Pointlife
Random rants with Andy: Educational crap videos
Pointer Contributor
alets410@uwsp.edu
Nothing painfully jabs at my side more than a) appendicitis and b) when I witness an educational rap video. The truth is, educational rap videos have been killing us slowly since kindergarten. Sure, they usually start off with subjects such as “respect,” and “have confidence in yourself.” Sure, let me soak that in as I sip on my gin and juice.
Are you a bully yet? Good. You’re going somewhere in life, but sooner or later, subjects like smoking, drunk driving and beware of semi-truck blind spots start popping up. Then you know you’re in for a real disservice to your education.
Here’s my two cents on the subject: Every message has its appropriate communication channel. For every appropriate communication channel, there are a hundred more communication channels that are not nearly as appropriate.
If Billy wants to tell the world about drugs and guns, then please, by all means Billy, adjust your pants accordingly and rap until you’ve gained the recognition to be dissed by Eminem, and if you’re actually noteworthy, Jay-Z. But say your drivers education instructor wants to educate his students about the blind spots around a semi-truck. Please do not show me an educational rap video. Draw me a picture. And I don’t mean any picture. I want the run-of-the-mill, status quo, this-is-the-reason-I-teach-drivers-ed, kind of picture.
By now you’re probably wondering where you can find a semi-truck blind spot educational rap video. You can go to YouTube and search “OMS: Definition of THUG” (Caution: watching said video may inspire you to watch an episode of Rock of Love: II. Don’t give in).
Now keep in mind, I don’t go looking for these gems. They’ve always found me. The first 12 years of my formal education was their prime nesting ground. They attacked me from time to time, usually during a short-lived nap, but I’ve still managed to come out half-asleep.
Have these educational rap songs and videos actually taught me anything? Why, yes.
Following a semi-truck in its blind spot? Don’t mind if I do!
