Hello everybody I guess it's time to say good bye. This will probably be the last blog im going to be posting, seeing as today is my last day in Writing 122. Thank-you Sandy, for a wonderfull view into the computer world of writing. Also thank-you google docs for making my life alot easier.
This has been a wonderful term of learning, growing, and writing. I have 2 more half terms of school then i'm done with my AAOT and maybe in the Respiratory Care program. I guess ill just have to wait and see.
So now im going to actually leave the rest of this blog open to tell you all about my trip to Florida. I leave tomorrow for an entire week and I cant wait.....See you all later!!!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Response to Counterclaims YO!!
This Blog is in response to my classmates responses and my own to our counterclaim blogs. Here are links to my responses and the copy of the best one I wrote and the best one I received.
First My response to Crystals counterclaim.
Crystal,
I agree on a lot of your points, but I feel it is the persons motives behind the isolation that can keep them from social one on one personal interaction, and not every one is the same. I wouldn't call myself a gamer as I don't have the time or the ability to only do one thing at a time for hours on end. However if I am trying to avoid reality or responsibility I have been known to sit in front of the game for hours on end, just ask my X-wife ;). I think we actually talked about that once. I guess what I'm saying is i agree to a certain point: that gamers who use games to as a way to divide themselves from the out side world can be a problem, but that is for each individual to decide. The flip side to that which you discussed in your counterclaim is that in that culture it can also bring people together. thanks hope this helps
I agree on a lot of your points, but I feel it is the persons motives behind the isolation that can keep them from social one on one personal interaction, and not every one is the same. I wouldn't call myself a gamer as I don't have the time or the ability to only do one thing at a time for hours on end. However if I am trying to avoid reality or responsibility I have been known to sit in front of the game for hours on end, just ask my X-wife ;). I think we actually talked about that once. I guess what I'm saying is i agree to a certain point: that gamers who use games to as a way to divide themselves from the out side world can be a problem, but that is for each individual to decide. The flip side to that which you discussed in your counterclaim is that in that culture it can also bring people together. thanks hope this helps
MitrovitchNovember 26, 2012 1:33 PM -Crystal
Second my favorite response received from Justin, because of his question which I will answer.
Shane,
Your essay made me reflect on the obsession that I have with my smart phone. At times, I find myself glaring into the screen, because I feel like I have nothing else to do with my time. For instance, I'm constantly scanning my FB account, or checking to see the newest upload of pictures on my Instagram page. I totally agree with the fact that we could be using our time for interaction with people.
I don't agree with Reeve's technique of shutting off your phone, because I feel that a person needs to learn how to control their compulsions. Just like anything else in life, too much of anything becomes a habit. And from that habit, it may develop into an addiction.
How do you feel about Reeve's technique on shutting off your phone? Did you use this technique, or just completely get rid of your smart phone?
Your essay made me reflect on the obsession that I have with my smart phone. At times, I find myself glaring into the screen, because I feel like I have nothing else to do with my time. For instance, I'm constantly scanning my FB account, or checking to see the newest upload of pictures on my Instagram page. I totally agree with the fact that we could be using our time for interaction with people.
I don't agree with Reeve's technique of shutting off your phone, because I feel that a person needs to learn how to control their compulsions. Just like anything else in life, too much of anything becomes a habit. And from that habit, it may develop into an addiction.
How do you feel about Reeve's technique on shutting off your phone? Did you use this technique, or just completely get rid of your smart phone?
I agreed with Reeve's decision to just shut off his smart phone as it was becoming a distraction to his ability to socially interact in his own life. I how ever did not try it mainly because this wasn't the real reason for getting rid of my phone. It was just the after effect, the realization of what I was letting my phone do to me.
