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But many people who are physically independent, choose to spend a considerable amount of time enjoying forms of entertainment that are mostly passive, including DVD movies, web-surfing, binging on Netflix, etc. When physically independent people indulge in isolating, passive forms of entertainment are they experiencing “a life of worth”? Are they making wasting their freedom?
This question stumped me. As a halfway normal teenager, I enjoy locking myself in my room for days as I watch five seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, Gossip Girl, ect. I have never once thought of it as wasting freedom, but after thinking about Alice’s situation, I did find I felt a little guilty for taking so much of my personal freedom for granted. I never even think about being dependent upon others to make my choices for me, and I especially like to do things on my own. All Alice wanted was the independence she had previous to old age. I do think, however, that the “worth” of someone’s life must be determined by the individual themselves. If passive entertainment is what makes their life worth living then that’s a personal choice, but I also believe that participating in nothing but passive group entertainment is not the way to fully enjoy life. Alice may have even enjoyed passive entertainment before her independence was taken, but after her later living conditions only allowed for passive activities that simply took away her independence to do anything else. In my opinion, people who choose passive activities aren’t wasting their freedom, simply because they are exercising their freedom by choosing what they do.
ReplyDelete--Haley Odell
I definitely agree with Haley. I have a choice to binge watch Netflix whenever I want. But I also have the choice to go climb a mountain or jump out of a plane. Alice, however, had her activities chosen for her. There was no more spontaneity. She didn't have a choice on whether or not to watch DVDs/bingo/etc. because her choices were limited. The best part of life is getting to choose what you want to do, whether it be passive or active. Once your choices are taken way, you're essentially waiting to die. In this way Alice was "waiting to die", which was prolonged by these assigned safe, passive activities.
DeleteFantastic viewpoint Haley. I enjoy reading and going outside a lot, but at the same time I watch either Netflix or go on YouTube to search up a movie or some music. I feel guilty sometimes, but like what you said Haley we are only using our freedoms to make choices in our lives. Passive activities and events can be healthy and even beneficial if mixed with fun and enjoyable active and interactive activities. What if you are under the control of a authoriative parent that makes every choice for you? Then do you think that this kid would be sort of like Alice? Not having true freedom and independence.
DeleteAlice came from a different generation. Activities she found enjoyable might not be the same as those of the average college student. I would assume her favorite activities were deemed "unsafe" and, therefore, they were taken away. I also agree with Linzi and Haley that her unhappiness resulted from a lack of choice in the matter.
ReplyDeleteTimes do change and certain "cool" activities back in the day are no longer relative anymore. We are constantly reminded that we must always improve and find better ways to entertain ourselves. This is definitely found in the industrialized countries.
DeleteSomebody's entertainment and happiness is relative. While some people are happy with just relaxing and watching a movie, others are happy with going out and partying until late every night they can. It just comes down to personal preference. Nobody enjoys, however, knowing that they are limited in their choices and schedules. People want freedom, and the small day-to-day activities that happen many times a day are what often affects how they feel about their freedom the most. When I went to summer camp when I was younger, I often felt like they were forcing me to do things I didn't want to do, instead of letting me enjoy my vacation on my own. However, I still often did the same things as during the guided schedule during the free times. The illusion of freedom on its own can be enough to content people sometimes, and those who are dependent should at least be able to choose their own entertainment.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with Bretton on this. Freedom, or even the illusion of, is paramount to many people. An individual's choice is a pillar of western society, especially in our age. If an individual finds fulfillment in being a couch potato, then what right do any of us have to question that?
