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School system.

I completely agree, school systems in today's society don't teach us to let us learn to but to fear us into getting good grades and not fully understanding what we are "supposed" to be taught.
As a kid,  we've been taught to get good grades to get into college and
if we got bad grades we were punished. making us as young adults almost to college and ready to study for our careers not prepared. Our brains are so focused oon getting that A or B on a report card that they don't ttruly focus on just learning and enjoying the intelligence they have.
I would be a hypocrite if I said I wasn't one of those people who doesn't focuses on grades more then actually learning but I believe Theoreau is correct in assuming our education system is flawed.

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- what truly matters

What truly matters to me is a mixture of s couple things. I know I know maybe it's cheating to have more then one but they are what make me feel alive.
1) family.. although it's dysfunctional most of the time they are my support system. I honestly don't know what i would do without them.
2) my dreams and passions. Drawing is my passion and honestly it's the one thing that helps calm me down if I'm upset or something to that effect. It's just ssonething that I wouldn't be able to give up
So there you have it. I don't have the best phone or the richest parents however what truly matters to me is stated above.

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I feel it's a mix of both. We have power over our own choices and what we choose to do in life, but I also believe we don't have the power to always determine the OUTCOME of those choices and that's where the world's choices come in. Like, let's use this scenario as an example, you can wake up every day and have the most positive attitude each time you open your eyes. You can do all the right things like doing your homework, treating everyone with kindness, etc. and you're just an overall great person but as we all know, even the greatest among us have flaws. You can do all these things but what if someone starts picking on your flaws and starts being a bully. This is another person's action that we have no control over. This person's action to bully you, to be cruel and mean, is something that's not your choice to make but still can make you upset and miserable. So can we make decisions that can make our lives living hells? Yeah, we can but can other people that we have no control over make our lives miserable as well? Yeah, they can.

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I feel as though sometimes, we as a society tend to... overlook what's truly important in life. We always want the newest things such as the newest iphone or newest clothes and let me start off by saying there's nothing wrong with that and there's nothing wrong with working towards getting that. When this becomes a problem is when it starts overtaking you and you start to forsake the things that truly matter. To me (and excuse the tad bit of personal touch) but my friends are literally everything to me. I have only 3 things that make me feel like I truly exist and getting to see my friends every day and us having a good time and having fun... that means so much more to me than an iphone 7 or the newest pair of shoes or headphones on the market. So what truly matters to you guys?

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I completely agree. All of us are afraid of the unknown but I feel like most of us get trapped into thinking that the unknown is a place of darkness and something to fear. The Future is the unknown but the future has the potential to hold not just bad things, but GREAT things. You're future could be one day meeting the love of your life and having kids and that's WONDERFUL but you're future could also include having cancer. Fear of the Unknown is understandable and that's part of what make us human, but only when you can look into that darkness and walk into it willingly is when you will truly be alive and EXISTING.

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Thoreau makes claims that just reading a book doesn't make you smart and I completely agree with that. However, it seems that the current educational system in the system acts upon the contrary to Thoreau's ideals. What do you guys think about how we're currently being taught? Personally, I schools just put us in a state of fear. They only give us two options: "You either do this or you fail." There's no encouragement, they aren't motivating us. I'm sorry, but getting a piece of candy or free lunch for one day isn't going to make me want to learn, especially in a subject I can't stand. I think even teachers are a part of the problem. We have so many teachers nowadays that HATE their job. Even in our own school, teachers are like "I HATE Freshman..." Then why are you even here? Why are you teaching? Why did you decide to teach a Freshman class? I'm not trying to be rude or mean, but if you're not passionate about your job, you aren't just hurting yourself but you're hurting the students too.

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Books and school alone do NOT identify a person as smart of dumb. We're all smart in our own way, whether that be at music, a sport, technology, etc. There are numerous amounts of ways to be identified as smart and the fact that the current educational system is one that isn't flexible to meet all types of students is truly pathetic and stupid. Why should a one test like the SAT determine our intelligence? I personally am not the best at math, any of you in my math class know that but I excel in things like history and literature because those come more naturally to me. My point is, intelligence can't be confined to one test or one subject, everyone has their own talents and interests and change needs to occur.

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I think that we do cut ourselves short when it comes to those we come in contact with in society. An example of this would be how we have such short meetings in the business world today. We meet, discuss, talk money, and then we're done. We don't cherish the time we spend together and build relationships like we used to in the past. We cut out time what we could be using to be with people we supposedly care about.

