Hello Bloggers! Another Happy Friday. I hope all is well in our little cyber neighborhood. Anyway, this week I’m writing about media’s role in ugly language. The essays in out textbook brought up interesting ideas about a persistent issue. We all have been exposed to some sort of judgmental insults in our lives. Its not a fun experience but one to learn from none the less. Many want to blame the media for popularizing the use of prejudicial language. Yet I think the root of the issue lies a lot deeper.
It is my belief that it all starts at home, how and even where a person is raised. We all can acknowledge some of the strong cultural and environmental traits among our parents. The language that they speak, becomes the voice we pick up. For example, my step father is Mexican and was born and raised in Venice Beach. I hate to cast prejudice on my dad, but some time he can be a walking stereotype. Yet back to point, his language has rubbed off on my younger siblings. My little brother called one of his friends a vato, which if some don’t know, it’s a Spanish reference to a male. Sounds harmless but most of us know that in the real word this type of language is interpreted as gang slang. It is something that both father and son was raised hearing, there fore there use of the word echoes amongst others. It tends to begin the spread of judgment and preconceived notions of a person
Now don’t get me wrong, the media does play a crucial role is pushing the use of this language. Yet to be fair to media, its exploits anything popular even if this includes language. Making something popular is our job. Yet certain facets of the media are more aggressive than others, many seem to be following. Music has been a source of freedom for many people and meaningful to the artist that made it. Yet to me it seems that use of certain words are plaguing the music we listen to. Its not just bad for the younger kids that are listening, it degrades the art all together. Some rappers make songs that have “nigga” or “ho” as every other word. MTV eats it up and plays the video in between reality shows. Lady Gaga is also guilty, her memorable outfits and catchy songs is being pushed on the public. I walked out of a wal-mart awhile back when a girl, maybe 8, brushed past me singing “want to take a ride on my disco stick.” Though I think the most appalling part about it was the fact that her mother was strolling right beside her.
It is not right that the media manipulates the pubic with there scandalous schemes. Yet it has been this way for quite awhile now and very parent knows children will soak up everything. In this generation we find kids being raised by the media, between music, TV, and video games some begin to know no better. Its inevitable that this person would pick up on the over dramatic cues of some of these media facets. Yet I think people need to take control of how our children are being raised. Let them grow up and decide if they want a mouth of a sailor.
Anyway- that’s what I got to say. I will talk to everyone soon!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Happiness or Self Respect
Happy Friday Bloggers! Hope everyone’s week has been great. My week has been consumed with biology. Practical and midterm oh my! Hopefully you all have lasted through your midterms- we can finally get some sleep. Anyway beside my little personal notes, my blog is going to be based on prompt two of our assignments. This question relates to a quote found on page 225 of Reading Lolita in Tehran. What do I believe is more important, happiness or self respect?
At first glance this question seems to pose a pretty straightforward answer, yet as I thought about it, the idea relates pretty closely to me. I think that happiness has to start from the deepest depths of ourselves. True happiness at least and this to me would encompass self respect. Yet I think there is a large difference in being happy and being content. I say this because in the beginning of the paragraph that this quote is found, Nafisi when describing James’s characters, says the protagonists are unhappy yet have an aura of victory at the end of the novels. To me, by gaining self respect pride should show through therefore showing happiness. This sentence seemed to give a feeling of the characters being content rather than truly happy. She goes on to say that it has more to do with a settling of oneself. Though I think this idea is a pretty good base to happiness, how do you know your happy is you can’t acknowledge yourself.
Now I know as all things, happiness is never that simple. Many factors of our lives play a part in our attitudes and demeanors. Though I do think that self respect is key in our overall happiness. We all have bad days but as I said that true happiness is inside. Yet if we can’t look ourselves in the mirror in the morning, happiness is the last feeling bursting inside. Self respect is that ability to look at yourself and be happy with the decisions you’ve made or the battles you’ve waged. We all have our sense of right and wrong- and deep down inside the respect for ourselves is either there or not. Often times we need reinforcement, whether good or bad, it seems to be a reminder of our view of ourselves. Similar to this I think when Nafisi talks about the difficulty of gaining self respect, it’s more so the fight of facing ourselves. Until one can overcome this there life will always remain, as Nafisi quotes “as it were.”
