tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post3111675018929645304..comments2024-03-18T03:40:39.185-04:00Comments on The Curious Jew: ballerina girlChanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655144434904957767noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-68376833565712742092007-10-01T16:01:00.000-04:002007-10-01T16:01:00.000-04:00On the whole, although the story was interesting, ...On the whole, although the story was interesting, I identified very strongly with a running theme, of wanting to get things right in life, of making mistakes, but craving fulfillment and accomplishment. I felt Ballerina Girl's deep insecurities in some areas, that crop up over again <BR/>and I felt the mornings that we hope bring new beginnings, but sometimes, feel that we hardly dare to believe that they will.<BR/>I also felt the individuality of the character, and it seemed to me, it was important to her to keep a sense of exclusivity as a part of her character..it's the thing that gives her hope that she is created for an very specific and individual purpose, and gives strength - even when feeling despair - to keep on hoping, keep on trying, keep on dreaming.<BR/>It's what the story meant to me.<BR/><BR/>I also felt strongly that alot of it described Chana's own personal feelings. I felt it was almost impossible that it did not.<BR/><BR/>It was a great read!the only way i knowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15527442357164907984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-72666268744081816122007-10-01T15:59:00.000-04:002007-10-01T15:59:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.the only way i knowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15527442357164907984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-89679377057223810412007-09-26T12:35:00.000-04:002007-09-26T12:35:00.000-04:00s.d., I agree with you!s.d., I agree with you!Stubborn and Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17343902285678273948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-65040245462378508052007-09-26T02:52:00.000-04:002007-09-26T02:52:00.000-04:00An Interesting dilemma. "The way to hell is paved ...An Interesting dilemma. "The way to hell is paved with good intentions." We do good for many reasons, most of them having nothing to do with divine commandments and rewards. When the good is exposed as something else the outcome is often negative and even evil. Even pure good done with Emunah can only be rewarded by G-D, as per our weekly prayer. Even people who do good on a communal level will be seen by the public as a doing a negative or selfish act.<BR/>One needs to feel that doing good is good for everyone and there can be no other purpose. Examine your motives for selfish thoughts and if there are any you must prepare for those thoughts to be exposed to all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-57413714602536614952007-09-26T00:56:00.000-04:002007-09-26T00:56:00.000-04:00balancing thier lives.... also got some 'gain' fro...balancing thier lives.... also got some 'gain' from this... there is some selfish in it. <BR/><BR/>Lexy was on tightrope bec she is battle with herself if she is 'helping' him or she is not 'helping' him. That's why she fall at the end bc she realized she did a wrong thing. She may did right intention but she messed up <BR/>so she suffered the conquences.<BR/><BR/>You could treat someone as chesed project and still gain from it. (Why people like to do chesed bc it makes them feels good) Lexy treats brian as chesed project so she could do something in her life not brian's feeling. Micheal got double, 1)passing problems to Lexy (to feel good that he did something) 2) to know if lexy likes him or not. Lexy didn't really care about brian going to party, she feels RESPONSIBLE bc she took the problem on her hands (Ex. the mother forced her oldest child to be babysat of youngest child and left, the oldest child 'hate' youngest child but won't run away from it bc he feels responsible, so u don't need to care) Ezzie, that how she feels about her wonderful parents in front of brian, like everybody who have nice 'moments' with people who they don't care but yet they pity on them. When u are pity on them, u tend to act nice to them but in thier heart they don't care about you at all. So sorry i don't really believed they are really want to help him.<BR/><BR/>Ezzie, i admire you that u strongly believed that they are trying to do thier best but what i see they are not trying at all. But i think Lexy learned her lesson and won't do it again.Stubborn and Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17343902285678273948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-23973378896227046562007-09-26T00:08:00.000-04:002007-09-26T00:08:00.000-04:00That's kind of what I figured your reasoning was, ...That's kind of what I figured your reasoning was, and I definitely understand it. I just think it's different here: While Lexy and Michael may have gotten a little bit 'extra' out of helping Brian, they still weren't treating him as a chessed case. Michael did care about Brian's plight, and did think Lexy would be able to help; he just got the extra bonus of finding out she wasn't taken. Lexy did care about her friend (even if Brian wasn't her "best" friend), and did genuinely worry about how she was affecting him. She was happy to help her friend - not only because Michael would like it. She stopped him from going to that party, because she didn't think it would be good for him; she worried how he'd react to seeing her wonderful parents.