What has Sean learned about himself with this new friendship? Thus what have you learned about people who are "different"?
Is it okay for Sean to lie to Scott and his parents? Does their great friendship justify certain questionable behaviours?
Here is a clip of wheelchair basketball, may help you visualize as we read the story.
i think Sean new friendship taught him courage, good behavior and many more traits Sean's old friend did not have.
ReplyDeletei also think that Sean was lying to Scott because if the coach came it might cost him a spot on the team also maybe he cares about David and did not want him to get suspended .
Sean lied to his parents because it would save him if they told them he was trying to defend David.
I've learned that people who are different, or just perceived to be different, are just like you and me. They just have their own visions of reality, in a sense they go throught things we cannot comprehend. For instance David saw those kids making fun of him, Sean did not, therefor they come away from the same scene but with different understandings of reality. They go through things that we can't understand, and we go through things they can't understand. They can be seen as not normal, though who give you the right to say whose normal, and whose not? Just because they can't walk, or dress in a certain way, act in a certain way and etc. Does not mean that they aren't normal. Either everyone is normal or no one is normal. I think that no one is normal because we all have our own way of speaking, dressing, eating, and so on. We all are from different races, religion, ethic, and origin we should all come to accept our differences and celebrate them. Not tolerate differences, not hate differences but celebrate them. I remember reading something on how working with people who think differently, you will achieve more than you would alone or some one who thinks like you. And I quote "Alone we achieve so little. Together we can achieve so much." And we see people differently than others with prejudices, and labels, and biases, we tend to create that pyramid again. Everyone does it, I'm not saying I don't do it. Everyone does it. Now a days you have to dress a certain way to be accepted into society and speak and eat. It's weird its almost as if they have a whole system dedicated to defying and abolishing equality.
ReplyDelete@tabish
ReplyDeletewhat you said is true we always make that pyramid.also you are right and who is normal.
@Aqib
ReplyDeleteI agree often we set Biases, Labels, and Prejudices on people we don't even know just like Sean and David. When Sean saw David he probably thought "I feel bad for this kid, how did he get in that wheelchair?" the next minute they're fighting and Sean probably thinks "That kid is an idiot, Why did he punch me? And how come McCully didn't punish him?" See! right there! McCully felt something for him and his biases ultimately led him to do so. In reality like in the first blog I stated "in reality we would all do the same thing". And when he set that bias in his head he automatically created that pyramid once again. It's not his fault society influenced him to do so. If he had given David the detention and not Sean, what would you think of him? Bad right just because he didn't give the kid in the wheelchair justice. I'd like to highlight the fact about the 3 eyewitnesses that McCully talked to, they all came away with 3 different versions of realities one could've saw David started it, one could've saw Sean started it.
slow start today, hmmmm, a few days off and people lose the routine.
ReplyDeleteAqib and Tabish lets hope the 7-8 o'clock wave picks up and adds to the conversation.
@tabish
ReplyDeleteya true it is our bias
@mr. cheney
true today is a slow blog.
Sean has learned a lot about his friendship he's now doing good things and hanging around with the better people. He always thought he would have been cool hanging around with Scott, Nick , and Gavin because they're all grade eights, but now he's realized that Scott and them aren't the best of friends. Real friends are always there for you no matter what and they listen to you, and some friends just stand and watch you being humiliated.
ReplyDeleteSean lied because he knew that he was going to get away because he was with David and David did influence Sean to lie more often now, Scott didn't tell Sean to lie but he did things that he wasn't suppose to do like smoke, drink... etc
@ Aqib yeah Sean really cares for the spot in starting five I think he wants this position so badly because he wants to make his dad happy
ReplyDelete@ Stanley
ReplyDeleteare you sure David influenced Sean to lie ?
also you right that a true friend is not Scott who influences you to smoke.
@Stanley
ReplyDeletealso he wants to make himself happy because he loves basketball.
@ Aqib I'm pretty sure because I don't think in the book Scott told David to lie about anything but now David told Sean to lie twice and yes Sean does want to make himself happy too!!
ReplyDeleteI think that Sean's new friendship has taught him to be smart, courageous and to help him stand up for himself. Sean's old friends Scott, Nick and Gavin made him get into a lot of fights and other things.
