Living Deliberately.

To be honest, I dont know if I could live in the woods with nothing for a year. I think the absolute most hardest thing would be leaving the people around me. My family, boyfriend and friends make my life complete. The fact of losing technology wouldn't be that big of a deal. It would take a little to get over the fact that it was missing but with in a short time I believe I wouldn’t even notice it was gone. I think that living in this solitude may get a little boring after awhile. Our lives today are so full that we never have a pause just to really do nothing. Moving into this little house in the middle of the woods would be such an extreme from our normal day lives. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I would have so much free time on my hands. That could be nice though. Catch up on all the sleep I have lost because of college. But in reality, all the free time would drive me nuts and I probably wouldn’t make it a year.

Dumbest Generation?

I don’t believe what Mark Bauerlein is saying is truthful. I believe that our generation almost needs to be smart. In todays society everyone feels the pressure to go to college just so they can be successful and have a good paying job. Obviously, we have to have motivation to make it through college. The fact that he stated about us only spending an hour studying can not possibly be true. Every free second I get is spent doing something for one of my classes. College is very hard and a lot of work is required. Along with school, we have jobs and the two put together is very time consuming. The economy today doesn’t really allow for our parents to just give us all the money we want or need. So, we have to work and earn money for ourselves. I don’t see how this can be considered to be lazy? 

Our quiz in class proved something that I believe. We didn’t know all the part two questions but knew everything on part one. But, if I asked my grandma the questions she wouldn’t know any of the ones from part one. This just shows that we know information from the time period we are raised in. American idol and Jersey Shore are what our time period is about. Whats the big deal if we know all this info? In the article we read, “The Dumbest Generation? Don’t Be Dumb.”, there is a fact that says IQ scores have been raising since the 1930’s. This proves that we aren’t the dumbest generation. Basically, information changes and new things become more important and other things die out. We retain and care about the information we need to know to advance in our own generation. Generations are always changing and changing. Every generation thinks the one after them is dumb and the cycle just continues on and on. 

The assumptions that Bauerlein made, I believe, is based off extremes. I think he just based this off the laziest people in our generation and said, “Oh you all are this, that and everything else.” But really, its not everyone. I think we all have goals and dreams that we work hard to reach. 

Second Skin

Second Skin, was actually kind of mind blowing. It introduced me to a world that I never knew really existed. I knew people played online games but I didn’t know they got so involved and committed so much time to their virtual worlds. Technology is ruling our world right now. Its so different than how it use to be. So many things can be done on the web and we don’t hardly even have to move a muscle. From banking to dating. I believe it has its up but also has its downs. 

I don’t see how people can call the virtual world a real world. You are playing with wolves and dragons and even those objects are so far from being real. It would be hard for me to imagine my character of me, as a real person. I don’t understand what is so addicting. Especially because most of these people are like 30? Aren’t they more mature at this age? They should have jobs, a spouse and maybe children.

However, I believe that this gaming is simply a hobby of these people. It’s what they like and enjoy doing. I do believe though that letting your house go bankrupt or taking time off work to play is a little ridiculous. I’v never played these games or don’t know of anyone who plays them so I have no idea how addictive they can be. I recall the gamers saying that they like to get to a certain level before quitting the game. I do play Sims and I know that I personally always have “goals” I want to complete before turning the game off. Usually to get them to the next career level or making them have a child. I know how frustrating it can be if you cant reach the goal and I usually stay on much longer than I had originally planned just to complete my goals. I have never fell asleep playing or peed in a bottle though because it was too detrimental to quit the game. Thats a little nuts.

Something that really touched me in the documentary was the people who were disabled. They see playing these games as a way to escape their problems. In todays society, everyone is so judgmental to people who don’t fit in with the “norm.” If we see a person who is in a wheelchair we stare or even turn around to get a better look. When a gamer can create their own character i’m sure they don’t put themselves in a wheelchair. People who are disabled probably feel the opportunity to be the person they wish they could be and do all the things they dream to do. However, they will still have their disability and when they turn the computer off they have to realize that and that has to be hard.

Culture Jam

This book, Culture Jam, is interesting. I like that someone actually is brave enough to write this book and make us, American Citizens, realize how we are living. I feel like everyone knows what is going on but no one acts on it or even brings it up. Its the way things are and thats how it goes. A lot of passages made me say wow and see all the truth in what is being said.

A passage that really stuck out for me was on page 23. The passage stated, “The first time we saw a starving child on a late-night TV ad, we were appalled. Maybe we sent money. As these images became more familiar though, our compassion evaporated. Eventually, these ads started to repulse us. Now we never want to see another starving child again. Our sensitivity to violence has been eroded by the same process of attrition; likewise our sexual responsiveness.” This passage really opened my eyes. It is heart wrenching but so very true. Its almost to the point of being annoying and we think of it as an interruption of the TV show we are watching. It’s just another stupid commercial. But in reality, these kids really need the help. If we would see how these kids live first hand, not how the media shows it, we would have a totally different feeling toward the situation. It basically comes down to the fact that its being overplayed and its totally worn out. Thats TV for you.

Another passage that goes along with this is on page 10. “... Americans can unashamedly claim to be “suffering,” when compared to the rest of the world they are immensely blessed”. This is so true. We have the opportunity to get an education, get a job, better ourselves in life and we all take it for granted. We have food, water, shelter and we all take it for granted. These very simple things that we take for granted are much appreciated to others around the world. We appreciate our Mac computers, Iphone 4’s, super fast cars, wide screen TV’s, Xboxes, PS3’s, Nike sneakers, Abercrombie clothes, being skinny, McDonalds, shall I keep going on? We dont appreciate who we are, our family’s love, having a house, taking a shower, eating a home cooked meal. Its crazy.

One of the biggest things that I believe is screwed up today is how people feel the need to fit in. They “neeeeed” to look good and have this and that and that and this. TV ads for make up play a huge part in this. They have the hottest girls at the time to be in these commercials. Of course we want to look like them. Will us wearing that product make us as hot? No. But we buy, waste money, and are disappointed with the results. A never ending cycle. 

There is a passage, page 18, that goes along with this in the book. “If you look like a TV star or a model, a desirable mate will be available to you; if you don’t, it won’t. Try telling me that living with that message your whole life hasn’t changed the way you feel about yourself.” This statement made me laugh quite a bit. It is funny, obviously, but has truth behind it. You HAVE to look good to feel as if you will find a mate. If someone is told that they will never find someone, that has to suck. They have to feel terrible and that may even drive the need to buy the “coolest” clothes or the most expensive jewelry. But there are some people who just don’t care at all. Is there ever an in between?

One passage that hit home in a sense, was on page 19. “You drive through the heartland and the view of the wheatfields is broken by enormous billboards.” I live in the country and love it very much. It would be devastating to see our fields taken over by more media. Its unnecessary. 

Everyone can go on and on about how effed up this world is but will we change? 

No, I highly doubt it. It will never go back to the times of no cell phones or no facebook. That was the past, this is the present and I know the future only means worse. Its hard to imagine what could come next. Our generation, 50 years from now, may look back and think we were “normal” and how much worse it has got. 

Americans have issues, just deal with it.