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By: R. Renzo  Have you ever felt a large pressure to finish an uninteresting book, for fear of judgement or disappointment with yourself? Have you ever found yourself with stacks of books piling up on your shelves, being avoided and collecting dust?
The truth is, that many books are better left unread. This is not judgement to the author or the quality of the book, but the sheer act of forcing yourself to finish it takes away the magic of reading. Though, reading should not be discouraged at all – it should be an adventure where you are enthralled, sucked into the plot, and where the finish comes naturally. It is one of the most powerful tools that we have at our disposal, often overlooked in favor of technology. George R. R. Martin once wrote, "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one". It seems that many blame schools for taking the joy out of reading; instead of being presented with novels for enjoyment, we are forced into nitpicking and analyzing it every step of the way. This makes a story turn into a jumble of words. Books cannot be treated like chores – so instead of forcing yourself through that book, pick it up another time. And ultimately, art is subjective, so forcing yourself to read a "must-read" classic, just to suffer through it is completely unnecessary. Just because a book is praised by critics or assigned in school doesn't mean it's universally engaging. And personally, leaving a book unread may sometimes be better than finding out the ending yourself. Leaving a book unread means that there are still infinite possibilities in that story; it sparks the joy to imagine a whole journey is left and absolves readers from the feeling of emptiness when the book is over. This is why there should be no pressure in finishing a book: in the end, no one gets a prize for finishing something they hated, and you only get a few seconds of pride when bragging to your friends about that latest accomplishment. So, feel free to put down that book, but don't completely give up on reading itself.
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By: J. McManus 
The recent increase in tariffs for products imported by the US government has recently stirred up a lot of controversy, especially since other countries (aside from the US) are being affected due to the amount of products they export to the United States. What are tariffs? Essentially, tariffs are taxes imposed on the value of imported goods. For example, when Brazil sells coffee beans to the US, a tax will be imposed on the value of the coffee beans being sold, such as 10%, and the value of that product will be 10% more expensive to import to the USA, causing an increase in prices of that product by roughly 10%. The aim behind these tariffs is to boost the American economy by ensuring that American products are bought more frequently in comparison to their foreign counterparts. When local products are favoured, jobs are protected and generated, theoretically boosting the economy. This concept was one of the leading arguments in the election campaign of the current US president, Donald Trump, who aimed to increase American production, instead of majorly importing foreign products. When this idea was proposed, there was a general feeling that the implications of such policies were not properly understood or disclosed. The consequences of increasing such tariffs has led to many uncertainties in relation to global trade, including the pertinent questions: will the US actually impose such tariffs? At the start of this year, a set percentage of tariffs for each country was announced, yet very significant changes continue to be made since, including the high rates being temporarily reversed for 90 days (except for China which has an extraordinary tariff of 145%, with certain exemptions). Will other countries impose reciprocal tariffs? While China responded by imposing reciprocal tariffs, many other countries have vowed to do likewise though that simply has not been the case yet. Do these unilateral tariffs imposed by the US align with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements? One of the key objectives of the WTO is to reduce tariffs to incentivise globalisation. Will the tariffs actually lead to a growth of investment and jobs in the US? Investments are normally made based on long-term predictions for a benefitting return, whereas the current volatile tariff negotiations generate much uncertainty, "scaring off" many investors which could lead to the US taking a hit in their economy. In several countries, American products have been labelled and blacklisted to locally retaliate against the opposing tariffs, not agreed upon internationally. Although the initial decision to reduce imports was 'popular' among the majority of Americans, the resulting consequences have led to an upheaval of discontent and major backlash, both among foreigners and locals. The implementation of this initially 'popular' ideal has proven to transform the opinion of the public into a now 'unpopular' concept. By: V. Toledo  An unpopular opinion, or at least an undervalued idea, is that success is not about being the best, but rather about being seen as the best by those in power. The world, as we know, is far from fair. For many, in an ideal world, personal merit would consistently be acknowledged and rewarded. However, the reality often tells a different story.
Decisions such as job hiring and university admissions are influenced by implicit biases. Meaning, if success was purely merit-based, the smartest, hardest-working people would always rise to the top, However, when you analyze those who hold the highest positions, it becomes clear that human psychology plays a much larger role. This doesn’t mean that your personal values, work ethic, or dedication are wrong, nor does it mean that you should stop working hard. Instead, it means that if you want to be highly rewarded, you must begin to analyze what those in charge prioritize. Life is not fair. Although acknowledging this reality is often seen as a pursuit of power, manipulation, or deception, it is simply about understanding the “mark scheme” of success, just like students do to achieve high grades. Most leaders consider power to be their most valuable asset, whether for the good of all or for their personal benefit. However, success is not just about how much power a person has, but about knowing how to play the game skillfully. Throughout history, success has often belonged to those who understood perception, not just those who were the most skilled. For example, Steve Jobs was not the most talented and skilled engineer at Apple, nor did he invent the technology himself. He excelled at branding, persuasion, and understanding exactly what investors and consumers wanted. This set Steve Jobs apart from his colleagues and ultimately led him to become one of the richest men in the world. Success is not just about talent or effort: it is about how that talent is valued by those in power when it aligns with their priorities. While this may seem unfair, it is shown that recognition often has a greater impact than just skill, leaving many highly capable people overlooked. However, understanding this reality does not mean going against your personal values - it means ensuring your efforts are seen by the right people. Ultimately, success is not just about playing the game, it’s about knowing the rules and using them to your favor. By: M. Marques  Beaches are better than pools.
Money can buy happiness. Dogs make better pets than cats! These are some unpopular opinions that can lead to never-ending discussions on whether they are right or wrong. Key word: never-ending. There will never be only one true answer for these statements. Even though they are unpopular, that does not mean they are wrong… but that also does not mean they are right! Imagine this: You are the only person drinking pink lemonade in a room full of people drinking original lemonade. This immediately makes you the outsider, and everybody tells you that you are crazy for thinking that pink lemonade is better than the original! Now, imagine you invite all of your pink lemonade-loving friends into the same room you are in, and now the original lemonade fans have been outnumbered. This gives you the upper hand, and now they are the outsiders. This could only happen because people that were not a part of the environment in the first place joined in. It is the same with real life! You might live in a country where pineapple in pizza could be considered a crime, but as soon as you step foot into another country, suddenly it is all the restaurants are serving! It all depends on the environment you are in. Time plays a great role in this, too. In fact, it is what trends are all about! A few years ago, Owala bottles were just another water bottle brand, but now, they are the first item on our wishlist. This is because more people are buying Owalas and they outnumber the people who do not, just like the lemonade example. This all happened as time passed by - change can only happen with time! Of course, there will still be countless things some people will never agree with, but that does not mean they are right or wrong. Maybe it is what the majority thinks, but maybe this will change with time, or in different places. Anyways, that is just my opinion. |