Do you actually buy into these success stories?

Alex Miller3 said:And how does one thing exclude the other?
We're just commenting on a specific article.

It’s the classic picture we see around here,
the real issue arises when some random girl lies or plays games and doesn't directly hurt anyone... except by making a complete fool out of herself!
Then suddenly, massive threads pop up on this forum because, hey, she's "damaging the mental state" and the social fabric of our youth, right?

But is it really a problem that we've been living in this blatant atmosphere of dishonesty for 27 years and nobody gives a damn!?
Why have people like us been playing clowns and running circuses for so long that even a man without a spine would grow one just watching us? But no, nothing happens...
It's typical small-town mentality,
you'll throw a poor kid in jail for stealing a pack of gum, yet you pat criminals on the back and congratulate them on being "successful"...
The reason I'm bringing this up is that I haven't seen anyone start a thread here about the media's reputation and how they make all of us look like idiots, right along with those crowds over at Times Square.

I don't know why it feels so obvious to me, but then there are those threads about Walmart...
everyone went absolutely ballistic claiming that some CEO is intentionally nickel-and-diming us for pennies (it’s barely a cent, for heaven's sake)...
yet nobody actually looks at what he's truly doing, or at least doesn't bother writing about it in the thread...
Honestly, it’s pure comedy. :klap:
It's the same in every single sector—we just can't see the forest for the trees.😁

Justin Chavez6 said:Honestly, in this digital age, it’s totally doable for some huge corporation to scout you out while you're just chilling at home if they actually dig what you're doing. It happens more often than you'd think.

Also, journalists are the ones shaping the narrative, and if you've ever had the chance to read a story after getting to know the actual backstory, you'll see how much can get lost in translation—not to mention the facts being twisted. At the end of the day, the reporter just wants to write something catchy that grabs attention.

About ten years ago, a reporter dropped by the company I was working for because they wanted to do a piece on us, since we were doing pretty well in such a niche field. He asked a few questions and then just took off. I couldn't stop thinking about it, though, so I insisted on seeing the draft before anything went live. When it finally hit my inbox, half of it was just flat-out wrong, and the headline was so over-the-top dramatic that I had to nix that too.
I guess the article never ended up running; the reporter probably took it personally.

Then there was this one time after an exhibition where my director told a journalist how much he valued the experience, especially attending a four-day seminar in London led by a world-class expert in our industry. Well, the published article claimed he had graduated from a four-year college in London instead.

Finally, a few years back, some reporters came around again, and this time the piece was actually decent—still a little clunky, sure, but accurate. And no, there was absolutely no need for them to list exactly how much stuff we sold to whom.

The girl featured in that article is clearly educated, talented, and really driven. She’s got the connections that are going to carry her far in the future. For someone starting out, that’s a win; nobody expects you to just wake up with a million dollars in the bank. Plus, she's young and pretty, so you basically have the perfect recipe for a news story right there.

Sure, anything is possible, but those opportunities don't just fall into your lap every day...
I mean, look, as long as you're alive, there are possibilities,
but it's like saying it's technically possible for a Boeing 747 to fall out of the sky and land on your head—realistically? Not a chance.😉

Now, I have no idea how much schooling she actually has...
But one thing is absolutely clear: she isn't some massive success story, she isn't particularly stunning, and she's certainly not "young" anymore... and obviously, she lacks any real connections.
I personally dig her lifestyle, but calling her "successful"...
well, that’s an idea only someone who considers having a kid or landing a job at Walmart as a peak achievement would suggest.
If she actually had any clout, she’d be working on a decent project with a respectable salary somewhere, rather than scraping by teaching English in some random town where anyone can show up and claim to teach it just because they're white.
She's in some band that nobody has ever heard of (despite whatever YouTube views they claim to have)....🤣

Just for comparison, let's look at some other trash... you know, these "success stories," the young and beautiful types from that "industry."



Half a million views in a country of nearly 330 million people, and then you look at China...🤣

Look, I’m just saying... there’s someone out there who wants to make it big here in the States, be the first one to pull it off, so they can get all those headlines and become the next big thing... basically, I've stumbled onto an idea that’s going to hit the American market like a greasy breakfast burrito at 4 AM hits a hungry guy on a midnight run...

We're talking about 3D printing "photographs" of people, essentially turning portraits into physical objects...
All I'm asking for is a simple 15% cut of the monthly revenue to keep things moving...

