The next sin on our list is Prejudice. This is something we should all be familiar with. We grew up being taught about the Civil Rights movement, about racism or sexism, or whatever -ism is the bad thing of the day. Prejudice is hating someone because they're different in some way, whether the difference is physical or ideological. Prejudice is when you care more about what someone's demographic is then what they're saying.
For a good example, let's take a look at America today. America has had a long and sordid past when it comes to prejudice, what with segregation, the Red Scare, etc. Even today, there are plenty of things I could use as examples (the treatment of Muslims and Latinos comes to mind). But I want to focus on another kind of prejudice, another kind of mindless division and hate. Party politics.
Our country has two major parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, the Right and the Left, the Elephant and the Donkey. The Republicans believe in small government, national security, and sucking up to large corporations and WASPS. The Democrats believe in large government, civil rights, and sucking up to large corporations and everyone who isn't a WASP. But in this modern age, the beliefs that these two parties espouse have become less important than the parties themselves. Both parties care more about sticking it to each other than they do about their ideology. They care more about being right than actually doing they're jobs.
Take a look at the news and at yourselves. How often do you see politicians blaming the opposing party for a problem rather than trying to fix the problem, and how often do attempts to compromise for the greater good fall through because neither party was willing to act like adults?
And you bastards do it too. You don't bother seeing what the other side has to say, you just write it off because you can't stand to be wrong or to have your narrow worldviews challenged. You read the news that agrees with your beliefs, you don't research or fact check, you just swallow the rhetoric. You let the politicians and media lie to you because they happen to share similar beliefs. But guess what, the reason they have those beliefs is so they can lie to you and get away with it.
QuoteWe grow grew(?) up being taught about the Civil Rights movement
QuoteEven today, there are plenty of things I could use as examples (the treatment of Muslims and Latinos comes to mind).
QuoteBoth parties care more about sticking it to each other than they do about they're their ideology.
QuoteHow often do you see politicians fixing a problem rather than politicians blaming the opposing party?
OR
QuoteHow often do you see politicians blaming the opposing party for a problem rather than trying to fix the problem, and how often do attempts to compromise for the greater good fall through because neither party was willing to act like adults?
Some suggestions on grammar, and a different way of putting that last bit.
Thanks! Will make those changes now.
:D
I'm trying to refine my list of sins. I've changed Stupidity to Willful Ignorance and switched Gullibility and Irresponsibility out for Deception and Irresponsibility. Any thoughts?
I'm just a proof-reader, dude, this is your babby. :)
QuoteI'm just a proof-reader, dude, this is your babby.
True enough. I appreciate the proof reading. The closer this thing is to perfect, the better.
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 05:36:06 AM
QuoteI'm just a proof-reader, dude, this is your babby.
True enough. I appreciate the proof reading. The closer this thing is to perfect, the better.
That's what I saw in part 1, so I thought I'd give a hand this way.
QuoteThat's what I saw in part 1, so I thought I'd give a hand this way.
Well, thanks. My plan is to take this and a couple of other essays I've written, throw them together with some art by a friend of mine, some of my own WOMP, and whatever else I can think of, and bind them together into something like Intermittens, except angrier. Then I'm going to produce as many as I can, and distribute them at my school. And then watch the shit hit the fan.
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 05:40:28 AM
QuoteThat's what I saw in part 1, so I thought I'd give a hand this way.
Well, thanks. My plan is to take this and a couple of other essays I've written, throw them together with some art by a friend of mine, some of my own WOMP, and whatever else I can think of, and bind them together into something like Intermittens, except angrier. Then I'm going to produce as many as I can, and distribute them at my school. And then watch the shit hit the fan.
Awesome, I wish you luck with that.
QuoteAwesome, I wish you luck with that.
Thanks. :D
I think "We grow up" is an equally valid way of saying it. To me it implies an inclusive statement, encompassing past and future generations. In this case, I think it would work well as a rhetorical device.
That said, great piece, Semaj. I like this one much better than the last one.
Quote from: Doktor Phox on April 03, 2011, 07:20:02 AM
I think "We grow up" is an equally valid way of saying it. To me it implies an inclusive statement, encompassing past and future generations. In this case, I think it would work well as a rhetorical device.
