The Writers's World - Essay Example

“Dealing With People” by Greg McGrew This essay is very interesting and I am pretty certain that I could name someone that I know that would fit into one of these categories that the author listed. I think that it is interesting that he comes at the issue with a relatively positive approach. He explains ways to encourage the most beneficial parts of working with these personality types, instead of the negative elements. However, I am not entirely certain that I agree with his perspectives on how to react to them and deal with them. Amongst peers and employees, I agree, this may be a successful means of gaining the best of a diverse group of ideally productive workers to excel at their skills, in the ways they manifest best. This, ultimately, could never be anything but wise and will likely, lead to greater efficiency.(Gaetz, and Suneeti 589) The authors potential strategies are only feasible if the people expressing the traits are sincere and genuine in those characteristics. Simply put, there are types of people, who when they become the customer or a client, who behave in aggressive, analytical, and expressive ways, not because it is their actual nature, but because that behavior will help them manipulate a given situation. Personally, I think that when one then caters to these behaviors they encourage that behavior to be used again. “Aunt Tee” by Maya Angelou This essay relates the story of an elderly relative of the writer and a lesson she learned about “where happiness really comes from.” Can it be found it wealth, popularity, and material possessions, or does it come from somewhere else? The story is very sad. To see an older couple who have lost all ability, apparently, to find any real joy in life or each other, that watching the celebrations of others is their only vicarious option. I think that the lesson offered is a very good one. It is finding joy in the little things that please you, in the small humors; in the subtleties of simple day to day moments is what will keep you, both, happy and young. As a written work this is very poetic in its presentation and flow. I related that the ultimately deteriorating lives of the couple is represented and reflected in the nature of increasing blandness of the meals that the author’s aunt was serving through her years of service. (Gaetz, and Suneeti 586) It is not an uncommon human reality to discover, at some point in our lives, that the things that seemed so important, like having expensive cars, fancy clothing, and money to burn will make us complete and more fulfilled; that these things can only fill your time, but they cannot feel your heart. “The Dating World” by Naomi Louder I think that the author of this essay is absolutely right. The ways in which people date today is diametrically different to the formality of previous generations. However, in her discussion of how much dating has changed, the internet’s influence was not included. Today it is cyber-dating that has become extremely popular. People do not even have to meet anymore if they, in fact, do not wish to. This has upsides and downsides. There is always the likelihood that the person on the computer is not who they say they are, and this can be, not just disappointing, but dangerous. Even at its best it eliminates a great deal of the intimacy that is the point of intimate relationships. Although the free spirited sexual practices of the 1960s in the era of serious sexually transmitted disease, is hardly encouraged, the restrictive practices of the 50s may be a little extreme. After all it was those ideals that, in part, lead to the sexual revolution of the sixties. I definitely agree with the author when she discusses how everyone is ultimately looking for a partner; that finding random partners based, solely, off appearance for example, will never necessarily translate into anything serious or long term.(Gaetz, and Suneeti 679) “Body over Mind” by Mitch Albom This is a fantastic example of this kind of false concept of what is important in life and discusses a spotlight on the kind of overwhelming amount of attention that are placed on sports players at the high school and college levels. The idea that Kevin Jones is a great student, dedicated to his education, but he is not an athlete, eliminates him from being celebrated is tremendously unfair. Traylor is, in fact, a wonderful athlete, and no disrespect to his skills and abilities, but do his accomplishments warrant a press conference? I do not think so. I think that the part that angers me the most is that the athlete clearly and foolishly admits that he hopes that his college time is only a short time, referring to leaving the school if an opportunity for a professional sports team presents itself. This means that he does not even perceive the value of the college experience he is being handed and, also, has no educational goals he hopes to maintain aside from the sport that he plays. The author describes the college as being just a diving board into the professional pool.(Gaetz, and Suneeti 571) This a disheartening when another student who is geared towards making academic achievements at an academic institution is being neglected of the kind of encouragement and support that he should be receiving. Ultimately, I have always wondered why athletes are awarded with academic opportunities when they are not interested in the education and will likely not complete it? “Friendless in North America” by Ellen Goodman I think that this is a very true phenomenon in the world today. There are a lot of people that have no one to talk to, just about the day to day life “stuff” that we all sometimes need to get off our chests. People are not as trusting of other people as they use to be. They do not really get to know their neighbors anymore, and honestly, in today’s suffering economy, many can no longer afford to have social lives that allow for more social interaction and friend making. It is a little sad to think that so many people do not have the “safety net” that experts explain are essential to our social well-being. Not to mention, that loneliness has been linked to an earlier death, as easily as smoking.