I'm Glad To See SOMEONE Using the Pool

We haven't used our swimming pool in the last few years. I'm glad to see someone getting some use out of it.

Crazymakers

When I first heard of the term "crazymakers", I thought it meant people who like to be a little crazy, or creative, in their lives. Apparently, I wasn't even close to the actual meaning.

Psychologist George Bach uses the term "crazymakers" (It occures when people have feelings of resientment, anger, or rage that they are unable or unwelling to expres directly) to describe passive-aggression behavior (defined as "a communicator expresses hostility in an obscure or manipulative way).

What are the types of "crazymakers"? Here they are:

Avoider: Refuses to fight


Pseudoaccommodator: Pretends to give in and continues to act the same way

Guiltmaker: Try to make others feel responsible for causing pain. "It's OK, don't worry about me..."


The Mind Reader: Go into character analysis and say what their partner really means or what's wrong with their partner.

Trapper: Set up a desired behavior for their partners and then, when its met, attacking the very behavior they requested. "Let's be totally honest with each other.." and then attacks the self disclosure

Crisis Tickler: Almost bring about what's bothering them but never quite express themselves. If someone is concerned about finances, "Gee, how much did that cost?"

Gunnysacker: Thet put their resentments into a sack which they pour out at later date and overwhelm an unsuspecting victim

Trivial Tyrannizer: Do things that they know will get their partners goat --leaving dirty dishes in the sink, fingernail clippings in the bed, turning up the TV too loud, etc.

Beltliner: Strike blow the psychological beltlining by using intimate knowledge to hurt their partner


Joker: Kid with partners and block the expression of important feelings

Withholder: Instead of expressing anger honestly and directly they hold back something--courtesy, affection, sex.


Benedict Arnold: Get partners back by sabotage, by failing to defend them or encouraging ridicule from others.

Which one of these are you? I was surprised when I read the section and realized what I used on others and what others used on me. I won't say which one of these I am. I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea about me.

Source:
Looking Out, Looking In by Ronald B., Adler & Russell F. Proctor II

Can Men and Women Just "Be Friends"?

I know this was a topic that I studied about a month ago in my Interpersonal Communications class but I was watching a report on WCCO Channel 4 News on Monday evening about men and women being "just friends". It left me wondering: Can they? Can men and women be "just friends." The only question I'm asking is: Why not?

In today's society, we've concluded that if we see people (who are in a committed relationship) hanging out with members of the opposite sex, it qualifies as cheating on their spouse. However, I don't believe that. I believe that is there is trust and honesty in the relationship, we should be able to be friends with whoever we want. While I understand the fact that jealousy may play a roll in outside relationships, it's also a good thing to have good friends that are members of the opposite sex.

When I was in a relationship with an ex-girlfriend, it was one of the hardest transitions in life I've ever been through. I didn't know anything about women or how they function (like I'll ever know the full story). However, I had a good friend (who was a girl) who was giving me some assistance on what I should do in any particular situation. While it did help, it made my ex a little jealous. That was not my intention. It blew up beyond proportion and couldn't resolve the conflict so we broke it off. But I still maintain my friendship with my friend.

Personally, I believe that having a good friend of the opposite sex is a good thing mainly becuase you get that feedback from someone who is the opposite sex and isn't the person you're with. As I said, as long as there's trust and honesty with the person you're with, there shouldn't be any problem maintaining friendships with the opposite sex.

Links:

http://wcco.com/specialreports/friends.opposite.sex.2.995911.html

Conflict: Everyone Has to Deal With It

It is something that every relationship has to deal with. Conflict. There are many synonyms to describe conflict: Battle, brawl, clash, competition, discord, disharmony, duel, fight, strife, struggle, trouble, and violence. We use different types of metaphors to decribe conflict: "We often talk about conflict as a type of war", "conflicts are explosive", conflict sometimes seems "like a kinf of trial, in which one party accuses another", "Language that suggests that conflict is a mess", and using metaphors "of a game implies that one side has to defeat the other".

When it comes to handling conflict, it depends on the situation and the person who I'm talking to.

Avoiding (a lose-lose situation): Defined as "when people nonasseretively ignore or stay away from conflict. It can be physical or conversational." I use this almost immediately after any type of arguing. It helps me and the other person cool down a bit before we actually talk about it. It's better to avoid the person for a few days than to talk about it with a hot head, otherwise you may do or say something that you'll regret later.


