Reading # 5 "Stockings"
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Nicole
Feb 8, 2011, 9:59:00 PM2/8/11
to TTTC Discussion (Gold) spring 2011
Many of the soliders had what they called "good luck charms". Henry
Dobbins had his girlfriend's pantyhose and this comforted him. If you
were in the soldiers' shoes, what would be your "good luck charm" and
why?
Dobbins had his girlfriend's pantyhose and this comforted him. If you
were in the soldiers' shoes, what would be your "good luck charm" and
why?
Andre
Feb 8, 2011, 10:38:51 PM2/8/11
to TTTC Discussion (Gold) spring 2011
Good question Nicole, although I don't think I would have a good luck
charm because I am not a very superstitious person. On the other hand
I do believe such good luck charms are neccessary for soldiers at war.
It made them feel safe even if it really didn't work. The
psychological effect is what was satisfying to the soldiers, it offers
them a sense of peace and safety. Henry Dobbins used his girlfriends
pantyhose as a good luck charm and it seemed to work because, "Dobbins
was invunerable. Never wounded, never scratched" (118). His strong
belief in his good luck allowed him to cope with the non-stop humping,
the hidden enemy, and it allowed him to survive reach ambush. Even
after his girlfriend dumps him, Dobbins never quits believing, "The
magic doesn't go away" (118).
charm because I am not a very superstitious person. On the other hand
I do believe such good luck charms are neccessary for soldiers at war.
It made them feel safe even if it really didn't work. The
psychological effect is what was satisfying to the soldiers, it offers
them a sense of peace and safety. Henry Dobbins used his girlfriends
pantyhose as a good luck charm and it seemed to work because, "Dobbins
was invunerable. Never wounded, never scratched" (118). His strong
belief in his good luck allowed him to cope with the non-stop humping,
the hidden enemy, and it allowed him to survive reach ambush. Even
after his girlfriend dumps him, Dobbins never quits believing, "The
magic doesn't go away" (118).
Megan
Feb 8, 2011, 11:03:23 PM2/8/11
to TTTC Discussion (Gold) spring 2011
I'm quite the opposite of Andre; I am a superstitious person. When I
have meets I always wear the same socks (of course I wash them!).
Also, I always eat a few swedish fish before I vault or even play a
soccer game. These are my "good luck charms" in a way. Also, the day
before my meets or games, I have a ritual I do the night before just
as "Henry Dobbins would make a ritual out of arranging the nylons
around his neck" (O'Brien 118). If I were a soldier, I think I would
try to stick with my swedish fish. Also, I have a good luck note that
my best friend wrote for me before one of my meets. Ever since then
I've carried it with me to important events. When I read it, it calms
me down. That would be my "good luck charm," my comforter.
> > why?- Hide quoted text -
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have meets I always wear the same socks (of course I wash them!).
Also, I always eat a few swedish fish before I vault or even play a
soccer game. These are my "good luck charms" in a way. Also, the day
before my meets or games, I have a ritual I do the night before just
as "Henry Dobbins would make a ritual out of arranging the nylons
around his neck" (O'Brien 118). If I were a soldier, I think I would
try to stick with my swedish fish. Also, I have a good luck note that
my best friend wrote for me before one of my meets. Ever since then
I've carried it with me to important events. When I read it, it calms
me down. That would be my "good luck charm," my comforter.
>
> - Show quoted text -
Emily Barnes
Feb 11, 2011, 5:04:21 PM2/11/11
to TTTC Discussion (Gold) spring 2011
I have to agree with Megan. I am slightly superstitious, and one of my
'superstitions', if you could call it that, is that I always wear a
necklace. I don't know if you all have noticed, but I'm always wearing
the same cross around my neck. It's more of a tradition than a
superstition, but I don't feel quite right if I'm not wearing my
necklace. It's like Dobbins' stockings, which "were like a talisman
for him" (O'Brian 111-112). If I were a soldier in a hostile country,
I would definately take my necklace, because it would always remind me
of a time of peace, safety, and love which I share between me and my
Lord. I also think performing rituals like Dobbins did helps a person
to focus and calm the mind before going into a stressful situation.
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
'superstitions', if you could call it that, is that I always wear a
necklace. I don't know if you all have noticed, but I'm always wearing
the same cross around my neck. It's more of a tradition than a
superstition, but I don't feel quite right if I'm not wearing my
necklace. It's like Dobbins' stockings, which "were like a talisman
for him" (O'Brian 111-112). If I were a soldier in a hostile country,
I would definately take my necklace, because it would always remind me
of a time of peace, safety, and love which I share between me and my
Lord. I also think performing rituals like Dobbins did helps a person
to focus and calm the mind before going into a stressful situation.
Nojai
Feb 12, 2011, 7:15:06 PM2/12/11
to TTTC Discussion (Gold) spring 2011
I like this question Nicole and I agree with Megan, I am the opposite
of Andre. I am not a very superstitious person but I do have a few
"good luck charms". For example, i believe that if I am not wearing my
long, funky socks on race days, that I won't do as well. I also have
this minor superstition that if I don't pray before I race, something
unfortunate will happen either to me or to one of my teammates. If I
were in a soldier's shoes I'm not sure what I would take to war, it
would probably be my purple teddy bear that someone very special gave
me a long time ago. Just like Henry Dobbins who "liked the memories
they [the stockings] inspired" (O'Brien 117), I like what memories my
teddy bear brings to me. It comforts me because of who its from and
because it seems to bring back clear memories.
of Andre. I am not a very superstitious person but I do have a few
"good luck charms". For example, i believe that if I am not wearing my
long, funky socks on race days, that I won't do as well. I also have
this minor superstition that if I don't pray before I race, something
unfortunate will happen either to me or to one of my teammates. If I
were in a soldier's shoes I'm not sure what I would take to war, it
would probably be my purple teddy bear that someone very special gave
me a long time ago. Just like Henry Dobbins who "liked the memories
they [the stockings] inspired" (O'Brien 117), I like what memories my
teddy bear brings to me. It comforts me because of who its from and
because it seems to bring back clear memories.
Natese
Feb 12, 2011, 10:34:14 PM2/12/11
to TTTC Discussion (Gold) spring 2011
My post didn't show when I posted it last time so I'm going to do it
again. If I were in the war i would have a couple of good luck charms
to carry around. First, I would carry or wear my long socks because
not only do they "help" my performance at track meets, they express
who I am. I'd always carry a picture of my family for good luck. My
main object would be a small Bible just like the one Kiowa carries and
sleeps with under his pillow. All of my objects have "the properties
of a good-luck charm" just as Henry Dobbins carries the stockings
around his neck(O'Brien 117).
again. If I were in the war i would have a couple of good luck charms
to carry around. First, I would carry or wear my long socks because
not only do they "help" my performance at track meets, they express
who I am. I'd always carry a picture of my family for good luck. My
main object would be a small Bible just like the one Kiowa carries and
sleeps with under his pillow. All of my objects have "the properties
of a good-luck charm" just as Henry Dobbins carries the stockings
around his neck(O'Brien 117).
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