Room 101: Persuasive Writing

If I could put one thing in Room 101, I would choose to put people who act like they are better than everyone else. These people are an extreme pet-peeve of mine. Usually, these people are actually extremely insecure, or feel like they have something to prove, so they act like they are better than every other person so that they can give themselves confidence. If this type of person was banished from the earth, I think everyone would be happier. The way they act benefits no other person except them. These people put down others to raise themselves up. But, they don't know that there are much better ways to make yourself feel good about . And, you can do it while making other people happy at the same time! I understand that everyone has insecurities, but why people are snobby and put other people down, I just can't stand.

I've had many acquaintances with people like this. For instance, my family is a part of a large circle of friends. Almost all of my parents' friends who are a part of the group have kids. Most of the kids are older than I am, and although the age difference isn't an issue today, it was when I was younger. My friend and I were always excluded from the group of older kids. They would sit together in the host of the party's bedroom, talking. Always, they would lock the door before my friend and I could get in. Sometimes my friend and I would spend a whole evening begging, kicking the door, until they all came out to go downstairs to eat. Those moments when they came out both good and bad: good in the sense that we got to see them, but bad because they didn't recognize us. When they came back, they would lock the door again. We thought they were so cool, but it was really painful when they didn't act like we were people, too. For me, it was the worst, though. My friend got by sometimes because she had an older brother who was a very accepted member of the older kids' group. I was the youngest of the people who could actually "participate" in a conversation. But, they just viewed me as my friend's sidekick, and that really hurt me because I'm sure I could have gotten along with them if they had just given me a chance. Most of those kids who excluded me are now in college, and now they know that I'm "cool," too. It's sad that they treated me that way for so many years because I think they would have liked me if they'd made an effort to get to know me.

Now I am the same age that they were when they acted that way to me. But, I've vowed to be different than them--if a kid smaller than me wants to join in on a conversation I'm having with my group of older friends, I will definitely let them. Because, I know how it feels to be put down by people who think they are better than you, and it's a terrible feeling.

Opinion on an Opinion Article

Here is the article I read: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/29/opinion/calling-911-shouldnt-lead-to-jail.html?hp&_r=0

            I agree with the author of the article, David Sheff. He believes that there should be “Good Samaritan” laws for people who call 911 to report a drug overdose. Sheff has personal experience with drug overdose. His son, Nic, was fifteen minutes away from dying from an overdose. But, Nic was saved, all because someone called 911 to get him help. Sheff says, “I don’t know who called the paramedics, but not a day goes by when I don’t thank him.”

            I believe that being irresponsible with drugs can only lead to bad things. The problem is that drugs are addicting. The terrible thing is that when a person has overdosed on drugs, they are virtually helpless. If there are other people present, they are their only hope. But, the articles says, “research suggests that, among those who witness an overdose, the most common reason people don’t call for help is the fear of being arrested.” Sheff made a good point by telling the story of a man’s son who wasn’t as lucky as Nic had been. His friends didn’t want to get caught for abusing drugs, because in the United States drug laws are incredibly severe and can result in long jail time. So, instead of calling 911, they put the overdosed boy in a bathtub full of ice—an ill-advised method that they had seen on TV. The boy died.

            Deaths caused by drug overdoses keep rising in the United States. They “have more than tripled since 1990, leading to over 38,000 deaths in the United States in 2010.” And, drug overdose is the leading cause of nonnatural death in the country. These astounding statistics create all the more need for “Good Samaritan” laws, because above all, the “Good Samaritan” laws are certain to save lives.

Hey!

My name is Olivia, if that's not obvious enough from the title. I had to make this blog to keep my work for my English class. I'm not sure of all of the things I'll be posting yet because it's all up to my teacher. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy! :)