"Why We Like What We Like"

Central Argument: The things we like and the things we dislike are influenced more by the things around us – our environment – rather than the way we feel and “who we are as a person.”

Essay:

We have new trends bombarding our daily lives with advertisements, with magazines commercials, and with movies that show everything we want but don’t have. We are also human beings and all we want to do is be part of the crowd, and not be socially outlasted by society. For that matter, being a social outcast is our biggest nightmare, whether we admit it or not. Everything around makes us want to be or have what society is presenting to us. This is evident with the way fashion has changed and with the way we have found the need for different types of electronic gadgets.

The fashion pattern in history seems to repeat itself every 20 years. I remember going through my mom’s old photos only to find that things were pretty much similar to what she wore when she was in college, when I was in middle school. There were a lot of solid colors, lot of flared jeans, a lot of scarves, and so on. Now, 5 years after that, the style has changed to short dresses, tight shirts, a lot of patterns, choosy jeans and so on. There has been a major shift in the way people dress up every few years. At Woodstock especially we notice, the fashion trends and changes among students quickly. One year you see people wearing bell bottoms and a plain t-shirt and sweat shirt and the a few years later you find people wearing animal prints, and patterns, and choosy jeans, and so on. People like the things that influence society because they don’t want to be classified as outcasts of society. They want to be part of the in crowd, and that is what most humans thrive and live for.

When it comes to gadgets, Apple products out ride every other company in the world. Apple is the biggest household name on the block and is the one who has made everyone change from PCs to Macs. 1990’s and the early 2000s consisted of mainly Windows products, as Apple was unsuccessful in winning over the ever-growing gadget seeking nation. After the MacBook came out, the change in demand of products were huge. Many started shifting from Windows to Macs. After a few people started with this, the majority of the technology population started buying Apple products. Apple became extremely famous after this. They came up with the iPhone, the iPod, the iTouch, the iPad, and so on. But why do people really buy these products? Because they are durable and reliable or because they are the in thing right now? I think that it’s because it’s the in thing. When my father bought his Mac, he bought it because it was of strong quality. That computer lasted him 10 years. When he bought me a Mac, the only thing that I though of was the way it looked and how everyone was going on about it being the best. I didn’t even consider my dad’s experience with it before buying the product. He just bought it for me, and I felt part of something – maybe the Apple revolution.

We focus too much on being accepted by everyone that we forget some times that we let them choose the way we become. But the reason why we like what we like is because we care about what others think of us.

Week 4 - Prompt 3: "Please Read This Article, Thank You"

Central Argument: Linton Weeks takes many different opinions from mannerists and etiquette mavens, and eventually concludes to the idea that people have forgotten how to express polite phrases such as “thank you” and “please” because society has started to expect everything casual – causal conversation, casual dressing sense, and casual behavior. But Weeks also goes to state that the reason why people have stopped using such phrases is because there has been a shift in ways of communicating where no one expects such “formalities.”

Essay:

            When we walk around the hallways at school during the class changes, we always hear the phrases, “Get out of the way” or “Why are you standing in the way, MOVE.” It is true that I am one of those people who yells these few phrases out every once in a while. Though this could be utter frustration from having to run to English class to earn a stamp for being on time, it is still out of place to scream such things on the top of our lungs. People are probably as frustrated as though who say this, but don’t seem to do anything about it. They take their own opinions and keep it within themselves. They know that it is out of place to say such things. For this reason, we can say that these people have manners, and know that rude behavior should not be accepted in any circumstances. I agree with Week’s concept that polite phrases are fading out in today’s world for these reasons: many feel too comfortable around their friends, allowing them to act any way they want; as we forget to appreciate those that take care of us on a daily basis; and as we are too used to receiving gifts and gadgets that we forget the meaning of love and happiness.

            Last week before my major mock AP Chemistry exam, one of my not-so-close friends, came up to me and demanded that I give her my calculator. There I was, sitting, trying to get my head wrapped around the concept of quantum numbers with the help of my trusty calculator, and this not-so-good friend of mine approaches me and demands that I give her something that is helping ME succeed. I looked at her appalled, to see only a blank face returning my appalled one. She expected me to give her MY calculator without her asking politely. I have always believed in common courtesy and being polite to those when possible, though I may not always follow it myself. But I was baffled to see this person, stand in front of me, asking me for something that was mine, without having the courtesy of even saying “please.” I thought that she had enough decency to do that much, but clearly, she didn’t. I looked at her and told her that I was busy preparing for the same test she was trying to take. I got up from where I was sitting, turned around to face her, and told her “If you had a bit of manners, I would have slightly considered giving you MY calculator,” and then stormed off. I understand that it wasn’t the best way to handle the situation, but I think that it is our duty as civil, kind, compassionate human beings that we were “made” to be, to follow through and be those people, even though times have changed. Just because society as become more corrupt, doesn’t mean the human race has to be.

