In reference to my title, the experiment results will be communicated in the near future.
My first two years of college have been quite an experiment (unrelated to the title). I have done many things I have not done before. There is one thing that sticks out above almost all the others. Around February of this year I bought a Nerf Gun.
Let me say, they are quite amazing. A couple of my best friends and I spend time sneaking around and surprising our other friends. One of my favorite activities for a slow night involves me staking out a position and waiting for a drunk person to come along. Upon their entering my sight, I shoot a plastic/foam dart at them (an activity I have dubbed 'Drunk Sniping').
It baffles me that I never had one of these as a child (my brother and I had toy guns, just not of the projectile type) as they are so much fun. My aforementioned friends also have Nerf swords and we have spent hours running around and fighting with them, which has proved to satisfy the cardio portion of our workout regimen.
Though I may not have owned one, my Nerf gun brings back many childhood memories, of all the fun I used to have playing around and doing whatever. It makes me long for the simpler times, before I became a full-time student hoping to earn a degree in Mathematics. I may be preparing for my future, but I still want to have the simple fun I had when I was a kid.
Most people my age are preparing for work, already working, or becoming druggies. One thing I'm sure most of us look for are relics of a simple past, filled with simple fun, gone by.
But the simple fun doesn't have to stop. Like the Nerf guns, there are some things that seem to happen to me to continue the activities I consider 'from my childhood'. My ADD and cabin fever-stricken friend pops in at least once a month demanding we all join him on a quest. The where, how, and why are never asked, nor cared about. We just go wherever. Like the Nerf sword fights, I have participated in toy lightsaber duels with friends.
The simple fun isn't ending. You just need to know where to look for it. If you need a place to start, I recommend buying a Nerf gun. They do wonders for your inner child.
Disclaimer: These are my thoughts, you don't have to listen to them.
Life changing? Probably not.
Interesting? Perhaps.
Do with them what you will. They are my thoughts.
Just thoughts.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
How to Make People Like and Remember You
First off, let me say that this is not a guarantee. This is just what works for me. Also, please only use this if you are genuinely trying to get to know someone. Don't be that jerk that really doesn't give a rip.
One day last fall, I went to visit my ex (we've been broken up for over two years, yet we remain friends to this day). We caught up with each other, hung out, and watched a couple movies. In the middle of the second movie, her roommate walked in. After the movie was done, the three of us sat and talked idly for a little bit. Then I pulled out the big guns.
I started asking about her life. Not just the general "what's your name, what's your major, where are you from, bla bla bla endless droning". The questions were more substantial. We spent hours talking about her life, her dreams, her passions. It may sound cheesey, but you know what? I made a friend, and a good impression.
A few weeks later, both my ex and I were back in our hometown to watch some of our younger friends in a high school play. A couple of my ex's high school friends and her roommate were there. This was the first time her roommate had met any of her old friends besides me, and I must say what ensued was pretty painful to listen to.
The two friends' conversation with my ex's roommate consisted of something like this: "Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me endless droning about me". Even the boring and bland major/hometown/general-things-you-don't-remember would have been better.
The comment from my ex a day later was "You were the only one of my friends my roommate liked."
Why was this? Could it be that I'm just that charming? Maybe I just have one of those faces. No. I took the time to get to know her. I listened to everything she had to say. The only things I said were questions and any answers to questions she asked. We still talk and hang out every now and then.
If you want to be remembered and liked by a person, try not talking about you. Rather, do your best to talk about the person you are trying to get to know. If you run out of things to say, try talking to them about something you both have in common. I'm no statistician, but I'm pretty sure nine out of ten times the person will remember you and like you.
Disclaimer: these are my thoughts, you don't have to listen to them.
Life changing? Probably not.
Interesting? Perhaps
Do with them what you will. They are my thoughts.
Just thoughts.
One day last fall, I went to visit my ex (we've been broken up for over two years, yet we remain friends to this day). We caught up with each other, hung out, and watched a couple movies. In the middle of the second movie, her roommate walked in. After the movie was done, the three of us sat and talked idly for a little bit. Then I pulled out the big guns.
