This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Monday, February 7, 2011
PERIOD 7-"THE BEAR THAT WASN'T"
The other day you 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. Mr. Gallagher
42 comments:
Matt Rouleau
said...
In the story The Bear that Wasn't it was about a bear who was led to believe by high powered people that he wasn’t a bear. He starts to lose identity. The Bear thinks he is a bear but he starts to believe he not a bear at the end of the story.
I found The Bear that Wasn’t to be a very interesting story. This story really relates to people and their behaviors today. I think high school is a perfect example to relate it to. For example as a freshman, you have your friends from middle school but now that you’re in an entirely new atmosphere you grow and meet new people. These people may persuade you to do things that you normally wouldn’t do and in the end it’s up to you to make sure that those people don’t change who you are. It is important to stay true to yourself and not follow in others footsteps. I think Matt did a good job summarizing the story and the fact that the bear was told so many times he wasn’t a bear that he believed it.
I thought 'The Bear that Wasn't' was a cute, interesting story that sends a message to children and adults alike. Our environment and the people around us can greatly influence what we think of ourselves and what we come to expect from other people. To the factory workers, a true bear would belong in the circus or in a zoo; they themselves allow society to place two particular labels on what a bear is. Because the bear fit into neither of these, the workers assume he is a man working for them, which is exactly what they'd like him to be.
I thought one of the important themes of The Bear that Wasn’t was acceptance. In the beginning of the story, the bear was able to retain his identity as a bear. However, when high ranking members tell the bear he is a man, the bear begins to give up his identity and ultimately works in the factory. The factory eventually closes and the bear is left without a true sense of identity. I think this suggests that when a group, especially one of powerful individuals, consistently tells someone who he/she is, it becomes easier to fulfill that identity rather than fight the group. That person’s identity then becomes based solely on the group and when the group splits up, the person is left without an identity.
I agree with Lane in the sense that society sometimes comes to a conclusion about someone’s identity based on their environment rather than who they truly are.
I thought “The Bear that wasn’t” was interesting and clever because it can connect with adults and children. To a child that reads the book, they may come away from it with the broader lesson of being yourself and staying true to who you are. While if an adult were to read it they may come away with more in depth lessons that are always good to be reminded of. For example I think one of the underlying messages comes from the people that were telling the bear that he was something he wasn’t. And the lesson that goes hand in hand with it would be to be careful about judging and grouping people. Overall I enjoyed the book and though that it was simple yet insightful.
I really liked Meg’s relation to high school because it’s something that almost everyone can relate to. I also agree with the point made about staying true to yourself and how important it really is.
I thought The Bear that Wasn't was a great story about self identity and the lessons that must be learned when it comes to society placing labels on other people. I think the greatest lesson to be learned is that society will make an individual what it wants them to be and that you see yourself differently than other people see you. I agree with Megan Sullivan in that this book is very relatable to an audience of high schoolers. In high school you find out most of your true identity and you can either take on the identity that society gives you or you can create your own.
I think that “The Bear That Wasn’t” offers an in depth analysis of the relationship between an individual and a group. For me, the story illuminated how powerful a majority can be. The bear’s inability to maintain his identity when faced with a united group of people conveys the immense power that a majority can hold. The idea that sheer number and authority can cause someone to lose their identity and confidence has become a reality in today’s society. People feeling as if their own thoughts are invalid because they do not coincide with the majority’s is something that I witness constantly. This book sends an important message and that is to remain true to oneself instead of allowing one’s identity to become convoluted by society.
I also agree with Lane’s comment. The labels that society associates with different groups and people are often untrue, but can ultimately come to define someone if they are constantly reinforced.
I think The Bear That Wasn’t was very interesting in how it looked at identity from a different perspective. Instead of looking at the bear and his identity as an individual it focused on how the bear was lacking a personal identity. Instead of being genuine and true to his identity the bear caved to societal pressures, resulting in him losing his personal identity. I also found it interesting that as people higher and higher up the chain in the bureaucracy told him he was not a bear the more he believed them which signifies how much society values professionals and titles.
I liked how Meg Sullivan related the story to high school and I agree with her that sometimes under pressure people do things they ordinary would not. It is up to the individual to find out who they really are and not let anyone tell them otherwise.
The Bear that Wasn't was a good story, with lessons that people can relate to. I think that when a society persaudes one individual into thinking that they are something they aren't, they tend to believe that society. It's harder to maintain an identity when a group of people are against you telling you otherwise. In the begining of the story, a bear that lived in a forerst went to work at a factory; here, people didn't recognize him for what he was and they started telling him that he was something different. I think Megan did a good job in finding an example that some people can relate to.