Accommodating (a lose-win situation): Defined as "when you allow others to have their way rather than asserting your own point of view. I try my hardest not to do this type of conflict, otherwise I'm letting the other person know that I will do whatever he/she wants to do, even though I already made plans for that particular day/time.

Competing (a win-lose or sometimes degenerating to lose-lose situation): Defined as "a win-lose approach to conflict involves high concern for self and low concern of others. In my opinion, this is one of the worst ways to create a conflict. It's telling you that you are better than another person. Back when I was a child, I came across this quite often. When I was playing an organized pick up game of baseball or kickball, there was always one team that always played like they were the king of the world. They had to play the way they wanted to play. Whenever that team lost, they acted like a bunch of idiots. I guess the same can be said if you win every game and acted like a sore winner. That's what takes the fun out of games. I was always taught (when playing sports for an organized recreation center team) to win and lose with grace.

Compromising (a partial lose-lose situation): Defined as "given both people at least half of what they want, although both sacrifice part of their goals. I believe that every relationship, no matter who it is, has done something like this. In my mind this is a "win some, lose some situation."

Collaborating ( a win-win situation): Defined as a "showing a high degree of concern for both themselves and others. This is one of the best ways to solve a conflict. Instead of focusing on "me", you're focusing on "we". In this situation, you may want to continue what you and your partner are already doing, without having to make any changes.

How do you know what style to use? Well, it depends on these four factors:

The Relationship: How important is the relationship your having with the other person?

The Situation: How big or small is the issue? Is it worth fighting for?

The Other Person: You have to get a sense on how the other person is feeling. You want to make sure you are collaborating with that particular person.

Your Goals: What are your goals to dissolve the conflict? Will you have to accomidate the person? Or will you have to compromise?

Two News Stories That Left My Mind Boggled

I am one of those so called "news junkies." I go to sleep watching the news and I wake up watching the news. I read the news on my Blackberry and computer. You can say that I love to be informed about the daily events of the world.

One thing that amazes me when I watch or read the news is how many stupid people that are out there. I came across two stories on one website.

Story 1: Six Arrested When Party on Dinkytown Gets Out of Hand - http://kstp.com/news/stories/S899192.shtml?cat=1

What a shocker. It just had to happen on the weekend of the University of Minnesota's annual spring party: Spring Jam. It was reported earlier this week in the Minnesota Daily that the U of M had to cut police patrol in Dinkytown due to funding issues. Community leaders didn't want this to happen because it would create problems in the Dinkytown community. They knew parties were going to happen. I wonder how many of them actually read that article and were planning on taking advantage of the low police patrol? Apparently 400-500 people did.

My only question is: How many of them were A) Drinking, B) Underage or C) Both? My best guess would be letter C - both. The University campus is one small town itself - with at least 11,000 students, faculty and staff on campus. Is this what today's society is all about? Underage drinking. These people think that their invisible. Nothing bad will happen and if it does, mommy and daddy will take care of it. But if it's death, then it's a different story. Take the Amanda Jax story. While I'm sad that she died from drinking, I'm upset by the fact that her friends continued to encourage her to drink and the bartenders that kept serving her. Parents blamed the bar and her friends but didn't take into the account that Jax drank a lot previously.

I'll even admit that in my early 20s, I wanted to go out and drink. Heck there are times today that I want to go out and have a drink. Since I act mature for my age, I can keep it to a social level. Meaning I can have 1 or 2 and call it a night. But I'll admit once that I got a little crazy one night and had, in the words of Arthur Bach (from the movie Arthur) "I want more than enough". But I still remembered how to get home. Safely, even while on the bus.

I was having a conversation about something similar to this story with a transit driver who does Route 852 (an express route going from Downtown Minneapolis to Anoka via 35W, East River Road, and Northtown Mall). We were discussing a story that happened a couple years ago where high school age children were drinking, taking pictures and posting them on Facebook. The principle found them and suspended them. But, here comes mommy and daddy to the rescue, telling the media that "our kid(s) would never do something like that. What the school administration did was invasion of privacy and should be allowed to go back to school." What? "Our kids would never do that?" There's evidence that they DO that. Plus Facebook is a public domain. Anyone can view it. Personally, I'm glad that they got suspended.