            On Tuesday, during homeroom, my English teacher, also one of the advisors for the 11^th grade, approached the whole class and put us in our places; and I commend him for that. Though not all his points were fair, I feel that his message as a whole was spot on. To summarize his speech, he stated that the 11^th grade at Woodstock School didn’t have the decency to respect their elders and those who helped them when they needed it the most. People at Woodstock have everything that is luxurious. We have flat screen TVs in dorms while other boarding school students don’t have the luxury of watching TV, we have a menu filled with variety (even though we don’t believe so) while students in other boarding schools don’t have the luxury of choosing their menu, and we have teachers and dorm parents who care about our well being and our success (even though we don’t think so) while other students from boarding school don’t have the luxury of people who truly and genuinely care about their students. We are so used to these luxuries and these people who are always there to help us that we forget that to appreciate them. As we forget to appreciate them, we stop trying to be polite to them. We treat them as any other “objects” (no offensive to anyone) and forget to respect them. We forget to say “thank you” and “please” and “we appreciate everything that you do for us.” For this reason, we have turned into the brats of the 21^st century. We don’t know how to show people that we genuinely care about everything they have done for us, because we expect everything to be handed to us on a silver platter.

            My parents are those who buy their children almost anything they want. They aren’t those parents who give children iPods or Mac Books when they get good grades or when they stay out of trouble; they are the ones who will try to do anything to meet their children’s demand and keep them happy. I have noticed this trend in my entire family. All my aunts and uncles treat their children the way my parents treat my sister and I – they try to meet every demand. Though I’m not always the most appreciative child, I always make the effort to say thank you to my parents when they get me gifts and when they do nice things for me. When I’m at school and my parents get me a parcel, I always make sure I write an email, even if it is a few words, to appreciate them remembering me and sending me a gift. I can’t say the same for my cousins though. They seem to expect everything from their parents as they are too used to getting almost everything they want. They get cranky and annoyed when their parents don’t get them what they want, when they want it. Because we always expect things from people, we forget the meaning, the innocence, of receiving gifts and the joy we feel will while opening the wrapper. That is all lost when we expect to always get gifts, and this why we forget to express our appreciativeness.

            I don’t believe that there is any society shift change in the world that can possibly explain and allow people behaving rudely to one another. However, there may be an explanation, though it might not be the most pleasant of circumstances. We are too used to things – both of people doing things for us and trying to help us out in any way they can and of people making us feel joyful by giving us gifts. People are too used to the relationships they have with others that they forget to thank them in the end, and instead act as though they own the person. Someone needs to bring these people, including me some times, that the world doesn’t revolve around them. 

Week 2- Prompt 1: "Of Marriage and Single Life"

Central Argument: There is a certain point where one should get married; this is after one's youth when they've gone out and "done" things, and when one can take their responsibilities of marriage and transfer it as a positive objective.

During my winter break, my mother told me a story about how my grandparents had asked her to stop working before she got married to my father. During the proposal and the engagement between my mother and my father, my mother was working as a single woman in a company called ICIMOD, an NGO that helps build roads in rural areas across Nepal. My mother had completed her Bachelors degree in English Language and Literature, and made her way to working in an NGO. She was a pretty well off Nepali woman during that time period. She had gotten many proposals from well-reputed families, but she refused each one of those offers. Though her parents believed that getting married off to a well-reputed family would make her life, she believed differently; she believed that her life would be made if she stood on her own two feet. She then met my dad, who came from an extremely well known family. His father, my grandfather, was the governor of Rastra Bank in Nepal, and believed that his daughter-in-law didn't need to work to sustain herself as she would be part of such a family. My mother felt offended with this statement made to her and stated that she didn't care if she didn't marry my father. She had no emotional attachments to him during that time, and believed that her single life was the time where she would "make a difference in the world" and contribute to society as much as she can. Sir Frances Bacon, like my mother, believed that there was a certain point when people should get married. This point is when they've used their youth to go out and "do" things and when they believe that their married life responsibilities will allow them to contribute positively to society. I agree with Bacon, as Juno from Juno shows us the sacrifice she made to become a better citizen of society, and as both Obama and his wife, Michelle, show us the balance between raising children and leading a country can contribute positively to society.

