Of all the papers I have written while attending Ashford University this paper has by far been my favorite.
The most intriguing part of this interview has been realizing that the real study for me has not been familiarizing myself with my subject’s journey involving intercultural communication but understanding the intercultural communication between him and me. We have always had beautiful discussions about life, politics, religion, etc. and though we may not always see eye to eye I respect him and what he has to say, as he respects me. This interview has been such an enlightening experience and I am so grateful I have found a subject I can learn so much from.
Russell Feldman is my mother’s fiancé. He has been in my life for seven years and I have loved gaining insight into his life. Russell is from South Africa. He was born in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, which then became Zimbabwe. He moved to the United States when he was twenty-three (the same age as I am now) in 1978 and is now fifty-three. Russell and I have always gotten along but we have strong convictions and beliefs that are very different. Though he loves America, he speaks of South Africa with great fondness. Speaking to him I catch a glimpse into a time filled with prosperity; a time where men were the breadwinners and women were the homemakers. I can visualize him and his sister sitting down every night with his parents to a meal of potatoes and meat, for fast food was inconceivable.
His earliest memory was at the age of three living in his house in Bulawayo. He recalls playing in the garden, with his Nanny Elizabeth and the gardener. He can recall no “hugely” vivid experience but a few smaller instances such as, “My sister riding her bike and my telling her that there was a spider on the bike- she fell off… my mother making us paper wings and I thinking I could fly and running and jumping off an embankment, no injury, but gravity prevailed”. He also remembers, “Watching a parade of the King’s African Rifles. A black regiment with loyalty to her majesty”. This is a moment when I must reflect on the obvious fact that his life and mine has been extremely different. He speaks of African Rifles and this is something I cannot fathom ever being a part of my ordinary everyday life.
During the interview I realized I never asked him why he moved to America. With genuine curiosity I asked him and he states, “When I first came here it was because of the political instability in Africa but it was a drop in the standard of living”. He felt compelled to move here because of the struggle occurring in South Africa. His home in South Africa was so wonderful and prosperous he felt moving here was downgrading, so to speak.
Though he speaks with a South African accent there is no difference in language because South Africans speak English. He states, “The African (black) people spoke a variety of languages as they were dispersed among a variety of tribes”. He speaks of religion as it being the same. He is Jewish (a small minority) and “there are the usual divisions of the protestant faith as well as Catholicism. The Indian immigrants were mainly Hindu, Sikh, and some Muslims. Many blacks had been converted to Christianity but incorporated tribal spiritualism into their new found faith. The use of magical, “Muti” or medicine applied or prescribed by witch doctors was common among Native Black Africans”. I am blown away by how readily he can discuss this information.
Family custom is a good example of something that may not entirely have had to do with the difference in cultural but with the difference in the times. Russell states, “Family custom is also similar as all is based in a Western European/American Culture. However, the similarity becomes blurred because of the following, the family was more formal i.e. everyone knew their place; children were far more respectful and were not nearly as loud and brash as they are now because they followed the dictates of their family, not friends. Mostly only the husband worked and the wife was the homemaker which was more a sign of the times than any cultural differences”. Instead of staying indoors “we were all outdoors, as we had no television, no computers, and no cell phones”.
The way he describes it, work was seemingly ideal. He states, “There was far more quality time for family. Everyone received one month vacation per year, no matter how long your tenure. One did not work as long or as hard. Retail stores closed Saturday at midday and did not re-open until Monday. There was much more family time and time at home”. This sounds beautiful and at this point I am internally wondering why he loves America so much if his childhood and past was so great.
The media played a small role in his life and views of his culture. He states, “Colonial Africa was at first a clash of cultures i.e. an advanced and highly technical “white” culture and a primitive and very tribal black culture. Later, these differences were used to fuel an ideological struggle during the cold war and again later the emergence of Black Nationalism and the quest to independence which again led to this cultural clash. The media then, as now, seldom told the truth. Therefore, I do not rely on the media to support or contest my views”. When it came to his views on males and females there was, again, no media influence. He states, “Views were different because times were different. The work place was male dominated as was sports and politics, etc. The roles and responsibilities between male and female were clearly defined”.
