Comments on: Gregory Stock’s “The Book of Questions” http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/ An online magazine created by Worcester Academy creative writing students... Fri, 28 May 2010 08:31:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Josh L http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Josh L Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:00:05 +0000 http://wamash.antonioviva.com/?p=28#comment-43 The question that caught my attention, also being the question I chose to answer, is: "If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?" Although I often tell my loved ones that I love them, there is one person that I haven't told. Her name is Lily. I've known her for about for years now, and until recently, we've just been really good friends. I guess you could say that things have changed, and now we're closer than we anticipated we would have been. After hearing this question, I decided to tell her the other day while we were talking. This question is actually more realistic than it seems. Accidents happen every day, and there's no telling if tomorrow will come. With that in mind, I spoke to her and told her what I've been holding back for a while now. Call me crazy, but I told her I loved her. I wouldn't have said it if it wasn't true, but I know it is, because you can't say that you love someone unless you know both their good qualities and bad ones. That's what counts. I'd also like to briefly address the "million dollar question". The question reads, "Would you accept $1,000,000 to leave the country and never set foot in it again?" My answer is absolutely not. This would be pretty selfish to do because one might think, "I could just have my family and friends move", but that's causing everyone to uproot their lifestyle, and leave their loved ones, to accommodate you. I think that's a selfish and inconsiderate thing to ask, so in that manner, I wouldn't. The question that caught my attention, also being the question I chose to answer, is: “If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?” Although I often tell my loved ones that I love them, there is one person that I haven’t told. Her name is Lily. I’ve known her for about for years now, and until recently, we’ve just been really good friends. I guess you could say that things have changed, and now we’re closer than we anticipated we would have been. After hearing this question, I decided to tell her the other day while we were talking. This question is actually more realistic than it seems. Accidents happen every day, and there’s no telling if tomorrow will come. With that in mind, I spoke to her and told her what I’ve been holding back for a while now. Call me crazy, but I told her I loved her. I wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t true, but I know it is, because you can’t say that you love someone unless you know both their good qualities and bad ones. That’s what counts.

I’d also like to briefly address the “million dollar question”. The question reads, “Would you accept $1,000,000 to leave the country and never set foot in it again?” My answer is absolutely not. This would be pretty selfish to do because one might think, “I could just have my family and friends move”, but that’s causing everyone to uproot their lifestyle, and leave their loved ones, to accommodate you. I think that’s a selfish and inconsiderate thing to ask, so in that manner, I wouldn’t.

]]> By: Emma P. http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Emma P. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:52:48 +0000 http://wamash.antonioviva.com/?p=28#comment-42 I am responding to question number seven. “Do you think the world will be a better or worse place one hundred years from now?” I think that technology and medicine would be more advanced making the world a better place. Yet I think that the cost of living will go up. Already in D.C. the average person must be making around twenty-five dollars to have a decent living space. I think the number of homeless and hungry people will go up, making the world a worse place to live in. Also with new technology for military there will be a chance that there will be more wars and people fighting. Who knows what will happen with the climate, the world could become degrees hotter then it is now, affecting the plants and animals, not to mention the people still alive. The government might be corrupted and that would affect many things one hundred years from now. The world could be a better place, but it might also be a worse place one hundred years from now. I am responding to question number seven. “Do you think the world will be a better or worse place one hundred years from now?” I think that technology and medicine would be more advanced making the world a better place. Yet I think that the cost of living will go up. Already in D.C. the average person must be making around twenty-five dollars to have a decent living space. I think the number of homeless and hungry people will go up, making the world a worse place to live in. Also with new technology for military there will be a chance that there will be more wars and people fighting. Who knows what will happen with the climate, the world could become degrees hotter then it is now, affecting the plants and animals, not to mention the people still alive. The government might be corrupted and that would affect many things one hundred years from now. The world could be a better place, but it might also be a worse place one hundred years from now.