I started asking about her life. Not just the general "what's your name, what's your major, where are you from, bla bla bla endless droning". The questions were more substantial. We spent hours talking about her life, her dreams, her passions. It may sound cheesey, but you know what? I made a friend, and a good impression.
A few weeks later, both my ex and I were back in our hometown to watch some of our younger friends in a high school play. A couple of my ex's high school friends and her roommate were there. This was the first time her roommate had met any of her old friends besides me, and I must say what ensued was pretty painful to listen to.
The two friends' conversation with my ex's roommate consisted of something like this: "Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me endless droning about me". Even the boring and bland major/hometown/general-things-you-don't-remember would have been better.
The comment from my ex a day later was "You were the only one of my friends my roommate liked."
Why was this? Could it be that I'm just that charming? Maybe I just have one of those faces. No. I took the time to get to know her. I listened to everything she had to say. The only things I said were questions and any answers to questions she asked. We still talk and hang out every now and then.
If you want to be remembered and liked by a person, try not talking about you. Rather, do your best to talk about the person you are trying to get to know. If you run out of things to say, try talking to them about something you both have in common. I'm no statistician, but I'm pretty sure nine out of ten times the person will remember you and like you.
Disclaimer: these are my thoughts, you don't have to listen to them.
Life changing? Probably not.
Interesting? Perhaps
Do with them what you will. They are my thoughts.
Just thoughts.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Story
I was sitting down with some of my old friends a few years ago. We somehow started discussing movies. I, being an avid Star Wars fan, was obligated to bring up said movies. There is something I should have realized about the particular group I was hanging with: they were the "theater crowd" portion of my friends (don't get me wrong, I love theater, it is a pastime I wish I had been able to continue in college). Immediately I was beset with accusations of poor acting, writing, and directing.
Quite taken aback at how critical they were of my favorite movies, I decided to go home and watch the original trilogy. Upon inspection of the movies, I realized that yes, some qualities of the films were a bit less than spectacular. But why had I not noticed this the five billion other times I had watched the movies?
The answer came to me in about all of two seconds.
The story.
I like the movies for the story. Not the writing, not the directing, not the acting, not the prop orientation, and not the frickin lighting. The story. The story drug me in, pulled me along for every moment. As a kid, I dreamed of carrying a lightsaber at my side, using Force powers, and flying my own X-wing.
Thinking about this, I started evaluating the importance of story. Technical details have their place, but the true mark of any good film, book, video game, or other story-telling method should be the way it's told (For a good look at the video game side of things, take a look at the blog of a good friend of mine).
Think about the books or movies you like. Why do you like them? Is it because of the way the words are aligned on the page or the way a specific prop in a movie is set? I'm guessing that most of you say it's because of something to do with the story.
I just finished reading the Harry Potter series for the first time (the reason for that is another thought for another time). They were quite enjoyable, despite the slight "easy" reading style. The story was good enough for me to see past the flaws, such as writing style, I might have otherwise put at the forefront of my thinking.
The next time you sit down and play your favorite video game or watch your favorite movie, just think about it for a bit; think about how its universe draws you in, how you relate to the characters, how it entertains you.
Of course, you may be more comfortable criticizing every aspect of a movie, book, or video game. I hope you're having fun with that.
But every time I like see, read, or play something I like, I'll be doing it for the story.
Disclaimer: these are my thoughts, you don't have to listen to them.
Life changing? Probably not.
Interesting? Perhaps.
Do with them what you will. They are my thoughts.
Just thoughts.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Criticism: The Great Polarizer
A couple years ago I was on an online forum (I would like to note that this forum had nothing to do with politics). Nearly all of the posts were of a general mindset that I understood, but did not agree. I decided to post my opinion on the matter, to broaden the subject and make people think. Apparently that was the wrong thing to do on that forum.