I agree with Sarah Van - defending yourself and what you believe in can be difficult when you're up against a group that's trying to push you in another direction.
i believe the story about "the bear that wasn't" is a good representation of how us as human interact with one another. The bear from he beginning has a person idenity is without other people labeling him. a large part of our identity is form in the younger years of life and more toward adulthood. the bear is told throughout the story that he isn't a bear. throughout life we will meet people who will label us unjustly. I agree with a lot of the points that lane made about how our environment and our social setting. the bear was surrounded by people who told him that he was a man and not a bear so thats what he believed to be to because why wouldn't be if so many people are saying it to him.
the Story about the bear that wasen't was a really interesting story and i enjoy it. I think that the bear did not believe he was a bear because no one believe him that he really was one. so he could not went against everyone. The bear loose his identity just because society made him believe that he was not one.
This story was a rather insightful view of society, and its many complexities involving group and individual identities and how they relate to each other. It is a known and accepted idea that most people need to belong to a group. From the beginning of our existence, human beings have evolved with the instinct to form family units for both mental and physical protection. There has always been safety in numbers. Numbers means strength, and strength is crucial in survival. The instinct is still present in modern times, otherwise there would be very few established groups. It is very hard to avoid becoming part of a group, as everyone is born into the world belonging to the all-encompassing group known as a country—as well as part of a family unit. This need explains the bear’s actions perfectly. He was told relentlessly that he was not a bear, simply because he did not fit into any of societies constraints that define what is known as a bear. At first, the bear was confident in his belief of his identity. However, as more and more people told him that he was not a bear, the bear began to doubt himself. I think this is due to the tendency to believe in the majority opinion of the group and people in power. There is a mindset that a group is likely to be wiser than the individual loner. There is also an implication that people in power have an intelligence that is valued and should be followed, because they are in such a position of power. The bear must have eventually thought that he was mistaken, simply because it is a very low probability that so many people would be wrong.
I agree with Lane. Environment is a huge factor in establishing identity. I believe this is why everyone is different. Different environments enforce different behaviors, and help shape personal identities.
I thought the story "The Bear that Wasn't" was a clever story about one's personal identity and the importance of maintaining this identity. I thought the most important underlying message of the story was that denial of one’s identity will ultimately lead to unhappiness. Although it may seem difficult to preserve one’s own personal opinions and customs at times, I think Tashlin is saying that being untrue to oneself just leads to failure. The bear experienced this first hand and his decision at the end to return to his true self where he was happy shows Tashlin’s moral to the story.
I think that in the story The Bear That Wasn’t, is a great example of what goes on in our school and even when were out in the world. The Bear is repeatedly told that he is not a bear even though his true identity is a bear. As he moves up the factory’s ranking officials, they continue to persuade the bear into finally he begins questioning his true identity and starts to become something he isn’t. In society and even our school I think people get associated as the same as each other depending on the groups or people that they hang out with, which sometimes takes away from their individuality or their true identity.
I agree with Amanda's point that often times people have an identity given to them by society and identity they have formed themselves. I think often people choose the identity given to them by society because they will gain more acceptance but I think the story shows how ultimately it is the identity formed by oneself that will lead to happiness.
I agree with Will’s point about how being untrue to your true identity will only hurt you in the end and lead to unhappiness. If you’re with your friends and there doing something you disagree with but you go along with it anyway just because it’s your friends and you want to fit in, it’s only going to hurt you in the end, and it goes against who you are as a person and what you personally stand up for.
I found the story to be very interesting. I find that this story relates to a typical high school population in that many people will conform to certain behaviors that they feel will be accepted. Many students will change the way act, even if it goes against their morals and values to gain acceptance by a group. It is unfortunate, but it happens.
I agree with Amanda's comment. I think that her point in saying that a societ's perception of an individual is extremely different from an individuals perception of themselves. It is important for an individual to stay true to who they are and to not be swayed by societies view of them.
The Bear That Wasn’t was an interesting story about self identity and the effects other people can have on your identity. The story lead me to believe that powerful individuals or groups can temporarily convince someone of less power of something that can temperately shape that persons identity, but what a person truly believes and how they define their identity can not be permanently altered.
I thought that “The Bear that wasn’t” was a very interesting and relatable story. It was easy to connect to as a high school student because society can have a subconscious influence on self-identity. For a teenager, it can be hard to keep your own identity when everyone else is telling you that you’re something your not. In our society, going along with the group, or playing the part of the group, is much easier then standing by yourself, so most listen unconsciously to what others think of them. Overall, I thought the story did a good job of showing a person to stay true to yourself.