ReplyDeleteSean's old friends influenced him to do bad things like smoke and drink.
I have learned that people who are "different" are not really that different from anybody else.
For example, when Sean and David and Scott and the other guy were playing a game of basketball, David was just an ordanairy kid playing you wouldn't notice that he was still in a wheelchair. You would just see four kids playing a game of basketball.
I think its not OK to lie. But sometimes you kinda have to because sometimes telling the truth isn't easy and it can lead to consequences. But when Sean lied to Scott he lied because he didn't want Scott to get in a fight with David. So sometimes telling a little lie is good but when you keep piling lots of lies on top of it it will be hard for you.
The friends Sean had before were not considered "cool" just because they smoke and drink and do bad things.
ReplyDelete@twinkle toes
ReplyDeletetrue sometimes lying is a great risk but when you lie it is a great risk because if you get caught you are in a worser problem.also now are you saying that honesty is NOT the best policy because a lot of people believe in this quote.
@Stanley
ReplyDeleteok that is true David did say that so that can be influencing.
@am17 honesty is the best policy. i like the quote "the truth will set you free". I'm not saying that honesty is not the best policy because everybody lies and sins because were not perfect. Its not good to lie but what are we humans going to do about it? because everybody lies.
ReplyDeleteI think seans new freindship is better for him because it chnaged him alot.He went from an angry truoble maker to a great freind.He has even gotten better marks (because os david)
ReplyDeleteDavid influence is alot better then scotts because the're both different and have their own way of things.(Ex,Scotts meaning of fun is acting like ur having a good time by making a joke out of others -when david actually has fun like at the roller rink)
Lying is one of the things sean started to do alot moe but its bettween telling the truth and lying to show how much he cares about david and it shows more as the book goes on.Lying isnt the best thing to do in your life but as the quote says"Not every Great person/leader is a good person"
sean has learned that he know trusts david a lot, and is giving him full support, and sticking up for him.
ReplyDeletesean also believes that david is really one of his "true friends".
we have also learned that people who are "different" are the exact same as us.
david has justified that.
him and sean beat scott and greg almost with no problems. david has also proved that he is capable of doing what we do, and also better than us.
i think it is okay for sean to lie to his parents and scott.
it proves how strong they are about being friends, and how they want to stay as great friends.
@ janat
ReplyDeleteyes, david has changed sean, but dont you think that sean already had all of his " new characteristics"?
im guessing sean was already a good guy, but he hung out with the wrong people.
and great connection to the quote!!
their friendship does justify their questionable behaviours.
ReplyDeleteif you were a person in the book, and you knew sean lies,
would you really believe what he tells you?
especially if it has to do with david.
even so, i admire sean's loyalty towards david.
and the same with david.
@word nerd, yes people underestimate david juts because hes in a wheel chair thats why greg had an amusing look i guess because he probaly though they would be easy to handle and that he'd win in no time but by david winning it proves alot.
ReplyDelete@twinkle toes
I think sometimes people have to lye to get the best of the situation and sometimes truth can lead into truoble and i think seans choice of lying was ok to scott
@word nerd
ReplyDeleteEven if he had those charactices he didnt show them because he'd get into truble and do bed things to get the fun out of it.He didnt use or show the charactics but i do agree hes a good guy.
Who is word nerd?
ReplyDeletei think its malav
ReplyDelete@ janat
ReplyDeleteeveryone is, but they dont show it.
eden is right.
ReplyDeletei wanted to change my name...
Blog isnt really alive/active .............
ReplyDelete@ janat
ReplyDeleteYa.
What further predictions do you have about the book?
What do you think had happen to David?
Im on been on since Aqib was its just no activity waiting for the right post to respond on, nobody's post seems to trigger a question. Usually thats the feeling I get, Malav knows.
ReplyDelete@ tabish
ReplyDeleteYes, so do you have any questions that may make other think?
I think Sean has learned that he has courage; he has learned to make a smart move for a good reason when needed; he has become a totally new person ...instead of learning how to cause situations he learned how to prevent situation which in a way is better he may miss hanging out with “the boys” but if he doesn’t want to do what Scott Nick and Gavin want to do why waste time with them?? In my words they would be “worthy less”. Sean has gotten in to studied “properly” as in I think if he were doing the project with Scott, Nick or Gavin I don’t think he would have gotten a good mark and the reason would be because they didn’t care to touch the work at all. But instead of Scott, Nick and Gavin its David which help Sean get an A+! Wow what a big difference by one person...