It seems to me a good bit of propaganda was happening on many levels. Morgan Tsvangirai states, “The political climate continues to be marred by unfortunate and vicious propaganda that emanates from the state media” (Shamu & Tsvangirai, 2009). It seems to me that the media in Zimbabwe has not changed for the better. It still leans toward a flawed way of execution. Instead of promoting communication and truth there is a good deal of manipulation.
This is this point in the interview that I am most eager to learn more about. I am extremely pro-equality for everyone and Russell has always been a lot more closed- minded on this point, or so I have thought. When we begin the discussion on race and ethnicity I am very interested to find out more thoroughly where his views of ethnicity stemmed from. He states, “In Southern Africa the “black man” could not compete in a high tech white society. Black culture here had not even progressed to a written language. They wore animal skins and threw spears. I do not say this to jeer or mock. It was what it was. They were a conquered people. Their land was gone and they were forced to adapt to a white society as best they could. They became the ‘white man’s burden’ but also his labor, and cheap labor at that. The superiority of white over black was clear. Look at our skyscraper- look at his mud hut”. When I began this part of the interview I braced myself to hear what he stated but he did not say it in a derogatory manner, and seemed to simply be stating things as he saw them to be. It was fact to him and to many people who lived there.
Our text states, “Culture has a much greater effect on the perception process than on sensation itself” (Jandt, 2009, p.63). His culture has deeply affected his perception on the world. Not only his upbringing but what he has seen with his own two eyes has formulated his beliefs and convictions. He brings up the point that during the time he lived in South Africa, “We were going through a similar time in America with Civil Rights. It was forced upon both countries; in America there were marches and in South Africa there were embargoes”. It was a natural progression towards a shift in integration. Of course it would have been ideal for it to occur more smoothly, but people were scared of change. I expressed to him that many people expressed blind hatred from fear of the unknown and change; that not everyone held beliefs through informed understanding, such as him.
When I think of apartheid I think of a time filled with anger and discontentment. Talking to Russell has given me a more open understanding of both sides of the equation. He states, “One of the main reasons for apartheid was the Africans themselves. There were four million whites and forty-million blacks, give or take a few. If we gave them equality on the vote, they would take the country. One man one vote, we had a democracy but only amongst whites. South Africa was a hugely successful economic country. When we saw countries around us that gained their independence like Mozambique and Angola (on our borders) we saw total chaos when they became ‘black run countries’. Mozambique had a twenty-five year civil war, two and a half million dead; Angola, two million dead in a twenty year civil war which was why apartheid flourished. It was an institution brought upon the Africans by themselves by what we saw around us. We couldn’t give them control of the government even though they were the majority. Where I grew up was the breadbasket of Africa. Inspiration comes from profit”. I can see his perspective more than I thought I would. Cynthia Tucker states, “In 1980, the apartheid regime of Rhodesia gave way to a black-led Zimbabwe. And in 1994, the first multiracial elections in South Africa delivered the presidency to a black man, the longtime anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela” (Tucker, 2008). It is interesting to consider both sides of the equation. Russell considers my generation to be brainwashed and so I am definitely questioning whether I have been or not. I feel my beliefs are my own but I know nurture and society had a lot to do with it.
Russell brought up a good point that I had not considered until our interview. He equates “black people” in South Africa to Mexicans in America today. He states, “I see the ‘white-man’s burden’ now with Mexicans. We don’t want to point fingers. I’m seeing the same thing, having seen it before, I can recognize it. It’s an evolution, there’s nothing wrong with it. I didn’t make the world so I’m not responsible for it”. Russell would like for me to clarify that though he did not feel guilty for apartheid, he did feel compassion for the people involved. He states, “I believe that everyone should have the right to happiness and equal opportunity”. If that analogy is accurate, I do not feel pity for Mexicans entering America. I am glad they are being given a chance to flourish. The big difference is that they are immigrating during a very different time than when apartheid occurred in South Africa. There is more tolerance and patience from people, and yet they are still being met with resistance.
An article from The Washington Times states, “Zimbabwe is to South Africa what Mexico is to America” (Washington Times, 2002). This puts Russell’s perspective into a more understandable point of view for me. People from Mexico are coming to America to be given a chance to flourish and change their lives, to make money to send home to their families, and to be given an opportunity. Though this is going on in my country, it does not mean I am a racist. Though apartheid was going on during the time Russell was in South Africa, does not mean he is racist. He saw it as “black men and women” being given a chance to succeed.
