The Adderall Me

Wow this is not what I was expecting to read when thinking about this article. I think that the points are very valid and true in the sense that Adderall can do wonders for people. Yes, I understand that drugs aren't good and that you shouldn't have to take drugs to get work done. But in all reality, why not take a couple pills to help you study or read a 200 page book in one night? This whole article really talked Adderall up and praised how the author was able to concentrate and be extremely productive while taking the pill. Honestly, he said that he took the pills for a week to do this study. I personally think he had gotten his hands on a few more since then. Maybe people who haven't taken the pill before would have a problem with it because it isn't natural but if you've tried it before, odds are you tried it again. Especially because there are no crazy side effects that you could die or have a heart attack or anything, I don't see the problem i guess. Another thing it is that Adderall is so easy to get - especially in college. Being able to concentrate and get everything done in one shot is a college student's dream.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2CTaZh-Wp4

This is a True Life: I'm Addicted to Adderall

Now after watching this episode for about two minutes, I am completely turned off to the drug.

Overall, there are obviously pros and cons about the drug. These opinions can change depending on what source your getting the information from. I still don't have a problem with it but I'm a lot less likely to take the drug after watching the episode and not reading the article.

Romance with ADHD meds

There definitely has been a hype about adderall and its postive effects for students, writers, musicans, etc. I know plenty of people who have taken it/talk about taking it in order to cram for a test or write a great paper. In theory it sounds like a miracle worker. Like most people when studying I get distracted from other thoughts or other things going on. After a couple of hours I just need to give myself a break. But I think there is a reason for that and that's how a normal brain works. To be able to focus for a couple hours on something is somewhat draining and a small break is necessary, at least for me. No one studies for 20 hours straight without the help of a drug like adderall, which to me shows that its just not natural. For those who do take it, if taken in small amounts there aren't too many negative effects, however with all drugs you can become dependent on them just like Paul Erdos did. All in all, I do not look down upon those who use adderall to study, I just feel like it isn't for me. If I prepare early enough for an exam and study a lot in small intervals I will succeed just as much as if I took adderall and studied the night before.

Adderall

While reading "My Romance with ADHD Meds", I was thinking about how much of a better student I could be if I could focus more, but motivation comes from within not by drugs. There are too many side effects and risks that I would be too afraid to take Adderall or any other drug. It is scary to think that a lot of college students take adderall to help them study and write papers. What if they became addicted and just couldn't stop taking the drug because they believed it made them more productive and they could not be productive without it? They could end up like the mathmatician Paul Erdos and become psychologically dependent. Also, Adderall does not make you smarter, all it does it help you stay awake, so why risk taking it. Drink coffee or an energy drink to keep you awake.
Motivation is all in your head. A person could work hard and be productive if they set their mind to it. Unless, you have a certain psychological disorder you can motivate yourself to do anything. Adderall and other ADHD medications are for people who really need it and they shouldn't be abused by the people who are prescribed it, let alone the people who aren't.

Adderall

For years, there has always been this hype about adderall, whether it's good or bad. Although most articles, including this one, do mention the side effects of adderall, I feel like they are almost advocates of the drug. The positives appear to outweigh the negatives. I'm sure everybody knows somebody (close or distant) who has taken adderall; I sure do. A lot of kids take it in high school as experiments, and the ones I know who took it fell in love with the way they felt on it. Even if they didn't accomplish anything productive, the feeling is what they crave. It's definitely important to note that if taken correctly the drug probably won't become addictive, as noted in the article. I've personally considered taking it when needing to cram for a test or write a paper. I never have though, because I know that taking it messes with chemicals in the brain which in the long run can affect you negatively, and the risks haven't seemed to outweigh the benefits.

My Romance with ADHD Meds

After reading this article, I have formed several opinions on the types of drugs that were discussed. To begin, I personally have never taken any of these types of drugs, although I have been offered them before and I have had friends in the past that have used them and still swear by them today, but only if it is a massive assignment that needs to get done. For example, one of my roommates during my freshman year had to write a 25 page paper for one of his classes, it was due the next day, and he failed to even start it; the night before it was due, he took Adderall and finished the entire paper that night (and received an A on it).

