Journal #1 - Room

ROOM "Beep beep. That's door [....] Boom that's door shutting and Old Nick is telling Ma how there wasn't any of something" (Donoghue pg.47).

           This quote was said by the main character, a five year old boy named Jack, when his apparent father came into the room and began talking to his mother. He was forced by his mother to stay in the wardrobe so that Old Nick couldn't see, hear or touch him. The fact that Jack didn't question why they were trapped in the room relates to me because many festivals and rituals that are performed in my East Indian culture i never knew the reason for them growing up. I just went along with what my parents told me and didn't fully realize the importance. Although my non curiosity didn't involve me being in a life threatening situation, like Jack, thinking back on it now, i definitely missed out on a subsequent part of my background as a child. Similarly, Jack didn't know the importance of why they had scream time every day or why his mother made him punch in random numbers into the code machine for the door. He simply understood them as a game and a chance to have fun between eating  and resting.  Despite the so-called games they played, the biggest fact that was unknown to Jack was why they were even put in that dungeon-like space in the first place. Although, to be fair, for a boy who has spent his whole life in this very room, it is obvious that he doesn't know what kind of life other kids have so he is not to blame for his inexperienced childhood. After reading this book and looking back on my life, i begin to wonder how things would have been different if i was more educated on my culture. Would i have been able to enjoy the festivals more knowing the true sentimental meaning behind them? I will never know now but it does encourage me from now on to propose questions when i am unaware of events because more knowledge never hurts.

            While everyone may not be able to understand Jack's lack of curiosity,  my childhood aids me to relate to Jacks situation because like him i was remarkably close to my mother so i would just believe whatever she said. Also like him, at that age i was indifferent, but now as I'm older, i regret not asking those questions and when Jack grows up I'm sure he will ask his Ma this question. Why were we limited to that eleven by eleven foot room?

Public Displays of Disaffection

    

           1) It is always a difficult topic when it comes to figuring out when to draw the line for cell phone use but everyone has their own preferences. In the article "Public Display of Disaffection" by Anne Kingston, there are three main topics that are discussed having to do with "cell-fishness."  Society is moving away from having one on one conversations, cell phones have apparently become a necessity, and relationships are being ruined by this electronic device. Continuing on with the first point, kids as well as adults are manipulating the use of this handy device by not seeing the need in having a face to face conversation.  They would much rather send a 30 second message than take the time to actually speak to the person verbally, which is causing us to lose our “one-on-one people skills”. The next argument is that cell phones have not only become a must have but an “addiction”. Some people think it is ok to be permanently glued to your phone and not respect your surroundings going as far as “texting during sex”. As said in the article, this addiction is leading to some drive through pharmacies and fast food outlets refusing to serve “digital multi-taskers”. The final point is that these electronic devices are beginning to put a damper in the users’ relationships.  The frustration has gotten to the point where most people said that “they’d rather see someone pick their nose than use a mobile device in front of them” in a survey done by Intel Corps. People are fed up because instead of respecting the speaker when they are talking, cell phone users are disrespecting them and giving them the impression they simply don’t care. In conclusion, this article mainly outlines the frustrations society, restaurants, and other places have with the over use of cell phones.

                      2) When it comes to the argument of society not having enough one on one conversations, I would have to partially agree and find myself slightly guilty. All of us cell phone users, including myself, have been in the situation where we texted someone rather than taking the time to speak with them physically. Although I do it too, I don’t feel that it is that big of a problem yet. The second point I agree with one hundred percent. I myself have been put in the situation where I feel every disrespected that my friend is glued to her cell phone and not attentively listening to my exciting story. Personally I would never use my cell phone while engaging in conversation with another, face to face. This brings me to agree with the third point. Even though I don’t believe that cell phones should be banned from all public areas due to the frustrations of people, everyone should understand the right time to pull it out and the right time to leave it hidden.

              3) There are many places where I believe a cell phone is acceptable, for example, when you are alone and need to call if there’s an emergency, or if you are lost somewhere and need help finding your way. Despite this, cell phones are unacceptable in places such as movie theaters and schools because while you aren’t paying attention, someone else around you is being distracted as well. Even though there is a time and place that the use of a cell phone is acceptable I don’t think that they should be banned because an emergency can happen anywhere and at anytime. Also, cell phone use is higher amongst the younger generation so there is a possibility of a protest starting and more problems being created

Mind Power

Imagine a life where you could know what others are thinking before they speak. Predict there reaction before they act or even sense something that’s about to happen. I guess you could call it a sixth sense. By having this super power I could not only excel in sports but also eliminate many unfortunate events. For example, it’s the game point of a volleyball game and the other team has the ball. My job is to successfully stop the ball from making it over the net, yet I’m not aware of where the setter is going to set the ball to. So, by utilizing this power I could predict where the setter plans to pass the ball and I could move in the right direction to earn that game point for my team. This would not only benefit me but also my peers who are watching the game and cheering on their own home team. Although, it would be nice to help my fellow students and locals, I could aid many around the world as well and especially those who have been hurt or killed by unexpected happenings. Hearing stories about minor accidents that could have been avoided if that individual would have moved over 2 steps or known that the area they were in was unsafe breaks everyone’s heart, such as, being hit by a falling tree, being hit by lightening, or going down an abandoned street. With this power, I could be aware of something or someone lurking in the dark alley which could save my life and save me from being injured. Even though this power would mostly help those who could be in danger, it would also bring joy to others and I from just getting the game winning point in a thrilling volleyball game.