DeleteSomebody's entertainment and happiness is relative. While some people are happy with just relaxing and watching a movie, others are happy with going out and partying until late every night they can. It just comes down to personal preference. Nobody enjoys, however, knowing that they are limited in their choices and schedules. People want freedom, and the small day-to-day activities that happen many times a day are what often affects how they feel about their freedom the most. When I went to summer camp when I was younger, I often felt like they were forcing me to do things I didn't want to do, instead of letting me enjoy my vacation on my own. However, I still often did the same things as during the guided schedule during the free times. The illusion of freedom on its own can be enough to content people sometimes, and those who are dependent should at least be able to choose their own entertainment.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I can’t deny the fact that I spend countless hours on my cellphone, binge watch series on Netflix, and sit alone in my room reading a good book. When I participate in these activities, it absolutely is my choice to waste time instead of doing something a little more productive. I do believe that if those were the only things I did, I wouldn’t really have a life of worth. I’d probably become depressed and lonely, even considering the fact that I love my alone time. In a previous answer, I stated that humans need interaction and love to be happy. I don’t believe that a person could lead a truly happy life without having those things a majority of the time.
ReplyDeleteThis question truly made me stop to consider the complexity of my own desires as related to the “downtime” activities I participate in. There are days when I stay inside to read silly stories online whenever I could be outside pursuing my passion of archery; there are days when I might watch several consecutive episodes of a Netflix series whenever I could be bettering my ability to play the guitar…. Do these passive activities seem undesirable at the time? No. However, when I look back on the time I could have spent bettering myself as an individual, it makes me ponder how much of my time is spent on menial activities.
ReplyDeleteI am not saying that “passive entertainment” is a bad thing. I believe that modern technology has presented humanity with more avenues of thinking than ever before acknowledged. Some individuals in society literally make millions of dollars per year by interacting with other individuals from all over the planet on YouTube. This may seem worthless to some, but the situation is more complex than it appears. Many individuals across the world tune into their favorite YouTuber’s channel in order to escape from the harshness of reality. I personally believe that if the act of one individual creating passive entertainment improves the living quality of another individual, then this cycle definitely promotes “lives of worth.” After all, what is the point of life without happiness?
When physically independent people indulge in isolating, passive forms of entertainment, they are not necessarily “wasting their freedom”. The reason that is involves the true nature of “freedom”, which is not completely a physical thing, but more so a thing of the mind. Consider the case of a temporarily well-hidden individual witnessing the long and drawn out enslavement of their kind while having instantaneous access to anything they could ever want or need, except for a means of permanent escape mentally from what they witness. While the person may be presently free physically to do what they want, the worry of eventually being captured and forced into involuntary servitude might constantly be an overhanging thought, and so they would not be able to be completely free.
ReplyDeleteWhether a person experiences “a life of worth” is entirely up to the individual. Usually “a life of worth” involves the fulfilling of dreams, or the meeting/exceeding of goals (whether they be personal or mutually shared by a group). If a person finds satisfaction in how they are living their life the direction it is going, whether it may seem strange to others or not, then it could be said that they are experiencing “a life of worth”.
ReplyDeleteI often feel like this sometimes. There is so much out there to explore, people to meet, and things to see. When I am isolated in my room, I feel like I am missing out on life. I used to never feel like this, but ever since I moved to college, I can't stay in my dorm for a very long time. When I study, I will go out to do it in hopes of meeting new people or seeing something different.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of the comments I have read. The difference is that they didn't have the choice to really sit at home and watch Netflix all day. Many times I have heard stories of how they would just drive down Main Street just to get out and do something. They also didn't have the same luxuries we have now. Seeing as air conditioners were only becoming more common in the 50's the likeliness that people would rather be outside where there was a breeze rather than inside while it was steaming hot. The air conditioner was also one of the first ways to contribute to becoming less social. Our generation is less social and more isolated. We prefer to sit in our rooms and text someone than actually have a conversation over dinner. I don't think it makes either lives not worth living. I do think that it is a problem with our generation though. I am as guilty as anyone of not doing anything and then later regretting it.
ReplyDeleteI think freedom can only be described individually. I want the freedom to travel to any country I feel like visiting but I also want the freedom to binge watch The Carrie Diaries on Netflix every night for three days. Alice’s freedom was driving herself to the grocery store and gardening. A life of worth is not judge by anyone but the individual living it. All in all Alice couldn’t say hers was a life of worth because she couldn’t do things she deemed worthy.
ReplyDeleteLaura N.