]]> By: Mike W http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Mike W Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:46:41 +0000 http://wamash.antonioviva.com/?p=28#comment-41 For number 7: Do you think the world will be a better or worse place one hundred years from now? As for me, I think that for technology it will definitely be much more better, but I think that the distance between families or friends would be much more greater. For example, back in the days, a fireplace might be the center place for a family where they can communicate to each other and do things together. But as the technology improved, things such as television, computer and internet invented. People starts chatting with each other online instead of face to face, also isolated ourself from the family. So for this question, I think one hundred years from now the world would be worse. For number 7: Do you think the world will be a better or worse place one hundred years from now? As for me, I think that for technology it will definitely be much more better, but I think that the distance between families or friends would be much more greater. For example, back in the days, a fireplace might be the center place for a family where they can communicate to each other and do things together. But as the technology improved, things such as television, computer and internet invented. People starts chatting with each other online instead of face to face, also isolated ourself from the family. So for this question, I think one hundred years from now the world would be worse.

]]> By: alex d http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-40 alex d Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:44:32 +0000 http://wamash.antonioviva.com/?p=28#comment-40 If I were to win a world championship I would definitely want it to be a team sport. Considering my favorite sport is soccer I can only imagine holding up the legendary World Cup in my hands at the top of the podium, or putting down my head to have the gold medal draped around my neck. Personally I truly do not mind being apart of a team. Winning as a team you get to share all the special memories and stories with each other, whereas winning as an individual, who are you going to share those memories with? Of course your wife of husband, kids and grandkids but who else? Being apart of a team there are so many more stories to be told and fun to be had. I am not a very conceited person and I would much rather share a prize than keep it to myself. Obviously winning as an individual you get so much more fame and glory. For example look at Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods is world known for what he has been able to do with a golf club in hand. However how many Tiger Woods' are there in the world? As far as I'm concerned there is only one, but how many great soccer teams are out there? How many great football or basketball teams? In my opinion winning a team championship would be just as nice if not better than winning an individual championship. If I were to win a world championship I would definitely want it to be a team sport. Considering my favorite sport is soccer I can only imagine holding up the legendary World Cup in my hands at the top of the podium, or putting down my head to have the gold medal draped around my neck. Personally I truly do not mind being apart of a team. Winning as a team you get to share all the special memories and stories with each other, whereas winning as an individual, who are you going to share those memories with? Of course your wife of husband, kids and grandkids but who else? Being apart of a team there are so many more stories to be told and fun to be had. I am not a very conceited person and I would much rather share a prize than keep it to myself. Obviously winning as an individual you get so much more fame and glory. For example look at Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods is world known for what he has been able to do with a golf club in hand. However how many Tiger Woods’ are there in the world? As far as I’m concerned there is only one, but how many great soccer teams are out there? How many great football or basketball teams? In my opinion winning a team championship would be just as nice if not better than winning an individual championship.

]]> By: Chandra E. http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Chandra E. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:35:21 +0000 http://wamash.antonioviva.com/?p=28#comment-39 I am responding to question #3: If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet? The first time Mr.Viva asked our class this question, this particular question caught my eye. My orginial thought was regretting how I did not tell the people who are close to me how much love I have for them. And how I did not really appreciate what those people did for me. But as soon as I got home and was thinking more about this particular question, it got me to thinking. I regret not talking to certain people because I was afarid. I was afarid of judgement and loss of friends. I regret not telling people what I really thought and how I actually feel. But, I would not regret communication though, I would regret actions. Actions speak louder than words. I would regret what I did not do with the people I love. I would regret risks that I did not take even though I was offered them. I would regret what I did not do for people in order to make their life easier when they were in trouble. I would regret holding back on spoiling my little brothers. Its what I didnt do is what would be important to me in that type of situation. I am responding to question #3: If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?
The first time Mr.Viva asked our class this question, this particular question caught my eye. My orginial thought was regretting how I did not tell the people who are close to me how much love I have for them. And how I did not really appreciate what those people did for me. But as soon as I got home and was thinking more about this particular question, it got me to thinking. I regret not talking to certain people because I was afarid. I was afarid of judgement and loss of friends. I regret not telling people what I really thought and how I actually feel. But, I would not regret communication though, I would regret actions. Actions speak louder than words. I would regret what I did not do with the people I love. I would regret risks that I did not take even though I was offered them. I would regret what I did not do for people in order to make their life easier when they were in trouble. I would regret holding back on spoiling my little brothers. Its what I didnt do is what would be important to me in that type of situation.

