In the essay “In Praise of Margins,” the author Ian Frazier explains the idea that margins
are needed in people’s lives to prevent us from going insane. He believes that as the world gets
more jammed up and complicated, that people need margins where they can express themselves
how they want and try new things without people judging one another. He states that “as the
world gets more jammed up, we need margins… where you can try out odd ideas that you might
be afraid to admit to with people looking on. When Frazier was a child, he would go out in the
woods and play with his friends, not worrying about anything and just freeing his mind. His
imagination was limitless and he felt like he could do whatever he wanted to do without being
afraid of other people’s reaction. Frazier conveys the idea that we need a break from our busy
purpose-filled lives, and take a step away from reality. I agree with Frazier and his views on
margins because a lot of the time we need a break from the wild day to day routine that people
are involved in. If we take place in marginal activities or find our own marginal place, then we
will be much more successful at our goals in life. Marginal paces are very valuable in our life
and people should somehow incorporate it their daily lives in order to free themselves from their
stressful life.
As a child, I experienced a world of imagination where I was able to do anything I
wanted and take my mind out of the world that I lived in. Whether it was a certain activity I was
involved in or a specific place I went to, I got to clear my mind of all the things that were
bothering me. Even to this day I still go to my own marginal place. With all the stress that
college has like finals...
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... all, people need and should have marginal places, activities, and things in order to
be successful in their life. Having margins in your life makes it easier to think about difficult
decisions and it can be less stressful when dealing with complex situations. I agree with Frazier’s
views on marginal places, activities, and things, and think that everyone should have their own
marginal place or activity. According to Frazier, “a book without margins is impossible to read”.
This proclamation imposes that attempting to live your life without margins would be
ineffective, and you would end up facing more and more problems, causing your life to be more
stressful. If people incorporate margins in their life, and escape from reality for a brief period of
time, then they can achieve their goals in a less stressful way, and end up feeling better as a
person.
Foley feels that students no longer feel the need to continue thinking about their topic once they have met their quota of three body paragraphs. Foley states, "the prefabricated structure invites students to fill the five slots wit what they a...
According to Ian Frazier in his essay “In Praise of Margins”, Frazier states that marginal places and activities are valuable because it allows us to be free and ourselves. Marginal activities also provide a break from our purpose filled lives. I believe that his views are in fact true. Indeed, marginal places and activities act as a getaway from everything and everyone. It is where we are able to express our true selves These activities may be pointless yet beneficial, but not matter what perspective it is looked from, these activities are always valuable.
Disconnecting and Reconnecting Do we really need time for ourselves? Many people all over the world question themselves if they need a break from work, daily activities, stress, and school. Mark Bittman had the same problem. He quotes in his essay to professor David Levy claiming that we need time to think, reflect, and to be successful.
...tion and educational programs designed to help with discipline and an understanding importance of teamwork amongst peers that they must learn to live with.
a realm of consciousness he had never dreamed of before and it was not a dream
can be formed in order to live a less stressful life. It gives habits that can be used at different
Ian Frazier compares marginal activities to blue-sky research in his short essay “In Praise of Margins”. Blue-sky research is described as research with no direct motive, it is simply done out of curiosity. Marginal activities are similar to blue-sky research due to the fact that they are done out of fun and as a way to see what is out there in the world. Frazier explained that the world marginal has a negative connotation to it. When something or someone is described as marginal, most commonly it is to imply that they do not contribute much to society and have little to no importance. But can activities that allow us to take a break from our hectic lifestyles really be seen as unimportant? I believe that marginal place and activities are
People need to think intelligently and set goals that are specific to their needs, making it possible to achieve their goals by making sure they are measurable and realistic and making it possible to build a support system around them; furthermore, they also need to set a deadline with time frames that can be met. Chanika Charles stated that “young people are at risk of being gobbled up by despair, overcome by conditions beyond their control” (A17). To avoid this, people need to start motivating themselves and getting excited about what they want to achieve, making sure their goals are relevant to their needs and being more perseverance when situations become difficult. When setting up their goals, they must ask that magic question: is this relevant to my lifestyle, furthermore, what will I do to achieve it?
“The world we see that seems so insane is the result of a belief system that is not working. To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds”
In Frazier’s essay, “In Praise of Margins”, Frazier stresses the importance of how finding your marginal place and doing purposeless ideas can have an impact on a person’s life. Frazier reflects back to his childhood and expresses how his marginal place was an important necessity as he was growing up. To Frazier, marginal places is “where you can try out ideas that you might be afraid to admit to with people looking on” (58). A marginal place allows you to develop and explore creations that can be seen foolish to society but scientific by nature. Frazier’s marginal stresses how it is important to find your marginal place. Frazier’s explains how the woods was his marginal space (58). The woods allowed him venture out and explore as a child. In the woods Frazier would spend much of his time with his friends and do purposeless things (57). He understands as an adult the woods was his marginal place that allowed him create memories that can not be replaceable. A
people, [that] god almighty will take care of himself.” As long as you are being a good person,
It is believed that a basic component of human cognitive skills is the ability to differentiate between reality and fantasy. Traditionally, children were assumed to confuse the boundaries between them. Yet, previous research has shown that three year olds are able to make reality/non-reality distinctions. The first article, published in 2004 describes a study performed by Sharon & Woolley. They hoped to provide a new viewpoint at a preschooler's level of fantasy/reality differentiation. They believed that children have a better understanding of these boundaries than most people assume. Believing that children have an understanding of what is "human" and what is not, which they use to determine whether entities are real or fantastical. The main goal of their study was to show this possibility, by exploring what childr...
priority and everyone should have the chance to enjoy life without limitations. Students will also
As it grows and maintains that common sense of reality that allows each of us to navigate and act in the world of everyday life?
Imagination is a word that applies to everyone. It remains a part of everyone’s life throughout childhood and adulthood. An imagination has no boundaries, and every individual’s imagination is one-of-a-kind. Imagination makes the dull perspective of life fun and entertaining. Its degree of influence on people and its uniqueness make imagination a particularly fascinating word, and this is why I was interested to delve deeper into the history and evolution of its definition. Initially, the first phrases that come to mind are “using your imagination” and “having a big imagination.” To me, these phrases mean forming new ideas by thinking creatively and having a big capacity for creative thinking. When I think of the word itself, I consider it to refer to the unique thoughts and fantasies that can lead to coming up with stories, uncommon inventions, and new ideas or concepts.