Mini Essay #1 The Presence of Society: Norm Violations

Just yesterday while I was driving home I thought of the norm to break. I was on the highway where the speed limit is 65 mph. I was driving about 75 mph, and realized that I was breaking a norm. I continued this and started to watch people’s reactions as I pulled up behind them or passed them. I would look to see in the cars if they were looking at me or just letting me pass as it was normal. While I was breaking this norm I didn’t really feel anything was wrong. I felt as if many people do this, and thought to myself that breaking the speed limit itself is almost becoming the norm. Almost no matter where you are driving people are passing you while you are already breaking the speed limit. On the highway I was going 75 mph, but there were still people passing me. I may have been passing others as well but when I was to slow down to 70 mph, I was driving at the same pace as almost every other car. It seems to me that almost if not all people break this norm we call following the speed limit. When people see someone speeding up from behind them and they are on a two lane road, they move over and let them pass. It has become a part of society. People are courteous to others who are not following the norm. This is why, in my mind, breaking the speed limit has almost become the norm now. Although I feel this way it is not going to change the law, or some people’s thoughts on speeders. The law says that speeding will get you a ticket and a fine from a policeman if caught. People are pulled over on the side of the road with a cop giving them a ticket, and still many of these people go right back out and break the norm and the law. The reason this law was put in place was to make sure people are traveling safely. Driving at high speeds can cause major crashes, especially if you are not paying attention like so many people these days who text and drive. That’s another norm that is broken all the time, but I chose not to do that due to its high danger. This restriction though does make it safer on the highways, and in residential areas with high traffic, animals, or kids who play outside. The speed limit is set differently in different areas for different reasons. You wouldn’t go into a neighborhood and drive 65 mph and say,” Oh, I was following the speed limit.” It is dangerous neighborhoods have a speed limit of 25 mph to be able to react to something that may fall or run into the street. You hear of kids who are hit playing in front of their houses all the time. Children should be able to play in their neighborhoods and be safe. The speed limit is set at 25 miles per hour for children to be safe. It is sometimes set at a lower speed, and there are always signs up warning if there are children at play or children who maybe handicapped at play too. Just this past week I went on a trip and saw many cars pulled over on the highway. It is the end of the month and that is known to be the time when most tickets are handed out for speeding, especially on the highway. I broke this norm and realized that I could be taking a huge risk. The limit is set for people to be safe no matter where they may be traveling to or from. If you are caught breaking this norm there is usually a pretty hefty fine that goes along with it. Not only will you get a fine, but your insurance will go up, and it will go on your permanent record. I broke this norm and watched the reactions of people and most people just went along like nothing happened. Some people, if they realize you are approaching them very quickly from behind, will switch lanes and allow you to pass. They do this to make sure people aren’t angry, and it is common driving courtesy. Some people however were not so kind. I would pass and they would glare at me, or make gestures towards me as if I was being a jerk. Most people break this norm, and they do it on a daily basis. I drive on the highway six days out of the week and sometimes seven. When I am driving I may be breaking this norm, but many people are driving faster then me and breaking this norm very often.

Music is a big part of life especially for teenagers. It helps them express there feelings or be able to calm themselves down. I listen to a band called Three Days Grace. They are a heavy rock band, and I like the sound of their music. I listen to it, because it can pump me up for a game, or if I am in an angry mood I can listen to it and it helps me release some anger. It is popular among a lot of athletes, especially in a physical games such as hockey and football, because it is heavy and helps get your energy up and ready to go. The messages have varied in their music, and range from hatred to being in love. Other songs are just songs that are loud and fun to listen to. Three Days Grace is a band that can make a lot of music that relates to people in many different ways. One of my most favorite CDs is by Three Days Grace, and it can literally play out song by bong how my year went. The whole CD is like a relationship, and the ups and downs that go with relationships. By the end however the relationship was over. That happened to me too, but I am back with her now. It helped me through the break up though and the tough couple of months that followed. This is just one example of how music can help someone through tough times. Other times I will listen to a CD when I am so excited that I just want to yell and rock out. I will turn it on in my car and blare it through my speakers and sing along with each song that comes on. Another person that is very popular is Eminem. He is listened to by anyone who likes rap music. He swears a lot and he also expresses a lot of anger, but he has songs that are funny and songs about his daughter too. His songs have good music to it and sometimes funny noises which appeals to people. If you have a good beat it doesn’t really matter what you say because it can catch on and people will like it. He also has a couple songs that really pump people up. He makes music that can be loud or mellow. His music can be angry and let you express your anger through the music, or it can be funny and relax you. Through the early years of his career his music was made mostly to make fun of people and other celebrities. As the years have moved on he has made mellow CDs about his family, and very angry CDs about his life. I think that people like Eminem so much because of how he is always changing his music and his style. He has made so many different types of music about his life and his experiences, which many people can relate to it in some way. This makes him very liked among many people. Eminem is one of the popular musicians who has not sold out and been in commercials just for the money. He is a very quiet, soft-spoken guy outside of his music. He is very humble as well, and that makes him even more liked from his fans. He grew up from nothing and helped his mom when he got popular and helped out his family. This music I have mentioned is very different, one being Heavy Metal Rock, and the other being more of a Heavy Rap. These are just two artists that are popular now and when I was in high school. I listen to all types of music from rock to rap to pop to country. I listen to all this music, because I am in different moods. For example, the summer time is a time I listen to country most. It all depends on who you are and what music you like. I listen to all types of music which I think says a lot about me. I am very open to all sorts of new things. I like being the way I am, and I like meeting new people and seeing how different people are like the different types of music that people listen to. Some people say that music and its lyrics cause more violence among kids, but it can just help a kid relax and just enjoy themselves.