The more I talk to Russell the more I realize that he thinks everyone has the capability of succeeding. He does not think people should blame a lack of success on their ethnicity. Andrew Kenny states, “Black Africans try to reduce all human existence to a simple morality tale in which the white man is the source of all evil and misfortune” (Kenny, 2005). This is a very strong opinion. I do not know its accuracy because I have not done a study. It made me feel a sense of how Russell feels. He has mentioned before that he does not cut people slack because of their ethnicity. He has a high standard for people. He wakes up every morning at 3:30am and works a ten to twelve hour shift usually six days a week. He has high expectations of people and high standards. This is why he does not think people should blame their inadequacies on their ethnicity or skin tone or how people see them. Everyone is human and not every single struggle is skin deep. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, regardless of where we came from.
Sue Lowe speaks of a woman from Zimbabwe who went to speak to a group of students stating, “They were doubtful when she told them she was old enough to be their grandmother and impressed when she told about African women who could walk for miles with a pot of water on their heads, their arms full of firewood and their babies on their backs” (Lowe, 2000). It is incredible to me the lengths people can go to survive. We all have our daily struggles and hardships but when I read about this woman I felt very pampered and spoiled. The woman, Shambare, “wore native garb including a circlet of fruit seed on her head and anklets of seeds and gourds. Her wide bracelets were covered with beer bottle lids folded over and filled with seed so they made a noise when she clapped” (Lowe, 2000). I think it is beautiful this woman visited a class of children to teach them of her life. This is how intercultural communication expands and teaches. I am sure these children will never forget her story.
Though he is socially liberal, Russell is a die-hard republican which I am not. I was, therefore, very interested to understand his views on the economic system of South Africa. The way he says it makes it seem like the ideal option, a utopia. He states, “The economic system was far freer than the United States of America. Certain industries were government controlled but the “free market” and very low personal and corporate taxes led to an economy that exploded into prosperity. Even under apartheid the rising tide lifted all boats, e.g. more private cars were owned by blacks in Africa than all the rest of Africa combined (excluding Egypt)”. This subject always made me uncomfortable because it is difficult for me to understand this time in a positive light. I do, however, appreciate his ability to back up his beliefs with facts. Though we may disagree I find it to be a good thing that I can understand where he is coming from. If you cannot understand another person’s point of view then you are blind as well.
Whenever I have talked to Russell about school he reminisces fondly. He was one of two Jewish people at his boarding school. He got into a fight once because someone was insulting him, he won, and he made a lot of friends afterwards. About South Africa’s education he states, “The wearing of school uniforms was mandatory. There was far more discipline in classrooms. There was no “dumbing down” of society. The role of school was to teach. Corporal Punishment was standard in all schools”. He believes that strict discipline in schools is a good thing. He wishes there was more of it. At first this makes me uncomfortable but then I realize that he went through it in school and he says it was some of the best years of his life. Maybe it is only he who feels this way? Or maybe it was that having a high standard and harsh punishment molded him into a person who can take a step back and respect it. When I first found out he felt this way I was slightly appalled because I do not like being told what to do and knowing someone could hit me if I messed up. Maybe that is just my age and where I was born, but I can definitely understand the appeal of Russell’s perspective. Structure can be a good thing. He is a good example of that.
Talking to Russell has given me a huge dose of cultural relativism meaning, “we try to understand other people’s behavior in the context of their culture before we judge it” (Jandt, 2009, p.85). I used to think Russell was racist and always understood, on some level, that it was just how he was raised and where he came from. Well I could not have been more incorrect. Russell wishes for equality for all and appreciates the fact that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. He simply speaks in certain terms because of how he was raised. I have never heard him speak a racial slur. Though he does not believe in interracial marriage, his belief stems from his culture, the religion he was raised in and a desire for the purity of bloodlines. This does not mean he dislikes other ethnicities; just that he was raised to feel this way.
Our text brings up a good point stating, “To be competent in intercultural communication, individuals must understand the social customs and social system of the host culture. Understanding how a people think and behave is essential for effective communication with them” (Jandt, 2009, p.55). I had to throw away my convictions to stay completely open to understanding where he is coming from and truly see why he feels the way he does. I am so glad I have been effectively able to do so because I have definitely learned a lot from this experience.
