Lifestyle

4 Reasons to Consider Cosmetic Surgery

Published

5 years ago

April 2, 2021

These days, thanks to a focus on body positivity and self-love, cosmetic surgery has a bad reputation in much of the mainstream. Many people regard procedures such as botox, hair transplantation, or a sneaky lip filler to be the preserve of the rich and famous in society. However, cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly accessible nowadays, with more and more people seeing value in such procedures beyond the basic superficial reasoning, which are often cited as the primary benefit.

Once you begin digging deeper into the subject matter, you’ll quickly learn that there are numerous benefits that are rarely talked about. If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of a nip tuck, read on to learn more:

It Will Improve Your Self Confidence

We all know that when you look good, you feel good. For most people, simple things like wearing a new dress or getting their hair styled serve to increase self-confidence, which in turn can make opening up in social situations easier. With cosmetic surgery, the changes you experience will be more permanent, which are likely to have a more long-term impact when it comes to helping you feel good in your skin.

Better Mental Health

Mental health is becoming a priority for most of us. While cosmetic surgery is a physical procedure, the impacts on our mental health can be profound. Many people notice that their social anxiety is reduced after a procedure. It also allows a person to feel like they have more control over their lives, and many report a newfound willingness to take on new challenges.

Noticeable Improvements in Physical Health

It is important to note that many procedures have an impact on physical health as well as aesthetics. For instance, a nose job, or rhinoplasty as it is officially known, can also be used to improve a patient’s breathing. Likewise, breast reduction surgery can help with physical pain in the neck or back that is often caused by the weight of the disproportionately large breasts as well as postural issues.

It’s a Long-Term Intervention

We all have anxieties about our body image. While some people may learn to live with their issues, others will try anything to address the problem. For example, many people who undergo liposuction do so having tried a number of diets and exercise regimes beforehand. While exercise and changes in one’s eating habits can certainly help when it comes to weight loss, it requires constant work and isn’t necessarily going to be a long-term solution, unlike surgery. While surgery for weight loss isn’t necessarily a magic bullet, it can be a good kick-start for many people.

It is evident that plastic surgery and various other minor cosmetic procedures have the potential to do a lot of good in a person’s life in terms of their mental and physical health. It can also serve to boost one’s self-confidence. Furthermore, for those who’ve painstakingly tried to address their issues, taking the plunge and going for a cosmetic intervention may provide them with the much-needed long-term solution they so desire. Ultimately, it is important to steer away from the dominant narrative of stigmatizing cosmetic surgery for being superficial.

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

18 hours ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.