Give me a few months, and I fully expect to see a massive feature story in a major outlet like The New York Times, with my name right there in the spotlight...🙂

Richard Lewis16 said:Look, I’m just saying... there’s someone out there who wants to make it big here in the States, be the first one to pull it off, so they can get all those headlines and become the next big thing... basically, I've stumbled onto an idea that’s going to hit the American market like a greasy breakfast burrito at 4 AM hits a hungry guy on a midnight run...

We're talking about 3D printing "photographs" of people, essentially turning portraits into physical objects...
All I'm asking for is a simple 15% cut of the monthly revenue to keep things moving...

Give me a few months, and I fully expect to see a massive feature story in a major outlet like The New York Times, with my name right there in the spotlight...🙂

I see what you're doing. 😁 Just be ready to deal with a dozen competitors popping up in your own city within a couple of months. 😁

If you play your cards right and negotiate properly, you’ll still come out ahead
A smart person would probably pull together something like $165,000—maybe through a mortgage on a condo or a house—to set up representation and secure two solid locations... I’d personally aim for one high-traffic shopping mall in a place like Chicago and then somewhere coastal, maybe a beach town where you could lean into that classic Americana vibe with some local flair (you know, that true soul of the coast)... You’d get two machines, and if all goes according to plan, I’d expect to see a full return on investment within about two years
Just speaking in broad strokes, really

And for anyone else wondering what the actual deal is:

Joseph Watson3 said:Honestly, if someone is getting worked up over some mindless article about a total stranger, they have an issue with themselves—not with the news cycle.
I find it hard to wrap my head around why an adult would let stuff like this bother them, whether the stories are true or not.

But, if what you're saying is actually true—that there are people out there feeling miserable (or maybe inadequate, or jealous, etc.) when they read success stories about others—then these articles are actually doing a service.
After all, cognitive behavioral therapy suggests that the best way to handle those kinds of negative reactions is through exposure therapy to the very thing triggering them.

And the worst part is that there are plenty of genuinely successful people out there who never get featured, because apparently there's no need to write about people like Miranda when there are "actually" successful people available. The internet offers endless opportunities these days.

Truly successful people don't feel the need to promote themselves on trashy clickbait sites.

"I honestly don't get..." Yeah, I can tell you're struggling to get it.

The passive aggression is practically dripping off your words—honestly, maybe a little CBT would do you some good.

Robin Johnson said:"I honestly don't get..." Yeah, I can tell you're struggling to get it.

The passive aggression is practically dripping off your words—honestly, maybe a little CBT would do you some good.

Personally, I think you could use a dictionary—since you clearly have no idea what passive aggression actually means.

Joseph Watson3 said:Honestly, if someone is getting worked up over some mindless article about a total stranger, they have an issue with themselves—not with the news cycle.
I find it hard to wrap my head around why an adult would let stuff like this bother them, whether the stories are true or not.

But, if what you're saying is actually true—that there are people out there feeling miserable (or maybe inadequate, or jealous, etc.) when they read success stories about others—then these articles are actually doing a service.
After all, cognitive behavioral therapy suggests that the best way to handle those kinds of negative reactions is through exposure therapy to the very thing triggering them.

And the worst part is that there are plenty of genuinely successful people out there who never get featured, because apparently there's no need to write about people like Miranda when there are "actually" successful people available. The internet offers endless opportunities these days.

Truly successful people don't feel the need to promote themselves on trashy clickbait sites.

So, you don't have an issue with fake news?

Why is that?

Nancy Green7 said:People just don't get that good things happen when you actually get off your ass. With the internet, you don't even have to leave your couch. 🙂

Case in point: three years ago, this massive American marketing agency scouted me on Dribbble for a job. They had even worked on a campaign for Obama. I was an idiot and turned it down. But I bet some journalist would spin it like: "American rejects the US President!" 😁

Thanks. Not trying to start a fight here, but you, unlike this guy over here leaning against the bar...

Thomas Hernandez11 said:Sure, anything is possible, but those opportunities don't just fall into your lap every day...
I mean, look, as long as you're alive, there are possibilities,
but it's like saying it's technically possible for a Boeing 747 to fall out of the sky and land on your head—realistically? Not a chance.😉

Now, I have no idea how much schooling she actually has...
But one thing is absolutely clear: she isn't some massive success story, she isn't particularly stunning, and she's certainly not "young" anymore... and obviously, she lacks any real connections.
I personally dig her lifestyle, but calling her "successful"...
well, that’s an idea only someone who considers having a kid or landing a job at Walmart as a peak achievement would suggest.
If she actually had any clout, she’d be working on a decent project with a respectable salary somewhere, rather than scraping by teaching English in some random town where anyone can show up and claim to teach it just because they're white.
She's in some band that nobody has ever heard of (despite whatever YouTube views they claim to have)....🤣

Just for comparison, let's look at some other trash... you know, these "success stories," the young and beautiful types from that "industry."

