These are time sensitive. You do not receive credit if you write them after the deadline each week.
First, there's a blog entry (about 250 words) which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question. Each week, you must do the blog entry with enough time left in the week to be able to enter into dialogue online with your classmates. Write, reply, write more, reply more, and then write and reply more.
Second, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.
Third, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the SATURDAY (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. This entry should be a long paragraph. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND TO OTHER STUDENTS' PART THREE EACH WEEK.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Week Eight So Late... BLOG ENTRY
sorry folks, i had technical difficulties.
Here is our only work for this week. As you start to read through the Tipping Point, choose one sentence. Write it here and tell the class why that sentence stood out to you.
“They see the possibility, and while most of us are busily choosing whom we would like to know, and rejecting the people who don’t look right or who live out near the airport,or whom we haven’t seen in sixty-five years, Lois and Roger like them all.” Pg. 53
I chose this statement because I felt like it spoke a lot of truth. Society has programmed us to interact with people who are like us, people who we work with and people who we spend the most time around. It’s difficult for most of us to randomly speak to a stranger who we assume is different. Today’s youth is so overwhelmed with having their own circle of friends and they enjoy excluding the students who do not seem mainstream. Young people and even adults don’t realize that by doing this, they are not hurting the outsider any more than they are hurting themselves. In my opinion, we need diversity to be able to become well rounded individuals. Although difficult, I always attempt to open up to people who would otherwise not speak to me in hopes of a positive outcome. Something as simple as asking a classmate what he or she thinks about the lecture can spark conversation that may well lead to friendship. By no means am I trying to compare myself to Lois and Roger. They are outstanding individuals who go above and beyond, but I do think that we can all try a little harder to communicate with the strangers, the outsiders, and the ones we believe are beyond us.
You are an outstanding individual too, Karla! It is funny that you write this, because I am at a conference all week and as I was taking a bunch of plates from my table to the trash, some woman aaid, "you are a good man for cleaning that table, Brett." I was like, really?, thanks! But the part that struck me most was her hse of my name...I was wearing a name tag, like everyone else here. So that is the answer--everyone should wear name tags and we will be more at ease speaking with strangers....what do you think?
Good point!! But when I am at school, it's hard for me to talk to someone else who is outside my major because I am always in the math building! I practically live there and know most of the math majors on campus.
I agree it is hard. I think that's what the book is trying to say. We talk to people who are in our circle because it's convenient and like you say, they are always around, but sometimes those people who are still in your circle can come from different backgrounds and can contribute to our lives in ways we never imagined. How awesome is that? :)
Awesome quote! I agree, it is hard for me to talk to people who I believe have a stronger personality than me based on their looks. I know it's horrible to say, but I think high school played a big part in that. I tend to stick to people I know. I wouldn't mind stepping outside the box, though. Maybe we just stick to the same people because that's all we know. There's some friends that I had in high school, that I am no longer friends with because when high school was over we had nothing in common except for the same circle of friends in school.
I chose a sentence from chapter two: “It began on a cold spring morning, with a word- mouth epidemic that spread from a little stable boy of New England, relying along the way on a small number of very special people”... The phrase “word- mouth epidemic”, stood out to me and captured my attention thus far. In today’s society, I think the utilization of worldwide internet, smart devices and social networking has surpassed this epidemic. Although, I do believe that in person interaction is the most vital method of communication, but the type of lifestyles most people live, does not always make this method a priority all the time. I do have to admit, that majority of my daily interactions occur through e-mail, texting and over the phone. I wonder, if the little boy had access to the internet and devices that we have today, how much faster could he have gotten the word out? I think, the benefits of technology would have allowed him to spread the word quickly and reach many more others to alarm them of the battle about to take place. I found it intriguing to think about how certain events in history could have been altered if advanced technology was present. In this particular incident, I think that technology could have drastically changed the outcome of the battle and shortened the fighting period also.
"The fact that Mavens want to help, for no other reason than because they like to help, turns out to be an awfully effective way of getting someone's attention." p. 67
This line stood out to me because it defines who my husband and I are and strive to be. We are in network marketing, which clearly gets stigmatized for people being manipulative and deceitful in order to make money. What sets us apart from all the others is the fact that we care about the well being of each person we come into contact with. I think its a more effective way in doing a business or selling to our customers. We are not going to short hand them or trick them into something foolish. I believe caring for others and setting a great example is more important than money. It gives a sense of humanity and kindness, which in today's society lacks greatly. Everyone is out for themselves most of the time and its a struggle to live in a dark world as we do. If more people were Mavens for the greater good, the world would be a more peaceful place to live. You wouldn't have to think twice about being swindle or others only looking out for themselves. Maybe I'm getting too deep into this, but this is what I grabbed from this section. It's not about knowing it all or being up one on everyone, it's about educating the next person so it can spread like a wildfire.
“The reason that most of us seem to have a consistent character is that most of us are really good at controlling our environment (pg. 163).”