Now back to the opinions, first off I’ll be honest with you that when it comes to pills in general I tend to stay away from them completely, call it neurotic or whatever you like. I just hear so many stories of how people get hooked on them and how they suffer through inconvenient side effects or go through the rigors of withdrawal, no thanks (even though the author claims that you cannot become addicted to Adderall). Another opinion I share is how productive you can be on these supposed “magic pills”, to me it’s all a mental thing. I think if an individual is motivated enough and possesses the necessary drive, they can be as productive as they desire, given any day. I consider myself to be a fairly productive person, I tend to do pretty well academically (even though I’m a last minute person), I have a social life that I have no complaints about, and I’m a pretty decent athlete; so as far as I am concerned I do not need a pill to enhance any of my life’s aspects.

I will say this though, I do find it hard to function, at least in an academic sense, without coffee. So what I suppose it is a vice of mine, sue me, we all have one vice or another. Sure you’ll experience a little crash here and there, but I swear by coffee and as far as I’m concerned, I’ll take that over some little pill that could lead to psychosis any day, call me crazy if you like.



...ok, maybe this guy could seriously use a pill, or something

My Romance with ADHD meds

In terms of speaking about Motivation, this article “My Romance with ADHD meds” says it all. It was hard to believe that Benzedrine which was similar to Adderall was an over the counter drug that was utilized to treat a nasal congestion. The most intriguing detail about this article was the fact that before the FDA made it prescription only in 1959; Jack Kerouac took this medication at his leisure and increased his ability in his writing as well as thinking. The power of this medication today is just the same, however, many people are taking it for granted.

This medicine is being utilized improperly by many people. Some high school students as well as college students are using this to get high and to study from. This medication is in such high demand that students are paying large amounts of money just to have it. Below is a video that explains that nature of this particular drug and how it is being utilized today as far as college students are concerned.

The one memorable moment I had with this type of drug was when I worked as a bus driver. The teachers of these students on these particular medications would wait until I pulled up with the bus and checked their book bags and if they did not have their medication they would put them back on the bus for me to take them home. These kids were just six and seven years of age and the medication didn’t do anything but make them like zombies. They would sit in class drugged up and not move. I just thought this was crazy that these teachers would insist upon these kids being drugged up before entering their classes.

After reading this article, the thought of taking this to increase my cognitive skills ran across my mind as well. However, the side effects made me think twice. There are too many side effects to this medication along with being careful of not taking this medication with certain other meds could be extremely dangerous.

Adderall

After reading this, in a way I wish I could take Adderall to help me cram for test & study better. However, I dont think I would be able to handle the "crash" of your body after it went into over drive. An issue with people taking this drug just for fun, will ruin it for the people who really do need this drug to help them with ADHD or even ADD. Next thing you know, it will be sold on the street at the corner where cocaine and heroin are. Or it could be the next NyQuil kick here you need ID just to cough medicine cause kids think its cool to get high from it; really. People need to watch out when they take this for fun too. I mean, kids these days experiement with this crap and take it with other drugs and liquor to make the high better. Though you never hear that people die from this; at least I havent heard, but Im sure students think they are superman and can take this and then an hour laer smoke pot or take a few shots. Taking this to make your body at a abnormal high will probably have consequences in the long run.

http://www.adderallandalcohol.com/

Adderall

What happened to getting grades on your own merit and hard work? Taking a prescription like Adderall without a medical diagnosis to enhance your mental processes is living a lie. How much different is to take this drug versus heroin, cocaine or any other illegal drug? College is a learning experience not just an exercise in cramming work into 1 day and getting an A. The drug helps the person to focus on task at hand and blocks out distractions. I personally find that distractions help me write better, I often walk away from the writing or studying , take a breather and then return to the task refreshed. Organization and not procrastinating is my key to doing well in college. I can be naive at times but it's frightening to me to realize there are writer, authors, politicians?, doctors? and other professionals controlling our society taking illegal substances!

The Adderall Me

After reading this article out loud to someone who was perscribed to Adderall for a while they thought it was crazy. They compared adderall to herion. In my opinion herion is a "tad" worse. Dose adderall have a psychologically they need it to focus, like herion users need herione to function? The great names that were listed in this article took benzedrine which has a diffrent chemical compound then adderall now a days.

As for the man who took it for a week it was interresting to see how it affected someone who wasn not perscribed.

To be honest I believe we all today have a spec of ADD or ADHD and a little adderall wouldn't hurt. Me personally, I'll pass, Im not one to ever depend on something for something else or a diffrent effect.

