Evolutionary In Technology!

It is crazy how far we have advanced in today’s technology. Especially with our cell phone, I can remember the progression of all the cell phones I had like, Nokia, Samsung, Razr, and finally the IPhone. On my, how I feel old. I can’t even imagine how old my parents feel. It amazes me how far we have come and how much more we will go. I believe technology to be like a tool. This advancement in technology can be good or bad based on how the user plans to use this technology. Because of the fast change in technology, society could not be any more different from past generations. We are developing new social norms, for example, instead of getting someone a card for their birthday, we leave a comment on their Facebook wall wishing them a happy birthday. Or texting someone for hours about information you need that you could of gotten from a two minute conversation on the phone. Nevertheless, I must say I enjoy the convenience that technology brings us.

Someone Is Always Watching You!

Today's society is so concerned with staying up to date with their friends and in return they keep them up to date. Our communication is better than ever better, but could this be causing us more harm than good. I think so. In a lot of ways Facebook can be seen as a resume, and we do a good job at putting our best foot forward so that's not the problem. Because of our mobile devices and smart phone we can instantly upload images and video within seconds of an event happening without hesitation. So now, that footage is all over the internet for anyone to see. So, all I can say is behave out their World because "What happens today is on Facebook tomorrow!" 

John Tesh Intelligence For Your Life. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2013, from Top Online Dating Websites And Apps!: http://www.tesh.com/story/love-and-relationships-category/top-online-dating-websites-and-apps/cc/13/id/25438

Online Dating?

The topic of this article is about Dating Websites and Apps that can help you meet people. Now-a-days, it is becoming more common for people to meet online just like it is to meet through friends or at the work place. Men and Women are more successful at meeting people online than at the bars or the clubs. The first App is “Lets Date” members make a profile and can only send a request if they have common interests. The requirements for this website are they need to be on Facebook for a year and to have fifty friends. Second popular App is “Crazy Blind Date” for this App member have to be very gutsy because someone creates a time and a date, then waits for someone to except the offer. It really is like a blind date! The last dating App is called “Kill Switch.” Kill switch is designed to help you avoid those awkward moments of running into your ex online by deleting any post he or she is in. Meeting people online can be positive because seventeen percent of couples, who get married, in fact, meet online. Some are against the idea of meeting others online but look at it this way. Online dating websites can be used as a tool; it can make the difference between shouting arrows in the dark and happiness being only a phone call away! Don’t fear it! Embrace it!  

Christian, M. (n.d.). Why Venting Online Could Make You Unhappier. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from John Tesh Intelligence for your life: http://www.tesh.com/story/health-and-well-being-category/why-venting-online-could-make-you-unhappier/cc/6/id/25451

Is It Still Okay To Get Even When It Comes The Internet?

People get a temporary high when they post an angry comment, but eventually over time decreases in happiness. When people express anger online, “they are more likely to have acts of aggression offline, too say,” says the journal Cyber psychology, Behavior, and Social Network. People will for the most part express their difference in opinion through angry comments in hopes of changing their opinion. This does not happen; it just turns into an angry online battle. So what can we take from this? Dr. Martin says it’s okay to speak your mind the first time. But what’s important to keep in mind is that complaining doesn’t get anyone very far. Instead stand up for what you believe in and make a change! 

Campbell, K. (2012, July 13). Gender Roles in Disney Films. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from filmandmedia12: http://filmandmedia12.wikispaces.com/Gender+Roles+and+Stereotypes+Found+in+Disney+Films

Is Your Little Princess Really Getting A Happily Ever After?

Disney is influencing gender rolls from a young age. This article examines from an adults perspective about these characters and how she feels uncomfortable. For example, Princess Jasmine’s clothes are revealing and don’t fit right. Another example, Beauty and the Beast is actually a story about an abusive relationship. Today, we are using films to teach our students about these gender rolls and societal norms. From very young ages images are implanted into little girls’ minds of princesses. Girls are told that the key to happiness is being fashionable, beautiful, and finding a prince to save you. The Same goes for young boys they are taught when they grow up that they need to successful, good looking, and muscular. I think we are corrupting the minds of young children everywhere. We are telling them that being different will not lead you to happiness. I don’t want to live in a World where kids don’t feel free to express themselves because they are working so hard to meet these unreal expectations. Does this really lead them to a happily ever after?

Carter, J. (2013, January 17). Every Character in Winnie the Pooh Represents a Common Mental Disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from www.patheos.com: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/joecarter/2013/01/every-character-in-winnie-the-pooh-represents-a-common-mental-disorder/

A hundred Acre Woods more like a Hundred Acres of Crazy!

In 2000, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published an article diagnosing the characters from Winnie the Pooh with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. This is an innocent World consisting of untreated disorders and problems. Because each character has a different disorder, I think it makes the show more relatable. For all the kids, who face challenges like the characters that live in A Hundred Acre Woods.

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself!

You only live once, so why live it being anyone else? When life is to short it is important to "be yourself," or else you will just get sucked in to the mainstream of society. Soon you will be trying to look like celebrities, dressing like them, cutting your hair like them, or even wearing make up like them. In Dyllan Day's post Be Yourself he brings up an important point, "... people need to be more individualized and do things that make them happy." (Day, 2013) People need to do what makes them happy, and not what makes society happy.