This quote was taken from chapter four, titled “The Power of Context.” I found this sentence to stand out because it is something that never really occurred to me. I know that environment does influence a person's character, but the way the author put it, our environment has a much stronger influence than most people ever really considered. We tend to think of our personalities as something that is black or white, and something that is constant. What Malcolm Gladwell is explaining in this chapter is that our personalities are not always strictly this or that, most of it is dependent on our situations, and our personalities can quickly change according to what we must face on a daily basis. If we can maintain control over our situations, our character qualities will not deviate much.
I agree! For an example, if someone is in a relationship and their spouse has an affair, it changes their outlook on relationships and creates a trust barrier. They end up more cautious when it comes to meeting new people and set higher standards.
“Suppose that you made a list of the forty people whom you would call your circle of friends and in each case work backwards until you could identify the person who is ultimately responsible for setting in motion the series of connections that led to that friend” (pg. 37) I picked this quote because the experiment itself caught my attention. At first, I did not understand what the author meant. Then, I decided to complete the experiment and after I completed the experiment I understood what the author was saying. I had an epiphany. I realized that what the author said was true because a lot of the friends I have where because of other friends that had introduced me to them. For example, three of my friends that I have I met where through my best friend Vanessa. I met Vanessa when I was a freshman in high school. Then, as we got older I met her sister in law Stefani, and I became really good friends with Stefani. Then, I met my friends Tania and Evelyn through Stefani, but everything started with my friend Vanessa. Like the author said, this is not my circle of friends; the circle of friends is from my friend Vanessa. In this world, we need connectors because they are the ones who are able to link us to other people, and we heavily rely on connectors as a society. Unfortunately, our society heavily relies on connectors. It has become difficult for people to be able to do things on their own ,and be the initiator because we rely on other people to help us.
It is interesting when you really think about it and find out that there is one particular person in your life that is responsible for many of the friends you have. It sounded a bit strange to me as well when I read it at first.
I found this part of the book interesting. Almost all of my friend I have met is because of other people. Most of them end up being intertwined with one other because they themselves are friends as well. I found that most of my friends are my friends because of connectors.
I always thought I had made most of my friends on my own, but after reading this part of the book I realized I could trace back most of my friends to three people.
"When people are in a group, in other words, responsibility for acting is diffused." page 28
This particular sentence stood out to me because people say they help out when they can and know right from wrong, but when a serious situation is happening in front of their eyes, a lot of people do not take action and assume someone else can handle the situation. I was amazed by the series of experiments that Bibb Latane and John Darley conducted. You would imagine if a group saw someone having a seizure, they would work together and help right away, instead, some individuals assume someone else will make the call or ignore and walk away from the scene. When I was in my high school gym class, a girl dropped to the floor and started to seize. At the time, no one knew what was going on, until one of my classmates saw her on the ground. Most of my classmates stood and watched her seize on the ground, and others were confused of what was happening. My friend took action and rushed to the student's aid.
I agree, I think assuming someone else is taking responsibility in any situation is setting up for failure. We can never assume someone else is taking care of things especially in emergency situations.
Naturally people would assume that if they are surrounded by others, and something were to happen to them, they would be safe because they have plenty of people around to help. But the fact that this is not the case is a bit scary to me. Imagine if you were ever in a bad situation and people simply watched or walked by. It's just terrible.
I guess we all can say that we would be that person to jump in and save the day, but in all reality we don't know how we would respond to such a matter. Everyone has a different flight or fight response, and to say we would have done something is a lie because the truth is, until you are in that moment you wouldn't know what you would do.
I also agree with the previous posts. I think people should change their mentality and assume sole responsibility in an emergency situation, regardless of the number of spectators witnessing the event. This may seem like a simple solution and I know that in the confusion of an emergency it is difficult to take initiative to act but it could make the difference of a person living or dying.
“When people are overwhelmed with information and develop immunity to traditional forms of communication, they turn instead for advice and information to the people in their lives whom they respect, admire, and trust.” I chose this sentence because I feel that everyone always looks for advice with people they trust. When it comes to asking for advice in our personal lives, we turn to family members and friends for advice. Personally, I find receiving advice from people I trust and admire very helpful. To this day, I am always asking for advice, especially in the gym.
"Epidemics are another example of geometric progression: when a virus spreads through a population, it doubles and doubles again, until it (figuratively) grown from a single sheet of paper all the way to the sun in fifty steps." pg. 11 I chose this sentence because it stood out to me. As a Biology major I felt as if I could relate to this sentence. I’m fascinated by how quickly viruses are able to spread and reproduce in such a short amount of time. I was able to understand what the author was talking about because of the science analogy that he used. I find it easier and more enjoyable to read a book if it is connected with things I'm interested in.
“There are exceptional people out there who are capable of starting epidemics. All you have to do is find them.”
This quote stood out to me because I find it difficult to think of someone who can be this exceptional person. In the past history, these people were easy to find and have gone down as the most influential people. I know that these people exist because they are found throughout history, but it’s difficult to find them as I go about my life. The main reason why I picked this quote is because I feel like it should be easy to name a couple dozen names of these people who can start epidemics. The only names that come to mind are Pope Francis, Stephen Hawking, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and J.K. Rowling. I feel as though there should be more people on Earth who are seen as someone who started a movement that would eventually leave a legacy. There should be people who would start movements for the betterment of the world rather than causing hardship and oppression. I’m probably taking this quote into another direction but that’s what this quote made me think about.
