Read the relevant texts before commenting, please.
W 11/Th 12. FL 37-38, WGU -p.192
- If/when you become a parent, will you be "anxious, frightened, overprotective" and constantly worried about the threat of child-napping? 326
- What do you think of "the message of The Courage to Heal"? 328
- What accounts for the "rising chorus of panicky Christian crazy talk"? 330
- Do you know any real "Devil worshippers"? Do you believe devils exist? Why? 334
- What do you think of Bakersfield's "big outbreak" and LA County's "Satanic Panic"? 337
- "Younger people know nothing about [our Satanic Panic of just a generation ago], and almost nobody is aware of its scale and duration and damage." True? 340
- What's the harm of obsessing about flying saucers etc.? 345
- Do you know anyone who believes that "everybody has been in on" a one-world government conspiracy orchestrated by space aliens? 347-8
- Were the Branch Davidians fundamentally different from mainstream Protestantism? 350
- What do you think of The X-Files? 354
WGU
- Was Locke's "sweet" labor theory of value invalidated by the invention of money? 166
- Do we have a duty to our own humanity to work? 167
- Was Arendt correct about the distinction between labor and work, and about their rootedness in natality? 168-9
- Was Rousseau right about the value of learning to work with your hands, particularly carpentry? 172
- Do you worry, as Paul Goodman did, that there may be "no decent work to grow up for"? 173
- Is it a "travesty" to call people who work in advertising "creatives"? 175
- Is consumer capitalism infantilizing?
- Do you regularly discard "unfashionable" clothes or other goods before they wear out or break down? Should you? 179
- Do you want to produce something of value? Why? 181
- Do you expect to find meaning in your work? If not, where will you find it? 185
- Have you had any "nonjudgmental Squishie" teachers who taught that reason was not for everyone, or that "someone's capacity to experience the supernatural" depends on their "willingness to see more than is materially present"? 308
- What do you think of Jodi Dean's defense of UFO "abductees"? 311
- Have you had any textbooks similar to Responsive Ed's science texts? 315
- Are Survivalists and Preppers "wacky and sad"? 319
- Do you agree with Jefferson's statement about freedom of and from religion? 320
- Do you agree "that so many of our neighbors are saying so many loony things [and Kurt Andersen wrote that before the Q-Anon conspiracy loonies surfaced] is doing us real injury"? 322
WGU
- What are some other signs of being grown-up, besides the ability to think for yourself? 123
- Should corporations like Coca-Cola be allowed to have "pouring rights" in public schools? 132
- "You must take your education into your own hands as soon as possible." Did you? How? 140
- Should the age of legal maturity be raised to match the age of brain maturity? 140
- Are you willing to go a month without internet? 148
- Were Augustine and Rousseau right about travel? 150-51
- Do you hope to live and work one day in another culture for at least a year? Do you think it will contribute to your maturity? 162-3
- If/when you become a parent, will you be "anxious, frightened, overprotective" and constantly worried about the threat of child-napping? 326
- What do you think of "the message of The Courage to Heal"? 328
- What accounts for the "rising chorus of panicky Christian crazy talk"? 330
- Do you know any real "Devil worshippers"? Do you believe devils exist? Why? 334
- What do you think of Bakersfield's "big outbreak" and LA County's "Satanic Panic"? 337
- "Younger people know nothing about [our Satanic Panic of just a generation ago], and almost nobody is aware of its scale and duration and damage." True? 340
- What's the harm of obsessing about flying saucers etc.? 345
- Do you know anyone who believes that "everybody has been in on" a one-world government conspiracy orchestrated by space aliens? 347-8
- Were the Branch Davidians fundamentally different from mainstream Protestantism? 350
- What do you think of The X-Files? 354
WGU
- Was Locke's "sweet" labor theory of value invalidated by the invention of money? 166
- Do we have a duty to our own humanity to work? 167
- Was Arendt correct about the distinction between labor and work, and about their rootedness in natality? 168-9
- Was Rousseau right about the value of learning to work with your hands, particularly carpentry? 172
- Do you worry, as Paul Goodman did, that there may be "no decent work to grow up for"? 173
- Is it a "travesty" to call people who work in advertising "creatives"? 175
- Is consumer capitalism infantilizing?
- Do you regularly discard "unfashionable" clothes or other goods before they wear out or break down? Should you? 179
- Do you want to produce something of value? Why? 181
- Do you expect to find meaning in your work? If not, where will you find it? 185
Are you willing to go a month without internet?
ReplyDeleteNo, I would not want to go a month without the internet. While I understand Susan Neiman’s concern, “the sheer speed and volume of electronic communication leaves us much more vulnerable to the bidding of others,” (Neiman, 147) I think that it depends on how you use the internet. I know for this course I have used the internet multiple times each day to learn more about the philosophers we are studying. Also, we can access great writings like The Iliad and The Odyssey through the internet’s Gutenberg project while we cannot go to the library because of COVID-19.
If you are only connecting to the internet to check your email., then I agree; most emails are non-essential. If you are wanting minute by minute updates on voting results, then since you cannot change the outcome, that is a waste of your time. If you are conned into “click and bait” articles that lead you through a long slowly revealing story while exposing you to multiple products, then one article should be enough to cure you of that habit. Like Neiman, I too “understand what it’s like to be ruled by a habit one knows is no good,” (149) but that is why they have sign off and shut down options on your computer to interrupt your internet usage.
Most sports enthusiasts use the internet to get the latest scores on games quickly rather than having to watch the scrolling through categories at the bottom of ESPN until you get to your category and then through other teams that you are not interested in. Once you have checked the score, you can minimize the webpage and continue reading or studying. Mostly, it is a matter of self-discipline and prioritizing what is the most important thing for you to be doing now, but the internet serves a vital need in today’s society, whether you are doing JEWL research or research on a specific browser.
Like Neiman, you may be able to do without the internet for one month. There are many people around the world who do not have access to any internet, but are they better informed without it? I think not.
I love your stance on this considering I often use the internet to answer genuine questions I have as quickly as possible where otherwise I'd probably never have answers. I completely agree that if you're using it to check on drama or stressful situations it's useless, but you can also use it for education and other beneficial things.
DeleteI completely agree with your stance. I also feel that I use the internet/social media in responsible ways and haven't experienced it being something that is truly harming. I think a month without internet could benefit some people, but for others all we need is to unplug when we're with others. For example, my family doesn't allow phones at the dinner table and this time often stretches past dinner when we all get into the conversation. As someone who has grown-up being immersed in technology, I know how to use it well and when to use it. I also know how to live without it but see that ultimately, my life is helped by technology and not hurt by it.
DeleteI can definitely see your perspective on this. In some ways I owe everything to the internet. It was how I was able to explore what I wanted to understand as a kid. My father permoted one world view and expected my whole family to share it. I hated other people until the internet helpped me learn about the beauty in humanity through reading and watching videos about philosophy and social science.
DeleteI also wrote on the month without the internet. I think we all could do it, but why? We have no need to take a technological step back.
DeleteI agree with what you're saying about the benefits of technology and how it has helped so many become more informed/educated. I still think that taking a break from technology could be beneficial- but this also makes complete sense on why it's not necessary for some.
DeleteI think you make a great point, and great use of citations by the way, but yea that last line really strikes home. Let's say you CAN go a month without internet, though I would still argue that, what do you gain out of it in the modern day. There is so much information out there that you actually are being a detriment to yourself by not using it. I mean like let's touch on your point about the sign off and log off buttons, for example if you feel that social media is making you feel bad, depressed, angry, self conscious, that is a portion of the internet you can just turn off. Delete the app, turn off your phone, limit usage, there are tons of ways to deter the negative effects of the internet. So yea I do agree, that what do I gain from not being on the internet, the literal sum of all human intelligence is found on here.
DeleteI definitely agree with your discernment between useful internet usage and unnecessary internet usage. To make a blanket statement that one should try to give up all internet usage for a month is a good challenge, but as you've pointed out, perhaps overkill. Also I'm definitely guilty of having spent way too much time refreshing the election results in the last week and I'd have to agree with you that it was all ultimately a waste of time and mental energy.
DeleteI agree that the internet does help us become better informed and is usually more efficient when searching for information than if we didn't have internet. anyone should be able to stay alive if they didn't have internet for a month but they might not be happy because that is all they've know for their whole life.
DeleteIt seems that you are making the argument for the useful utility of the internet as opposed to unhealthy habits while being on the internet. In that sense I do agree with you that the internet is one of the most important tools that we have in the modern age. However, I do disagree with regards to spending a month without internet as that is something that sounds amazing to me. I think that it would be incredibly healthy to remove the mind from the machine and explore the universe in its magnificent reality.
ReplyDeleteSimon Pergande (11/08/20)
ReplyDeleteWeekly Essay (+3 points)
Question: "You must take your education into your own hands as soon as possible." Did you? How? WGU 140
I grew up being homeschooled with my mom teaching me the standard academics and my dad teaching me about extracurricular activities such as combat sports, music, and art. As no parent is perfect, the downsides of my homeschooled education included a lack of social experiences such as those in leaderships roles and more complex group interactions (which i consider both a good and a bad thing as I am very independent from the "group think" of others but I can be socially naive due to inexperience). When I was 17 years old, I had started to think about what I wanted to do with my future and came to the conclusion that attending a university would be the best thing for me. Attending Middle Tennessee State University has brought me new experiences that has changed my life in every positive way imaginable. Furthering my education gave me the momentum necessary to spring up to my feet as an adult. From "Why Grow Up" by Susan Neiman, I very much enjoy the distinction made between being legally mature and biologically mature (WGU, 140). I would add to that that pursuing higher education will assist you in the development of your mind as well as the development of your maturity as it requires a mature person to register for classes, show up to classes, do the studying, and keep your grades up responsibly. It is the small things in life that accumulate to shape you as a more mature person. Take your education in your hands and take you life in your own hands.
Weekly essay (+3 points)
DeleteCommented on Don Enss post (+1 point)
Commented on Autumn Daniel post (+1 point)
12 weeks total, 5 points each week= 60 points total (not including Midterm grade).
I like your take that taking education (and life) in your own hands results in maturity, which if it is done the way you seem to have done it, it absolutely will.
DeleteI agree it is the small things that shape you into a more mature person. Something as little as staying in and studying one day rather than going out with friends shows priorities are being met and once that happens you're on the road to your own maturity
DeleteI agree that maturing is almost something you must take hold of on your own. Little by little, the small day to day changes we make eventually make us who we are.
DeleteI think Susan Neiman is also not only talking about legal maturity and biological maturity. I think she focuses most of all on intellectual maturity. Which goes beyond personal responsablity, its about how to contruct thoughts in the first place. Truly understanding what it means to be well thought out person.
DeleteI agree with you to a certain degree. Meaning, taking control of your education doesn’t make you mature, there are a lot of smart-dumb people in our society…but, life experiences; itself, is where the true growth is. So, you don’t have to necessarily go to a big university nor attend college to become educated as soon as possible, life is powerfully, how, and what you take from these dealings will give you either a fractured or strong foundation in life and that’s it.
DeletePHIL 1030
ReplyDeleteAutumn Daniel
Do you expect to find meaning in your work? If not, where will you find it?
I do expect to find some meaning in work, since I want to be a therapist of some sort and I feel like that could/will be pretty fulfilling. However, I do not expect this will be my whole “meaning” on Earth. I don’t want to attach all my meaning to work. I hope that by the time I'm doing the job I want to do, I can find meaning elsewhere like in charity work, or traveling, or having kids, etc… I would honestly like to just find meaning in being here without outside factors (what i’ve done, my job, etc). I think if you can find meaning within it'll be easier to be happy even if you don’t have those other things.
Are you willing to go a month without internet?
