Perspectives

  I hear people use the word “awkward” around school almost daily. The syllables slip past their lips and plop into conversation as naturally as a frog might leap into the nearest pond. When I take part in these conversations, I often notice how frequently I use “awkward” in a negative context. I’ll say things like, “I hate those awkward pauses,” or “that conversation … [Read more...] about Awkwardness has advantages

How might you judge a person who drives a 2013 Range Rover versus a person who drives a 1996 Honda Accord? Would you assume the person in the former was happier or more successful than the latter? Would you assume that the person in the former was better in most respects than the person in the latter? Most people would answer these questions with a yes, whether consciously or … [Read more...] about Materialism inhibits fulfillment

Take it from someone who avidly collects The New Yorker, has rare 19th-century editions of Shakespeare and Tennyson on her bookshelf and has seen just about every Rolling Stones documentary ever made — at a certain point, enthusiasm is looked upon with skepticism or disapproval. If you are a Millennial enthusiast, a good number of people will cynically assume you’re some kind … [Read more...] about Defending the shameless enthusiast

Is the Facebook page Pepperdine Compliments really necessary? Jamal Lopez YES: You look at things like the compliment page and you see that people are actually saying nice things about other people, and you feel that, oh, maybe this is a really nice community and not something that’s just on the surface. It really is something that Pepperdine is rooted in. Kevin Whiting NO: … [Read more...] about Face Off