It is interesting how Becker's interviewees seem to uphold a biasness that marijuana users are uneducated people when we, realistically, know that once an individual enters college, there are more manifestation of marijuana usage through out the apartment complexes and dormitories. Yet, the writer, I felt, has completely and knowingly neglected this information and chose to continued stereotype through out his paper with words as, "you know..." or "Aint..sure."
Nevertheless, this journal reaches out to teach us a lesson about life. Becker is trying to make people like myself, non-marijuana users, to try and understand the reasons to try marijuana and enlighten our minds that it isn't just about being rebellious but because marijuana has some form of social foundation that links us all together. I found extremely interesting that the writer spends a lot of time, roughly two to three pages of the nine total pages, on describing how to smoke marijuana correctly to instill the everlasting "high" that is associated with smoking pot at such a large quantity. Maybe in some aspect, you can relate this to yourself in any type of field of work. Working on your first day, you may attempt slowly take your time, trying to do things correct so that you don't harm yourself and others. For example, The first time I set up a conference call, I took my time, tried to be precise while being very paranoid about "screwing up" and not receiving the emotion and sensation of a successful work. Once you retain that sucess and have experienced the emotional award of doing a great job, it can become an addicting feeling that you want to feel again, therefore leading to many others wanting to once again, feel that sensation of high where the feeling makes you feel as though you are in a different world.
I think this does have a lot to do with life in general. Its all about wanting to fit in, feel good, and to succeed. It’s just human nature and marijuana is just another “conference call” for certain people who are looking for that sort of fix in their lives. But when something doesn’t work the first time, people get frustrated and quit. They’ll never try it again (I’m exaggerating a little), but it usually takes an experienced person/pot smoker to take them under their wing and teach them the in’s and out’s of whatever it is they want to learn; weather it be how to lead a meeting, or to “rip a bowl”. This eventually turns into a bonding experience, and the best part about learning how to smoke is the first time it works - accomplishment, and an incredible high. Win-win situation, which is why it has absorbed such a large amount of our population.
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