This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
PERIOD 3 - THE BEAR THAT WASN'T
Yesterday, we read The Bear That Wasn't by Frank Tashlin. Please share with the class your thoughts about the story and be sure to post at least one comment on another classmate's reflective post.
I thought that 'the bear that wasnt' was a nice story with a nice meaning to it. I think it was a good way to start the class by showing some perspective into what types of topics the course will deal with. I think that 'the bear that wasnt' was interesting because you could read it and just see the cute little story, or you can read it and see such a great meaning to it. I think that the story shows how our society has a tendancy to try and make people conform to what the society wants them to be, and many people oblige to this conformation. Although the story was a short story, clearly meant for a younger age group, it can still give some perspective to the older kids.
I thought the bear story showed that people become convinced to conform to society's beliefs and in doing so they have to go against their beliefs. It was hard for the bear to maintain his identity as he moved through the bureaucracy as more people were convincing him that he was not a bear. The story also portrayed how people identify others by the groups they belong to instead of the individual. Power also played a role in the story because the bear, as an individual, was less powerful than the others that belonged to a group. This made it more difficult for the bear to go against the group's beliefs.
I thought the bear story and the conversation that followed very interesting. It showed the instinct an individual has to conform to a group and abandon your ideals. It's difficult to maintain your beliefs when they are questioned by so many others. The bear in the beginning was very sure of himself when he said that he was a bear, but when the three managers and the other types of bears said that he was only a man that badly needed a shave; the bear began to doubt himself. The book also conveyed the notion of stereotypes and that since the bear didn't look like the other bears, he couldn't possibly be a bear.
In the story "The Bear that Wasn't" I personally feel bad for the bear that got confused with what he actually was instead of a man who needs to save and wears a fur coat. The reason for that is because so many people told him that he wasn't a bear and instead he was a human, and he heard it so many times that he actually convinced himself that he wasn't a bear.The moral of the story I think is to make sure that you know who you are and to not let anyone convince you otherwise. In order to know your true identity, you have to believe yourself before you believe in others.
After reading "The Bear That Wasn't", I thought it was an accurate representation of how a person can begin to lose their identity because of the thoughts of others. When the bear was told over and over again how he was really just a "man with a fur coat who needed a shave", it was a metaphor for the everyday peer pressure to become someone you aren’t. It helped me to realize how important it is to maintain your identity when others may be trying to influence you in some other way.
After reading, "The Bear That Wasnt", I remembered that I had previously read this book in Mill Pond, and even back then , the purpose of reading the book was the same. Even back then, teachers were trying to teach students at a young age how hard it may be to keep your identity when associating yourself with a new group. For example, going from Mill Pond, to the Middle School and making completely new friends. While making new friends and forming new "groups of friends" it will be hard to keep your true identity, and to be yourself.
In my opinion, this story reflected the negative effects that authoritative figures of society may hold. The story shows a good representation of how people change and are easily influenced by others around them. The moral is strong and shows that people need to be themselves, regardless of what others opinions are. This is shown by the bear, when he was persuaded to the point that he actually believed he was a human, which clearly does not stand true. Although Tashlin incorporates this through a fictional character, this holds true throughout the different levels of society today.
The Bear That Wasn't represented society's attempt at categorizing human beings into being what they are perceived as and not what they are. The bear wasn't considered a bear because he didn't fit the usual criteria for a bear (being in a circus or a zoo) and because of this everyone told him what he was instead, with compounding opinions. The concept of being judged is deeply wrong, and it removes the freedom of being who you want to be and who you are, if society puts you in their own perception of your “kind” you are trapped without your own legitimate identity or purpose. Stereotypes although not all intended in negativity feed into judging and being what everyone thinks you are.
I enjoyed reading the story "The Bear That Wasn't". I found our class discussion to be very interesting, as we discussed how an individual is willing to change things about themselves in order to be accepted by a group. People in the book treated the bear differently because he was not the same as other bears. The identity of a bear according to these people was an animal that belonged in a circus or a zoo. Due to the bear being different from that typical "bear" stereotype, he was not accepted. In class the other day, we realized that the most important thing that we own is our identity, and if we change our identity for others to accept us, we are not being truthful to ourselves.
I felt that this story had a lot to show because it had a bear that was in hibernation and then a factory was built around him making him a factory worker. This concept doesn’t make any sense because all the managers and head people tell him he's not a bear to the point where he convinces himself that he’s not a bear. Just because someone tells you something doesn’t mean it’s true. If it were me I would not take that because I know myself better than anyone else does.
I think the point the author was making was a good one. Its easy to stick to your opinion when one person disagrees with you. It's still doable when two people disagree with you. But it gets harder and harder as more people are telling you you're wrong, or that you should or shouldn't do something. Reading the story from the bear's point of view, where the readers are sympathetic to the bear, and we want him to stay a bear- where we are set up to have sympathy for him- its easy to see that he should stick to his opinions. We dislike the managers, presidents and other bears who are telling him to be someone he isn't. However, outside of the story sometimes its harder to see that. It becomes easier to convince yourself that you're doing something because you want to, not just to please someone else. I think many of our choices are subconsciously influenced. We might not think, "oh I should do that or wear that so that I'm more similar to my friends", but we sometimes choose what we do because of the influence the group has on us. We don't even realize we are being influenced by the people around us. The influences on us don't always have to be bad, either. In the bear's case, it was easy to see that it was a bad influence- he should've stayed strong to his opinion. But sometimes group influences can be good as well.