Whatever happened to "you do the crime, you do the time?" I still remember growing up, I did bad things. I deserved to get punished. I deserved to do the time. And I learned from it. It seems that parents are trying to be their child(s) friend instead of being a parent. They're not learning the consequences of their actions by bailing them out of trouble.

I wonder if mommy and daddy will come to the rescue of their children after last night's Dinkytown riot? While I understand that parents have every right to defend their children, but of they break the law, why bother?

Story 2: Minn. Man Arrested for Leaving Girl, 5, in Charge - http://kstp.com/news/stories/S899044.shtml?cat=1

Are people getting stupider and stupider by the day? Why would anyone in there right mind leave a 5 year old alone, with two toddlers? It's the exact equivalent to leaving your child in a vehicle for that quick errand (see a previous blog posting).

I'm not going to get into this story very much since the stupidity level is way too high.....

I'm starting to realize that I maybe becoming too opinionated at times.....

Five clues that you are addicted to Facebook

I log on to Facebook several times a day. Whether it's by computer or on my Blackberry, I may have one of these problems that CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen was talking about. I have the constant needed to be informed about what is going on in my friends & family's lives. But the same can be said for e-mail. When I was attending the University of Minnesota in 2003-04, I was constantly checking my e-mail account every 10 minutes. Sick huh?

After I left the University in 2004, a friend of mine persuaded me to join Facebook. I found myself addicted from the start. Back then, there was no status updates, or no news feed but it did list when your friends updated their profile. I found myself updating my profile at least once (if not more) a week. It was an obsession with the fake world instead of being obsessed with what is going on in the real world.

At first, I used it to keep in touch with my friends who I met during my year at the U. After the owners of Facebook made it available to everyone with a valid e-mail address, my friends list included family members, who I keep in touch via the social networking site. Now, I am closer to my family (at least my mom's side) because of the wonderful world of social networking.

After reading the article, the five signs of an addition are (with my personal comments included):

1. You lose sleep over Facebook.

Well, I haven't experienced a lose of sleep over Facebook. As a matter of fact, I always watch You Tube videos before I call it an evening. Even that, I'm still in bed by 11:00.

2. You spend more than an hour a day on Facebook

It depends on the day and what I have going on. When I have an enormous amount of work to do, I use Facebook as a "break" from work. If the weather is bad, then yeah, I spend way too much time on it.

3. You become obsessed with old loves

This happened only once. It ended rather quickly. I'm now over it. I'm hoping it never happens again.

Blog Owner's Note: Shortly after I posted this blog, a former crush of mine found me on Facebook and added me as a friend (obviously I accepted). Ha. Coincidence?

4. You ignore work in favor of Facebook

I will admit that I have done this. To me, Facebook is an escape of reality for a short time. A break if you call it. But I'm rather good about getting back to work and using the social networking site as a break.

5. The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in a cold sweat

It may be hard. It's the exact equivalent to quitting smoking or stop doing drugs. Personally, I have gone through one whole day without Facebook. I didn't feel anything. It actually made me feel much better about myself. It has helped me to only be on the site when someone sends me a message or makes a comment about something.

After taking the Facebook Compulsion Inventory, I scored a 32, which means that I enjoy Facebook and consider it a big part of my life but it isn't probably controlling me. I suppose my addiction to Facebook wasn't bad as I though it would be. However, the fact that I'm not in a relationship with someone outside my family made a big difference in the outcome of my score. If I had been in a relationship with someone, who knows what my score would have been.

Remember: There is a life outside of Facebook. We need to remember that before social networking sites, we had to communicate face to face or over the phone. Maybe we should go back to that instead of social networking sites????

Links:
Five clues that you are addicted to Facebook: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/23/ep.facebook.addict/index.html

The Facebook Compulsion Inventory: http://www.imagolady.com/Paula_Pile/A_Temptress_in_the_Computer/Facebook%20Inventory%20Test.pdf

A Scary Moment

I started riding the bus back in March 2003. I was on the On The Job Training program that St. Paul Public Schools were offering. However, at that time, I had a job that would require me to work at night. So what would I do? I went home at 11:00am. In order for me to get there, I would have to take Metro Transit home since the school didn't offer school bus service to where ever.