Juno MacGuff from the movie Juno is the sacrificial character when she gives up her child to a couple, so that she can excel in school, go and further her education, and contribute her ideas to society in a positive manner. Juno becomes impregnated by best friend and long time admirer. Whilst discovering her pregnancy, she considers giving up the child for adoption but then later decides to bring the child into the world and give him/her for adoption. She finds a well off family and decides on a closed adoption. She grows close the the couple who she decides to entrust her child to. Whilst growing close to the couple, she slowly starts realizing that their marriage is falling apart. She does everything she can to try and stop the couple from breaking up, partly because she doesn't want her child to go through this kind of lifestyle. But goes out and tries to stop a failing marriage. She tries to bring a family close together and then she goes out and tries to create a family of her own. She tries to build relationships with those important to her. She sacrifices the life she could have with her child so that she would be able to give her child a better life than one she would provide. She goes out and tells her baby's father, and her long time friend, how she feels about him. She shows him how much she cares about him and starts creating a "family" of her own. She gives her life with the child up, so that she can further her education, becoming a better student, a better citizen, and a better person for her child's world by studying and furthering her knowledge.

On the other hand, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, furthers Bacon's argument about marriage responsibility bringing out the positive contributions to society. We all know the power couple, Barack and Michelle Obama, as household names all over the world. We know how much influence and strength they have all over the world. They seem to balance their lives out the best way they can. The couple has two children, whom they have to raise in a positive manner. This is their responsibility as a married couple. They reciprocate this responsibility whilst governing a nation. They have to be able to groom the country, teach them what is right and what is wrong, guide them in decision making, and try to make them the best people, and the best nation, they can possibly be. They use the techniques they use to raise their kids to govern the nation. They take the responsibilities of married life and contribute positively to society.

The day and age we live in today, people are not too worried about marriage and agree mostly with the idea that one's youth is to go out and "do" things, but there are still places in the world where marriage is looked at as a sacred ritual which every person should "get to experience." But I believe that there is a right time to get married, this time is when things have been achieved, and when your experiences and responsibilities in married life, make you a better person of society.

Prompt #4 - "Why Good Advertising Works (Even When You Think It Doesn't)"

Prompt 4: “Why Good Advertising Works (Even When You Think It Doesn’t) by Nigel Hollis.

Central Argument:

            Hollis states that a good advertisement engages an audience and implants memories that affect their behavior, influences their actions in a subtle way, and leaves impressions, which allow the audience to see the product in a positive light.

Essay:

            Mid-way my first semester of junior year, I entered my best friend’s room and I witnessed horror. I saw my friend and her roommate, along with five other people, sitting on one bed, playing a game called “Tetris Battle” on Facebook. They had paused their games to have a conversation with me that lasted thirty seconds, and then went back to playing. Offended, I walked out of the room and went to my own where my roommate was playing the game. She did the same thing to me; it was only later I realized that the game only allowed you to pause for thirty seconds. Still, it was a bit rude. When I went to school, I saw EVERYONE playing it. In classes, during break, lunch, and before going to bed. I was appalled. I would always hear people praising “Tetris Battle”; they would tell me the joys of winning the battles, about looking forward to gaining more energy, and about how addicting it was. I thought it was all nonsense when I first heard of it. I was disinterested and I made a vow to myself saying that I will never play that game. But that didn’t happen, and the result, I’m addicting like those seven girls playing “Tetris Battle” on one bed. My friends had left an impression on me; they had made me believe that the game was truly utopia. They had advertised the game to me, and I had fallen for it. With my little experience, I believe that Hollis is correct in saying that good advertisements leave an impression and create memories, which make you want to relive that moment. Good advertisements have humor that create memories and ads with celebrities leave an impression.

            Many Americans look forward to the Super Bowl, not only for the football matches, but also for the hilarious TV commercials that air during the tournament. The Super Bowl is a time for families to bond, get together, and watch games – that seems more like a pastime than Baseball for Americans. The Super Bowl commercials are present to enhance the feeling of togetherness among family members. They marketing companies take advantage of that and create commercials, which are funny to make things more memorable. The companies know that funny ideas, comments, actions, and so on stick to people more than anything else, and therefore, they try and use humor to get people to buy their product. Watching the commercials with family and having a good laugh, makes people remember the advertisement better. When they come across something that triggers that memory, people will want to go and buy to product in order to relive that certain moment.

            We know we’re not perfect and that’s what makes us humans. That is why we have role models, those we can look up to and those we can try to be like. Marketing companies tap our insecurities and make sure that they include celebrities we look up to, celebrities who are famous. This makes their advertisements successful. They use the idea of ethos in their commercials. I recently watched a commercial that promoted Pepsi. The advertisement had Elton John commenting on people’s talents. The message basically stated that Elton John drinks Pepsi, and so should you. Though it’s a logical fallacy, the audience doesn’t really look and analyze it closely, instead, they are mesmerized by the advertisement and want to go out and buy Pepsi because Elton John drinks Pepsi. The advertisement leaves an impression and wants you to feel like you need to go out and buy that product because it is the “in” thing to do.