I would definitely be willing to go a month without the internet. I love camping and hiking, so there’s been weeks where i’ve been unable to connect to the internet and it’s refreshing.I agree with Susan Neiman- that we shouldn’t let the internet rule us. It’s an amazing tool for many reasons, but it can be consuming for a lot of people. We should all be able to/should disconnect every once in a while. It’s good to just enjoy the world around you and be present in the moment. Also, communication with the internet is so easy- but often things are misinterpreted or just don’t have the same effect as talking in person would be. It’s often easier to say things over the internet that you wouldn’t say to someone’s face. It can become toxic when there’s so much social media and comparing on different platforms. You only see what people want you to see, which can be damaging for some. Besides, a month isn’t very long in the grand scheme of things.
I agree and appreciate your outlook on finding meaning within work, yourself, and overall life. I think putting all meaning in work can be harmful to the mind. It can create unrealistic expectations for yourself and unwanted pressure in life.
DeleteI really like your take, on finding meaning.
DeleteI think it's an excellent point to make, that "worth" shouldn't solely be connected with your job. While it will be fulfilling, there are so many other wonders and joys in life, as well as your work.
I think it will be an important factor, in all of our lives, not to let our jobs completely consume us, and remember to take a moment, to smell the roses.
Weekly Essay +3
DeleteReplied to Don Enss +1
Replied to Cory Roberts +1
I could not agree more on your take with communication on the internet. Communication online can really be misinterpreted it has become way easier to simply type your opinion then to actually say it person. Which others can relate like Mike Tyson. He stated "social media made you all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it."
DeleteI completely agree with the work assessment. Your job is meant to have meaning, it's something that some people have spent 4 years, 6 years, a decade, two decades, working towards so it only makes sense that it should be important in your life, and it should be a part of you BUT, when you're risking everything else for it, I think that's when it goes too far. Like you said, I can find meaning in my family, my friends, my hobbies, charity work, and I think there is a limit for all of those things, because you yourself are the sum of those parts, so there's no reason to be consumed by one of them.
DeleteThere is a lot of research coming out with regards to the harmful effects of social media on the individual person as well as our society. I often find myself relying on the internet more than I should and I have been inspired to take steps to change that. I hope that going into the military after I graduate will dramatically help me in this process. I hope that we as people can inspire others to enjoy our wonderful planet!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone needs to take a hiatus from social media or their phone. I took three months off of social media, and it made e feel more positive and healthy.
DeleteSocial media can be as addictive as any drug and just as harmful. When people on social media can hurt people through cyber bullying or make someone's day with a lot of likes then you have to ask is social media has to much power over people. While some people can make a living on social media some people loose their lives to it. So I'm glad you respect the dangers of the internet man and good luck with school and the military.
DeleteSection 10
ReplyDelete55/60
Reply to Don Enss and Simon Pergande
What are some other signs of being grown-up, besides the ability to think for yourself? 123
To begin my answer to this question, I feel like I must say that the ability to think for yourself is not a “grown-up” trait, which is exceptionally evident in today’s day and age where we have plenty of grown adults that believe everything they hear on the internet for fact without doing research or using any level of critical thinking skills. Grown-ups don’t always think for themselves because they don’t always chase after truth and then form opinions based on facts. I think this brings up the difference between maturity and being grown. I have met plenty of people in their fifties who are not mature, so much to the point where they will react like children throwing a tantrum when things do not go their way. On the other side of that, there are plenty of teenagers that are mature, but because of their age they are written off. With that being said, signs of being “grown-up” would be things like age, wrinkles, grey hair, owning a house, mimosas at brunch, and things like that. Grown-up doesn’t truly mean anything really. Maturity is the word I think the question is looking for. Thinking back to some of my previous comments, it appears as though I just enjoy arguing the semantics rather than truly answering the question, but you don’t get the right answers by asking the wrong questions. To quickly answer my revised version of the question: other signs would be things like hearing the other party out in a disagreement, striving for knowledge, standing your ground without disrespecting someone else, and taking responsibility for every aspect of your life.
I really enjoyed your answer. I tend to base maturity off of respect. I look to see if a person respects themselves, others, and their job/purpose. Looking at your answers, I could put them all in terms of respect and I just think that's really cool.
DeleteI totally agree with your answer; the way a lot of adults (no matter their age) think they're right due to, well, age, is nuts to me. A lot of kids are really mature and, in that sense, grown-up in their own way.
DeleteI agree with you as well. I think adult hood is based upon your maturity and level of intellect.
DeleteOmg - you have the absolute perfect response, to this question!
DeleteI can't even begin to go over the countless "Adults" I have encountered, who have acted like a two year old, throwing a tantrum, even if they are in public.
I think one of the strong points with our generation, is that we are able to see who people are, based on their character, which plays into maturity.
Great post!
• What are some other signs of being grown-up, besides the ability to think for yourself? 123
ReplyDeleteBeing a grown-up is not just a matter of age, or finally having your own free will without your parents taking it. “Growing up is more a matter of courage than knowledge: all the information in the world is no substitute for the guts to use your own judgement. And judgement can be learned – principally through the experience of watching others use it well – but it cannot be taught.” (WGU 133) Judgment is important because none of the answers to the questions that really move us can be found by following a rule. Growing up also takes courage because you need courage to learn to trust your own judgement rather than relying on someone else’s. “Courage is required to live with the rift that will run through our lives, however good they may be ideals of reason tell us how the world should be; experience tells us that it rarely is. Growing up requires confronting the gap between the two – without giving up on either one.” (WGU 141) I feel like I personally am going through this battle right now. I have control over my judgment, however lately I have not had the courage that helps me trust my judgment. Especially in school I constantly get advice from my older siblings and parents. I feel like everyone needs advice from others every now and then. However, when you gain the ability to give yourself advice and have the courage to trust your own judgment then that is when you become an adult.
Weekly essay - (+3)
Commented on – Simon Pergande (+1)
Commented on- Autumn Daniel (+1)
Total Points this semester- 50
I agree with you on growing up is more a mental/self-growth situation verses a year-to-year, age basis going through life.
DeleteWhat are some other signs of being grown-up, besides the ability to think for yourself? 123
ReplyDeleteThe ability to think for oneself takes time and in some ways, a certain independence and confidence. This can come as we grow older, live, and learn more through the world and ourselves. In my opinion, I believe taking ownership and responsibility for your own actions can be another sign of maturing. If one always thinks they are always right and can never fail, this can lead to a childish mindset. People who admit they are wrong in times that are appropriate and know to take responsibility for their actions is a sign of maturity. I think this shows humbleness and a teachable spirit in people. I also believe the things one relies, focuses, and confides in for advice and guidance is a sign of growing up. The ability to rely on yourself for certain things and to manage your time and daily life well can show growth and experience. But still, we may even grow older and mature and still be unsure, and not know all of the answers. Knowing all the answers as we grow older is a false promise the media and people tell us in life, I believe. I think what is meant to happen in life is a slow process, gradually helping us learn and mature. This process is a day to day action in life and may take some patience and forgiveness from oneself.
weekly essay: 3+
Deletecomments on Autumn Daniel and Simon Pergande: 2+
I pretty much said the same thing as you. Being grown is being trusted with more responsibilities and more tasks on your plate.
DeleteHello Anna! I enjoyed reading your post. I agree with you in this post. I definitely think you are right in saying taking responsibility and ownership helps you grow up and helps the maturing process. Age also helps mature people as well as moving out and being on your own.
DeleteAre you willing to go a month without internet? 148
ReplyDeleteI have not gone a whole month without internet, but I have gotten close. During my junior year of high school my phone got water damaged and sadly, rice did not bring it back. So, from mid-April until the very end of March I had no phone. So, for a bit over a month I did not text or use any social media. At school I still used a computer for class as needed and I still watched a little TV with my family on some days, but for the most part I was internet-less in my free time. In many ways I saw how dependent I had become on my phone. My main dependency was on the reminders app. I used it to remind me to do everything. I have always been a very forgetful person. Even in middle school before I had a phone, I would forget my lunchbox, binders, or violin almost everyday which really annoyed my mom (who would kindly always bring the things to me when I called her from the office). But after I got used to relying on my phone in this way, it made it a little harder to remember everything without a phone again. One particularly bad instance was when I forgot I was supposed to babysit one day, and a little girl got off the bus and found herself home alone. I felt so bad and this was the moment that triggered me to get a phone again. But in my phone-less period, there were some advantages. I spent less time in my room. My friends would always be excited to catch me up on anything that happened overnight or over a weekend that was interesting (like relationships, break-ups, or other very high school things). I also just used my time in a different way which is interesting to look back on. I am not a huge social media person and don’t use it very consistently. (I cannot keep a snapchat streak and I only post on Instagram a few times a year.) So, this adjustment wasn’t hard for me to make at all, but I do value social media. It’s been the only way high school friends/acquaintances and I can connect since we all go to different schools now. There is an issue where some people spend all their time on social media, the internet, and their phones in general, but most kids (from my experience) learn how to use it responsibly as part of growing up and school. I would consider going a month without the internet/my phone again perhaps over this summer. It would be interesting to see if it would benefit me more now that it’s been a while since the last time. But I tend to find it more as an inconvenience to be without a phone/internet. Making plans, catching up with friends, and reminders help my life. I don’t have a problem of wincing at notifications like the author did and I unsubscribe and block any junk email senders, so I also don’t have this problem.
Posted weekly essay (3)
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Total 60/60
I believe if everyone took a week off of the internet people would be more social and it would help you in so many ways such as health wise, social life, communication skills and plenty more but people are now addicted to the internet including children.
DeleteI feel the same about using the internet to stay connected - if anything I'm more social with it due to different social media platforms where I can connect with others who don't live anywhere near me. Plus I'm like you - I can't remember things for the life of me, so having reminders saves me a lot.
DeleteDuring my trip in Vietnam, I didn't connect to social media for 2 weeks. The only news I got were on tv about politics in the US ironically.I feel like the internet has a way for us to escape our problems,hide our problems,but also makes us disconnect ourselves and creates a mask if we used it not properly or balance things out.
DeleteHi Barbara, Great Post! I really like how you connected this prompt and a personal experience that you had.I can relate to needing to use my phone to remind me of things. I have to use the notes APP all the time so I don't forget anything important. As for the question, I would personally not want to go without internet for an entire month but I don't mind taking mini-breaks of a couple of days so I have room for other things to do.
DeleteHello Barbara, I also wrote about this. I went on a cruise and went 7 days without a phone and although that was hard it was super nice. I can't imagine something happening to my phone though like you went through. I have everything on my phone and I am not sure I could get it all back so I am sorry that happened to you.
DeleteWhat are some other signs of being grown-up, besides the ability to think for yourself?
ReplyDeleteWell as you just mentioned growing up is determined in two ways. The first being physically bigger, stronger, and more feminine or masculine. You start to develop facial hair and so on; the other part is all mental. You become wiser, smarter, more mature and etc. Everyone grows up at different rates and age does not determine how mature you are. A 30-year-old can be less mature than an eighth grader. However, it usually isn’t that’s why age is usually corresponded with maturity. That is why there is an age requirement to smoke, drink and so on becomes people at the certain age or more mature. One sign of being grown is being able to make the right decisions for your future, whether it is financially or health wise. Another sign I personally believe shows you becoming grown up is knowing how to handle money. What I mean is that you can stretch a 100-dollar bill for a week; while a high schooler would spend it all in one store. Another sign is being given more responsibilities. As a child you weren’t expected to do much, but now you are starting to pay your own phone bill, work, help with the bills.
essay 3p
Deleteresponded to Barbara Frizzell and Anna Collins 2p
total 60/60
Ammar, thank you for your post. I agree with you that maturity is not age dependent. When I was your age, I was probably not as mature as you because my parents made almost all of my decisions and when I went away to school, I was not prepared to make good decisions and made some poor ones. I do not blame my parents because they worked hard and tried to give me an opportunity to succeed by making sacrifices that I never realized until I got older. I also agree with you about managing money. With our children we would give them an allowance and if they used it to buy some shoddy product, we would let them experience the consequences when it broke and not take it back to get a refund and they have all turned out to be good financial managers, maybe in part because they made small mistakes early on that taught them about decision making. I do not know. As parents you always want to protect your children. As far as age requirements for smoking or drinking, those are set based on an average and there are some twenty-one-year-olds who would drink more responsibly than some thirty-year-olds. I have seen some of the latter as they stagger to their cars. When I worked as an auditor, I was always the designated driver because I did not drink.