Maybe instead of thinking so vaguely and thinking of celebrities, you look around your personal circle of people you know personally. Sometimes the greatest influential people on earth are the ones that not everyone seems to know about but have been affected by on way or another. Someone like a professor, or a community volunteer, or a neighbor. Just a thought.
As I was reading, this sentence really stood out to me, “But their real power derives from the fact that the reviews are the reports of volunteers- of diners who want to share their opinions with others” (Page 67). This sentence is followed by the comment that people are more likely to take the recommendation someone makes into consideration if that person is not an expert being paid to do so. This really got me thinking about how this idea has influenced what I purchase or where I go out to eat. I realized that I do give more consideration to advice or recommendations from people who have nothing to gain. Most people would place more trust in a person making a recommendation just to help, versus from a person making a recommendation to get something out of it. As a consumer, I am more likely to listen to my family, friends, and even people on Facebook for recommendations on what car to purchase versus someone whose job it is to sell cars. There is something about a person who has nothing to gain making a recommendation that makes them more trustworthy. They typically tell you everything you need to know about what they are recommending because they have experienced it themselves. They are not trying to sell you something or get something out of the transaction; they just want you to have the same pleasant experience they had. They don’t want to keep the perfect car or the best restaurant in town a secret; they want everyone to enjoy what they enjoy.
I agree with you completely. I too tend to listen to anyone who is willing to make a recommendation. If they like the service or the product, then I am more likely to try the place or buy the item.
“The second study showed how people who were charismatic could- without saying anything and with the briefest of exposures- infect others with their emotions”. P.151 This sentence jumped right out of the page to me, and it was impossible to just read past this. Someone who is projecting this abundance of charisma could easily spread their positive emotions faster than spreading Ebola (DO NOT SPREAD EBOLA! Not okay!). It is remarkable how many of us have had our mood changed because of someone else’s charisma. There have been countless times where I’m not in the best of moods and someone who is smiling from ear to ear and just sending off this bright aura of enthusiasm could change my emotions in a matter of seconds. I have a resident who always comes up to me at work to give me a hug and say hi, even when I think I am having the worst day she comes to me and changes that with her radiant charismatic personality. The emotions we are projecting from ourselves can infect others whether they are good or bad; we are affecting strangers without realizing it. This is an incredible gift that every single person has, and if we are all enthusiastic and charismatic as much as possible think of all the people who’s day we changed because we smiled and said hi, or just said “good morning”, it’s simple task like this that can infect other individuals.
"... interpreting other people's behavior, human beings invariably make the mistake of overestimating the importance of fundamental character traits and underestimating the importance of the situation and context."
I thought this stood to me, thus far. I feel that I overanalyze everything way too much, I sometimes forget to look at the situation and understand why things occurred in that manner. I tend to jump to conclusions pretty fast, when I go back and look at things I see the reasoning behind it and it makes sense in dealing a person. I think that many people including myself forget why people are the way are and it has taught me to listen to people older than myself, they have quite frankly been there done that.
I agree with you Crystal. It's hard for me to not jump into conclusions. I have no patience for anything and almost always when I look back at the situation I understand why a certain thing happened.
"When people are in a group, in other words, responsibility for acting is diffused. They assume that someone else will make the call, or they assume that because no one else is acting, the apparent---The seizure-like sounds from the other room, the smoke from the door ---- isn't really a problem." pg. 28
This quote really stood out to me. It amazes me that people don't respond to situations that need attention. Just yesterday my co-worker was telling us how she went to Target and an old lady began to choke on a piece of her hot dog. She said everyone was just staring at the old lady choke, while she was trying to gasp for air. Of course, my coworker ran to her, carried her off the wheel chair, and proceeded with the Heimlich maneuver. The lady immediately spat out the hot dog and thanked her for saving her life. It was crazy to hear that no one else was responding to the older lady and it wasn't until after my co-worker did the heimlich maneuver that people came over to ask if everything was okay. I'm not sure if it's just that people don't know how to react to emergency situations and are in shock or they just don't want to put themselves in lawsuit situations? I, on the other hand, quickly respond to emergency situations, maybe it's because I am required to at my job because we have student's that are epileptic and we are trained to always be on our toes. Also, on another note, have you guys seen these videos on YouTube of people who literally are being recorded being knocked out or in group fights. Do you think as a civilian, you should also react to that?
I contemplated choosing this statement too. It's sad how people are less likely or even less willing to help when they know that there are other people who could help or even make that 911 call that could save their life. Unfortunately, most of the time it's because people don't want to get involved. I once met a nurse who explicitly said that she's hesitated helping other people medically off-duty because she doesn't want to get sued. It's sad what society has turned into.
“A book, I was taught long ago in English class, is a living and breathing document that grows richer with each new reading.”