This story kind of opened something up to me that has always been there, but I haven’t really noticed before. We all give into the weight of the need of being accepted in a group. I don’t feel as if it’s the lack of confidence in ourselves that makes us do this as some might think because not knowing who we are exactly is what keeps us from having that confidence. I feel as if it deals with a number of reasons like not knowing who we are so we go into that group’s views to see if that fits with us or we could be too scared to be alone. There are many possibilities depending on the situation. So aside from the deeper meaning to the story, I thought it was really cute!
In response to Brenda, acceptance was definitely one of the most important themes. We face that every single day. I've personally seen where people who don't exactly go with what's in the mainstream have been rejected or made fun of. It doesn't matter whether they're a nice person or not, they are just shut down for what they are.
The Bear That Wasn't was in my opinion an interesting story. The story relates to society today. Often times today people will think that they are something but society will tell them that they are something different. If people keep saying that they are something different then they will believe it. This is what happens with the bear in the story. The chain of command in the factory tells the bear that he isnt actually a bear but a human and after a while he begins to believe it. Society has the same impact on a lot of kids now a days. They believe they are something and society tells them that they are something different so they begin to believe it.
I agree with Megan and a lot of the other people who made the comparrison that the story is a lot like our high school. You come into high school as one person and you leave as a different person because of what people tell you.
I thought that "The Bear that Wasn't" did a very good job at making the reader think about who they really are and what influences them in their life whether it be peers or their environment. I also thought it did a good job of showing how people who have important titles and big jobs can influence someone who is part of the minority.
I thought that this short story was very interesting and pretty accurate as it reflects how someones identity can be changed due to people around them and their surroundings. I see this example in tv every day as kids try to change who they are to fit the "norms" of these actors on tv. People tend to change their behaviors to fit the norms or how they believe they should act.
42 comments:
In the story The Bear that Wasn't it was about a bear who was led to believe by high powered people that he wasn’t a bear. He starts to lose identity. The Bear thinks he is a bear but he starts to believe he not a bear at the end of the story.
I found The Bear that Wasn’t to be a very interesting story. This story really relates to people and their behaviors today. I think high school is a perfect example to relate it to. For example as a freshman, you have your friends from middle school but now that you’re in an entirely new atmosphere you grow and meet new people. These people may persuade you to do things that you normally wouldn’t do and in the end it’s up to you to make sure that those people don’t change who you are. It is important to stay true to yourself and not follow in others footsteps. I think Matt did a good job summarizing the story and the fact that the bear was told so many times he wasn’t a bear that he believed it.
i agree with megan that the story was really interesting and how you should true yourself.
I thought 'The Bear that Wasn't' was a cute, interesting story that sends a message to children and adults alike. Our environment and the people around us can greatly influence what we think of ourselves and what we come to expect from other people. To the factory workers, a true bear would belong in the circus or in a zoo; they themselves allow society to place two particular labels on what a bear is. Because the bear fit into neither of these, the workers assume he is a man working for them, which is exactly what they'd like him to be.
I thought one of the important themes of The Bear that Wasn’t was acceptance. In the beginning of the story, the bear was able to retain his identity as a bear. However, when high ranking members tell the bear he is a man, the bear begins to give up his identity and ultimately works in the factory. The factory eventually closes and the bear is left without a true sense of identity. I think this suggests that when a group, especially one of powerful individuals, consistently tells someone who he/she is, it becomes easier to fulfill that identity rather than fight the group. That person’s identity then becomes based solely on the group and when the group splits up, the person is left without an identity.
I agree with Lane in the sense that society sometimes comes to a conclusion about someone’s identity based on their environment rather than who they truly are.
I thought “The Bear that wasn’t” was interesting and clever because it can connect with adults and children. To a child that reads the book, they may come away from it with the broader lesson of being yourself and staying true to who you are. While if an adult were to read it they may come away with more in depth lessons that are always good to be reminded of. For example I think one of the underlying messages comes from the people that were telling the bear that he was something he wasn’t. And the lesson that goes hand in hand with it would be to be careful about judging and grouping people. Overall I enjoyed the book and though that it was simple yet insightful.
I really liked Meg’s relation to high school because it’s something that almost everyone can relate to. I also agree with the point made about staying true to yourself and how important it really is.