Edwards, L. (2012, November 07). How Did Gangnam Style Go Viral? Retrieved April 17, 2013, from Social Media Today: http://socialmediatoday.com/laurahelen/980476/how-did-gangnam-style-go-viral

We’re All Going Viral!

If it wasn’t for the social media and all of our advanced technology, we wouldn’t be able to share ideas and get information out there to the World fast enough. Thanks to YouTube. We have the power to share videos with anyone who has an Internet connection. For an example, “Gangnam Style” went viral within only a few months hitting over one billion views! Gangnam Style featuring serveral Korean celebrities after being released it gradually started building momentum and in no time at all; it was a huge hit. Having all this technology is a good thing because an individual can make their way to stardom without stepping one foot in to Hollywood. The Internet is evening the levels on the playing field because it doesn’t matter where you come from or how much money you make. What really matters is what you can bring to the table. If you embellish your talent and make a video and you get it out there. All it takes is one like, and then it turns into five likes, then ten likes, and then eventually those people share it with all their friends. Now you have one billion likes! Wow! That’s what I like the most about the social networking world; we are all so close together. We are never more than a click, tap, text, or call away from each other. Technology is a tool, so we can either use it or abuse it.

Johnson, S. (2011). Games. In S. Cohen, 50 Essays (pp. 196-202). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's.

One For Gaming None For Reading

In the story “Games,” Steven Johnson has created and examined what the World would look like if video games came before books. In Johnson’s parallel World, video games are seen as more of the positive activity than reading books. For example, in video games kids control the game, the plot, and the story line. Video games stimulate multiple parts of the brain at once and provide a vivid three dimensional experience unlike books. Books are a series of words on a flat two dimensional piece of paper and the story is already written for the reader to follow, and this leaves kids to feel powerless. In order for kids to participate in this reading activity they need to go to these places called libraries, sit down in cubicles, be quiet, and read silently.  Books are leaving no room for creativity. In Johnson’s parallel universe, a book teaches kids to “follow the plot” and not to lead, and this could potentially cause isolation towards peers. Johnson concludes that he doesn’t agree with the argument that books are bad for kids. He believes in many ways that reading is a very positive stimulating activity for the brain. There are two reasons why readers can benefit from books; first reason, the information within the book; second reason, the exercise the mind gets from processing and storing that information. When kids are reading, they are required to put in a lot of effort, concentration attention, and hard work. Johnson identifies that books do actually help with imagination, and they empower the reader to create their own World in the heads. He also acknowledges that even the brightest readers will use technology like video games from time to time and cause no harm, so there is no need to band kids from technology. He just suggests that the skills that kids learn from reading will help them later on in the education system and the job market. In the end will lead them to live a more happy and healthy life.

Mckenna, M. (n.d.). Should Kids Be Allowed to Play an Ipad? Retrieved April 15, 2013, from John Tesh Intelligence for your life: http://www.tesh.com/story/health-and-well-being-category/should-kids-be-allowed-to-play-with-an-ipad/cc/6/id/25383

 

 

Are Ipads Good For The Next Generation Kids?

 

In the article, “Should kids be allowed to play with an Ipad?” Meredith McKenna emphasizes that young kids are spending more time around technology than they should. McKenna suggests that kids should only watch about two hours of screen time every day if not less. She concludes that kids who are spending too much time on the ipad are developing negative health side effects. For example, because of the rapid fire movement on the small screen there has been increasing amount of cases of kids developing ADD. The most important thing we can take from this article is that kids need to talk to other people to have a healthy brain development. If parents stop allowing their children from isolating themselves in their technology, we can still save the kids.

Winn, M. (2011). Television: The Plug-In Drug. In S. Cohen, 50 Essays (pp. 438-445). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's.

 

 

Television Changing The Way Families Come Together

In the story “Television: The Plug-In Drug” Marie Winn explains that television has become a huge part of the family house hold lifestyle. What was once a group activity that was implied that the TV would bring the family closer together, it is actually breaking them a part. Instead of everyone in one room watching the same show, they are all in different rooms watching their own shows. The TV does not only affect relationships with in the family, but also the relationship with Social-World. When young children are developing social behaviors and they choose to learn through the television instead of through real life social interaction, this will most likely have a negative effect on the children. Watching TV is like a “one way street” for the child because he is only receiving information. Not only that, but the situations that the viewer in counter on the big screen is so simple that it makes it difficult for him or her to fully understand and handle the complex World. An example that Winn brings to mind is the story told by a first-grade teacher about a little girl in her class, who isolates herself from the rest of the class. When the little girl goes home, she will sit in front of the TV while the mom makes her dinner and then will continue to watch TV. The teacher is puzzled by this behavior asks, “Well, couldn’t she help you fix dinner? That would be a nice time for the two of you to talk.” I think what the teacher is suggesting is that if the child had more of a social connect at home then she could make a better connection at school with the other kids. This text supports my opinion on the idea that child should watch less TV and they should be more involved in school and home activities to help them to become more well-rounded individuals.