I found the book The Bear That Wasn't by Frank Tashlin to be sad, and I could easily relate to what was happening to him because I went through the same thing. It is common for people to change themselves to fit in with a certain group or clique. My advice is to stay true to yourself and never turn into a person that you are not. If people do not accept you for who you are, then they are not true friends and should not be worth your time. A strong person and someone who is a leader will never change themselves for somebody else, and will stay strong no matter how hard life gets at times. I went through something very similar because I was friends with people who were bad influences on me. I was getting horrible grades, I was not getting along with my parents, and I was constantly getting myself into trouble. During this time I started to realize that this was not who I truly was, and that I needed to take time for myself and become the better person that I knew I was. I made new friends, and starting putting school first which in the end made me feel so much better about myself. In the book, the bear goes through some similar experiences, which are portrayed out in society everyday. Many people go through these experiences, but they need to learn to stay strong, be themselves, and not let any outsiders influence them in any other way.
I think the story The Bear That Wasn’t was a very good story that showed that it is very easy to be influenced by the others around you. Many people base their decisions and beliefs off of what other people think and I think that this story shows that very well. It is meant to be a children’s book but it conveys a very mature message that allows adults to relate to the book as well. It shows how people just want to fit in and will change who they are to do so. It also shows the power structure and how people in a higher powered position influence the people below them.
The bear story wasn’t just about a bear who tried to convince everyone that he was a bear. The bear is a perfect example of how people can really change because people want them to. One the bear wasn’t accepted by his own kind, he was left with no choice to believe what everyone was really saying about him. I can only imagine how the bear was really feeling when the vice presidents kept saying the exact thing over and over again. The bear also must have felt hurt when no one would listen to what he was saying. No matter how he explained that he was a bear, the presidents wouldn’t take the time to listen to him. Even though the bear was clearly different from the rest of the factory workers, he was treated just like them. Someone might say that he being treated like everyone is a good thing. It can only be a good thing when it doesn’t change his identity. The vice presidents took a piece of him the minute they cut down the trees. How can one not blame the bear for not believing in himself? He had every reason not to. The bear that wasn’t is a perfect example of society today.
I thought that the bear story was a good example of how people with societal powers can overpower someone with lesser power easily. The lesser power in the bear story is obviously the bear, and as he moves up in the chain of power, the rejection he receives is greater. Also as you look higher on the ladder it almost seems as the vice presidents and then president seem to be more and more arrogant. I think that can be seen today in society with many people that think they can look down on others just because of their power or wealth.
I thought this was an interesting story. The bear ended up in a new factory after hibernating, and he was assumed to be a person that worked there. Did he have a uniform on? No he didn’t. If the people around him looked at him for what he was instead of what they assumed the bear would’ve been let go. It went from one person to another superior person. Even when the bear was taken to the zoo, the bears there didn’t recognize him as a bear. They said that he wasn’t behind the cage with them. Everyone that saw the bear said that he was a hairy man who needed a shave. The point to learn from this story is that people need to view other people with respect and view them for what they are. Really look into who a person is instead of assuming something about them. Identity is something that can be hard to maintain and don’t let somebody control it.
I thought that The Bear that Wasn't did a good job of poking fun at the pressures of society to conform showing both the pressures from superiors and peers. I found it interesting how it showed the increasing effect the words "you are not a bear" had on the bear as people higher and higher up in the company said them. This mimics the pressure to conform to what people higher in society believe is right. The hierarchy represents the pressure that might be felt from a boss, parent, teacher, or other person in society that has higher levels of power. What was even more interesting is how when the bears from the circus and from the zoo, the effect was much greater because they were bears. This is the same in human society in that if you are not accepted by your peers, it can even be harder to be yourself than from a superior, because you feel more pressure to fit in with them. This mimics pressure to conform to friends or schoolmates beliefs to fit in. I think that the ending of the story had a good message when the bear decided to be himself and hibernate for the winter, because it showed that being who you are may be challenging when faced with all the pressure from others, but it is rewarding to be the way you were meant to be.
After reading the story “The Bear That Wasn’t” I started to take notice of how people act and react to each other in a group situation. It was very interesting to see the differing group dynamics as I went back and forth between conversations. What stood out to me the most was the negative subtext to what people were saying; always trying to prove what they were saying is right, and the other person is wrong. Looking past the literal meaning of the argument it was interesting to see how a person’s feelings played such a large role in their actions, weather to give into the other persons idea or to stay true to what the actually believe.
After reading "The Bear That Wasn't", I began thinking about how easily influenced one can be by the people around them. In this particular scenario a bear was told by many that he was not actually a bear, but instead a man who needed to shave and wore a fur coat. After several attempts to defend his identity, the bear finally became convinced that he was in fact human. As a result he took on the lifestyle of a human being and began working in a factory. I feel that too many times people’s identities are heavily influenced by their peers. This creates a figure that other people want to be around, and not who you truly want to be. People need to find themselves without the impact of society affecting their true self. They should never let their guard down, and instead should defend and fight for their true identity to the death.
I thought that the bear story was a good story because of the strong message that people who are lower in the power rankings opinions are sometimes ignored by people with higher power. This message still stands true in society today and how people determine who you are as a person and don’t listen to what you believe you are.
Ali Bracey said that the people in the book treated the bear differently because he was different from the other bears. I was thinking that they could have treated him like that for two reasons. Possibly they were scared of the un-known- they couldn't understand it, and didn't really want to. This relates to my second idea of mob mentality- once a few people started thinking of the bear as strange, everyone did. Its easier to float with the current then swim against it. By refusing to try to expand/open their minds, the managers/presidents/bears could just disagree with the bear. They didn't have to do any work themselves.
