Observation

For my practice observation, I went to the Honors Program Office in the bottom floor of the Maxwell library. Because the students who use the room are all in the honors program, it can defiantly be categorized as a community. The room that houses Honors Program Office is quite small with only a few computers a couch and a coffee table. Two of the students in the room at the time I was observing were employees of the Program that are responsible for managing the room and planning Honors events. By listening to them communicate, I learned a few things about their personal lives, and what they were working on in the room. The other students that were in the room were using the computers in the room to utilize the free printing. Most of the students using  the computers seemed to know the works in the room which probably means they use the room regularly. The use of media was prominent in the use of computers by both the employees and the students. The students use media to help complete their school work. 

Passive Aggressive Notes

Just before reading the selection about the passive aggressive notes, one of my suite mates decided to leave a note to his roommate asking him to clean his dishes. I would have posted a picture of it, but its contents are a bit to inappropriate to be posted on a course blog. Thinking back to the note my suite mate left after reading the article, I realized the structure and purpose of these notes. Although each note seems to be passively directed to one person, they are meant to be seen by everyone. But why is that? Why not just leave someone a private note? Obviously these notes are meant to be humorous by the writer, but the humor has an alternative purpose than just a good old laugh. By using humor, the writer is effectively gaining the support of everyone that the note is not referring to. In an effort to avoid being the talk of the latest gossip, the person or people who the passive or aggressive note is referring to will change their behavior. Leaving a note like the one about the stairwell is a brilliant way to correct whatever problem is created without having to figure out who the culprit is. Also, if the note is successful and the problem is corrected, it avoids a possible one on one confrontation with whomever it is referring to. My guess is that tomorrow there will be no dirty dishes left on the sink in my suite.

Response: "It takes a Tribe" by David Berreby

    A community can come in many forms, but all communities share a common denominator, the people within them share similar beliefs, traditions, behaviors or backgrounds. Often, as a part of a community, or multiple communities, we forget just why we are a part of them. The article written by Berreby answers that "why" by presenting the results of scientific analysis and relating these results to the idea of college as a community.

    As a college student, I found his explanation interesting and thought provoking. It got me to think about the reasons I picked this particular college and my behaviors as part of the Bridgewater State community and the other communities I am a part of both on and off campus. Much of what he writes, specifically about humans craving to be part of something bigger was accurate.

    One line in particular stood out to me, "Once people see that they've been divided into groups, they'll act accordingly, even if they know that the divisions are as meaningless" (Berreby,122). This statement is true, but what is it about human nature that makes actions like dividing ourselves into exclusive factions so desirable? The answer is simple, as humans we naturally think in a mob mentality. We are afraid that if we choose to form our own opinions about matters that we will be wrong. And more importantly if we are wrong, we are seen as an outsider from the groups who's popular opinion we dared challenge. No one wants to be considered an outsider, not because they are afraid of being alone, but because life actually gets more difficult to live when the resources of the group( whatever they might be) are not available to the individual. For example, if you join a sports team at BSU, you are allowed to choose your classes before non-athletes. If you are an athlete and you choose not to be on a sports team, you lose that privilege. You could be the next Olympian, but because you are not part of the official group, your academic life becomes more stressful as you struggle to get into the classes you want. Furthermore, once you become an outsider, factions will go out of their way to exploit the outsiders for challenging them, even though their motives are completely meaningless. In the case of the figurative Olympian, he/she will be cal

led selfish, stupid or strange for not wanting to use their talent on the team.

    But soon enough, for every faction formed, one that has an opposite believe of that faction will arise to challenge them. These behaviors are not exclusive to sports teams, they can apply to other faction or groups that exist in any community. 

For my collage I chose to express two aspects of my life that I value greatly, and how they come together to motivate me to achieve my goals. Music and exercise have been part of my life since the beginning of high school. I wanted to change my lifestyle to become more of an athlete and participate on a sports team for my high school. At the time, I was over weight and living a very sedentary lifestyle, and lacked support from my peers. So, I turned to music in an effort to motivate myself, especially during exercising. Whether it was running, or weightlifting, I was always able to throw on my favorite songs to help me focus. 
Today, I am doing the same thing, but my goal is different. In August I enlisted in the Air Force and since then, my goal has been to prepare myself for the training I will go through over this summer. Still, I turn to music to find my motivation and help me stay focused whether it be academically or physically. Both academics and physical fitness are important to my career in the Air Force, and with the help of music, I plan to excel in both areas.  

September 11 Tattoos

 Body art is used as a method of self expression that becomes part of a persons identity. Many cultures around the globe use different types of body art as a form of expression for religious, ceremonial, traditional and many other purposes. The meaning of body art to a particular group can be analyzed for its unique traits. The September 11 Tattoos were obviously created to commemorate the tragic events of that day. But what do these tattoos say about the identity of the United States? Two of the tattoos feature the American Flag, and one of the tattoos quotes the Bible and reads "We will not forget our brothers and sisters". Further, another tattoo quotes the song "America the Beautiful". All of these symbols seem to point to one common theme, nationalism. Theses tattoos show that Americans have a sense of pride and union. Also, the Bible is referenced, leading you to believe that religion is an important part of society. The similar themes expressed by the tattoos defiantly touch upon the key values of the United States.