SK8 Notes

SK8 Notes Round 1
Shocked that Gimpy betrays Charlie even though he used to stand up for Charlie.
Alice and Charlie: How is that going to play out? It would be awkward and CHarlie doesn't deal with awkward well.  Alice seems more like a maternal figure than a love interest.  Charlie begins to feel angry and bad when she doesn't want to date him.  Alice has been a teacher and guide, so she's maybe not the best person to date because he's not emotionally.  To whom would he turn?  He doesn't deal well with rejection and he can't handle the feelings that he has.
Technology threatens medical and ethics-- he's totally changed due to technology.  His emotions are tender and young.
He CHOSE this, but did he UNDERSTAND it?
By May 9 (since March), his writing is chock full of figurative language, which he coudn't do at all before.
At Central Park, he was overly worried about putting his arm around Alice.
His emotions are stunted. 
Technology has just led to confusion, even though it's supposed to be academic.
Reading books has become an outlet for Charlie.
Surgery has not helped him, it's just created problems with... Alice, Gimpy, family.
Did Strauss and Nemur have grounds to ask Charlie for permission when he couldn't understand the consequences or possibilities of his surgery?
Technology as a violation isn't confined to computers and phones.  It's about progress, so Charlie is a product of his time.
Flashbacks of childhood: His memory is opening up.  Bad. :(
Rose cared and tried to help, but she became mean and tried to do it in the wrong way.  She should have accepted him and been more patient in helping him to learn instead of forcing him along.  He has been influenced by her so much that he is scared of women and doesn't want to be punished and spanked. Norma=normal
Personal past: It makes you a complete person, but his old self keeps coming up (hallucinations). Rose denied that he had a problem, but if they had admitted it, they could have helped him along.  She may be a large part of why Charlie wants the surgery and to be so smart.  Isn't it sad how much he wants to please her even though she was so mean?  Love is so confusing.
Matt was interested in helping CHarlie, but he couldn't have a say with Rose's crazy role.
His idea of family has been tarnished because of the surgery.  Before, they were a non-entity.  Rose punished him and wouldn't help him (bathroom example).
Charlie had high expectations for the surgery.
Academic vs emotional knowledge: Academics can be stressing him out, just like students now.
The prostitute in the park. 
Round 2:
Charlie's frustration--> yelling and making a scene (like he learned from Rose)
Charlie has become intelligent, but he can't understand what other people feel.  You can't learn those skills in books. 
The bakery guys became resentful that Charlie was acting smart.
Matt could have, and should have, done a lot more than he did.  He leaves Charlie alone, which is better than yelling at him like Rose did.
Mom and dad-- Is she out of the ordinary for being aggressive?
Charlie being fired at the bakery.  Not his fault. 
Rose seemed to be very self-centered and only when out in public did she act like she cared.  At home, in private, she yelled and wasn't helpful.
Why did Charlie get the surgery?  He told Alice that he did the surgery for her outright.  That would make her very uncomfortable (social awkwardness).
Changed himself to please those around him.  We need past to understand why we are the way that we are.  We can learn from what we've already experienced.  Understanding and responding to emotions comes over time.
His life has restarted at 32. 
Intelligence has opened his eyes to the world and to the relationships going on arund him.
Charlie has learned "be careful what you wish for."  He has misconstrued that smart = likeable.
Charlie had friendships with people prior to the surgery, but now he follows rules, which interfere in his relationships. 
His mom makes his self-esteem very low when he is yelled at.  He whimpers and crouches.  He has the spinner.
The bakery guys have become jealous because they aren't as smart.  They influence Donner's decision to fire him... what does that say about Donner after all those years?
Raising a kid with a disability requires patience and kindness. 
Charlie is back in a cycle of bullying at work now instead of at school.
Gimpy (think of what a "gimp" is) is caught, but why isn't he grateful that Charlie didn't tell on him?
Temple Grandin's parents prove that kindness and patience are the key.  Rose and Matt would learn from them.
Ignorant that Gimpy was stealing. 
Norma=normal but she is a mean one!
Surprising that after Charlie confronted Gimpy he asked if he wanted some of the money.  That would be out of character for him because he's not a money-driven person.
Wouldn't it be just as likely that a person was bullied