Half a million views in a country of nearly 330 million people, and then you look at China...🤣

...you see how it works. You also know there are platforms where major corporations browse every single day, hunting for top-tier talent, and if they need someone or find them nearby, they bring them on full-time.
In that sense, picking up a one-off project isn't some rare miracle. It's what these platforms call group projects, and it's honestly kind of hilarious to read someone compare something so standard to a plane crash.
Plus, let's be real, you aren't getting a gig like that unless you're willing to sell your soul to the employer when you're miles apart...

goldenhound32 said:So, you don't have an issue with fake news?

Why is that?

That wasn't even directed at me, but let me weigh in for a second.
I think the point is that the article is basically just a bunch of accurate facts wrapped in fancy gift paper. Don't forget that journalists have to eat too, but it's also true that nowadays, in our media, a story about some small business owner just managing to stay afloat is considered big news. I remember reading an article once about a woman running a souvenir shop. She sells American-designed goods, and get this—she’s been successfully doing it for years.
So, it's something totally normal, but the media treats these stories like some huge miracle because someone managed to be self-employed and survive in the market. It's definitely great that they succeeded, but is it really "news"... who knows, I guess around here it is.

I mean, my gut feeling is just that these kinds of articles are usually written by these totally insignificant nobodies who are just trying to act all condescending, while everyone else won't even bother giving them the time of day.

Can you actually point out what’s a lie here? Everything is described in such vague, generic terms that you can't even pin down a specific falsehood.

And this "evidence" about how popular stuff from China is on YouTube is a joke. Have any of you actually been to China and tried to open YouTube? Go ahead, try it, then come back and tell me how many views you managed to rack up from there. Or just Google what people in China actually use instead of Google and YouTube.

Justin Chavez6 said:Thanks. Not trying to start a fight here, but you, unlike this guy over here leaning against the bar...

...you see how it works. You also know there are platforms where major corporations browse every single day, hunting for top-tier talent, and if they need someone or find them nearby, they bring them on full-time.
In that sense, picking up a one-off project isn't some rare miracle. It's what these platforms call group projects, and it's honestly kind of hilarious to read someone compare something so standard to a plane crash.
Plus, let's be real, you aren't getting a gig like that unless you're willing to sell your soul to the employer when you're miles apart...

That wasn't even directed at me, but let me weigh in for a second.
I think the point is that the article is basically just a bunch of accurate facts wrapped in fancy gift paper. Don't forget that journalists have to eat too, but it's also true that nowadays, in our media, a story about some small business owner just managing to stay afloat is considered big news. I remember reading an article once about a woman running a souvenir shop. She sells American-designed goods, and get this—she’s been successfully doing it for years.
So, it's something totally normal, but the media treats these stories like some huge miracle because someone managed to be self-employed and survive in the market. It's definitely great that they succeeded, but is it really "news"... who knows, I guess around here it is.

I mean, my gut feeling is just that these kinds of articles are usually written by these totally insignificant nobodies who are just trying to act all condescending, while everyone else won't even bother giving them the time of day.

You only have to look at the writing style to realize the core issue: it's being presented as a monumental success when it really isn't.

If someone claims to be a major player in the fashion industry but doesn't even show up on Google... that's a red flag for me.

And no, the fact that a private citizen manages to survive through their own labor isn't "news" to me, regardless of the economic state of the US. Of course, journalists and news sites have every right to write about it, but I also have the right to criticize publications that churn out these manufactured little tales.

I despise sensationalism in the press; it grates on my nerves just as much when I see a headline like "Famous Singer Involved in Traffic Accident." Even if she is famous, they could have just put her name in the headline. ☕
It's usually just clickbait garbage.

Honestly, articles like this just rub me the wrong way.