In my opinion, 'The Bear That Wasn't', was cute and got its point across well. I can see how young children could be entertained by it, while older people could see the deeper message behind it. I thought it was a good way to start the class because I’m pretty sure a theme of this class is going to be to think for yourself and form your own onions about what’s true and what isn’t or about what’s right and what’s wrong. Because letting society or people in authority dictate you morality is what allows things like genocide, racism, prejudice, and stereotyping to continue. Just because the majority of people thinks something’s ok doesn’t mean it is. And just because your beliefs might make you the minority, doesn’t mean you aren’t right.
I thought that the book titled “The bear that wasn’t “was interesting. It just proves that people are judged by their looks exterior wise. I feel bad for the bear because he was totally convinced by everyone at the bureau that he wasn’t a bear but a silly man who wears a fur coat and needs to shave. That was wrong because that’s what society is currently like. The society wants everyone to be same, which to me would be totally boring. We need diversity which makes everyone different and interesting in some way.
I agree with Kim's post. People nowadays are easily influenced by others and that can be very bad in the long run. You have to trust yourself and believe in yourself before you go and start believing in others and what they tell you.
I really enjoyed the Bear Story because it was interesting and meaningful as it tied into real world problems. This story was a good example of how people judge and stereotype others. The bear represented someone who is different from others like him. His individuality was not accepted by the workers or the other bears which frustrated him. When we talked as a class I found myself agreeing that people change based on what kind of people they hang out with which is similar to what happened to the bear when he tried to fit in with the circus bears and the factory workers. People tend to change their image based on the people that they associate themselves with which is why the bear is a good example.
I am commenting on Jodie Shrier's comment. I also read the bear story when I was in Mill Pond. It was cool to see how the moral remained the same after a few years but changed in some aspects. I believe I have a better understanding of the moral now and have more life examples to relate to the story.
I completely agree with Sadie Smith. People definitely start to lose their identities after listening to other people’s thoughts. People try to become someone else just to fit in. I never really thought of the "man with a fur coat who needed a shave" as a metaphor. I’m glad Sadie pointed that out because now I can look at it differently.
In response to Olivia Tortolini's post, I can totally relate to not putting school first and not taking time for myself. As crazy as it may sound, I have learned that when you set school as your first priority, rather than your social life, your grades actually improve, which was something I learned the hard way.
As I was reading "The Bear That Wasn't", I liked how everything was phrased. The way it was meant to show us that in enough time we conceive what we believe to be true, to then become false. Creating a completely different persona of what we are, making us not what we are, but what we are knows as in the eyes of today’s society. In time what we are is supposed to change, to what, I’m not sure. It’s what we believe to be true that makes us our own unique individuals’ and allowing another person to tell you otherwise making you feel less than what you are is wrong. Fight for your right to be your own individual and defend what you believe to be true, because only you can make yourself feel inferior to another person. Don’t be afraid to show your true colors, whether their good or bad, everyone is amazing in their own and, and it makes you beautiful!
I thought the reading, The Bear That Wasn’t, was in fact an eye opening story. The idea that a “superior” could change your identity with a few words amazed me. A little bear whole persona is ratified when a couple of people disagree with the bear’s opinion of who he is. This is held true in society just as well. The idea of “individualism” and “being you” has completely vanished in order to satisfy a more powerful group. Anyone who is not in this group is deemed as a social outcast. In reality these “social outcasts” may be the very key to keeping this country alive. We came to the United States to seek freedom. If we continue to conform into what is quote on quote “normal”, then as a whole we will lose sight of what makes this country so great, being unique. This country allows us to express ourselves (within reason) and show our true identity. Why not use this power that was given to us? If we don’t, we will end up like that little bear, sad, alone, and confused.
Juliette- I agree with you, especially your comment on stereotypes. Society believed that bears were only in the circus or the zoo. The book showed how people associate others according to the group they belong to.
I have to agree with Matt Demers on his comment because it's true when it comes to the fact that higher authority has a higher influence on those below them. Most people think that when their boss tells them something that they assume they are always right. Just like in the book he took the Head Bosses word over his own and considered himself a factory worker instead of a bear.
I agree with Jeremy's post. People are too influenced by society and they let other people around them dictate who they are as a person. They focus too much on fitting in and not enough about being themselves and this leads to them losing who they truly are.
I agree with what she is saying. People's opinion of you should not change who you are, and if they judge you for it then they are not worth your time. This book portrays how people are easily influenced everyday in society, and hopefully one day they can realize that not everybody can be the same and that being your true and unique self is what makes people interesting.
I agree with Matt Demers.I think that it is very difficult to not only go against the crowd but especially if there is somebody who is in a position of higher power.
Kim said "The moral is strong and shows that people need to be themselves, regardless of what others opinions are." and I agree with that. Be who you are, and don't change who you are to make others happy.
I agree with Veda Awasthi's comment on how people identify others by the groups they belong to instead of the individual. Everyone in the book, even the other bears, were convinced he couldn't be a bear because he was so unlike everyone else. He didn't belong in a circus or a zoo, so they assumed he was a human. She also made a good point about the fact that it's difficult to maintain your identity in the face of so many that disagree.
After reading Greg's post, I could not help but agree with him. The influence of higher powers on those who are lower is massive. It was interesting to see the bear get told he is man by the different social statuses. As the ranks of the presidents grew, he began to believe more and more that he was in fact a man.
