By Whitney Kiepura
Executive Opinion Editor
Thin, colorful bands, called Silly Bandz, have been carried from obscurity to infamy by elementary school kids to high school seniors. These bands come in all colors of the rainbow, newest versions now have glitter. They also come in a wide variety of shapes, each package holds 24 for about $5.99. The first shapes were all different types of animals, like pigs, dogs and cats. They have now expanded, now producing hundreds of shapes which include wands, saxophones, Christmas trees and boats.
“It’s like magic!” junior Morgan Riedy exclaims. “They’re so simple, but still complex.”
The small business, BCP Imports LLC, (the name just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?) from Toledo, Ohio wasn’t prepared for the flood of attention. It has recently increased it’s workforce from 20 employees to 200. The company now sells millions of packets a month.
However, there has been an outcry that these bands have been harming the younger generation. Kids have been getting in fights, and packages of these bands have been stolen from stores and from other students’ desks. The most alarming effect is that when worn in large numbers, the bands can cut off circulation.
But all of these reports come from elementary or middle schools. For high school, these bands are perfectly acceptable.
“They just provide color in a potentially boring environment,” sophomore Sharon Josphes said. High school students can feel discomfort from losing their circulation quicker than younger kids. And fights at Prospect aren’t a daily occurrence. I’d like to think that teenagers have more important events to brawl about instead of stolen Silly Bandz.
The bands also encourage kids to interact and give students a larger range of conversation. Silly Bandz are a new flavor of small talk and can be used when boring topics, like the weather and how homework sucks , have been exhausted.
At this point, this trend seems harmless for teenagers. compared to what teens can become interested in, rubber bands hardly seem like something to be worried about. These bands won’t cause brain damage, suck up money or be put on a personal record. Like smoking, drinking and shoplifting can. Best of all, these bands are legal!
This harmless fad will most likely fade back into history when the new “it” item comes onto the market. These Silly Bandz will follow Pokemon, Furbies and Cabbage Patch Kids into the rear of the closet or under that lit essay from sixth grade.
But until then, let these rubber bands continue to – not too tightly – circle the arms of high school students.