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Question #3
I believe Thoreau means to metaphorically state that all men are afraid of the abyss - the abyss of death and the unknown. Even I, have fears of the unknown and the darkness beyond. I think that's why many people develop faith and religion because like Theoreau states men although they are living their is this deep fear in the back of their mind of the unknown

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In my opinion it would be better to live in solitude versus in a community. Facing a group of people who disagree with your message or the cause you are pursuing while trying to find yourself would only seem to complicate your experience. To surround yourself with people who would be against you wouldn't help your cause at all. If you were to spend your time in solitude, you wouldn't have to worry about any other people's opinions and you would be able to alleyway bask in the fundamentals you are trying to reach, like Thoreau did.

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I think that if we gave more credit and spent more time appreciating and interacting with nature we would be more happy/satisfied. Since we are literally almost always surrounded by nature, it deserves to be respected and preserved. If we spent more time with it and embraced the nature that we interact with, whether we know it or not, on a daily basis we would be happier, having more real life experiences instead of virtual and electronic experiences like we have today.

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I think that we make ourselves sad upon our decisions. Although that is the main reason why we get sad, others opinions are taken into account. As humans we naturally take other people's opinions U to account which can affect our own. But, given this fact we make more of a conscious decision to take it upon ourselves and for us to be in the mood we get in. So as I said before, I think it is mainly our own doing and decisions that make us sad as humans.

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I agree with the ideal of following your conscience in what you do. Without anyone else's opinion we have to do what is right for us personally, whether that be an exact 'pursuit of happiness,' or just a goal we have. To have your opinion or the outcome of your situation manipulated by other's thoughts isn't truly what is designed for us as humans.

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answer to question 1
I agree with Samantha when she says that both solitude and conformity are not the proper ways to live your life. A person needs time to themselves but they do not need to live in complete solitude where they are all alone. Conformity is also not the way to live because people need to learn to be individuals. People need to understand that they do not need to meet society's standards and that they also do not need to listen to others harsh opinions.

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On page 212 Thoreau states, "I believe that men are generally still a little afraid of the dark, though the witches are all hung, and Christianity and candles have been introduced." Do you think that this represents his distrust in man's strength or that he doubts or mistrust the solutions for darkness? Or does this have another/deeper meaning?

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answer to question 2
Even though technology has worked its way into taking over all of our lives, I personally think that I haven't let technology take over my life. I know that I could easily give up my phone because I have come to that realization that there are many more important parts to our lives. Our family and friends will not be around forever, and that's why we need to take the moments as they come because we can never get that time back. Technology, on the other hand, will always be there and a person doesn't need to let their lives waste away because they use a cellphone or the internet too often.

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On page 282 Thoreau says "Every man is the daughter of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead." how does this quote represent his status as a transcendentalist author?

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On page 272, at the beginning of 'Higher Laws' Thoreau describes how just seeing a woodchuck brought out some inner beast inside him, attempting to attack. Do you think that all men/people have this hidden within until a certain action or even occurs or is this just due to Thoreau's surroundings and the new woods-y atmosphere he now calls home?

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answer to your response of question #2
I agree so much with you honestly. Our society basically destroys nature instead of taking one minute of the day to sit and watch the sun rise or set.
Every night I try to look into the stars. It really puts everything in perspective. We are just guests on this earth and we should take a minute and appreciate our life on this planet.

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Question #1
I believe that we do have a  responsiblity
to be truly happy. We decide who is allowed to hurt us
I believe those who say we have a right really aren't happy with their life. It is our responsibility to ensure we are truly happy by understanding and loving ourselves.

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answer to question 2
i think that people often overlook all of the natural beauty. they use nature for what it can give rather than sit back and take it all in. nature has so much to offer than what people give it credit for.

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Protesting has been very prominent ever since this year's election and almost every single one has gone violent. Does Thoreau's view of protest and today's view of protest differ? If so, why do you think it's became so different? Which ideal of protest do you identify with?

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We've been discussing about materialistic things and how they have the potential to make parts of our lives "dead". Take a minute reflect on this idea about yourself. Have you let technology or your possessions take over your life? If so, how can you change

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continued on your response to my question #1 - I agree with you on the point that many people need both solitude and conformity however, I believe that our society shouldnt be about conformity - many people get torn down by the fact they have different personalitis . Solitude gives us a chance to really understand ourselves that way we can truly find those people who are more likely to accept

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Question #3
I believe that it can be both your internal feelings as well as the feelings that are caused by external influences. Also, with that being said I also believe that you choose to be happy no matter the circumstances. I think that Thoreau means that we are influenced by our asurroundings but ultimately chops the affects.