I thought The Bear that Wasn't was a great story about self identity and the lessons that must be learned when it comes to society placing labels on other people. I think the greatest lesson to be learned is that society will make an individual what it wants them to be and that you see yourself differently than other people see you. I agree with Megan Sullivan in that this book is very relatable to an audience of high schoolers. In high school you find out most of your true identity and you can either take on the identity that society gives you or you can create your own.
I think that “The Bear That Wasn’t” offers an in depth analysis of the relationship between an individual and a group. For me, the story illuminated how powerful a majority can be. The bear’s inability to maintain his identity when faced with a united group of people conveys the immense power that a majority can hold. The idea that sheer number and authority can cause someone to lose their identity and confidence has become a reality in today’s society. People feeling as if their own thoughts are invalid because they do not coincide with the majority’s is something that I witness constantly. This book sends an important message and that is to remain true to oneself instead of allowing one’s identity to become convoluted by society.
I also agree with Lane’s comment. The labels that society associates with different groups and people are often untrue, but can ultimately come to define someone if they are constantly reinforced.
I think The Bear That Wasn’t was very interesting in how it looked at identity from a different perspective. Instead of looking at the bear and his identity as an individual it focused on how the bear was lacking a personal identity. Instead of being genuine and true to his identity the bear caved to societal pressures, resulting in him losing his personal identity. I also found it interesting that as people higher and higher up the chain in the bureaucracy told him he was not a bear the more he believed them which signifies how much society values professionals and titles.
I liked how Meg Sullivan related the story to high school and I agree with her that sometimes under pressure people do things they ordinary would not. It is up to the individual to find out who they really are and not let anyone tell them otherwise.
I think the story does a good job at making readers look at who and what influences them, and how it does so.
The Bear that Wasn't was a good story, with lessons that people can relate to. I think that when a society persaudes one individual into thinking that they are something they aren't, they tend to believe that society. It's harder to maintain an identity when a group of people are against you telling you otherwise. In the begining of the story, a bear that lived in a forerst went to work at a factory; here, people didn't recognize him for what he was and they started telling him that he was something different. I think Megan did a good job in finding an example that some people can relate to.
I agree with Brenda in that it is easier, but far less rewarding, to go with the flow than to resist social norms.
I agree with Sarah Van - defending yourself and what you believe in can be difficult when you're up against a group that's trying to push you in another direction.
i believe the story about "the bear that wasn't" is a good representation of how us as human interact with one another. The bear from he beginning has a person idenity is without other people labeling him. a large part of our identity is form in the younger years of life and more toward adulthood. the bear is told throughout the story that he isn't a bear. throughout life we will meet people who will label us unjustly. I agree with a lot of the points that lane made about how our environment and our social setting. the bear was surrounded by people who told him that he was a man and not a bear so thats what he believed to be to because why wouldn't be if so many people are saying it to him.
the Story about the bear that wasen't was a really interesting story and i enjoy it.
I think that the bear did not believe he was a bear because no one believe him that he really was one. so he could not went against everyone. The bear loose his identity just because society made him believe that he was not one.
This story was a rather insightful view of society, and its many complexities involving group and individual identities and how they relate to each other. It is a known and accepted idea that most people need to belong to a group. From the beginning of our existence, human beings have evolved with the instinct to form family units for both mental and physical protection. There has always been safety in numbers. Numbers means strength, and strength is crucial in survival. The instinct is still present in modern times, otherwise there would be very few established groups. It is very hard to avoid becoming part of a group, as everyone is born into the world belonging to the all-encompassing group known as a country—as well as part of a family unit.
This need explains the bear’s actions perfectly. He was told relentlessly that he was not a bear, simply because he did not fit into any of societies constraints that define what is known as a bear. At first, the bear was confident in his belief of his identity. However, as more and more people told him that he was not a bear, the bear began to doubt himself. I think this is due to the tendency to believe in the majority opinion of the group and people in power. There is a mindset that a group is likely to be wiser than the individual loner. There is also an implication that people in power have an intelligence that is valued and should be followed, because they are in such a position of power. The bear must have eventually thought that he was mistaken, simply because it is a very low probability that so many people would be wrong.
I agree with Lane. Environment is a huge factor in establishing identity. I believe this is why everyone is different. Different environments enforce different behaviors, and help shape personal identities.
I thought the story "The Bear that Wasn't" was a clever story about one's personal identity and the importance of maintaining this identity. I thought the most important underlying message of the story was that denial of one’s identity will ultimately lead to unhappiness. Although it may seem difficult to preserve one’s own personal opinions and customs at times, I think Tashlin is saying that being untrue to oneself just leads to failure. The bear experienced this first hand and his decision at the end to return to his true self where he was happy shows Tashlin’s moral to the story.
