Jonas Villela de Souza, #ID 12166575

David Foster Wallace questions

1. What does DFW mean by our default setting?

It is our common sense about our egocentric feeling. We can see this in the part where the
author says: "Everything in my own immediate experience supports my deep belief that I am the
absolute center of the universe, the realest, most vivid and important person in existence. We
rarely talk about this sort of natural, basic self-centeredness, because it's so socially repulsive, but
it's pretty much the same for all of us, deep down. It is our default-setting, hard-wired into our
boards at birth."

2. What does DFW say learning how to think really means? How is that
significant? Other than daily life, are there other ways in which this kind of thinking could
be useful?

"Learning how to think" really means how to use our thinking in a correctly and in a
directly way. It is very significant because changing our thinking, we can change how to see the
things about the life. We can use this kind of thinking in every occasion because with that is
easier to see the significance of the things.

3. What does DFW consider to be the truly important type of freedom? Do you
agree with him? Why or why not?

DFW consider the truly freedom that you can use our feelings with others and care about
them, using an unsexy way and doing that every day. Absolutely, I agree with him because with
that kind of freedom we can show our feelings and our way of thinking in a freeway.

4. Describe a recent time when you reacted with the default setting. How did
you feel afterwards? How could you have chosen to respond differently?
The latest event that I remember, is a time when I was feeling really miss my family in
Brazil and started thinking why they cannot come see me soon since I was the most important
person in the life of my parents. Then I felt really bad, because I loved my parents and I should
not think that way. I should have tried to be more understanding.

5. What elements of the piece resonate with you and why? Which elements do
not?

The parts that resonated with me were the parts that discuss freedom, because I really
believe in the kind of freedom that the author discuss. In addition the part that the author refers to
adulthood is the least resonates with me because such speeches can be placed at any stage of life.

6. What would you say the overall tone of this speech is? Would you say it is
positive, negative, or neutral?

I would say that speech is more neutral than anything else because in some parts the
author tries to present both sides, positive and negative. And, when we discuss something
positive is seen more like some advice and the author makes it clear he does not want the text to
serve as direct advice.

7. Read through the comments (at the top of the article, click on the
Comments tab.) What do you think about the comments here? Do any of them change
your feelings about DFWs speech?

I believe that the comments are correct in some ways and in some ways not. Even seeing
in the comments a few things that could change the way I think about the article, I'm still thinking
the same way about the article.