Delete• Do you want to produce something of value? Why? 181
ReplyDeleteI can say with absolute certainty that I wish to create something of value in my lifetime. In order to answer the question “why?” I must first explain what I believe constitutes something of value to me. Something of value would be something that generations of humanity after me will find useful. Personally, I want to contribute in the form of philosophical thought and by teaching young people how to think for themselves. Philosophers have always been helpful to me in deciding how I want to live my life by showing me how many different possible ways to think about it. I believe philosophy to be the art of thinking outside of the box. I suppose my definition of value to me is rather simple and complicated at the same time. I would be fulfilled by only helping one person “rock their boat” mentally; however, I won’t ever be satisfied until the whole world starts to question everything around them and coming to conclusions of their own free will. Each conclusion a person comes to on their own is more beautiful to me than the universe could ever be. The amount of emotion and growth a person has to do in order to make a decision for themselves is so unique in nature. At first glance it may seem uniform because every yes and no looks the same. However, the personal experiences and thoughts behind each answer are, in my opinion, as personally crafted as a thumb print. I think I can clearly say in my mind that nothing is of more value than this.
Commented on Don's Post (1 point)
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Completed Essay (3 points)
I appreciate your post and I encourage you to pursue your dream. I think it might have been Benjamin Franklin who said the way to be remembered is either to build something or write something. Buildings fall down but ideas live on. I hope that you are able to help young people from an early age to begin to think critically because it is something they can carry with them all their life and when it comes to making choices about how to live, they will make better ones. While you are taking philosophy courses, if you can try and squeeze in a few elementary education courses and get to know some of the education department faculty and see what they are teaching and see how you might supplement their learning once you have your degree. While you may want to focus on college students, it is the young students from my perspective whom can most benefit by interacting with philosophers. Best wishes to you for a lifetime of learning.
DeleteWeekly essay - on internet usage posted 11/8 3 pts
Comment on Ammar Idris - signs of growing up posted 11/10 1 pt
Comment on Nate Carley - something of value posted on 11/10 1 pt
Weekly points 5
Cumulative points 63+5 = 68
"You must take your education into your own hands as soon as possible." Did you? How? 140
ReplyDeleteI first took a step into forming my own ideal education situation in the middle of my Junior year of high school. The public school I attended (which I shall not name for obvious reasons) wasn't... the most amazing school. I despised how some of my teachers weren't trying to teach us, so much as make us remember things and put pressure on us to do perfect for tests - not real life, but tests. I also lacked a real motivation due to lack of diverse classes; the most unique class I had was Criminal Justice. I decided to persuade my parents into letting me attend a private online school which was by far one of the best decisions I've made. This school had teachers who took great interest in my work, plus I was able to take way more classes I wasn't offered elsewhere, such as astronomy, zoology, etc. During this time, I believe I received a far more inclusive education, as well as opportunities to grow and figure out what kind of career I might want; in fact, I took so many science based courses that I knew I would go into STEM at the very least. By choosing to attend MTSU, I also opened doors to eventually transferring to "higher" colleges that best fit my major of geoscience - if I went to a community college, many of my credits would sadly keep me rooted in Tennessee which, personally, is not something I want to do. I also could've chosen any other major to make money, but... I realized I enjoy learning about earth science and about our planet as a whole, geologically. I like to think that alone was a pretty big educational decision, for better or for worse.
weekly essay +3
Deletecommented on barbara and shelby's posts +2
Do you regularly discard "unfashionable" clothes or other goods before they wear out or break down? Should you?
ReplyDeleteI do not throw away clothes as believe that things become unfashionable only during certain circumstances. You can definitely make something "cool" again as almost everyone does. Notice how many people still wear converse. Technically they went out of mainstream fashion around a decade ago then reemerged upon Virgil Abloh designing his "Off-White" variant of the shoe. Many things come and go out of mainstreams styles but hardly ever out of actual style. The things that my grandfather wore in college are still very present in todays fashion arena. The only way this really diminishes is if you go over 3 generations into the past. At that point no one from the past is alive anymore therefore the culture that created the style has changed. I also don't think that people should get rid of their clothes and throw them away because they won't be reused that way; donate to a local shelter, give them to a friend, or even sell them. Keep the Earth green.
Are you willing to go a month without internet?
Currently if I went a month without internet I wouldn't be able to go to my job because our schedule is digital which would mean I couldn't drive or buy food since I wouldn't be getting paid. Also all of my class work is online so I would begin failing every class. Having no internet for a month isn't a question of if I want to but if I can. Assuming I have no responsibilities though, I don't think I could do it unless I was hiking for that month. I'm an avid hiker so being out in nature is something I enjoy. If I was able to hike the AT for a month then I would definitely not need internet (or want for that matter)
Tuesday post weekly essay (3 points)
DeleteTuesday commented on Don Enss (1 Point)
Tuesday Commented on Shelby Pittman's post
Hi Cole, I enjoyed your post about "unfashionable clothes". For me, I am the type of person who goes for comfort over fashion. I am happy in athletic wear every day. I think people worry too much about fashion and waste money on it. I like you said that undesired clothes should be donated or recycled. There is no need to trash clothes that some one could benefit from having.
DeleteI agree with you I also do not throw away my clothes as they become 'unfashionable" I agree we can make things fashionable. I like how you mentioned converse, they are a very old brand but still very big. I myself on a couple pairs. I think it's very interesting watching the fashion change overtime and seeing what is "in fashion" and what is "out of fashion". I also have the same predicament when it comes to going without internet. I don't think it would be possible for me to do.
DeleteI agree with you on not throwing any clothing that would be "unfashionable" as I see it a waste of material and money. Personally, I don't really pay too much attention on modern trends and buy things I know will last for a long time and are functional to whatever purpose they hold. Any clothes that get worn out or don't fit me I'll either try to mend it again, donate it to Goodwill, or use the materials to make something I saw on the internet into a DIY activity.
DeleteAlso, I 100% agree that I won't survive without the internet. At not now as I have classes to worry about that require wi-fi. On the other, if I were able to have something that would distract me like reading or painting then perhaps I might make it.
Do you expect to find meaning in your work?
ReplyDeleteYes, I expect to find meaning in my work as time goes on within my career as the years goes on. I feel like as a counseling therapist it would be great to here an individual out and listen to the things that have made a person who they are. Allowing someone to vent and let out bottled emotions that have been there since childhood can really help and allow them to grow. That is very meaningful to me because I want to help any and as many people as I can within my career and in life. This is one part of my work that will be giving me meaning. Just continuing to gain experience and knowledge throughout life can help someone fine meaning that can be beneficial to them in their life. Learning can help you teach others and throughout my career I will be teaching people how to move forward and learning new things about people as I listen to them during sessions.
I totally agree, if a work allows you to create something meaningful for yourself and to the others you bond. It confirms how much care and dedication is shown through the hard work.How passionate you are to learn with each other.
DeleteI am also hoping to become a counseling therapist at some point. The reasons that you explained also represent how I feel about the job.
DeleteMain Essay= +1 Point
DeleteYou are right about finding meaning in our work and how you learn and interpret as time in your career goes on. I do think finding meaning in our work is expected but I also believe that meaning can change either in a good way or bad, which depends how much you enjoy your career.
DeleteI want to do something similar so I can agree that this type of work will be meaningful!
DeleteAll ways learning is important for your field and Finding meaning in your work is the only way you can stay sane doing the same thing for years. I love that you want to be a therapist because a few years back mine meant the world to me. You'd be doing really important work and I respect your choice. A therapist is one of the most valuable jobs out there because you'll help a lot of people. I wish you the best of luck with your studies.
DeleteI agree completely. Learning is such an important aspect of life and we never really stop, and because of that doesn't it have to have meaning?
DeleteReplied to Adam= +1 point.
DeleteReplied to Jason A. Perez= +1 point
DeleteAll 5 points this week
"You must take your education into your own hands as soon as possible." Did you? How? 140
ReplyDeleteDuring high school, my algebra/ geometry teachers seemed to either be uninterested in teaching or made everything seem like joke. I took some time to prove myself to them that I was smart without their confusing teachings. So of course I would go onto youtube and Khan academy to learn more than them. I always felt like I need to prove something to other, but eventually I grew out of that mentality, and try to improve myself,be better than before for myself, not for others. I guess you can say I was stubborn at the time trying to prove to better among other, but eventually became mature in trying to handle things differently or view my accomplishments more differently.
weekly 3+
DeleteCory Roberts 1+
Barbara Frizzell 1+
Section 10
I like your view on this. I think that we are naturally taught in school to be competitive and try to be the one to make our teachers happy. However, as you said, it is important to realize that you need to be doing what's best for yourself, not your teachers or school.
DeleteGreat Post! I always struggled in school. Not because I was not capable, more because I did not want to do it. Being in college has changed my attitude somewhat and I have since started to take control of my education.
DeleteI definitely agree with your comment. I would say that most students are having this issue now with online classes that they need to teach themselves the course. It is hard to have virtual classes and be able to study and learn everything.
DeleteIf/when you become a parent, will you be "anxious, frightened, overprotective" and constantly worried about the threat of child-napping? 326
ReplyDeleteI think that as a parent, it will be important to find a balance between fear and trust for your children. For me personally, as someone who both has anxiety and watches a lot about true crime, I know that it may be hard to not live in fear for my children since I know the realities of the world. However, it is also important not to shelter your children, as they will not be prepared for life on their own later on. I think that being honest with your children and truly trying to prepare them to be safe on their own is essential. Still, I think that it is good to monitor them in a healthy way and help guide them and their choices. While it may end up being hard not to be overprotective, I will try to teach them observational skills and what to look out for so that neither one of us will worry as much. Overall, the world can sometimes be a scary place, and anyone could randomly become a victim, but it is important not to live your life in fear. This is why i hope that while it may be difficult, I will be able to create a healthy balance with my kids.
Weekly Essay - Section 012 +
DeleteCommented on Mai-Thi Kieu's Post +
Commented on Cory Roberts' Post
I could not agree more. You have to find the equal balance in order to give your kid freedom. It is most certainly a scary world and I can understand someone that is overprotective, but it does not always go well for the child's relationship with their parent.
DeleteI agree, it is very important to find a balance between fear and trust. It is extremely difficult to find a balance between the two. I also watch a lot of crime shows and seeing the evil that is out in the world is very scary. I agree, it is important not to shelter your children. They do need to know what is out in the world and be prepared. It will be very difficult to not be overprotective, but the most we can do is give them the skills we know and trust they will use them. I really agree and enjoyed reading your post.
DeleteI definitely agree with you that I'm hoping to find a good middle ground between being careless and overprotective with my children. I don't completely agree with Andersen in FL on this matter. Even though many of the reported missing children are involved in parental custody disputes, I still think that’s a serious problem. Many children have been harmed by their own parents in these types of disputes. Although, I definitely agree with Andersen that the media’s attempt to make these numbers sound like they’re all attributed to stranger danger is wrong. I think it makes it more difficult for the actual victims in those numbers to get help and unnecessarily scares people about taking their kids to the park.
DeleteI really like your moderate approach to raising children. I think you make a good point that you should not rely on one method or antoher too much, but find that balance in parenting.
DeleteAre Survivalists and Preppers "wacky and sad"?
