Conversation 1
“Oh my gosh, did you see that thing on the Tucker Max movie?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m so excited; I can’t wait to see it.”
“Yeah, it looks good. I don’t really get his whole thing, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like, is all that stuff he says real? Couldn’t he like get sued for that or something?”
“Well, since he doesn’t say anyone’s name or anything I think it’s fine. But yeah, I think it’s all true. Some girl even tried to sue him, but he won.”
“Wow, that’s kind of crazy then.”
“I know. I love that guy, though. I’ve read his book and I go to his site all the time. It’s freakin hilarious.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“I just love that he’s not afraid to say all that stuff.”
“It reminds me of—well, do you know that Chelsea Lately?”
“Oh yeah. She can be funny, but I feel like she’s so rude!”
“Yeah, she kind of is. She doesn’t even care.”
“I know. Like when she’s got guests on, she is so rude to them.”
“Yeah.”
“Like, I like how Tucker Max is blunt, but she’s doing it to their face, you know?”
“Yeah.”
The two girls having the conversation were standing somewhat in front of me in a cluster of people waiting for the bus after class at the stop by the parking structure on Warner. They were clearly friends or roommates. It was Thursday at around 2 p.m.
The first girl was average height and had an athletic build. She had wavy, dirty-blonde hair with highlights. She wore sunglasses, a white hoodie and cuffed jeans with flip-flops.
The second girl was short and of average build. She had dark tan skin, and dark brown hair slicked into a sporty ponytail. She wore a black tank top and jeans with sneakers, no jewelry or accessories besides a backpack.
Story Ideas
1. Where is the line between edgy and politically incorrect? When it comes to blunt remarks, are there differences in acceptability for men and women?
2. In this conversation one person is clearly dominating. What types of people are likely to become friends? Who makes a better friend: An opposite or a kindred spirit?
3. With Tucker Max’s exploits, the truth behind them is questionable. When does truth matter? Does society not mind a lie if it is an entertaining one?
Conversation 2
“Wow, there’s no one on the bus at this time.”
“Yeah, it’s not the busiest time.”
“Another guy might be on his way. He went to go get his books.”
“Well, I can’t really wait, it’s already running a little late.”
“Oh okay.”
“Sorry, he’ll have to catch the next run.”
“Yeah, he realized it 2 minutes before you came. Poor guy.”
“There’s another stop up here, too.”
“Oh yeah, maybe he came up to this one instead.”
(Other passengers board)
“So, did you have a good weekend?”
“Yeah, I actually went to a bus rodeo yesterday.”
“A bus rodeo? What’s that?”
“It’s actually just taking the bus through an obstacle course.”
“Oh, wow.”
“And you also have the option of putting the wheelchair on and securing high and low and things like that.”
“Oh that’s funny.”
This conversation happened on Monday morning at about 10 a.m. on bus route 8 between the bus driver and a passenger. The passenger boarded at Nord ave. and initiated the conversation.
The first person (the passenger) was a young female student, though she seemed more like a dorky mom. She was very pale and her brunette hair was worn up with a scrunchie. She wore purple shorts and a white t-shirt, and she had glasses.
The second person (the bus driver) was middle-aged with reddish-blonde hair. He had a bristly looking moustache. He wore a blue uniform, a top and shorts, and sneakers. He had a wedding band and a digital watch.
Story ideas
1. What is a bus rodeo? Who organizes them, what is the point, etc.?
2. What does it take to be a bus driver? What types of requirements are there and what job-related issues do they face? (could tie in to the bus rodeo)
3. In the beginning of the conversation, the girl mentioned the lack of riders on the bus. How busy are the bus lines? How many riders do the buses need to maintain a regular route? What would it take for more people to start riding the bus?
Conversation 3
“We haven’t really been having practices on Monday.
No, just on Mondays, in general.
So far, but you know.
No, next week.
Yeah.
No, yeah.
Well—Mom, shut up!
Um, I talked to him, but I just want to make sure…(trailed off)
Yeah, I just don’t want to…(trailed off)
I told him, but I don’t know if he forgot.
No, he said, um, like he has to ask the athletic director, and he’s all, ‘I’m sure that will be fine, I just have to ask.’
That’s why, you know, ‘cause he had to ask someone else, so I just wanted to make sure he wouldn’t forget, you know.
Uh, last week.
Well, I don’t know. He could have asked last week, but I don’t know.
Yeah, I just have to wait, though.
I hope I’ll find out soon, but yeah, I’ll let you know.”
(Followed by yeahs and goodbyes)
This cell phone conversation happened on Monday at about 9:30 a.m. at the 2nd and Salem transit station. The girl was sitting down on a bench next to me facing the campus.
The girl seemed like the average student. She had long, straight, dark brown hair. She wore a blue polo, oversized sunglasses, brown shorts, and flip-flops. She was thin and had very tan skin. She wore a green rubber bracelet (like those fundraiser bracelets), a woven friendship-style bracelet, and a woven/braided anklet.
After the conversation on her phone, she listened to her iPod.
Story ideas
1. What are student-parent relationships like? For students who are from out of the area, does that relationship change once they are no longer close to home? Does they miss having family near or do students feel liberated?
2. The girl was by herself and she clearly did not want to look unoccupied (hence the timing of the phone call and the immediate retrieval of the iPod afterwards). Why do people need to be constantly connected? Is there a fear of appearing lonely? Does technology prevent us from engaging in new interactions with new people?
3. The fundraiser-style bracelet made me wonder about actual charity and activism versus the appearance of activism and involvement. How often are people who wear items that say they support a cause (like the various green slogans, the line of various “red” products, etc.) actually involved and fully aware of what the issue is? Do their purchases reflect their actions? Is it becoming trendy to appear involved? If so, is that a good thing?
