Rhetoric 3371 Questions

The focus of this story seems to be not only on the man-made items which Tom is bringing along but on his mental capacity and overall health. His main tools, his body and mind, seem to be the most likely pieces to fail during his stay but also the most important to his survival on Suvarov.

As I was reading this I was amazed on how much stuff Tom is actually bringing to the island. He seems to have thought of every possible situation he might encounter and is bringing things to avoid these situations(drugs,rubber shoes, paint, tins to wash water etc.) I thought it was hillarious on how he was adamant on not bringing a woman because it would irritate him (no offence ladies). I also thought it was unique that he called his kitchen the "Kai room". I guess you learn something new every day. I do belive that he could survive on far less items; the flour and sugar are a little excessive wouldn't you think? I believe the main question many of us are wondering is if Tom survived, or what ever happened to him? What would possess this man to do this at this point in his life? Did something occur that made him decide that now was the time? In the text Tom mentioned that he had always wanted to do this but first of all why, and what do you think he would get out of the journey? What types of life lessons would he encounter, overcome, and learn?

Eric, I would tend to agree with your statement. With everything that Tom had packed (and his plans to eventually have a sustainable food supply) it seemed that he was simply packing up and moving. The only items he would leave behind would be the company of other people, a bike, and a reliable source of good tea. My question would be: Would the most challenging part of his journey not be surviving without a food store or his normal tools but without the company of another human being? He seemed to reason that bringing someone who would "eventually annoy him" would be worse than nobody at all.

Within the first few pages it dawned on me that the traveler was attempting to be on the island in isolation and without the everyday conveniences of living in a city, but as I continued to read about the items he was bringing aboard with him it became apparent that what he was doing was basically setting up shop on an island with everything he would need to live comfortably. Not only was he bringing food items but he was bringing luxuries like jam, tea and tobacco, things that you could never come across on the island without extensive searching and even then drying the items and processing them would be terribly hard to do if you are unfamiliar with the craft. His journey seems to be more like that of a man who wanted to escape from reality for a while on a sandy beach and live simply, but by no means would he be struggling in anyway. He made comments about not wanting the comforts of a radio or a gun because eventually those would become obsolete; however he brought paint with him to make whatever shanty he built look presentable? To who, to himself? This seems more like a Peter Pan fantasy island, then a roughing it, living like the tribal people adventure. I did think it was ironic at the end when he was penniless and had no where to go or stay and the amount of panic that overcame him. He just got a taste of what he was in for on the island but that was even more real then what he would experience when he got there with all of his belongings. As I read I wondered why he would decide to do this? I think sometimes those of us who are so dependent upon civilization crave the concepts of roughing it and being left alone to find your way as our prehistoric ancestors did. I was always fascinated with the book Hatchet as a child. I really thought the main character was amazing that he was able to survive the way he did with only a hatchet, granted it’s a children’s story but it reminds me of that concept of a longing for nature and escape from civilization, it’s your chance to see what your made of and can you in fact survive without the cushy ness of life’s modern conveniences.

Comment: I just finished reading Robinson Crusoe last week; the stories both share a concept that I find intriguing: the need for civilization or at least a resemblance of civilization. Not only is the character from this story bringing a few simple tools (already created) to the island, he is bringing tools heat/shape metal to create more tools. Also he wants to bring exotic plants and meats to the island because he is afraid of the nutritional monotony that might exist on the island. This brings up a question for me that I may or may not have picked up from the reading. Is the character going to this island for the challenge of survival, or is he just “going to the cabin” on this island for a little while and expects to return?

In the beginning of the reading I was in accordance with Tom. He was going to live on a desert island in complete seclusion from society; which does seem like a great feat, but he was certain he was ready. However as I read on I realized that even though he thought he was doing an amazing job preparing for his seclusion, he was not secluding himself at all. The only thing he was really getting away from was people, and social interaction. He was otherwise bringing a bit of every area of life, even paint!! What would one living on a desert island really need paint for?? Or a broom, I’m sure that if he really needed one it could have easily been constructed from things found on the island. This story greatly depicts the inseparableness of humans and their tools; we are completely dependant on them.