That said, great piece, Semaj. I like this one much better than the last one.
That's why in that post I had a question mark next to it. But thinking about it, these new generations aren't really learning what they need to. I don't know if it's just the one I was living with, or if it was her school, or if was any other thing, but I have a feeling that people will not be learning much anything for much longer, if only because the sense of entitlement that many Americans seem to possess is growing out of control.
Also it seems to me the audience is intended for Semaj's peer group or older, possibly. "Grow" doesn't really fit in that context, even if people read it later on, because that paragraph in particular is about the past, the reader's past and nostalgia (or at least that's the feel I personally get), and a cardinal rule of writing is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS keep to a single tense.
Quote from: Jenkem and Bubble Baths on April 03, 2011, 07:24:46 AM
Quote from: Doktor Phox on April 03, 2011, 07:20:02 AM
I think "We grow up" is an equally valid way of saying it. To me it implies an inclusive statement, encompassing past and future generations. In this case, I think it would work well as a rhetorical device.
That said, great piece, Semaj. I like this one much better than the last one.
That's why in that post I had a question mark next to it. But thinking about it, these new generations aren't really learning what they need to. I don't know if it's just the one I was living with, or if it was her school, or if was any other thing, but I have a feeling that people will not be learning much anything for much longer, if only because the sense of entitlement that many Americans seem to possess is growing out of control.
That's a good point. But that's not really the point of this essay, is it?
Quote from: Doktor Phox on April 03, 2011, 07:28:34 AM
Quote from: Jenkem and Bubble Baths on April 03, 2011, 07:24:46 AM
Quote from: Doktor Phox on April 03, 2011, 07:20:02 AM
I think "We grow up" is an equally valid way of saying it. To me it implies an inclusive statement, encompassing past and future generations. In this case, I think it would work well as a rhetorical device.
That said, great piece, Semaj. I like this one much better than the last one.
That's why in that post I had a question mark next to it. But thinking about it, these new generations aren't really learning what they need to. I don't know if it's just the one I was living with, or if it was her school, or if was any other thing, but I have a feeling that people will not be learning much anything for much longer, if only because the sense of entitlement that many Americans seem to possess is growing out of control.
That's a good point. But that's not really the point of this essay, is it?
Please note edit, I posted too quickly.
QuoteI think "We grow up" is an equally valid way of saying it. To me it implies an inclusive statement, encompassing past and future generations. In this case, I think it would work well as a rhetorical device.
That said, great piece, Semaj. I like this one much better than the last one.
Thanks! This one was harder to get out that Apathy was. For one thing, I prefer to have examples and sources for this kind of thing, but I couldn't find what I was looking for. But it seemed to work out anyway.
So, was there anything in particular about the last one you didn't like, or is it just a basic preference? I'm just always looking for ways to make this stuff better.
QuoteThat's why in that post I had a question mark next to it. But thinking about it, these new generations aren't really learning what they need to. I don't know if it's just the one I was living with, or if it was her school, or if was any other thing, but I have a feeling that people will not be learning much anything for much longer, if only because the sense of entitlement that many Americans seem to possess is growing out of control.
It's not just the sense of entitlement, but also the know-it-all attitude. The kids I go to school with think they know the score, think they know better than anyone else. That's part of why they don't learn, they don't think they need to.
QuoteThat's a good point. But that's not really the point of this essay, is it?
The essay's about the way Americans, and humans in general, tend to put more stock in what club you belong to than in what you have to say.
But hey, conversation goes where conversation goes. This direction will probably help when I do Willful Ignorance.
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 07:34:37 AM
QuoteThat's why in that post I had a question mark next to it. But thinking about it, these new generations aren't really learning what they need to. I don't know if it's just the one I was living with, or if it was her school, or if was any other thing, but I have a feeling that people will not be learning much anything for much longer, if only because the sense of entitlement that many Americans seem to possess is growing out of control.
It's not just the sense of entitlement, but also the know-it-all attitude. The kids I go to school with think they know the score, think they know better than anyone else. That's part of why they don't learn, they don't think they need to.
YES. SO MUCH YES. Particularly the bolded parts.
