75 Readings "Dumpster Diving" Dumpster diving brings many thoughts to my mind. I picture hooligans who throw people into dumpsters to teach them a lesson, but that's not at all what dumpster diving is. Instead it is a way of life for some people who need spare necessities that ordinary everyday people throw away. Eighner began dumpster diving just one year before he became homeless. Eighner was fascinated with dumpsters but, but did not like the term dumpster diving. "
Dan Murray teacher English 112 April 9th 2011 We Should Not Discriminate the Homeless Many Americans live just a few paychecks away from homelessness. Being so it seems that most would have certain sympathy toward homeless people. However, it’s quite the opposite. Even as people see those around them, people they were once friends with, become homeless, the fears and hatred remain. Some people fear and hate homeless people so much that even if they know the people, such as when their sibling becomes homeless, they apply those same hatreds and fears to the people who cared for them.
Lars also says the can divers he's seen have the audacity to go through individual containers in front of peoples homes, something a true diver would never think of. I read a bit deeper into the essay and see that he finds out about people as a whole by what they throw away and he talks of how as a society, our garbage says a lot about us. He finds prescriptions and diaries and things we throw out that if we were to let any other person see, we'd be embarrassed. He says there "..is no value in the abstract.." when one is homeless so he only keeps items that are reusable. I think one of the reasons that he has an issue with the can divers is by their going through individual cans of garbage, the process becomes much more personal and that may be why he shuns that method of acquisition.
This conflict could be man vs. man, man vs. himself, man vs. society, and man vs. nature. Jonathan has such a lazy work ethic and demeanor; therefore it should be known that he is going to have several controversial encounters throughout his life. In the “Hissing of Summer Lawns,” the hornet’s nest can represent a custom that needs a change, but cannot be dealt with because of conflict, so it might be avoided until time passes and opinions change. Two of major customs throughout the story that need a change is the fact that Jonathan is “borrowing houses” from people because he is too lazy to make his own money and his attitude towards mowing the lawn in the second home. Jonathan says “In the early nineties, when I reached the point of having no money at all, I began to borrow people’s houses” (Franzen).
‘Two years ago Stuart was living out of skips’ so this creates the image that his appearance won’t be socially acceptable, due to his inability to shower, shave and clean up properly. There was also another encounter that Masters was able to recall, and this was when he met Stuart for the first time when he was pressed in a doorway of a busy street. He was described by Masters to have ‘Pasty skin, green bomber jacket, broken gym shoes’ and was also said to have ‘several teeth missing’. This shows that Stuart was living the worst possible lifestyle as he was at the bottom of the homeless people and had little hope of gaining any social status in society due to his appearance, something which he was unable to improve due not having a stable income and anywhere to clean up. Furthermore as Stuart is said to have several teeth missing, this indicates to the reader that maybe he has been in some trouble in the past with people and the way that they have chosen to deal with the situation is to use their fists.
Dumpster Diving Summary/Response “Dumpster Diving” is an essay by Lars Eighner, highlighting the good and bad of “scavenging” as he likes to call it. He brings to light how to become a diver, the stages divers go through, and his reservations about judging others who throw away perfectly good items. All in all, he is simply trying to enhance the fact that our culture is wasteful, and the large gaps between social classes. I think that Lars manages to keep his humanity intact, despite being homeless. He only takes items that he immediately needs or has a use for, the rest he leaves for others to discover and use.
Therefore, happiness is subjective. In his essay, “On Dumpster Diving,” Eighner’s goal is to enlighten the audience by showing although he became homeless and could not effectively manage his finances, he was not completely incompetent. All through his tribulations and hardship he was still appreciative about the meaningless, or meaningful (whichever way you interpret) items he found while scavenging through dumpsters. It is very clear that Eighner was not ashamed of his lifestyle. He found moderately safe and efficient ways to maintain the needs of his lifestyle, as well as uphold the basic elements needed to survive by rummaging through public dumpsters and people’s trash.
They are totally secluded in the Rain Forest as if they were cast out for some sort of chastisement but they have been living there for millenniums. While reading about the Maimafu people’s story time a volunteer presented a picture of Chicago, America. In this photograph were two homeless men holding signs. One of the Maimafu people enquired what the homeless men were doing and it was tough for the volunteer to describe and explain it in a way these people would understand because these people do not have the same type of society as the volunteers. Later after answering some of the questions about the homeless men the Maimafu people had a proposition to get the homeless men to New Guinea; a feat that is sure to be unmanageable.
ARGUMENTATION-PERSUAISON ESSAY “HOMELESS IN AMERICA” CHRIS RIECH SOUTH UNIVERSITY ONLINE “HOMELESS IN AMERICA” The reason people are homeless in America today is due to the lack of support from out government. Economic problems such as being laid off work or the rise in the cost of housing have lead people to live on the streets. They have no family to help them and they are left with no other choice. People with mental illnesses and addictions also become homeless quite often. A lack of affordable housing has contributed to homelessness.
(Name) (Professor) (Course) (Date) Summary of “On Dumpster Diving” “On Dumpster Diving” is about the author’s experiences with being homeless and living on things he has found in Dumpsters. He explains that a lot of food that is thrown out is actually safe to eat, but people are just too picky about expiration dates and what food looks like. The author claims to have even found still-frozen ice cream and yogurt that was still good while diving for a quick meal. At one point is his life, the author had a steady supply of pizza from the Dumpster behind a pizza place. The pizza place would often make a pizza and then could not sell it for various reasons, so they would have to box it up and throw it away.