After reading the second chapter “Shopping List for a Desert Island” by Tom Neale, I concluded that Tom is an insecure individual who is facing a mid-life crisis. I believe Tom must recognize his place in the city as an individual before abandoning the social relationship with the city. Tom was copping with a social issue from the city’s relationship with him and he was frustrated and must escape. If change is what he desires, why doesn’t he insist packing all of his belongings and accepting gifts from the city? Does he believe a place of social seclusion and self thought will solve his issue with the city? I believe the issue is that he is trying to escape a reality that he has never accepted; his own life.

This story proves an interesting point to me: human beings are incredibly reliant on tools for living. Evident is this in the short story by the man amassing large amounts of materials to bring with him to the desert island. He seemingly wants to depart from humanity by going to this island, but in the process proves that he needs humanity and its multitude of resources. One would think that if a person desired to go to a desert island to escape, one would live a very bare bones lifestyle; this man plans to the nines for his life on the island. As a bit of an exaggeration, he might as well have someone build him a house with full utilities considering the amount of stuff he’s bringing with him. All in all, this story simply stresses the extent to which human beings rely on the tools of life—not only the physical tools, but the fact that we rely on a complex society of trade.

During the reading I was struck at how many connotations and worlds lay in the many articles Tom purchased. As he worked through his list, the deciding vote on what to bring came to rely upon how he wanted to structure his environment. There were some fundementals like salt and the like, but when he talked about how sweetened condensed milk meant comfort and how books are treasure, the possible worlds tools yield struck me as something very true. It seems obvious that a society will reflect its material foundation, but Neale does a good job at making this position sparkle.
I especially like his decision not to buy a gun or a radio because these are tools dependent on society, and can only last so long outside of them. This decision convinces me at how much his new life depends upon his shoping on Suvarov.

This story proves an interesting point to me: human beings are incredibly reliant on tools for living. Evident is this in the short story by the man amassing large amounts of materials to bring with him to the desert island. He seemingly wants to depart from humanity by going to this island, but in the process proves that he needs humanity and its multitude of resources. One would think that if a person desired to go to a desert island to escape, one would live a very bare bones lifestyle; this man plans to the nines for his life on the island. As a bit of an exaggeration, he might as well have someone build him a house with full utilities considering the amount of stuff he’s bringing with him. All in all, this story simply stresses the extent to which human beings rely on the tools of life—not only the physical tools, but the fact that we rely on a complex society of trade.

I do not think Neale is having a mid-life crisis. The man is doing a little exploration the way R. Walton from Frankenstein is headed for the North Pole. In an effort to understand himself and his world, Neale must excise the parts of him that are bound up in the demands and relations of other people. I do not get the sense of escape or denial of his social role or anything like that. I see his conclusion that social life on a small island of eighty thousand is a set of relations that inevitably frustrate or distract. His decision is hermetic, but it is a way of dealing with social identity that he has accepted by renouncing. He is creating his own society in the place of the contradictory one on Raro.

How unfair is it that nobody every asks you what you would take to a desert island if you could take everything you wanted and then some. There is always a limit; one hundred dollars, ten things, five minutes to leave, no people. He has the opportunity to bring a wife or female companion, the island has previously been inhabited and he has spent every last cent. I found it pretty ironic that in all his preparation for leaving he didn’t consider needing money, even when he had considered coming back to the “civilized” world some day. From recent study abroad experience, I learned that I need much less of the things I use everyday. I never thought I could move to a different country in one suitcase, but when it came time to pack I barely filled it. When you need to depend on yourself you take less things with so you have to depend on yourself and not the things.

After reading "Shopping List for a Desert Island" I just began to think about what I would want to bring along with me if I were to live on a desert Island. Then it dawned on me how long I would have to think about that question and plan for my trip before I would actually be ready to go. While he was gathering his items to bring along I was thinking that there would be no way I would have thought of doing that. I would have had to have done a lot of research to get to the point at which he was at. A very good point brought up in the story dealt with being lonely on the island, where the friend said that sure he liked being along now, but what if you always had to be alone and you couldnt find companionship. After reading that I decided I could never leave for a desert island by myself as I don't like being alone and the thought of never having any contact with anyone would just be too much.

