my interview from Katie
1. What do you *like* about OSU?
It honestly took me all day long to think of an answer for this one and I really did not come up with much. I'm not satisfied with the location, the administration, the "look", the size, the vibe...nothing. I guess the best answer to this would be the people in my program...at least the few that I hang out with. I met some really cool people here, though I don't feel as though they measure up to the quality of the people I met in Bloomington but I guess building that bond takes a lot of time. I realize that those people have nothing to do with the school but they have made my time here tolerable so good for them :)
Also, I have to give OSU credit because without it, I would have taken the small town, slow moving feel of Bloomington for granted. Not only Bloomington, I suppose, but also every small town out there. It taught me that I'm not meant to live in a bustling city...especially if I can't even stand the size of this one. So the thing I like most about OSU...is that it gave me some direction in my life.
2. How do you feel about monogamous relationships? Do you think that it's natural for people to be with only one person for their entire life, or that serial monogamous relationships are more realistic? Do you think medical advances and the longer length of life has influenced this?
First of all, I think that if you're in a relationship, it's best to be monogamous but that's more of a respect issue than a biological issue. But let's look at the broader picture here: the definition of fitness is a measure of relative survival and reproductive success of an individual. It's "natural" to strive for increased fitness. Most animals are able to birth a litter - as human beings, we can only produce one child at a time. Also human development is a much longer process than most other species. We're also one of the only species to care for our young for an extended period of time beyond birth. So, in order for us to increase our fitness, we would have to spend most of our lives producing children (which I guess is our purpose anyway)
So let's say at 18 years old, you find a man and the two of you have a baby. That baby has to be cared for until....well, I suppose 18 years old (based on societal standards and such). You're now 36 years old. Let's also assume that you (in order to increase fitness, I guess) have 3 children all separated by 3 years. When you are 36, child 1 is 18, child 2 is 15 and child 3 is 12. By the time child 3 is of age, you're 40. By becoming pregnant again, you're taking a risk by producing another child...so let's stop here. You've now been with the same mate for 22 years and now you can't reproduce anymore so what's the point of leaving at this time? Now you have a companion. That's the biological "natural" side of it.
Now in terms of the "I want to live an exciting life and always have that 'new relationship' feeling and blah blah" - then I guess serial monogamy would be more up your alley.
I don't really think medical advances and longer length of life have influenced the natural side of it because we're still going to turn 40 sometime...it may have influenced the emotional side of relationships because today being a strong independent human being is so valued. But we should never plan on one or the other - that's probably why so many relationships go sour...too much planning.
3. Do you think reality tv has had a significant impact on the way Americans think? If so, how...and is it for better or worse?
I think it's made an impact about how Americans feel about themselves. The only reality shows I watch are American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance and they really only show me that I can't sing or dance and I'm sure its impacted a lot of young people who thought they were talented.
Shows like the Biggest Loser may get people on the health track so that's a good thing about them. Shows like Flava of Love and Date My Mom just make me want to die a little, but still, I think they're more for entertainment purposes. Project Runway and America's Next Top Model make us all feel fat and useless. I mean, I don't think I could answer this question because reality TV encompasses a broad range of shows all dealing with different issues.
What I can say is that I think it made America more self-centered in one way or another.
4. How do you think growing up in West Chester, OH has influenced your interactions with people? Do you often run into a "West Chester" stereotype? Has it made you respond differently to students from rural or urban areas? Do you ever meet random people who you have nothing in common with except the fact that you're from West Chester, and because of this you kind of have a little bond that makes you feel like you can back one another up with?
I think that growing up in West Chester hindered my ability to be myself because (looking back), I don't think I ever felt free to do or say the things I wanted to say. Then again, I'm sure that was more of a Lakota thing than a West Chester thing. I was pretty shy and reserved compared to now. I also felt horrible about myself so I was less likely to interact with people I didn't know. I don't think I can think of a stereotype...West Chester stereotypes are like Midwestern accents....I can't see/hear them.
To the last question, the only people I ever "meet" who are from West Chester are people I know - if I recognize them and don't know them, I don't even bother. I've moved on so much from high school that I don't even see the point of making small conversation or eye contact. Ha - I'm really just not content with anything from Ohio, am I?
and now for the signature fun one:
5. You are in the louvre, and it has caught on fire. You only have time to save either the Mona Lisa or a stray cat before escaping to safety. Which do you choose and why?
So it comes down to deciding between the past and the present - art vs. life. Buddha would say to concentrate on the mind at the present moment but I'd still be concerned with the future. Being vegetarian, I'd feel almost as though I've disgraced my name by letting the cat die....but knowing the impact of the Mona Lisa, I would disgrace history by letting the painting go. Plus, Dan Brown would be really mad at me for basically destroying the validity of his best-seller turned cinematic adventure (poo on your hair style, Tom Hanks).
Leonardo DaVinci's masterpiece or a cat that's not supposed to be there anway (are there no other people in the Louvre?)
I'd have to assume that if the cat found it's way into the Louvre, it could also find its way out...it has four legs and a beating heart (it's not scorched yet) so it could follow me. I'd take the painting.