I got rid of my phone at first because It was too expensive. Then I started to notice how much it was apart of my life. I am very black and white when it comes to compulsive behavior. If I get to engulfed in it I get away from it, I'm still working on being able to sit in the grey area of life. This is not to say that I will never have a smart phone again. Just at least for now I have to distance myself due to my to my own incessant needs to fill my void with outside materialistic objects. Also to be more involved with the outside world, because for me if I don't stay connected socially with other humans one on one I get lost in my own mind and its not a fun place for me. Thank-you for your response Shane Mitrov.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Smartphones, are they really that convient? "counterclaim"
All of this was so convenient and saved time, gas,and even some ego and pride not having to stop and ask for directions. Looking back on this I almost want to laugh though. Yes, my phone made certain conveniences, but at the same time it was inhibiting growth by stopping my interactions with strangers. It was bloating my ego with all the answers that i so conveniently found on google. All of those bills I had to pay on the go could have waited till i got home from my long days of working and going to school. I didn't have to do everything at once, those 20-30 minutes I spent in the parking lot of school payng bills could have been spent relaxing taking a breath and being in the moment. I guess i have to give one point to the ole smarty phone it was super reliving not having to drive all the way home for my laptop.
Just how convienent are these devices anyway, are they relieving daily stress or creating more? Andrew Reeves wrote, “It became apparent to me how much my sense of stress, of rushing without thought or reflection, of missing the important things, had increased significantly since I had become hard-wired into the 'always on' communication. How many times did I check for emails instead of listening to my daughter's latest account of her school day, or my partner's own worries or joys -- that sense of always being available to others, and yet no longer being available to myself?” Reeves is a therapist who advocates to his clients, “ a move towards increased self-awareness and esteem, a respect for space and the importance of expression. He admits that he isn't living the values he is trying to instill in his clients. Finally in the end of his article he took a drastic measure, much like mine, not getting rid of his phone altogether but shutting it off at the end of his work day. Andrew even said, “ It was like getting into a warm bath at the end of a busy day; I actually began to enjoy being free, my head clearer, and my breathing calmer.”
This was the exact feeling I had when I relieved myself of my own smartphone. It was almost like a silence came over me. I no longer had to spend hours trying to get three stars on angry birds or check my never ending spam-filled inbox. Sadly that silence only lasted a minute seeing as I didn't just shut my phone off I just got a new dumber phone with the most annoying ring tone you could imagine. What this all comes down to is just how busy am I, what conveniences do I really need in my life, and are those conveniences really making my life more advantageous. I have figured this out for myself now it is your turn.
http://www.google.com/imgres?start=108&num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1536&bih=739&tbm=isch&tbnid=mUMAy5RcD54DSM:&imgrefurl=http://cicilycorbett.blogspot.com/2012/03/dear-irs-have-nice-day.html&docid=nsPAy-T_ROz_GM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-v03hbqiyB0FeMUxMM8-JuuHp1gf5DjYMqhEWXsQFilERgyzQHiuymueJJWA9C4sfMHTF88WtdAyqrIWj9Ap49Wzt-StZV4VWgRJiNvtVXKSMTHO9l8ermUbqlKinWOyT5PXlOf0Z5k/s1600/IRS.jpg&w=1600&h=1015&ei=PB2kUO7jFZGGiQK0koD4BQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=356&sig=112917390785004692588&page=4&tbnh=141&tbnw=222&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:100,i:37&tx=88&ty=54
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The Magnificent 7......OhhhhYEAH!!!
I recently posted some comments on a few blog's and here they are.
I tried to comment as liberal as possible, as I dont like to impose my ownr views on others. My favorite comment of them all was.
Colby's--
"Yet the answer seems so simple to me,
greed. The people in high places, with wealth just continue to want more of it.
We live in a corporate world now and unfortunately it even seems to influence
the way our government operates." I agree yet disagree with this statement I
believe greed is what is getting us into so much trouble.
I however do not agree that it is only the 1%'s fault. We all play are part in this nations greed. We the people are asking for this, and it is being provided. If it is to change though we all need to STOP CONSUMING (pardon my language) shit we dont need.
We all need to wake from this delusional world of consumption. Im not saying to stop buying frivolous items. Im just saying stop buying all the frivolous items.
Untill recently I was this way but slowly i am degressing in my need for consumption.
Okay I think i kind of got off topic but I think you supported your point well and left room for others to argue theirs thank-you
I however do not agree that it is only the 1%'s fault. We all play are part in this nations greed. We the people are asking for this, and it is being provided. If it is to change though we all need to STOP CONSUMING (pardon my language) shit we dont need.