<BR/><BR/>If either of them were only acting selfishly, I would agree that it's horrible - not only did they treat him like a chessed case, but they even screwed it up.<BR/><BR/>But I think they genuinely wanted to help Brian, and that makes all the difference. Did they get something out of it, too? Well, yes - but that's not the only reason they did it, even if that helped push them a bit. They actually *did *care. Brian didn't understand this, and thought they were just playing him; but he couldn't possibly see the tightrope they were walking as they balanced living their own lives and not hurting him. (I think that's why the ballerina on the tightrope is such a good metaphor, too.)Ezziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494592434522239195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-84393083535236306402007-09-25T20:13:00.000-04:002007-09-25T20:13:00.000-04:00ezzie, look how brian feels that lexy don't really...ezzie, look how brian feels that lexy don't really have true heart to help him, yes lexy did a good intention but her mind is not, her action is somewhat correct but it kills brian that the person he really thought who geniuely care about him but didn't.<BR/><BR/>Yes in jewish phoil lexy may get reward, but nobody wants get pitied.<BR/><BR/>I grew up with people pitied on me, according your thinking when people automatically help me once they found out that i am deaf, they automatically help me that looks so obvious ex. by talking to me like i am dumb but they get reward bc they did chesed, that's fine for them but it is not fine for me. Bec they are not my real friends. Real friends who see me a human being who just happen to have special needs not chesed project.<BR/><BR/>As you see, I understood how lexy 'killed' brian's heart, and it hurts badly. Brian thoughts she helped him bc brian 'helps' her then he told her about his problem so they could deal with each other but afterward he found out lexy only one who is helping him not brian. So it is not equal friendship bc lexy has upper hand, that's why lexy feels guilty bc she knows that she have upper hand not equal as brian thoughts. She may did right thing but that's not what brian needs. So brian did not misintrepeted at all bc he was right after he saw micheal and lexy are together to figure out what to do with him. He feels so low, not treated as human being such people treated him like he is chesed project. That's why brian is pissed.Stubborn and Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17343902285678273948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-21110955084513317722007-09-25T19:26:00.000-04:002007-09-25T19:26:00.000-04:00Interesting.Interesting.Jack Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625864271071630940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-40743386785423246522007-09-25T16:51:00.000-04:002007-09-25T16:51:00.000-04:00Lexy sort of was leading Brian on, and she knew it...<I>Lexy sort of was leading Brian on, and she knew it.</I><BR/><BR/>I don't think she did. She was pretty careful to talk only about the issues.<BR/><BR/><I>But in the end, they both still hurt Brian terribly.</I><BR/><BR/>Granted, but I don't think they can be faulted for it. (See above. :P )Ezziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494592434522239195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-72059622254349025312007-09-25T16:40:00.000-04:002007-09-25T16:40:00.000-04:00I think that Lexy and Michael meant well; their in...I think that Lexy and Michael meant well; their intentions were good. However, I think that the execution did not go so well...or rather, it worked <I>too</I> well. Lexy sort of was leading Brian on, and she knew it. She meant well, and so did Michael by getting her involved in the first place. But in the end, they both still hurt Brian terribly.Scrapshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15911315552965685448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-44367160782773921422007-09-25T15:20:00.000-04:002007-09-25T15:20:00.000-04:00S&S - I don't think there's anything wrong with he...S&S - I don't think there's anything wrong with her craving drama, or even acting on that, as long as she's not doing so improperly (though she'd always have to take care that she's staying proper because of that). We're all almost always acting on what motivates us; if that motivates someone to help, kol hakavod. :)<BR/><BR/><I>Just brian wants her full trust and thoughts lexy told micheal about his problems that why he feels so betray.</I><BR/><BR/>But she didn't! That's part of what I meant by Brian jumping to conclusions or misinterpreting.<BR/><BR/><I>She didn't do this with her full of heart for brian only for herself.</I><BR/><BR/>I don't think that's true. She manipulates *how* she helps him, but she *is* actually interested in helping him (not just to impress Michael).