ReplyDeletePeople come in different sizes and shapes etc.. I doesn’t mean just cause they are big its for sure they will win in whatever you do. Everyone has their own strengths and weakness .So how big or small you are it doesn’t matter if you really set your mind to it you may be able to accomplish it.
I think lying to Scott for saving David was okay he was trying to prevent a situation which is good but his parents... I don’t think anything should been hidden from them they raised you and can figure if something wrong with you also when parents FIGURE out the truth they don’t like it and you can have consequences. Which for sure no one likes at all. Anything happening shouldn’t be lied about to your parents because telling them everything is fine at school when it isn’t can cause pressure on your back which can lead to other horrible things.
At times yes but also no because who shouldn’t be lying so in a way it’s bad but saving someone one of someone who you care so they don’t get hurt or in trouble in a way is good but you can’t always save your behaviour because you’re trying to help someone at times when something is wrong its wrong.
@Malav and everybody else
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about David that's significant making Sean change so fast and rapid?
@word nerd: Sean does give full support to David and trust him but before David even came would you say Sean gave full support to Scott?? Because even thought last year wasn’t the best year for Sean and Scott, Sean still was hanging around with Scott. So would that be giving Scott full support? And if you say no then would you say Sean was “using “Scott?
ReplyDelete@Jan101: I’m not sure if you were here or not but Mr.Cheney did a post on if David and Scott were the same. And if you think about it yes they do because they fight a lot about things. There ego is a bit the same .Because when there temper get “high” they give a piece of their mind they will say something back! After reading this would you still say that David and Scott are different?
ReplyDelete@twinke toes: yes Scott ,Nick and Gavin are a bad influence but when Scott said to Sean that “my mom thinks you a bad influence” don’t you think that the mother is a bit crazy(not tryna be rude or anything ) but think about if when people smoke or drink doesn’t she smell it immediately? What about drinking when they get caught from the roller rink doesn’t the person that kicked them out think about telling their parents?
ReplyDelete@bacon strips : people think they are true friends in ways but don’t always follow my opinion it’s hard to find a TRUE friend it’s easy to get a friend but not a TRUE friend. My question to you is do you think people actually follow this true friend rule? Or does the person become your true friend because they have been your friend for a long while?
ReplyDeleteYes, the blog lacks explosive responses, but don't ignore the solid posts thus far.
ReplyDelete@Tabish, I think David has given Sean confidence, and some "real" happiness...remember at the roller rink when the girls and David were having a real fun time while Scott, Nick, and Gavin were just faking it it. Sean appreciates and is thriving of real friendship
True friends are far and few. Often friends are the byproduct of environment, being in the same class, same sports team. True friendships are born and last regardless of environment. As you grow older you will realize this. Check back in 20 years (this would make you my age) and see how many friends you still have from grade 8. How many do you think you will?
ReplyDelete@ neha
ReplyDeleteI don't think Sean would give the same support as Sean did with
David.
Sure Sean and Scott must have stuck out for eachother when they got into trouble, but I don't think that Sean would have done what he did for David today.
And I don't think Sean was using Scott. They were just hanging out as regular friends
Sorry that I'm late, but...
ReplyDeleteI think that Sean has learned that he can stand up for his friends that he is not scared of Scott, and that he can relay on David. Not only in basketball, but also in friendship. I also think that he finally thought himself to not look at the wheelchair but treat him as a normal person.
I learned that it is not right to treat people like that and even if it is right there and you always see it, I learned just to ignore it like if it was never there.
I don't think it is OK to lie to Scott and his parents because what he does depends to his character. Even thought, we know that Scott's parents don't really like Sean because they think that he is a bad influence on him, that would already show that he's losing more and more trust.
Yes, I think that right now Scott is thinking and questioning his and Sean's friendship. I personally would ask myself a lot of questions like, Why would he do this?,Does he like David more than me?,is this just a game play and soon everything will go back to normal?
Never too late Olga, wonderful idea considering how Scott is thinking about his disintegrating friendship with Sean.