This sentence really stood out to me. But instead of a book from English class, it was a book from church. This book is The Bible. I always thought it was a boring book from the beginning. I never payed much attention to it when i was younger. But as i grew up and began giving it a try, it spoke to me in so many different ways. I never knew anything like that would be possible. For example, every time i would come across the bible verse John 3:16, there would always be a new insight or perception for me each time i read it. There are so many components in it. Every word has a different meaning from the way you look at it. So this quote really stood out to me because it is true. Books are amazing when you actually take the time to read and digest what the words have to offer you. I am sure there are endless life and newer riches of wisdom in the Bible that awaits my encounter.
I know what you mean Marlene. I used to think reading book was such a waste of time, until I found a book that I could not put down. I can't wait until I have the opportunity to read again over the summer.
"They staged emergencies of one kind or another in different situations in order to see who would come and help. What they found, surprisingly, was that the one factor above all else that predicted helping behavior was how many witnesses there were to the event." While reading this book, this sentence stood out to me. Actually, the whole little scenario describing how that poor woman was not helped, when she clearly needed someone to save her, caught my attention. Being a psychology major, I have heard of the “bystander effect” problem before. One of my professors showed our class a video in which a man had fell and people would just walk by him as if he were not there. They would stare at him and watch him as he was in pain, but no one would offer a helping hand. In the second take of the video, there was an actor who rushed to the man’s side about 30 seconds after he fell. It was then that others that were watching came close to the scene and offered to call the ambulance or tried to help the actor help the man up. Hearing things like this makes me angry. When civilians do not offer a helping hand, it makes me angry. I have had the opportunity to make a difference in some people’s lives. One time, while visiting some family in LA, when around 9 or 10 I heard screaming. I glanced outside of my aunt’s window. I saw a couple across the street arguing. She clearly wanted to be left alone, but the man kept getting in her face and grabbing her. I was afraid for her. I told my family what I saw and one of my cousin’s friend told me to let them figure it out. He said it was not my problem. Something in my heart told me to call the police. I could not stand hearing her screams and cries for help. She was yelling at him and telling him to stop and leave her alone. He was much bigger than her and I knew she would not be able to defend herself if he hit her. I could not take it anymore and I called the cops. They arrested him and took him away. I later found out that he had hit her that night and if I had not called the cops he would have continued to attack her. I do not regret calling the police because I went to sleep knowing that she was safe.
Wow, thank God you were there to help her out. You saved her life by making that call. It's unfortunate that a lot of people don't step up to help, even if it's just making one phone call. We tend to freeze up during intense moments and we either choose to help or choose not to get involved. Honestly, I'm not sure if I would step up during moments like these but I would like to think that I WOULD help if needed. Have you ever seen the show What Would You Do? I love that show but sometimes it really ticks me off how people don't step up but then it totally warms my heart when they interview the people who helped: that they didn't do anything extraordinary, they were just doing what any person should have done. But in any case, you are incredible for making that phone call. I'm sure if she knew what you did, she'd personally thank you.
Thank you. I still visit my family in that same area, but she does not live there anymore. It was hard to make the call. I knew it was not my place, but regardless of the situation, I felt the need to help her in the moment. I have not seen the show, but I will check it out!
"We need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that sometimes big changes follow from small changes, and that sometimes these changes can happen very quickly."
I read this quote earlier in the book but it just stuck with me throughout reading it. One of the geeky things I like to do is watching insane domino tricks on Youtube. The bigger, the better. I’ve enjoyed watching them since I was 6 but to this day, it’s still crazy to think how something so minute as one domino could cause such a swift and satisfying ripple effect to the other dominos. But the same could be attributed to life: the butterfly effect. The little things we do eventually make huge impacts in our life, and most of the time we don’t even realize it because it’s the smallest, most minute decisions we make. Whether we’re going to take a nap or read a book, whether we’re going to drive or make the short walk instead. Because in those small decisions, we may end up meeting someone new who might change our lives or witness something that changes our perspective in life. It’s small changes that cause us to make the big decisions and lead us to those milestones in life, and we won’t realize that those changes or decisions we made actually made an impact until years later when we look back at life.
"The name given to that one dramatic moment in an epidemic when everything can change all at once is the tipping point"
I find this quote to be very important because it gives the reader a sense of the author's purpose. This quote comes towards the very beginning of the book and informs the reader, which serves as a platform for the entire book.
Sorry this is so late, I had major issue with my internet this last week.
I choose this passage from page 28, although I know someone else also did this passage. "When people are in a group, in other words, responsibility for acting is diffused. They assume that someone else will make the call, or they assume that because no one else is acting, the apparent---The seizure-like sounds from the other room, the smoke from the door ---- isn't really a problem."
The reason I choose this passage was because I find it so accurate. We have all been in those situations where we don't step in to a situations because we believe someone else will do it. We all are guilty at one point or another for thinking that "I don't have to do it, someone else will." It's a scary thing that really needs to be fixed in our world. The idea that someone else is going to do it so we won't have too.