It honestly took me all day long to think of an answer for this one and I really did not come up with much. I'm not satisfied with the location, the administration, the "look", the size, the vibe...nothing. I guess the best answer to this would be the people in my program...at least the few that I hang out with. I met some really cool people here, though I don't feel as though they measure up to the quality of the people I met in Bloomington but I guess building that bond takes a lot of time. I realize that those people have nothing to do with the school but they have made my time here tolerable so good for them :)
Also, I have to give OSU credit because without it, I would have taken the small town, slow moving feel of Bloomington for granted. Not only Bloomington, I suppose, but also every small town out there. It taught me that I'm not meant to live in a bustling city...especially if I can't even stand the size of this one. So the thing I like most about OSU...is that it gave me some direction in my life.
2. How do you feel about monogamous relationships? Do you think that it's natural for people to be with only one person for their entire life, or that serial monogamous relationships are more realistic? Do you think medical advances and the longer length of life has influenced this?
First of all, I think that if you're in a relationship, it's best to be monogamous but that's more of a respect issue than a biological issue. But let's look at the broader picture here: the definition of fitness is a measure of relative survival and reproductive success of an individual. It's "natural" to strive for increased fitness. Most animals are able to birth a litter - as human beings, we can only produce one child at a time. Also human development is a much longer process than most other species. We're also one of the only species to care for our young for an extended period of time beyond birth. So, in order for us to increase our fitness, we would have to spend most of our lives producing children (which I guess is our purpose anyway)
So let's say at 18 years old, you find a man and the two of you have a baby. That baby has to be cared for until....well, I suppose 18 years old (based on societal standards and such). You're now 36 years old. Let's also assume that you (in order to increase fitness, I guess) have 3 children all separated by 3 years. When you are 36, child 1 is 18, child 2 is 15 and child 3 is 12. By the time child 3 is of age, you're 40. By becoming pregnant again, you're taking a risk by producing another child...so let's stop here. You've now been with the same mate for 22 years and now you can't reproduce anymore so what's the point of leaving at this time? Now you have a companion. That's the biological "natural" side of it.
Now in terms of the "I want to live an exciting life and always have that 'new relationship' feeling and blah blah" - then I guess serial monogamy would be more up your alley.
I don't really think medical advances and longer length of life have influenced the natural side of it because we're still going to turn 40 sometime...it may have influenced the emotional side of relationships because today being a strong independent human being is so valued. But we should never plan on one or the other - that's probably why so many relationships go sour...too much planning.
3. Do you think reality tv has had a significant impact on the way Americans think? If so, how...and is it for better or worse?
I think it's made an impact about how Americans feel about themselves. The only reality shows I watch are American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance and they really only show me that I can't sing or dance and I'm sure its impacted a lot of young people who thought they were talented.
Shows like the Biggest Loser may get people on the health track so that's a good thing about them. Shows like Flava of Love and Date My Mom just make me want to die a little, but still, I think they're more for entertainment purposes. Project Runway and America's Next Top Model make us all feel fat and useless. I mean, I don't think I could answer this question because reality TV encompasses a broad range of shows all dealing with different issues.
What I can say is that I think it made America more self-centered in one way or another.
4. How do you think growing up in West Chester, OH has influenced your interactions with people? Do you often run into a "West Chester" stereotype? Has it made you respond differently to students from rural or urban areas? Do you ever meet random people who you have nothing in common with except the fact that you're from West Chester, and because of this you kind of have a little bond that makes you feel like you can back one another up with?
I think that growing up in West Chester hindered my ability to be myself because (looking back), I don't think I ever felt free to do or say the things I wanted to say. Then again, I'm sure that was more of a Lakota thing than a West Chester thing. I was pretty shy and reserved compared to now. I also felt horrible about myself so I was less likely to interact with people I didn't know. I don't think I can think of a stereotype...West Chester stereotypes are like Midwestern accents....I can't see/hear them.
To the last question, the only people I ever "meet" who are from West Chester are people I know - if I recognize them and don't know them, I don't even bother. I've moved on so much from high school that I don't even see the point of making small conversation or eye contact. Ha - I'm really just not content with anything from Ohio, am I?
and now for the signature fun one:
5. You are in the louvre, and it has caught on fire. You only have time to save either the Mona Lisa or a stray cat before escaping to safety. Which do you choose and why?
So it comes down to deciding between the past and the present - art vs. life. Buddha would say to concentrate on the mind at the present moment but I'd still be concerned with the future. Being vegetarian, I'd feel almost as though I've disgraced my name by letting the cat die....but knowing the impact of the Mona Lisa, I would disgrace history by letting the painting go. Plus, Dan Brown would be really mad at me for basically destroying the validity of his best-seller turned cinematic adventure (poo on your hair style, Tom Hanks).
Leonardo DaVinci's masterpiece or a cat that's not supposed to be there anway (are there no other people in the Louvre?)
I'd have to assume that if the cat found it's way into the Louvre, it could also find its way out...it has four legs and a beating heart (it's not scorched yet) so it could follow me. I'd take the painting.