Shopping has to be one of the most fun things I could ever do. I love it. You get the thrill and excitement when seeing something new or just buying something you love. Even window shopping can be fun seeing something you want and then working hard to get that item is more then worth it. Shopping nowadays aren’t really the same as they used to be. People used to go to the malls and shop, go out with friends and have fun just shopping with them. Now all the shopping that is done is over the internet. It’s more convenient for people to do online shopping then going out and doing it. I understand that people have lives and don’t have time to do stuff but it’s got to the point where a lot of stores close down due to this. Everyone is on their phones and buying stuff online is the easiest way for them.

I see shopping as a tool to create social solidarity. Shopping usually brings people together like friends or families. Friends meet up after school and hang out shop for a little bit and leave and the same thing with families. They shop around, eat, have good laughs and that’s it. It’s bringing two or more people together. That was the good thing about shopping. You can be with people you enjoy and have a good time with one another talk about life and just relax.

I think that it does address anomie a little bit. The reason I say a little bit is because anomie is a social condition in which there is a disintegration or disappearance of the norms and values that were previously common to the society. Shopping was previously a big social norm to meet others and have fun but now no one hardly ever goes out shopping with each other so there is a disintegration with how many people used to go shopping from then to now. It’s sad to say it but I feel like people are lazy now. They don’t want to get up and do anything anymore. No shopping is done and they even have groceries that will be delivered to you drones will soon be delivering packages. It’s crazy because the reason all of this is happening is because of the new technology coming out. As I said before I understand everything is more advanced and easier now, but it’s just crazy to see how everything is looking in 2020.

When it comes to morticians and then handling the bodies of loved ones and getting well paid for it, I am all for it. These people are willing to do something for the ones grieving that no one else will and that’s what makes them special. They want to help us with that feeling that the corpse will look beautiful and we will have nothing to worry about. That is why they get paid a lot because they are dealing with dead bodies. There should be no stigma towards morticians at all, they have a job and they chose to do it because no one would. This is what they took interest in and it does help a lot of people who grief to know that they can look at the person they lost and say they look so peaceful or beautiful.

I believe that morticians should be getting the pay that they do for several reasons. They help the family grief Of the loved one they lost. They are always so sympathetic and never try to use any words that relate to the word death such as corpse, and body. They like using words or phrases such as passing on, meeting an untimely end or eternal slumber. The morticians really do care for the job and do their best to make the corpse look as best as they can to help the family. That is their job they have a huge responsibility and they deserve the pay instead of being judged.

Not only do morticians have stigmas but so do the funeral directors and both of them have the same stigma. As I have mentioned before people have a problem with them profiting from grieving families. This is not profiting, this is them making a living. We all have a job to do and whether you know it or not it contributes to everyone around the world whether it’s hazmat, cashier, business man or woman, construction they all contribute to something that involves all of us. This is what morticians do for a living and we shouldn’t be judging them on what they do or have anything to say because they do a lot for us in taking jobs that people are afraid to do.

When meeting with people for the first time, I try my best not to make it look like I’m getting information from them. I feel like I’m a good judge of character from the first moment I meet you. I try asking as less questions as I can to avoid making things awkward between us and try figuring out who you really are. When I don’t quite understand who you are as a person, that’s when I start asking more questions because I can’t figure you out.
My whole way of figuring someone out is to just let them be. For example, I want a person to act how they would normally act. I don’t want them telling me lies just to show me that their a good a person I will see how you truly are and what ways you act. People always try to make themselves look good for a first impression and will lie about who they truly are. That’s why I don’t tend to ask questions because if you’re just going to lie to me about it then don’t bother telling me anything at all I’ll eventually find out who you are.
When it comes to me telling people information about me I can be difficult. I feel like I’m an open book and that ends up hurting me a lot because people know who I am and take advantage. I’m not afraid of telling people who I am, if you don’t like me then keep your distance it’s simple. I can also tend to be very closed at times I don’t let my emotions out or don’t let people know everything that’s going on which I know is bad but it just happens. I can’t help it, that’s who I am. For the most part I am open book but when it comes to certain things I just close up.

