Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

Unsolicited advice, as my dad would say, is worth every penny. More and more, I see smart, hard-working people really getting their money's worth.

Case in point: The previous paragraph didn't make any sense, but it sounded kind of snappy. So, here you are, still reading this. I've been saying since high school that not only do I not recommend reading my articles, but I'd actually advise avoiding them at all costs. And people still read all of my columns and tell me I should kill myself.

Not only is everyone actively searching for the wrong sources to tell them what to do, but they know it, and it's still happening. People become famous for things they aren't. Don't believe me? Who's the No. 1 person in this country for advice? Dr. Phil - not actually a medical doctor.

Who's the No. 1 person in this country for cooking? Rachael Ray - not actually a trained chef.

Who do we go to first for news? Jon Stewart - not actually a journalist. The Daily Show - not actually a news program.

Who do we go to for jokes? Dane Cook - not actually funny.

I can't get over how in every line of work there seem to be people who became famous even though they suck at it. Roy Williams, five-time Pro Bowl Dallas Cowboys safety. Britney Spears, professional singer. Keanu Reeves, actor. Whoopi Goldberg ... wait, what is it she even does?

But we can't wait to throw money at these ridiculous people to hear and see them do things that they aren't any good at, then follow their example, then get mad because of something we knew in the first place - they suck.

It's like reading my column and expecting an advice piece similar to "Ask Amy" or "Dr. Ruth" to pin up on the refrigerator and live your life by. If you expect anything other than a mindless rant about something that may or may not affect your life, stop reading. In fact, even if that is what you're expecting, stop reading, because you're expecting a waste of time.

Dave Chappelle, one of the funniest people alive, said during a stand-up routine that people should stop listening to celebrities for help with their problems. "I don't even know why they listen to me," he said. Of course, someone who lives in the world of celebrity but knows how silly it all is made the right move - he left it all behind.

Rob Gindes is a junior journalism major. He can be reached at gindesdbk@gmail.com.

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