QUOTE: "What is expected and accepted from idols in our culture has changed. ... A wide range of unhealthy, dangerous choices are promoted in the media, and when a young girl's idol lowers the bar for standards, she's more likely to feel OK about lowering hers too. I think most teenage girls strive to emulate the culture that surrounds them. The actions of celebrities simply reflect the culture they live in too. ... [Shocking] behaviors we see all over the Internet are not unlike other generations' rites of passage with one important distinction. Today we seem to be a culture addicted to sensationalism. Because we have grown desensitized to so much already, behaviors keep pushing new limits to gain the attention and publicity intended. It takes more to shock us, so like any addict, we crave behaviors that keep growing more and more extreme. In the '60s we heard, 'If it feels good, do it.' Today the message might be, 'Anything goes.' And I think many parents are now realizing how far 'Anything goes' has actually gone." —Debra Whiting Alexander, author of Loving Your Teenage Daughter (Whether She Likes It or Not) [mtv.com, 3/12/07]
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