ReplyDeleteSec 10
I believe that there are most certainly some survivalists and preppers that fit that description, but I do not believe it is correct to put all of these people into that category. A survivalist is not the same a prepper either so it is hard to fit them into the same characteristics. Survivalists usually are not survivalists because they think the world is going to end, they are survivalists because they enjoy learning how to co-exist with nature and use the most basic resources that nature gives us in order to survive. For example, a survivalist will always know what wild plants are edible and be able to pick out the ones that are poisonous. Being a survivalist could be considered a quality a prepper might have, but preppers do not always have this quality. If preppers did have this quality, then why would they need to store years worth of supplies? They wouldn't. With that being said, I still do not believe just because a survivalist may have a better skill set than a prepper means that a prepper is wacky and sad. For a lot of preppers it is a hobby, just like watching football or going out to a bar with friends. Instead, they collect supplies for the end of the world. Some preppers have wacky reasons as to why they think the world might end, like an alien invasion or robots turning on humans. I only think it can become sad when someone obsesses over it to the point where they can't live a normal life. Ultimately, we can't put an entire group into one category. There are several more factors at play.
Are you willing to go a month without internet? 148
ReplyDeleteI would really like to say I could go a month without internet but that is not the case. I am not sure I would even be able to go a week. Internet has become a major component of all our daily lives. Yes, we can go to cafes and use their internet to check what we need to, but internet is the way I communicate with my friends. I have no way of reaching the majority of the people I know without the internet. I see Neiman says it did good for her, but I feel it isn't the same for everyone. I really enjoy talking to my friends and I need internet for this. She is true in saying a lot of the mail I get is spam. In terms of my job, I technically do need the internet. I work at target and we use internet for some of the work we do. I most definitely need it for school. Every single day I am on my computer doing something for school work or attending a zoom call. I do agree with Neiman when she says we shouldn't let internet rule. Many of us, including myself,are glued to our phones. I miss the old times of being outside and enjoying nature. I don't do enough of that now. Internet has a big grasp on us we should try to loosen.
section 11
weekly essay +3
Deletereply to Kimmie Steakley +1
reply to Cole Walker +1
60/60
I would like to say I could as well but it is something we have to have these days. Right now we all have to have it for school. If not we wouldn't be able to do our classes
DeleteI agree with what you said. It is easy to say that it is possible but then trying to do it would be impossible. Now that college is virtual i feel it is even more difficult than before
DeleteI appreciate your realistic outlook on this situation. Most of us think we could but in reality it is so integral in society it becomes near impossible to avoid. Without internet we couldn't use GPS, and also couldn't print out MapQuest directions (if you still do that). There would be no communication. Though Neiman may have found it to be a positive for her, it is so rare to find a cleansing of that sort to be constructive for the younger generations that are raised by the internet.
DeleteAre Survivalists and Preppers wacky and sad? I wouldn’t call people like that wacky and sad, but maybe they have different priorities in life than many of us do. I think that people can believe in anything that they want to as long as it is not harmful to others and/or themselves. I did think that survivalists and preppers were a little weird but at least they were prepared for Covid-19 with their toilet paper and food stockpiles. I think his comments just kind of show that this book was written pre-pandemic because maybe Kurt Andersen might not have picked on that group of people so much (FL 319). Right now, it is impossible to buy deep freezers, whole cows, or pigs because the demand for these items is so great. Also if you could buy a cow, you have nearly a year to wait in many places to get an appointment to have it processed at a butcher. Therefore, it seems that more people are seeing the benefits of prepping. Just like when Kurt Andersen quoted Thomas Jefferson’s statement “It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg (FL 320).” So I say if people have the extra money to stockpile for a rainy day, then they should do that if that is what makes them more comfortable. No one should judge them for that choice.
ReplyDeleteSection 11
DeleteWeekly Essay November 11 at 8:16
Commented on Cole Walker November 11 at 7:00
Commented on Mai-Thi-Kieu November at 7:28
Point Total 61 (Not including Midterm Blogpost)
I agree very much with you. I think people in this country should be able to believe in anything they want to as long as it doesn't harm other people. That is the great thing about America.
DeleteI think going more with what you said about how these survivalists and preppers have different priorities, Its important to consider the financial stability of these individuals. going back to Maslowe's hierarchy of needs, you can desire a tv or entertainment if you are constantly struggling to find food. For these "doomsday preppers", I am assuming these are individuals who have some amount of wealth and are self-sufficient in a manner that allows them to prepare for the worst if it does come. I think, in some cases they are smart to do so because they can and they (based on their reasoning) have considered the potential of threat. Now this opportunity to claim large amounts of goods that others may not be able to buy can be argued as unfair, but it boils down to who wants to survive and what assets they have at their disposal to reach that goal.
Delete
ReplyDelete• Do we have a duty to our own humanity to work? 167
I think if we have the physical ability to work as a human then we should do some kind of work. However, first we kind of have to define what work is. Is work some way to actually make money or Is it doing labor. I am not really one to believe that things should be given to me. I like to go out and work for the things that I have. One of the systems that I think is the hardest in the United States is the welfare system. I think that some people in this world truly need help for a little while to get back on their own feet. However, I think there are too many people out there that play different cards and keep getting back on welfare so the people who work and pay taxes and have to continue paying their bills. I think there should be more restrictions and time limits on these types of people so the working class doesn’t have to keep paying for them. I think that people have the duty to work for themselves because there needs to be an income and a way to get money for everyone out there so people who do work don’t have to pay for you. I really don’t think people have to work for humanity. I think it is more a duty to themselves in order to be self-sustainable and we live in the United States where there is so many ways to make a living and we live in a free nation where you can go out and do anything you want to.
12/12 essays 60/60 points 25/24 comments
-Are you willing to go a month without internet?
ReplyDeleteAlthough people might argue and say that they could but i personally think that it is impossible. Internet has been a huge source and component for this generation that all we do is use it. Especially with Covid-19, it is much harder now not being on the internet doing your online work, scrolling through social media, and interacting with other people. On the other hand, if they ask me can i go a week without the internet i would definitely say yes. I am an outside person, i spend more time outside the house playing sports, rock climbing, racing my car and so much more. It is just harder with classes now being virtual and being able to balance both lives.
weekly +3
DeleteKate Allen +1
Mai-Thi Kieu +1
total 50/60
this is a difficult question to answer, but are you able to envision yourself living a life at this current moment without technology? I find myself answering this question as no and based off whether you say yes or no, that will define if you can live without whatever is in question. I challenge myself to envision a life in a different timeline where I am void of whatever it is I do not want and if I can imagine it, then I feel confident I can achieve a life at the present moment without it. Its a difficult thought experiment that I think everyone should try at some point!
DeleteI understand your stand on this however I feel like I wouldn't last the month without internet because so many things rely on the internet within my household. Without it I'd fall behind in so many classes and wouldn't be able to tune in on the shows I enjoy.
DeleteI agree. The hardest part would be not being able to keep up with school information. It would definitely be difficult, but I think I could go a week as well assuming it was during a school break.
Delete• Is consumer capitalism infantilizing?
ReplyDeleteConsumer capitalism is so predictable that we automatically assume any sort of action within media as some form of advertisement. For example; a restaurant, and let’s assume Zaxby’s, is promoting their food chain by giving a percentage of their profits towards a local charity. We don’t assume Zaxby’s first intention for doing such a promotion as for benefitting this charity, but rather to increase sales and as a cherry on top, the customer believes they are doing some form of good in the world. Consumer capitalism is infantilizing because it treats society as this child of multiple desires rather than considering the conscious of the individual. Our wants and desires are “simplified” in this capitalist-centered economy and its very effective because they satisfy that childish desire we all have inside. An advert I saw recently was the Dr.Squatch brand and how they advertise their products as “satisfying the ladies” and therefore we as males in society fall under that childish temptation to be cool with the ladies. It’s psychological abuse of humanity’s conscious that we don’t consider because not many ever talk or even consider the possibility of dangers that arise from it. Advertisements are not fundamentally bad, but rather the social climate that places intense competition for their products is always growing and evolving and so companies develop methods that are somewhat dangerous when you actually perceive what they are doing to the individual.
Commented bailey stephens (+1)
Commented Adam (+1)
55 pts
The idea of using basic human natures, in your example "being cool with the ladies" for advertisement is quite the effective strategy as well. There are boards that all come together and decide what will influence the masses for their product. The more you think of it, the more frightening consumer advertising is. These people are experts at propagandizing their product and we just let it go because thats just "how it is".
DeleteIf/when you become a parent, will you be "anxious, frightened, overprotective" and constantly worried about the threat of child-napping? 326
ReplyDeleteGiven how much technology is available to have an open line of communication with children, I have a firm belief that I won't have a need to become an overprotective parent. As it stands, I believe it is becoming unnecessary. I have a relative who grew up like this and it caused them to be more careless when they became an adult. Sheltering a child and not allowing them to make those mistakes as a child, just puts off those moments off until they are an adult and are forced to deal with the "real-world" consequences of their actions. So-called helicopter parents cause their child to hide their thoughts and wants for fear of their parent blowing the situation out of proportion. With that said, children should still have rules of course, and understand that breaking them still comes with consequences. Though expecting our watchful to catch everything, is quite frankly unrealistic.
Weekly +3
DeleteKate Allen +1
Jared Quillosa +1
I completely agree with the part about technology as well as the negatives of being an overprotective parent. I think as a parent, you have to find the middle ground between too protective and too neglectful.
DeleteI would challenge that with the age of technology you would have to be more protective in the technological aspect versus the physical aspect of your child. I'm sure you have seen the widespread cyberbullying, dangerous "challenges", and predators on the web. The degree to which children are exposed to this would become the new realm of protectiveness for the parents in the day.
DeleteI picked two questions for this week's reading post. The two questions I pick are,Are you willing to go a month without internet? 148 and Do you expect to find meaning in your work? If not, where will you find it? 185.
ReplyDeleteThe first question I am going to answer is,
Are you willing to go a month without internet? 148
I would be willing to go a month without internet. I would love to go on a trip and not have a phone or anyway to see what's going on in the world. Its very hard to put the phone away and enjoy life. I was once on a cruise for seven days and didnt have cellular data or internet and it was so nice. The world right now is pretty negative and it would be nice to get away from all of it. According to the book it mentions going a week without internet and then it mentions going a month without internet. Going one week would be more realistic and more doable but I would definitely try to go one month.
Do you expect to find meaning in your work? If not, where will you find it? 185
I definitely find meaning in my work. It always feels good to have a checklist at work and cross off the certain things I have done that day. I love feeling accomplished and I actually like to work. I like the sense of working hard and getting paid for it in return. I find a lot of meaning in my job work and in my school work. According to the book it mentions if you can't find meaning in your work then go to another place to find it. I somewhat agree and disagree with this statement. I agree because if you are not happy in a place then don't stay there. However when you are working you won't always find meaning in work and you won't always be happy everyday. Although the good needs to outweigh the bad.
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my post +3
2 responses to classmates +2
A vacation without internet would be a dream. I did not have my phone or internet for a week during a young life summer camp I attended in high school. At first I kept looking for for phone thinking i lost it but after awhile it was nice having that burden off your chest and you tend to seek out something to do rather than sit around wasting your time.
DeleteI agree with how you talked about work! It's satisfying and rewarding to work hard and be rewarded for it. I think finding meaning in your work is part of the root for a fulfilling life, but it can be hard to navigate. As for a month without internet, it's a dream. I would go to summer camp for weeks at a time and we weren't allowed to have out phones. It was refreshing! Then again, we always had things to do to occupy us, so I don't know how much harder it would've been without a busy schedule.
DeleteShould the age of legal maturity be raised to match the age of brain maturity?
ReplyDeleteThis is a very complicated question and one that I have gone back and forth on several times. On one hand, it's fair to use scientific research to see that the frontal lobe of the brain isn't fully developed which could cause poor decision making, but on the other hand, I think by eighteen years of age, you should know better than to break the law. One example of this is texting and driving. We see this very often in teenage drivers. This is because normally they have a lot of people to talk to, but also because their frontal lobe isn't fully developed which controls decision making. This is why they are more likely to make the bad decision of texting while driving. Normally, you could just let them pay the price for their bad decisions, but unfortunately their recklessness could harm others too. At the end of the day, the parents need to do a better job at parenting. We should not raise the legal age of adulthood.