Since then I have experienced a lot of different life on the bus (one story is posted on a previous blog), I have experienced new relationships with drivers (at least the St. Paul drivers), and the most interesting people one can find. People puking (on and off the bus), fights at bus stops, bums, business people, arguments, listening to very interesting conversations (whether it was face to face or on a cell phone). There are many more experiences that I experienced but can't think of them right now. One thing I never experienced was being involved in an accident. (Obviously this is one thing that no one wants to experience.)

Today that changed. I was on my way to Minneapolis to make another connection with another bus to take me to Mahtomedi. I was going to take an express bus to Minneapolis but I noticed that a friend of mine was driving the Route 50 line (a limited stop route from Downtown St. Paul to Downtown Minneapolis via University Ave, Washington Ave & the U of M area). I wasn't in a big rush at the time to get there so I decided to take the Route 50 bus. After the bus picked up all it's downtown St. Paul customers, the bus was crossing Cedar Street & 12th Street when someone crashed into the side of the bus.

This was my observation of what happened: The bus was heading north on Cedar Street when the light turned yellow, just as the bus was getting to the corner. Seeing the bus wasn't going to stop, the light turned red while the bus was in the intersection. I so happened to look behind me (if you know Metro Transit, I was on a low-floor articulated - accordion style - bus), I saw a car, who was heading west on 12th Street (I'm assuming this person was going to get on either 94 West or 35E South) crashed right into the side of the bus at great speed. I was sitting in the front of the bus, right next to the front wheel, where the crash happened. I don't know if this person hit the brakes or what but it wasn't a good situation. Quite the scary moment.

After the bus made a stop in front of a National Guard building on Cedar Street & Columbus Street, I, along with a few others, ran to the scene of the crash, where one lady was holding her arm. When I got there, one person was on the phone with the cops and National Guard members tending to the injured lady on the sidewalk.

Moments later, the scene was covered with the Metro Transit & St. Paul Police Departments, the City fire department, more National Guard members, witnesses and on-lookers. While most everyone took the next bus and move on to their destination, I along with a few others stayed on the scene, to give the Metro Transit Police & Supervisors our observations on what happened. For the second time in less than 2 weeks, I was dealing with the police.

The lady who was in the car sustained, probably sustained a broken arm, had some cuts on there chin and a bloody mouth. Three people complained about pain in their necks (but as we all know, most of the time, these people are looking to make a buck). I escaped any type of injury, even though I felt the impact of the crash. There was about 15 - 20 people total on the bus at the time. Thankfully, it looks like everyone is going to be okay and get a full recovery from this accident.

What's going to happen? I know that the driver will most likely be put on paid administrative leave while the investigation rolls on and given a drug & alcohol test (which from my understanding is normal procedure). The police will review the tapes from the bus and from the National Guard and go from there.

As I said, I'm a 6 year "veteran" of Metro Transit. I have developed and maintained friendships with the drivers (as I said, mainly out of East Metro Garage in St. Paul). Many drivers have told me that the makers of the buses made them so they wouldn't sustain major damage. Guess they were right. It left a few scratch marks and dents on the bus but will be drivable in the future. The car is a complete loss though.

By no means was I defending my friend in this. I gave the police and supervisors what I believed to be an accurate description of what happened. But as we all know, surveillance cameras do not lie and I could be wrong.

I don't know who was at fault in this accident but it is a reoccurring reminder that we - whether your a bus driver, a driver in a private vehicle, a biker or pedestrian - have to look out for others. As we all know, there are stupid people out there that are not paying attention.

Eventually, I got to the bus I needed. I needed Route 270E (from Downtown Minneapolis to Mahtomedi via 35W North, Highway 36 & Maplewood Mall) to Mahtomedi where I was meeting someone. While on the bus, I thought the same thing was going to happen. A couple of close calls, one on Central Ave & 2nd Ave SE and one on Highway 36 & Cleveland Ave. I'm already on edge because of the earlier accident. I kept thinking to myself: "Today is the second time in less than two weeks I've dealt with the Metro Transit Police; I don't want to deal with them twice in one day."