To hire an ex-convict would be a hard decision. I have a feeling deep down that says I would love to hire an ex-convict but there is also this voice that tells me not to hire them. The reason I would hire them is because most ex-convicts can’t find a job. These people have family and loved ones who they have to support. If I can see that they are trying to change there lives around and do good then yes I would hire them. I know that even being a person who is not an ex-convict is hard to find a job. I feel like most people who are ex-convicts want to change their lives already so it makes want to believe that they will do good if I hire them and not do me wrong for doing so. The reason I wouldn’t hire them is stated in my last sentence. I don’t want to have that doubt that they will do me wrong. For example if they were stealing from the company or bring violent acts to it, who is held responsible for that? Me, I am because I am the one who hired them. So there is this doubt that if do hire them then it will be my fault for them doing something wrong and I feel like a lot of people feel this way not just me but that is the risk you have to be willing to take. If these ex-convicts don’t find jobs where does that leave them? On the streets causing more damage to the world or even worse, being dead. As I said before many people wouldn’t even dare trying to hire an ex-convict and if they don’t they who will? This is a world of chances and nothing is wrong with giving someone a second chance.

While reading this chapter I found the most interesting part were the six research methods. The reason this was interesting to me is because we tend to use a lot of these research methods. Personally I use almost all six of them. Each of these methods are used for different reason. You have surveys, which are used to keep count of thoughts, opinions and feelings. Surveys can be found after renting out a hotel room. They will send you an email asking how your stay was and if you enjoyed the service or not. Surveys are used to determine people’s feelings and thoughts.
The next method is secondary analysis. I don’t really use secondary analysis unless it is for a project or assignment. Essentially what a secondary analysis is for is for people to analyze data collected from others. We use documents all the time. When writing essays, looking up information, and many other. Documents can be used for anything are used for anything. Experiments is used in almost every day life. Experiments are meant to find out something new. An example of an experiment can be trying out new things that you’ve never done before such as mixing two drinks or trying new foods. Life is an experiment.
The fifth method research is unobtrusive research. This research method is observing people’s behaviors when they do not know they are being studied. I had to use this method in one of my classes recently and to me it felt weird because it makes me feel like stalker or weirdo. The reason why is because they don’t know they are being watched which is weird. That’s being a stalker pretty much. If someone were watching me and I didn’t know I would be creeped out. The last and final research method would be participant observation. This is when the researcher participated with the participant while still observing at the same time. Many people do this without knowing they do. I happen to do this a lot because I am very aware. I like knowing what will happen at every given moment. This chapter to me was more of a research because I learned more about what these methods do and how to use them. 

While hanging out at Starbucks I found it quite interesting. This was my first time ever actually hanging out at a Starbucks by myself and I have to say a lot of people are very interesting. I’m not sure if it was just the Starbucks I was at or if it is like this at other locations as well but let me tell you what happened. I can for sure say without a doubt that is very rare for strangers to talk to each other but the only strangers I saw talking to each other would be the cashier and the customer ordering, that’s about it. No one else would go up to a random stranger and talk to them. Strangers would say excuse me to each other just to get past each other but that’s about it. 

The space feels different. I don’t know whether if it was a friendly space or an awkward space. Usually people in Starbucks were there by themselves or had a person to hang out with. The people by themselves were focusing on their homework or whatever they were working on while listening to music. As for people with a friend they would talk and laugh and do their work together. So it was definitely a mixed vibe. If you were to go up to the person with their headphones in and talk to them I’m sure it would be awkward because what stranger randomly goes up to some one and talks to them? As for the two friends it would probably be less awkward since they are having fun and laughing and would probably be accepting of you trying to hang out. 

While hanging out at Starbucks I saw mainly a lot of young people but there was a good mixture of some middle aged people coming in working on business they had. I would say a lot of Caucasian’s came and hung out. I didn’t really see a lot of other races besides Caucasian. Starbucks is known as by some people as the “white persons” coffee spot because a lot of white girls post coffee on social media so that is why it’s considered a “white person” coffee shop. 

Other then that, my visit at Starbucks was interesting. I saw a lot of people doing different things, no one really talked to each other unless they knew the other person and the vibe was awkward. I am not the type to hang out a coffee spot for fun or to meet with someone I would much rather stay at my house or meet with my friend at their house. 

Ads can be the most annoying thing in the world. I know for me they are. Everywhere I go I see ads. I see them on the computer, I see them on my phone, television, my email, websites, billboards you name it there they are. The most annoying place for ads to be is on the T.V. The reason I say it’s annoying is because when I’m watching a show I don’t want to be interrupted. I know this will never come to be where there are no ads, but I would love for these to just go away. I understand that these ads and commercials are a way of getting a companies brand  out there and being noticed, but I feel like maybe we can change this. 

Maybe if we happen to see an ad we can get the option of choosing whether it comes back or not, making it a one time thing or a recurrent thing. That way the people who don’t want these ads have the option of taking it off permanently after viewing the ad once. I will admit that most ads annoy me but there are some ads that I do enjoy seeing. 