Adam (+1)
DeleteKe'Shawn Campbell (+1)
Weekly essay (+3)
Weekly Total (+5)
I agree that by the time a person in eighteen that are fully aware of what is right and what is wrong . Raising the age would not make much of a difference because I know plenty of people that are older than me and still make stupid decisions out of lack of maturity and really it depends on the person.
DeleteIf/when you become a parent, will you be "anxious, frightened, overprotective" and constantly worried about the threat of child-napping? 326
ReplyDeleteMy plans are not having a child anytime soon, but once I am done pursuing my career, I will consider having three in a row. From what I have heard the first child is always the tougher experience but for some it may not. If when I become a parent especially nowadays with child and adult trafficking being at an all-time high, I will be anxious, frightened, and very overprotective. There have been cases where child kidnaping happens when you least expect it. Being a new parent can be exciting but at the same time it can be frightening because knowing how dangerous the world can be. I cannot speak for most parents out there but knowing that I am going to have child, that child is going to be my top priority to protect at all time. For me to lower my anxiety and my fright of my child growing up in area where he can possibly be kidnap, I will be one to be very overprotective. Not overprotective to the point my child would not be able to leave the house for example school or places where child needs to be a child, but overprotective where I as a parent needs to be aware where my child is at all times. Which I think not being aware of your child for just a small amount of time can be enough time for child-napping to take place. I think every parent should feel anxious, frightened, and overprotective over child-napping, but it should always give an even greater sense of motivation to protect your child.
essay(+3)
Reply (+2)
Autumn Daniel
Cory Roberts
45/60
I understand where you coming from when it comes to how you'll behave when it comes to parenting your children, I feel like with the world we live in we'll have to move with caution and just stay aware of our surroundings in order to keep our loved ones safe. Therefore, I agree with just about everything you said.
DeleteDaniel Lopez, Section 1030-011
ReplyDeleteIf/when you become a parent, will you be "anxious, frightened, overprotective" and constantly worried about the threat of child-napping? 326
I know for a fact I would not be anxious or overprotective in constant fear that my children could be kidnapped. For one thing, the statistics of actual kidnappings and the likelihood of it happening to anyone's kids, let alone my alone, gives me no reason to lose sleep over it. But as I've seen time and time again in my study of history and in the lives of my own friends and family, anything done out of fear, no matter how noble the outcome one wishes to achieve by acting as such, ends well. Will I take reasonable measures to make sure my kids are aware and wise enough to avoid common traps that could lead to undesirable results (not just kidnapping)? Of course. But will I instill some fear in them that they're lives are always at risk if they even look in the direction of someone they don't know? Of course not.
I feel that, not just with the threat of kidnapping but any threat a parent feels is aimed at their kids, if one takes the overprotective route, they do nothing but harm their own physical and mental well-being in the process. If I think back to the way my own parents could be overprotective of me and my siblings at times, I could list off several examples of the harm it has done and virtually no benefits. In fact, if there were any benefits at all, they could have easily been achieved without all the harm and with even better results had they came from a place of trust, love, and due prudence rather than fear.
Weekly essay 8/27/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/3/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/10/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/17/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/24/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 10/01/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 10/08/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay N/A (0 pts)
Midterm essay N/A (0 pts)
Weekly essay 10/19/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 10/29/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 11/05/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 11/12/20 (3 pts)
Total: 33 pts
-I think these are some good thoughts, and I certainly understand where you are coming from. I do think that a fair and reasonable amount of protection should be exercised with children, I do not think it should take over both the lives of the parents and children. They should be let to roam and explore the world the world, have fin be free but also be taught to be smart while doing it. Us telling our kids that they will be kidnapped and killed anytime they go out without an adult is not the right way to prepare them for the world, and it sounds like you agree with this. Well done.
DeleteI agree with your stance, and I like how you used your own personal experience to support your answer. I, fortunately, had pretty laid-back parents, but my friend's mom who was super strict spent years damaging their relationship. From what I've seen, strict and overprotective parenting only leads to sneakier kids.
DeleteWhat are some other signs of being grown-up, besides the ability to think for yourself?
ReplyDeleteI think Kant would agree that not blaming the world for your troubles or knowing you can't control the world around you, would be signs of becoming an adult. Understanding you can't control everything in your life is a key part of growing up. As a child one might think the world revolves around them and they can change it if they want something, but we all know that's not how it works. A sign of growing up is accepting that and instead trying to make changes that are actually feasible. Instead you accept things can be out of you control instead of freaking out. Another sign is not blaming your troubles and faults on others or the world around you. Taking responsibility for choices you've made can be difficult for some people but growing up and accepting your faults is a big part. One can't live their whole life thinking the world is against them and not have the problem of being childish.
I agree with this, and it was very well put. Also understanding that the world is not fair and that not everything goes your way and as you mentioned that not everything revolves around you is a huge indicator of maturity and adulthood. We were talking about conflict in one of my classes today, and people were saying that compromising meant that you were "spineless" and "beta", and I could not disagree more. I think being willing to compromise in your relationship shows consideration and maturity and are a huge indicator to if a person has really grown up or not. Just my opinion though, good job!
DeleteI agree with you about accepting what can't be changed. I also think a part of growing up (at least for me) is noticing a gradual increase in ability. When I say ability I mostly mean mental, like I have way better problem solving techniques then just a few years ago in high school. I think a sign of growing up is when you start to realize that there are obstacles that stopped your younger self but not your current self.
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Comment on Carter Stephens
Exactly, well done. I could not have send it better. The world is not going to end or explode. Its not the end of world and its okay to have fear in yourself and sometimes people make choices that they might regret on things that they have done. Accept that and never look back.
Deletei think this is a very intriguing post! while i do agree with your views on growing up... i feel it might be easier said than done. i know so many people that cant, or refuse, to follow your commandments. so that begs the question-- are they less so adults? or are they just immature? either way intresting post!
Delete-If/when you become a parent, will you be "anxious, frightened, overprotected" and always afraid of child-kidnapping?
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting/thought provoking question. I remember Dr. Oliver saying that he was from Missouri, so I hope that he and you all find this interesting. I lived in Springfield, MO when I was younger, and I remember my grandparents telling me about about the Springfield 3. If you have not heard of this, I highly recommend looking it up and doing some reading on it. It is an unsolved missing person cold-case about 3 women (2 of them teenagers) who disappeared without a trace in Springfield in 1992. This happened 8 years before I was even born, but my grandmother lived in Springfield at the time, and she told me that she remembered when this happened, and that the town that everyone had once considered to be extremely safe, was then gripped by incessant fear and anxiety to an extent that has never quite left the town. I think this is an accurate symbol of what happened to America on a grander scale. America was always the greatest and safest country, but this idea was abandoned when bad things dud happen, mostly because the media caused it to spread, and in effect the fear also spread as well. This happened after my parents, and they had no such fears growing up. I would not raise my child on the fear of what could happen, but instead on the awareness of what could happen. I would raise them to go out and have fun, get dirty and use their imagination but be careful, be smart, always look both ways and always be aware of what is around you. I would never want to be the grief-stricken parent who thought that it would never happen to me, and I want my kids to have fun, so I would find a healthy balance of caution and freedom.
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50/60 pts total
Really well said. I don’t agree in raising kids up in fear. Childhood should be a fun and exciting time! I think that teaching them safety and caution makes children more aware to things around them without fully taking their innocence away.
DeleteI think you nailed that we should focus on keeping our kids smart and aware, rather than make them fear certain things. I don think anyone wants to have to experience losing their child but hounding them and being over protective can do even more damage.
DeleteYou really nail this in the park. I want my kids to leave in safe haven and let them have fun outside and just them but I do worry about people who do something crazy while my kids are have fun and getting their hand dirty. When I do want kids, I hope I will teach my kids to defend themselves
Deletewonderful post!i coulddnt agree more. i spent a part of my childhood in florida, where there are so many registered sex offenders that they have their own section in the paper ( listing their addresses and whatnot.) i really hope that i have the self control to not be a skiddish, anxious parent to my child! awesome post!
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ReplyDeleteDo you expect to find meaning in your work? If not, where will you find it? 185
I struggled to find my what major I wanted to pursue because I was afraid, I will pick the wrong thing and end up not finding a meaning in my work. What I have come to realize is that I know myself and I know that whatever I choose to pursue I know I will find meaning within it. I am not a person that will care so much about my income because I do not think I am a very materialistic person so I will be pretty happy with what I have chosen in a career path no matter what I make.
Do you hope to live and work one day in another culture for at least a year? Do you think it will contribute to your maturity? 162-3
I have never put much thought in living and working in another culture. I do think that would contribute to one’s maturity immensely. I would have to step out of my comfort zone and adapt to a different lifestyle no matter how drastic the change, but I do think that would be a very exciting thing to do and I would enjoy doing that very much. When I was younger, I wanted to become an exchange student more than anything. Preferable somewhere in Europe. Unfortunately, there were many reasons why I could not. I wish there was more of an opportunity for high school students to explore becoming an exchange student. It would help students understand different cultures better and it would also contribute to their maturity.
Weekly essay +3
Commented on Gavin Browns post +1
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Grand total 60/60
section 12
I enjoyed hearing your thoughts on finding meaning in your work. I struggled with this when I started college and it took me some time to focus on pursuing something I'm passionate about, rather than focus on what makes money.
DeleteI think the way Neiman depicts advertising is a bit dramatic. Yes, the general concept of how those in the marketing and advertising field prey on the audience their feeding their product to is true, but there is a creative aspect to it. I believe a common misconception is that creativity is equated to ONLY artistry. To be transparent, artistic endeavours are the first things to come to my mind when I hear the word creative, but that’s not the case. Creativity is a mindset. What’s a way to get around this obstacle the most effectively? How do I calm this angry customer and avoid getting corporate involved? These all require some level of creativity. For those in advertisement it’s, “How do I get people to pay good attention to this, and love it at first sight? Positively provoking a targeted consumer category takes lots of creative thinking. In Why Grow Up, Neiman conveys them as some mass evil villain, without any creative credit. Sure, some companies may use their creativity for evil, but there’s no denying there is a creative aspect.
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I 100% agree with your thoughts. The way that advertisements are getting more and more creative at grabbing the consumers attention is almost an artform at this point, with motifs and visuals and the sort. I agree that they can be used at times in a malicious and manipulative way, but there are others that have created advertisements that are actually enjoyable to watch.
DeleteI really enjoy listening your answer on both the questions. I agree with you as always. I wanted to be an exchange student and learn different types of culture like Japan or South Korea but I do not know how the world see me like. I might try it out one of this days, but you know the world is big and vast.
DeleteAre you willing to go a month without internet?
ReplyDeleteI mean I wish I could say yes, but probably not. Excluding this whole quarantine stuff, and the fact that my schooling literally requires internet, I use internet for EVERYTHING, and I feel like people don’t realize that. Clocks being set automatically, important dates, keeping in contact and thus being social, my entertainment: games and videos and recipes and puzzles, are all online. Even when you go out to like to eat and stuff, some places require you make a reservation ONLINE, and others only take cards which requires internet, and let’s say you need to know how to go somewhere you’ve never been, they don’t really provide paper maps anymore, it’s all digital. Paying bills has become pretty much all online, buying a plane ticket, I know we said exclude schooling, but even without the quarantine it’s required for school, like this website for example, or D2L, maybe there’s a lab that has to be done online. A lot of work is done online, and take that further, a lot of professional work is done online. Emails, meetings, programs, thesis’s, research, you name it, it’s online. The internet for better or for worse, is completely entangled into our day to day, so I mean I would find it hard to believe that anyone could do it anymore.
Do you hope to live and work one day in another culture for at least a year? Do you think it will contribute to your maturity?
I mean yea actually. I think about this a lot, and in my head, it always sits on this little scale, where on one side, I would really like to expand my world view. For some reason I always imagine its somewhere in East Asia, never like Europe or Africa or South America but East Asia, but in totally different areas. Sometimes in my head I’m in modern day Japan, others I’m like vibing in a Shaolin temple, sometimes I’m just in the busy streets of Thailand or Singapore, but I digress, I just kind of want to be there to experience the culture firsthand. Like what they eat, why they eat it, what they do for entertainment, how they talk, like the phrases they use. I mean even that is pretty important because there’s stuff that means something entirely different before you translate it, so even simple phrases can be a big part of culture. And then on the other half of the scale I wonder if I’m willing to give up a year or two of my professional and potentially social life, to go and expand my world view.
