I could definitely not live in a one room cabin for an extended period of time. I could in fact live there for a day because I love to go camping during the spring or the fall. I would not be able to live there for a long time because I love my technology too much. I love waking up in the morning and watching sports center on Espn and I also love texting and keeping up with Facebook and things. I really don’t think I could go live in solitude for a year without all of my worldly possessions. If I was able to do so, I think I would find out a lot about what my personality truly is. It would be a great advantage to be out there without the media or anyone influencing your every move. You would not have the TV or commercials telling you what is or is not popular. Living by yourself without any outside influence would be a great thing for your body. There are so many different chemicals and other ingredients put into foods these days. They are put in there so that we can get them faster, and they can be preserved longer. If you lived in the wild you could only eat all natural foods, and your body would be a lot healthier. The quote that is stated in our readings from the other day about how we are starved before we are even hungry is a very true statement. We always need to eat before our stomach even tells us that we are hungry. We move so fast and have set times that we eat and most of the time we aren't even hungry at that time. Our lives go by so fast, that we don't even realize what is happening. By taking a break and living away from all the crap that distracts us would be a wonderful thing for all of us to do. Finding other things to do other than Facebook and playing video games would be a great cleansing experiment for all of us to do.
I would argue that we don't have to do what Thoreau did to get the same values he obtained in doing his experiment. Even going into the woods for a weekend, or even just a day hike, has cleansing values too. I think doing something like that clears your mind and balances you out, so you are better able to deal with the demands society puts on you. That's what I tend to get out of my trips. That and the peace and quiet out in the deep woods is truly relaxing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Bret. I couldn't do it for an extended period of time either. I would be able to do it for a week or so because I already have before. I actually lived in a tent for a week and that I believe it harder than a one room cabin especially since it was raining for windy. But back to the situation for a whole year. I would not be able to do that.
ReplyDeleteAnd like Carson said, I don't think we would have to do what Thoreau did to get the same values he obtained doing that experiment. I think he would have a tougher time doing it now, because just like us, he would be adapted to the technology and then have to go out there for a year. Which I believe is harder than what he had to do.