Though out the remainder of the day/early evening, every time the bus hit it's brakes for any reason, I got his uneasy feeling in my stomach, therefore making me look out the window and thinking the bus was going to hit something.

PS. The first time I dealt with the Metro Transit police was on Metro Transit Route 54 (a limited stop bus from the Mall of America to Downtown St. Paul via the MSP Airport and West 7th St) on Saturday, April 11th. This time I was dealing with a mother assaulting and shaking her 4 year old son on the bus. I stayed back to file police reports on what I saw.

Defensiveness

In some way shape or form, each and every one of us has defended ourselves. Many people in my life has always told me that I defend myself too much. Okay, I'll admit this. But I'm trying my best to stop defending myself.

When I get defensive with people, I use different types of defensiveness, depending on the situation and the person who I'm talking to.

Attacking the critic: I've been guilty of this on many occasions. It's not so much verbal aggression that I use, its more sarcasm that I use. I have always been known as a witty person and a quick thinker and I use this skill to my advantage, even if I'm defending myself. Sometimes it keeps the person quiet or on occasion, makes the situation worse. I'm still trying to figure out when it's appropriate to use sarcasm in situations.

Rationalization: I use this when I'm upset at someone, for whatever the reason. When I'm upset, I let my emotions get the best of me and make up excuses not to face that particular person. It's something that I'm trying my best not to use. For example, I've gotten my hours cut drastically in the last 4 months (I went from 30 hours in January to 12 in April), and I was blaming my boss for what has happened. Last week, he needed to take the day off and needed to change the schedule a bit. He wanted me to work at night. But I made up the excuse that I had something going on that evening, when in truth, I really had nothing planned. I let my feelings get the best of me. I realize that it wasn't my boss' fault that he cut my hours - the upper management told him to do so. So instead of being upset at someone who told him to cut, I took it out on someone who couldn't control the situation. After I thought about it the next day, I probably shouldn't reacted the way I did.

Regression: I think almost everybody has been guilty of doing something like this. We make up excuses not to not to form a relationship with someone. I've personally have done this. Why I did this, I guess it has something to do with the fact that it was hard to admit that she wasn't compatible with me.

Physical Avoidance: When I get mad at someone, I want nothing to do with that person. I refuse to talk to that person, and be in the same room as that person. It's hard to avoid these situations, especially if it's a coworker or spouse/family member.

Displacement: With the economy the way it is, and people facing layoffs, it's easy to blame another person for what is happening. Obviously, this is something that no one controls. We take our frustrations out on others instead of the person we should be facing.

Each day that does on, I try my best NOT to defend myself, unless the situation warrants that I have to. There are times that you must defend yourself in certain citations. While I do realize the fact that any type of defensivness is bad, sometimes we have to do it, to protect ourselves. Even though I always look out for others, we also must look out for number 1: Ourselves.

Intimacy & Online Relationships

My definition intimacy is a familiar and very close connection with another person. It's knowing what the person is going to say before they say it. It's touch, smell, taste, est.


One of the hardest things one person can do is go without intimacy. In the song "One" by Three Dog Night (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTO4hvLEH4Q), it perfectly describes being alone: One can be the loneliest number.

And yes it can be. There are times that I go through my day wishing I had that "special someone" along my side. With careers and school in the way, sometimes it isn't possible. For some, it is possible. It all depends on the type of schedule you have.

In relationships, it is very important to have. As I mentioned above, it brings a close connection, just not with your boyfriend/girlfriend, but you can have a intimate relationship with your friends and family. It ranges from handholding, sitting very close while watching TV, maybe the occasional hug (sorry for the sappiness!!!). Without a connection of another human being, it's rather tough to get through life.

While I think that it is possible to have an online relationship, but that’s all it is: An online relationship. While you feel the closeness of the other person, you don’t know what the other person’s facial expression is. For example, it is really easy to say "I Love You" online, compared to saying it face to face, where you might be quite nervous. When saying it online, you don't know whether or not he/she means it. Saying it face to face means way more than saying it online. That's one of the problems with social networking sites, or even dating sites or even taking classes online: You don't know how that person truly feels because of that lack of facial expressions. Plus an online relationship is basically the same as a long distance relationship, no matter the distance.

Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

At one point in all our lives, we have been in a toxic relationship; whether you were the one being toxic or the other person was toxic to you. What does it mean to be in a toxic relationship? Well there are several definitions for “toxic relationship”. My definition of toxic relationship is when someone(s) or something that is interfering with the path to a happy, fulfillment life. Toxic relationships happen in every type of relationships: boyfriend/girlfriend, families, or friends.

Toxic people tend to hold you back from your aspirations, dreams, and also tend to be negative and talk down to you. Basically, toxic people bring good people down. All they do is use him/her for his/her enjoyment and fulfillment. More than often, they will keep doing it over and over. They use people. They manipulate people to believe that it’s right to do something when it feels wrong in your heart. You almost need a smack in the head with a 2x4 to wake up and realize what this person is doing.

One of the best things about taking this Interpersonal Communications class is how much I learned about the difference between verbal and nonverbal communication. I've actually started to pay more attention to people's body language, not just the verbal communication. It's nice to know the meaning's behind the nonverbal communication and try to pinpoint what they're truly saying.

Anyways, I’ve been in several toxic relationships with people. Not physically but verbally. It hasn’t happened much with family but it happens more with “friends” and coworkers. For example, I have a problem with one of my coworkers. He has been known to get whatever he wants when it comes to the workplace, and he's not even a supervisor or an immediate supervisor. Every time something goes wrong, no matter how big or small, or if he needs something, no matter the expense, he runs to the SAC (Service Area Coordinator) always gets it. And every time this happens, somehow I get screwed. By the way, I should mention that this people are friends. They even hang out together outside the workplace.

The City of St. Paul is having financial issues. We are losing LGA money from the State of Minnesota. Therefore, we are cutting back on staff hours across the board. Since the beginning of the year, I have lost 18 hours (from 30 hours in January). This last week, this toxic person actually had the guts to go to the SAC and tell her that “Why is Kevin working more than me? I should be working more than anyone” (other than a full time employee, most are only part time). This is a case where he is only thinking of himself. (I should mention I’m talking about a guy who doesn’t even care about this job.) So what happens? The SAC went ahead and gave him more hours and cut my hours and another coworker’s hours. I went into depression because not only did I get my hours cut even more, but someone who I thought was a friend rated me out to a supervisor. I’m thankful that I didn’t get in trouble because of this. I confronted him about it a few days later. Long story short, it ended with me being called “pathetic,” therefore ending our so called “friendship”. After the weekend ended, he wanted to be friends with me again. I refused to even look at him (or talk), especially after he called me pathetic.

I can go all day about how this person is toxic but then I’ll be writing for the next 2 weeks. Who has the time to read all that? I suppose all there is to say is “budget cuts really bring the best to people.”

I didn’t let it affect my weekend though. I still went out Saturday night like nothing happened. It was nice to go out and have a great time with friends since I had the bad week at work.

As I’m typing this blog, there’s one quote that I can think of: “People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along? Can we get along? Can we stop making it, making it horrible for the older people and the kids?...It’s just not right. It’s not right. It’s not, it’s not going to change anything. We’ll, we’ll get our justice....Please, we can get along here. We all can get along. I mean, we’re all stuck here for a while. Let’s try to work it out. Let’s try to beat it. Let’s try to beat it. Let’s try to work it out.” – Rodney King after the 1992 riots in Los Angeles.

Nonverbal Experiment

For our second project in the class (which was to break a nonverbal norm), I decieded that I would stand close to people in a relativlty empty elevator.

Here is what I learned by doing this experiment:

Introduction:
Nonverbal communication. It is the only type of communication that people speak at all times of the day. Nonverbal communication is defined as “the way we express ourselves, not only by what we say but rather by what we do.” There are different ways we communication nonverbally: Body movement (body orientation, gestures, face and eyes), voice, touch, appearance (physical attractiveness, & clothing), physical space (distance & territoriality), physical environment and time all contribute to nonverbal communication. For this experiment, I will focus more on physical space and how people feel when you invade their “personal bubble”. There are four different kinds of “bubbles” that people are accustomed to: Intimate distance (reserved for people who are emotionally close to us and mostly in private areas), personal distance (ranges from 18 inches for it’s closest point and 4 feet at its farthest), social distance (ranges from 4 to about 12 feet, for business its 4 to 7 feet), and public distance (ranges 25 feet and beyond). Since this experiment took place in an elevator, it was personal space that I mostly violated.