Section 12
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Total for the week 5/5
Total in all 60/60
you should go on a tour of Asia, maybe as a teacher since you're always tutoring everyone in the science building. that way you're actually traveling and meeting people instead of just quick tours in the main cities away from all the actual culture.
DeleteI definitely agree that using the internet is pretty much unavoidable at this point. In some ways it makes me think of Pandora's box. It's such a powerful tool that make vast amounts of information available to an enormous amount of people. But at the same time, it's proven itself to be efficient at spreading disinformation, even propaganda.
DeleteThe question was posed in class today: “how do you see yourself as a parent? Would you be anxious, strict, and always be looking over your shoulder?” for me the answer was simple, of course I would be! Besides the fact that I think one’s responsibility over their child is something that should be diligent, caring, and mandatory for everyone, I must also say from my experiences that not only should I be cautious, but it would be silly for me not to be! The statistic that was brought up in class was the chances of your child being abducted and or killed. I do not believe this is the only thing that child should be concerned about when it comes to the safety of your child. According to the victimsofcrime.org “1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse.” While this does not include multiple relevant statistics, this is a startling statistic. and I am not implying that this is completely due to negligence, but I am saying that there are wolfs waiting just at the tree line of society all the time, and that we us be vigilant if we want to make this statistic drop drastically. As a personal anecdote, I used to live in Florida, and because the number of sex offenders was so high, their addresses were posted in the local paper—including several addresses in my own neighborhood at the time. We cannot stop evil or abuse from happening, but we can do our absolute best to be weary and aware of the evil around outside our very windows.
ReplyDeleteYou really sparked my mind and I actually understand why you would feel that way as a parent. I would too and there is so many dangers that can happen but I would keep my child as safe and protected along with what to do and what to do when she/he sees a stranger or a stranger approaches them. Excellent response Nicolas!
DeleteI really agree with your statement as growing, I was overprotected as a child and while at first I didn't agree with it as where I lived in was low in crime, I eventually grew up and became aware of the dangers that posed out there once I started going to high school that was in downtown. I was taught to always keep my phone charged when walking downtown and not to go anywhere without telling texting anybody I trusted where I was going just in case. Also, I was also taught by my mom that from her experiences that monsters don't always prey out there in the open rather go to where they're trusted the most. Since then, I plan on trying to keep my guard up until I deemed it okay for me as well as any future children I might have in the future.
DeleteShould corporations have pouring rights in public schools? No, because most of the time it’s monopolistic and stifles competition, so that’s already a reason as to why they shouldn’t be in schools without even getting into the effects it has on the kids that go there. Like it’s kind of weird that I can’t get a coke on campus because they bought out the exclude rights to the drinks at MTSU, kinda reminiscent of monopoly charters that kings would give out back in the old days( and we all know that mercantilism doesn’t work). But they also get in the way of having an educational system that is free from influence from large companies with no moral obligation to raising a generation. The government has allowed for it to be criticized openly, would coke allow a school that’s its sponsoring to teach their kids that coke products are a major pollutant all across the world.
ReplyDeleteAm I willing to go a month without internet? No, that simple; I just don’t see a reason why. The internet to me is just a tool, people see it as something that somehow saps your time and attention. But I think that people who think that don’t really understand people or the world for that matter. People are always going to need something to occupy their time and for that we made a place where you can get all of that by just looking it up. An when I say occupy your time I mean literally anything not just entertainment. So it kind of seems backwards to take a month off of the internet to do everything you do on the internet but just slower and more inefficient. Why write a letter when you have email or text.
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Are survivalists and preppers “sad and wacky”? Perhaps not the terms I would use; more eccentric and rather pessimistic. Our day to day lives are flooded with dooms day predictions, “how to” survival shows, competitions of survival, the plague of disinformation/conspiracy theories of all magnitudes, news outlets leaping to conclusions/worse case scenarios and so on: how could we not have people who take all that to heart and start planning for TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it). Now from the too many hours of Doomsday Preppers episodes I have watched (with very little shame) there are a few suspected ends of the world/civilization that are rather far fetched but if you think about it… some are not. Global pandemic? No one thought that would happen in our life time and then ope there goes all the toilet paper and fistfights over hand sanitizer; all the while the preppers were laughing on the way to their stockpiles. The rest of us potentially having to figure food from 3 month old frozen dinners, some soup, and corndogs. Our natural resources being used up, Global Warming decimating food sources? “Everyday, it’s a getting’ closer! Goin’ faster than a roller coaster.” I will also admit that at one point in my adult life I had a “Zombie Apocalypse” survival plan that also included a “bug out” bag and a very intricate description on how I would turn the McDonald’s I worked at into my “command post.” I believe a little bit of preparation is a good thing, a rainy-day fund if you will. Even if you only prep for some natural disasters, you will one day end up thanking yourself for those things will your power goes out for a week. (I learned the hard way.)
ReplyDeleteReally good perspective! I don’t think I would use the terms “sad and wacky” either. Definitely pessimistic! I do kind of admire them for being prepared for this year’s pandemic. My husband and I both have “bug out” bags for the “what if...” scenario, because agree that there is no harm in being a little prepared.
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Are you willing to go a month without internet? 148
ReplyDeleteI would actually love a month without internet. I’ve gone about 2-3 weeks without internet before and really enjoyed it. Most of the time I get to disconnect from social media or the internet is when I go backpacking. It’s so refreshing to be in nature and have the sense of freedom from communication. I will admit that during those first few days, an odd sense of panic does come over me about the possibility of missing out on news or what emails I might be missing; but after that you get used to not hearing your phone buzz to interrupt your solace. I think it’s too bad that so much of today’s world relies on the use of internet. I loved the text Susan included from Ibid on page 145, that “frequent interruptions scatter our thoughts, weaken our memory, and make us tense and anxious. The more complex the train of thought we’re involved in, the greater the impairment the distractions cause.” Today’s new generation of young adults are constantly enraptured with what’s on their phone. Everything is very superficial and fleeting. People don’t stop and take a time out.
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I totally understand that we as humans need to take breaks from the internet because it will have us glued to the screen all day and that is not very healthy. I also liked how you mention that you enjoying going outside to catch some fresh air such as backpacking and just being able to take in the world and its beauty. I really agree with what you said about "Everything is very superficial and fleeting". Keep up the great work, Molly.
DeleteI totally agree. It gives you the opportunity to get to know yourself much better and to meet friends you haven’t seen for a while in real life. And – if nothing else – it will certainly help you to be more focused on the important things in life, to be more determined about your real goals and all the projects you have successfully procrastinated for the last months or years.
DeleteI'm inclined to agree with you on this. It would certainly be difficult to adjust to initially due to our deeply being accustomed to things such as instant messaging and pursuing whatever random thoughts may pop into our heads, but I think that taking a break from the instant gratification for a while would do us good. There are certainly a lot of wonderful things the internet does for us as a whole, but our dependence on it for things that for every generation prior to ours had to work hard for and learn the hard way has made many of us less resiliant and independently motivated than we probably should be.
DeleteA reset could do a lot of people good, and coming back into a healthy balance would have lasting positive effects all around.
Do you expect to find meaning in your work? If not, where will you find it? 185
ReplyDeleteI do expect to find meaning in my work. My work shows that I am capable to accomplish any tasks that comes my way, and that I am able to show others that I do not back down from extremely over-loaded school work and normal work. I know that being able to find the passion in what you love makes your job quiet easier, but again there are several road blocks with it as well. I also know to be more happier with what you find in your work is that you must be understanding of yourself, others, and what is valuable to you in your work. Having the right attitude plays a huge part in what to expect to find meaningful in your work. Without being happy, you will not accomplish certain tasks and you will be looking all sad and complaining. Each job has its different outlooks on what is to be meaningful but you as the person who works for the big or small company, hospital, lawyer, and so many more jobs that you must make every day count and be thankful that you chose this job for the better of your future such as extra income towards retirement, you get to experience the "work-life balance" and you have your own identity as a worker and not just looked at by your name and face.
I more-or-less agree, every job has it's duties that you need to accomplish to satisfy yourself and others through your work. If you have a negative attitude towards your work, then you're going to get negative results for yourself and others. However, if those negative thoughts continue for a long while, I believe different approach would be in order.
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Total for the week 5/5
Total in all 60/60
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ReplyDeleteFor a good couple years, advertisements have more or less become a thing of the past. More like that I have went out of my way through mainly ad-blockers, subscriptions and not watching television. However, whenever I catch a 15-30 second unskippable ad about the crispy, golden fries and a cold, fizzy drink at McDonalds, while the narrator hums the small McDonalds' tune, I can't help but think how much I dislike McDonalds at that moment in time. The best feeling I can describe is like a slow, pouring molasses filling up my brain with all the obvious buzzwords and pleasing sounds and visuals from a fast food restaurant, and how eating at our place is the absolute best. Behind the veil of the advertisement however, is just another company trying to make money. How disingenuous and uncanny some of the commercials can be is so blatant at times, its almost like that it doesn't even matter what they say, you will buy our product eventually. However, when the matter of calling these people who work on advertisements 'creatives' it's a little different. As unbiased as possible, I believe these advertisers are in the same vein of people who make films, music, etc., for all of these it depends on their talent that deems them creative in the sense. I have seen good advertisements that seem genuine and sell their product well, and as well I have seen bad advertisements who have not done either. I can say the same exact thing for other medias with their respective goals, it usually depends on how creative they are and how well they execute it. I see this question on whether or not advertisers are 'creatives' as too general of a question, the other part being would it be a 'tragedy' to call them as such? It is a difficult question, on one hand, there have been a handful of advertisements that rose above all others and are genuinely enjoying to watch and have sold me. On the other hand, the moment I lay eyes(or ears) upon a commercial nowadays, a wave of disgust washes over me as I quickly skip as fast as I happened upon it.
Weekly essay: 3/5
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Comment on Jurnee Holloway: 5/5
I've encountered a few people who have called themselves 'Satanists,' but none of them have been devil worshipers. Many who call themselves Satanists instead are people just trying to push against an overwhelming amount of Christianized united states. As an example: Say there is a nativity scene placed on the front lawn of a government-run building. They would in turn place a small shrine of Baphomet on the same lawn. There is almost always a moral panic and people want the statue removed. They use tactics like this as leverage to get Christen symbols off of government or public land.
ReplyDeleteOutside of Anton LeVey's Church of Satan, I have not encountered any true Satanists. I would think that if people were trying to sell their souls for a harem or countless riches, they wouldn't be overly public about it. While not being a Christen myself, I'd say that I do fall under the label of agnostic. I have not been shown sufficient evidence that any creatures like angels and devils do exist in reality. That being said, I'm not denying their existence. I just see it as kind of silly. My friend insisting that an imaginary pink elephant is standing next to me seems impossible, but I guess there is a slight chance that it exists -- regardless of how absurd it seems. That feeling of absurdity is what I feel thinking about devils.
On the other hand, I think that a metaphorical devil could exist. We could use a devil to represent those darker base instincts that we humans all feel. The urge to buy a pack of cigarettes' would be an excellent example of a metaphorical devil whispering in your ear telling you to do it. We know that it's simply a craving due to an addiction, but it's still fun to depict it as a physical creature whispering in your ear.
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I think that the point you made about the metaphors we use as devils is very spot on. I although believe that the devil is real and can actually use these temptations to stain our character and disrupt our relationship with God. That being said, I am a Christian. So making that point with you might not resonate with you but with that small chance you think that there could be a God, i do encourage you to dive deeper into finding that out. Say you decide to follow a God the rest of your life on earth then die and he isn't real, well all you did was believe in something that wasn't real. But say he is real and you didn't follow him, then you would in turn spend the rest of your eternity in hell.
