Sunday, September 28, 2014

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Chapter 13

Summary:
In chapter 13, Maya reveals that Mr. Freeman was the man that raped her. She felt trapped when she didn't know how to respond when the attorney asked her if there had been any times before because she didn't want to admit that there was.  She ended up lying to the court and Mr. Freeman was sentenced to only one year.  However, a policeman informs Momma that Mr. Freeman was kicked to death. Feeling responsible, Maya decides to only speak to Bailey.

Response:
This chapter really stuck out to me because of some of the things Maya wrote and the way it was written.  I could really feel connected to Maya even though it takes place years ago and in a totally different world.  I was also very moved when I read about how she felt like she forfeited her place in heaven because she felt like she did something very wrong and was going to be punished for it because the burden that it would take a person's life.  Especially a little girl, is a lot to handle. And also how she felt like something bad happened when she would talk so she would give up talking.  It made me think about my little sister and how horrible I would feel if she went through something like Maya did.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Virtual Popularity Isn't Cool - It's Pathetic

Summary:
In "Virtual Popularity Isn't Cool - It's Pathetic" Ian Daly explains how it has become somewhat of a competition to friend as many people as possible on social media. It even goes to the extent that we feel a sense of accomplishment when we are on these sites.  He also mentions how it's become a distraction from what we should really be doing such as working or socializing in person.  He mentions several times how grown men will "hyperventilate over friend counts" (480) and act more like teenage girls rather than the grown men that they are.  Another big point Daly makes is that once you decide to join Facebook (or any social media, for that matter) your social image will be out of your control.

Response:
Daly makes a lot of accurate points in my opinion. I agree that people get overly excited over strictly cyber friendships and a lot of people take their friend count way too seriously.  People actually pay money for accounts with thousands of followers already.  Also people unfollow/unfriend people they really know so that they can have more followers than following, as if following people should be frowned upon.  However I disagree that you can't control your image on social media.  If anything you can control it too much with filters and only uploading pictures YOU want to.  People also use social media to show off what they do and where they have been. Also social media is only as much as a distraction as you make it.  There are many people that have social media accounts and are not obsessed with getting 10k friends.