We all need to wake from this delusional world of consumption. Im not saying to stop buying frivolous items. Im just saying stop buying all the frivolous items.
Untill recently I was this way but slowly i am degressing in my need for consumption.
Okay I think i kind of got off topic but I think you supported your point well and left room for others to argue theirs thank-you
Drifting From Reality?
How has personal computing technology such as smart phones and ipods/pads made americans less social?
This issue affects me because I recently got rid of my smart phone, and not only has my communication with people around me enhanced but my spending of my non existent money has also lowered. I am no longer constantly checking my email/facebook or looking for the best sale on some item i do not even need.
I care because I feel these things are keeping us as a society locked down on to a one way road of thinking. The most important thing to us is our phone they should be implanted into our hands because they never leave them. Not only that, our phones and ipods do almost everything for us. They help us exercise, shop, wake us up, put us to sleep, even remind us to do our daily objectives. This is all very convenient but at what cost. Obesity is on the rise, our countries deficit is insane, its all just another way to escape this thing we call reality. What happens when we ignore problems though? They don't just go away they become monsters! We become monsters!
“The group is expected never to impinge upon—indeed, it is expected to tacitly
endorse by enduring—the individual’s right to withdraw from social space by whatever means he or she chooses: cell phones, BlackBerrys, iPods, DVDs screened on laptop computers. These devices are all used as a means to refuse to be “in” the social space; they are technological cold shoulders that are worse than older forms of subordinate activity in that they impose visually and auditorily on others.” I had to borrow this snippet from the article, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves” by Christine Rosen because it explains our society so well. I do it, we all do it, sit in our own little ipod world and veg while our food is being made or go to class and check our cell every five minutes for an update or text message of some kind. We are no longer really engaged in the real world. Its like everyone wants to escape, but where are we going?
The reason i'm writing this is because i'm afraid. I'm afraid of losing touch with reality, hence my parting ways with my smartphone. I know it sounds insignificant but it was just a small step in the direction I want for my life. I got tired of trying to escape every 5 minutes. I got tired of going on throughout my day with noise blasting in my ears while the rest of the world went along without me. I don't know about you but I know one thing my Iphone didn't do, and that was communicate back to me like another human. There is no feeling when you read a text message. Theres no feeling when you get that facebook alert that you've been invited to a party. I don't even get formally invited to parties anymore, if I don’t check my facebook event calendar i’m shit out of luck. (Oh crap now this is starting to sound like a sob story about how lonely my life is but I'm not “seriously” look at me I'm awesome there is no one that dosent want me at their party:)
I think I have made my point pretty clear, that we're abandoning each other for these devices that are supposed to enhance and make our lives easier. I don't think we need to get rid of them but i do think we need to stop an take a look at how much time and money we put into these things and how they affect our lives.
This issue affects me because I recently got rid of my smart phone, and not only has my communication with people around me enhanced but my spending of my non existent money has also lowered. I am no longer constantly checking my email/facebook or looking for the best sale on some item i do not even need.
I care because I feel these things are keeping us as a society locked down on to a one way road of thinking. The most important thing to us is our phone they should be implanted into our hands because they never leave them. Not only that, our phones and ipods do almost everything for us. They help us exercise, shop, wake us up, put us to sleep, even remind us to do our daily objectives. This is all very convenient but at what cost. Obesity is on the rise, our countries deficit is insane, its all just another way to escape this thing we call reality. What happens when we ignore problems though? They don't just go away they become monsters! We become monsters!
“The group is expected never to impinge upon—indeed, it is expected to tacitly
endorse by enduring—the individual’s right to withdraw from social space by whatever means he or she chooses: cell phones, BlackBerrys, iPods, DVDs screened on laptop computers. These devices are all used as a means to refuse to be “in” the social space; they are technological cold shoulders that are worse than older forms of subordinate activity in that they impose visually and auditorily on others.” I had to borrow this snippet from the article, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves” by Christine Rosen because it explains our society so well. I do it, we all do it, sit in our own little ipod world and veg while our food is being made or go to class and check our cell every five minutes for an update or text message of some kind. We are no longer really engaged in the real world. Its like everyone wants to escape, but where are we going?
