After reading a Plague of ticks answer the following questions
1. Compose a list of Sedaris's tics and try to establish some general rules that make them tics and not more acceptable repeated motions, like his mother's smoking of his teacher's waist massaging
2. As is apparent when he reads his work on the radio, Sedaris is a master storyteller. One of ht the things that makes his stories so effective is the way he uses humor. His essays are rarely simply funny, as is the case with "A Plague of Tics," he uses humor in combination with other elements to various effects - for example, as contrast or relief. List three funny moments from this essay. In what context do they appear? How do they interact with their contexts? What do you think Sedaris was trying to do with humor in each of these instances?
3. Don't think about it," Sedaris tells himself when he is young. But he is unable not to obsess over his compulsions - as he says, "There must have been an off switch somewhere, but I was damned if I could find it" (par. 14). Reflect on moments in your life when you have been unable to not think about something - something that happened to you, something you did, something youa re looking forward to or fearful of. When have you whished you had an off switch? What do you think it means that people are not able to simply turn their minds off?
1. Some of Sedaris's tics include licking light switches, touching the tips of his fingers to other people's plates, and wiggling his body in a certain way. These tics can be considered as such and not more acceptable repeated motions because they are unconventional, compulsive, and often done without conscious control. They are specific to Sedaris and not common behaviors or habits that others engage in.
2. Three funny moments from the essay "A Plague of Tics" include:
- When Sedaris's tic of licking light switches leads to his younger brother imitating and joining him in this behavior. This humorously shows the influence and contagiousness of his tics, creating a comical and absurd situation within the family context.
- Sedaris pretending to be a secret agent to justify his tics and create a humorous narrative for himself. This adds a whimsical and imaginative element to his tics, providing relief from the seriousness of his condition.
- Sedaris's teacher's reaction to his tic of touching her waist, where she thinks he is massaging her and secretly enjoys it. This creates a humorous misunderstanding and emphasizes the absurdity of his actions, highlighting the contrast between his intentions and how others perceive his tics.
In each of these instances, Sedaris uses humor to lighten the tone and bring levity to his compulsive behaviors. By finding comedic elements within his own struggles, he adds layers to the storytelling and engages the reader with a mix of empathy and amusement.
3. Moments when I have been unable to not think about something include times when I made a mistake or said something embarrassing. These situations often replay in my mind repeatedly, causing me to dwell on them and wish for an off switch to stop the obsessive thoughts. Additionally, when I am anxious or worried about an upcoming event or decision, my mind tends to fixate on it, making it challenging to focus on anything else.
The fact that people cannot simply turn their minds off suggests the complexity and power of the human mind. Thoughts and emotions are deeply ingrained within us, and they can persist even when we consciously try to suppress or ignore them. It highlights the intricate workings of our brain and the battle between conscious control and subconscious impulses. This inability to turn off our minds also underscores the importance of self-care, stress management, and finding healthy coping mechanisms to navigate and deal with intrusive thoughts.
1. In order to establish some general rules that make David Sedaris's actions tics rather than more acceptable repeated motions, we can analyze the following characteristics:
- Repetition: Sedaris's tics involve repeating certain gestures or actions over and over again, such as touching objects multiple times or performing certain movements in a specific order.
- Ritualistic nature: His tics often have a ritualistic quality, with specific patterns or rules that must be followed. For example, he must tap objects a certain number of times or touch things symmetrically.
- Involuntary aspect: Sedaris describes his tics as compulsions that he feels compelled to perform, even though he is aware that they seem odd or unnecessary.
- Discomfort when not performed: Sedaris experiences discomfort or anxiety when he tries to resist or suppress his tics, suggesting that they are not simply habitual but rather driven by an inner compulsion.
These general rules distinguish Sedaris's tics from more acceptable repeated motions, like his mother's smoking or teacher's waist massaging, which may be voluntary actions or habits without the same compulsive nature.
2. Funny moments from "A Plague of Tics" and their interactions with their contexts:
- Moment 1: Sedaris imitating a chicken. This appears in the context of Sedaris describing his obsessive need to touch objects symmetrically. The humor comes from the absurdity of him acting like a chicken and the contrast with his compulsive behavior. Sedaris may be using humor here to highlight the irrationality and strangeness of his own tics.
- Moment 2: Sedaris rubbing his temples with his fists. This moment is described during a family visit to Disneyland. The humor arises from his frustration with his sister's behavior, as well as the physicality of him rubbing his temples in response. Sedaris may be using humor to provide relief and diffuse tension in a situation where he feels overwhelmed.
- Moment 3: Sedaris doing a repetition exercise involving water fountain taps. This occurs when Sedaris is in college, trying to resist the urge to tap things repeatedly. The humor comes from the exaggerated actions he takes, like drinking from the water fountain multiple times, and the contrast with his efforts to control his tics. Sedaris may be using humor to acknowledge the absurdity of his situation and to cope with the frustration and challenge of overcoming his compulsions.
In each instance, Sedaris uses humor to provide contrast, relief, and to highlight the irrationality or difficult nature of his tics.
3. Moments when we cannot stop thinking about something are common experiences. It could be something that happened to us, such as a mistake we made, or something we are anxious about in the future. We may find ourselves obsessing over these thoughts, replaying them in our minds, and struggling to let them go. This could be related to regret, anxiety, or fear.
The desire for an "off switch" reflects the longing to have control over our thoughts and be able to stop thinking about something that is troubling or consuming us. However, the fact that we cannot simply turn our minds off highlights the complexity of human psychology. Our thoughts are influenced by emotions, memories, and subconscious processes, making them difficult to control consciously.
This inability to stop thinking about something may indicate that our minds are wired to focus on things that are important to us, whether positive or negative. It suggests that simply trying to suppress thoughts or emotions is not a straightforward task and may require other coping mechanisms such as therapy, mindfulness, or self-reflection.