ReplyDelete@ tabish
ReplyDeleteI think it is David's personality.
David is being a great person to him, and is really making others happy.
And like mr Cheney said, David makes Sean happy at the roller rink,
Unlike the boys who were pretending to have fun, and making fun of others while smoking.
I think Sean has discovered a lot of potential within himself he never realized he had. I also believe that he recently realized what Real friends are an how much they can uplift you and enhance your performance. I have learned that people who are "different" truly, in and reality are NOT that different. They can perform just as you and I, with a little more effort.
ReplyDeleteI think Sean should not have lied to Scott's parents. He isn't the bad influence on Scott and Sean is just giving Scott's parents more reason to think so. I dont think Scott and Sean are very good friends. When you compare Scott with David you can see how much Scott really brings down Sean. As with David, you can really see all Sean's potential.
i think sean has become more brave, smarter, and a better ball player then he was before. it is certainly better for him to be daids friend then scott, beause of smoking and getting in trouble
ReplyDelete@Olga, I agree. Scott is definetly questioning his relationship with Sean. Before David arrived, Sean was Scott's number one, Scott was the only person he knew (along with Nick, Gavin). Now, David has almost replaced him and Sean isn't weak anymore. He has learned how to stand up for himself and whats better for himself.
ReplyDelete@Mr Cheney
ReplyDeleteYou are very correct and I know which friends I keep, the ones I cherish, the ones that are there when I need help. The ones that back me up. I remember a saying by one of the great Sahabas (friends and companions of the Prophet Muhammad)a friend can be tested three times.
1)Behind your back
2)In a time of need
3)After you die
My dad tells this to me, and I've also heard it from other sources. It intrigues me to know they were always there for me, they helped me when I needed it and I'm gonna find out soon enough what they are gonna do after I die. Anyone who doesn't know who the Prophet Muhammad is, he is a historical figure within the Islamic religion. In the time of war it was only him and his companions around him so the enemy attacked, with strong fighters. The companions saw them coming and shielded the prophet with their arms, one of them ended up losing their whole arm. I love this story because it reminds me of the importance of friendship. And every story has a moral, and the moral for me in this story, is within the form of a question, Would I lose an arm for a friend? I know how dear friends can be and at the end, if we end up losing them, there are other friends to fill that empty space. The power of friendship is almost like the power of narrative. One things for sure Malav is gonna remain a friend I think forever and if Omar was here him too. Not a lot only a select few.
but i think that in the end of the book scott will hate sean, this might be a possibility considering that sean and scott arent as goo of friends as htey use to be
ReplyDelete@ nicole
ReplyDeletegood point.
but do you think sean has "changed"?
he still lies doesnt he?
im sure he still behaves the same, but he is a bit less aggressive, and he doesnt get into trouble thanks to david.
good*
ReplyDeletethey*
@ malav
ReplyDeletei think sean has changed by ALOT because in the beginning it shows how sean got into alot of trouble, like almost daily, but now he only got introuble once and hes trying to avoid being in trouble.
@Malav if David is such a great person why does he want to fight Scott so badly?
ReplyDeleteBecause remember Scott and Sean still have "something" between them if they didn't why wouldn't Sean just let David fight him and beat him? So Sean could see just a the bit of evil in him? Can't he?
ReplyDelete@ tabish
ReplyDeletei think david wants to fight scott because
david feels as though scott thinks he is all that, and that scott is mr tough guy.
and so, if david fights scott, it will show that scott is nothing. it will show that scott is cocky, and cant do anything.
it will also make scott humiliated ( just as david wants) because he got beat up by a guy in a wheelchair.
it will also make david seem tougher, and maybe people will treat him equally.
and i also think that david got those scratches and bruises from scott.
david had also talked about how they would first settle the game of basketball, then other things.
@ tabish
ReplyDeletegood thought.
it maybe possible.
@
ReplyDeleteprabhjot
yes sean is trying not to get into trouble, but
dont you think that david is certainly helping out with that?
sean hangs around a guy with a wheelchair.
so doesnt that make sean a good guy? it automatically means sean is no longer a trouble maker.
this is what others think because of that wheelchair.
@Nicole
ReplyDeleteI agree,but since know Nick and Gavin are like Scott's number one, I'm wondering if they will ever be friends again
Don't forget David deals with many inner struggles...his anger and rage comes from wanting to walk so bad.
