Rena_Ex_p191

Where My Friendship Went Wrong

1. No Ears
2. Not Having It
3. Snide
4. I'm Always Right
5. Two Hotheads, One Argument
6. Silent Winter
7. Thawed Summer
8. Unease
9. Sparkles

Rena_Ex_p191

My Friendship With...

1. Back at the Beginning
2. Big Bang
3. Like Velcro
4. Superglue
5. Cross-Country Letters
6. Gorilla Glue
7. Sniper
8. Ice Water
9. To Be Continued...

Where My Friendship Went Wrong

1. No Ears
2. Not Having It
3. Snide
4. I'm Always Right
5. Two Hotheads, One Argument
6. Silent Winter
7. Thawed Summer
8. Unease
9. Sparkles

Rena_6_DQ19

We live in a society driven by social media. One of my best friends had a roommate last year that didn't have a Facebook account. This struck me as very odd. Who doesn't have Facebook these days? Taking a step back from this moment in time, I can see how ridiculous it is that everybody just assumes everybody else is on the web. The other day a friend surprised me by saying I couldn't call her because she had used up all of her minutes for the month. What? I haven't not had an unlimited plan since 2009. It's so easy to assume that everybody is as connected as you are. I think social media specifically plays a role in the demise of relationships. If you engage in social media, everybody knows your business, and that's not always a good thing. A couple years ago I had a friend with self image issues. It made her paranoid about the intention of others towards her. One day when we were supposed to hang out after school, I had to ask for a rain check because I had forgotten I had some important errands to run. She thought I was blowing her off for the guy I liked at the time and so she texted me while I was driving, being all upset and irrational. I don't text and drive, so I didn't immediately text back, which only made it worse. I returned her text whilst pumping gas and then continued about my errands, once again having to put off returning her correspondence until I wasn't driving anymore. While waiting on a teller at the bank, I tragically chose to update my Facebook status rather than text her back, and then I was off again, running errands. SHE FREAKED OUT. I couldn't text her back but I could update my Facebook status? Oh the audacity. What a horrible friend I must be. I totally blew her off right? Right??

Please.

The moral of the story is, there is a negative side to social media and it shows and it can be damaging. Facebook is like that friend that only reports half the details and it makes you look bad.

Rena_6_OL

First I would just like to say that I do not belong to a religion. I don't like religion. I have faith. None of the people listed have that in common with me.

Desirae
Same ethnicity? No
Same socioeconomic class? Yes
Same education level? Yes
Live more than 10 miles away? Yes

Emily
Same ethnicity? Yes
Same socioeconomic class? No (hers is higher)
Same education level? Yes
Live more than 10 miles away? No

Tyler
Same ethnicity? Yes
Same socioeconomic class? Yes
Same education level? Yes
Live more than 10 miles away? Yes

Mollie
Same ethnicity? Yes
Same socioeconomic class? Yes
Same education level? Yes
Live more than 10 miles away? Yes

Sarah
Same ethnicity? Yes
Same socioeconomic class? Yes
Same education level? Yes
Live more than 10 miles away? Yes

Michael
Same ethnicity? No
Same socioeconomic class? No (his is higher)
Same education level? Yes
Live more than 10 miles away? Yes

Kimmie
Same ethnicity? Yes
Same socioeconomic class? Yes
Same education level? Yes
Live more than 10 miles away? Yes

Katelyn
Same ethnicity? Yes
Same socioeconomic class? Yes
Same education level? Yes
Live more than 10 miles away? Yes

Arrin
Same ethnicity? Yes
Same socioeconomic class? Yes
Same education level? Yes
Live more than 10 miles away? Yes

Jordan
Same ethnicity? Yes
Same socioeconomic class? Yes
Same education level? Yes
Live more than 10 miles away? Yes

Rena_DQ17

I agree with Vincent, I think others definitely look down on people who go into sex shops. I would never do such a thing because I feel like people would be judging me. I don't even like buying feminine hygiene products at Walmart. If I do, I won't use a male cashier unless I have to because it's embarrassing. But yeah, I think that seeing someone going into a sex shop, or any place associated with sex, gives a negative connotation about what kind of person they may be.

Rena_DQ16

I agree with Brenna. I think that this is because sex is supposed to be private. Also, it's not appropriate for everybody to know about. You wouldn't want a gentlemen's club next door to an elementary school, now would you? I also agree with Sheryl about her manners bit. The title "gentlemen's club" seems like a paradox to me, as the men within are acting anything but gentlemanly. So why that title then?