(Gaetz, and Suneeti 698) We spend more time interacting with our phones or computers in public places so we do not socialize with the random people we meet. All the same I think that it was interesting that there were some instances where this isolation from the “safety net” has brought some families closer. The close friends are held closer and trusted more, and intimate relationships become more intimate. Some may question if it is wrong to be selective with whom they choose to trust? At the same time there is nothing wrong with having people in wider net that you can come to when needed and they know that they can expect the same from you. “I’m a Banana and Proud of It” by Wayson Choy This is a very poignant essay. It is dealing with an issue that many individuals of any bi-racial or bi-cultural descent can relate to. Not being of either ethnicity or either culture can make some children feel like they are an outcast of both. There is a phenomena that dictates that when a person of an ethnicity other than Caucasian behaves in a way that differs from other members of their cultural niche, or dissimilar from traditionalist immigrants; they are officially white-washed. They have adopted Canadian or American culture and abandoned who they really are. Yet, that is not true. There is such a thing as American culture, that has nothing to do with race, or ethnic and cultural heritage. It is the culture of all being citizens of the country of which you are part of. In the 1800-1900s the people who came to this country from afar, embraced the cultures of the places they immigrated, they encouraged themselves to assimilate quickly.(Gaetz, and Suneeti 551) Today, it is very different. I think the fact that the author was able to find a way to balance the acceptance that he is a product of both his initial ethnic culture, the influences of his parents, but, also, of the environment of the environemnt of which he is raised. “Changing Face of Cosmetic Surgery” by Kate Howell I really like this essay because it is very rare that people step up and defend plastic surgery. I think that there are some instances where a person can take the need to change themselves too far. However, for the average person who wants to improve part of a physical characteristic or change one to meet an ideal that you have chosen, then what is the harm? Some people constantly criticize others who have such augmentations and alterations and tell them they should be happy with who they are; and yet, these are the same people who will bully an overweight person into an anorexic condition. It is a cruel cycle. If you are not attractive you will receive criticism, but if you take surgical action to gain attractiveness you are criticized for not staying who you were.(Gaetz, and Suneeti 707) The only people who truly have a problem with the plastic surgery of others are those who have never been given the impression that they need it. Does this mean that society is right for placing so much emphasis and importance on appearance? Absolutely not, it is not. However it is a trend of the times and it is likely not going to go away any time soon. Adapting to society, to social circles, to the popular trends of the time, is not a new phenomenon. Plastic surgery is just the newest avenues to achieving that. “Keep Your Roses” by Melonyce McAfee This is an amusing essay. The author has quite a sense of humor about the whole issue of the “Secretary’s Day “holiday. It is interesting that today the office dynamics have changed since the 1950s, and no one is really certain who they are supposed to celebrate on this holiday. Unless someone is receiving an official award, then I agree with the writer, the whole department should be praised, as their success is ultimately a “team work” achievement. It is, also, amusing that once gifts are given, it becomes a competition with other office members to “one-up” another in the extravagance of the gift.(Gaetz, and Suneeti 720) This has little to do with appreciation, but expectation. They are buying favoritism. I knew a restaurant bartender once, who typically receives tips, from the serving staff they made drinks for, at the end of the night. However, one server would tip her before the night started hoping to guarantee his drinks would get the priority. To me the situations are not that much different. This does not mean that people who work hard in the office environments do not deserve to be acknowledged for all their efforts. However, I think that the holiday is obsolete. The position of secretary no longer exists as it once did. They would be better off to change the day to “Office Worker’s Day,” where everyone is celebrated as a group and no one is left out. “The Case for Affirmative Action” by Dave Malcolm This essay is very thought provoking. It intends to discuss the reasons that affirmative action should be supported by diagramming a white male version that has always existed. He explains that he was accepted into his father’s college for that reason, that his ethnicity he was able to secure employment easier and make connections that would benefit him financially and socially.(Gaetz, and Suneeti 551-722)All of this will give him a natural advantage over those of another ethnicity with equally skilled or better competing skills. He acknowledges that this is unfair. However, affirmative action has always been a double edged sword. Simply meaning, that for those who are recipients of it have to perpetually wonder if they are being accepted and acknowledged for their talents and abilities or because a legal quota has been established and you fit the need. All the same it is easy to see where the author is coming from. It would be nice if people could be accepted solely on what they can do, how well they do it, and the rest of the qualifications that make them ideal candidates for education or employment, none of which has anything to do with how they look, or what ethnicity or culture they may represent. Of course that “perfect” world is not likely to spring up and things like affirmative action may be one of the only ways to force a more fair playing field for everyone in this country. Works Cited Gaetz, Lynne, and Phadke Suneeti. The Writers's World: Paragraphs and Essays. 2nd. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2009. 552-722. Print. Read More