Prompt 3: "Please Read This Story, Thank You" by Linton Weeks (NPR)

Central Argument- As time passes, rude and crude behaviors emerge, and etiquette is disappearing.

Politeness among children is disappearing and words of casual are being used even to elders. Linton Weeks of the Please Read This Story, Thank You, article, says, “The traditional magic words "please" and "thank you" that many people learn as children appear to be disappearing.” The world changes and nothing is expected to stay the same. Today, words like “thank you,” and “please,” are used in numerous and various ways. It has changed. Men call each other by numerous names as they hang out in bars or something of equal; this goes for teenagers as well. Therefore, I disagree that etiquette is not disappearing and instead, changing into something new and modern.

When I was young, I always used to see my eldest brother, a senior in High School, hang out with friends and go out for drinks. They took me along once, and their use of slang, or unnecessary, words surprised me. Although the inappropriate words, they seem to not mind at all. “Thanks bitch,” “You’re welcome ass-hole.” They didn’t seem to mind. Instead, it seemed as if they were telling each other polite words, but in much different and in their own ways. Sometimes, when they use these words, I could not help think of the fights or arguments that may occur between them as their use of “polite” words were extreme.

The change of words is also like the change of hair-style, shoes, clothes or, in other words, fashion. A hundred years ago, fashion was a sign of delicacy, dignity and decorum. It showed the ideals of man. It showed the division of the Rich and the Poor, men and women, and represents class and country. Today, fashion has changed, just like etiquette words. It has not been reduced into nothing, but rather evolved into a more … deeper meaning which is more comfortable today.

When we were young, words had no bad meaning. We never hesitated to say anything, as we knew that nothing we say is wrong. Say for example, “Mom, can I go play with my friend’s balls,” this used to be a really casual and innocent. Today, this has a whole other meaning than it used to. Today, saying these kind of sentences may just make you the laughing-stock of the whole school or amongst friends. Just like how we evolve, even etiquette evolves.

Etiquette is not dissolving, instead, it is evolving into something in ways we have never imagined or noticed. By comparing the evolution of words to our lives and past, allows us to understand the fact that etiquette is just changing, not disappearing.

Prompt 2: "Why We Like What We Like" by Alva Noe (13.7 Cosmos and iCulture)

Central Argument- People like what they want to like, with regards to their thinking and perception.

Alva Noe, of the Why We Like What We Like article, says “if we can't really taste the difference between cheap beer mixed with vinegar and an expensive micro-brew, then surely this means that our preference for the finer stuff is, well, a pretension.” This explains that the each and every individual has a different mindset, allowing him/her to choose his preference and taste. I have to agree with Noe, as she writes about what people like with their minds, not with what is expensive or popular.

Say theoretically, that there are different food critics. They are well trained and experts at what they do. They have never made a mistake. Let’s say I give them some wine, they would be able to tell the wine company, type and maybe even dates, even though they DON’T like it. Let’s us now say there is some hotdogs with mustard for the food critics. Each of them have one, but one, although he is a food critic, he refuses to have one as he may have some kind of disease or history with the snack. It’s all just a state of mind, you have to like it to have it, and you usually like it once you already have it. If you didn’t, then you wouldn’t know what you like.

Now say you’re walking through a super market picking up food for dinner. You walk through numerous isles you have never seen before and decide to try walking into the isle for once. You see things you have never seen before. A jam with the taste of trees, a shoe made of wax and many other weird stuff like that. You would not buy these items, because you have never tried them in your life. You are afraid that you would waste your money on something so dubious and uncertain. Therefore, you would walk over to the next isle knowing what to buy, stuff or items you “like.”

When I was young, my mother really bought me stuff I didn’t know about, mostly food items. As I accompanied her, one day, to the super market, there was this really delicious looking meat on the freezer, for a reasonable price too. It looked amazing and my mouth watered. She didn’t allow me to buy it. All she said was, “what if you don’t like it,” then I thought about the other times I asked for this really cool looking bottled drink, which I think was juice, tasted bitter and the noodles that had no taste at all. With that in mind, I walked away with Mom without a word.