Another Study I found regarding ADD/ADHA & it's abuse:

v=Mj06xg3k8B4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj06xg3k8B4

Adderall

After reading the article The Adderall Me, I could see how Adderall would be appealing to college students. However, I'm not persuaded that the negative results of taking this drug is worth it.  After reading about the positive effects of Adderall, I was curious to learn more about the negative effects of the drug.   Although individuals state that the drug may improve your concentration and productivity, some have also stated that this drug could cause people to become obsessive compulsive,  psychologically dependent, and may even cause psychosis, as seen in this article. I could understand why individuals would want to take Adderall to enhance their focus during their hectic and tedious schedules. However, I came across the article attached below that discusses some of the negative effects of taking the drug. 
http://www.adhdawareness.com/good-and-bad-effects-of-adderall.html

I don't need no speed

YES! I'll admit it, I've used adderall to cram for tests and its has definitely worked and I was very focused on my study material and driven to get an A on that upcoming examination.  HOWEVER!  The use of this prescription drug for such reasons is not only an inappropriate use of this stimulant, it is also a very dangerous substance for your body if not used correctly.  If you are using such tactics to study for your exams, you must re-evaluate your desire to get further educated.  I've found this to be very true.  Using any sort of drug is a way to subdue or mask unwanted feelings or desires.  When you put off studying or procrastinate on your work and it all pushes up to a deadline, you use this substance, Adderall, to focus your attention on the single task at hand and mask the fact that because you are indifferent to this material you'd rather be playing xbox or getting stoned (which of course is another motivational paradox that I'd love to touch on at a further moment), to make the time fly past your awareness and let the chapters of meaningless jargon seep into your recent memory and vomit it back onto a test in the morning in which you will soon forget all of the subject matter.  YOU NEED TO FIND THE MOTIVATION IN YOURSELF, not in that pill to study and take these exams and truly become educated.  You don't need to get the A, hell you don't even need to get the B, but learn something from these classes you are paying thousands of dollars for.  Listen to your teachers lecture, absorb and make connections with the material and allow yourself to pick up and utilize these tools that are being given to you.  Find motivation in being confident in your success when you finish school, find motivation in surprising yourself, find motivation in making people proud or at least find motivation in rubbing that A in your friends face who thinks he's a smarty pants.  I've delved into the depths of coasting through school and I know how easy it is, BUT IT'S A WASTE.  It's a waste of your time, the teacher's time, and of stress and late nights.

Adderall

I must say that taking adderall to focus on school work is news to me. I have never heard of such a thing. I went to PsychInfo to look for some articles that were similar to Foer’s article. The article I found was called, “Non-medical use of prescription stimulants among US college students.” The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence rates and correlates of non-medical use of prescription stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall. One hundred and nineteen students from 4 year colleges in 39 states. The students were randomly selected and a self-report study was conducted. It was interesting to discover that the results indicated that rates were higher at colleges located in the north-eastern region of the US and colleges with more competitive admission standards. Also, the use of Adderall was high among college students who were male, white, members of fraternities and sororities and earned lower grade point averages. The findings of the study provided evidence that non -medical prescription use of Adderall is more prevalent among particular groups of United States college students and types of colleges. This study was performed in 2001.

After reading both articles, I really don’t see the harm in using the adderall when you are trying to focus on your work with school. I have such a busy life that it would be nice to sit and focus on my books and writing. I do not like the feeling of coming down from the high from the day before though. That wouldn’t be good for me trying to work and care for my child, but a college student who does not have kids it may help with school work. I almost wonder how many people who are becoming doctors must take this drug to stay awake and focus.

McCabe, S., Knight, J. R., Teter, C. J., & Wechsler, H. (2005). Non-medical use of prescription stimulants among US college students: Prevalence and correlates from a national survey. Addiction, 100(1), 96-106. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.00944.x

The Miracle Drug

Adderall is a very popular drug, especially amongst college students. Who wouldn't want a little help studying for their exam? Who wouldn't want something that's going to keep you moving all day ... ensuring you get all your errands done? It is the Energizer Bunny of pills, and is ideally an amazing assistant in the process of obtaining one's degree.

If this pill is something that is not available to all students, is it really fair? How can one discriminate who earned their "A+" with the help of a pill, or who stayed up all night cramming for their exam? Obviously, using an ADHD medication, when you do not have ADHD is a problem in itself, but there is no way to stop this from happening. Through continued use of Adderall, it gives those students an edge above the rest-- almost like a steroid in a sporting event.

Frequent use of Adderall reminds me of the movie, LIMITLESS. The movie trailer is below, and summarizes the entire movie. He is so dependent on this drug, that his life flies right past him. He is so powered by the help of this pill, that it almost seems as if the drug lived his life, not him. He lost his sense of self, and allowed the drug to decide his every move.