It's something that just happens, I think, to teenagers in general since forever, them thinking they know better. But some get it worse than others, and it's these who are The Worst.
Also, I wasn't being willfully ignorant. :( The edit I put in put my thinking in better context, and more fully explained my thinking.
QuoteAlso, I wasn't being willfully ignorant. sad The edit I put in put my thinking in better context, and more fully explained my thinking.
Woah! That's not what I meant at all! We were talking about teens refusal to learn, which leads into willful ignorance. You're one of the last people I'd call ignorant.
QuoteYES. SO MUCH YES. Particularly the bolded parts.
It's something that just happens, I think, to teenagers in general since forever, them thinking they know better. But some get it worse than others, and it's these who are The Worst.
Part of it is the whole "gaining control over your life thing." They have to get rid of their dependence on others, so they develop a smarter than thou attitude to do that.
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 07:34:37 AM
QuoteI think "We grow up" is an equally valid way of saying it. To me it implies an inclusive statement, encompassing past and future generations. In this case, I think it would work well as a rhetorical device.
That said, great piece, Semaj. I like this one much better than the last one.
Thanks! This one was harder to get out that Apathy was. For one thing, I prefer to have examples and sources for this kind of thing, but I couldn't find what I was looking for. But it seemed to work out anyway.
So, was there anything in particular about the last one you didn't like, or is it just a basic preference? I'm just always looking for ways to make this stuff better.
Basically because it was.. well,
wrong, as LMNO pointed out already. I liked the writing, though. And actually, I just looked and you have changed it. I like it much better now. :D
QuoteBasically because it was.. well, wrong, as LMNO pointed out already.
That one pissed me off. I really hate getting things wrong, especially when I'm doing something like this, where one wrong bit of data can fuck up my entire point. Was so annoyed, I triple checked the story I used to replace Kitty Genovese's.
And glad that the essay works better now. Thanks.
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 07:44:12 AM
QuoteAlso, I wasn't being willfully ignorant. sad The edit I put in put my thinking in better context, and more fully explained my thinking.
Woah! That's not what I meant at all! We were talking about teens refusal to learn, which leads into willful ignorance. You're one of the last people I'd call ignorant.
Ah. My comprehension is going a bit, I'm more than a little loopy and exhausted.
Quote
QuoteYES. SO MUCH YES. Particularly the bolded parts.
It's something that just happens, I think, to teenagers in general since forever, them thinking they know better. But some get it worse than others, and it's these who are The Worst.
Part of it is the whole "gaining control over your life thing." They have to get rid of their dependence on others, so they develop a smarter than thou attitude to do that.
Yes indeed. But somewhere just before your mid twenties, you'll realize that they do have
some good points. But that doesn't mean you'll like it, or want to take their advice. I don't know when that kicks in.
ETA: More willful ignorance? Perhaps a streak of stubbornness for it's own sake?
QuoteYes indeed. But somewhere just before your mid twenties, you'll realize that they do have some good points. But that doesn't mean you'll like it, or want to take their advice. I don't know when that kicks in.
I don't think that one ever kicks in. I've yet to encounter a person who likes being told they're wrong or being given advice. But then again, I'm still young yet. :D
Quote
Ah. My comprehension is going a bit, I'm more than a little loopy and exhausted.
Good, good. Just didn't want you thinking I had that opinion.
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 07:52:32 AM
QuoteYes indeed. But somewhere just before your mid twenties, you'll realize that they do have some good points. But that doesn't mean you'll like it, or want to take their advice. I don't know when that kicks in.
I don't think that one ever kicks in. I've yet to encounter a person who likes being told they're wrong or being given advice. But then again, I'm still young yet. :D
Maybe we young kids should ask Roger. :lulz:
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 07:50:12 AM
QuoteBasically because it was.. well, wrong, as LMNO pointed out already.
That one pissed me off. I really hate getting things wrong, especially when I'm doing something like this, where one wrong bit of data can fuck up my entire point. Was so annoyed, I triple checked the story I used to replace Kitty Genovese's.
And glad that the essay works better now. Thanks.
Well yeah. I'd say more on Kitty Genovese, but that's not in this thread.
QuoteMaybe we young kids should ask Roger.