My thoughts, intended to do no more than to make people see a different side of things, were crucified. Many of the forum's posters were shooting my opinion down quite harshly, calling me very unmentionable things, and inserted many infuriating comments about my mother (who had nothing to do with said post).
I, in turn, became enraged with their comments (the ones about my mother still piss me off). All I had wanted to do was put in, in my opinion, a valid point to counter the seemingly overwhelming support of a different one. I don't like conflict, I just think it becomes dangerous to have no counters to an opinion. But I was treated as if I was suggesting something horrible. I reposted, called them all bigots and dirtbags (but of course with more colorful words) and have not been back to the forum since.
Indeed, it was not my first nor my last experience of the sort. I'm sure many of you have experienced this in one form of another. At some point in our lives, somebody is going to tell us that they don't like the way we are going about something and give us something called criticism.
Criticism is not inherently bad. It can be quite good. It all depends on how you go about it. Call someone a stupid fish (think about it*) the next time you think they are wrong. See what happens. I can guarantee that they won't be happy. There is nothing like an insult to polarize someone to your way of thinking. Is a person more likely to listen to you if attack their beliefs (and by extension, who they are)? I think not.
If you really want to change someone's mind, or at least get them to think about a different way of things, you must first encourage them. People react well to people telling them they have something right. After you have them with a feeling of having accomplished something, you then tell them how they can make themselves better. Everyone wants to improve themselves in some way, and encouragement goes a long way. This, your veiled criticism, will be infinitely more effective than calling someone stupid.
Try it sometime. If the posters of the previously mentioned forum had told me that, while my thoughts were good, but this is why we do it this way, I would have been insulted a great deal less.
Am I saying people should be coddled? Of course not. I hate, abhor, and flat out despise today's culture of handing things to people on a fluffy silver platter, not daring to do anything that might make someone even a pinch unhappy (I plan on posting about this at an unspecified date). If someone is being a hateful douchebag, it is good to put them in their place.
But the general populace can be reasonable. So the next time you feel like criticizing someone, find out what they are doing good, and then give them a chance to improve themselves. If they follow your advice, congratulations. You've just made someone's life better.
Disclaimer: These are my thoughts, you don't have to listen to them.
Life changing? Probably not.
Interesting? Perhaps.
Do with them what you will. They are my thoughts.
Just thoughts.
*for those of you who were still wondering, stupid = dumb, and fish = bass. Put them together. Now say them. There you go.
My thoughts, intended to do no more than to make people see a different side of things, were crucified. Many of the forum's posters were shooting my opinion down quite harshly, calling me very unmentionable things, and inserted many infuriating comments about my mother (who had nothing to do with said post).
I, in turn, became enraged with their comments (the ones about my mother still piss me off). All I had wanted to do was put in, in my opinion, a valid point to counter the seemingly overwhelming support of a different one. I don't like conflict, I just think it becomes dangerous to have no counters to an opinion. But I was treated as if I was suggesting something horrible. I reposted, called them all bigots and dirtbags (but of course with more colorful words) and have not been back to the forum since.
Indeed, it was not my first nor my last experience of the sort. I'm sure many of you have experienced this in one form of another. At some point in our lives, somebody is going to tell us that they don't like the way we are going about something and give us something called criticism.
Criticism is not inherently bad. It can be quite good. It all depends on how you go about it. Call someone a stupid fish (think about it*) the next time you think they are wrong. See what happens. I can guarantee that they won't be happy. There is nothing like an insult to polarize someone to your way of thinking. Is a person more likely to listen to you if attack their beliefs (and by extension, who they are)? I think not.
If you really want to change someone's mind, or at least get them to think about a different way of things, you must first encourage them. People react well to people telling them they have something right. After you have them with a feeling of having accomplished something, you then tell them how they can make themselves better. Everyone wants to improve themselves in some way, and encouragement goes a long way. This, your veiled criticism, will be infinitely more effective than calling someone stupid.
