Jonathon Livingston Seagull

What is normal? How can we define “normal” anyway? If this bird wants to challenge the odds and be different, make something of his puny, insignificant life then good on him! Besides, how is that worrying? Is it worrying that some people defy what could be called normality and stand up against evil? Does it worry us that there are some people that are smarter then normal and can predict bad things before they happen?

Secondly, why would you check the physics behind a story in which the central character is a sentient seagull? What would be the point of looking at the story with a physical, logical attitude when it is quite evidently not real?

Thirdly, lets look at a very simple fact: this story is about a seagull. Apart from being extremely obvious, this leads me to another question to the kind respondent: how many people could write a reasonably engaging story about a seagull, including emotions, social issues and structures within a seagull community, and finally a goal which a seagull, trying to defy the odds of normality, can dream about and try to achieve? How many people could use ideas set within a seagull’s perspective to be used as inspiration (the idea of folding in his wings) and make it reasonably somewhat believable (to the extent that some people enjoy reading it)?

By Ryan Hodson AAL

This story is as simple as it can ever get. It is a story about a certain Seagull Jonathan Livingston who aims not to be the ordinary, but to be the ordinary extraordinary. He is not satisfied with his restricted norm of life, but aims higher. He wants to fly, fly the perfect drop, fly at great heights and master it.

However this is the way people suppose to be.

Tommy

“This bird has a strange view of the world. Trying to fly faster than “normal” is a bit of a worry.” (anon)

How is this a bit of a worry? Haven’t you ever wanted to run faster than “normal”? Write faster than “normal”? Or read faster than “normal”? The bird is driven by determination, and I admire this. In the end of the story, the bird was able to achieve what he wanted. I look up to this. I think it is a bit selfish of you to say that “trying to fly faster than “normal” is a bit of a worry.” How would you feel if someone said all your dreams and aspirations are “a bit of a worry”?

i agree with sper0016 do we need to go on about physics in a story that clearly is not true or possible, i talking seagull is on floor for a talk about physics.

The writer used words that really made it easy to image the settings, it was well writen but not my sort of story.

it is good the way that he clearly states in the story that it is not true but at the same time it makes you believe that it is real....

What to say about a seagull who tries to fly like a falcon? It seems foolish at first, but it satisfies me to know that there are people out there that branch out and write about things as obscure as a seagull attempting to fly more erratically than your everyday seagull. Odd, eh?

~ Crimpy ~ the Mountain Goat, BLJ

I agree with most people on many things.

 This story has much meaning in that the seagull was about to kill himself because he was just a plain ordinary seagull. But then he realised that if he wants something then he has to work for it. People don't just wake up in the morning and have amazing talents.

 Also it is highly unlikely than a seagull could get up to terminal velocity because in the story the seagull is flying on the tips of his wings. For a seagull to do that would require much strength and determination because it would be so hard to keep so still and keep his wings in the same position because he his going so fast. The slightest movement of his wings at that speed would send him into to a fatal death.

 I do admire his determinaton and strength. I did not like this story too much because it was a little boring and very unbelievable.

Leon Zafry 

I agree with most people, that at the start of this story the seagull is about to die or commit suicide. Thats because he is until he realises there are better things to do, like putting up with the fact that he's just a seagull. In the same way, just because we aren't a super rich or athletic or smart person, we don't have a reason to jump off a cliff. We can do just what the seagull did, and try to achieve what he wanted to, no matter what anyone else said or how bad he was at it. He achieved his goal and he was happy. Just because the general population thinks what you is dumb, it normally isn't, it is just what the media would like you to think.

G

I think that the above comment about which states "I wonder if this author wrote anything else and actually got paid for it," is extremely harsh. Although this particular individual may think that "Johnathon Livingstone Seagull" was unrealistic is unfair to the author.

Looking at the physics behind it this takes away the meaning that the author is trying to give the short story. If we look at the physics and think of how unrealistic a seagull flying at terminal velocity is it distracts reader. I think that it is unfair to judge the piece of how unrealistic it is when the author is trying to get a message across to his audience of readers.

Also, if a bird would like to faster than any other bird why stop it? Many of us would like to be traveling or moving faster than each other. If a bird is trying to reach its own personal goal why stop it? We wouldn't stop each other from trying to achieve their goals so why stop others, even if it is a bird? 

I like the idea of the seagull that wants to fly faster. To me this makes the bird likeable, but the fact that it thinks about his movement in velocity and the heights in feets makes the story a bit unbelievable.

Maybe the author wants to compare the bird to humans, who also like to be faster than they are. Comparisons like that makes you thinking about it, but in my opinion the author didn't manage do to it.

Making the seagull a dog? It would make the story to some kind of children story, at least it reminds me of one.

yes, you can say that johnathon livingston is strange but ultimately, strange is a point of view. the way that you percieve johnathon livingston may be completely different from some one else. Every one percieves things differently and thus every one will get something different out of this story, no one persons idea of what this story means is right and no ones is wrong. so although you may not agree with what some one else says or thinks doesnt make you right. the real interest in stories is not what the author says but what you hear. so get a point of view.

I feel that this piece is about heroes and us trying to reach for a better future. It is about how we all struggle to achieve this may be flying fast for seagulls or excelling for humans in other ways. It tells you that you should follow your dreams and that your deeds and how you carry them out are who you are, you cannot hide from yourself. At the begining the seagul wants to kill himself but he finds a reason for living in his flying, a purpose.

Although it is impossible for a bird to actually fly that fast I believe that it is simply how fast the bird believes himself to be flying instead of how fast he actually is flying.