DeleteI find it so hilarious as well when Christians claim that atheists worship the devil, even though that's literally impossible. I still struggle to see how we live in a country where it's less respectable to believe in our infinite universe that other life exists besides us than it is to believe an invisible man whose existence has never been proven popped all existence into existence because he felt like it.
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Weekly Essay # 12
11/12/2020
Were Augustine and Rousseau right about travel? Yes, because is a good thing to see the world instead of just one place and be stuck in that one place that is called isolation. Looking at different culture and traveling so you know that other culture has different morals and laws. Take me example. I have been to Scotland, India, and twice to Africa because Africa is where I was born. I still want to travel around the to this day and see new things and experiencing new things like one day I might touch a killer whale or blue whale. Are you willing to go a month without internet? Maybe. I rather not use my phone for a month because of social media and your parents calling you every 24/7 hours, yes, and social media is very toxic this day. I feel we need to lay of a little about social media because either number one, you are trying to bring someone down and two, disturbed someone private life like fans or crazy people who trying to break in your house. Internet…. I think internet is controlling us, then using it for good purposes. What is the harm of obsessing about flying saucers etc.? I think people are curious of what is out there that we do not know of. Is there really such thing of aliens leaving among us out in space. For me, if you can prove it, then I believe, if not then there is no such thing. I am fascinated about mythical creature like the Locknus monster, The Crackon, and mermaids, just like the book Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and Wardrobe or Lost Tapes in Animal Planet.
So amazing that you have been to all those places. I would love to hear stories of the sites you've seen. I think traveling is very important and a huge driving force in my life. I think it is intresting your ideals that if there is no concrete evidence then you would dismiss the idea entirely.
DeleteQuestion: Do you know any real "Devil worshipers"? Do you believe devils exist? Why? 334
ReplyDeleteAnswer: I believe all of us who grew up in a neighborhood had that one house that we as kids titled "The Devil Worshiper House." Whether that be because the ones who lived there were a creepy elderly couple or that the house just seemed spooky. Our childish minds would play tricks on us and in some cases scare ourselves into thinking it was real. When I think of "devils" I do think of nasty and cruel intities that are pure evil and want chaos to triumph. I do believe that devils are real because God is real. You can't have one without the other. There is evil in this world and that's because this is a corrupt and sinful world and the devil is the promoter of this sin. I can say with confidence that I have never met a true devil worshiper. Although in my opinion if you do not seek God or Jesus Christ's love then that is just the same. I am a devote Christian and I believe that if you aren't working toward a relationship with God than you are falling into sin and falling into what the devil wants. I believe that the reason we don't see devils and possession and such in America is because everyone is already so lost and far from Christ. Everyone is so distracted and detached from the word that it makes it easier for these devils to keep you astray from the Lord. I know this sounds like a preaching sermon, but I hope you all realize that spiritual warfare is very real. As well as your eternity and where you spend it. I encourage you all to think about it more.
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Deletecomment on andrew kroger and betsy akpotu
What are some other signs of being grown-up, besides the ability to think for yourself?
ReplyDeleteI think that some other traits or signs of being grown up being able to provide for yourself and be independent. I think that being grown up is being able to think and also act for yourself. A way someone might be more grown up than someone else is being able to learn from past experiences and use those past experiences for themselves. Being able to have self-control I feel is another aspect of being grown up as well. If you can control what your bad habits are or stop them completely that comes with a sense of maturity. Also being able to value your time as an individual and knowing when stuff needs to get done and also not allowing others to waste your time. Everything I mentioned could be the ability to think for yourself or it could be just becoming more mature, but I think that becoming more mature constitutes to becoming a grown-up. Even though I am considered an adult by the world but I do not think that I am a grown-up in the slightest. I still have things to experience and I have of things to learn in order for me to really consider myself an adult at the end of the day. People have their different ideas of being a grown-up what I might consider as being grown-up another person might look at what I said and disagree with that statement and something they might say as being grown-up I might have a different opinion on that at the end of the day.
I agree that having self control is definitely a sign of maturity. the ability to say no to something you want but isn't a good idea to have takes practice and usually isn't something people understand until they are mature.
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ReplyDeleteAnna Johnson
I definitely think it’s a travesty that “creatives” are forced to resort to working in advertising in order to have careers at all. In this week’s reading in WGU, Neiman reveals that in Cuba, advertising is basically nonexistent. She says that as you leave the airport, its absence is readily apparent. I’ve never noticed before how difficult it is to imagine what our world would be like with zero advertisements. I’ve driven quite a bit around the country and even in the most rural of places, there are still billboards. Every truck stop exit I’ve ever been to looks exactly the same, no matter what part of the country you’re in. I think it’s really sad even though I’ve never known anything different.
There is a quote in this section by Nike CEO, Phil Knight, in which he asserts that the marketing of their brand is their biggest priority rather than their actual product. I find this notion to be pretty disconcerting, but not totally surprising. Similarly, I’ve heard that most of the storefronts in Time Square in New York City don’t actually make any profit, they only exist to act as a huge billboards for their company. It all seems gross, manipulative, and wasteful of talent and resources. Goodman would be very disappointed if he could see how far the invasion by advertisers has come in this country. I wish we could have a world in which artists could more easily make ends meet by making things more beautiful rather than making products seem more desirable.
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DeleteMain post 11/12= 3 points
Commented on Moustage Shamdeen’s post 11/12= 1 point
Commented on Kimmie Steakley’s post 11/12= 1 point
Commented on Don Enss’ post 11/12= $$
Grand Semester Total (excluding any bonuses)= 60 points
Are you willing to go a month without internet?
ReplyDeleteI could go a month without internet if I had to. It would be a little difficult at first but I have enough things to do that don't involve the internet that it wouldn't be that big of a hindrance. The only thing that I would be sad about if I didn't have internet is the ability to stream music anywhere at anytime, but if it is only for a month I'm sure playing music on my saxophone, bass, or piano will suffice that need for a constant melody in my head. I would have a hard time doing online classes though if I didn't have internet for a month. I will still be able to call people and use all of my technology offline, so if school isn't during this month there is nothing really hindering me from my everyday life.
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Deletereply to Don Enss
Reply to Aidan Rose
I think people tend to overstate how "bad" the internet is for you, anyone COULD go a month without the internet but honestly I see no reason to.
Deletef I'm being honest to myself, I truly believe that I could not last a month without internet. Especially now since all of college relies on the internet. I spend countless hours on my phone, laptop, or gaming system that a month without it would drive me crazy. If I did lose internet I would prob find other things to do like getting back in the gym(which I should probably do anyway) and maybe reading more. In conclusion, a month without internet would be extremely difficult.
DeleteI also feel I couldn 't go a month without internet.
DeleteI totally understand your point of view. Living disconnected from the internet in a society where everyone is online can be a tough ride, but it is possible if we try.
DeleteWhat's the harm of obsessing about flying saucers etc.?
ReplyDeleteI think that a simple belief in flying saucers is not necessarily dangerous, but there are some who take the matter to the extreme. Just like with anything else, flying saucers can be unhealthy when taken in large quantities. People believing in bigfoot or the loch ness monster are no different than those who believe in flying saucers, but the difference comes in when people take an obsession with these subjects and let them take over their lives. Some people make these mythical beings- I say mythical because, like the unicorn, we have no proof it exists- into a sort of religion, except their religion is not socially acceptable. People who obsess over these types of things let it take over their lives, just as most obsessions do, and they find themselves camping out in the woods where there have been a lot of bigfoot sightings, or building a submarine to look for the loch ness monster. While these obsessions can be harmful to the individual, I believe that it can have a positive impact on the environment these events take place. The Midwest has several tourist attractions thanks to sightings of flying saucers, and the origins of the loch ness monster involve attracting more people to the area. These mystical fantasies play an impact on the culture and ultimately become a part of it, mixing and altering the area and the people who live there. #12
Comment on Cory Robert’s post
Comment on Kimmie Steakley’s post
Essay
60 points
Blake Hughes
ReplyDeleteSection 010
My Essay (+3)
Comments (+2): Autumn Daniel & Shelby Pittman
Overall Points: 60
Weekly Question #12:
“Do you want to produce something of value? Why?”
I definitely want to produce something of value in my lifetime.
For as long as I can remember, there have been several future paths I would have loved to go down. Being a Doctor, an Artist, an Author, a Teacher, an Animator, a Makeup Artist, and the ever-growing list goes on, and on. However, as we all know, dreams come and go, and reality really starts to set in, lol.
For quite a few possible career options, I have even tried my hand at them, but I knew immediately, or almost immediately, that they weren’t for me. Thus, it brings me to where I am now, as a Video/Film Production Major.
I do enjoy it, and plan on sticking with this, as my career path, unless something crazy happens. As thankful as I am, I do feel a bit unfortunate, however. I just don’t know it it’s what I should be doing, because I struggle with being so indecisive.
But, the one thing that stuck with me, for all of these years, is wanting to be able to have the power and position to be able to help all of those in need, and the less fortunate.
I know whatever I do, I will never stop fighting for those who need to be fought for, and do anything within my power, to make a positive change in the world.
Damn... this just basically summed up the existential crisis i have every night before bed. i just do not know what i should be doing or what i want.
DeleteBlake, I feel much the same way and have for most of my earlier adult life as well. It can be incredibly difficult to find a specific career path that feels like it contributes something to society and I think that's largely because for most of our lives we are told that one's career is what determines a person's merrit in the world.
DeleteWhat I've been finding lately is that for the past decades or even century, the number and type of career choices available have been changing away from things people dedicate their lives to and more to unhappy "it pays the bills I guess" menial jobs that people reluctantly settle into because it's financially viable... It's important to reframe what ones purpose or contribution is in life and disassociate it from simply where you're employed or what field you chose to earn money.
If you focus on how you as a person can learn new skills and make a positive impact in people’s lives in your own unique way, then you can find purpose doing just about any job and turn it around into helping people when the opportunity arises. Let your passion for spreading positivity and meaningful change be what fuels whatever you do, be it filmography or something else later on. You got this
I think the feeling of needing to product something of value is a product of. the feeling of wanting to leave a legacy to be remembered by. Nobody wants to go through life and not leave a lasting impact on at least some large group of people to be remembered by.
Deleteweekly points
ReplyDeleteweekly essay
2 comments
Carter Stephans
matt Kolzow
If/when you become a parent, will you be "anxious, frightened, overprotective" and constantly worried about the threat of child-napping? 326
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, my parents were very overprotected with me and my brother and while I initially, had no problem with this as I was more of a homebody and always allowed their rules of going off with strangers under any circumstances. My brother on the other hand had always resisted and claims that everyone in the family was "too paranoid". Especially to me as I tend to always be cautious and he would just look at me like I'm crazy. However, despite being overly cautious, I had always felt like I missed out on certain things as most of peers went out with their friends and went out to the mall or go to one of those hangouts I've always heard everyone in school go after school. Also, I wasn't allowed to spend the night at somebody else's place without my parents knowing theirs and it had always annoyed me. It made me felt like child and while everyone else I knew was going through many milestones, I would only experience them only til I became 16. Even then, I still feel like it.
When I asked my parents about why were they overprotected and ever since that conversation, it changed my entire outlook. You see, my mom and her sisters grew up in a small town in Mexico and throughout their experiences, they have gone through many close calls as a children and while my mom and my aunts did manage to escape and leave unscathed without too much trauma, it did made them want to leave many years later as it wasn't safe for young girls. My mom and one of her sisters, Elvira, left Mexico and settled to the US where each of them gave birth to a daughter: my cousin and I. While they do claim the US was much safer than from where they came from, they knew that nowhere was completely safe. Especially if you were a girl.
I'm not sure when or even if I'll ever have children but I like to think that I am going to be protective over my children. However, knowing from my parents and my experiences of being being left out on certain milestones, perhaps I will try my best to let my children go out and be able to trust them to make good decisions. However, I do plan on teaching my children self-defense regardless of gender and warn them of the dangers of kidnapping and yes... perhaps maybe getting a tracker just in case.
