Saving Fish From Drowning
4 July 2007, 8:14 pm. View comments. Filed under Internet, Literature.
There we go. I just finished one of the most boring novels ever—Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan. It was really not exciting. I don't recommend it unless you have a lot of time to spare but one should make his/her own decisions. For me, the best bit to the book must be this quote right at the start:
A pious man explained to his followers: "It is evil to take lives and noble to save them. Each day I pledge to save a hundred lives. I drop my net in the lake and scoop out a hundred fishes. I place the fishes on the bank, where they flop and twirl. "Don't be scared," I tell those fishes. "I am saving you from drowning." Soon enough, the fishes grow calm and lie still. Yet, sad to say, I am always too late. The fishes expire. And because it is evil to waste anything, I take those dead fishes to market and I sell them for a good price. With the money I receive, I buy more nets so I can save more fishes.
- Anonymous
I find that incredibly amusing. 
Sadly, I did not see that tie in with the rest of the story. Perhaps because I was bored and didn't bother to analyse like I would have for an English exam but all in all, I wasn't too engaged in the story until I was about four-fifths of the way through.
I am proud I managed to finish it though. For I also found a bookmark left in the first one-fifth of the book by the person who borrowed it from the library before me.
Off on another topic, would anyone meet up with Internet friends? I mean, you see the news reporting stories of people getting kidnapped and raped by "friends" they met over the Internet. Doesn't that intimidate anyone? But then I also learnt from school that the media gives off wrong impressions of crime rates to the general public, especially about "street crimes" like homicides and rape because that's what viewers are interested in. So, what do you say? Better safe than sorry? What about the numerous other cases of good Internet friends meeting up to become "real life" friends?
11 Comments »
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Who knows if I would meet up with them? It depends I guess, where you met the person, ie, forum or those 'find-a-date' sites.
LOL, it was that boring? I'm glad I didn't even get past the first three chapters. So far, the only Amy Tan book I've enjoyed was the Joy Luck Club, if that's how you write it
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All the media does is talk about the crimes, and rarely about the nice part of it. But just to play safe, I would never meet up with an online friend without backup.
Honestly, Kathy and Joelle of Moxie is a good example. They are really good friends and are talented too. The only people that people should be wary about is those who are from forums. Not all are bad, but it's just hard to know who the person really is. -
I haven't read Saving Fish from Drowning, but because I've heard of Amy Tan, I plan on reading one of her books eventually.
Anyways, that quote amuses me a lot. Like, who thinks that fishes don't die from drowning?
Because of the fact that I met an Internet friend through the Internet alone, I can't bring myself to fully trust him/her. There are too many stories of people getting kidnapped and abused out there. What I don't hear enough of is stories of people meeting someone they met online and enjoying it. Perhaps I'll do it when I'm older, but not without caution. -
I have a few friends that I would love to meet offline and I feel like I know them well enough to not have them be sexual predators (and they're all girls too; except one... but he can't do anything because he's my friend's boyfriend...)
I've known them all for a while too, so we've talked... I guess it all depends on how secure you are with them.
The main intimidation would be wondering if they'd even like me at all if they met me in real life. XD
By the way, uber cool layout :O *plays with the little wooden signs* *is really easily amused* -
Rilla, it would depend on how long you have known the internet friend and where you met them at. I would make sure that it was a very public place and I would suggest that the both of you bring another friend of yours with you, that way neither one of you is actually alone. For example, if I was going to have the chance of meeting you. I would suggest meeting at a mall or a restaurant with each one of us bringing a friend along. But then that is how I always meet my friends. But then if I am going out on a first date with a guy & I don't know the guy very well I have it be a double date with another couple usually a set of my friends. But my advice would be, if you feel comfortable with the person go ahead and meet them just remember to stay alert and be careful.
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I would say that meeting an online friend alone is unadvisable. I've met a few online friends before, but one that I remember most is a guy I met alone. I only chatted with him for a few hours before meeting him in the dead of the night. I even gave him my home address so that he could pick me up at about 1 or 2 in the morning. Thinking about it now I'm amazed at my stupidity. How I didn't realise how dangerous my actions were is beyond me. I'm just thankful nothing bad happened and he turned out to be a nice guy... But *shiver*
So, getting back to the point. Meeting an online friend is always interesting. But always bring a friend with you, and always only meet at public and open spaces. Crimes are less likely to happen with witnesses around.
Hmm, I've heard of Amy Tan, and I've been wanting to read one of her books. That quote is funny, though. Thanks for sharing
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Lol. The first thought I had when I read your heading was "WTF?" Lol
I LOVE your link things, the ones one the pieces of wood? CUTE!
Lol yeah they were really FREAKY when they warned me. Like, dont you TRUST me? And like NEVER talk about that with me. That's gross. Haha
The pool party WAS fun. I didnt want to go when they picked me up, but I was gonna be left with a few sex-crazed teenage girls [well, i'm not sure about sex-crazed..] if I didnt leave at that time. [=
And well when you view the guy in that way, he seems pretty considerate of me. Although I would expect him to be more friendly to me. But oh welll... I'd have to stalk another guy then -
I have too many a times not finished uninteresting books; I look up to you for your success in completing the book. And that quote, is really erm, cute? Sounds like someone who's optimistic and so innocent as to look at the other side of things.
I don't think I'll meet up with Internet friends, unless if with another friend. I'd meet you though because well, you don't "sound" dangerous. ;p So, I guess you'd have to really trust your instincts on whether the "friend" is safe to meet, and worth meeting. -
That is a funny title for a book! hehe
I personally wouldn't meet up with anybody that I met online, but that's just me. -
On the topic of meeting up with internet friends, it depends on just who one would be meeting up with. For example, if one has been in a "dailies" relationship with someone for quite some time, one might consider meeting up with them should the chance come upon one (i.e.: one just happened to be traveling to the area).
Then again, I quite agree with Stefanie that overall, I'd be quite cautious about the entire ordeal, as there have been too many scares and goodness knows those scares have appealed to my logic.
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The media has a habit of scaremongering. Especially regarding subjects they don't necessarily understand. A lot of older journalists portray the Internet as some form of evil being, probably because it's still new to them. I remember when it first started to get big, but I was a lot younger so it just seemed less intrusive.
I think meeting up is fine as long as your sure, and not being some form of teeniebopper about it. As in, you've known them for a long time.