The reason i'm writing this is because i'm afraid. I'm afraid of losing touch with reality, hence my parting ways with my smartphone. I know it sounds insignificant but it was just a small step in the direction I want for my life. I got tired of trying to escape every 5 minutes. I got tired of going on throughout my day with noise blasting in my ears while the rest of the world went along without me. I don't know about you but I know one thing my Iphone didn't do, and that was communicate back to me like another human. There is no feeling when you read a text message. Theres no feeling when you get that facebook alert that you've been invited to a party. I don't even get formally invited to parties anymore, if I don’t check my facebook event calendar i’m shit out of luck. (Oh crap now this is starting to sound like a sob story about how lonely my life is but I'm not “seriously” look at me I'm awesome there is no one that dosent want me at their party:)
I think I have made my point pretty clear, that we're abandoning each other for these devices that are supposed to enhance and make our lives easier. I don't think we need to get rid of them but i do think we need to stop an take a look at how much time and money we put into these things and how they affect our lives.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Attack Of the Ipod
I read the article, “Society Is Dead: We Have Retreated into the iWorld” byAndrew Sullivan. In this article Sullivan talks about the Ipod people and how technology has given us a universe entirely to our selfs, “Society without the social,” he says.
Basically he went to new york and saw everyone walking around lifelessly with white wires hanging from their ears, from their Ipods. He even admits that he is one of them and how what started as a convenient way to control and hold all of his music became a compulsive obsession. He even goes as far as saying its a cult.
Everything from TV to our phones receiving our emails of our favorite bloggers thoughts; everything is directed to our own basic thoughts and needs. We no longer get to meet new strangers that can give us outside Ideas on worldviews or, an opinion that might force us to
change our mind about something.
Sullivan says, “Music was once the preserve of the living room or the concert hall. It was sometimes solitary but it was primarily a shared experience, something that brought people together, gave them the comfort of knowing that others too understood the pleasure of a Brahms symphony or that Beatles album.” Now we all just hide it away in our little white wires and keep it all to ourselfs. We have a constant soundtrack to our lives to keep ourselfs going through out the day.Finally to close it all out he shares the old I forgot my ipod sob story but flips it. “I noticed the rhythms of others again, the sound of the airplane, the opinions of the taxi driver, the small social cues that had been obscured before. I noticed how others related to each other. And I felt just a little bit connected again and a little more aware.” I know for myself, putting down the technology that i think makes my life so much more manageable, really helps me relax and see the realworld.
Messenger, Erica (2010-01-08). Argument! (Page 279-280). Humanities & Social Science. Kindle Edition.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Lies Are Cumbersome
I think I can honestly say I will always be a liar. I know it sounds horrible, but would it not be a lie to say I will never lie again. It is done in all different ways; unknowingly, to spare ones feelings, to get what one wants, and even for fun. Some teachers even use it to help their students think outside of the box. I guess the real question here is who decideds when lies are good or bad, and when has it been taken too far?
I had a teacher who told us that Christopher Columbus was given syphilis by Queen Elizabeth before he came over on the Nina, and introduced it to the Americas. I know that is an extreme lie to tell a bunch of high schoolers, but he got his point across. Obvioulsly he ended up telling us the truth, what he was doing, and why he did it. Dose that make it right though?
Another lie, in which I was involved, happened a few weeks ago when my girlfriend bought me a hat. All was good on this beautiful summer day. My girlfriend came through the front door and said, "Oh I got you something." She pulled a hat from a brown plastic bag. I saw it and instantly I thought to myself I will never wear that, crap what do I say. Instead of saying what really went through my mind, I said, "I like it, its really nice."
Now the point I'm trying to make isn't that I could have avoided any hurt feelings or ideas of distrust by telling her the truth. Its that by telling the truth I could have shown respect for my partner. I could have shown that I trust her feelings toward me. I could have let her make her own decision on how she wanted to feel about me disliking a hat.