Shaina Lariviere on Colleen Mulcahy's blog
said...
In regards to Colleen Mulcahy’s comment I completely agree. I think colleen has positive way of looking at the class and really grasped what the book meant. Also I liked the way she talked about conformity because I think that that’s what the real underbelly of the book meant. Colleen mades some really great points!
I think that its really great that Olivia Tortolini has shared a personal connection to this story. Its good to hear that she went through something similar to the bear, and that she realized that she needed to break away from the crowd and be herself. Its always hard to go against your friends and do whats right, and it takes a lot of courage and hard work to do so. Thank you for sharing !
I agree with Mary, that the bears saying he wasn’t a bear had a stronger effect on him and put more pressure on him to conform to the group. If even the say he’s not a bear and that he’s wrong, it would be really hard for him to stand alone and say to everyone that they’re wrong and that he’s right. I also believe that people began to act like how they’re treated, and people treat you like how you act. So when he was told enough he wasn’t a bear, he stopped acting like a bear. This would just encourage the bosses and other bears to treat him like a worker instead of a bear. It’s like a cycle.
Olivia Tortolini's post showed how everybody can relate in some way to this story. As she was comparing it to a real life scenario, she showed how some people really aren't worth your time, and dwelling on situations like that are not worth it. Staying true to yourself in life is really crucial, and essential to maintaining your identity. She portrays herself as a strong individual, who knows how to grasp the positive aspects of life. People have to live their whole life with themselves as an individual, which is why the people they surround themselves with early on are extremely important.
I agree with Taylor Monahan because she said that keeping your identity is really important. I also think that this is true. We can learn from the bear that it is not necessary to change yourself based on the people that you associate with. She also said that “the bear that wasn’t is a perfect example of society today” which is true because the bear represents everyone who wants to change just to fit in.
I felt a sense of disappointment while reading “The Bear That Wasn’t”. Not in terms of the story itself. Rather, the concept that issues of identity are very real and are still a reoccurring factor of today. Unfortunately, there are some who do not identify themselves as their true selves rather what the world perceives them to be. These people are willing to do whatever It takes to appease the crowd, and rather than evolve and grow as them, undergo a sense of degeneration and become nothing more than amalgamations of their peers around them. Others are born feeling that they are not their true selves such as transgendered and other similar examples; unfortunately this is quite common and I feel sorry for those who must modify their bodies to feel one with their inner being. Another issue faced occurs when others oppose another’s will. Wielding power be it money, land, even the life of another does not make a person wise or in any way brilliant. That said, the bureaucrats found in the story kept telling the bear that he was nothing more than a hairy man in a fur coat. No matter how powerful the man in succession was, the latter of ignorance merely transcended and moved along with the workers. Leaving one question in mind, “what defines and individual and who the Hell are they to claim otherwise?”
I thought that the story “The Bear That Wasn’t” was very relatable; at some point in life, everyone is labeled by another person who thinks that they have the right to define us. The bear had been told by everyone that he was something different than what he truly was. Sometimes when someone tells you something enough, no matter how ridiculous it may seem, eventually you begin to believe it; the bear had been told repeatedly that he was just a “silly factory worker” and despite the fact that he knew he was a bear he began to just accept that he really was a factory worker. However I don’t think it has to be a lot of people telling you that you’re something different than your true self for you to agree that. In my case I had ONE person telling me that I was something different than who I was. That one person told me over and over that I was one thing and all I could think was “I’m the exact opposite of that.” However this person told me what he thought I was so many times that it became almost impossible for me to believe anything but that. How much difference can one person really make? When that person’s opinion means something to you, that one person can change your entire perspective. But why should it? Why should I let anyone else tell me who or what I am?
I agree with Jonathan Soto. I agree with the fact that the bear changed his mind about being a bear into being a human is because he was told numerous times by others of what they thought of him. “In order to know your true identity, you have to believe yourself before you believe in others” – I agree hundred percent with that statement
I agree with Jeremy about how people can be convinced they're something they're not just based on what other people tell them they are. I think that people, in today's society especially, care too much about what other people think about them and they make major changes in they're life based on what they say.
Syd DeArmond mentioned in her post that people that are seen as social outcasts may be the key to keeping this country alive. If everyone conforms to fit into a certain group, we lose the idea of individualism that our country stands by. I hadn’t thought about this before, but I agree with her post.
I agree with Ben Mugi. There are a lot of pressures from society attempting to get everybody to act, dress, and be a certain way. But it's important ot remain true to who you really are so as not to conform to an image of what other people think we should be.
I concurred with Jeremy post. He stated that “They should never let their guard down, and instead should defend and fight for their true identity to the death.” It is important for people to stand up for what they believe in. For example if you are sitting with your friends and they are constantly making judgmental comments toward others then take a stand. I am mortified by the fact that so many people won’t speak because they are afraid of what other people will think of them. If you feel strongly about something then voice your opinion otherwise nothing will change.
After reading the posts of my peers I came to a conclusion. We each identified with the bear and felt he perfectly represented society. Moreover, we also concluded that one has no to right to define or impose their will on another and change the way one is perceived by another. Unrelated ,how are you feeling Julie get better.
I thought this was a good story. However, unfortunately the sad truth is that people in today's society are constantly being judged through the eyes of what the majority sees instead of showing what there own perspective is. As for the bear, he sadly fell into what everyone was saying and at some point lost his sense of perspective, and eventually went along with the role that everyone said he belonged to.
56 comments:
I was absent this day.
