Sneaker Obsession Is Wrong

In the past year, there has been a dispute how sneakers being something more than just a shoe. While professionals and others believe that Sneakers is actually changing teens life’s for god not bad. Kevin Smith, is an American filmmaker, actor, comedian, comic book writer, author, and pod-caster, believes that we must see the good side of sneaker obsession and how is  not really a big deal. In his 2014 article, “ The Science Behind Our Sneaker Addiction” Smith reminds the readers that course of generation to generation sneakers had been a obsession that teens can’t resist. It’s causing problem and even relationship and friendship issues. To prove and analyse his point that sneaker is not a bad obsession and that kit helps you, Smith argues that sense sneakers are a big part of teens life this days is considered beneficial and normal. Therefore, Smith claims to let teens stay with their sneaker obsession because it makes them be more sociable and more confident to themselves. I agree with Smith when he says that sneakers make teens more sociable, but I say that it doesn’t change the fact that it still causing problem and even increasing death rate and robbery. It’s also affecting our financial responsibility and our own identity.  

Smith says that being obsessed with sneakers is actually a good thing because it increases personal value when they get the sneakers. Even Dan Cherry a advertising executive in New York, says that  shoes express teens individuality that makes other teens go towards him or her to know them better. They see them as cool kids. However, the parent network “Family care” in 2019 article “What’s up with your son and sneaker obsession”  as a recent search they state that “ Also keep in mind that boys often have judgments about who has the right to wear these shoes. As in, if you wear them but you can’t hold your own athletically, boys are going to make fun of you to your face or ridicule you behind your back.” Like when I was in 7th grade I really didn’t care about what shoes I was wearing I was more focus on my clothing and every time boys always bullied me and said things behind my back, even did rumors to start fights with me because I was just hanging a lot with girls and not boys. To add on, sneakers this days show your personality and that is scary because you wear a pair of sneakers to feel part of a group but at the end they will make fun of you because that’s not you and because of this reasons having sneakers or not having is the same kind of rejection.

In Smith eyes he is sure that teens obsession with sneakers will lead them to great and better socialization and better life. In Spite of these, we could say that teens are getting comfortable purchasing expensive shoes not having in mind how many deaths are happening just because of expensive sneakers. Like Marc Bain a Fashion reporter said in his article “1,200 people are killed each year over Sneakers” says,  “An estimated 1,200 people die over sneakers every year, according to a video posted Nov. 14 by GQ magazine. This is something we really have to worry about, sneakers now becoming a death issue Americans killing each other for some shoes. What does that say’s about us. As you can see this is already started to be a mental issues situation. Even though sneakers express our individuality, we have to think to ourselves when it comes to which one I should buy or wear? In this case we should always be aware who we are around with and having this pair or that pair of sneakers will do me good or bad.

Of course, Smith makes a fair point when he says that sneakers express teens individuality and personality making them feel part of a group and not left behind. The more people we see with new sneakers the more we want them too. He is also, right that sneakers has changed people’s lives. Most teens dedicate their time and money on new pair of sneaker to be  happy and feel part of something. However, I am still not convinced by Kevin Smith or Den Cherry arguments that Sneaker obsession is making teens be more sociable and happy even showing personality. Instead on depending on sneakers we have to control ourselves. The only way to really stop all of these and only look into the bright side is if we change. We could reduce the amount of deaths and problems , but it will only happen if we changed as people. Also, the way we think. You know how different life would have been if we help each other as brothers and sisters.

All in all, I believe we have to be focused on arguments life Smith’s. While he does point out that sneakers obsession are really beneficial when it come to socializing and showing teens individuality, I found his argument misunderstood. I say this because he is to focus on what teens feel inside and what other think about them, instead of really seeing what’s happening in the world. Deaths, bullies, thieves, suicide because of depression and more. Parents are also worried according to the Family Care Parent Network. How their kids are going to turn up to be and really worried about their financial status. This could all be fix, we could have the shoes we want to feel like we part of something, but it doesn’t have to turn into a obsession that could change the way you are living. Control your own life and don’t let fashioned especially shoes be the ones controlling you.

Resources

Bain, Marc. “1,200 People Are Killed Each Year over Sneakers.” Quartz, Quartz, 23 Nov. 2015.

Family Circle. “What’s Up with Your Son and His Sneaker Obsession?” Family Circle, Family Circle, 16 Apr. 2015.

Intelligence For Your Life. “Teenage Boys Are Obsessed With Sneakers.” Intelligence For Your Life, Intelligence For Your Life, 5 July 2017.

Smith, K. (2016, October 20). The Science Behind Our Sneaker Addictions. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from https://www.complex.com/sneakers/2014/01/science-behind-sneaker-addiction