]]> By: Lilly S http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Lilly S Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:22:15 +0000 http://wamash.antonioviva.com/?p=28#comment-38 If a loved one pleaded with me to relocate to a foreign country without being able to guarantee me seeing my friends or family again I would have to contemplate the question carefully. A lot of "if...then" statements come to mind. For example, if my mother asked me to leave the country for survival, then I would undoubtedly move with her. However, if a person I was in a serious relationship with asked me, it would most definitely depend on the situation. I would like to think if a person loved me enough they wouldn’t ask me to leave my friends and family. They would be able to recognize, despite the numerous fights with my family, how much my friends and family mean to me. Another aspect to consider however is the developments in technology. It has become so simplistic to virtually communicate with people despite distance. My brother recently backpacked across the European continent, and stayed in hostels. Just by a click of a button his curly hair and goofy smile was transported into the comfort of my own home as if he had never left. Although he was not physically with me, being able to interact with my brother via internet made it much easier to cope with him being gone for over a year. This being said, it would truly depend on who asked me and the given situation. If a loved one pleaded with me to relocate to a foreign country without being able to guarantee me seeing my friends or family again I would have to contemplate the question carefully. A lot of “if…then” statements come to mind. For example, if my mother asked me to leave the country for survival, then I would undoubtedly move with her. However, if a person I was in a serious relationship with asked me, it would most definitely depend on the situation. I would like to think if a person loved me enough they wouldn’t ask me to leave my friends and family. They would be able to recognize, despite the numerous fights with my family, how much my friends and family mean to me. Another aspect to consider however is the developments in technology. It has become so simplistic to virtually communicate with people despite distance. My brother recently backpacked across the European continent, and stayed in hostels. Just by a click of a button his curly hair and goofy smile was transported into the comfort of my own home as if he had never left. Although he was not physically with me, being able to interact with my brother via internet made it much easier to cope with him being gone for over a year. This being said, it would truly depend on who asked me and the given situation.

]]> By: Brian R http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Brian R Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:16:54 +0000 http://wamash.antonioviva.com/?p=28#comment-37 5: If a new medicine were developed that would cure arthritis but cause a fatal reaction in one percent of those who took it, would you want it to be released to the public? Yes, I would want it to be released to the public, but that does not mean I'm willing to kill 1% of the arthritic population. My ethical reaction to this question is clear: I would not want the medicine to be released because arthritis doesn't kill anyone and this medication would, and I don't think it's worth it. However, my logic says otherwise, and my logic always has more say in these situations. If you really think about the implications of a medication like this, you realize that it would actually be quite beneficial. As long as the company clearly explained the risks involved, then I believe the decision should be left up to those suffering from arthritis. A person with minor arthritis might decide that a 99% chance of curing their mediocre pain is not be worth it, and therefore would just decide not to take the medication. On the other hand, a person with severe, life altering, debilitating arthritis would be faced with this decision: a 99% chance of success, continuing life pain free, vs. a 1% chance of dying, which ultimately would free them of their pain. I believe these people should be able to make there own choice given the risks involved. They are the only ones that know the severity of their pain, so only they can assess whether or not that 1% chance is worth it. My morals say otherwise, but my logic says release it. 5: If a new medicine were developed that would cure arthritis but cause a fatal reaction in one percent of those who took it, would you want it to be released to the public?
Yes, I would want it to be released to the public, but that does not mean I’m willing to kill 1% of the arthritic population. My ethical reaction to this question is clear: I would not want the medicine to be released because arthritis doesn’t kill anyone and this medication would, and I don’t think it’s worth it. However, my logic says otherwise, and my logic always has more say in these situations. If you really think about the implications of a medication like this, you realize that it would actually be quite beneficial. As long as the company clearly explained the risks involved, then I believe the decision should be left up to those suffering from arthritis. A person with minor arthritis might decide that a 99% chance of curing their mediocre pain is not be worth it, and therefore would just decide not to take the medication. On the other hand, a person with severe, life altering, debilitating arthritis would be faced with this decision: a 99% chance of success, continuing life pain free, vs. a 1% chance of dying, which ultimately would free them of their pain. I believe these people should be able to make there own choice given the risks involved. They are the only ones that know the severity of their pain, so only they can assess whether or not that 1% chance is worth it. My morals say otherwise, but my logic says release it.