I thought that 'the bear that wasnt' was a nice story with a nice meaning to it. I think it was a good way to start the class by showing some perspective into what types of topics the course will deal with. I think that 'the bear that wasnt' was interesting because you could read it and just see the cute little story, or you can read it and see such a great meaning to it. I think that the story shows how our society has a tendancy to try and make people conform to what the society wants them to be, and many people oblige to this conformation. Although the story was a short story, clearly meant for a younger age group, it can still give some perspective to the older kids.
I thought the bear story showed that people become convinced to conform to society's beliefs and in doing so they have to go against their beliefs. It was hard for the bear to maintain his identity as he moved through the bureaucracy as more people were convincing him that he was not a bear. The story also portrayed how people identify others by the groups they belong to instead of the individual. Power also played a role in the story because the bear, as an individual, was less powerful than the others that belonged to a group. This made it more difficult for the bear to go against the group's beliefs.
I thought the bear story and the conversation that followed very interesting. It showed the instinct an individual has to conform to a group and abandon your ideals. It's difficult to maintain your beliefs when they are questioned by so many others. The bear in the beginning was very sure of himself when he said that he was a bear, but when the three managers and the other types of bears said that he was only a man that badly needed a shave; the bear began to doubt himself. The book also conveyed the notion of stereotypes and that since the bear didn't look like the other bears, he couldn't possibly be a bear.
In the story "The Bear that Wasn't" I personally feel bad for the bear that got confused with what he actually was instead of a man who needs to save and wears a fur coat. The reason for that is because so many people told him that he wasn't a bear and instead he was a human, and he heard it so many times that he actually convinced himself that he wasn't a bear.The moral of the story I think is to make sure that you know who you are and to not let anyone convince you otherwise. In order to know your true identity, you have to believe yourself before you believe in others.
After reading "The Bear That Wasn't", I thought it was an accurate representation of how a person can begin to lose their identity because of the thoughts of others. When the bear was told over and over again how he was really just a "man with a fur coat who needed a shave", it was a metaphor for the everyday peer pressure to become someone you aren’t. It helped me to realize how important it is to maintain your identity when others may be trying to influence you in some other way.
After reading, "The Bear That Wasnt", I remembered that I had previously read this book in Mill Pond, and even back then , the purpose of reading the book was the same. Even back then, teachers were trying to teach students at a young age how hard it may be to keep your identity when associating yourself with a new group. For example, going from Mill Pond, to the Middle School and making completely new friends. While making new friends and forming new "groups of friends" it will be hard to keep your true identity, and to be yourself.
In my opinion, this story reflected the negative effects that authoritative figures of society may hold. The story shows a good representation of how people change and are easily influenced by others around them. The moral is strong and shows that people need to be themselves, regardless of what others opinions are. This is shown by the bear, when he was persuaded to the point that he actually believed he was a human, which clearly does not stand true. Although Tashlin incorporates this through a fictional character, this holds true throughout the different levels of society today.
The Bear That Wasn't represented society's attempt at categorizing human beings into being what they are perceived as and not what they are. The bear wasn't considered a bear because he didn't fit the usual criteria for a bear (being in a circus or a zoo) and because of this everyone told him what he was instead, with compounding opinions. The concept of being judged is deeply wrong, and it removes the freedom of being who you want to be and who you are, if society puts you in their own perception of your “kind” you are trapped without your own legitimate identity or purpose. Stereotypes although not all intended in negativity feed into judging and being what everyone thinks you are.
I enjoyed reading the story "The Bear That Wasn't". I found our class discussion to be very interesting, as we discussed how an individual is willing to change things about themselves in order to be accepted by a group. People in the book treated the bear differently because he was not the same as other bears. The identity of a bear according to these people was an animal that belonged in a circus or a zoo. Due to the bear being different from that typical "bear" stereotype, he was not accepted. In class the other day, we realized that the most important thing that we own is our identity, and if we change our identity for others to accept us, we are not being truthful to ourselves.
I felt that this story had a lot to show because it had a bear that was in hibernation and then a factory was built around him making him a factory worker. This concept doesn’t make any sense because all the managers and head people tell him he's not a bear to the point where he convinces himself that he’s not a bear. Just because someone tells you something doesn’t mean it’s true. If it were me I would not take that because I know myself better than anyone else does.
I think the point the author was making was a good one. Its easy to stick to your opinion when one person disagrees with you. It's still doable when two people disagree with you. But it gets harder and harder as more people are telling you you're wrong, or that you should or shouldn't do something. Reading the story from the bear's point of view, where the readers are sympathetic to the bear, and we want him to stay a bear- where we are set up to have sympathy for him- its easy to see that he should stick to his opinions. We dislike the managers, presidents and other bears who are telling him to be someone he isn't. However, outside of the story sometimes its harder to see that. It becomes easier to convince yourself that you're doing something because you want to, not just to please someone else. I think many of our choices are subconsciously influenced. We might not think, "oh I should do that or wear that so that I'm more similar to my friends", but we sometimes choose what we do because of the influence the group has on us. We don't even realize we are being influenced by the people around us. The influences on us don't always have to be bad, either. In the bear's case, it was easy to see that it was a bad influence- he should've stayed strong to his opinion. But sometimes group influences can be good as well.
