Response to "The Prevailing Opinion of a Sexual Character Discussed"

I'm not quite sure if anyone else feels the way I do, but this article was a killer to read! I think it was mainly due to the antiquity of the language. Wollstonecraft's sentences were so long and confusing that by the time I finally reached the end of the sentence, I completely forgot what she said in the beginning. It would've been a lot easier to comprehend if she sorted out her different thoughts into separate sentences.

I was more confused about the first half of the essay than the second half. Nearly every paragraph left me with many questions! I found it interesting that she was such an avid writer and also married her friend, but unfortunately she died shortly after. I think that Wollstonecraft was thinking very radically compared to the other women of her time, or at least she had the guts to state her very bold opinions!

The opinions of Milton and Rousseau were insulting, to put it lightly. There were several instances where they mentioned that the purpose of women was merely to 'gratify the senses of man.' It was almost unbearable to read these sexist remarks over and over again! It was almost as if women were inferior slaves to men with absolutely no rights to do or say as they please. If I were a woman living back in the 18th century, I wouldn't have put up with sexism! I'm pleased that Wollstonecraft had enough courage to publish her beliefs. I wonder if she was ever strongly criticized for writing such frank remarks.

The essay also discussed how women were dependent of men. It was almost as if they were nothing unless they were with a man. But what good does it do to be with someone if you're only there to satisfy their desires? I wouldn't be a happy camper if I had to serve a man but I wasn't respected or treated like a woman should be. It's strange how much they relied on men as compared to the current day. We now hear songs on the radio such as "Single Ladies," "I Don't Need a Man," and "I Belong To Me." This may be a result from our obvious increase in women's rights in the last few centuries. I do belive, however, that women do not need to have a relationship to define who they are! In my opinion, I think we all would much rather prefer to live in freedom as compared to the poor women in the 18th century being tied down with a ball and chain.

I think that sexism still lives on today to a degree. Even though it is frequently denied, it is still there. Title IX was created to ensure that all women would have equal treatment with sports, but still women are seen as inferior as athletes. Why is so much emphasis placed on the way that women look when men are off the hook so easily? And why is it that men are viewed as smarter than women when clearly women are taking over the world? The ratio of boys to girls in college has dramatically changed, with women greatly outnumbering them. It is also true that men make more money than women even though they have the exact same job! We have also never had a woman president, even though a woman could definitely handle the job. Just because America started with certain traditions doesn't mean that they shouldn't be allowed to change with our society over time. I hope that women's rights will continue to soar as time goes on and one day both sexes can be treated as virtually equal.

Response to "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

I was frightened after reading this article (I don't know if Carr intended for readers to feel that way or I'm just paranoid). Carr stated that frequent use of the internet can lead us to think differently--mostly in a negative way. Because of such brief writings posted all over the internet, it makes deep reading and thinking a struggle for most people. I've experienced nearly every symptom he describes (difficulty reading, lack of attention, etc.) but I would have never attributed it to my frequent internet use! This seems legitamite, but maybe I'm just gullible.

Look at me right now, a prime example of Carr's beliefs. As I browse through the article trying to find the best points to talk about, I become easily distracted and check my facebook. I also recall texting frequently while trying to read the essay just a few days earlier. Where has my attention gone?!?!

It is true that my generation spends a great deal of time on the internet as compared to older generations. Is it really possible that something like the internet is the reason why my mother can sit down and read for hours (she rarely uses the computer) while I willingly will not do such a thing?

I found the sections about how the internet effects cognition and neural networks fascinating. The brain's plasticity is amazing (I learned about it in AP psych)! It's awesome how our brain can adjust to changes in our environment. Some people undergo serious brain surgery and they are able to fully recover, so I suppose a subtle change such as frequent internet use could adjust the way our brain functions.

It was amusing to read the paragraphs about how clocks also changed our brains and how Socrates thought writing would ruin us all. I liked the quote, "When the mechanical clock arrived, people begain thinking of their brains as operating 'like clockwork.' Today, in the age of software, we have come to think of them operating 'like computers.'" I still can't get over the fact that these certain inventions can totally change how the human race thinks! I can't believe Socrates had such a negative opinion on the written word. The truth is that without writing, there would be no records of anything, no books, no knowledge! Writing is so vital these days...and without writing what would we do on the internet?!?

In all, I hope that the future adults of America aren't forming into computer zombies. I know I do not want to become one, yet I can't help my frequent internet use. Maybe I should end this blog and sit outside and delve into a long novel to save my soul.

Response to "Skunk Dreams"

There were some things I really liked about this essay, but it also didnt enjoy some parts of it.

Louise Erdich's descriptive voice made it really easy to visualize the entire essay. I felt like I was almost there with her when she talked about sleeping on the football field, walking through the forest, and sneaking into the wildlife park. She also used a lot of unique phrases and analogies (Ex: the Chinese sage problem) to spice up the story! I think that the story would've been pretty weak without all of the powerful words she used..

I like how she focused the essay around a skunk, even though it wasn't the main point of the story. Erdich learned many lessons about life, but chose to portray some of them through a skunk. She was also very curious about skunks (how they dream, what they feel, etc.). I found this interesting because I've never really given much thought to skunks (or any animal, for that matter) and contemplated what they dream about or how they live their lives. Sometimes it's good to be able to take another person's point of view, which is exactly what Erdich did.

Despite the descriptive phrases, I did not like some of the general vagueness of the story. It left me with a lot of basic questions (what? how? why? when?) that she could have easily added in the essay. Why did she want to sleep on a football field in the first place? I'm a teenage girl, too, and believe me, that is one of the last places I'd willingly sleep! I want to know the reason behind her decision. Also, what is the Chinese Sage problem? Maybe I just haven't been exposed to the world much, but she could've added a sentence or two to inform the readers. Erdich also talks about how skunk smells are a reality-enhancing experience, but she never explains how or why she feels that way. I also am curious of the time frame of this story--when did she move to new England? She never really tells how old she was when any of these events happened! I think if she would've added more of these tiny details, the story could've been a lot stronger and less confusing!

I really enjoyed hearing small bits about dream analysis. I took AP Psychology last year (my favorite class!) and we learned all about dream analysis and psychotherapy, which were both mentioned in this essay...psychology is everywhere! Sometimes objects represent certain problems or thoughts in one's life, so it was fun for me to hear her dream about the fence. Usually a big fence or wall signifies a problem in one's life. I thought the essay would somehow shift to a problem in her life, but I was incorrect. I think this dream was more of a foreshadowing of things to come for her. When I got closer to the end and saw the paragraph describing the fence to the game park, I realized that it was exactly like her dream.

The biggest question I have is why skunks? How could something so simple as a skunk change Erdich? After the football field incident and walking through forests, Erdich realizes that if she could be an animal she'd want to be a skunk. What a strange choice! I guess we all go through life-changing experiences that may make total sense to us, but puzzle others.