Experiment:
For this experiment, I spent some time at two places, one in a not so busy area and one in a busier area. I ended up going to the Mall of America in Bloomington (on a Wednesday afternoon) and the 5th Street Garage Transit Center in Downtown Minneapolis (on a Saturday evening). During this experiment, I was looking for the following: facial reactions, sudden body movements, and getting a sense of nervousness.


Mall of America - Bloomington
To receive the best results I needed to find a time where the popular spot would not be so busy. I narrowed the timing down and found that the best time was on a weekday in the early part of the afternoon. I found that there isn’t a lot of activity at that time and not a lot of families are there.
I started on the forth floor of the complex, where the new comedy club is being put in and near Cantina’s #1 (or in another words, the elevator closest to the rotunda). I was there on one afternoon, “shopping” for myself, when I went into the elevator. (Since this was a public place with security, I made sure that I wasn’t trying this on high schoolers). I was, at the time, wearing normal street clothes (jeans, sweatshirt, and a winter jacket since it was cold out from the previous evening’s snow storm) and sunglasses (yes I had them on), looking like a normal person. I noticed there were two girls, who looked to be in their 20s, getting on the elevator from the east parking ramp. As soon as the elevator started to move, that is when I approached them. We all got on the elevator without them noticing me. As soon as the elevator started to move, that is when the fun began.
The first thing I noticed after I stepped towards them was they got very uncomfortable right away. The girls were having a conversation about something and stopped right away, focusing their attention to me. They went from very calm to being nervous in a flash of a second, not to mention a dirty look. I looked at them and said “Hi. How are you girls this afternoon?” One said fine and the other didn’t answer.
Personally, I thought being someone who is near these girls’ age group; they would have reacted differently, such as being more open and understanding. My thinking after they got off the elevator a couple floors down and during my train ride to work, they must of thought that I was coming on to them, looking for a date or possibly a sexual encounter with them. They might have been curious to what I was doing in the first place. I’m sure that they had an interesting conversation about it after we went our separate ways.

5th Street Garage Transit Center – Minneapolis
A few days, later I tried the same thing but in a different location on a different day but I had a different approach. To get the best results, on a recent Saturday evening, I traveled to the 5th Street Garage Transit Center in Downtown Minneapolis, near the location of the new Target Field. I figured this would be a perfect evening to try this experiment. I was right; the weather was just perfect. Sunny skies, temperatures in the 50s, couldn’t ask for better clubbing weather. Plus it was Spring Break for most students so that helped big time.
This experiment I had to do later in the evening, between 9 and 10:00 is peak time since that is when the party is just getting started. Let me first describe what I wore to this event: casual clothes (jeans, button down shirt), casual shoes, my leather jacket and some cologne I stole from my father.
After some time of sitting & waiting, I noticed a group of girls (a small group consisting of 3 girls) heading towards the elevator from the skyway system to street level. My best guess is they were coming from dinner, or a Timberwolves game, since the clubs are not connected by the skyway system. They went in first, and then I went in afterwards. I immediately start to get closer to them. However, without moving too much closer than my original position, the girls started to look and smile at me. They asked me what type of cologne I was wearing, where I was going, who I was meeting up with, est. We made small talk through out the ride and walked together towards the club they were heading to. After we got our IDs checked and had a drink, I told them I had to go, much to their dismay. I didn’t tell either group that this was just an experiment.

Conclusion
During the course of Spring Break, I thought and thought more about nonverbal communication and how it affects others. It mainly depends in the situation that you’re in during the current time. When going out shopping, that’s what your mind is set to: hanging out with your friends and having a fun time without the “creepiness” of other people. When going out for the evening, this is mainly expected: going out, looking your best and meeting new people, even if that wasn’t your main purpose for going out.
It doesn’t matter who it is, what background you have, whether you’re male or female, white or black, or whatever, the point is to make sure when you are around others, you got to make sure he/she is comfortable around you. Each and every one of us has insecurities in our lives. One of them (and possibly the biggest one) is when people invade our personal turf. How you define “personal turf” is up to you. As long as you are sending the right signals to people, even though you are not verbally communicating, anyone can pick up on that, and will determine whether or not you’ll be able to have the relationship with people you rightfully deserve.