]]> By: conar m http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-36 conar m Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:46:24 +0000 http://wamash.antonioviva.com/?p=28#comment-36 Do you think the world will be a better or worse place one hundred years from now? I believe that the world will be the same in one hundred years. I feel that no matter what happens positively an event will even it out negatively. It’s a very depressing idea. Diseases have and will keep mutating and becoming stronger and advances in medicine will only keep this trend going. Not many people like the idea of communism, so there will always be a division between social classes. In addition, people will always disagree on things. The world will always have its problems and they will always be difficult to solve. I feel that out of the innumerable amount of problems in the world, that human kind has the possibility to resolve one. I hope mankind can at least find peaceful ways to disagree and come together as the one species we are. Imagine a world where everyone worked together to solve things for all mankind. I hope that global warming is a kick start to this process. The possibility for the end of humankind should be a powerful enough threat to bring people together. As pessimistic, as this post sounds I hope humankind can make the world a better place. I truly do hope so. However I do not think that the world can do some which to me is why I believe the world will be the same as it is today. Do you think the world will be a better or worse place one hundred years from now? I believe that the world will be the same in one hundred years. I feel that no matter what happens positively an event will even it out negatively. It’s a very depressing idea. Diseases have and will keep mutating and becoming stronger and advances in medicine will only keep this trend going. Not many people like the idea of communism, so there will always be a division between social classes. In addition, people will always disagree on things. The world will always have its problems and they will always be difficult to solve. I feel that out of the innumerable amount of problems in the world, that human kind has the possibility to resolve one. I hope mankind can at least find peaceful ways to disagree and come together as the one species we are. Imagine a world where everyone worked together to solve things for all mankind. I hope that global warming is a kick start to this process. The possibility for the end of humankind should be a powerful enough threat to bring people together. As pessimistic, as this post sounds I hope humankind can make the world a better place. I truly do hope so. However I do not think that the world can do some which to me is why I believe the world will be the same as it is today.

]]> By: Kaitlyn Mathieu http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Kaitlyn Mathieu Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:13:51 +0000 http://wamash.antonioviva.com/?p=28#comment-35 You discover your wonderful one-year old child is, because of a mix up at the hospital, is not yours. Would you want to exchange the child to try to correct the mistake? My answer is yes I would definitely correct the mistake. I wouldn't care if the child was amazing as a one year old, I would want to have my own child that I could raise. And even if the child that you got mixed up with was amazing and wonderful as a one-year old, they could grow up to be a brat and be disrespectful towards you and others. I'm not saying that when I switched children back that my original child is going to be amazing and different then the other when it grows up but at least I can say that it's related to me and it's one of my own. Also when the baby grows up and gets married and has children of there own, my grandsons or granddaughters, I would want them to be blood related to me. So i would definitely make the switch. You discover your wonderful one-year old child is, because of a mix up at the hospital, is not yours. Would you want to exchange the child to try to correct the mistake? My answer is yes I would definitely correct the mistake. I wouldn’t care if the child was amazing as a one year old, I would want to have my own child that I could raise. And even if the child that you got mixed up with was amazing and wonderful as a one-year old, they could grow up to be a brat and be disrespectful towards you and others. I’m not saying that when I switched children back that my original child is going to be amazing and different then the other when it grows up but at least I can say that it’s related to me and it’s one of my own. Also when the baby grows up and gets married and has children of there own, my grandsons or granddaughters, I would want them to be blood related to me. So i would definitely make the switch.

]]> By: Jake H http://wamash.com/2008/09/gregory-stocks-the-book-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Jake H Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:42:48 +0000 http://wamash.antonioviva.com/?p=28#comment-34 I am responding to question 6: If I found out my one year old child was not mine and I could fix the mistake, I would most definitely switch the kids and get my real child back. Even if I had the kid for a year, the other child is still my blood. I would feel weird knowing the child is not a true Hilbert. After the switch I would never speak about the incident again. I am responding to question 6: If I found out my one year old child was not mine and I could fix the mistake, I would most definitely switch the kids and get my real child back. Even if I had the kid for a year, the other child is still my blood. I would feel weird knowing the child is not a true Hilbert. After the switch I would never speak about the incident again.

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