Blog 8

I believe every individual experiences distance at some point in their lifetime. Whether this distance is from your work, home, or self. Georg Simmel focuses on the distance from self and individualism. He mainly emphases how immigrants feel as if they are remote but near in their environments. This concept seemed strange to me at first because it sounds contradicting. however, after discussing the concepts in class i grew a better understanding of what Simmel is trying to portray. I then thought of a personal experience that could relate to the concepts described.

This past summer I applied at a new job back in my home town because I wanted to be closer with my family and I knew I would make great money. As an experienced waitress I knew I could handle applying at a new serving job. The problem was the anxiety I grew from meeting new people and working at a place that was foreign to me. Being a shy person that I am I was afraid to open up and show my true self. I also was comfortable with my serving style and thought I would have no problem serving. After training and meeting other people in the beginning I new that I would have to have an objective attitude. I was stubborn to change however, I knew that if I didn't apply their rules and procedures I would have been scolded. The idea of objectivity comes from Simmel where he states, "Because he is not bound by roots to the particular constituents and partisan dispositions of the group, he confronts all of these with a distinctly "objective" attitude, and attitude that does not signify mere detachments and non participation, but is a distinct structure composed of remoteness and nearness, indifference and involvement." I had to have an objective attitude to knew ideas and concepts or else consequences would arise and affect me as an individual. There are different degrees to which individuals need to be objective. My situation was a minor case of Simmel's argument but I think that everyone in their lifetime experiences objectivity and conformity.

I Google searched objectivity and this is one of the images I found that was funny and relative to objectivity. displaying what are we created for and what is our purpose.