Wise Philosoraptors (A Smosh.com post)

My brother sent me a link to a page on smosh.com. Smosh has comedy youtube videos that I stumbled upon (not using stumbleupon.com). That makes 4 links in 3 sentences and a short but sweet blog post. I'm going to post my favorites of the philosoraptors below, in case you don't want to bother clicking on the link :) enjoy!

Text message IGNORED!

Not Responding to Text Messages Can Induce Effects of Being Ostracized

States an article I found on psypost.org. I decided to look into this because a friend of mine *cough cough*  Elliot *cough cough* is really bad at answering my texts. It's not only been once or twice that I text her wanting to do something and receiving a reply 5 hours later. It's a reliable and consistent thing. I remembered reading something in the social section of my psychology book that said an untimely response to a message can provoke feelings of ostracism.  Another article on sciencedaily.com reviews the same study. Experimenter Kipling D. Willams of Purdue University testifies that Pain of Ostracism Can Be Deep, Long-Lasting. This can even be linked to biological components in the brain.  

 "When a person is ostracized, the brain's dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, which registers physical pain, also feels this social injury..."

Ostracism can be explained by Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. The hierarchy begins at biological needs, such as food, and works it's way up to more abstract needs, the highest being self-actualization. Included in this is the need for love, acceptance, and self-esteem. Willams designed a computer game to simulate two to three minutes of ostracism. The more than 5,000 people who participated in the study conclusively displayed that even as short of a time as 2 or 3 minutes can leave negative emotions. 
Willams has identified 3 stages in which ostracism occurs. 

"The process of ostracism includes three stages: the initial acts of being ignored or excluded, coping and resignation."

An individual does not control the first stage, and the last stage is the same for everyone. It is in coping that differences arise. Some individuals will push for inclusion, or even demand it. This often backfires, and the individual comes off as annoying and even less desirable for inclusion. The article states: 

"If they feel there is little hope for re-inclusion or that they have little control over their lives, they may resort to provocative behavior and even aggression."

The third stage, resignation, is where things get dangerous. Those who have been ostracized become"less helpful and more aggressive to others in general," he said. "It also increases anger and sadness, and long-term ostracism can result in alienation, depression, helplessness and feelings of unworthiness."

Applying this to my situation, Elliot is trying to ruin me. She's playing psychological games to wear me down, and watch me break into nine hundred ninety-nine (useless) pieces.

I'm sorry, but- you're an idiot.

I'm sorry, but you know what just really irritates me? When meretricious, ignorant, annoying teenage girls start sentences with "I'm sorry, but-" Come on people. You obviously aren't sorry. You just want to open your ridiculously lengthy tangent with something 'nice.' Face it. Everyone has gone on crazy rants over SOMETHING. but don't lie to yourself, you're not sorry about what you are about to unleash on the helpless listener you've trapped in the corner of the supermarket. You just want to feel diplomatic and included in the world around you. Which you AREN'T because you are too busy complaining about the way things are to have enough time to be apart of them, do anything about them, or even REALLY care. It's just debate for the sake of debate; Complaint for the sake of complaint. So stop lying to yourselves and shut the CUSS up!

(see what I did there? I'm so witty.)

Po *yawn* etry

Today, we started a new unit in English. Poetry. At the mere mention of it, half the class rolls their eyes and at least four people fall asleep. Why do people always react negatively to poetry? I mean, it doesn't have to be that boring. It isn't all entirely mushy or depressing. Granted, some is really cussed up, but doesn't it make us all feel a bit better when you find someone more messed up than you are? No? Just me? Anyway, maybe if people will open their minds a bit we'd all have a better view of the world. I mean, maybe it's just me, but writing keeps me sane. Why not find another solution to insanity? It's really only another way of expressing emotion... okay, I admit, that sounds a bit cheesy. But come on guys! Emily Dickinson? E. E. Cummings? SHAKESPEARE?? I know poetry isn't for everybody, but at least give it a try. We have to write a poem for next class, and I'm actually having fun with it. Of course it sucks, but doesn't everything in the beginning? Isn't progressing at something the joy of it? 

Dsylxeia = Dyslexia

I rarely check my email as it is constantly full of junk mail, but today I decided to sift through it all... just for giggles. It was as horridly awful as I expected. I had over 2000 emails ALL about things I don't care anything about. While sifting through all of it, I found this. 

If you are having difficulty reading this email, you may have dyslexia. Contact your doctor immediately.

Is it just me or is this not as pointless and hilariously ironic as I think it is? 

Stuck there.

ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT - THE KINKS

I love this song. I do. I sing it at the store, in the car, and even in the shower. I wouldn't be surprised if I sang it in my sleep. It's a fantastic song. Rarely people know what you're singing, considering it was popular in the mid-sixties. I, myself, think this is excellent.( I prefer it if people have no idea what I'm talking about. That way they can't comment on it) But you can only sing it so much. I mean seriously. When you find yourself singing this instead of Happy Birthday at your Uncle's fiftieth Birthday party, it's time to stop. 

WALK IDIOT WALK - THE HIVES

I'm not gonna lie, whether it's 'Won't be Long', 'Try it Again', or 'Hey Little World', I ALWAYS have a Hives song stuck in my head. I even drive around town blasting them. Although it is very fun at times, it can get a bit agitating when you can't seem to stop singing it. Needless to say, I need to change the station in my head. I mean seriously, I've been singing The Hives NONE STOP for a good month. It's time for a change.