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We all have the right to the pursuit of happiness according to the US Constitution. Thoreau makes a point that we have the "responsibility" of following our conscience. Do you agree or disagree with this ideal?

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Question #3
I definitely agree with your thought pattern, I believe that many people will think themselves into a bad mood or even be the one to corrupt themselves because they determine their fate. Every action has action opposite reactions (if that makes sense )

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Question #2
I would have to agree that we do not embrace nature fully as much as we do the products provided by nature that fill our desires. Today's society does not acknowledge nature but the products from nature. Perhaps if we took nature into consideration we would better embrace it and appreciate things and nature a lot more.

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Question #2
I think it takes a determined will to live in solitude. I don't however believe I, like many other Americans could live in solitude without some of my most prized possessions. I think for everyone in general, it would be hard to give up your family and social life the most.

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Question #1
I think neither solitude or conformity is the correct way to live. It is in our nature to communicate with others but also inbreeded in us to be different than the rest. I think everyone should be able to think for themselves and share their thoughts without being judged

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answer to Question #3
i do think that people would be more satisfied with life if they were more involved in nature. Nature brings peace and serenity to one's life and if everyone let go of technology and just observed nature for a small amount of time then they would live a happier life. However, nature could not bring complete satisfaction to a person's life. Other factors such as friends and family bring happiness and satisfaction. Nature is beneficial to live a healthy life but it is the not only thing that is needed to have a satisfied life.

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Question #1
I do believe that the most sweet and innocent can be found in nature because almost everything originates from the bounds of nature. Also, when we think of a newborn baby which originates from human nature we think how sweet and innocent they are. In conclusion, I believe that we would have to see the sweet and innocent in nature to see the good in people and even materialistic things

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on page 213, Thoreau states, "Nothing can rightly compel a simple and brave man to vulgar sadness." Explain what he means by this. Do you think the choices we make as humans puts us into sad moods or is it the world around us and other people's actions that leads to our sadness?

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Question #3
I believe as a society if we paid more attention to nature and to really enjoy that we are alive I tthink yes people would be happier yet, you really can't feel happiness without pain and I think that in society something might not always be perfect or that we might feel pain but by embracing nature I think we can really appreciate being
alive.

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On page 218, Thoreau says "The indescribable innocence and beneficence of N nature-- of sun, and wind and rain, of summer and winter,--such health, such cheer, they afford forever!". If we as humans living in today's society were more involved with nature, Do you think we would be more satisfied with life?

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On page 216, Thoreau says that "Society is too cheap" before he goes to say that "We only meet at very short intervals, not having time to acquire any new value for eachother.". Can you give an example of how this may be true in today's society?

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Question #1
I agree with that statement, honestly we as humans
decide what paths to take and their actions come with conquences good or bad - I also believe that humans nowadays don't look and embrace nature. We're rushing to go places and do a million things per second that we never sit and watch the sun set or look at the stars and just relax.

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On page 215, Thoreau says that all things good and bad go by us, and that we are not wholly involved in nature. Do you agree with this statement? Why or Why not?

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I agree with you when you say that our generation would have trouble conducting the experiment that he did. With all of the new gadgets and advances in technology , most people in our current society would struggle to give up everything to live deliberately. Nowadays, people couldn't even give up their cellphone for a couple hours, which goes to show that they couldn't survive and would be absolutely bored if they tried to pull off what he did. Everyone needs an escape every now and then, but people don't want anything to do with what he did.

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Question #2
Honestly, I think our generation would never be able to tear ourselves from the comforts of life. Although I would love to say I could, I would be a hypocrite because I do enjoy the comforts of life in our generation however, I can say that there are times when yes I want to run away and live in solitude and enjoy just traveling, I think the one thing I would have trouble giving up would be music.

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In the book, he decides to give up so many comforts of life to go live by the pond. Could you ever in your life make the same choice to give everything up to live in solitude? Is there something that you feel like you would be giving up the most?

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On page 212, Thoreau states that the most sweet and innocent can be found in any natural object, do you agree with him? Why?

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What do we classify a intectual being? Theoreau writes that a man can't simply read a book to be intectual. In school, we are taught that intelligence is based off your abilities to take an exam, however is it more about learning to develop a deeper way of thinking?

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As human beings, do we use nature to our own desires without fully embracing Earth's natural beauty? While reading "Walden" Theoreau constantly embraces nature in its purest form.

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Thoreau makes a point of living in solitude for 2 years. Do you think that it would be better to live in solitude, with your own unique thought pattern or to be in society and feel too different compared to  others?