In-Class "Something Instead of Nothing"

1. We recently discussed the irony that we can't really point out what is "cool." This relates to identity, in that we can't always recognize others' or our own identity. We can be interpreted in different ways. Klosterman spoke on this in this essay because we can express ourselves and our identity in interviews, but not always honestly. People can lie to make themselves more interesting, or their answers could be unintentionaly skewed by the question or circumstance.


2. Klosterman's overarching research question is why people respond in interviews.


3. He shows in this essay that there are many reasons why people answer questions and there are different circumstances. This is adequate because there probably isn't one definite answer.


4. We believe that people's responses will always be a little skewed by bias in an attempt to make themselves sound better. Therefore, it is hard to trust an interviewee to tell the whole truth.


5. We disagree because a totally reasonable person could still have a great idea worth sharing or a product to sell and an interivew is a good way, if not in some cases the only way, to accomplish that.