“They see the possibility, and while most of us are busily choosing whom we would like to know, and rejecting the people who don’t look right or who live out near the airport,or whom we haven’t seen in sixty-five years, Lois and Roger like them all.” Pg. 53
ReplyDeleteI chose this statement because I felt like it spoke a lot of truth. Society has programmed us to interact with people who are like us, people who we work with and people who we spend the most time around. It’s difficult for most of us to randomly speak to a stranger who we assume is different. Today’s youth is so overwhelmed with having their own circle of friends and they enjoy excluding the students who do not seem mainstream. Young people and even adults don’t realize that by doing this, they are not hurting the outsider any more than they are hurting themselves. In my opinion, we need diversity to be able to become well rounded individuals. Although difficult, I always attempt to open up to people who would otherwise not speak to me in hopes of a positive outcome. Something as simple as asking a classmate what he or she thinks about the lecture can spark conversation that may well lead to friendship. By no means am I trying to compare myself to Lois and Roger. They are outstanding individuals who go above and beyond, but I do think that we can all try a little harder to communicate with the strangers, the outsiders, and the ones we believe are beyond us.
You are an outstanding individual too, Karla! It is funny that you write this, because I am at a conference all week and as I was taking a bunch of plates from my table to the trash, some woman aaid, "you are a good man for cleaning that table, Brett." I was like, really?, thanks! But the part that struck me most was her hse of my name...I was wearing a name tag, like everyone else here. So that is the answer--everyone should wear name tags and we will be more at ease speaking with strangers....what do you think?
DeleteI think that's a great idea! :)
DeleteGood point!!
DeleteBut when I am at school, it's hard for me to talk to someone else who is outside my major because I am always in the math building! I practically live there and know most of the math majors on campus.
I agree it is hard. I think that's what the book is trying to say. We talk to people who are in our circle because it's convenient and like you say, they are always around, but sometimes those people who are still in your circle can come from different backgrounds and can contribute to our lives in ways we never imagined. How awesome is that? :)
DeleteI definitely agree! We always have the tendency to stick within our circle, that we avoid building relationships with other people.
DeleteAwesome quote!
DeleteI agree, it is hard for me to talk to people who I believe have a stronger personality than me based on their looks. I know it's horrible to say, but I think high school played a big part in that. I tend to stick to people I know. I wouldn't mind stepping outside the box, though. Maybe we just stick to the same people because that's all we know. There's some friends that I had in high school, that I am no longer friends with because when high school was over we had nothing in common except for the same circle of friends in school.
I chose a sentence from chapter two: “It began on a cold spring morning, with a word- mouth epidemic that spread from a little stable boy of New England, relying along the way on a small number of very special people”...
ReplyDeleteThe phrase “word- mouth epidemic”, stood out to me and captured my attention thus far. In today’s society, I think the utilization of worldwide internet, smart devices and social networking has surpassed this epidemic. Although, I do believe that in person interaction is the most vital method of communication, but the type of lifestyles most people live, does not always make this method a priority all the time. I do have to admit, that majority of my daily interactions occur through e-mail, texting and over the phone. I wonder, if the little boy had access to the internet and devices that we have today, how much faster could he have gotten the word out? I think, the benefits of technology would have allowed him to spread the word quickly and reach many more others to alarm them of the battle about to take place. I found it intriguing to think about how certain events in history could have been altered if advanced technology was present. In this particular incident, I think that technology could have drastically changed the outcome of the battle and shortened the fighting period also.
You raise some good questions here...technology certainly changes our experience of history and wR and the whole world, really.
DeleteI think it would of been crazy if cellphones were invented during the Revolutionary War. Can you imaging them texting, "YO! The British are coming!"
DeleteFunny thought, Maritsa. I wonder if they would have shorthand for it...BAC=British are coming. BL=by land. BS=by sea.
DeleteDr. Brett Schmoll,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, I agree.
"The fact that Mavens want to help, for no other reason than because they like to help, turns out to be an awfully effective way of getting someone's attention." p. 67
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because it defines who my husband and I are and strive to be. We are in network marketing, which clearly gets stigmatized for people being manipulative and deceitful in order to make money. What sets us apart from all the others is the fact that we care about the well being of each person we come into contact with. I think its a more effective way in doing a business or selling to our customers. We are not going to short hand them or trick them into something foolish. I believe caring for others and setting a great example is more important than money. It gives a sense of humanity and kindness, which in today's society lacks greatly. Everyone is out for themselves most of the time and its a struggle to live in a dark world as we do. If more people were Mavens for the greater good, the world would be a more peaceful place to live. You wouldn't have to think twice about being swindle or others only looking out for themselves. Maybe I'm getting too deep into this, but this is what I grabbed from this section. It's not about knowing it all or being up one on everyone, it's about educating the next person so it can spread like a wildfire.
I was amazed by how helpful mavens are. They probably the most selfless people.
Delete“The reason that most of us seem to have a consistent character is that most of us are really good at controlling our environment (pg. 163).”
ReplyDeleteThis quote was taken from chapter four, titled “The Power of Context.” I found this sentence to stand out because it is something that never really occurred to me. I know that environment does influence a person's character, but the way the author put it, our environment has a much stronger influence than most people ever really considered. We tend to think of our personalities as something that is black or white, and something that is constant. What Malcolm Gladwell is explaining in this chapter is that our personalities are not always strictly this or that, most of it is dependent on our situations, and our personalities can quickly change according to what we must face on a daily basis. If we can maintain control over our situations, our character qualities will not deviate much.
