Assignment 4- Choices

In reading Sedaris "Standing By", I observed that he made a design choice to use the picture of an angry flying airplane (Sedaris 275). Sedaris decision to use a picture of an angry airplane is an expression of how many people feel when they are going into a situation where they are strangers to one another and impatience grows about as fast as you can say one word. I also think that Sedaris chose to use the picture as an overall expression of how people felt during that period of time and the anger that people felt about the careless and hurtful decisions being made. I think that Sedaris choice to use this picture was a good choice which added a little bit of humor to the context. Sedaris might have chosen to do this for his readers to be able to see how the outward influence affect the people of society and how they conduct themselves as a result of the occuring issues at this point in time. This will allow readers to see how their behavior towards people occurs as a result of the outward influences placed upon them.

Another observation that I had noticed was Sedaris use of stereotypes when describing people's appearance. One that I had noticed specifically was his critical and very judgemental description of a young teenage father. He describes he young man's appearance using the words "visually dynamic (Sedaris 276). This young man wore braids with beads at the end, saggy shorts, and a shirt that read " Freaky Mohafocka" all while holding his son and traveling with his family (Sedaris 276). This gives the perception from an onlooker that he does not care much about his responsibilities as a father, that he may be all about living life young, and that he could care less about another human being. May be he was trying to make a statement with his shirt. The point that Sedaris wants his readers to understand is that we are quick to judge others and develop opinions that are contradicting to themselves because of what is heard from others. This may be done subconsciously withou meaning any harm or judgements.

Sedaris makes the conscious decision to reference the tragic terrorist attack made towards the United States 9/11. He uses the words of a flight attendant "pray" and I'll be right back" (Sedaris 275). This was shortly after the attack had happened. The United States was still shaken by this attack and even people in it with the fear of "will I die the next minute by the hands of another person or will I live?". This is a thought that many people would rather not be thinking of  as they are traveling or doing their daily routines but with the unpredictability of the actions of the people around us, you never know what to expect. I believe that this is essentially an idea that people have learned to live with despite the anxiety or distress it may cause. I believe that this horrifying event  contributed to the ignorance of the flight attendance, ticket agents, and the other employees. "Ma'am please step away from the counter" (Sedaris 275). This may appear to be rude being that this is coming from an employee whose job is supposed to make your flying experience more enjoyable. Seeing it from the perspective of the flight attendants, it can also be an unconscious action that was not meant to sound rude or dismissive. These sort of occurences do happen when people are anxious or shaken up by such horrifying events. Sedaris references the tragedy of 9/11 to show how its devastating efffects influence and continue to affect people today.

Something that I had not really thought of but became more aware of after I read Sedaris "Standing By" was the fact that it was written about his experience in an Airport. Why would he write this about an Airport? That is a pretty boring place and nothing exciting happens there. Sedaris chose to write about his experience in an Airport versus a Grocery Store because it is an extremely diverse place. One can see new people almost everytime and still be amazed at others. This can be by their actions, appearance, their close, or anything that seems different aside from what one is used to seeing or being around. As a traveler going into a new place, judgements and thoughts are always being made. This does not have to be said aloud but it is sometimes done in the back of one's mind. "She looks like a georgia peach with that thick tan." "They look like terrorists." "They seem lost and out of place." Sedaris makes a comment on the young father with the cornrows and vulgar shirt reading "Freaky Mothafocka" traveling with his grandparents calling him "Orgasm Donor" and making a statement that "I'm no Gynecologist, but I'm willing to take a look"(Sedaris 276). An Airport in comparison to a grocery store is an extremely diverse place where people have new experiences and are always judging others every time. Sedaris makes this design choice to show that our ideas on how we perceive other people to be or look like is essentially a thought influenced by people, events, and the media surrounding one.