General: Unskilled

What did you think when you read this title? Why is the story called this? Other questions:

• What is Mikey like? Why does he say he has "studied human psychology"? What does that mean? In what ways is Mikey like a therapist for his clients? He gets paid $19 an hour. Do you know how much a therapist gets paid an hour? Have any of you taken a psychology class? 
• Did you look at what a ceramic saluki looks like? How does seeing one affect your reading of the story (or not)? Why is the saluki such a central part of the story? As you read, did you think he would deliver it safely or not?

 

 

• The grad student that hires Mikey says that she just chose the first five or six people on Taskr which means she chose the most highly rated. She doesn't think it matters, but Mikey does. Who do you think is right?
• Mikey's rating is a huge part of this story. Do you rate people? Do you rate restaurants or other businesses online? Do you rate your professors? Have you been rated? How accurate do you think ratings are?

The reason I ask this last question is because I want you to watch the episode "Nosedive" from Netflix's Black Mirror, Season 3. If you have Netflix, you can watch it on your own. If not, you need to come to Blackboard tomorrow (2:10 sharp) and I'll screen it for you. Some questions I have for you:

• What connections can you make between this episode and "General: Unskilled." How are their tones different?
• "Nosedive" is a science fiction story. However, most sci-fi says something about our world, now. What does this episode say about life as we know it? 
• How did you interpret the ending?
• What questions do you have? 

Reminders:

1. The official due date for the final collection is this Thursday, 4/30. However, I will take these any time between Thursday and the end of the term, 5/14 at 4 pm. These must be uploaded to Blackboard.
2. Don't forget to make entries on the blog, including responding to your classmates. 
3. Next Tuesday at 2 pm I'm going to show the first episode of The Handmaid's Tale. If you have Hulu, you can watch it on your own. If not, you will have to watch it on Blackboard.  

Let me know if you have any questions.