By: Katie McGinley

Change of Speed; Mom's New Fix

In congruence with the article, adderall has been constantly present throughout the past few years of college. I say few because I'm not exactly sure how long, but upon my enrollment into Stockton, I've seemed to become more aware of it's use. There's not a whole lot one can say about adderall that's not already been mentioned. Me personally have never taken the drug to enhance my studies in school, although I have many former roommates that were definitely 'in love' with the effects and benefits come mid semester and finals week. It's known to help one focus and stay on task, mostly during an all-nighter writing papers. The article didn't quite lure my interests from the 'advantages' from taking adderall because it simply states like many marijuana supporters, that in moderation and with low doses, it produces little to no long term health issues.

So as a college undergrad or someone who's just had a rough week and needs a boost to knock out the 12 page paper that's been due for 2 months in 12 hours, adderall seems like an intelligent solution. For myself, if my time is not scheduled well enough to complete my assignments in a secure, anxiety penalty free manner, then I deserve the grade that follows. I don't agree with using drugs to enhance my ability to do the things I'm well capable of handling on my own. But that's just me, and judging from this article, adderall will remain a college love affair that continues to go unaddressed.

An interesting prospect

This article was very intriguing. As college students I think we can all connect with this article. Living the college lifestyle, I think we can all say if we wanted too, we could find a way to get some Adderall for a big test or when a term paper is due. The drug is so common and so effective, it can be hard to resist. What makes it worse, is that we know that there aren't many negative affects of lighting using the drug. This world we live in is so crazy and so rushed that Adderall seems like a dream come true. With all of the distractions around us, it would be an easy fix to get all of our work done. So it would make sense that people who live extremely busy lives would use the drug to help make life a little bit easier.

So what is the harm? In the article, the author mentions that many famous authors and writers have taken some help from Adderall. If someone can use it to boost their career, why can't a college student use it during midterms or finals. If the effects are not severe and there really aren't any long lasting negative effects, why doesn't someone jump on the opportunity? Think about it. If the government loosened regulations and sold Adderall in low dosages, they could make a fortune. What college student, busy parent, or overloaded business man wouldn't pay some cash for a little mental stimulation? The article states that doctors have not found harmful effects and occasional usage is probably harmless. Like everything else in this world, most things are fine in moderation. This could be a great tool for all types of people to make their lives a little easier. And anything this marketable will definitely make a large profit for someone smart enough to monopolize on it.

Romance with Adderall

When I first went away to college I was seventeen and ready to be on my own. I chose the farthest school from home that I got accepted to and I was eager to start my college career. Many years and three schools later here I am. Those days seem like forever ago. I am bringing this up because during my freshman year of school Adderall was a way of survival. Everyone I knew, including me, used Adderall to get through the semester. My roommate and I would spend the entire night awake working diligently on papers and projects that were due the next day. The next day would be spent in a crashing haze that would eventually be slept off, but as long as the assignment was complete Adderall had done its job. These days the thought of leaving an assignment for the last minute completely worries me. I have post it notes with to do lists covering my desk and I need to start assignments in advance or I will dwell on the fact that I have so much to do and so little time.

I enjoyed reading this article and learning about how Adderall affects other people. I liked the fact I was able to relate to the author and I feel he does a good job describing how it works. I also appreciate the fact he brings up the risks. As a seventeen year old I did not think of the risks that can happen from taking a non prescribed drug and now I think it's kinda crazy that I used it without thinking. I relate this article with motivation because of the motivation needed to sit down and write a paper, or in the author's case an article - just for example. Students are motivated to write papers to result in getting good grades so they can graduate and get a job. But the initial act of sitting down at a computer is much harder then expected. On Adderall, the author explained, "When I tried writing on the drug, it was like I had a choir of angels sitting on my shoulders. I became almost mechanical in my ability to pump out sentences. The part of my brain that makes me curious about whether I have new e-mails in my inbox apparently shut down." During the span of just writing this blog I have checked my email, my facebook, and made a phone call. Sometimes it really would be helpful to have the part of my brain thinking about e-mails to shut down so I can focus on one thing at a time. But I have come this far without it and now writing a paper is consistent with a routine of checking email, facebook, getting a snack, making a phone call and other activities that allow you to step back from your main focus. So now, motivation to graduate is my new Adderall.




Source - The Adderall Me by Joshua Foer

A Maslow Argument.