“Neale the Camper”

Neale has figured out the perfect way to live, give up on community and isolate himself for possibly the rest of his life. In this entire chapter he is constantly preparing for all the situations which he will encounter. However, from my 22 years of life on this earth, I have come to realize that you cannot possibly prepare for every situation. Unless he has meticulously rationed each ingredient, all his supplies will eventually run out and some earlier than others. Neale is what I would call camping; he is taking a vacation from the conventional life to live in solitude. From what I have learned about Neale I don’t believe he will be on the island very long before he longs for human interaction. He was a popular guy on Rarotonga, with even few ladies vying for his attention. I found it funny that he rationalized that a radio and gun would be useless items for many of the other items will be without function after several weeks also. Neale needs to learn how to adapt to his island home soon because adapting is the only way he will survive. If he tries to and survive on his assumptions of what the island will provide and his supplies, he will not be able to enjoy the standard of living he was so accustomed to on Rarotonga. Simpler times don’t always mean easier times.

I am sure Neale is not having a mid-life crisis, since the author states that this has been a dream of his since youth. I do agree that Neale is 'annoyed' by his current living situation, but I do not think he is running from it. The fact that he is packing so many luxuries indicates he is preparing for a vacation. No longer tied down with work, he will be free to relax on a tropical island smoking tobacco and drinking tea with his pet cats. He can also garden, hunt, swim, fish, and make sandcastles any time he wants.

I feel this is a very disillusioned view of what will happen when Neale reaches the island. He states that he isn't sure what is coming, but still prepares to avoid a non-monontanous diet. Granted this is something that should be done when visiting a foreign land with new foods, I know from a bad experience, you cannot bring along "good" food just for the taste. Another thing I thought somewhat strange was the packing of seeds. I feel he should have brought many more packets of seeds in place of some of the things that were sure to run out or spoil. Perhaps packing enough food to eat until he knew the vegetables would rise would be a wise choice for a long term excursion. It seems as though he is more planning for a long vacation that a long term trip.

Neale brought cats to protect himself from rodents. This illustrates the idea that humans may use anything as tools, including animals.

What was the purpose of Neale's journey to this deserted island? When I was told of the plot, I imagined something straight out of "Cast Away" in which he was giong to leave everything behind to live off of his own wits. From all the things he packed it seemed as if he were gearing up for a vacation rather than simplification.

I very much enjoyed the irony of the story at the end. In all of the preparing for his journey to a primitive island, he ended up stranding himself in his own world.

After reading this article, I decided that for all of the trouble he was going through to make it comfortable for himself to stay on the island, he might have been better off staying at home. Right away I thought of the movie Castaway with Tom Hanks and I realized that until this point, we have only been exposed to media that has showed us the people who accidentally were stuck on an island; for example Gilligan’s Island and Robinson Crusoe. We are afforded a luxury by having many modern conveniences or “technologies” around us. However, why was this man going so out of his way to move to an island, when he was essentially bringing the modern world with him? Another question that maybe we can discuss is how technologies have changed our social customs and values? For example on page 25 of this text, he cannot kill a pig or birds even though he knows that he would enjoy eating them. Many people are that way today, they will eat the hamburger, just don’t show them how it was done.

I am just amazed at how much Neale is bringing to this island. I had the same preconceived notion as Phillip that this was going to be a man who literally left everything behind, but that is clearly not the case. It is obvious a lot of planning has gone into this. I love the fact that he has taken time to think about things such as not bringing a weapon or a radio due to the fear of dependency. It's smart. I myself, like the people of Rarotonga, envy this guy. I have often about what life would be like with no money, only providing for yourself and family, and living off the bare necessities (as well as a few luxuries from time to time) would be like.

A shopping list for a desert island seemed to highlight people’s use of technology to deal with the unknown. Tom spent all kinds of time and money preparing for every situation which may occur. Often we rely on technology in the form of tools or even knowledge to prepare for these potential situations. Many people commented on how silly it was that he brought that many supplies with him to the island. I never read anywhere that he was trying to rough it. It seemed to me that he just dreamed of living on an island somewhere. The fact he was in the navy which I assume to be the British navy tells me he enjoys the sea and therefore islands. If you have the means to transport things which are not essential but could come in handy why not bring them? Bringing food carefully sealed to protect it from going bad is a great idea. Why would you want to spend all your time searching for food right away when you could be fixing up your shelter with your hacksaw and tin snips. It’s a lot easier to catch a wild pig if you are well rested and have had breakfast first.