What we individuals like is all preferred through the continuous transactions of the brain. What we like is our choice. If we never tried it, then we wouldn’t like it, even though it may be the best snack or cuisine in the world. If you don’t know it, you don’t buy it. Therefore, what we like is all in the state of mind, not with the price of the item or the popularity, but the experience you know, you get, from having that item.

Week 3, Prompt 4: "The Rise of 'Awesome'" by Robert Lane Greene (Intelligent Life)

-         Central Argument- The word “awesome” has conquered the world.

-         Robert Lane Green of the Intelligent Life Magazine said, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was awesome.” The word awesome originated during the time of Christ. The word was used to describe the almighty Lord and as time passes, the meaning of the word has changed from God-like to Jaw-dropping or Eye-catching. He states that in today’s generation, the word awesome has conquered the world as it has been used from Kings to small peasants, from presidents to civilians and so on. Therefore I have to agree with him, that the word “awesome” has conquered the world, because of the amount the word has been used, even by me.

-        The word “holy” has been used ever since the belief of God. It has been used from the medieval ages to the present today. It used to mean holy and it still is, but today, it is used in many contexts. The most common way the word “holy” is used is when to describe something “awesome,” jaw-dropping and anything surprising. “Holy Shit, Holy …” words that are being used by the majority today, not as a peaceful, innocent, God-like or even God-representing word, but as a word to describe something surprising. Similarly, the word “awesome” has ruled the world today with a different meaning than its original, just like the word “holy.”

-        The word awesome is like fashion. A hundred years ago, fashion was a sign of dignity, respect, class and decorum. Today, fashion is all about who can get the girl or the guy or just a sign of wealth and poverty. The meaning of fashion as totally changed compared to a hundred years ago. It seems rather disappointing really, but it can’t be helped. It’s like moving from Helen of Troy to Lady Gaga of today. Helen of troy was simple and wore clothes of robes and even with these simple clothes; she is noticed as one of the most beautiful women of all time today. Lady Gaga was complicated and wore clothes of raw meat, feathers, and many other weird things. Her complicated looks has allowed her to look rather impulsive and alien like compared to Helen of Troy. The word “awesome,” today, relates to Lady Gaga and her fashion. Although she is what she is, we still know her as a popular singer, world-wide.

-        Then there is religion. Awesome and religion, both, had the same meaning during its origin. Awesome was a respectful way of praising god and religion was just had one God and only one to all. Today like the word awesome, religion has many religions. It may seem preposterous as to humans worshipping idols of different shapes and sizes. It is rather disappointing once again as the one and only religion has turned into numerous and various other religions. Awesome was too, just one word and like religion, the meaning of awesome had changed.

-        Through numerous years, fashion, and religion were some of the few things that evolved from a thousand years until now. The word awesome itself, falls under the category of religion as it was a word used to praise the Lord almighty and today, it is a word to describe something jaw-dropping or just Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother.

Week 3, Prompt 1: "What Does It Mean To Be Cool?" by Thorsten Botz-Bornstein (Philosophy Now)

-        Central Argument- Cool is an imaginary, illogical combination of paradoxical fusion of submission and rebellion.

-        Thorsten Boltz says, “So cool represents a paradoxical fusion of submission and subversion.” I agree with this statement as he sides with the fact that cool is used as a provision used during hard times to submit and submerge to his/her enemy.

-        I have a younger cousin, a few years younger than me, who used to get bullied in school due to his mental behavior. He had detested school and always tried to stay home with a fake illness of some sort. He had very few friends, and one of them was me. We weren’t in the same school then, I was in a hostel and he was in a local school near home. One day, when I had returned and went for a visit to his place, he had complained about how much he gets teased and bullied. I felt really bad for him, but I didn’t have much to say, as I had never been bullied. His mom always said, “Don’t say a word and turn your backs on them.” I felt really bad not saying anything, so I just told him to listen to music as loud as possible closing your eyes. Today, whenever he gets picked on or bullied, he just listens to music, turns around and closes his eyes. Soon, the bullies hadn’t been bullying him. His act of self control allowed him to submit and subverts to the bullies, allowing them to be annoyed and fed up.