I think that in the story The Bear That Wasn’t, is a great example of what goes on in our school and even when were out in the world. The Bear is repeatedly told that he is not a bear even though his true identity is a bear. As he moves up the factory’s ranking officials, they continue to persuade the bear into finally he begins questioning his true identity and starts to become something he isn’t. In society and even our school I think people get associated as the same as each other depending on the groups or people that they hang out with, which sometimes takes away from their individuality or their true identity.
I agree with Amanda's point that often times people have an identity given to them by society and identity they have formed themselves. I think often people choose the identity given to them by society because they will gain more acceptance but I think the story shows how ultimately it is the identity formed by oneself that will lead to happiness.
I agree with Will’s point about how being untrue to your true identity will only hurt you in the end and lead to unhappiness. If you’re with your friends and there doing something you disagree with but you go along with it anyway just because it’s your friends and you want to fit in, it’s only going to hurt you in the end, and it goes against who you are as a person and what you personally stand up for.
I found the story to be very interesting. I find that this story relates to a typical high school population in that many people will conform to certain behaviors that they feel will be accepted. Many students will change the way act, even if it goes against their morals and values to gain acceptance by a group. It is unfortunate, but it happens.
I agree with Amanda's comment. I think that her point in saying that a societ's perception of an individual is extremely different from an individuals perception of themselves. It is important for an individual to stay true to who they are and to not be swayed by societies view of them.
I agree with Michael. there is alot of people who will lavel as a different then othere. with out knowing who we really are.
The Bear That Wasn’t was an interesting story about self identity and the effects other people can have on your identity. The story lead me to believe that powerful individuals or groups can temporarily convince someone of less power of something that can temperately shape that persons identity, but what a person truly believes and how they define their identity can not be permanently altered.
I thought that “The Bear that wasn’t” was a very interesting and relatable story. It was easy to connect to as a high school student because society can have a subconscious influence on self-identity. For a teenager, it can be hard to keep your own identity when everyone else is telling you that you’re something your not. In our society, going along with the group, or playing the part of the group, is much easier then standing by yourself, so most listen unconsciously to what others think of them. Overall, I thought the story did a good job of showing a person to stay true to yourself.
I agree with Lane and the fact that society can construct a person’s identity and change who they truly are to be accepted by the group as whole.
I agree with Megan Sullivan's real life example about high school friends and how you have to make sure your personal identity doesn't become altered.
This story kind of opened something up to me that has always been there, but I haven’t really noticed before. We all give into the weight of the need of being accepted in a group. I don’t feel as if it’s the lack of confidence in ourselves that makes us do this as some might think because not knowing who we are exactly is what keeps us from having that confidence. I feel as if it deals with a number of reasons like not knowing who we are so we go into that group’s views to see if that fits with us or we could be too scared to be alone. There are many possibilities depending on the situation.
So aside from the deeper meaning to the story, I thought it was really cute!
In response to Brenda, acceptance was definitely one of the most important themes. We face that every single day. I've personally seen where people who don't exactly go with what's in the mainstream have been rejected or made fun of. It doesn't matter whether they're a nice person or not, they are just shut down for what they are.
The Bear That Wasn't was in my opinion an interesting story. The story relates to society today. Often times today people will think that they are something but society will tell them that they are something different. If people keep saying that they are something different then they will believe it. This is what happens with the bear in the story. The chain of command in the factory tells the bear that he isnt actually a bear but a human and after a while he begins to believe it. Society has the same impact on a lot of kids now a days. They believe they are something and society tells them that they are something different so they begin to believe it.
I agree with Megan and a lot of the other people who made the comparrison that the story is a lot like our high school. You come into high school as one person and you leave as a different person because of what people tell you.
I thought that "The Bear that Wasn't" did a very good job at making the reader think about who they really are and what influences them in their life whether it be peers or their environment. I also thought it did a good job of showing how people who have important titles and big jobs can influence someone who is part of the minority.
I agree with Jake in the sense that the story does a good job of making you think of who and what influences you.
I was absent this day.
I was absent this day.
i agree with matt in the sense that people's identity can simply be changed due to the influence of a high importance.
I thought that this short story was very interesting and pretty accurate as it reflects how someones identity can be changed due to people around them and their surroundings. I see this example in tv every day as kids try to change who they are to fit the "norms" of these actors on tv. People tend to change their behaviors to fit the norms or how they believe they should act.
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