Rena_Ian_Slumdog

1.     the setting of the story made it more interesting, it took place in a place that you don’t hear of very much and just to see what it looks like and how people in other parts of the world live make the movie more interesting

2.     The scene at the public bathroom where jamal jumps in the sewage I think that part of the movie shows that jamal has courage and doesn’t give up when life or in this case his brother “throws him a curveball”

Rena_OL

I think an absurd amount of emphasis is put on physical appearance. Society tells us how we're supposed to look. If you don't fall into that niche then you're gonna have a hard time. As some other people have already said, your physical appearance plays an enormous role in nonverbal communication. The most honest, hardworking man in the world could be homeless, dirty, and wearing disgusting clothes and get turned down for a job interview simply because his appearance doesn't communicate to others "hire me."  I'm the kind of person that likes to fly under the radar and I'm successful at doing so. I find it amusing but also mildly annoying how, if one day I decide to dress nice and do something with my hair and makeup, suddenly people notice me. Like hello, I've been here the whole time, but now that I look nicer suddenly I'm worth your attention? I see.

Unfortunately, the importance our society has placed on physical appearance can't really be ignored. You want that job? Better groom yourself to the max and wear your best business attire. Don't like it? Too bad, nobody else does either. It's the way it is.

Rena_4_OL

I'm trying to think of some event I know something about, but I don't really pay much attention to the news or even watch tv very much. The one thing that pops into my mind is Casey Anthony. I don't know a whole lot about it but, to overstate, "everybody knows she's guilty." I say that because it seems like every person, whether it be close personal friend or new acquaintance, that I talk to thinks that she is, even though she was acquitted. None of my friends or I have ever had a change in interpretation of the Casey Anthony case. I guess sketchy doesn't mean guilty, and Casey Anthony is definitely sketchy, but it's all very suspicious...

Rena_4_NI

How do you guys feel about online classes? Do you think you would be more successful taking your classes online or in a physical classroom? Personally, I feel that I should never allow myself to take an online course. In the comfort of my own home, there are far too many distractions. Home is home for me, home is not school. I'm in a mindset when I'm in a classroom. I would not be productive if I took an online course.

Rena_3_DQ13

I honestly don't watch House so I wouldn't really know. From what I've seen though, I think he's hilarious. As someone who sometimes has a very dry sense of humor, he just cracks me up. Seventy five percent of what comes out of my mouth is sarcasm, so his character is just great to me.

Rena_3_NI

Recently I've discovered some really beautiful orchestral/choral music that I love to put on at any given time. Usually when I'm trying to concentrate, I need as close to absolute silence as physically possible. But I've found that I can study to this music quite easily. Most of it lacks lyrics, or if there are lyrics, they're usually in like Latin or some other language that doesn't really sound like a language. This music doesn't break my concentration or distract me at all. What about you guys? Do you find that you can study with lots of noise or do you need a particular set of sounds (or lack thereof) in order to concentrate?

Rena_3_NI

I'm a huge procrastinator. It's really bad. I have a lot to do and plenty of time to do it... it's just actually doing it that gets me! For example, I'm just now making this post and it's slightly over an hour before class. Better late than never I suppose. Anyway, what sorts of things do you guys procrastinate over? What do you do to overcome that overwhelming sense procrastination?

Rena_2_DQ9_

When I'm away from my loved ones, I try to consistently make sure they know I love them. I call them, Skype them, write on their Facebook walls, basically everything that's already been said.

Rena_2_DQ8

I don't really have a preference on if my views match up with the views of those I talk to or not. It's not like I have this checklist, like oh hey, we don't share the same philosophical views, guess we can't talk. The world doesn't work like that. And honestly, that kind of stuff doesn't really come up. How often do you sit down and have a serious conversation about your personal beliefs with anybody? Not very often in my case. I'm a really shy, introverted person. I don't start conversations with people I don't know unless I have to. As a result, I have a very small circle of friends. We don't always agree on life views but that doesn't harm or hinder our friendship in any way because we respect each other. Mutual respect is a very important thing to have in any relationship. And even when I do encounter that random classmate that ONLY wants to argue with everybody about everything no matter what it is, it doesn't go very far with me, because I can respect their opinion even if I don't agree with it, and move on.

Rena_2_DQ7_NQ

I honestly have no idea why there isn't (except there is...) a name for the back of the hand, except that you don't use the back of your hand for anything. It's just there. When you use your hands to interact with others, you typically face your palm towards the person with whom you are interacting. Even in non-social situations, you use your palm to interact with the world around you. You hold things in your palms. That's what the biological purpose of your palm is. To help support objects as you hold and manipulate them. I didn't really like this question. When I first read it, my initial reaction was to let out an inward "Who cares?"
It just didn't really.... I don't know. I was very exasperated, instantly, because this question seemed kind of dumb.