ReplyDeleteGreat insight on friendship Tabish. It seems only natural to have a select few truly great friends, especially over time.
Have a good night everyone
ReplyDelete-Sauce Boss out
just came one the blog there's a new heading IMAGERY!
ReplyDelete@Neha, well if i were the mother i would have smelled the smoke and the aroma of the beer on them. But they can lose the smell. You never know what about if they had some kind of perfume to rid the smell.
ReplyDelete@Neha, well if i were the person that kicked them out the roller rink for smoking i would have called their parents. If their under aged and smoking in a place were your not supposed to be smoking they would have called their parents or send them off with a stern warning.
ReplyDelete@twinkle toes
ReplyDeleteso now i think that your saying it is good to lie and i agree.
@am17 im not saying its good to lie im saying that everybody lies sometimes because were not perfect.
ReplyDelete@TwinkleToes
ReplyDeleteThats true! Everybody says its not good to lie but in the end its sometimes the better decision because it protects and prevents further damage. Its alot along the lines of 'To be a Great person you can not be a good person'.
@Nicole, you are right some people say its not good to lie but they end up lying themselves so i don't know were their going with that.
ReplyDeleteby spendidng allot of time with david i think that sean has learned allot about the people in wheel chair because when christina told david that lisa feels sorry for him he said something like david doesn't like when people feels sorry for him which means that he got to learn allot about wheelchair people and how they dont like when people feels sorry for them or treat them differently.
ReplyDeleteyes thier freindship justify certain queshnable behaviors because as neha said that lieing to scott is understandable but lieing to your parents is not good i mean they raise you and when you lie to them and if they will find out they will be hurt.
Sean has learned from the friendship with David, he learned more about David enough to trust him.
ReplyDeleteI realized this when Sean said to Scott in the 2 on 2 game, "If my partner says its a fair shot, then its a fair shot."
Its okay for Sean to lie to his parents because its soemething that any person would have to do in his situaton, Sean lying doesnt make him a bad person, it makes him just like everyone else.
I think that Sean has learned a lot from his new friendship with David, i think that he has learned to treat people that are looked at as different with respect because they are all just regular human being and a minor flaw won't make them different from him.
ReplyDeleteI've learned that people who are different are just "normal" and the same as us and can do numerous things. David shows this because he was able to beat Scott and Greg in the two-on-two basketball match.
@Shelby, good point. I never truly realized that David's actions have taught Sean(and I) to treat EVERYONE the same, no matter how much you want to treat them better/worse.
ReplyDelete@TwinkleToes Yea, its just the better decsion in the end sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI think that Sean's new friendship made him learn real friendship, empathy and also courage and a lot more positive traits. I think that Sean feels and has a better understanding of "different people". I think if Sean hadn't met David he would of done something like the high schooled kids as they did hand gestures when they saw a wheel chaired person. I think its OK to lie to Scott because it might cost a spot on the team and it might get both David and Scott suspended so he was a great person by making sacrifices just like the quote in class. Also I think its OK to lie to his parents because it would save their friendship or else his parents wont maybe allow him to hand out with David.
ReplyDeleteI think what Sean's new friendship has made him learn about what real friends are like unlike the "friendship " between Scott and Sean ( or is there even a " friendship " between them anymore? or was there ever a friendship between them? ) Sean has become a totally new person all because of David.
ReplyDeleteI've learned that people who are different aren't really different they're just said to be like that. They are actually pretty much the same person as all of us or maybe even better than us because we tend to make fun of people like this and they just stand there listening to us humiliating them. THIS HAS TO BE STOPPED!
I think it was ok for Sean to lie to Scott to prevent David from getting into a fight with Scott. I also think it was ok for Sean to lie to lie to his parents because sometimes even when you know that lying isn't the best thing to do and you shouldn't do it sometimes your just forced to do it.
Yes their friendship does justify certain questionable behaviour because like I said earlier sometimes it's ok to lie, sometime you know you shouldn't but your just forced to do it.
I have learend that you should never judge a book by it's cover. Everyone is different and we should respect that. No make fun of them. Just be nice to them or just don't talk to them. Leave them alone.
ReplyDelete