<BR/><BR/>The same applies to what you're saying about Michael; while he does use it as an opportunity to find out if Lexy likes him, he also does genuinely care if Brian is helped. That he gets some other gain from it does not take away [really] from the fact that he was looking out for Brian's sake.<BR/><BR/><I>Remember micheal says after brian saw them together that she didn't do wrong. He only cares about lexy not brian's feeling. And he did not feels guilty meanwhile he knows brian 'likes' her.</I><BR/><BR/>I don't think so. I think Michael does feel bad, but still feels (as I said above) that they really didn't do anything wrong. That's why he tries to catch Lexy, too, to tell her that she did nothing wrong.<BR/><BR/>~~~<BR/><BR/>I think we're basically disagreeing on whether Lexy/Michael were genuinely trying to help Brian or not. I believe they were, even if they were getting other things out of it; were they not genuine, I would agree with you. :)Ezziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494592434522239195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-54110931804331343272007-09-25T14:51:00.000-04:002007-09-25T14:51:00.000-04:00'I don't think Lexy betrayed Brian; he misundersto...'I don't think Lexy betrayed Brian; he misunderstood her very careful balance. She didn't actually 'lead him on'.'<BR/><BR/>Wrong, because did u see that she claimed she have very normal life and she was craving for some drama that's why she was acting like she is gothic that makes her to have problems in her life so she need some excitment. So she accepts the problem from michael who gave to her so it would satify her desire to have drama. She have a choice after she took that problem into her life (she didn't really have a choice when micheal confront her it is very hard to back off and hard to said no, she is too nice and she really like micheal and tryed to impressed him) She could back off this problem after she accept it bc she really thinks it is wrong but she kept going to satisfy her drama life so she did lead him on to continue this drama, not as romantically. Just brian wants her full trust and thoughts lexy told micheal about his problems that why he feels so betray. She didn't do this with her full of heart for brian only for herself. Brian have every right to be angry because he thoughts they both betray him but more angry at lexy bec he told his darkest secrets to her not micheal. And he knows micheal was trying to help him and may trying to find the information from lexy, that's why according to brian's eyes they acted like they are in secret plan.<BR/><BR/>'Michael can only be faulted in that he didn't mention to Brian that he liked Lexy as well'<BR/><BR/>Wrong again, He have a chioce of tellling someone or not, if he is really a friend to brian, he wouldn't blab to lexy who did not know him at all. He could fix on his own not just give to stranger who would fix for him. He could discuss other people who knows brian well and to figure out with them not just give all problem to her. His personality which is one of them is 'talktive' he never really listen people only for himself that's why he have no problem telling about himself. So he was so frustrating with brian who is clam up in front of micheal which i don't blame him bec micheal may blab to someone which he did (lexy). Micheal wants fix NOW not just be there for brian and let the story unfold itself not forced someone to tell. He did wrong thing by telling to someone which help to fix his frustration. He is not really helping brian only himself and testing lexy if she likes him or not. <BR/><BR/>'Lexy herself didn't do anything wrong, IMHO'<BR/><BR/>As i said before, you are wrong, as i said before she does have a choice to back out or not. that's why she feels so guilty about this.<BR/><BR/>'It's a delicate balance, and sometimes things don't go perfectly; that doesn't mean a mistake was necessarily made.'<BR/><BR/>There are too many mistakes and micheal and lexy are selfish and don't really care about brian. Remember micheal says after brian saw them together that she didn't do wrong. He only cares about lexy not brian's feeling. And he did not feels guilty meanwhile he knows brian 'likes' her.<BR/><BR/>Brian feels very safe with lexy not micheal bec she is very private person so that's why he thinks that he could trust her which he was right about that. But lexy didn't really have heart to help brian only satify her drama life and impressed micheal. Yes, sometimes she is scared for brian, like a party with a full of alcohol but she wants brian to confide to her so she accomplished what she wants from brian. She doesn't really care about brian.Stubborn and Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17343902285678273948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-23816711947761126052007-09-25T12:59:00.000-04:002007-09-25T12:59:00.000-04:00FWIW, in response to a lot of people above, I don'...FWIW, in response to a lot of people above, I don't think Lexy betrayed Brian; he misunderstood her very careful balance. She didn't actually 'lead him on'.<BR/><BR/>Michael can only be faulted in that he didn't mention to Brian that he liked Lexy as well.<BR/><BR/>Lexy herself didn't do anything wrong, IMHO.