-        When I was young[er], I used to get into trouble a lot. Stealing apples from the neighbor, breaking car windows while playing cricket and sometimes accidently hitting the neighbor’s dog while playing football. I got into a lot of trouble and the only way I got out of it was through me and my friends “cool.” The neighbor usually asks us, “who destroyed my window,” and all we could answer is “what window.” He knew we did it so he threatened us by telling us that he would tell on us to our parents. We looked at each other, and all we could reply was, “yeah, sure, go tell them.” He was really annoyed, so he told on us to our parents, and yeah we got beaten up bad by them that night. We used our cool to submit to our actions and the consequences to that was not that bad. We usually get beaten up by our parents thrice a week, so this week was no different.

-        Then there are the typical Indians during the rule of the British. The Indians were slaves back then, and similar to the African-Americans in the US. The only way to tolerate tortured slavery was through their cool. Even if they spit on the slaves faces, their cool would keep them from humiliating themselves but instead, humiliate their masters themselves.

-        “Cool” had been used to tolerate slavery during the times of slavery, tolerate bullies, insults and tolerate punishment. Cool may be used as a self control or even fear, but cool is usually used to humiliate the enemy that is embarrassing you, hurting you and torturing you.

Week 2, Prompt 4: "Of Studies"

Central Argument- Anyone can study if or when they have the interest and state of mind for it.

-        The reasons for some of the world’s richest people are rich, because they had and have interest for their work ever since they started it. Yes, I agree that you need the ability and interest to study and work to become successful. Mark Zuckerberg, the youngest richest man in the world known to have created Facebook and Steve Jobs, the creator of the apple company. Both of these people are said t have dropped off college. Although they did do well, they were interested in what they wanted to do; therefore they became what they are today, people who have changed the world.

-        I have an elder cousin brother, who is mentally incapable of studying. Right now he is in the 9^th grade, when he supposed to be in college. He could never study due to his ADHD syndrome problem, but there was always something he enjoyed and loved doing, ad that is Art. Ever since he was little, he used to fail classes, but he never gave up drawing. He has this weird ability in which, if he sees something he likes, he could remember it perfectly and be able to draw it and paint it. It’s an amazing ability. Today, his art is well known among buildings as he paints buildings with Bhutanese traditional art. Due to his interest and ability for one type of study, he was able to work with what loves, Art.

-        Mark Zuckerberg was a nerd in one of the top colleges in US during late 90s. He was really good with computers, and when he got an offer for creating a social website, he agreed. This person, I must admit, is naturally smart, but he became famous for what he did. He created the Social network also well known to all of you as Facebook. He dropped out of school after realizing his true potential. He has the ability and interest to use computers; he therefore became the well known creator of Facebook.

-        Steve Jobbs was also one of the men who changed the world of technology. He created technology way beyond our imaginations. The apple company is one of the leading tech companies in the world. He dropped out of High school when he was young and reckless. He did not continue his dream of being a technician and therefore today he is the owner of the Apple Company. His ability and interest for technology has allowed him to reach far. Therefore, if you have the power and ability to learn what you love, then you can become it.

-        My elder cousin has always had the ability to learn the thing he loves. With practice and study of his favorite subject, he learned how to become a artist. Zuckerberg and Jobbs were also some of the brightest pupils in their classes, but when they found out what they can do to do what they love, they dropped college and school. They learned, on their own, with their own experiences and ability, what they wanted to learn and thus they are legends today.

Week 2, Prompt 1: "Of Marriage and Single Life"

Central Argument- Living a single life has allowed man to succeed in life due to lack of stress from wives

-          I have to agree that man can live good lives when they are single. Who says that behind every man is a woman? Who ever had said that must have been in a good mood or something. Sir Francis Bacon wrote that “HE THAT hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune,” a line that had really interested me. He implies that women and children is the reason for the ‘misfortune’ of man. I couldn’t agree more with him. Think of the advantages Homer Simpson might have.  He could live a life without worries and still have hair on his head.