Imagine that you had to go an entire day without speaking at all. With body language alone (you can't write anything down or type it to convey your message), do you think you could successfully communicate with others? Why or why not?

Rena_2_DQ5

Nonverbal:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Google+
• Blogger 
• Skype (instant message)
• Text messaging
• Letters (yes, I do still write letters)
• World of Warcraft (chat, mail, and guild forums)

Verbal:

• In person
• Phone calls
• Skype (call or video call)
• World of Warcraft (Vent a.k.a. voice chat)

I think it's probably true that some of the ways I communicate with others are in conflict with who I really am. I try to be real and present myself as myself online, but I think everybody has a tendency to "touch up" their life and make it seem cooler than it really is. Personally, I have a very detailed Facebook profile (with the exception of omission of my phone number and physical address), and I think if you really looked at it and went through everything, you could get a good idea of what kind of person I am. I'm a little uptight and I'm not afraid to admit it. I have a very defined sense of humor. I'm artistic and musical. I like to document happenings in my life with strict accuracy. I'm very organized. I'm a nerd. And on and on and on. However, I'm sure that my Facebook profile makes me and my life seem cooler/better than in reality.

I'm a private person though, and my online profiles do not reflect that at all. Although detailed and abundant, the things you would find online are very topical. There's a lot more to me as a person than I present to most people. I don't think I have any double standards or present myself as uncertain about myself, however I do think I probably present myself as a prettier version of myself. You can't get to know me by reading my profile.

As far as verbal communications, well, that honestly depends on with whom I am conversing. Obviously I'm going to be more honest and more forthcoming with my best friend than someone from class I barely know, because, as aforementioned, I am a private person.

Rena_1_DQ4

I don't think I've ever been in an unfair relationship at all. If I have, it didn't last long because I definitely don't stand for a lazy significant other or friend and it would make me uncomfortable knowing that my significant other or friend did more for me and our relationship than I did. Obviously no relationship is perfect, but I think striving for a good, equalish relationship is something you should want to do.

Rena_CH1_DQ1,2,&3

This is going to be my response for Discussion Questions 1, 2, and 3 since I neglected to make my post last week.

DQ1: I think the divorce rate in India is lower than in the United States for many reasons. First, in the US, it is socially acceptable to get a divorce whereas in other countries such as India, divorcing your spouse would have all kind of consequences, such as dishonoring your family or being disowned by them. Also, in India, it is part of their culture to have arranged marriages. It's not necessarily about love. People don't get married with the same mindset as in the US.  Women also have greater rights in the US versus India and many other countries where women's rights are all but nonexistent. In the United States, marriage just isn't taken as seriously as it is in other countries. People just flit in and out of them because they can. The mindset is, "Oh well I can get married right now, spur of the moment, on a whim, and if it doesn't work out, well there's always the option of divorce."

DQ2: I don't think marriages should be arranged by parents. I definitely think you should marry for love, not because your parents have matched you with a wealthy suitor that will be able to take care of you. I wouldn't care about the security if there wasn't any love. I definitely think marriage is a very personal, intimate decision. I do, however, think that it's very sweet and very respectful for a man to ask a woman's father for her hand in marriage. While it's not necessary, and sometimes you have to go against your family's wishes to make yourself happy, I just think that it's a very polite and very romantic gesture, that shows the woman's family that you respect them enough to see what they think about it before you whisk their daughter off into a new life with you. Although I don't currently have a partner, the guys I have dated have not necessarily been very similar to me. I have been in relationships with guys that are different from me religiously, a different ethnicity than me, and just lots of different things. While relationships can sometimes be complicated by these differences (hypothetically, imagine an atheist dating a person of faith), they are not necessarily important to me.

DQ3: I think that using college-age students in research for romantic relationships can have a couple of flaws. I don't think college students would be a very good control group to get results concerning romance, necessarily. College is about exploring the world and getting to know yourself and how you relate to others, so romance may not necessarily be present in a relationship. The cliche idea of college is that everybody experiments with alcohol, drugs, and sex. Maybe not all three, and maybe not extensively, but it is generally understood that college-age people and people in college are mostly all about having fun and being young before they have to get their life together and be a put-together adult with major responsibilities. So I think that researching romance using college-age people could yield poor results, depending on the type of research being done, simply because it's not as much of a priority among that age range as it is with people older than that.