Instead of doing this I tried to control the situation and make the out come the way I thought it should be. My Idea of what is right and wrong isn't every ones idea of right and wrong. So my point is is that lying isn't good or bad. Its just a thing that we as do sometimes to be a human among humans, but it is best to check your motives before taking on something so guileful. It may not be the right move to make.
I had a teacher who told us that Christopher Columbus was given syphilis by Queen Elizabeth before he came over on the Nina, and introduced it to the Americas. I know that is an extreme lie to tell a bunch of high schoolers, but he got his point across. Obvioulsly he ended up telling us the truth, what he was doing, and why he did it. Dose that make it right though?
Now the point I'm trying to make isn't that I could have avoided any hurt feelings or ideas of distrust by telling her the truth. Its that by telling the truth I could have shown respect for my partner. I could have shown that I trust her feelings toward me. I could have let her make her own decision on how she wanted to feel about me disliking a hat.
Instead of doing this I tried to control the situation and make the out come the way I thought it should be. My Idea of what is right and wrong isn't every ones idea of right and wrong. So my point is is that lying isn't good or bad. Its just a thing that we as do sometimes to be a human among humans, but it is best to check your motives before taking on something so guileful. It may not be the right move to make.
Coexist
“In 1971, John Lennon imagined a world with no borders or countries, only filled with co-existing humans and peace.” It's funny the author uses Lennon’s name, seeing as it was his birthday yesterday; Oct 9, 1940, ten years before computers were even invented. It's strange to think an inanimate object (the internet) that we use to do everyday communication can cause such a drastic change in the world of today. I feel that the point of this essay is that communication can cause big things to happen. Hany Rashwan, the author of "Communication Key to Egypt's Uprising" states, ”Our web is the only platform on earth that gives anyone — regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or beliefs — full freedom in utilizing and contributing back to the Internet.” Basically he's saying the internet is the only place of true freedom in this world.
According to Rashwan, more than 80 million people supported, helped, or followed this revolution online. That is a lot of people - almost one third the population of the United States - and as he states, is the population of egypt.
Okay before I go through this whole paper with out being a little cynical I have to say one thing: How many people that push the like button on facebook or follow something on twitter really even know what they are liking or following? Really, I would like to know. If you're in my class or read this, leave a post for me. I’d like to know others opinions on this matter. My uninformed opinion would be no (they don't), so please inform me about your views on this subject. Let me know if I’m the only person who just randomly likes and follows stuff because it sounds good!
Talk about walls being broken. A whole nation was brought together by a simple yet complicated electronic device and its components. I think Rashwan is completely right in this essay. He explained what the internet did for communication, the effects it had on Egypt, and what effect the internet has on communication of the world today.
If John Lennon were still alive today I'm sure he would have a lot to say about the internet. I also suspect he would probably still be disappointed in the state of the world. Luckily for us we do still have the power to change as individuals. No matter where we are in the world we have the power of choice. It may be a lot more difficult to use it in other countries and cultures, but it will always be there. I see the internet as a way to propagate this power of choice, communication, and togetherness. I feel the author states that very well in his writings and am glad to have had the opportunity to read this paper.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
An Elephant Never Lies
My response to the article “Let the Zoo’s Elephants Go” is, oh my god not another animal story, so freaking sad! Les Shobert states "The elephants' debilitating ailments are probably a result of the inadequate conditions in which they have been held.” He goes on to state "Zoos must change the concept of how elephants are kept in captivity, starting with how much space we allot them." Shorbert goes into the specifics of how horribly these animals are being treated, because of the way they are detained, and how they can be helped.
http://www.csudh.edu/dearhabermas/oppeleph01.htm
I feel if a zoo, circus, or any other sideshow is going to have such an exhibit, they as caregivers should supply adequate living arrangements for such enormous and needy animals. Although, whose fault is it really? It can’t be held in the arms of the caregivers alone. They have these exhibits for a reason, right? Exactly, they have them for us, the public. The reason this is a problem now is that we, the public, see the way all of these animals are being treated and we don’t like it, not one bit, boohoo!
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