I agree! For an example, if someone is in a relationship and their spouse has an affair, it changes their outlook on relationships and creates a trust barrier. They end up more cautious when it comes to meeting new people and set higher standards.
DeleteAlianna, I agree. this quote is powerful. The environment we are in can definitely shape the type of person become.
Delete“Suppose that you made a list of the forty people whom you would call your circle of friends and in each case work backwards until you could identify the person who is ultimately responsible for setting in motion the series of connections that led to that friend” (pg. 37)
ReplyDeleteI picked this quote because the experiment itself caught my attention. At first, I did not understand what the author meant. Then, I decided to complete the experiment and after I completed the experiment I understood what the author was saying. I had an epiphany. I realized that what the author said was true because a lot of the friends I have where because of other friends that had introduced me to them. For example, three of my friends that I have I met where through my best friend Vanessa. I met Vanessa when I was a freshman in high school. Then, as we got older I met her sister in law Stefani, and I became really good friends with Stefani. Then, I met my friends Tania and Evelyn through Stefani, but everything started with my friend Vanessa. Like the author said, this is not my circle of friends; the circle of friends is from my friend Vanessa. In this world, we need connectors because they are the ones who are able to link us to other people, and we heavily rely on connectors as a society. Unfortunately, our society heavily relies on connectors. It has become difficult for people to be able to do things on their own ,and be the initiator because we rely on other people to help us.
It is interesting when you really think about it and find out that there is one particular person in your life that is responsible for many of the friends you have. It sounded a bit strange to me as well when I read it at first.
DeleteI found this part of the book interesting. Almost all of my friend I have met is because of other people. Most of them end up being intertwined with one other because they themselves are friends as well. I found that most of my friends are my friends because of connectors.
DeleteI always thought I had made most of my friends on my own, but after reading this part of the book I realized I could trace back most of my friends to three people.
Delete"When people are in a group, in other words, responsibility for acting is diffused." page 28
ReplyDeleteThis particular sentence stood out to me because people say they help out when they can and know right from wrong, but when a serious situation is happening in front of their eyes, a lot of people do not take action and assume someone else can handle the situation. I was amazed by the series of experiments that Bibb Latane and John Darley conducted. You would imagine if a group saw someone having a seizure, they would work together and help right away, instead, some individuals assume someone else will make the call or ignore and walk away from the scene. When I was in my high school gym class, a girl dropped to the floor and started to seize. At the time, no one knew what was going on, until one of my classmates saw her on the ground. Most of my classmates stood and watched her seize on the ground, and others were confused of what was happening. My friend took action and rushed to the student's aid.
I agree, I think assuming someone else is taking responsibility in any situation is setting up for failure. We can never assume someone else is taking care of things especially in emergency situations.
DeleteNaturally people would assume that if they are surrounded by others, and something were to happen to them, they would be safe because they have plenty of people around to help. But the fact that this is not the case is a bit scary to me. Imagine if you were ever in a bad situation and people simply watched or walked by. It's just terrible.
DeleteI guess we all can say that we would be that person to jump in and save the day, but in all reality we don't know how we would respond to such a matter. Everyone has a different flight or fight response, and to say we would have done something is a lie because the truth is, until you are in that moment you wouldn't know what you would do.
DeleteI also agree with the previous posts. I think people should change their mentality and assume sole responsibility in an emergency situation, regardless of the number of spectators witnessing the event. This may seem like a simple solution and I know that in the confusion of an emergency it is difficult to take initiative to act but it could make the difference of a person living or dying.
ReplyDelete“When people are overwhelmed with information and develop immunity to traditional forms of communication, they turn instead for advice and information to the people in their lives whom they respect, admire, and trust.” I chose this sentence because I feel that everyone always looks for advice with people they trust. When it comes to asking for advice in our personal lives, we turn to family members and friends for advice. Personally, I find receiving advice from people I trust and admire very helpful. To this day, I am always asking for advice, especially in the gym.
ReplyDelete...advice in the gym. That should be a book, Mike. The gym is a new "public" where people do actually have engaging conversations.
Delete"Epidemics are another example of geometric progression: when a virus spreads through a population, it doubles and doubles again, until it (figuratively) grown from a single sheet of paper all the way to the sun in fifty steps." pg. 11
ReplyDeleteI chose this sentence because it stood out to me. As a Biology major I felt as if I could relate to this sentence. I’m fascinated by how quickly viruses are able to spread and reproduce in such a short amount of time. I was able to understand what the author was talking about because of the science analogy that he used. I find it easier and more enjoyable to read a book if it is connected with things I'm interested in.
“There are exceptional people out there who are capable of starting epidemics. All you have to do is find them.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because I find it difficult to think of someone who can be this exceptional person. In the past history, these people were easy to find and have gone down as the most influential people. I know that these people exist because they are found throughout history, but it’s difficult to find them as I go about my life. The main reason why I picked this quote is because I feel like it should be easy to name a couple dozen names of these people who can start epidemics. The only names that come to mind are Pope Francis, Stephen Hawking, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and J.K. Rowling. I feel as though there should be more people on Earth who are seen as someone who started a movement that would eventually leave a legacy. There should be people who would start movements for the betterment of the world rather than causing hardship and oppression. I’m probably taking this quote into another direction but that’s what this quote made me think about.