We can often spend our whole lives trying to be happy. Yet I think the key to true happiness is easier than many think. By being open to ourselves and brave enough to face a skeleton or two, we could achieve anything especially the happiness we chase. Having respect for ourselves expels confidence and radiates pride. Which in turn warms us with a gleeful pleasure. Therefore I feel you cant really have one without the other. The importance of happiness is self explanatory, yet the building bocks inside of us have to be solid before perusing such a pleasure.
Well that’s what I got, I will be bugging everyone soon.
At first glance this question seems to pose a pretty straightforward answer, yet as I thought about it, the idea relates pretty closely to me. I think that happiness has to start from the deepest depths of ourselves. True happiness at least and this to me would encompass self respect. Yet I think there is a large difference in being happy and being content. I say this because in the beginning of the paragraph that this quote is found, Nafisi when describing James’s characters, says the protagonists are unhappy yet have an aura of victory at the end of the novels. To me, by gaining self respect pride should show through therefore showing happiness. This sentence seemed to give a feeling of the characters being content rather than truly happy. She goes on to say that it has more to do with a settling of oneself. Though I think this idea is a pretty good base to happiness, how do you know your happy is you can’t acknowledge yourself.
Now I know as all things, happiness is never that simple. Many factors of our lives play a part in our attitudes and demeanors. Though I do think that self respect is key in our overall happiness. We all have bad days but as I said that true happiness is inside. Yet if we can’t look ourselves in the mirror in the morning, happiness is the last feeling bursting inside. Self respect is that ability to look at yourself and be happy with the decisions you’ve made or the battles you’ve waged. We all have our sense of right and wrong- and deep down inside the respect for ourselves is either there or not. Often times we need reinforcement, whether good or bad, it seems to be a reminder of our view of ourselves. Similar to this I think when Nafisi talks about the difficulty of gaining self respect, it’s more so the fight of facing ourselves. Until one can overcome this there life will always remain, as Nafisi quotes “as it were.”
We can often spend our whole lives trying to be happy. Yet I think the key to true happiness is easier than many think. By being open to ourselves and brave enough to face a skeleton or two, we could achieve anything especially the happiness we chase. Having respect for ourselves expels confidence and radiates pride. Which in turn warms us with a gleeful pleasure. Therefore I feel you cant really have one without the other. The importance of happiness is self explanatory, yet the building bocks inside of us have to be solid before perusing such a pleasure.
Well that’s what I got, I will be bugging everyone soon.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Challenging My Beliefs
Hello Everyone! Happy Friday! I hope everyone’s week has gone well. Any who here we go week 7 and another English reading blog. This time around I’m writing about a time were my beliefs were challenged. Question two on page 315 of our EL text. This topic is interesting because I try to pride myself on being open to other peoples beliefs. I have found myself discovering fascinating information from other people. Yet this has also lead me to question a lot of my thoughts.
I have never really ran into a defining moment of challenge, yet I have put bits and pieces of information together. Call it passive but most of the time I thrive on discovering the other persons viewpoint. I’ve found people really like talking about themselves and I enjoy hearing about it. Yet when the tables are turned and I am being questioned I find it very hard to disclose my real feelings. Therefore my beliefs are seldom in the spotlight. After reading Wheatley’s essay I found that this poor communication habit of mine is sort of doing a disservice for the world. I’m only shaping my own views and not contributing to those of others. I think in my case I need to do a little less listening and a little more talking.