The psychological needs, stated by Maslow have been in the back of my mind since I was taught them 3 years ago. The bottom tier is the most obvious, but as it increases in tiers, one can see that there is more to motivate you to attain a happy life. 

Then the other thought is to abandon this hierarchy and resort to blind happiness. I found an article that realizes self-actualization but denies the rest of Maslow's classification of motivation. this existential writer reports "Maslow's hierarchy does not exist. Generally, the strength of total motivation rises throughout the adolescent years and peaks around ages 25-35. After that it is mostly downhill as the intensity of the desires decline. The physiological desires decline much more rapidly than do the psychological desires. Fear is the only desire that rises in later years, perhaps because of the fear of death." - Steven Riess, Ph.D. READ MORE

-P.B

Optimism

I came across this quote the other day on the internet and it reminded me of this class.

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." -Winston Churchill

Being optimistic is a key part of being motivated. Clearly, if someone is not optimistic about a situation, becoming motivated becomes nearly impossible. Although keeping an optimistic state of mind is not always easy but it is definitely beneficial. A pessimistic person would be less motivated than a person having a positive state of mind. Just being optimistic is a huge step in being successful and accomplishing goals. I always try to stay positive and optimistic, even in rough situations. In my opinion, being a pessimist is comparable to taking one step forward and two steps back. Churchill's quote is very true and helps me realize that hard work pays off and even difficult situations have their rewards.

Life without Fear ???

I was very excited to start writing my thoughts on this motivation factor; fear. Fear is what defines us as humans, is an emotion shared universally. It helps us escape dangerous things and it also helps us overcome our inner most fears through motivation. Fears come in a variety of ways; fear of animals, fear of failing, fear of death and so on. I personally see fear as the top reason why we survive or not; fear can overpower or it can empower an individual. Fear is also the cause of the common known disorder phobia. When asked: what do you fear the most to 9-13 year old Dutch children , the top answer was spider and the second was being kidnapped Fear to me, can be caused by undesirable experiences in the past which influences us throughout our lives. Personally, when I was a kid, I saw a snake and it terrified me to the point where it still scares me till this day. My one day experience with the snake was strong enough to develop a fear which has lasted for a long time. This fear has prevented me from going near bushes or rivers; and even the reptile section of a zoo. Fear also have its degree, a person with an extreme fear of catching an STD disease for example, may stop having sex altogether but a person with a mild fear of it, wears protective gear when performing the act. Fear can be an advantage and also a disadvantage. It can be a motivation factor in overcoming our fears and do better, in so doing you feel empowered or a disadvantage because it prevents the person from living their life. Fear also entitles to my favorite quote: practice make perfect, meaning not giving up due to fear of failure make a person succeed. Fear can motivate or discourage a person but in the end is what makes us human.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybt8wXIahQU&feature=related

Humility by the Pack

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/sports/baseball/rookies-served-humility-by-the-pack.html?pagewanted=all

Check out this article...
Baseball World U.S. N.Y. / Region Business Technology Science Health Sports

Joe Giza/Reuters
Rookie relief pitchers are being forced to wear schoolgirl backpacks to transport gear and snacks to the bullpen.

By ANDREW KEH
Published: August 31, 2011
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The Phillies' Michael Schwimer carries a bright pink backpack.
But decades of hard work could be coming undone thanks to the smiling faces of Hannah Montana, Dora the Explorer and Hello Kitty.

In this tradition-bound sport, in which managers wear the same uniforms as the players and Cracker Jack can still be bought at concession stands, a hazing ritual that has gone on for years seems to have reached a new level of absurdity at major league ballparks: rookie relievers are being forced to wear schoolgirl backpacks — gaudy in color, utterly unmanly — to transport gear.

“Everybody laughs at me,” said Bryan Shaw, a 23-year-old rookie reliever for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Before each game, he makes the long, painful walk to the bullpen toting a pink bag adorned with an image of a white unicorn. “They all yell, ‘Cute bag!’ ” he said.

The most junior reliever on each major league team is in charge of carrying the stash of snacks, drinks and pain medications from the clubhouse to the bullpen. For decades, an extra equipment sack or plastic shopping bag sufficed. But leave it to big leaguers to find new ways to torment their tenderfoots.

“It’s just one more way to get at your rookie,” said Mets pitcher Tim Byrdak, 37. “You have to walk all the way across the field to get to the bullpen, so you make the rookie carry this pink bag, and you can kind of humiliate him.”