Maybe with the technology we have now, people are starting epidemics via the internet rather than in person.
DeleteMaybe instead of thinking so vaguely and thinking of celebrities, you look around your personal circle of people you know personally. Sometimes the greatest influential people on earth are the ones that not everyone seems to know about but have been affected by on way or another. Someone like a professor, or a community volunteer, or a neighbor. Just a thought.
DeleteAs I was reading, this sentence really stood out to me, “But their real power derives from the fact that the reviews are the reports of volunteers- of diners who want to share their opinions with others” (Page 67). This sentence is followed by the comment that people are more likely to take the recommendation someone makes into consideration if that person is not an expert being paid to do so. This really got me thinking about how this idea has influenced what I purchase or where I go out to eat. I realized that I do give more consideration to advice or recommendations from people who have nothing to gain. Most people would place more trust in a person making a recommendation just to help, versus from a person making a recommendation to get something out of it. As a consumer, I am more likely to listen to my family, friends, and even people on Facebook for recommendations on what car to purchase versus someone whose job it is to sell cars. There is something about a person who has nothing to gain making a recommendation that makes them more trustworthy. They typically tell you everything you need to know about what they are recommending because they have experienced it themselves. They are not trying to sell you something or get something out of the transaction; they just want you to have the same pleasant experience they had. They don’t want to keep the perfect car or the best restaurant in town a secret; they want everyone to enjoy what they enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely. I too tend to listen to anyone who is willing to make a recommendation. If they like the service or the product, then I am more likely to try the place or buy the item.
Delete“The second study showed how people who were charismatic could- without saying anything and with the briefest of exposures- infect others with their emotions”. P.151
ReplyDeleteThis sentence jumped right out of the page to me, and it was impossible to just read past this. Someone who is projecting this abundance of charisma could easily spread their positive emotions faster than spreading Ebola (DO NOT SPREAD EBOLA! Not okay!). It is remarkable how many of us have had our mood changed because of someone else’s charisma. There have been countless times where I’m not in the best of moods and someone who is smiling from ear to ear and just sending off this bright aura of enthusiasm could change my emotions in a matter of seconds. I have a resident who always comes up to me at work to give me a hug and say hi, even when I think I am having the worst day she comes to me and changes that with her radiant charismatic personality. The emotions we are projecting from ourselves can infect others whether they are good or bad; we are affecting strangers without realizing it. This is an incredible gift that every single person has, and if we are all enthusiastic and charismatic as much as possible think of all the people who’s day we changed because we smiled and said hi, or just said “good morning”, it’s simple task like this that can infect other individuals.
"... interpreting other people's behavior, human beings invariably make the mistake of overestimating the importance of fundamental character traits and underestimating the importance of the situation and context."
ReplyDeleteI thought this stood to me, thus far. I feel that I overanalyze everything way too much, I sometimes forget to look at the situation and understand why things occurred in that manner. I tend to jump to conclusions pretty fast, when I go back and look at things I see the reasoning behind it and it makes sense in dealing a person. I think that many people including myself forget why people are the way are and it has taught me to listen to people older than myself, they have quite frankly been there done that.
I agree with you Crystal. It's hard for me to not jump into conclusions. I have no patience for anything and almost always when I look back at the situation I understand why a certain thing happened.
Delete"When people are in a group, in other words, responsibility for acting is diffused. They assume that someone else will make the call, or they assume that because no one else is acting, the apparent---The seizure-like sounds from the other room, the smoke from the door ---- isn't really a problem." pg. 28
ReplyDeleteThis quote really stood out to me. It amazes me that people don't respond to situations that need attention. Just yesterday my co-worker was telling us how she went to Target and an old lady began to choke on a piece of her hot dog. She said everyone was just staring at the old lady choke, while she was trying to gasp for air. Of course, my coworker ran to her, carried her off the wheel chair, and proceeded with the Heimlich maneuver. The lady immediately spat out the hot dog and thanked her for saving her life. It was crazy to hear that no one else was responding to the older lady and it wasn't until after my co-worker did the heimlich maneuver that people came over to ask if everything was okay. I'm not sure if it's just that people don't know how to react to emergency situations and are in shock or they just don't want to put themselves in lawsuit situations? I, on the other hand, quickly respond to emergency situations, maybe it's because I am required to at my job because we have student's that are epileptic and we are trained to always be on our toes. Also, on another note, have you guys seen these videos on YouTube of people who literally are being recorded being knocked out or in group fights. Do you think as a civilian, you should also react to that?
I contemplated choosing this statement too. It's sad how people are less likely or even less willing to help when they know that there are other people who could help or even make that 911 call that could save their life. Unfortunately, most of the time it's because people don't want to get involved. I once met a nurse who explicitly said that she's hesitated helping other people medically off-duty because she doesn't want to get sued. It's sad what society has turned into.
Delete“A book, I was taught long ago in English class, is a living and breathing document that grows richer with each new reading.”