I found the book The Bear That Wasn't by Frank Tashlin to be sad, and I could easily relate to what was happening to him because I went through the same thing. It is common for people to change themselves to fit in with a certain group or clique. My advice is to stay true to yourself and never turn into a person that you are not. If people do not accept you for who you are, then they are not true friends and should not be worth your time. A strong person and someone who is a leader will never change themselves for somebody else, and will stay strong no matter how hard life gets at times. I went through something very similar because I was friends with people who were bad influences on me. I was getting horrible grades, I was not getting along with my parents, and I was constantly getting myself into trouble. During this time I started to realize that this was not who I truly was, and that I needed to take time for myself and become the better person that I knew I was. I made new friends, and starting putting school first which in the end made me feel so much better about myself. In the book, the bear goes through some similar experiences, which are portrayed out in society everyday. Many people go through these experiences, but they need to learn to stay strong, be themselves, and not let any outsiders influence them in any other way.
I think the story The Bear That Wasn’t was a very good story that showed that it is very easy to be influenced by the others around you. Many people base their decisions and beliefs off of what other people think and I think that this story shows that very well. It is meant to be a children’s book but it conveys a very mature message that allows adults to relate to the book as well. It shows how people just want to fit in and will change who they are to do so. It also shows the power structure and how people in a higher powered position influence the people below them.
The bear story wasn’t just about a bear who tried to convince everyone that he was a bear. The bear is a perfect example of how people can really change because people want them to. One the bear wasn’t accepted by his own kind, he was left with no choice to believe what everyone was really saying about him. I can only imagine how the bear was really feeling when the vice presidents kept saying the exact thing over and over again. The bear also must have felt hurt when no one would listen to what he was saying. No matter how he explained that he was a bear, the presidents wouldn’t take the time to listen to him. Even though the bear was clearly different from the rest of the factory workers, he was treated just like them. Someone might say that he being treated like everyone is a good thing. It can only be a good thing when it doesn’t change his identity. The vice presidents took a piece of him the minute they cut down the trees. How can one not blame the bear for not believing in himself? He had every reason not to. The bear that wasn’t is a perfect example of society today.
I thought that the bear story was a good example of how people with societal powers can overpower someone with lesser power easily. The lesser power in the bear story is obviously the bear, and as he moves up in the chain of power, the rejection he receives is greater. Also as you look higher on the ladder it almost seems as the vice presidents and then president seem to be more and more arrogant. I think that can be seen today in society with many people that think they can look down on others just because of their power or wealth.
I thought this was an interesting story. The bear ended up in a new factory after hibernating, and he was assumed to be a person that worked there. Did he have a uniform on? No he didn’t. If the people around him looked at him for what he was instead of what they assumed the bear would’ve been let go. It went from one person to another superior person. Even when the bear was taken to the zoo, the bears there didn’t recognize him as a bear. They said that he wasn’t behind the cage with them. Everyone that saw the bear said that he was a hairy man who needed a shave. The point to learn from this story is that people need to view other people with respect and view them for what they are. Really look into who a person is instead of assuming something about them. Identity is something that can be hard to maintain and don’t let somebody control it.
I thought that The Bear that Wasn't did a good job of poking fun at the pressures of society to conform showing both the pressures from superiors and peers. I found it interesting how it showed the increasing effect the words "you are not a bear" had on the bear as people higher and higher up in the company said them. This mimics the pressure to conform to what people higher in society believe is right. The hierarchy represents the pressure that might be felt from a boss, parent, teacher, or other person in society that has higher levels of power. What was even more interesting is how when the bears from the circus and from the zoo, the effect was much greater because they were bears. This is the same in human society in that if you are not accepted by your peers, it can even be harder to be yourself than from a superior, because you feel more pressure to fit in with them. This mimics pressure to conform to friends or schoolmates beliefs to fit in. I think that the ending of the story had a good message when the bear decided to be himself and hibernate for the winter, because it showed that being who you are may be challenging when faced with all the pressure from others, but it is rewarding to be the way you were meant to be.
After reading the story “The Bear That Wasn’t” I started to take notice of how people act and react to each other in a group situation. It was very interesting to see the differing group dynamics as I went back and forth between conversations. What stood out to me the most was the negative subtext to what people were saying; always trying to prove what they were saying is right, and the other person is wrong. Looking past the literal meaning of the argument it was interesting to see how a person’s feelings played such a large role in their actions, weather to give into the other persons idea or to stay true to what the actually believe.
After reading "The Bear That Wasn't", I began thinking about how easily influenced one can be by the people around them. In this particular scenario a bear was told by many that he was not actually a bear, but instead a man who needed to shave and wore a fur coat. After several attempts to defend his identity, the bear finally became convinced that he was in fact human. As a result he took on the lifestyle of a human being and began working in a factory. I feel that too many times people’s identities are heavily influenced by their peers. This creates a figure that other people want to be around, and not who you truly want to be. People need to find themselves without the impact of society affecting their true self. They should never let their guard down, and instead should defend and fight for their true identity to the death.
I thought that the bear story was a good story because of the strong message that people who are lower in the power rankings opinions are sometimes ignored by people with higher power. This message still stands true in society today and how people determine who you are as a person and don’t listen to what you believe you are.
Ali Bracey said that the people in the book treated the bear differently because he was different from the other bears. I was thinking that they could have treated him like that for two reasons. Possibly they were scared of the un-known- they couldn't understand it, and didn't really want to. This relates to my second idea of mob mentality- once a few people started thinking of the bear as strange, everyone did. Its easier to float with the current then swim against it. By refusing to try to expand/open their minds, the managers/presidents/bears could just disagree with the bear. They didn't have to do any work themselves.