-         Homer Simpson, a character in the infamous TV show, The Simpsons. There was an episode where Homer’s past was filled with hair ripping agony, literally. Ever since Homer married Marge Simpson (wife of Homer), he had been ripping is hair off because of the unexpected. Say the birth of Lisa, the eldest among the Children. The first time Homer heard about his wife’s pregnancy, he screamed out loud, pulling his hair out. It was hilarious, yet true. His life had become less … ‘fun.’ The amount of money spent for the welfare and care for their children. Truthfully, he could have saved millions if he had never met Marge Simpson, the cause behind stress and misfortune. Needless to say that women and children are the cause of misfortune and stress.

-         My uncle had never really admired the term ‘Marriage.’ He used to tell me that all women have a motive to marry you, and only 10 percent of them would marry you for who you are. It was kind of funny and maybe true. He is married now, but he still does tell me his so-called philosophy. He says that over the few years since he got married, he had wasted at least a million rupees just to make his wife happy and to prevent the break out of monstrous strength. Noticing him, in my point of view, their future is looking for a divorce. He wasted money on marriage and now he may get a divorce. Once again, his life’s filled with stress and misfortune.

-         My elder cousin is a successful business man, travelling around the world and making money from different companies. He had never had a woman in his life. That’s his secret to his success. He was never distracted because he does not have a girlfriend, wife or children. He too believes that women and children in his life may allow him to spend his money on unwanted jewelries and toys. A single life seems rather appropriate for the lives of men.

-         Homer Simpson’s little encounter with wives and children has allowed the prevention of nights out drinking with friends or enjoying parties with women. The story with my uncle. But my cousin is something different. Never married, equals to a good life. A single life is most recommended for man so he can live rich and stress-free.

1. Week 1, Prompt 1: "TV Is Good for You" By Joel Waldfogel (Slate)

         Central Argument: Television has its negative and positive areas; it just depends on how society uses it to benefit them.

      Since I was very young, I have watched television. Cartoon Network, HBO, Nickelodeon, Star Movies etc. A bit of my English is derived from TV, from Dexter’s intelligent theories and spectacular pronunciation of his French language, “omlette du fromage” (Dexter’s Laboratory) to Johnny’s expert ways of approaching women with determination and confidence (Johnny Bravo). The feeling of independence and patriotism from movies like Jean D’arc and Brave Heart had illuminated new virtues into my life. Movies ‘can’ bring change to a person’s life; it can teach you how the world is working and how it had worked. It may seem rather inappropriate at times, but without television, we might have never even heard of the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York or the national Trade Union strike in India. Needless to say, TV ‘is’ good for you as it teaches you how life is today and what is happening today, so it can be a source of knowledge for the people.

         Dexter had always used big words that were too complex for me to understand, but most of whatever happened on his shows was true; like the fact that potatoes can light a very bulb as long as the right materials are present. He had taught me my first foreign sentence, which I am very proud of even to this day, “Omlette du fromage.” After a few years, I had found out that it meant cheese omelet, I couldn’t stop laughing. Dexter had taught me a few words in a different language and an interesting fact.

       Brave heart was a movie I stumbled upon when I was surfing through the channels when I was young. Today it is one of my favorite movies of all time. A movie that touched many hearts all over the world. A movie that had had taught the rest of the world, and me, to never give up on something you love or the fact that everyone has the right to do what they want. I was still young when I first saw this movie, but I knew that this movie had taught me to have a ‘Brave Heart.’  

         Recently, there had been a major strike all over India which involves trade unions. There had been strikes and violent behavior among the officers in banks and other trade unions. This was something I saw in the news, and kept me aware of the things happening today. If there was no TV in India, or if no one was watching the so-called idiot box, what might have come of these innocent people shopping or going out for long walks?

         The idiot box ‘does’ have its negative and positive areas, but it depends on how society uses it, or what they watch. Watching movies that have no meaning or no point, has no point in watching it. Movies can be, or have, a source of knowledge if used properly—like Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Brave Heart and news channels like BBC News. Noticing that each cartoon shown on the channel: Cartoon Network has a moral in it. TV shows like 90210 and Gossip girls have no meaning or moral, therefore it should be avoided.