After reading Neale’s thorough narration, I came to the realization that the items he chose to bring under the given circumstances were of great value for his journey. Although, some items like the broom, seemed like a waste of space and money, I had to remind myself that this was his retreat and not my own. I think that it is very easy to criticize and point out flaws or problems with the items that Neale selected. Nonetheless, he is essentially relocating to an area where he is his own civilization, liability, and engineer. Therefore, the items that were merely taken for comfort, might have been frivolous to one, and delightful for Neale. After all, Neale has plenty of time to create new devices with his pre-existing tools to accommodate his new living conditions. The question is, when in isolation, is it better to account for things that bring joy rather than things that may have more practicality?

I think it is safe to assume that Tom would disagree with the statement from the Beatles song “All you need is love.” Perhaps a more accurate statement would be “All you need is everything you have or want.” I found the extent Tom’s shopping list for his desert island adventure to be comical. What is the point of getting away from civilization if you are bringing it with you? I am not much of an outdoors man, but I do know one of the attractive aspects of being out in the wilderness is leaving household things like coffee grinders behind. It seems as though Tom brought every possible luxury with him, and I do not doubt that had it been available Tom would have brought some DVDs with a portable player. It appears that in Tom’s case ignorance concerning illness, loneliness, and post-desert island life is bliss. I found it funny that Tom had seemingly planned his trip with everything in mind, but failed to think about life after the possible return to civilization by leaving himself no money to come back to. Also, I thought Tom’s view on being dependent on a weapon ironic when considering his dependence on nearly every other tool he possesses. The irony in missing batteries once they were gone also struck me as comical since apparently he wouldn’t miss his beloved tea, tobacco, perishable food, or cats once they were gone. Finally, why would he bring toilet soap?

I was surprised as much by the length of Neale’s list as by its contents. Living on one’s own without social contact, one would not truly need a razor blade or toothpaste (baking soda would work as well). One could live without coffee, tea, and tobacco, though perhaps not as comfortably. Neale’s choices reflect the value he places on creature comforts. In a way, he is taking civilization with him.
I was also surprised by some of the items Neale chose to do without, though I was able to understand his rationale for each. I think he was prudent to choose to go alone – trying to choose a long term companion on the basis of a fortnight’s acquaintance would be foolish. His choice to bring neither a shotgun nor a radio – for fear of dependence on non-sustainable technologies – suggests a pragmatic and independent spirit.

He brought everything but a soccer ball. The character played by Tom Hanks scores, Neale does not impress. His main goal seems to be aloneness, something he sought from the very beginning of the reading as he attempted to gather his thoughts. I wonder if he found it so pleasurable once he was on the island. If cell phones had existed, do you think he would have packed one?

Neale seems like he is more concerned with what he will bring on his trip rather than what he will be doing. For example, there was a point where he initially bought two pairs of shoes but ended up with six pairs. He seems almost lost as to what his main purpose for going on the island is. It seems to me as if he is escaping from reality. He is this middle-aged man trying to set out on an adventure while having so many supplies. If someone were to be stranded on an island they would not have half as many items as Neale. I also found it interesting that he would discuss, in depth, why he would not want to bring a woman with. Why do you think he really does not want a woman to come with? Did anyone else seem to catch a different reasoning other than distraction?

When taking the future into consideration, one must plan extensively. Neal’s shopping list was generated in order for him to maintain a standard of living that was common to him as he eased his way into his new surroundings. I think that his reasoning for each item that he packed was interesting because he based his list on his own beliefs, morals, and personal necessities, which is vital in seclusion. Also, his previous experience and knowledge most likely played a major role in most of his selection I do not think that he has much to lose from such an experience because he has already spent fifty years exploring other possibilities that the world has offered.

Although some things on the packing list were practical, I found others to be entirely unnecessary. While fishhooks and crowbars may serve as useful tools for survival, 50 pounds of flour and 70 of sugar are impractical. The author should strive for simplicity. I am more curious to find out the motives that the main character had for wanting to go to a desert island to begin with. Also, why he felt it was necessary to bring so much. I think the story does a good job showing how cultures differ, from both perspectives. On one side, the author was packing all items from the civilized society which he is familiar with. However at the end, he had no money, as if he had just arrived from a desert island. Different cultures arise from the resources which are available to their respective areas.