Okay, but which one of us?
Not it.
QuoteWell yeah. I'd say more on Kitty Genovese, but that's not in this thread.
Well, speak your piece in the Apathy thread. It'll fit in perfectly.
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 07:52:32 AM
QuoteYes indeed. But somewhere just before your mid twenties, you'll realize that they do have some good points. But that doesn't mean you'll like it, or want to take their advice. I don't know when that kicks in.
I don't think that one ever kicks in. I've yet to encounter a person who likes being told they're wrong or being given advice. But then again, I'm still young yet. :D
I DO like advice, just not from my parents. Though this might stem from my opinion of them as people. I do try to think about their advice though.
Complicated shit is complicated.
Quote
Quote
Ah. My comprehension is going a bit, I'm more than a little loopy and exhausted.
Good, good. Just didn't want you thinking I had that opinion.
No prob. Even if I did believe that for a minute, I wasn't pissed, just like :? and :sad: because I didn't think I got my point across, or something.
QuoteI DO like advice, just not from my parents. Though this might stem from my opinion of them as people. I do try to think about their advice though.
Complicated shit is complicated.
Hmm. I shouldn't have generalized. Right after I posted that, a bunch of people I knew who did like advice popped into my head. But most of those people weren't my age. Generally they were over thirty somethings who'd gone through some shit.
QuoteNo prob. Even if I did believe that for a minute, I wasn't pissed, just like confused and sad because I didn't think I got my point across, or something.
Well still. You're a friend, and I don't like giving friends the wrong impression.
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 08:04:15 AM
QuoteI DO like advice, just not from my parents. Though this might stem from my opinion of them as people. I do try to think about their advice though.
Complicated shit is complicated.
Hmm. I shouldn't have generalized. Right after I posted that, a bunch of people I knew who did like advice popped into my head. But most of those people weren't my age. Generally they were over thirty somethings who'd gone through some shit.
I do that too. :lol:
QuoteNo prob. Even if I did believe that for a minute, I wasn't pissed, just like confused and sad because I didn't think I got my point across, or something.
Well still. You're a friend, and I don't like giving friends the wrong impression.
[/quote]
No worries, all is well. :)
QuoteNo worries, all is well.
Glad to hear. :D
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 05:24:28 AM
I'm trying to refine my list of sins. I've changed Stupidity to Willful Ignorance and switched Gullibility and Irresponsibility out for Deception and Irresponsibility. Any thoughts?
Willful Ignorance, better than Stupidity. Some people just plain can't help being stupid, that's not a sin, that's just the brain they were handed in the big lottery, it's the ones who have the capacity to understand, who have been shown, and STILL refuse to see that drive me batfuck crazy.
Deception, better than Gullibility, in concept... Deviousness, maybe better? Though repeated gullibility, I suppose, would fall under Willful Ignorance.
QuoteWillful Ignorance, better than Stupidity. Some people just plain can't help being stupid, that's not a sin, that's just the brain they were handed in the big lottery, it's the ones who have the capacity to understand, who have been shown, and STILL refuse to see that drive me batfuck crazy.
The reasons why I changed it.
QuoteDeception, better than Gullibility, in concept... Deviousness, maybe better? Though repeated gullibility, I suppose, would fall under Willful Ignorance.
I like Deception, but having difficulty decided what to focus on. Media bias and manipulation of the truth work well enough, but internet searches haven't shown any research, studies, or news articles on it. Politicians are too easy, and I want to focus on them for Willful Ignorance. Another thought I had was writing about Self Deception, but that might be too close to Willful Ignorance.
Quote from: Doktor Phox on April 03, 2011, 07:56:48 AM
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on April 03, 2011, 07:52:32 AM
QuoteYes indeed. But somewhere just before your mid twenties, you'll realize that they do have some good points. But that doesn't mean you'll like it, or want to take their advice. I don't know when that kicks in.
I don't think that one ever kicks in. I've yet to encounter a person who likes being told they're wrong or being given advice. But then again, I'm still young yet. :D
Maybe we young kids should ask Roger. :lulz:
If he doesn't rather hate being told he's wrong he has a funny way of showing it.
But then, that wouldn't surprise me that much.