In my opinion, 'The Bear That Wasn't', was cute and got its point across well. I can see how young children could be entertained by it, while older people could see the deeper message behind it. I thought it was a good way to start the class because I’m pretty sure a theme of this class is going to be to think for yourself and form your own onions about what’s true and what isn’t or about what’s right and what’s wrong. Because letting society or people in authority dictate you morality is what allows things like genocide, racism, prejudice, and stereotyping to continue. Just because the majority of people thinks something’s ok doesn’t mean it is. And just because your beliefs might make you the minority, doesn’t mean you aren’t right.
I thought that the book titled “The bear that wasn’t “was interesting. It just proves that people are judged by their looks exterior wise. I feel bad for the bear because he was totally convinced by everyone at the bureau that he wasn’t a bear but a silly man who wears a fur coat and needs to shave. That was wrong because that’s what society is currently like. The society wants everyone to be same, which to me would be totally boring. We need diversity which makes everyone different and interesting in some way.
I agree with Kim's post. People nowadays are easily influenced by others and that can be very bad in the long run. You have to trust yourself and believe in yourself before you go and start believing in others and what they tell you.
I really enjoyed the Bear Story because it was interesting and meaningful as it tied into real world problems. This story was a good example of how people judge and stereotype others. The bear represented someone who is different from others like him. His individuality was not accepted by the workers or the other bears which frustrated him. When we talked as a class I found myself agreeing that people change based on what kind of people they hang out with which is similar to what happened to the bear when he tried to fit in with the circus bears and the factory workers. People tend to change their image based on the people that they associate themselves with which is why the bear is a good example.
I am commenting on Jodie Shrier's comment. I also read the bear story when I was in Mill Pond. It was cool to see how the moral remained the same after a few years but changed in some aspects. I believe I have a better understanding of the moral now and have more life examples to relate to the story.
I completely agree with Sadie Smith. People definitely start to lose their identities after listening to other people’s thoughts. People try to become someone else just to fit in. I never really thought of the "man with a fur coat who needed a shave" as a metaphor. I’m glad Sadie pointed that out because now I can look at it differently.
In response to Olivia Tortolini's post, I can totally relate to not putting school first and not taking time for myself. As crazy as it may sound, I have learned that when you set school as your first priority, rather than your social life, your grades actually improve, which was something I learned the hard way.
As I was reading "The Bear That Wasn't", I liked how everything was phrased. The way it was meant to show us that in enough time we conceive what we believe to be true, to then become false. Creating a completely different persona of what we are, making us not what we are, but what we are knows as in the eyes of today’s society. In time what we are is supposed to change, to what, I’m not sure. It’s what we believe to be true that makes us our own unique individuals’ and allowing another person to tell you otherwise making you feel less than what you are is wrong. Fight for your right to be your own individual and defend what you believe to be true, because only you can make yourself feel inferior to another person. Don’t be afraid to show your true colors, whether their good or bad, everyone is amazing in their own and, and it makes you beautiful!
I thought the reading, The Bear That Wasn’t, was in fact an eye opening story. The idea that a “superior” could change your identity with a few words amazed me. A little bear whole persona is ratified when a couple of people disagree with the bear’s opinion of who he is. This is held true in society just as well. The idea of “individualism” and “being you” has completely vanished in order to satisfy a more powerful group. Anyone who is not in this group is deemed as a social outcast. In reality these “social outcasts” may be the very key to keeping this country alive. We came to the United States to seek freedom. If we continue to conform into what is quote on quote “normal”, then as a whole we will lose sight of what makes this country so great, being unique. This country allows us to express ourselves (within reason) and show our true identity. Why not use this power that was given to us? If we don’t, we will end up like that little bear, sad, alone, and confused.
Juliette-
I agree with you, especially your comment on stereotypes. Society believed that bears were only in the circus or the zoo. The book showed how people associate others according to the group they belong to.
I have to agree with Matt Demers on his comment because it's true when it comes to the fact that higher authority has a higher influence on those below them. Most people think that when their boss tells them something that they assume they are always right. Just like in the book he took the Head Bosses word over his own and considered himself a factory worker instead of a bear.
I agree with Jeremy's post. People are too influenced by society and they let other people around them dictate who they are as a person. They focus too much on fitting in and not enough about being themselves and this leads to them losing who they truly are.
Commenting on Kimberly Woodcock's post....
I agree with what she is saying. People's opinion of you should not change who you are, and if they judge you for it then they are not worth your time. This book portrays how people are easily influenced everyday in society, and hopefully one day they can realize that not everybody can be the same and that being your true and unique self is what makes people interesting.
I agree with what Mary was saying about how the story poked fun at the pressures of society and I really like how she worded her answer
I agree with Matt Demers.I think that it is very difficult to not only go against the crowd but especially if there is somebody who is in a position of higher power.
Kim said "The moral is strong and shows that people need to be themselves, regardless of what others opinions are." and I agree with that. Be who you are, and don't change who you are to make others happy.
I agree with Vanessa Clemons in saying that people in groups act as their group does, and stereotyping and judging happens consistently
I agree with Veda Awasthi's comment on how people identify others by the groups they belong to instead of the individual. Everyone in the book, even the other bears, were convinced he couldn't be a bear because he was so unlike everyone else. He didn't belong in a circus or a zoo, so they assumed he was a human. She also made a good point about the fact that it's difficult to maintain your identity in the face of so many that disagree.
After reading Greg's post, I could not help but agree with him. The influence of higher powers on those who are lower is massive. It was interesting to see the bear get told he is man by the different social statuses. As the ranks of the presidents grew, he began to believe more and more that he was in fact a man.