Wrote weekly essay: 3 points
DeleteReplied to Nicolas Smith's post: 1 point
Replied to Cole Walker's post: 1 point
Overall Total: 60 points
I am almost the same way because my parents are super protective of me and I'm lucky they let me go out the house as much as I do because my dad grew up in Memphis whenever it was a really dangerous place to live, especially as a child. My mom grew up in West Memphis, AR, which is smaller than Memphis and used to be just as dangerous to roam around as much as kids do around here. I will also be protective of my Kids and also teach them self-defense.
DeleteAlexa i really understand this! I was never allowed to go out with friends after school and it felt like such a blow to my social life and development as a kid.
DeleteI totally get this, my parents were super overprotective of me and made me want to do more rebelious things.
Delete"What do you think of the X-Files"
ReplyDeleteI think it was a show that came at just the right time when the Alien and Predator franchises were starting to become stale, and at a time in 1993 when the internet was fresh on the scene there was a sizable chunk of the population who wanted all the information they could get. As the tagline for the show goes "the truth is out there", and while it does serve as a sort of indulgence for those who believe in or are at least familiar with the Area 51 theories, I don't believe that it intendeds to have any serious effect on anyone. Just as the embarrassingly terrible episode of NCIS (or whichever dime a dozen cop drama is the one that has Ice T in it) which attempted to portray gamers as violent rapists, I feel that when something is so overtly meant to be taken as entertainment it has that effect alone on the viewer. There is one X Files episode that I can remember in particular which served as a direct tribute to the science fiction horror film The Thing, at that point it becomes quite clear that the show's objective is not meant to be taken as a serious piece of non fiction. It was an interesting sci fi take on the now stale format of cop drama/mystery which has only been executed well a few times in recent memory, and personally I don't believe the newest season did anything to help it especially in a society with access to hundreds of "ghost" videos on demand.
Essay +3
DeleteReplied to Douglas Hauser +1
Replied to Andrew Kroger +1
If/when you become a parent, will you be "anxious, frightened, overprotective" and constantly worried about the threat of child-napping?
ReplyDeleteThis question really stood out to me amongst all others because I can not possibly fathom any pain much greater than having your very own child taken away from you. The amount of rage and suffering that could cause a parent i do not think can even be put into words. However, i do not believe this fear justifies some of the extreme measures some parents go through to “protect” their children from any possible harm. I do think taking risks is a majorly important aspect of growing up and gaining independence. My dad would let me and my brother go to sores and casually roam the neighborhood 24/7, and he caught a lot of shit for it too. Parents at school would say how bad of a parent he was for letting us have a little more freedom. And I owe a lot of the skills I have developed to being a “free-ranged kid”. And I believe children's independence can actually improve a kids ability to avoid and notice danger. Then as a result they are less likely to get napped. But the sad truth is if someone really wants to take your child then there's not much you can do other than prepare your kid for those situations. And i think the only way to know a dangerous situation is by experiencing it, which is not gonna happen in mommys lap.
Do we have a duty to our own humanity to work?
ReplyDeleteI personally believe life’s main concept is to learn the most that you can in your early years in order to then focus on a specific area. Once you decide on the specific field and area you want to stay in for the rest of your future, you then try your best to enhance that certain skill and use it to make you money to support you in your future life. My parents have drilled the idea in my head to begin working at an early age and save as much money you can to help me when I get into the specific area of work that I want to study throughout college. I have been working ever since I turned 18 and have saved a lot of money to help boost me in my future studies. We live in a time where a bunch of people are focused more on beating their way around the bush and trying to find ways to get money the fastest ways without doing any work. As media and technology continues to grow, so does the ideas that there will be more opportunities on the internet to earn money rather than working for your money and climbing your way up the ladder to earn high position in important fields of work. People see on media all these other people earning millions from doing stuff that appears fun and easy to do, and then they try to do the same but don’t realize that even people that are rappers or professional athlete have to work hard to enhance the skill they have chosen to help them make a living. Once some people see they have to do all the work that they did not prepare themselves for, they begin to look at irregular ways to earn money. Some of these methods can be illegal or not strong to make them a living for the rest of their lives. An example of this would be scamming or trying to become an influencer on the media. I know we are done with the book Fantasyland, this question can tie back to the idea that people want to create their own world, and now they are trying to do this through laziness and easy shortcut. I personally believe that the only way to live life until you eventually work hard enough to eventually make it look like you aren’t doing any work because you have enhance your skills that you have worked your whole life for.
Section 012
Weekly Essay +3
Responded to Alexandra Jasso +1
Responded to Douglas Hauser+1
Overall (55/60)
I think that it is very important for everyone to work in some fashion. It is the premises of giving back to others that also work for you that makes this nation flow properly.
Delete
ReplyDeleteDo you want to produce something of value? Why? 181
Do you expect to find meaning in your work? If not, where will you find it?
I'm kind of going to answers these two questions in one fell swoop cause I think they end up having very similar vibes. The short answer is yes to both.
I think that one of the major reasons I have stayed in the animation major for as long as I have is because I desperately want to be able to create something with meaning - that invokes a feeling so strong it resonates on a personal level. Which isn't to say that I'm necessarily working with the goal of creating for others? I want to make quality emotive work for myself primarily.
I need to get to the point where I can create quality pieces because the majority of my work is personal and making a piece that resonates is a process of understanding and working through how I genuinely feel about the world. Plus I don't think I've really found too much meaning in other areas- I stay on the path I'm on because it is the only thing that has shown any promise in that regard.
Are You Willing to go a Month Without Internet?
ReplyDeleteDefinitly not. I possibly could have pre-covid but during the height of covid (around march and april) I was on the internet almost all day no matter what I was doing. I would not be able to go without internet now that I live so far away from home and because of the online courses here at MTSU I haven't been able to make many friends so I have been very dependent on that to socialize with people. Also the internet is my main source of entertainment.
Adam Chambers
ReplyDeleteSection 012
Essay
"You must take your education into your own hands as soon as possible." Did you? How? 140
Well, for most of my childhood and young adult life my parents insisted on either homeschooling me or having me in a small, private Christian academy because they had severe disagreements with the public school system and secularity. What they hoped this kind of education would do for me is make me a model young man with unwavering conservative Christian values and an untainted, narrow worldview… what it *actually* did was raise me to fear asking questions and scorn anyone with beliefs different than my own (their own). Due to the isolated nature of homeschooling, I had basically no idea this was happening and basically believed that everything my parents were telling me as undisputable fact… a problematic worldview to be certain. It wasn’t until I was around 12 or 13 and my parents got busy with other matters that I gained access to the internet and subsequently differing worldviews/skepticism towards things I’d been raised into for over a decade…
It was after that point that I realized just how bad off I was and how much of my life and formative years had already been wasted in a bubble and decided I had to take my education into my own hands, lest I end up becoming something I loathed. I organized what was essentially a strike against my own continued educational and ideological internment and refused to continue with their assigned studies, conform to their expectations, or even eat their food until they put me into an actual public school with science classes and extracurricular opportunities. The subsequent year was.. difficult to say the least, but I did eventually get what I wanted and, although enrolling in a public school isn’t exactly “taking my education into my own hands”, it was miles ahead of where I was. In the 3 years I spent in said school, I retroactively learned/taught myself a decade’s worth of mathematics, scientific understanding, social skills, and life skills in general that I had no experience in prior. I lost 100lbs in that time as well, and I firmly believe that it was the best thing I ever did for myself.
While something as ordinary as attending a standard public highschool may seem unremarkable to most, it was a turning point for me and pushed me to begin actually taking my education into my hands by pursuing and advancing my studies and interests outside of class just to keep myself afloat with my peers. That burning curiosity and drive to control my own fate never left me and when I look back the handful of peers I had in my sheltered early life, I see just how miserable my life would have been otherwise. To anyone reading this, I urge you. Please don’t let your flame be stifled. Keep pushing forward and learn as much as you can.
Essay 3/3
DeleteReplied to Blake +1
Replied to Molly +1
Are you willing to go a month without internet?
ReplyDeleteThe internet has become an indispensable part of our everyday life. The reason I choose to plug off the internet for one month lies therein that I consider myself as a person who would be really affected when the internet suddenly breaks down. Not that I am very fond of the idea of being online 24/7, but I felt that I more often spend my time online in a rather unproductive way. I want to know how it feels to live completely offline for more than just a week-something I haven’t done- and want to see how being offline affects my life and the relationship I have towards my work/study, friends and family, but also the relationship with myself.
Essay +3
DeleteDouglas Hauser, Molly Belk +2
Section 010
I agree, the internet has become a distraction. A month away from would be rather cleansing to me.
DeleteQuestion: (3 points)
ReplyDelete1. Are you willing to go a month without internet? (WGU p. 148)
Yes, I’m willing to go without internet for a month; along with, no electricity too. The reasoning behind this statement, is because I believe that as a race (Human) we have become lazy in the sense of making everything super easy, and now individuals feel they’re working when they’re not. So, in short, we need to go back to doing things in a simpler or slower pace to receive nature’s balance again. Additionally, this will be great, and add to the transitional process for majority when they are dealing with hard situations pertaining to learning correctly in order to enhance their intellectual zin, and then becoming to be an all-around decent person. Therefore, not having internet would make people(s) start reading paperback books, communicating verbally and start writing letters again, etc., so I’m all for it. However, not having access to the internet would affect our military and defense systems too; which, I don’t want to see occur. Pertaining to this last presidential term, we can’t afford to not have access to the internet because we can become vulnerable to foreign threats for the first time since the revolution war against England. Even though we had dealings with Cuba/Russia during the bay of pigs’ situation; which again was the closets time that a superpowered nation has been this close to our borders. To add to this, not next would decrease car wrecks, and deaths because it’ll make people pay more attention to real-time situations verses the norm in the fantasy world we have succumbed too! Therefore, we do need internet access, to function as a society; not only in America, but as a whole in the world, As a people we should learn to use this tool correctly in order to sustain decency going forward in this modern area of humanity.
***Summary Posts 12Nov20*** 5 POINTS
Reading summary Are you willing to go a month without internet (WGU), responded to Simon Pergande’s and Isaiah Bryant’s posts.
I really agree to what you said. That is exactly what I would have said if I choose that question
DeleteWhat are some other signs of being grown-up, besides the ability to think for yourself?
ReplyDeleteI think that the biggest sign of being a grown up is being able to put other people's needs before yourself. I think that becoming a parent or getting married is a great representation of what it means to be a grown up. Deciding that from that moment on you no longer just live for yourself, you now live for someone else. I do not really consider the ability to think for yourself as a deciding factor of being a grown up. I have been able to think for myself and make decisions that impact my life for years, but at the same time I would not consider myself a grown up just because of those factors. I think a better reasoning would be that you can financially take care of yourself. Even in college right now my parents help me out with certain financial burdens including phone bills and food every once in a while and because of that I would not consider myself a grown up because at this point and time I still rely on other people to take care of me in certain ways. I think there is a big distinction between being an adult and a grown up. By the eyes of the government I am of age of being an adult, which means that they recognize me as being old enough to make decisions for myself. I think that is the biggest misconception between the two titles.
Post +3
DeleteResponse to Wesley +1
Response to Blake +1
Total 55/60
I agree that being able to put other's before yourself is a sign of adulthood. When we are kids we mostly think about ourselves and our own needs.
Delete"If/When you become a parent, will you be "anxious, frightened, overprotective" and constantly worried about the threat child-napping?
ReplyDeleteEven now not being a parent, the thought of "child-napping" is a frightening thought. I'm sure when I have children it will be continuous thought especially when my children are younger. My intentions would be to teach my children how to avoid certain situations and not be too over protective with them. The thought of "child-napping" would make any parent anxious.
Weekly Essay -3pts.
DeleteReplied to Kushi Patel - 1 pt.
Replied to Michael Clancy - 1 pt.