Before a recent home game, Pedro Beato, 24, the Mets’ youngest reliever, was diligently stuffing a fuchsia Dora the Explorer backpack with chips, cookies and candy bars. When Jason Isringhausen, one of the team’s veterans, had gone shopping online to find a suitable bag for Beato, he knew exactly what he was looking for. “Something pink,” Isringhausen said.

The flamboyance of a floral pattern running down either side of the bag forms a striking juxtaposition with its wearer. “The first day I showed up, and it was just in my locker, I knew what I had to do,” said Beato, a 6-foot-4 right-hander with a vicious fastball. “It’s my duty.”

That duty, and that color scheme, extend across the league.

For much of this season, Michael Stutes of the Philadelphia Phillies was forced to wear a Hello Kitty backpack and a pink feather boa purchased by Brad Lidge, a 10-year veteran, during a road trip to San Francisco. “I thought it wasn’t right for Stutes to be carrying a plain black bag,” Lidge said. “I was in Macy’s shopping for my kids. I just knew we wanted something pink.”

Jonny Venters of the Atlanta Braves, meanwhile, toted an assortment of bags last season that recalled the TiVo recordings of an 8-year-old. First there was Hannah Montana. Then iCarly. By September, the team’s veterans added SpongeBob SquarePants and Cinderella.

“I heard stuff from fans on the road, you know, ‘Nice backpack, man!’ ” Venters said, laughing. “But, whatever. It’s a fun time.”

No one quite knows when the playful practice began. Trevor Hoffman, baseball’s career leader in saves, said that this type of rookie hazing did not occur when he reached the majors in 1993 and that he never noticed the bags in the proceeding decade.

“But now it seems like we’re seeing a ton of them everywhere,” Hoffman said. “I think it’s amusing for the fans to see. It’s kind of a way of pointing out who’s the low man on the totem pole.”

Major League Baseball for now has no issue with the bags, as long as they maintain a spirit of innocence, a league spokesman said.

Baseball’s famously nitpicky attention to dress was exposed last year when it briefly barred Joe Maddon, the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, from wearing a team-branded hooded sweatshirt over his uniform top in the dugout.

For a sport that has seemed to resist any diversion from the sacraments of its rich history, then, this colorful rite is an unlikely trend.

Hoffman, who retired before the start of this season, said the bags were harmless. But other shenanigans, he said, could overstep the boundaries of baseball’s accepted manners. In 2007, for example, Hoffman and the other San Diego Padres relievers bought a motorized cooler for the rookie to ride to the bullpen. But it was stopped after one outing.

“We just thought it was too over the top,” Hoffman said. “We didn’t need to bring that much attention to ourselves.”

When Hoffman left the Padres before the 2009 season, the bullpen was left under the stewardship of Heath Bell. A long and fraught process to find the perfect bag soon followed.

“We did, like, a school bus driver, a crossing guard, a fisherman, a construction worker, and it just wasn’t good,” Bell said of the search in his first year as the team’s closer. “And then I came across Yoda.”

Bell encountered the backpack with the “Star Wars” theme while taking his children to Legoland in Carlsbad, Calif., and felt it was perfect for the team. The ensuing winning streak sealed the matter. Two other bags, one featuring R2-D2 and one a stormtrooper, have since made their debut with the Padres, and Bell said he had Chewbacca and C-3PO at home in reserve.

These days, before every game, Yoda is slung over the shoulders of Erik Hamren.

“It’s part of the gig,” Hamren, 25, said. “I’ve grown to love it.”

The nature of the game, meanwhile, means that this fluorescent pink wave will most likely endure for years.

“Guys are starting to move up that had it first done to them, so it seems like it’s starting to get passed on,” Hoffman said. “Guys that are carrying them now are going to want to make sure they get the chance to make someone else do it.”

Last month, for instance, Stutes was able to rid himself of the Hello Kitty and boa ensemble when the Phillies called up Michael Schwimer, 25, a 6-foot-8 right-hander.

“He was very happy to hand it over to me,” Schwimer said. “I’ll just wear it with pride.”


A version of this article appeared in print on September 1, 2011, on page B11 of the New York edition with the headline: Humility by the Pack.


My view on it:

A harmless way of hazing, I'm down with that! I read this artical and felt that girly backpacks is a fun way to motivate the "lower totempole" (as they called them) guys. One is probabley wondering how I view this as a motivator. If I was seen wearing something as femine and I were as mascaline as these guys are then I would have been inspired to play great de to being, "man enough" to rick this fashion I'd be man enough for anything.

As seen here the smallest things can keep the enjoyment ans task orinated aspects in playing a serious sport.