Blog #5

After Reading Emerson's idea's and views about the way people live in the 1800's, it is safe to say that people have conducted themselves with the same indignity for centuries. Emerson is quoted saying, "There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse". This quote is disturbing to me, it shows that the idea of plentitude and people not being satisfied with themselves is not concentrated to the 21st century. Why is it that we envy people who are "better" than us or more successful? Is it possible that it is just human nature to act in such a way? If you ask me it is a direct result of people always being told they need to do better, or they need to make more money, because money and success equal happiness. This of course is not true, my family is not wealthy but we get by as middle class citizens, yet, I personally do not need material possessions or money to be happy, nor do i want them for some sort of rank in class. The problem is that many Americans do not have this mindset, most American think an H3 and a multimillion dollar mansion are the key to happiness.

Henry Thoreau had the same kind of mindset as myself. He took a year of his life to live "deliberately" in the woods in Massachusetts, and see what he could learn from the way life should be experienced. I found this very interesting because i sometimes wish I could experience this myself. I think i could survive in the woods for a year considering i grew up in the boondocks of New Jersey withs farms surrounding me. I could easily deal with the lack of technology, but not having certain possessions would be a tough pill to swallow. From an experience like this, one can learn much about who one truly is, and how they have the ability to survive and pass time all alone. There are plenty of things in nature to experience, not to mention you would have to do EVERYTHING yourself i.e: washing clothes, making utensils, hunting and fishing for food, and bearing the elements.

As the course moves along, it is becoming easier to make direct connections between the texts we have been reading. In a way Thoreau and Emerson are historic versions of Lasn and Anderson, in the sense that there message is the same. I take "Culture Jam" and "Feed" as a way for the authors to cleverly warn readers about the fast-paced dangerous direction our nation is moving in. If trends continue Lasn and Anderson's warnings will be looked straight through, much like Thoreau and Emerson, because we have progressively gotten worse since the works of E&T.

Get "Real"

In an age that seems so far in the past, there was no internet, cell phones, or reality television. There was the working man, his stay at home wife and the two children in Elementary school. When the kids came home from school they would go down the block to play a sport with friends, or maybe help mom with household chores. Now a days children come home and turn on their Playstation, or turn on the TV just in time to enjoy their favorite reality TV show. People don't live real lives outside of school and work anymore, people instead live "virtually", in a world where they can mask their identity, and become anyone they chose. People or more specifically Americans let technology build their world around them, Sometimes to the point where the "real" world no longer exists. In the documentary "Second Skin" we saw the inside lives of Gamers. Specifically we saw Dan's roommate, who at first had a job, and a social life. His roommate Dan soon turned him on to World of Warcraft, 18 months later he had no job, hadn't been outside in months, and gained 80 pounds! This story is a perfect example of someone living a virtually addicted lifestyle.

The story above shows that Virtual worlds do not have meaning or connection with the real world. Dan's roommate playing WoW for 18 months did not pay his bills, or give him a check every week. It instead ruined his life and led him to unemployment. If you can carry out a thorough in depth conversation on Instant Messenger or Facebook Chat, does not mean you can do the same face to face with another human being. The truth is, people feel much more comfortable behind a keyboard and mouse, than being face to face. Why? because you are not judged when you communicate from behind your desktop, no one is there to belittle you, or criticize the way you dress. So naturally we gravitate toward the security of online chatting. This can all be tied back to the fact that the media presents images of the "perfect" man or woman,   if there were no more standards or people to look like, everyone would be more accepting. It is disgusting that the American people have resorted to online identities or hiding behind their computers to avoid scrutiny!

The sad reality is that we have become a nation that would rather communicate virtually than go out in the real world and do something exciting. The American people need to work toward making a better future for ourselves and revert back to the old way, the way of raw in your face physical, social interaction. We cannot learn to grow as a country and a society of humans without these concrete fundamentals of every day life. How can one get a job without proper people skills? Virtual worlds do not provide these vital essentials that one needs to be successful. As a gamer myself I understand the need to beat a game or accomplish a mission, but there is no excuse for virtual world addiction that endangers well-being and job security. From our reading and the video i have concluded that it comes down to an individuals self control, like drugs or alcohol without self control addiction is imminent and the virtual world becomes ones "real" world.

About Me

My name is David Wenskoski, i am currently a sophomore at Shippensburg. I started pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice, but after second thoughts and low job opportunities i switched my major to Business Management. I enjoy playing sports such as soccer, football, and frisbee. I also LOVE to read, but mainly rockstar autobiographies i.e (Scar Tissue by: Anthony Kiedis & Life by: Keith Richards). In my spare time i love to hang with my friends and play the occasional video game, but i rather be outside in nature going on a walk or bike ride. My music interests vary across a broad spectrum from country to hip hop to classic rock. I can get along with anyone! and love to discuss interesting topics, especially those brought up in classes.