Wardle

Wardle Reading 

Questions for Discussion and Journaling 

1. The main three ways that 'newcomers' try to belong is engagement, imagination and alignment. Engagement is basically building a foundation, it could be as simple as finding something to talk about. Imagination is trying to to think outside of the box and go beyond from what you already know. Its basically taking what you know and multiplying it with new ideas. Alignment can be like engagement but basically finding these bases and relating them even more and finding more of a base than before.  Newcomers might not choose to participate because they don't always work, also the fear of rejection. It's often difficult to continue as a newcomer and it's easier to give up.

3. Personally, I've realized that you get what you receive. If you give off a certain vibe, you will receive it back. Point blank, if Alan didn't even try, why would others try. Everyone has things to do and especially in such stressful environments like a work. If Alan gave off a vibe that he didn't care or want to socialize, his coworkers could have easily took that as a sign to say 'forget him'. I think he could have easily changed the energy he gave off, he could have made small talk or try to be social. Alan didn't seem to care , so his co-workers didn't care as well. Nobody has the time as an adult to say "gee I think we should help the new guy". As an adult there are more things to worry about. If Alan wanted a different environment he definitely should have acted differently and let out more of a positive/social energy. 

5. I agree with Wardle overall. I think that it wasn't that he wouldn't have been accepted, it was the fact that he never tried. I think it's a lot easier as a newcomer who has a fresh slate to make something of yourself. Sometimes it's often overlooked but the way you come off is the way people will react to you. if you send out a negative puss face attitude nobody is going to be like "that person seems great to be around". But if you shed a positive light, and make connections, it is possible to set yourself up. Thousand of years have been set up with human interactions, civilizations and nations have been formed with the idea of socialization and finding a common ground. I have a hard time believing he couldn't have set up some connection and have a successful joining to the discourse. 

7. An example would be my teachers. I've dealt with many teachers, good ones and bad ones. I've realized it's what the teacher gives off the student that makes them work. I've had teachers that seemed to slack off, so my peers and I would just be like "why should we care when they don't". It didn't make sense, nobody wanted to feel like they're wasting their time. When a teacher seems to slack and uneducated they lose all their authority. Most times, teachers already have authority without any given reason. It's when they present themselves is when they lose their authority. Say for example a teacher constantly gives out tests and doesn't check it, a student decides not to study because they know the tests aren't graded. In that sense the teacher has lost authority.