Oh, I agree with Antony...I'm 18 years old, I graduated from high school a year ago. In my high school I, as with everyone else, watched shows like HIMYM, Entourage, Gossip Girl, etc. We listened to artists like Lil Wayne, Eminem, Katy Perry, etc. (Well I never listened to Lil Wayne, but....) Well over 50% of the school smoked, over 25% drank (25% is a small percentage, but that's cause alcohol is hard to come by for kids in Dubai).
I'm now in college. Again, over half the college smokes, and over a third does some form of drugs, with a tenth or so doing the "hardcore" ones. Again, we all watch the same movies and TV, and we all listen to the same music. We're all exposed to the media in the same way.
It has to come down to the family. I will never snort anything, cuz I was raised that way. It matters not that there may be a lot in the media that glamourises and at times, even encourages, drugs. I will never smoke for the same reason, even if I listen to Miranda Lambert a lot who has several lines about cigarettes (Kerosene, Gunpowder and Lead, FGIT video, etc.)
We can bemoan the media all we like, but the responsibility ultimately lies solely with the parents. To wish away all evil in this world is optimism to the point of foolishness. In a utopian world, sure, the media would only talk about honesty and friendship. Guess what? Not happening. We can put pressure on the media to be a little more "cultured", but ultimately the media reflects only that which is rampant in society.
Note that I'm not disagreeing with dbarberis, or defending Miranda. The cigarette was perhaps 'unnecessary'. As the son of a chain-smoker, I consider cigarettes to be the devil. My dad is a truly wonderful man who literally wasted his life away because of this one weakness. Watching him as I grew up has made me feel very, VERY strongly about cigarettes.
My point is just that this "It's the media's fault" notion has to end. Sure, the media may be unhealthy, but ultimately it's your bloody kids and you better raise them well.
And, of course, Carrie agrees with me
(remember the UK interview with Loose Women?)