ReplyDeleteThis sentence really stood out to me. But instead of a book from English class, it was a book from church. This book is The Bible. I always thought it was a boring book from the beginning. I never payed much attention to it when i was younger. But as i grew up and began giving it a try, it spoke to me in so many different ways. I never knew anything like that would be possible. For example, every time i would come across the bible verse John 3:16, there would always be a new insight or perception for me each time i read it. There are so many components in it. Every word has a different meaning from the way you look at it. So this quote really stood out to me because it is true. Books are amazing when you actually take the time to read and digest what the words have to offer you. I am sure there are endless life and newer riches of wisdom in the Bible that awaits my encounter.
I know what you mean Marlene. I used to think reading book was such a waste of time, until I found a book that I could not put down. I can't wait until I have the opportunity to read again over the summer.
Delete"They staged emergencies of one kind or another in different situations in order to see who would come and help. What they found, surprisingly, was that the one factor above all else that predicted helping behavior was how many witnesses there were to the event."
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this book, this sentence stood out to me. Actually, the whole little scenario describing how that poor woman was not helped, when she clearly needed someone to save her, caught my attention. Being a psychology major, I have heard of the “bystander effect” problem before. One of my professors showed our class a video in which a man had fell and people would just walk by him as if he were not there. They would stare at him and watch him as he was in pain, but no one would offer a helping hand. In the second take of the video, there was an actor who rushed to the man’s side about 30 seconds after he fell. It was then that others that were watching came close to the scene and offered to call the ambulance or tried to help the actor help the man up. Hearing things like this makes me angry. When civilians do not offer a helping hand, it makes me angry. I have had the opportunity to make a difference in some people’s lives. One time, while visiting some family in LA, when around 9 or 10 I heard screaming. I glanced outside of my aunt’s window. I saw a couple across the street arguing. She clearly wanted to be left alone, but the man kept getting in her face and grabbing her. I was afraid for her. I told my family what I saw and one of my cousin’s friend told me to let them figure it out. He said it was not my problem. Something in my heart told me to call the police. I could not stand hearing her screams and cries for help. She was yelling at him and telling him to stop and leave her alone. He was much bigger than her and I knew she would not be able to defend herself if he hit her. I could not take it anymore and I called the cops. They arrested him and took him away. I later found out that he had hit her that night and if I had not called the cops he would have continued to attack her. I do not regret calling the police because I went to sleep knowing that she was safe.
Wow, thank God you were there to help her out. You saved her life by making that call. It's unfortunate that a lot of people don't step up to help, even if it's just making one phone call. We tend to freeze up during intense moments and we either choose to help or choose not to get involved. Honestly, I'm not sure if I would step up during moments like these but I would like to think that I WOULD help if needed. Have you ever seen the show What Would You Do? I love that show but sometimes it really ticks me off how people don't step up but then it totally warms my heart when they interview the people who helped: that they didn't do anything extraordinary, they were just doing what any person should have done. But in any case, you are incredible for making that phone call. I'm sure if she knew what you did, she'd personally thank you.
DeleteThank you. I still visit my family in that same area, but she does not live there anymore. It was hard to make the call. I knew it was not my place, but regardless of the situation, I felt the need to help her in the moment. I have not seen the show, but I will check it out!
Delete"We need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that sometimes big changes follow from small changes, and that sometimes these changes can happen very quickly."
ReplyDeleteI read this quote earlier in the book but it just stuck with me throughout reading it. One of the geeky things I like to do is watching insane domino tricks on Youtube. The bigger, the better. I’ve enjoyed watching them since I was 6 but to this day, it’s still crazy to think how something so minute as one domino could cause such a swift and satisfying ripple effect to the other dominos. But the same could be attributed to life: the butterfly effect. The little things we do eventually make huge impacts in our life, and most of the time we don’t even realize it because it’s the smallest, most minute decisions we make. Whether we’re going to take a nap or read a book, whether we’re going to drive or make the short walk instead. Because in those small decisions, we may end up meeting someone new who might change our lives or witness something that changes our perspective in life. It’s small changes that cause us to make the big decisions and lead us to those milestones in life, and we won’t realize that those changes or decisions we made actually made an impact until years later when we look back at life.
"The name given to that one dramatic moment in an epidemic when everything can change all at once is the tipping point"
ReplyDeleteI find this quote to be very important because it gives the reader a sense of the author's purpose. This quote comes towards the very beginning of the book and informs the reader, which serves as a platform for the entire book.
Sorry this is so late, I had major issue with my internet this last week.
ReplyDeleteI choose this passage from page 28, although I know someone else also did this passage. "When people are in a group, in other words, responsibility for acting is diffused. They assume that someone else will make the call, or they assume that because no one else is acting, the apparent---The seizure-like sounds from the other room, the smoke from the door ---- isn't really a problem."
The reason I choose this passage was because I find it so accurate. We have all been in those situations where we don't step in to a situations because we believe someone else will do it. We all are guilty at one point or another for thinking that "I don't have to do it, someone else will." It's a scary thing that really needs to be fixed in our world. The idea that someone else is going to do it so we won't have too.