In regards to Colleen Mulcahy’s comment I completely agree. I think colleen has positive way of looking at the class and really grasped what the book meant. Also I liked the way she talked about conformity because I think that that’s what the real underbelly of the book meant. Colleen mades some really great points!
I think that its really great that Olivia Tortolini has shared a personal connection to this story. Its good to hear that she went through something similar to the bear, and that she realized that she needed to break away from the crowd and be herself. Its always hard to go against your friends and do whats right, and it takes a lot of courage and hard work to do so. Thank you for sharing !
I agree with Mary, that the bears saying he wasn’t a bear had a stronger effect on him and put more pressure on him to conform to the group. If even the say he’s not a bear and that he’s wrong, it would be really hard for him to stand alone and say to everyone that they’re wrong and that he’s right. I also believe that people began to act like how they’re treated, and people treat you like how you act. So when he was told enough he wasn’t a bear, he stopped acting like a bear. This would just encourage the bosses and other bears to treat him like a worker instead of a bear. It’s like a cycle.
Olivia Tortolini's post showed how everybody can relate in some way to this story. As she was comparing it to a real life scenario, she showed how some people really aren't worth your time, and dwelling on situations like that are not worth it. Staying true to yourself in life is really crucial, and essential to maintaining your identity. She portrays herself as a strong individual, who knows how to grasp the positive aspects of life. People have to live their whole life with themselves as an individual, which is why the people they surround themselves with early on are extremely important.
I agree with Taylor Monahan because she said that keeping your identity is really important. I also think that this is true. We can learn from the bear that it is not necessary to change yourself based on the people that you associate with. She also said that “the bear that wasn’t is a perfect example of society today” which is true because the bear represents everyone who wants to change just to fit in.
I felt a sense of disappointment while reading “The Bear That Wasn’t”. Not in terms of the story itself. Rather, the concept that issues of identity are very real and are still a reoccurring factor of today. Unfortunately, there are some who do not identify themselves as their true selves rather what the world perceives them to be. These people are willing to do whatever It takes to appease the crowd, and rather than evolve and grow as them, undergo a sense of degeneration and become nothing more than amalgamations of their peers around them. Others are born feeling that they are not their true selves such as transgendered and other similar examples; unfortunately this is quite common and I feel sorry for those who must modify their bodies to feel one with their inner being. Another issue faced occurs when others oppose another’s will. Wielding power be it money, land, even the life of another does not make a person wise or in any way brilliant. That said, the bureaucrats found in the story kept telling the bear that he was nothing more than a hairy man in a fur coat. No matter how powerful the man in succession was, the latter of ignorance merely transcended and moved along with the workers. Leaving one question in mind, “what defines and individual and who the Hell are they to claim otherwise?”
I thought that the story “The Bear That Wasn’t” was very relatable; at some point in life, everyone is labeled by another person who thinks that they have the right to define us. The bear had been told by everyone that he was something different than what he truly was. Sometimes when someone tells you something enough, no matter how ridiculous it may seem, eventually you begin to believe it; the bear had been told repeatedly that he was just a “silly factory worker” and despite the fact that he knew he was a bear he began to just accept that he really was a factory worker. However I don’t think it has to be a lot of people telling you that you’re something different than your true self for you to agree that. In my case I had ONE person telling me that I was something different than who I was. That one person told me over and over that I was one thing and all I could think was “I’m the exact opposite of that.” However this person told me what he thought I was so many times that it became almost impossible for me to believe anything but that. How much difference can one person really make? When that person’s opinion means something to you, that one person can change your entire perspective. But why should it? Why should I let anyone else tell me who or what I am?
I agree with Greg and how he talked about how power rankings affect you.
I agree with Jonathan Soto. I agree with the fact that the bear changed his mind about being a bear into being a human is because he was told numerous times by others of what they thought of him. “In order to know your true identity, you have to believe yourself before you believe in others” – I agree hundred percent with that statement
I agree with Jeremy about how people can be convinced they're something they're not just based on what other people tell them they are. I think that people, in today's society especially, care too much about what other people think about them and they make major changes in they're life based on what they say.
Syd DeArmond mentioned in her post that people that are seen as social outcasts may be the key to keeping this country alive. If everyone conforms to fit into a certain group, we lose the idea of individualism that our country stands by. I hadn’t thought about this before, but I agree with her post.
I agree with Ben Mugi. There are a lot of pressures from society attempting to get everybody to act, dress, and be a certain way. But it's important ot remain true to who you really are so as not to conform to an image of what other people think we should be.
I concurred with Jeremy post. He stated that “They should never let their guard down, and instead should defend and fight for their true identity to the death.” It is important for people to stand up for what they believe in. For example if you are sitting with your friends and they are constantly making judgmental comments toward others then take a stand. I am mortified by the fact that so many people won’t speak because they are afraid of what other people will think of them. If you feel strongly about something then voice your opinion otherwise nothing will change.
After reading the posts of my peers I came to a conclusion. We each identified with the bear and felt he perfectly represented society. Moreover, we also concluded that one has no to right to define or impose their will on another and change the way one is perceived by another.
Unrelated ,how are you feeling Julie get better.
I thought this was a good story. However, unfortunately the sad truth is that people in today's society are constantly being judged through the eyes of what the majority sees instead of showing what there own perspective is. As for the bear, he sadly fell into what everyone was saying and at some point lost his sense of perspective, and eventually went along with the role that everyone said he belonged to.
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