His early life was good. It was prosperous and beautiful. He went to a great school, got along with his parents, and saw the beauty in art and music. He learned to have high expectations of people because his parents expected a lot of him, and he of himself. Like most countries, if you take out politics and hatred, it had all the potential in the world to be magnificent. He loves America for its freedom, high standards, and the opportunity people have here to flourish in their lives. He communicates with people in America the same way he did in South Africa. I consider him to be a very intelligent human being and not necessarily a “South African”, “American”, “Republican”, etc. He is someone whose mind is full of remarkable information about his past. He has an incredible passion for life that I admire very much.
More than anything my interview with Russell has allowed not only a better understanding of his intercultural communication but communication between himself and me. The biggest factor of intercultural communication I have found is the communication between a fifty-six year old man who came from South Africa during apartheid and a twenty-three year old woman who has grown up in America. This interview has helped me to understand more thoroughly why he believes what he believes. I was raised in a country that has overcompensated for the mistakes made in the past and thus do feel uncomfortable delving into certain topics. He speaks his mind even if it may come across as closed-mindedness. He states that he might come across as Hitler but hopefully I have done a good enough job of showing where he is coming from to reveal that is not the case. If anything his ability to be candid and honest has led me to believe that he is a lot more open than he may seem initially. I respect him for being able to be so completely honest even if it may not be received well. The biggest lesson on communication I have learned through this interview is to have completely effective communication one must release what you think that you know and truly delve into the other person’s point of view.
References
Jandt, F. (2009). An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global
Community. SAGE Publications, Inc.
Kenny, A. (2005). The future looks black. The Spectator.
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=7&did=886347211&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1257219731&clientId=74379.
Lowe, S. (2000). Pupils sample Zimbabwe culture. South Bend Tribune.
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=10&did=54936996&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1255402826&clientId =74379.
Shamu, W. & Tsvangirai, M. (2009). Zimbabwe media rights groups outraged on release
of new state-owned daily. BBC Monitoring Africa.
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1855863951&SrchMode=1&sid=5&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1257222091&clientId=74379.
Tucker, C. (2008). A Shameful Silence on Zimbabwe. The Sun.
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=3&did=1498721811&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1257219730&clientId=74379.
(2002). Zimbabwe in black and white. The Washington Times.
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=155455661&SrchMode=1&sid=7 &Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1255403088&clientId =74379.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Legalizing Marijuana Persuasive Paper
We now embark on an era where the idea of marijuana is shifting from negative to positive. Generally seen as a liberal prospect, marijuana is becoming more accepted among many subcultures despite conservative belief systems. Though it is often associated with an unproductive youth, marijuana is proving to have medical benefits that transcend and negate some of the stigma behind it.
There are many myths I would personally like to see these put to rest. While it is true many people become addicted to drugs like heroin and cocaine after smoking marijuana, how many consumed alcohol earlier-or even milk for that matter? While it is true most people who partake in “hard” drugs like heroin also smoke marijuana, this is a small portion of total users. It has been shown to be less addictive than cigarettes and even chocolate. There are some hazards such as mixing with certain medications for those with psychological disorders-but that is also the case with the majority of modern pharmaceuticals.
I find it confusing that alcohol is legal and marijuana is not. Marijuana affects your reflexes but it does not make you feel invincible. Alcohol takes away your inhibitions and makes you feel like you can do anything. You can ask anyone and a majority of them will say they have made mistakes while being intoxicated. Whether this means drinking and driving or having sexual relations without protection, any of these mistakes can change a person’s life for the worse.
Marijuana generally makes you feel happy, sleepy, and hungry. It is highly unlikely that someone is going to feel inclined to do something dangerous while under its influence. I have been around people who are intoxicated from alcohol and high from smoking marijuana. I can say with complete conviction that people become more rowdy and unruly from drinking alcohol than from smoking marijuana.
Regardless of marijuana being used recreationally it has been proven to be effective in treatment of many illnesses and disorders. A woman named Jacqueline Patterson has a severe case of cerebral palsy. She has children and is a widow. Because of marijuana she is able to live a somewhat normal life. In this video she begins speaking more coherently after inhaling once. Sure, she could have taken a pill to help but the positive effects would not have been as immediate. You can see the amazing effects medical marijuana creates at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLpJMacS8c8&feature=related.
