Socialization deprivation
Captain's Log: day 70. Socialization deprivation continues.
Yesterday at 5:15pm, the children requested granola bars as a "snack." The cheapest box of granola bars that can be found at Aldi has chocolate chips, puffed oats and fructose corn syrup in it; perfect empty fuel for their limping, lethargic bodies on a family hike. Not perfect for filling up their mouths to ease the taste of boredom right before dinner. They were denied the granola bars. Anger ensued; terse words were spoken. Life is unfair. Instead they were forced to eat round, sweet objects with fibrous skins and nutrient-packed juices flowing inside. After they chewed through the minerals their bodies really need, they stomped off, smoke leaving their ears, while they silently cursed their captors.
Once a week, they must stay in their quarters long enough to pick up dirty clothes, throw away trash, and hide things sufficiently so that they can walk across their room. This arduous task - referred to by the scientific community as "cleaning up" - sends their bodies into spasms. Sometimes long minutes must be spent thrashing about on their unmade beds to relieve the pressure built up in their bodies from this kind of maniacal task. Other times subjects are prone to staring out the window or wandering away to play in another unkempt room, just to remind themselves what it feels like to be in the wild. Their captors force them back to their rooms to continue the task until it's complete, or until all items are hidden under dressers, beds, closet floors and behind groupings of stuffed animals having a tea party.
Along with the undignified tasks of cleaning up, the children were informed two days ago that they would be put subjected to a series of mind-bending-experiments called math, reading, writing, music, science, and art. This was anathema to their natural state of rest and malaise, or what they like to call "Summer time." Our scientists knew these series of tests would prove unpopular among the subjects, so they used a large white paper to display them in vibrant colors along with pictures and encouraging phrases. The subjects could see right through the scientists scheme and began to question their captors.
Sean: So, you mean we aren't getting a summer break?
me: We are.
Sean: Not if you make us do school work!
me: I haven't made you do anything for over a week. I'm just letting you know that we're going to continue using our brains and learning all summer long. This could be fun -
At the sound of the word "fun" the subject left the room in a fit of rage. Scientists continue to closely monitor the situation, but it seems like the word "fun" is a trigger. The children remember this word, closely identify with it, and rebel against the scientists using it at all.
Yesterday at 5:15pm, the children requested granola bars as a "snack." The cheapest box of granola bars that can be found at Aldi has chocolate chips, puffed oats and fructose corn syrup in it; perfect empty fuel for their limping, lethargic bodies on a family hike. Not perfect for filling up their mouths to ease the taste of boredom right before dinner. They were denied the granola bars. Anger ensued; terse words were spoken. Life is unfair. Instead they were forced to eat round, sweet objects with fibrous skins and nutrient-packed juices flowing inside. After they chewed through the minerals their bodies really need, they stomped off, smoke leaving their ears, while they silently cursed their captors.
Once a week, they must stay in their quarters long enough to pick up dirty clothes, throw away trash, and hide things sufficiently so that they can walk across their room. This arduous task - referred to by the scientific community as "cleaning up" - sends their bodies into spasms. Sometimes long minutes must be spent thrashing about on their unmade beds to relieve the pressure built up in their bodies from this kind of maniacal task. Other times subjects are prone to staring out the window or wandering away to play in another unkempt room, just to remind themselves what it feels like to be in the wild. Their captors force them back to their rooms to continue the task until it's complete, or until all items are hidden under dressers, beds, closet floors and behind groupings of stuffed animals having a tea party.
Along with the undignified tasks of cleaning up, the children were informed two days ago that they would be put subjected to a series of mind-bending-experiments called math, reading, writing, music, science, and art. This was anathema to their natural state of rest and malaise, or what they like to call "Summer time." Our scientists knew these series of tests would prove unpopular among the subjects, so they used a large white paper to display them in vibrant colors along with pictures and encouraging phrases. The subjects could see right through the scientists scheme and began to question their captors.
Sean: So, you mean we aren't getting a summer break?
me: We are.
Sean: Not if you make us do school work!
me: I haven't made you do anything for over a week. I'm just letting you know that we're going to continue using our brains and learning all summer long. This could be fun -
At the sound of the word "fun" the subject left the room in a fit of rage. Scientists continue to closely monitor the situation, but it seems like the word "fun" is a trigger. The children remember this word, closely identify with it, and rebel against the scientists using it at all.
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