<BR/><BR/>It's a delicate balance, and sometimes things don't go perfectly; that doesn't mean a mistake was necessarily made.Ezziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494592434522239195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-84273869275551380252007-09-25T12:40:00.000-04:002007-09-25T12:40:00.000-04:00Awesome. My favorite of the stories, I think.Awesome. My favorite of the stories, I think.Ezziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494592434522239195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-71217289352767692932007-09-25T11:34:00.000-04:002007-09-25T11:34:00.000-04:00"It would be foolish to assume I am only one chara..."It would be foolish to assume I am only one character, however."<BR/><BR/>I think that's one of the wisest lines you've ever said, Chana! :-)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03312017240298583884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-90759481977290633002007-09-25T02:28:00.000-04:002007-09-25T02:28:00.000-04:00happiness on saturn,Well, it's Goethe who says, "E...happiness on saturn,<BR/><BR/>Well, it's Goethe who says, "Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will." Anyway, all my characters have some of me in them, but this story has more than others. It's the only way to write anything worth reading, after all; as Virginia Woolf says, "If you do not tell the truth about yourself, you cannot tell it about other people." Well, the only way to create characters is to tell the truth, and the only way to do that is to write yourself into them. Otherwise, how could they be real? It would be foolish to assume I am only one character, however.Chanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17655144434904957767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-47729827899914277052007-09-25T01:29:00.000-04:002007-09-25T01:29:00.000-04:00I don't know you from a hole in the wall, but I go...I don't know you from a hole in the wall, but I got the feeling that in the Salutatorian you stepped into another character's shoes whereas in the Ballerina girl you shifted your own self over a bit. Beyond the fact that in reality you are closer to a teenage girl than a mid 30s man. True or false?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-47610138307195926212007-09-24T21:30:00.000-04:002007-09-24T21:30:00.000-04:00Corner Point,You do know Lexy. She's the girl in L...Corner Point,<BR/><BR/>You do know Lexy. She's the girl in Linkin Park's <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9-eAYHooUo" REL="nofollow">"Crawling" music video</A> (except without the nose ring.) That's her cold blue bathroom, and this is her story.Chanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17655144434904957767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-71423836627826649772007-09-24T20:43:00.000-04:002007-09-24T20:43:00.000-04:00Beautiful...Chana, you did it again! Love your sto...Beautiful...<BR/>Chana, you did it again! Love your stories...<BR/><BR/>In a way, I almost want to be friends with Lexy...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-59249135531091768102007-09-24T20:07:00.000-04:002007-09-24T20:07:00.000-04:00Wow. Great story. But I disagree with Scraps--I do...Wow. Great story. But I disagree with Scraps--I don't think I'd want to know the aftermath. To me, the point was that Alexa has to have her own life shaken up to figure out where she's going, and that's the point of the ending you wrote. If we just ended with "and they all lived..." wouldn't that ruin the point? Wouldn't that take away from the rich potential Alexa has at this very moment, to draw wings onto herself and fly?<BR/><BR/>The truth is, I think we've all trusted in others at some point and lost that trust. Some experience that more intensely than others, and it's up to G-d to determine to what extent that is played out. The question becomes--do we pick ourselves up afterwards? Do we fly, and not fall?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03312017240298583884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-91510153558854524632007-09-24T19:11:00.000-04:002007-09-24T19:11:00.000-04:00I wish I knew what happened in the aftermath--does...I wish I knew what happened in the aftermath--does Brian ever forgive her, trust her again? Does she trust herself again? Or anyone?<BR/><BR/>Once someone has broken my trust, it is like a lightbulb that was dropped, shattered in shards scattered too far and wide to collect them all. That is why I do my very best never to betray someone's trust, because I would never forgive myself for doing that to someone.Scrapshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15911315552965685448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-51292090454409082962007-09-24T18:09:00.000-04:002007-09-24T18:09:00.000-04:00so powerful......so powerful......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-12198321813294639622007-09-24T16:43:00.000-04:002007-09-24T16:43:00.000-04:00this story brings up a lot of the issues you raise...this story brings up a lot of the issues you raised in your post about trust. interesting to see them in action.Tempohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01463841283394787260noreply@blogger.com