My grandmother passed away from uterine cancer six years ago in February. At the end of her life she was given high doses of morphine and did not eat. If anyone has ever lost a loved one from cancer you can understand how painful it is to see them in so much pain and essentially deteriorate before your eyes. I wish I would have known then what I know now and could have helped ease her struggle. Dr. Bruce Bauknight states, "Cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy often suffer loss of appetite and chronic pain. Marijuana could help to revive patients' appetites while reducing nausea and pain" (Ortega, 2010). When someone is fighting a losing battle with death it is only decent to give them anything that will make them feel better, regardless of what the government says.
Marijuana can be a very beneficial antidepressant. So many people suffer from depression and many of them choose to medicate themselves with alcohol which is a depressant whereas marijuana can level emotions and relax the body. A good friend of mine was going through a deep depression about a year ago and started smoking out of curiosity. Within a month I noticed her mood shift to much more positive and asked her if she was taking any form of antidepressant. She informed me that she had started smoking marijuana out of curiosity but continued to self-medicate because it helped her balance her moods and relax when she was feeling anxiety. Robert Melamede states, “Marijuana helps my depression significantly. I can be in one of my non stop crying mania self-hating moods and the ONLY thing that has any sort of calming effect on me is Marijuana. Should I keep pumping myself of dangerous chemicals included in anti-depressants or could I simply smoke a bit of Marijuana and feel that sense of relief? That sense of calm that overcomes me?” (Melamede, 2010). So obviously this is not just a fluke with my friend.
For those people who associate marijuana with strictly smoking might like to know that you can feel the effects of marijuana through avenues other than smoking. You can bake marijuana in brownies, make teas, and use vaporizers. Marinol, or medical marijuana, is distributed in pill form so you do not need to smoke it. It is completely understandable that people would be afraid to smoke marijuana especially those with asthma or emphysema. These other alternatives to smoking just prove that the fear of harming your lungs is not exactly necessary.
Dr. Igor Grant states, “There is not very strong evidence that marijuana, for example, produces emphysema or lung cancer or permanent brain damage… anything you smoke in a combustible form has potential risks, but the safety profile seems to be better for it than some other drugs like tobacco” (Buchanan & Colliver, 2010). Of course there are side effects for smoking marijuana but they are negligible when you compare them to the benefits. Victoria Colliver and Wyatt Buchanan state, “The first U.S. clinical trials in more than 20 years on the medical efficacy of marijuana found that pot helps relieve pain and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and certain neurological conditions, according to a report released Wednesday by a UC research center” (Buchanan & Olliver). It is doing the medical world a disservice to brush marijuana off as a recreational drug. Due to more research there is evidence that marijuana can absolutely benefit the medical world.
If marijuana were to be legalized I propose that laws be placed that are paralleled to alcohol. You must be of a certain age to smoke, you should not operate heavy machinery while under the influence, and you should not work while under the influence. Like anything else, if done in moderation, the negative effects are fairly limited and pale in comparison to the side effects of many pharmaceuticals..
Dr. Yusuke Yahagi states, "Overdosing on marijuana can suppress breathing and change behaviors, and smoking even a small amount can slow a person's decision-making process... That's why marijuana is not legalized -- due to the potential danger to both the patient and other people," (Ortega, 2010). Though I fully respect Dr. Yusuke Yahagi's claim, I must point out that it is impossible to overdose from smoking marijuana. You would have to smoke 1,500 lbs. of marijuana to overdose which is close to at least $150,000. I disagree with his statement that reason marijuana is not legalized is because it slows a person's decision-making process. I feel the real reason marijuana is not legalized is because of the government's view on it. It is assumed that marijuana breeds chaos and insolence when in fact this only comes from people who feel inclined to create negativity prior to smoking. It is not surprising to me that marijuana is legal in the Netherlands who recently closed eight prisons because there is a lack of need.
If people in government were paying attention they might realize that legalizing marijuana would boost the economy. The Wichita Eagle states, "[California] would overhaul the state's marijuana laws and allow possession, sale and cultivation of marijuana for people 21 and older while imposing a $50-an-ounce sales tax, much like taxes on tobacco and alcohol. The billions in revenue this would generate might be one way for the state to help solve its budget problem." (Anonymous, 2010). It is comical to me that people think that by keeping marijuana illegal they will prevent people from smoking. It simply creates a black market. Our country is based on a very straight-laced Christian ideal and this is just not how the world works anymore. It is so important to adapt and change with the times because without accepting a change in thought society can become stagnant.
