Heavy Metal Music and Teen Suicide

In reference to the article concerning heavy metal and teen suicide: I, being a heavy metal fan, must admit that death is a recurring theme in some bands' lyrics. However, I also wanted to point out that nowadays, "thinking about suicide" has become popular because of the media. (Example: Kurt Cobain's suicide has been glorified and many teenagers followed such action) Why? We're suffering from what I would call "mindlesness"...I sadly see how many of my schoolmates, for example, will be quick to accept whatever MTV and the radio throw at them (ANYTHING).
These two mediums have played with political correctness and have turned it into a gimmick, therefore contributing to a general lack of objective and critical thought. Heavy metal is not the only part to blame...the media is too, and so are may irresponsible parents. I must sadly affirm that the United States is suffering from a breakdown in the institution of what is known as "the family", in which many parents would rather let the government take care of their children and dedicate themselves to other things. As I said before, heavy metal is not the only one to blame, but it is an easy scapegoat for those who insist on blaming youth's problems on someone.

The Teen Oral Sex and Self-Esteem Connection: by Jennifer Sarpong

The Problem Jessica Weiner, author of A Very Hungry Girl, was called in to work with a group of 13-year-old girls who had given oral sex to boys on a school bus at a private school. She says casual oral sex is part of a larger problem.
"This is what peer pressure looks like," says Jessica. "Girls today are all in people-pleasing mode because they are completely disconnected from their bodies. At age 11 or 12 or younger they're going through puberty so their hormones and natural curiosity are there too,I don't want to shame us and blame us out of feeling positive about sex and sexuality but when you're caught on the back of the school bus giving oral sex...it's about not having any sense of self which is dangerous. It sets them up for other poor choices, for eating disorders and other addictions. It sets the pattern that they're not worthy."
Not having the sense of self is a major reason why teen oral sex is so prevalent today. Most girls who engage in oral sex are not just “promiscuous” or what people call “sluts” or just “horny”. Instead, they have relationship dependency.
(You can read more about this at www.help-my-self-esteem.com/relationship-dependency.html)
Relationship Dependency- is when a person looks to another person with the goal of fulfilling a void inside themselves no matter how shallow the means are. Relationship dependency is also deeply tied to self-esteem. Indulging in it sets up a person for other negative choices and behaviors such as addictions and eating disorders.
True intimacy just like any other thing worth having, takes time, and involves investment, and causes us to risk being emotionally vulnerable. After the superficial erotic image has faded, after all the stories are told, after all the sexual fantasies have been explored, then emptiness and the need for acceptance come right back again.
The girls of Sex and the City always ended up in the same places, in the same bars and restaurants, moping around and telling their same sad stories about failed relationships because the relationships were based on sex rather than what should be a solid foundation.
Data shows that most people in extramarital affairs or recreational sex with multiple partners feel they “need change” and deserve to be understood and appreciated. So they use that need to justify “playing around.” In reality these people are afraid to make deep changes in their lives that would offer them more permanent support. Think about it for a minute. How many genuinely deep fulfilling relationships are made in the “Hookup” Culture?”
Isn’t It Safer to Have Oral Sex?
A huge number of teens think oral sex is has basically no risk. “I mean, you can’t get pregnant right?” “Of course it’s fine, it’s not ‘real sex.’ They also think oral sex is disease free, but that is absolutely incorrect. Truth is, all sex acts, including oral sex put you at risk of getting an STI (sexually transmitted infection) ie HIV the virus that causes AIDS. Chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea and the human papilloma virus (HPV) are other common STIs that can be passed through oral sex. Even if both partners think their status is “clean”, there are many STIs that do not show symptoms.