ON Dumpster Diving and Why Stuff Is Not Salvation
What ′basic′ step-by-step process (es) does Lars Eighner teach us about in ″My Daily Dives in the Dumpster″?
In the essay "My Daily Dives in the Dumpster", Lars Eighner introduces four steps that help the reader understand everything. The four steps include;
- Self-stigma- in this first step, the author says that he started to seek food, clothe, toilet paper, medicine, and other things in the dumpster (EIGHNER, n.d). However, but he felt ashamed and used to visit the dumpster at night.
- Overindulgence- in this second stage, the author increased the desire of dumpster diving as he noticed that people throw away rice, egg, shoes, pocket calculator, ice cream, and other good stuff or things in good condition (EIGHNER, n.d)
- Recovery- in this third stage, the author understands that people throw many things in the dumpster but he decides to collect things of higher value. He took what he can use and leave useless things.
- Expertise- In the final stage, the author becomes a professional in that he can now give advice. For example, he says that if you decide to go to the dumpster, you should lower yourself or degrade yourself. This means that good stuff is on the bottom and therefore one needs to use a stout stick to grab the good stuff at the bottom (EIGHNER, n.d). In general, dumpster diving needs the practice to increase profit.
As I mentioned in Week 6′s Lecture, a well-written Process Essay is not only about a step-by-step process. It also illustrates how the process (es) represents life on Planet Earth; they teach us valuable life lessons. What are the deep life lessons that Lars Eighner teaches us? Explain them in your own words; please do not copy them directly from the essay.
The deep life lesson that Lars Eighner teaches is that there is income inequality in today's society. The poorer spend their life in the dumpsters whereas the richer earn good income and live a good life (EIGHNER, n.d). Despite the difference, the author teaches that both the poorer and richer live a fulfilling life. The lesser accepts the conditions because at the end of the end, they gain treasure.
What is Anna Quindlen′s overall message to us? Is it similar to or different from Lars Eighner′s message(s)? Please explain.
Ann Quinten's overall message is that one does not achieve a fulfilling life by using materials things such as dolls, toys, gadgets, among others (Quindlen, 2008). She says that one can be happy by using things that they cannot survive without (needs). The stuff is not a happiness maker but they lead to debt. The message in this article is similar to the message delivered by Lars Eighner′s. Both focus on informing readers to think about meaningful things. They both say that the important things are valuable things (Quindlen, 2008). Rather than focusing on material objects, they should buy things of greater value or in other words, they should stop purchasing things they do not need.
The last paragraph of Lars Eighner′s essay is very profound and has burned itself into my long-term memory. You may have to read it a couple of times to decipher it. What do you think it means? Please explain it in your own words:
According to me, the last paragraph of Lars Eighner's essay means that the wealthier does not know that the poorer gets treasures from the trash. According to Eighner, he does not only achieve physiological needs but he also gains self-actualization (EIGHNER, n.d). Once he satisfies his need, he can live life to the fullest. He now recognizes that he is capable or he has the power to achieve the highest need.
References
EIGHNER (n.d). ON Dumpster Diving. Retrieved from: https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/cms/lib/NC01001395/Centricity/Domain/10659/On%20Dumpster%20Diving.pdf
Quindlen Anna. (2008). Why Stuff Is Not Salvation. Newsweek. Retrieved from: https://www.newsweek.com/anna-quindlen-why-stuff-not-salvation-82837
