Blog #5

In all honestly, I could not go off and live in the woods for a year with no technology or no other people.  I think the hardest part would be being by myself.  Humans are naturally social beings.  I'd go crazy with nobody to talk to by myself.  However I can see where you'd learn a lot about yourself.  With nothing to concentrate on besides nature and your own wellbeing you'd discover yourself on a deeper level.  It'd be enjoyable to be away from the things going on in the world, such as war and politics, but I think it'd be very lonely after awhile.  Plus I'm no girl scout, I can make fire with a lighter but not with two sticks.  I could pick berries but fashioning something to kill an animal for meat; highly doubtful.  Technology such as television, cell phones, ipods, any of that I could live without.  But we forget about things like plumbing and the fact that we have the ability to flip a switch and get light.  I get straight up pissed when the electricity goes off, it's so frustrating to flip the switch and get no light.

Blog #4

Bauerlein is completely stereotypical and judgmental in his accusation of us being the "dumbest generation."  For every dumb kid out there, there is certainly a dumb adult to go along with it.  Sure, teenagers don't care and get terrible grades and act out and blah blah blah.  Who's to say knowing who painted a certain picture or wrote this symphony is important?  It's important to those who are going to work with art or music the rest of their lives, but do those same people need to know advanced chemistry?  Or who wrote what novel?  Information sticks with us when it's something we value and intend on using forever.  Some might argue that you never know when you'd use it, but I'm sure we'd be just as susceptible to learning it then.  I don't think all the blame can be put upon us.  What if we're scoring lower on tests such as the SATs because our teachers aren't quite up to par as what they'd like to think they are?  Just because they were able to learn this information one way doesn't mean we can.  Each generation is more evolved than the previous one.  I don't think this statement is fair at all.  We're taught to strive to be individual and explore and do all these things that were frowned upon fifty years ago, such as college.  So forgive us for not remembering every minute detail when we're made declare a concentration in a certain area because that's what the older generation accepts for a job these days.

One of the articles made a statement about the web encouraging "horizontal modeling," meaning we're looking to our peers more and more as role models and mimicking them, particularly through social networks.  And that's ridiculous because there are plenty of older people who use Facebook now.  It's a double standard, and I'd like to say Bauerlein is dumb for being so narrow minded and full of himself, it's not our fault he doesn't know how to work his computer.

Blog #3

Lasn asks us if there's any real basis for the identities created online, and I'd have to say yes.  To a point. People say how freeing it is to be online and they can really be themselves because they're too shy to say certain things in real life.  Well is that really you then?  Wouldn't you consider that being fake, if it's not how you'd act in real life?  I think the internet was supposed to be a helpful thing, but has expanded to create this virtual world that will ruin the real one.  IT'S NOT REAL.  For every one person that is true about who they are online, there's atleast a hundred fat, old men getting off on these girls that pour their heart out on the internet.  It's so easy to be taken advantage of on the internet.  The internet does make staying connected easier.  Facebook allows you to search for people you maybe haven't seen for years.  You can chat on your own terms. 

One in five relationships starts online, according to match.com.  What happened to high school sweethearts, blind dates, or match makers helping a friend out?  How did people meet before the internet?  I met my fiancee when we were fourteen.  We live together, we have a child together.  THAT is real life.  I would kill the husband, father of the twins on the documentary.  It's so consuming to have one baby, I cannot imagine twins.  And then to have a husband who'd rather sit on the computer then spend time with his family.  It's disgusting.  I think it's sad that people sit and waste away in front of the computer in their chatrooms with all of their "friends," embrace life and embrace the REAL people in it.  People say they're criticized in the real world, but do you really think those people give a shit about your woes?  Your deepest, darkest secrets?  The internet just enables your online boyfriend to have ten online girlfriends.  Come on, there's only a handful of people you can trust in the world, and the chances of them being online are sooo slim.  I don't know, like everything, you can't generalize the entire online community into perverts with nothing better to do with their time.  But in my opinion, don't waste your time.  Earth is a beautiful place, it seems silly to hide from it.

Blog #2

Culture Jam suggests that America is mind-controlled by the mega corporations that control advertising; that America's wants are already decided for them, and each American strives to be richer, more fit, and therefore more powerful, and power will equal happiness.  I agree that many Americans are blinded by these ideals.  I admit that I envy the Victoria's Secret models bodies and I certainly wouldn't turn away a brand new BMW.  But why would those things be any better as opposed being overweight or having a brand new Ford?  Because the media says so.  In many countries women who are overweight are what's considered sexy.  BMW is a foreign made car, so media says that MUST be better than what we have here.

However I disagree with the section "The Cult You're In," atleast on a personal level.  On page 54 the author states this paragraph:

"Cult members aren't really citizens.  The notions for citizenship and nationhood make little sense in this world.  We're not fathers and mothers and brothers: We're consumers.  We care about sneakers, music and Jeeps.  The only Life, Freedom, Wonder, and Joy in our lives are the brands on our supermarket shelves."

I care to some extent about the materialistic things in life.  I won't lie.  But as a mother I would put none of those things before my daughter.  It makes me curious as to whether the author has children.  You appreciate family more than what items people think you should buy, wear, or sell.

Introduction

My name is Madison Beatty, however I usually go by Maddie.  I'm twenty years old.  I commute to Shippensburg University from Carlisle.  I have a two month old daughter named Camryn, and I guess you could say she's my hobby, I don't have much time for anything else. :)  This is my third year of college.  I took Intro to Lit my first semester at Ship and didn't do well so now I'm taking it again.  I love to read, Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors, and the Harry Potter series is always a good read.