Although Neale stated, “I didn't really know what lay in the future,” he attempted to prepare for the rest of his life based on the resources available on hand and within his current budget. He packed up his supplies based on his current knowledge of basic survival skills and knowledge. He was organized: a three lists of necessities, and implemented efficiency in packing his tins. Despite his best effort, his plans were shifted at the last moment and he relied upon “credit” from Dick to survive the delay of his sailing.

Who were the “Watchers”? What was his attraction to Suvarov?

One of the most surprising aspects of this account is the support he receives from his community. I cannot imagine that such an endeavor would be so warmly received in the U.S. I was surprised that he was at least not met with more confusion. This summer, a friend and I took a road trip that had no distinct purpose. When my friends and family members asked why we were going to Omaha (our destination) and we told them that we had no concrete reason, most people were confused, concerned about us becoming bored, or even upset that we could not articulate exactly what the trip was "for". Obviously, his venture is backed by a slightly different idea. But after observing responses to my own seemingly pointless trip, I have to wonder: Does everyone empathize with this urge to escape society? And if so, is Neale's way really the best way to satisfy this urge? Or do those who feel this way actually just want to escape the anxiety that a life lived in the midst of a busy society elicits? What exactly makes us feel this urge in the first place (if at all)?

I found extremely difficult to relate to the author. Not only do I have
limited experience out in the wilderness, but I have no experience in the
south seas. I guess I found his anecedote ironic because I thought he was
going to have really make some hard decisions on what to bring and what not
to bring. But basically, I didn't see that taking place. Whatever he wanted,
or needed, he brought.

Another component of this story that irritated me was that Neale gave no timeline for his travels. I mean if he was only going to be gone 3 weeks it would have been a vacation but then there were instances
where he alluded to be gone indefinetely. So I would have found it more
interesting to actually read about his time on the island and the problems
that confronted him. Time has little improtance in hotter climates from my
experience and it seems Neale would agree with that.

To conclude I don't
think this author answered the question sufficiently of what would bring to a
desert island? More to the point Neale's response: what wouldn't I bring...

Shopping List for a Desert Island was an experience most people could never live up to. Many people could say that they could handle the experience, but then actually never get around to it. Today there are TV shows such as Survivor where people live somewhere remote without many necessities that there everyday life would have. But these shows offer a reward of money. In our reading Tom wanted to go to this fascinating place to get away from everyday life not for a reward of money but rather for the experience that he thought would reward him in other ways. I love the outdoors and camping but I could not live for months without the technologies in today’s world.

Neale is somewhat of an idiot. He mistakenly believes that he can survive if he brings all the possessions he would normally have at home. Of course these meet the most basic of his needs, his physiological and safety needs. But according to Abraham Maslow, the next most important needs in life are belonging and esteem. Without any other people with him, he will become lonely, and maybe even delusional. This is the same reason some criminals are put in solitary confinement - being alone is extremely depressing, especially for a long period of time, if not forever – and they get food, water, and all the basic needs for survival. The only thing Neale is not bringing with him is the last thing he needs to survive - a person. But maybe the cats will do the trick. Maybe he’s a genius.

According to many of the comments posted above, it seems like many believed he brought worthless or unnesessary items on his trip. I, however, believe the things he brough along were acceptable for how long he was planning on living there for. This was not a worst case scenario situation. He was not shipwrecked on the island with limited supplies and forced battle nature to survive; this was a voluntary trip, and as such, he should be reasonably comfortable. He was in no way, with what supplies he brought, living an extravagant life on the island. Also, I don't believe that all people require human interaction to survive. It mentions his thoughts of possibly bringing a "wife" over to keep him company but decides that the outside chance of bad company is worse than that of no company. On a final note... my spelling is very poor and they should include a spell check function on the blog site.

After reading “Shopping List for a Desert Island” I thought there were many points to touch upon on why he chose to leave civilization. The main point I got from the reading was that even though it had been a life long dream of his to live on a deserted island, I believe it was a mid-life crisis that pushed him to really go and leave civilization. It briefly stated that if this adventure didn’t work out he would be forced to go back to storekeeping. He seemed to perceive his life as just an average man living out the routine. He also loved that fact that when it got around town that people envied him, and people whom he barley knew were giving him attention. Ladies, acquaintances, and even the government were interested in his adventure and I think that is what really made him even more serious and excited about going. I like the point that someone else made about the cat, a living thing, even being a type of tool. That was a perspective that I had not thought about. I am curious however if these cats became like a companion to him or if strictly just a tool?