Yet eventually I find that logically the info I have doesn’t fit a current thought or idea of mine. I have found that as I’ve gotten older my thoughts and views have become a tad more rational then my crazy high school days. Its been both beneficial but it has also filled my life with plenty of confusion. Wheatley in her essay explains how change always starts with confusion. Though I must say it is quite a frightening thing, to think I know something well- only to find myself second guessing it. “It is very difficult to give up our certainties- the positions, beliefs, and explanations that lie at the heart of our personal identities,” (Para 21). Yet she goes on to say that if we have enough courage to enter the abyss, we are rewarded greatly. Her essay seems to hit home with me, as I am meandering in the abyss.
This essay has showed me that the way I communicate is not necessarily the most effective. Rather than just soaking up information from other people I need to seriously have some input of my own. I think I downplay just how powerful the contribution of my thoughts are. Perhaps I feel there not as important as those of other people. Yet this essay has allowed me to see a more effective way of facilitating conversations were all parties win. Though sharing thoughts seem a little risky, it can open up the world to change, “Whatever any one of us knows alone, it is not enough to change things,” (par 13). My “willingness to be disturbed” and have my beliefs challenged has largely contributed to my open-mindedness. Yet it has also hindered my skills, thanks to Wheatley’s essay I have found that I must use moderation when instigating conversation. Transform my listening skills to equally efficient talking skills. Anyway my fellow bloggers, I hope you also can enlightened by Wheatley’s essay. Hope to hear from ya soon.
I have never really ran into a defining moment of challenge, yet I have put bits and pieces of information together. Call it passive but most of the time I thrive on discovering the other persons viewpoint. I’ve found people really like talking about themselves and I enjoy hearing about it. Yet when the tables are turned and I am being questioned I find it very hard to disclose my real feelings. Therefore my beliefs are seldom in the spotlight. After reading Wheatley’s essay I found that this poor communication habit of mine is sort of doing a disservice for the world. I’m only shaping my own views and not contributing to those of others. I think in my case I need to do a little less listening and a little more talking.
Yet eventually I find that logically the info I have doesn’t fit a current thought or idea of mine. I have found that as I’ve gotten older my thoughts and views have become a tad more rational then my crazy high school days. Its been both beneficial but it has also filled my life with plenty of confusion. Wheatley in her essay explains how change always starts with confusion. Though I must say it is quite a frightening thing, to think I know something well- only to find myself second guessing it. “It is very difficult to give up our certainties- the positions, beliefs, and explanations that lie at the heart of our personal identities,” (Para 21). Yet she goes on to say that if we have enough courage to enter the abyss, we are rewarded greatly. Her essay seems to hit home with me, as I am meandering in the abyss.
This essay has showed me that the way I communicate is not necessarily the most effective. Rather than just soaking up information from other people I need to seriously have some input of my own. I think I downplay just how powerful the contribution of my thoughts are. Perhaps I feel there not as important as those of other people. Yet this essay has allowed me to see a more effective way of facilitating conversations were all parties win. Though sharing thoughts seem a little risky, it can open up the world to change, “Whatever any one of us knows alone, it is not enough to change things,” (par 13). My “willingness to be disturbed” and have my beliefs challenged has largely contributed to my open-mindedness. Yet it has also hindered my skills, thanks to Wheatley’s essay I have found that I must use moderation when instigating conversation. Transform my listening skills to equally efficient talking skills. Anyway my fellow bloggers, I hope you also can enlightened by Wheatley’s essay. Hope to hear from ya soon.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Analyze Me, By Me...
Hello Again!
Well first of all I want to apologize to for not posting a blog last week, time got ahead of me- a little bit of life did too. But any who I’m back! I’m aiming toward a fresh start for our new month and new season. Hurray! Anyway back to the blog…
The essays in this chapter were quite interesting. I’ve always been fascinated with interpersonal communication. It may be a little weird but I quite enjoy analyzing the way we communicate with each other. Anything from verbal communication or even body language, it can speak volumes about a person. Now on the other hand it is a little more difficult to analyze my own communicative ways. Yet I’m going to try and pin point a few of the quirks I am aware of.