The ads I enjoy to see are ads for new clothing that may fit my style or ads about new foods that are out or the newest deals. Those ads are the ones I enjoy. During the Super Bowl a lot of the ads or commercials are funny and they crack me up a lot. See, not all ads or commercials are bad. It says in the book that through these ads is a way for the corporations to connect with the consumers (us) to develop their brands and although I do understand that they are trying to make people interested all they really do is annoy people.  

Without a doubt they are the death of me while watching T.V., get in the way of me being on my laptop & going on websites & are by far the worst invention created. Do you feel like ads are just as annoying as well? Are there any ads that you might consider watching and enjoying or some that might be of use to you? 

When feeling sympathy for someone you should always take in mind that you are listener and not the teller. Always give sympathy and make them feel like it is okay to be upset or angry. You have no idea what they are going through and you should be there to listen. Everyone goes through things just like you do and to be someones outlet to release their stress should be a wonderful thing for you because it lets you know that you can be trusted and can help someone in need. You shouldn’t show your feelings other than that you care and are listening to them, that will make them feel safe. I personally believe that you should show sympathy for someone no matter the situation. As I said before you have no right to judge them. You have no idea what they are going through and that should be the only thing that matters is them. You don’t owe anyone sympathy what so ever, but it shows a lot about who you are as a person. People may say that no one shows any sympathy towards them so why should I show sympathy back? The reason you should is because with an attitude like that you will never get sympathy given. Who knows that one person you show sympathy towards can be the one person to show it back to you when you have a problem. Showing sympathy is a great gift to give and yes some people may not want your sympathy but at least they know you care about their situation and they can somewhat feel important.

Body language is very important when making contact with someone. Body language determines what type of mood you’re in or how you are feeling. I honestly feel like my body language is very poor when talking to others. People always wonder or ask me if I am mad or if I’m okay and the reason they ask me this is because I always look like I am mad or it sounds like I am giving attitude. I have been doing this for as long as I can remember. I don’t like showing my emotions really and that’s what it comes down too. I like sticking and keeping to myself. Many people always tell me to open and smile once in a while but this is just who I am and I don’t mean to come off as rude but this is me. One time I took someones body language in a very bad way and that’s because I can see that they weren’t listening to me and what I was saying. It made me furious and I had told them angrily what was the point of you asking me what”s wrong if you’re not listening to what I’m saying. After listening to what she had to say I did feel bad but not too much because she had asked me what’s wrong and didn’t bother to listen because of her own problems which wasn’t right of her to do. We resolved it by telling each other what is wrong with both of us and what was bothering us. It was a good resolution but I definitely don’t take bad body language in a good way when people talk to me. My attitude towards the situation hasn’t really changed because I know myself enough to know nothing will change how I act or feel. I will always continue to keep to myself and keep that smile hidden so no one really knows how I feel.

Reading this chapter I was a bit confused as to what Nacirema meant. I then looked up the word on google and I got a result back saying that it was American spelled backwards. I then found out in the book that the Nacirema is a North American group that is shown to be around Canada and Mexico. Their shrines and rituals some what relate to the type of cultures I have. As I have said before I am Native American and I am from a small tribe known as Yaqui which just so happen to be where the Nacimera are from. As a Native American we would hold ceremonies to give thanks. With these ceremonies we different rituals to do before giving our thanks. We would have to put make up on, certain piercings, to wear a head dress and we even had to get all of our fears out by sitting in a tent full of steam. Other rituals that I see people doing to their bodies are getting implants or decreasing the size of their breast. The reason I consider this a ritual is because it is used to make yourself look prettier or to feel confident. Some rituals that I do to my body would be facial products to help clean my skin and clear it of any acne. These rituals are usually held in the morning when I wake up and at night before I go to bed. I love doing this because it keeps my skin healthy. Having a healthy face and a healthy body is very important because it can take a toll on your life and the way you live. While reading this chapter the Nacirema believed to keep a strong relationship exist by having good oral and moral characteristics. Although this is true I believe that having a good relationship is based on trust and being real with a person. If you are not being real or being yourself how can you ever trust that person? Trust comes from being real and being yourself. It’s something that has to be earned it’s not easily given. I do believe that having a very good connection with someone is one of the most important things in a strong relationship. If you can not communicate with someone how would you be able to maintain a relationship, whether it be a friend or a significant other even family. Having a good connection is very important but this all comes back to being yourself.