BAD REPUTATION - JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS

When my family is gone, I secretly (well i suppose it's not so secret anymore considering I'm posting this on the internet) blast this song and dance around the house. I have to say it is EXTREMELY fun and you should definitely try it.... just be aware of open windows. It can get pretty embarrassing... BUT the fun ends when you're singing this at school and people think you're a freak(which may or may not be true, but i think most of us would like to keep it a secret.) So I HAVE TO GET THIS SONG OUT OF MY HEAD!! 

I have had these three songs stuck in my head for the better part of the week, so naturally I consulted the internet. I typed in "How to get a song out of your head" and selected the first few. Some had lists of things to do, such as "Shout in your head" or "Do math problems." After reading through these and not having any luck, I tried another website, "Unhear it - get that damn song out of your head." Immediately it begins playing 'Ice Ice Baby' by Vanilla Ice. I don't know about you but to me, that is an even worse song to have stuck in your head. COMPLETELY AWFUL! I suppose the website did serve its purpose in a way, but COME ON. Now it'll be stuck in my head for the remainder of the day and I'll get nothing done.... Oh well. It's not like I do anything anyway!                  ICE ICE BABY!!!!!!

Stereotypes...SUCK

Stereotypes. Some are true. Some are little half-truths. Some are completely ridiculous. No matter how hard we try, we still have those preconceived thoughts of people. We judge. Even if we try not to. Cheerleaders are stupid whores. Rich people are conceited snobs. Mexicans hopped the border and want to sell you drugs. Cubans spend their spare time rolling cigars. Italians are in the mafia. Arabs are terrorists. Quiet people are depressed. Blondes are stupid. Vegetarians are crazy political activists. Southerners are white trash. Goths are crying out for attention. Hipsters are posers. Black people love fried chicken, Kool-Aid, and can't say ask. The marching band is made up of ugly losers that don't fit in anywhere else. Mormons are perfect. Skinny people are anorexic. Fat people eat all day everyday. These little things are chosen to define each and every one of us.
Everyday I walk the halls of my high school with this expression on my face; It's my relaxed, not paying attention, I have other things on my mind face. My mouth is naturally turned down and I constantly have worry lines disrupting my forehead. Everyday at least one person looks at me like I'm about to kill myself or something. I get the occasional 'What's wrong?' from teachers, 'Are you mad at me?' from classmates/kind-of-friends, and general looks of worry from others. At first I was just confused as to why they would do such things, but once I figured out it was my expression I simply responded, 'That's just my face.' Apparently the expression that to me means resigned, means 'I'm going to shoot everyone in this school including myself' to everyone else. How unfortunate.
There is no escaping the label you are given from the start. It hangs over you all the time. Only when you leave every last one of them can you change, and even that is very difficult considering you were known for a handful of traits all of your life. The first time I set foot in that school I was labeled quiet, sad, awkward, loner girl that keeps to herself. That's what I've been since freshman year. Someone even went so far as to call me 'Mute Girl.' I'm not going to lie, it made me feel like a super hero, but that isn't the point. So I don't really talk to people I don't know well. Is that such a bad thing? Personally, I think it helps me avoid certain unwanted situations such as DATE RAPE. Sadly, in the eyes of others it's weird and sad. This doesn't really bother me anymore, though. I've gotten used to it. I spend most of my time planning what I'll be like when I finally get to leave this place and show my true personality. I hope I choose well because I'll be stuck with it for a while.
Who do I want to be you ask? I certainly have no clue. I think that's what high school is for: to make all your mistakes and figure yourself out before being released into the dreaded 'real world.' This deserves air quotes big time. Personally, I don't believe in this 'real world' everyone speaks of. I think everyone is already in the real world. Yes, children don't usually have jobs or spouses, but we do need all the experience of watching the others around us, usually making life altering decisions. That's how we become 'responsible adults.' Another phrase that entitles air quotes. NO ONE is a responsible adult all the time. At some point they all show their true selves, may that be good or bad. 'Responsibility' in itself doesn't seem real to me. I suppose we all have to be responsible for something, yes, but this term seems to be defining something more. There are so many other things that we put under it: reliable, intelligent, moral. Sometimes they don't come in a neat little package like we'd like them to.
As for me, I want to be original but not in the way that cries for attention. I don't want to fill a stereotype, although I'm becoming quite afraid about what that means. I'm vaguely aware that not filling a stereotype is in fact a stereotype...What has this world come to? I don't want to be immediately labeled and then tossed into the pile with the rest of 'my kind.' I don't have three personality traits. I'd like to think I have a lot more than that.

Sorry?

I (almost) hate myself for neglecting our poor, poor blog... I have made absolutely no effort to contribute to mind zamboni... I'm a bit ashamed. But I suppose I'll most likely make four posts today alone (even though I'm supposed to be studying for my AP Psych exam Monday)... So that should cover it! To tell you the truth I'll probably just search my computer for writing I've done recently... It seems to be a bit easier that way. I guess sometimes it really is helpful that I free write about things no one cares about! (like me)


ANYWAY. From the bottom of my heart, I am sorry for abandoning the blog for over a month...