opinions // 20 theotherpress.ca Celebrity over community and style over substance » The superficiality of . rt Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer QO: October 22, about 18,000 students from schools across BC participated in We Day at Rogers Arena. The event featured many celebrities, advocates, and other inspirational speakers empowering youth to create social change locally and globally. The entire event is organized by the charity movement Free the Children and for-profit social enterprise Me to We. These organizations focus on youth empowerment and social change, often sponsoring trips for North Americans to volunteer for and help villages in the developing world. In fact, most of their funding (from direct fundraising, corporate sponsorship, grants, and product selling) goes towards organizing the events or sending participants on trips. Perhaps the most questionable aspect of We Day is the sheer amount of corporate representation. Throughout the day, many speakers from companies such as RBC and Telus talked about what they represent and their organizations’ commitment to the vague social change empowerment. Kids, when you grow up, you too can work for one of these organizations that’s dedicated We Day : to improving social conditions : internationally while also : selling iPhones made in China. : : day. Of course, all events need : money to run, particularly : at a super-planned show like : We Day. All of the speakers : volunteer their time, and : tickets to the event are earned, : not purchased. Regardless of : one’s opinion on corporations : in general, it’s fair that a : few can showcase their : involvement. After all, it’s all : going to a good cause, right? What was that cause : again? Although many Canadian : celebrities and public figures : from a variety of backgrounds : are featured, not many local : speakers were. It’s much easier : for teens to listen to and be : “inspired” by celebrities than, : say, a local student who's made : : significant contributions in the : : community. I have no doubt that at : least some of the students : who attended left with an : appreciation and desire : to better the world, never : mind the ones who were : more concerned about high- : fiving Josh Ramsay. But the : sheer commercialization : and spectacle of the event : overshadows its meaning. It : says a lot that the agenda has : a generic theme of “youth : empowerment” and that its : specific cause is unclear at first : glance. What is We Day? It’s a : big event where teens are told : by rich celebrities to be the : change they want to see in the : world. Social media use, media : attention, and desirability are all important aspects of this But the specific merit and : effectiveness of We Day is what : bothers me. Yes, teens have to : perform an act of good for the : local and global community : to get tickets, but what about : the aftermath? Are the We : Day speakers really there to : encourage students to improve : the world around them? They : speak of the inspiring stories : and activism that turned them : into the famous (and often : rich) people they are today, : but they do not speak of the : challenges. Not all 18,000 students are : going to be the next founder : of an international charity. : But then why does this event seem to foster the idea? Free the Children is associated : with a movement called the : Shameless Idealists, a phrase : that is by definition unrealistic : and perhaps not the best thing : for high school students to be : “inspired” (or slightly pushed) : into joining. Don’t worry, kids, : soon you'll get to college and : the “shameless idealism” will : be replaced by the real world : concept of “reserved cynicism.” Does We Day do more : harm than good? Probably : not. If even one of the 18,000 : participants is inspired enough : to actually follow through : in making a difference, their : overall mission was successful. : But their flashy methods are : certainly exciting and public : relations-friendly. It doesn't matter what your name 1s » How not to behave when you forget someone's name Elliot Chan Opinions Editor M opinions @theotherpress.ca A large portion of my job involves networking, performing cold calls, attending events, and introducing myself to strangers. Naturally, names and faces will scramble in my brain and leave me uttering, “Nice to meet you,” or “Hey, big guy!” or “You look familiar,” more than once. I’m not immune to misremembering names, few are; however, when I do forget, I like to believe that I know how to behave properly, not make a big deal about it, and simply move on and havea genuine conversation. Too often I'll be : approached by someone who | : have met numerous times with : no inclination of who I am. : Of course I feel a bit insulted, : being so forgettable and all. : But that is not what bothers : me. What bothers me is that : some egotistical people will : deem me so unimportant that : they will just quickly brush : me aside. Instead of talking : to me or even addressing me, : they just saunter off feeling : more recognizable. As I watch : these people disappear into : the mass of humanity, I know : that we'll meet again, but : the scenario will not change. : They’ll say hi, do a few memory : reps to remember when we last : interacted, get exhausted, and : mosey on. If you cannot remember : people’s name after an initial : introduction, it’s because : you weren't able to associate : something memorable with : them. Ask for their name : again, then inquire about : something unique, not just : work, school, or interests, but : what plans they have for the : near future or what projects : they are working on. You must: : dig deeper than the forgettable : : surface questions. Show that : you're not a self-centred prick, : and give a shit about someone : who took the brain space to : remember your name. Then : when you meet them again, : you can ask how their life went : with a checkpoint to start : from. I get it—sometimes names : : just slip your mind or hang at : the tip of your tongue. Don't : make a big deal out of it. : However, nobody looks good : when they forget someone, : especially after multiple : introductions. At some point, : you better get it right or you'll : just look silly, and depending : on the person, you might also : appear offensive. My name is Elliot, an : uncommon name to say the : least. There is something : about it that causes people : to substitute it with another : male name that begins with : the letter E. I’ve been called : Eric, Ed, Emilio, Ethan, : Eli, and maybe a few more : that I too have forgotten. : It’s understandable—many people have names that sound : different. Some people even : have names that come from : another culture or havea : distinctive spelling. What : annoys me is when someone : says, “Oh whatever, it doesn’t : matter what your name is.” : Fuck you! Not only is that : disrespectful, but it’s also : confusing. Every name represents a human being, every human : being is as important as the : last regardless of their social : class, seniority, personality, : or overall attractiveness. And : it doesn’t matter what your : traits are either; if you can’t : remember someone, you'll : always appear a little snobbier.