Try it sometime. If the posters of the previously mentioned forum had told me that, while my thoughts were good, but this is why we do it this way, I would have been insulted a great deal less.
Am I saying people should be coddled? Of course not. I hate, abhor, and flat out despise today's culture of handing things to people on a fluffy silver platter, not daring to do anything that might make someone even a pinch unhappy (I plan on posting about this at an unspecified date). If someone is being a hateful douchebag, it is good to put them in their place.
But the general populace can be reasonable. So the next time you feel like criticizing someone, find out what they are doing good, and then give them a chance to improve themselves. If they follow your advice, congratulations. You've just made someone's life better.
Disclaimer: These are my thoughts, you don't have to listen to them.
Life changing? Probably not.
Interesting? Perhaps.
Do with them what you will. They are my thoughts.
Just thoughts.
*for those of you who were still wondering, stupid = dumb, and fish = bass. Put them together. Now say them. There you go.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Good Evening and a Bit about Me
Good evening dear blog surfers.
I have a final in two days, yet I have done approximately one hour of studying. I am currently putting on an event that requires my full attention, ironically (at least from my position) named Study-a-thon. For me to concentrate on schoolwork, I need to pay more attention than ten minutes at a time, otherwise, I lose track of what I've done.
How am I doing this blog, a curious reader might ask? These are my thoughts, coherent to at least myself.
And speaking of my thoughts, for the foreseeable future, the text within this blog shall contain the aforementioned thoughts.
Am I God, Gandhi, Gandalf, or some other figure of wisdom (probably with a name starting with G)? No, though my name does sound like it starts with a variation of the 'g' sound.
I am just John, occasionally struck with a random thought that I feel might help someone struggling with their own.
But who am I, John, exactly? A bit about me.
Some of what I am seems contradictory. I revel in politics but am one of the most non-confrontational people around. Mathematics is my major and music is my passion. I consider myself nerdy (Star Wars knowledge takes up approximately 80% of my brain capacity) but I'm also in a social fraternity. I once was among the most socially awkward and incapable people in existence, but I was homecoming king and one of the best impromptu speakers in the state. I am somewhat religious yet somewhat scientific.
This is just a bit about me.
If you stick with me and keep reading new posts, perhaps you shall find out more (and perhaps I will choose a more defined blog topic to boot).
Disclaimer: These are my thoughts, you don't have to listen to them.
Life changing? Probably not.
Interesting? Perhaps.
Do with them what you will. They are my thoughts.
Just thoughts.
I have a final in two days, yet I have done approximately one hour of studying. I am currently putting on an event that requires my full attention, ironically (at least from my position) named Study-a-thon. For me to concentrate on schoolwork, I need to pay more attention than ten minutes at a time, otherwise, I lose track of what I've done.
How am I doing this blog, a curious reader might ask? These are my thoughts, coherent to at least myself.
And speaking of my thoughts, for the foreseeable future, the text within this blog shall contain the aforementioned thoughts.
Am I God, Gandhi, Gandalf, or some other figure of wisdom (probably with a name starting with G)? No, though my name does sound like it starts with a variation of the 'g' sound.
I am just John, occasionally struck with a random thought that I feel might help someone struggling with their own.
But who am I, John, exactly? A bit about me.
Some of what I am seems contradictory. I revel in politics but am one of the most non-confrontational people around. Mathematics is my major and music is my passion. I consider myself nerdy (Star Wars knowledge takes up approximately 80% of my brain capacity) but I'm also in a social fraternity. I once was among the most socially awkward and incapable people in existence, but I was homecoming king and one of the best impromptu speakers in the state. I am somewhat religious yet somewhat scientific.
This is just a bit about me.
If you stick with me and keep reading new posts, perhaps you shall find out more (and perhaps I will choose a more defined blog topic to boot).
Disclaimer: These are my thoughts, you don't have to listen to them.
Life changing? Probably not.
Interesting? Perhaps.
Do with them what you will. They are my thoughts.
Just thoughts.
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