            There are some commercials out there where we know what they are trying to do. They just straightforwardly convey their message. The audience normally feels taken aback by this and doesn’t want to go out and buy the product, just because they blatantly promoted it. The human mind works in weird ways, and even though more subtle commercials are doing the same thing, we see it in a different light. Commercials like this are trying to make memories for us which reminds us of the good times and makes us want to buy the product; it also leaves impressions by adding role models into their commercials. Commercials were we feel like we can relate more to are those, which are more successful. They are the ones that get the better results and the greater profit.

Prompt #2 - "Rick Santorum, Meet My Son" - By Emily Rapp

Prompt two: “Rick Santorum, Meet My Son” by Emily Rapp

Central Argument:

            Rapp disagrees with Santorum and believes that pre-natal testing is necessary for a mother to know what her child could possibly have; and that it is up to her to decide whether she wants to abort the child due to the condition or not, and should not be looked down upon.

Essay:

            Emily Rapp’s son, Ronan, is dying of a pre-natal degenerative disorder. It hurts her to witness him paralyzed, blind, and unable to speak because all she wants to do is get to know her son better. She hesitates to wake up in the morning, as she is afraid of the things she’ll witness when she enters his room. But she knows she has to be strong; for her son, for herself, and for those other women going through the same thing. Though she had done all her prenatal tests, the doctors were still unable to detect Ronan’s degenerative disease. It shocks her to find out that there are people, like Rick Santorum, who are against prenatal testing. These people believe that prenatal testing could result in an increase in abortion numbers as women don’t want their children to suffer with a disease, like Ronan’s, that will eventually kill them. Rapp disagrees with this and believes that the quality of life should be questioned. Though she also believes that all lives are valuable, she points a finger on the “quality of life.” She believes that those who can be spared from suffering should be spared, even if it is by the means of abortion. Rapp’s argument is more valid than Santorum’s, as no one should need to suffer when they don’t have to, as there will be no emotional attachment to the child if he or she is aborted            In our history classes we’ve learnt about John Locke and his idea of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” and one can say that, we, humans, have the right to all these things. They have the right to decide whether their life is worth living, and whether their life is filled with “quality.” If they are unable to make the decision, then it is up to their loved ones to make it for them. If everyone has a right to free, and happy life according to Locke, then it is only logical to allow one to not suffer at all than suffer even a little. Everyone has a right to a full and happy life, and if something is stopping a person from having that kind of life, then it is up to the individual to decide what he or she want to do. In the case of Rapp, she stated that she would have rather given up her son than made him suffer an incurable disease that would eventually kill him. Rick Santorum is no one to say she is wrong. Though he believes that prenatal testing only causes an increase in abortion numbers, it is clearly up to her to decide whether she wants her child to suffer or not live at all. She explains that she would have decided not to let him live at all. Though it would have been difficult for her to do so, it would be in his best interests. Locke believed that people had the right to be free and live a life filled with trying to find happiness. Rapp believes that her son is no longer free and will not be able to find happiness; but she also believes that if she had aborted her child, her unborn child would have been better off without finding happiness and living freely, as he would be free from all of the obstacles.

            Though the loss of her child would have been more different type of mourning for Rapp, she believes that it would have been better for her to abort Ronan if she had the chance. Many believe that it’s the wrong thing to do, and every life is valuable, we have to think about the way the child would have lived if the child were brought into the world. The Harlow experiment done by the two husband-wife scientists, show us the emotional attachment a child has to it’s mother and the touch of it’s mother. If a touch has that much of a significant impact on the child, imagine what spending time with the mother would do to the child. Instead, think about how it would affect the mother. The mother is an adult and is more sensitive towards an intimate relationship such as this, as she has a better understanding of such things. So, if prenatal testing were done, and mothers would have decided to abort her child as she didn’t want him or her to suffer, then no intimate relationship would be formed and would be less painful to let the child go as the mother, or anyone for that matter, has not been able to get to know that child.

            Though abortion is usually looked down upon, no one ever stops to think about the reason for aborting the child. If it were a careless mistake, then it would be unethical to abort the child, as the parents should have been making the wiser decision. But if it depended on the quality of life of the child, then it would be the decision of the parents as the unborn child would not have the ability to make decisions on their own. For this reason, Rick Santorum is wrong and Emily Rapp is right. If she had taken the decision to abort her child if she had known about the degenerative disease, I believe that everyone would have supported her all the way.