Gabe Semenza asks the question, “Do you want your children getting their hands on a drug (in this case, marijuana) the way they can beer or cigarettes?” (Semenza, 2009). My answer is that if I were to have children I would rather they had access to marijuana any day of the week than alcohol or cigarettes. As I do smoke cigarettes I can confidently say that they are highly addictive. They become habitual and I have heard it said it is more difficult to stop smoking cigarettes than to quit a heroin habit. You can overdose from drinking alcohol it is merely called “alcohol poisoning” rather than “overdosing”. Alcoholism runs in families and can destroy lives. Though you can become habitually and mentally addicted to marijuana you cannot become physically addicted.
A petition created to legalize marijuana states, “Regulated, legal market in marijuana would reduce marijuana sales and use among teenagers, as well as reduce their exposure to other drugs in the illegal market. The illegality of marijuana makes it more valuable than if it were legal, providing opportunities for teenagers to make easy money selling it to their friends. If the excessive profits for marijuana sales were ended through legalization there would be less incentive for teens to sell it to one another” (Anonymous, 2010). I could not agree more with these statements. Right now a huge part of the allure of smoking and distributing marijuana is that it is illegal. The black market is everywhere and anyone can easily have access to it. We have to think logically and realize that every demographic smokes marijuana and is not going to stop because people wish it away.
It is completely understandable that some of the public might be hesitant about legalizing marijuana. We have grown accustomed to this law and are relatively comfortable with it, with the exception of those actively fighting. This being said, the alcohol prohibition shows us that some governmental decisions are unnecessary. If alcohol were illegal the public would not stand for it and I feel we should view marijuana in this way. The only difference is that marijuana has been illegal for so long that it has become concrete law and has become taboo because of this law. Why have something in front of us that is so beneficial to the medical world and has no serious side effects and allow it to stay banned? It reminds me of banning books, it is just completely unnecessary. I realize that legalizing marijuana is more than the literal. It symbolizes a shift in tolerance that has progressed throughout our society. I feel that tolerance for homosexuality and different ethnicities falls along the same lines as tolerance for marijuana. It is simply another shift in understanding that should take place.
We now embark on an era where the idea of marijuana is shifting from negative to positive. Many people naively lump it into the same category as heroin and cocaine. I truly believe that if people were more informed there would be a shift in the understanding of not only marijuana in general, but its positive effects on the medical world. It is important for the public to understand that marijuana has been given an unjustifiably negative reputation because people were not as informed as they are now. We now have the information at our disposals and all I would like to see is for people to carry out research before making a choice on whether a plan should be legal or not. It is up to the public and we can influence the government’s decisions. We just have to care enough.
References
Anonymous, (2010). Why Marijuana Should Be Legal. www.petitionsite.com.
Anonymous, (2010). Pro-con: Time for states to legalize marijuana? The Wichita Eagle.
Buchanan, W. & Colliver, V. (2010). Clinical tests cite benefits to pot. San Francisco
Chronicle.
Melamede, Robert, (2010). Don’t believe the lies! The TRUE benefits of Marijuana.
www.squidoo.com.
Ortega, J.R. (2010). CON: Other alternatives available to avoid legalizing medical marijuana.
McClathy-Tribune Business News.
Ortega, J.R. (2010). PRO: Texas should legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. McClathy-
Tribune Business News.
Patterson, J. (2008). Marijuana: For Medical Purposes Only Pt. 2. Youtube.
Semenza, G. (2009). Con: Legalizing marijuana won’t improve society. McClathy- Tribune
Business News.
There are many myths I would personally like to see these put to rest. While it is true many people become addicted to drugs like heroin and cocaine after smoking marijuana, how many consumed alcohol earlier-or even milk for that matter? While it is true most people who partake in “hard” drugs like heroin also smoke marijuana, this is a small portion of total users. It has been shown to be less addictive than cigarettes and even chocolate. There are some hazards such as mixing with certain medications for those with psychological disorders-but that is also the case with the majority of modern pharmaceuticals.
I find it confusing that alcohol is legal and marijuana is not. Marijuana affects your reflexes but it does not make you feel invincible. Alcohol takes away your inhibitions and makes you feel like you can do anything. You can ask anyone and a majority of them will say they have made mistakes while being intoxicated. Whether this means drinking and driving or having sexual relations without protection, any of these mistakes can change a person’s life for the worse.