Sometimes I find that I live in a bubble of happy delusion. It’s nice, but often times it makes it hard to touch base with reality. So obviously the view of myself can be a bit fuzzy sometimes. I have been told by a few friends that when they first met me they were afraid to talk to me. They were intimidated because I have a bunch of metal in my face, colored hair, and tattoos. It was sort of disheartening because I saw how easily a person can judge a book by its cover. This first impression could have delayed a great friendship. Even though I look like I bite, I enjoy hugs more.
Something else that has been pointed out to me is facial expression. Sometimes I mean to exaggerate but often times its sort of involuntary. I almost never have a strait face, a smile suits me. Yet I’ve found my self lifting one eyebrow, flaring my nostrils, and letting my jaw drop. It doesn’t seem to be a bad thing, perhaps it shows people I’m listening when I give such reactions. Though sometimes, it can be misinterpreted. Body language for me can big hints at how a person is feeling. So it makes me wonder how my body language is viewed. Along the lines of facial expression, is eye contact. Maybe its because I’m a woman but I find myself staring into people’s eyes as they talk to me. For me it’s a sign that I’m interested and listening. Working on the air force base, I’ve found some cultures don’t appreciate this act of body language. So when talking with some of my elder Korean co-workers I have to look away. These vibes can be good for some and bad for others, its really a matter of interpretation.
Yet this sort of help shape the vibes I was putting out. I try to let my personality show through my colorful physical appearance. Show people that certain assertions can be misleading, and perhaps fatal to a good thing. I would hope my hippie liberal, happy-go-lucky, laid back vibes would rub off on people. Its interesting to try to see how people view me based solely on nonverbal cues. Yet interpretation is diverse and bias, one has to be able to see through the shell.
Anyway that’s all for now, see everyone soon!
Vanessa
Well first of all I want to apologize to for not posting a blog last week, time got ahead of me- a little bit of life did too. But any who I’m back! I’m aiming toward a fresh start for our new month and new season. Hurray! Anyway back to the blog…
The essays in this chapter were quite interesting. I’ve always been fascinated with interpersonal communication. It may be a little weird but I quite enjoy analyzing the way we communicate with each other. Anything from verbal communication or even body language, it can speak volumes about a person. Now on the other hand it is a little more difficult to analyze my own communicative ways. Yet I’m going to try and pin point a few of the quirks I am aware of.
Sometimes I find that I live in a bubble of happy delusion. It’s nice, but often times it makes it hard to touch base with reality. So obviously the view of myself can be a bit fuzzy sometimes. I have been told by a few friends that when they first met me they were afraid to talk to me. They were intimidated because I have a bunch of metal in my face, colored hair, and tattoos. It was sort of disheartening because I saw how easily a person can judge a book by its cover. This first impression could have delayed a great friendship. Even though I look like I bite, I enjoy hugs more.
Something else that has been pointed out to me is facial expression. Sometimes I mean to exaggerate but often times its sort of involuntary. I almost never have a strait face, a smile suits me. Yet I’ve found my self lifting one eyebrow, flaring my nostrils, and letting my jaw drop. It doesn’t seem to be a bad thing, perhaps it shows people I’m listening when I give such reactions. Though sometimes, it can be misinterpreted. Body language for me can big hints at how a person is feeling. So it makes me wonder how my body language is viewed. Along the lines of facial expression, is eye contact. Maybe its because I’m a woman but I find myself staring into people’s eyes as they talk to me. For me it’s a sign that I’m interested and listening. Working on the air force base, I’ve found some cultures don’t appreciate this act of body language. So when talking with some of my elder Korean co-workers I have to look away. These vibes can be good for some and bad for others, its really a matter of interpretation.
Yet this sort of help shape the vibes I was putting out. I try to let my personality show through my colorful physical appearance. Show people that certain assertions can be misleading, and perhaps fatal to a good thing. I would hope my hippie liberal, happy-go-lucky, laid back vibes would rub off on people. Its interesting to try to see how people view me based solely on nonverbal cues. Yet interpretation is diverse and bias, one has to be able to see through the shell.
Anyway that’s all for now, see everyone soon!
Vanessa
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