Would You Leave Your Child in a Car by His/Her Self?

I just want to start out by saying that I am not a parent but as a former child care instructor (yes I was a former child care instructor), it baffles me why parents would leave a young child in a car, even if it's for 30 seconds.

I was watching Good Question on WCCO Channel 4 last week and it's amazing that parents leave their child in a car. I'm not sure if it's bad parenting or their child is invisible to others but leaving a child in a car, even for a few seconds seems like a bad idea. Until he/she turns 18, you (the parent) are responsible for that child.

When I was working for the S'more Fun program at a recreation center in St. Paul, I would walk from the street into the parking lot and I would see a young child in there, while their parent's are dropping their 5 year old into the program. Seeing that the Como area is a "richy" neighborhood and "nothing bad happens", I can see where you might be tempted to leave your infant behind, but come on. You never know what's going to happen. My thoughts seeing that young child are "What is this parent(s) smoking" or "I wonder if the door is unlocked".

While I would not do anything (besides a speeding ticket, I have a clean criminal record), someone else would not be thinking what I'm thinking. The other person might be thinking "All right. A young child. Jackpot." You'll be making a kidnapper's day. It only takes a few seconds for someone to open or break into your vehicle. It does not matter how close your are or how short your stop will be. You are putting your child in serious danger.

As I said, I'm not a parent and not trying to “preach to the choir” by no means, but use a little common sense. I wouldn't want my young child(ren) sitting in a vehicle with no one in there, even if the doors are locked. Think twice before running into the store to grab that one item and think to yourself: "Is it worth the risk to put my child(ren) in danger for one item?" The thought of leaving my child(ren) in a vehicle while running that "one little errand" and something happens makes me want to cringe.

I will say, however, as a child care instructor, that children are ONE of the most important relationships that we'll ever have in our lifetime. I still remember like its yesterday that I was playing dodgeball, trench and basketball in the gym and playing tag on the play equipment outside. It made me feel like a kid again. Truth be told, I'm looking forward to the day I can do that stuff with my own kids.

Route 94

When I'm in a public place, like riding the bus, I make sure that I am aware of my surroundings. But then again, even if you're on foot, you need to be aware of your surroundings. You never know what could happen.

I bring this important point up because someone really wasn't paying attention and whacked someone in the face - me.

A group of people, I would say, in high school got on the Route 94 bus (an express bus from Downtown Minneapolis to Downtown St. Paul via Interstate 94) on Nicollet Mall & 6th Street. Just that group of people (I would say at least 20 of them) filled the bus, mostly with their belongings (big bags such as suitcases). I would have given up my seat for them (where the wheelchairs go) but I was carrying a suitcase myself so it wasn't logical to give up my seat for someone who has the exact same suitcase as me.

Anyways, I was heading to work at the time. I wasn't planning on getting off in Downtown St. Paul since I work near Snelling Avenue (there's a stop on Concordia Street & Snelling Avenue). As I stood up, the guy who was sitting in front of me got up to put on his backpack. In the process, we whacked me in the face. He didn't even acknowledge he hit me, even with his friends screaming "you hit him, you hit him." No apology was given. I found out later that he was getting off in downtown, not Concordia & Snelling.

Worst part was, he was blocking the isle (after he hit me), so I couldn't get off the bus. As I actually got to the front, the bus pulled out of the stop and went back on the freeway. I had to get off about 6 miles later in Downtown St. Paul.

To say the least, I wasn't a happy camper. I was showing my nonverbal communication like 4th of July fireworks. I wasn't late to work but it was a huge inconvenience for me to backtrack. I would have gotten there much quicker if I got off midway through the route. We bus people need to find the easiest route to take to save time.

I don't understand why people act they way they do. Are people these days really consumed with themselves? While I'm not the perfect person and have my "brain farts" every once in a while, why do people do this consistently? I'm able to recognize when I just made a mistake (such as not holding the door for the person behind me) How do you not notice when you hit someone in the face with your backpack? Not to mention standing up, blocking the isle, and preventing the person who needs to get off.

The one thing that DID cheer me up: The sun was shining. Oh, how I missed that. Too bad there's snow in the forecast.