I mean, look, when people pick up a newspaper, they’re doing it to get the facts. Creating some fake version of reality might help promote someone, sure, but that isn't journalism. I remember sitting in a coffee shop near the New York Times Company headquarters once, and I overheard an editor explaining to two new reporters exactly how to write their pieces...
And no, he wasn't giving them tips on grammar, or how to structure a story, or how to develop a critical eye, or even how to win a Pulitzer...
He was literally teaching them how to manipulate the reader. It was actually pretty sickening to listen to...

Having traveled around, I've picked up all sorts of different papers, and I've seen what actual, serious journalism looks like. I mean, anyone can just head over to the New York Times, the Washington Post, or The New York Times and see that they don't write about someone's success in that kind of way...

This kind of hype is for kids... honestly, it's not even good for them, because it teaches them the wrong values...
Americans, for example, they talk about successes and failures without blinking. They aren't ashamed to admit when they've tried something multiple times; they see it as showing persistence.
But in these local "newspapers" here, they leave out the vital facts and refuse to mention any struggle or failure, because apparently, that's just too embarrassing.

That’s the issue with the press. You end up attacking the media itself instead of the specific outlet writing the story. For all we know, the woman might just be another victim of journalistic exaggeration.

goldenhound32 said:So, you don't have an issue with fake news?

Why is that?

Because I honestly couldn't care less.
Every single day, thousands of bottom-tier gossip sites churn out articles—whether they're true or complete fiction—about people who don't actually matter.
You’d have to be incredibly immature—or just deeply insecure and bitter—to let it get under your skin, or worse, to actually start comparing yourself to some random influencer featured on a trashy tabloid.
If someone is actually bothered by that, the issue isn't with the articles; it's with them.

Or just look at what I saw today:
"Handling financial transactions for a billion-dollar corporation" — says the guy behind the counter at McDonald's 😁

Joseph Watson3 said:Because I honestly couldn't care less.
Every single day, thousands of bottom-tier gossip sites churn out articles—whether they're true or complete fiction—about people who don't actually matter.
You’d have to be incredibly immature—or just deeply insecure and bitter—to let it get under your skin, or worse, to actually start comparing yourself to some random influencer featured on a trashy tabloid.
If someone is actually bothered by that, the issue isn't with the articles; it's with them.

Fine.

For me, the issue is anything that isn't the truth.

I'm not going to go out and torch cars or smash storefront windows over it, but it still bothers me.

So you still haven't pointed out what exactly is untrue about the article?

It’s definitely polished up, though I don't think even the New York Times Company doesn't have its fair share of articles that are a bit... embellished...
Or take that story on some US news site one day about how this woman was dumped right before her wedding, and because of that, she ended up traveling the world, found true love with the journalist who wrote about her, and ended up pregnant...
It's all technically "true," it's just that there's a massive lack of detail regarding the darker parts of those few years...
But hey, that's just editorial discretion, deciding what makes the cut and what stays on the cutting room floor...
It's the same way any reporter could have completely flipped the script on someone like Elon Musk...
Painting him as some criminal who was just cutting corners...
Like how he might have secured a $10,000 loan as a young guy—which, honestly, how does that even happen when getting credit back then was such a nightmare? I know people who remember how impossible it used to be...
Maybe his parents pulled some strings to help him out...
Or how he exploited employees or used their assets, like driving someone else's car...
And so on...
See how much negativity there is? A skilled writer could have twisted this entire article into something totally different...

goldenhound32, are you an entrepreneur or something?
Look, speaking as someone who lived in America, I honestly feel like we should be seeing daily articles about people who manage to run a business successfully here for more than a couple of years...
Because if you ask me, that's a genuine miracle, and those people deserve all the credit in the world...

@Richard Lewis16
I mean, sure, I can write articles about people like that, but am I really expected to pen some glowing tribute to a private contractor who isn't even out of the red? 🤣

And what part of that is untrue? The fact remains that the woman is a total rock star.

Look, I think the real issue here is that you actually need to practice some reading comprehension
Could you maybe point out the specific part where it says anything about them being a rock star?

And honestly, just looking at how you write, it’s pretty obvious you aren't an entrepreneur or running your own business... if you actually tried to build something of your own, you might understand why certain people deserve those positive profiles in the press

Richard Lewis16 said:Look, I think the real issue here is that you actually need to practice some reading comprehension
Could you maybe point out the specific part where it says anything about them being a rock star?

And honestly, just looking at how you write, it’s pretty obvious you aren't an entrepreneur or running your own business... if you actually tried to build something of your own, you might understand why certain people deserve those positive profiles in the press

In the headline 😁