Archives for October 16, 2014

For my paradigm shift essay, I would like to write about the role of coffee shops in today’s society. In the past, coffee shops were watering holes for thinkers of all kinds. They offered a place for people to share ideas and make new ones. Today, we share ideas through the internet and video chats. Coffee shops aren’t necessary. But people still like the idea of getting together face to face, to discuss ideas. Coffee shops used to be a lot more prominent, but they still have a function in today’s society.

1. How do coffee shops function today versus in the past?

2. What changed?

3. How has the change affected the people who go to coffee shops?

4. How can we use them now to accomplish things more effectively?

I’m new to this whole college thing. I’ve only been her for a few months, and I’m still getting used to everything that comes along with college life. As a freshman, I’ve learned not to wear my lanyard around my neck and how to ride the data busses. But the one thing I still don’t get it the obsession with pizza.

And I’m not just talking about pizza in any situation. No, college students wouldn’t be spending their own money ordering a pizza. But a good majority of the signs I see advertising club meetings end with, “Free Pizza”.

I wouldn’t have thought that offering a free slice would influence people that much, that they would alter their daily schedule and go to a meeting that they wouldn’t have gone to otherwise. To my surprise, I’ve heard quite a few people talking about these “Free Pizza Meetings” and more than I would have thought say things like, “Yeah, I only went for the free pizza,” or “I wasn’t going to go but there’s going to be free food.”

Are college kids really that desperate for free food, that they’d go to an entire meeting just for the snack at the end? Personally, I don’t see the draw. Granted, I am gluten free, and wouldn’t be able to eat the pizza anyway. But I have too much going on to flock to an event just to get the pizza at the end.

At first glance, offering free pizza seems like a feeble attempt at the end of these flyers trying to convince people that this meeting is worth coming to. Doesn’t seem like it would be very effective. And maybe there are other people who agree with me. But from what I’ve heard, it’s influenced quite a few people more than I would have expected.