Entertainment - The Real Rating

We are what we eat. While most of us might remember this as a warning to avoid unnecessarily gluttonous adventures, what we fail to realise is that our mind gets as much food as our mouth, if not more. What are these mental delicacies? Entertainment, of course. In every scrolled reel and blockbuster action flick, our minds gobble up the details with relentless ardour. In this voracious modern-day consumption, however, the nature of the mind changes with the food we feed it. Simply put, better entertainment leads to a better mind.But what is better entertainment? Here is a rating system to help you discern the good from the bad..1. What do you remember about it?Good entertainment enriches you with ideas, so it remains memorable for long. SCORING: Score yourself high (4-5) if you recollect ideas, concepts and information. A vague recollection of information should be given a 3, whereas a remembrance of only the emotions felt while engrossed in the amusement merits no higher than 2. No memory at all should be given a square 0, as should the recall of solely sensual stimulation. 2. Cigarettes, drugs, sensuality and alcohol - how much of it did you find?The Four Horsemen of the Character Apocalypse. Exposure to these subjects gives us the subconscious impression that they are acceptable; in reality, they are far from it.SCORING: This is more qualitative. A complete absence equals 5, a minor yet unimportant presence of these elements gives 4, a fair presence merits a 3, and unnecessary depictions require a 2. Award a flat 1 where these themes play a central role, and 0 where the entertainment consists almost exclusively of such elements. 3. Did it make you think, or just feel?Good entertainment forces you to think; bad entertainment gives you momentary kicks and leaves you more bored than you began.SCORING: This is a more qualitative scale. Award high scores if you engaged intellectually with the content you consumed, and low scores if you simply ‘felt good’ while watching it. 4. Did you change something in yourself because of it?Good entertainment influences you to become stronger and wiser—in thought, word and/or deed. Bad entertainment does the inverse; it makes you weaker and more foolish.SCORING: A change in lifestyle merits 5, a change in speech/interaction is 4, and a change in thought pattern gives either 3 (long-standing) or 2 (short-lived). 1 denotes no change, and 0 is a negative change against your development/goals. 5. Did it pull you in, or lift you up?An addiction can never be good. Good entertainment is something you can let go of easily. Entertainment is to be consumed in small quantities; overdosing has severe consequences! SCORING: Again, this is a subjective score. The higher the addictive nature, the lower the score on this metric. Enticements into doomscrolling, ‘just one more game’, and never-ending YouTube spirals cannot score higher than 1..Now, add up your total score and divide by 5 to obtain your final rating. The chart provided below will help you identify further action with regard to your entertainment. 0-2 - STOP, RIGHT NOW.2-3 - You need to rethink your choices.3-4 - Minor improvements required.4-5 - You’re on the right track. Good job! Please note that entertainment refers not only to movies and songs, but is used here as an umbrella term to denote everything we do for enjoyment. It could be hanging out with friends, visiting an art exhibition, watching a play or anything that engages us during our leisure. If ever you begin to question the importance of good entertainment, remember that great men were not created through late-night Netflix binges or mind-numbing Instagram sessions. Our transformation begins with our personal choices. Change what you consume, and you will change who you are. All the very best!

Entertainment - The Real Rating

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