Interpersonal Relationship and Communication

I was wondering to myself how cliches and archetypes come about in popular culture when in class we started playing 'battle of the sexes'. For someone who has generally negative thoughts on the idea of gender roles and stereotypes I was shocked by how quickly we assigned characteristics to genders that seemed to mirror that of TV sitcoms. That's where most of this comes from, I think, popular culture. We stop seeing people as individuals and fall into stereotypes when it comes to groups mainly because it is all too easy to generalize when it comes to groups. I know I rarely conform to the typical female stereotype, so why would I assume that somebody else with a vagina does too? We all want to be treated like unique individuals, but the first chance we have we tend to assign qualities to people based on the groups they fall into. Hardly seems fair, hm?

Agatha Christie? We go back years, me and Ag. She's a … she's just a … she's dead, isn't she?

I'm a big fan of Eddie Izzard, see the quote above for proof. I was watching one of his shows the other day and it had me thinking about class on Monday when we talked about stories being a grab for power. They say that those that are the most depressed often go into comedy, I can't speak to whether or not Eddie fits this type, but it is common enough. I wonder if a part of comedy, or stand-up at least, is one way of having power over that particular mental illness. Like, 'I have the power right now and I can even conquer this problem I have as long as I have the power'.

We just lost the game

We've been discussing the Snuggie off and on in class lately. Now I've been lucky enough to avoid a lot of contact with a lot with these things, though my older sister bought the dog version for her hideous little chihuahua. But sadly I have an addiction to the Stumbleupon button so after repeated stumbling I was bound to come across this: The Thuggie.

I'm willing to bet this bizarre item of clothing will become popular among the hipster crowd because it's so 'ironic'. I only wish that I was as crazy with my sewing, I tend to fall into a practical mindset far too often, and if this teaches us anything it's that impracticality sells.

So much for loving your car and your wallet

If it was a snake it would have bitten me. Now admittedly I don't have a car, nor do I pump gas for either of my parents' cars when I have the occasional opportunity to drive them, but I like to think of myself as a 'petrol head', like they say on Top Gear. I have a fondness for well engineered cars, the more impressive the engine the more I tend to love it, and as such I am familiar with the idea of spending a little more for the recommended higher octane ratings. But sitting in my chemistry class yesterday Professor Durig brought up the fact that while automakers tell you to buy higher grade, there is actually no need. It's the plus or minus two that will get you. You can get the 89 but aren't guaranteed the 89, why not just get the cheaper 87 as you could possibly be getting the 89? Then you look up and see a little sign that says 'love your car and it will love you back' or some other nonsense and more than likely you'll get the 89 instead of the 87.

We know better but we still fall for it almost every time.