Madness

This week I have really gotten a change to see how influenced we are by our environment. There are agents of socialization everywhere, especially school and family. However, for the next month, it is incredible how many peoples actions will be influenced by the NCAA tournament. March Madness is a magical time that happens once a year, and people really live and die with it. It will bring out the absolute worst in people when things dont go right. It can put people into depression or leave them in a state of ecstacy for weeks after if they happen to win. ESPN has specials on the tournament and how to fill out a bracket. Supposedly this is a science called Bracketology and is known throughout the nation.
This tournament is so powerful, people stay home from school to watch it. Although CBS is on in the commons, the fact that most teachers dont have the TV on during class makes people not want to go. That is insane power for something to have. Even as im blogging, i have one eye on the scoreboard, and clemson just lost that sucks did anyone have michigan? I cant write too long because i dont wanna miss any more game time. I am a product of the Madness, and i am proud.

"There is nothing innately shameful about being dependant"

Its amazing to me how dependant humans are on other people, at every age. Morrie had a quote regarding Mitch as someone who is afraid to attatch to others, to need others. Considering one theory of our existance is one in which we evolve and have to fight for survival among predators, it seems unlikely that we would need each other so badly. My baseball coach keeps saying OSS, Only the Strong Survive. But is it really true? We as a species are so intelligent, but as infants and as old people we are definatly not strong and cannot survive on our own. Most animals can survive on their own weeks after birth, if that. Horses can walk the day they're born. Birds live on their own the second they have the strength to fly. But humans have to be nurtured and cared for and loved for a much longer period in order to survive. And yet, we rule the earth. The Genie girl who was isolated for many years couldnt do anyting for herself, which proves our dependance on others.
The dependance isnt a bad thing. It developes us into who we are. All humans are effected by their environment, especially their families, and usually for the better.

Bemused

The article "Bemused in America" really gave a foreigners view of America first hand. There are so many things we do and words we say that make no sense at all. Someone from Europe could learn perfect english, but still be recognized as a foreigner because they are not used to our cultural norms. The article mentions five categories of cultural difference, but I think one of the most important is language. The English language goes so much beyond grammar and meanings of words. Its implication and figures of speech and sarcasm that other people may not catch on to. For example, the author uses the phrase "passing away" as a great example of strange english. Any American could tell you that means to die, but to a foreigner not familiar with these phrases, trying to piece together a meaning from "to pass" and "away", it is nearly impossible. The author made a fool of himself asking when the person that passed away would be back. Also phrases like "piece of cake" are huge curveballs to people who learn english as a second language.
Mores and folkways are so different from country to country, its very important to learn cultural norms before visiting, because its possible to insult somebody without even trying.