger than fiction. There are plenty of well written stories in this section and I'm usually quite impressed. It almost seems like some of these stories are either too good to be true or too sad not to be. It makes me think that the writers have more enriching and fascinating lives full of drama, messed up family lives, friends up to no good, or some other oddity.

The review section is never really all that interesting. The generic reviews about the top ten songs or albums pumped out by some top selling figure that the public insist are “musicians” or “artists” fail to spark any interest of mine. I could open up any newspaper or magazine from around the world and get the same feeling of displeasure as I read about some prepubescent kid that has more money than me because he has the intelligence of a peanut shell. But that’s just music. Out of the top ten most discussed reviews three of them happen to be Twilight related such as the book, the movie, and the soundtrack. There are some great reviews of books that get looked over but these are scarce. The review section is the most basic and generic part of the whole magazine because it is just like every single other review out there. I’d rather read a Rolling Stone Magazine. At least then I know it’s a professional music critic and not some teenage fan boy.

The opinions are something of a goldmine. That was sarcastic. Here you get to see where the thoughts and ideas that America's youth have to offer. They range from the political spectrum, where most people don’t understand, to religion, where even less people understand, to some mundane problem in their life. I feel as though most writers just take what they hear on television, type it up, and feed it to the publishers of the magazine. Get a new opinion already! Or maybe get an actual opinion that applies or inspires the teenagers in some way.

Sports! Sports are the last thing I want to read about! I don’t care if you made a touchdown, or scored the winning hit, or pinned a guy in the state championships. People that write these must think they have a shot at sports in real life. It doesn’t matter. Sports are better when played than when written. Enough said.

Never have I ever thought such a diverse group of people could write such a similar way. The writers of any of these articles have made a mockery of all the individualistic pieces and all the actual individuals suffocated in the junky writing of this teenage generation. To all you readers who want to be writers, write something uniquely and make sure it is actually unique.

The author's comments:
this was inspired by all you loving fans and contributors to this magazine

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This article has 11 comments.


on Oct. 18 2011 at 8:39 pm
MyConstRuctd_IdentiTy SILVER, Chardon, Ohio
7 articles 56 photos 356 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;One heartbeat.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Our scars remind us of where we&#039;ve been; they don&#039;t dictate where we&#039;re going.&quot; <br /> -SSA David Rossi, Criminal Minds

I'm gonna just let y'all know, there'll be another article from me on here soon, real soon. A slap-back-in-his-face article, let me tell you. XC

on Oct. 18 2011 at 5:08 am
flyingpinkgiraffes, Chardon, Ohio
0 articles 0 photos 103 comments
I didn't know how to word it better, so I'm piggybacking on your response.  I completley agree.

dancing4ever said...
on Jun. 5 2010 at 9:25 pm
I personally found this very insulting, I have never even submitted anything.  Sure, the writers that post on here may not be nobel prize material yet, but they are learning by submitting things. And the people who write sob stories about depression and other issues; those are real issues and they are really hurting and writing helps them express their feelings.  As for the sports, that's what they do and dedicate their time to, so why shouldn't they shre about it.  If you don't care, don't read it because some people do enjoy these stories and don't apreciate your downright rudeness.

TommyOoOoO said...
on May. 30 2010 at 8:08 pm
if you hate sports, then don't read them. I could care less about reading things about sports, but some people like it! lay off!

TheJust ELITE said...
on May. 30 2010 at 7:20 pm
TheJust ELITE, Ellenton, Florida
254 articles 202 photos 945 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I feel that a hero is somebody who will stand up for their values and what they believe in and that can take any form. People that have values and have thought them through rather than those who just do what they&rsquo;re told.&quot;-Skandar Keynes<br /> <br /> &quot;When it&rsquo;

I agree, but I also think it could be toned down a bit. Five stars still and everything, very well written and I'd still like you're opinion on my work, but maybe instead of simply critizing, tell the writers what we could do BETTER instead of just telling us what we're doing BAD. Thank you.

TheJust ELITE said...
on May. 30 2010 at 7:10 pm
TheJust ELITE, Ellenton, Florida
254 articles 202 photos 945 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I feel that a hero is somebody who will stand up for their values and what they believe in and that can take any form. People that have values and have thought them through rather than those who just do what they&rsquo;re told.&quot;-Skandar Keynes<br /> <br /> &quot;When it&rsquo;

you may like some of my articles. I admit, I fall into the sappy failed romance department with some of my poems, but my fiction/nonfiction articles (in my opinion and it's just my opinion) are actually pretty good. And I would love some constructive critism.....if you read, please comment, I'd love to know what you think! Awesome article!! 5 stars!

whatIthink said...
on May. 30 2010 at 4:57 pm

here's the pot calling the kettle black.

and, although you've probably planned this to suit your ironic needs, i can't help but notice that you've put this in opinon under sports, which are apparently your two least favorite sections. also that your title is just about the worst title you could possibly have picked.

you criticize the drama of the nonfiction section and the everyday attitude of many opinion articles. don't you know that that's what teen life is? Dramatically mundane. 

you say that the opinion section is written by people who don't know what they're talking about. I don't suppose that that's much different than anything else you'll read.

and the poetry. you say that it's all about love and depression. Shakespeare's sonnets are mostly all about love, and isn't it better for someone to write about their pain than go jump off a bridge because of it? 

these people aren't prosfessional, and you knew that when you found the site, or at least soon after. but you are no better. Yours is one of the worst pieces I've seen on here.

if you hate the writing, don't read it, and even more, don't add to it.


naturelover said...
on May. 27 2010 at 5:42 pm
naturelover, Kingsport, Tennessee
0 articles 7 photos 68 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Let my people go.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> --Moses<br /> &quot;If the Good Lord had&#039;ve wanted us to be the same, then He would&#039;ve put braces on all our legs&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> --Sally Field as Forrest&#039;s mom on the movie &quot;Forrest Gump&quot;

...and what exactly do you think of the artwork?  Do you think that's sloppy too?

on May. 25 2010 at 11:22 pm
pandabearrrr SILVER, San Pedro, California
6 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
My only regret in life is that I wasn&#039;t somebody else. <br /> - Woody Allen

i understand your opinion. but you don't have to be all high and mighty. to be honest...these are just people trying. it doesn't matter if they aren't the best they are just writing. if you want to go see and read stuff from professional writers then don't go to a place where kids are writing. there is a lot of talent  on here.

on May. 24 2010 at 7:40 pm
krazykathleen BRONZE, Edwardsville, Illinois
1 article 0 photos 99 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;7/5 of all people do not understand fractions.&quot; -Unknown

I meant "than". Also your article is in the opinion section and it's not  inspiring to me. And that's just my opinion.

on May. 24 2010 at 3:36 pm
krazykathleen BRONZE, Edwardsville, Illinois
1 article 0 photos 99 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;7/5 of all people do not understand fractions.&quot; -Unknown

You know that is just flat out rude. Teens write on this site because they want to world to hear what they have to say. Sometimes things are angry because it helps to vent!! I personally think your title it horrible, and here you are criticizing others! Why are you even on this site if you hate it so much? Find something else to do thsn just complain about people's work.