Marijuana generally makes you feel happy, sleepy, and hungry. It is highly unlikely that someone is going to feel inclined to do something dangerous while under its influence. I have been around people who are intoxicated from alcohol and high from smoking marijuana. I can say with complete conviction that people become more rowdy and unruly from drinking alcohol than from smoking marijuana.
Regardless of marijuana being used recreationally it has been proven to be effective in treatment of many illnesses and disorders. A woman named Jacqueline Patterson has a severe case of cerebral palsy. She has children and is a widow. Because of marijuana she is able to live a somewhat normal life. In this video she begins speaking more coherently after inhaling once. Sure, she could have taken a pill to help but the positive effects would not have been as immediate. You can see the amazing effects medical marijuana creates at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLpJMacS8c8&feature=related.
My grandmother passed away from uterine cancer six years ago in February. At the end of her life she was given high doses of morphine and did not eat. If anyone has ever lost a loved one from cancer you can understand how painful it is to see them in so much pain and essentially deteriorate before your eyes. I wish I would have known then what I know now and could have helped ease her struggle. Dr. Bruce Bauknight states, "Cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy often suffer loss of appetite and chronic pain. Marijuana could help to revive patients' appetites while reducing nausea and pain" (Ortega, 2010). When someone is fighting a losing battle with death it is only decent to give them anything that will make them feel better, regardless of what the government says.
Marijuana can be a very beneficial antidepressant. So many people suffer from depression and many of them choose to medicate themselves with alcohol which is a depressant whereas marijuana can level emotions and relax the body. A good friend of mine was going through a deep depression about a year ago and started smoking out of curiosity. Within a month I noticed her mood shift to much more positive and asked her if she was taking any form of antidepressant. She informed me that she had started smoking marijuana out of curiosity but continued to self-medicate because it helped her balance her moods and relax when she was feeling anxiety. Robert Melamede states, “Marijuana helps my depression significantly. I can be in one of my non stop crying mania self-hating moods and the ONLY thing that has any sort of calming effect on me is Marijuana. Should I keep pumping myself of dangerous chemicals included in anti-depressants or could I simply smoke a bit of Marijuana and feel that sense of relief? That sense of calm that overcomes me?” (Melamede, 2010). So obviously this is not just a fluke with my friend.
For those people who associate marijuana with strictly smoking might like to know that you can feel the effects of marijuana through avenues other than smoking. You can bake marijuana in brownies, make teas, and use vaporizers. Marinol, or medical marijuana, is distributed in pill form so you do not need to smoke it. It is completely understandable that people would be afraid to smoke marijuana especially those with asthma or emphysema. These other alternatives to smoking just prove that the fear of harming your lungs is not exactly necessary.
Dr. Igor Grant states, “There is not very strong evidence that marijuana, for example, produces emphysema or lung cancer or permanent brain damage… anything you smoke in a combustible form has potential risks, but the safety profile seems to be better for it than some other drugs like tobacco” (Buchanan & Colliver, 2010). Of course there are side effects for smoking marijuana but they are negligible when you compare them to the benefits. Victoria Colliver and Wyatt Buchanan state, “The first U.S. clinical trials in more than 20 years on the medical efficacy of marijuana found that pot helps relieve pain and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and certain neurological conditions, according to a report released Wednesday by a UC research center” (Buchanan & Olliver). It is doing the medical world a disservice to brush marijuana off as a recreational drug. Due to more research there is evidence that marijuana can absolutely benefit the medical world.
If marijuana were to be legalized I propose that laws be placed that are paralleled to alcohol. You must be of a certain age to smoke, you should not operate heavy machinery while under the influence, and you should not work while under the influence. Like anything else, if done in moderation, the negative effects are fairly limited and pale in comparison to the side effects of many pharmaceuticals..
Dr. Yusuke Yahagi states, "Overdosing on marijuana can suppress breathing and change behaviors, and smoking even a small amount can slow a person's decision-making process... That's why marijuana is not legalized -- due to the potential danger to both the patient and other people," (Ortega, 2010). Though I fully respect Dr. Yusuke Yahagi's claim, I must point out that it is impossible to overdose from smoking marijuana. You would have to smoke 1,500 lbs. of marijuana to overdose which is close to at least $150,000. I disagree with his statement that reason marijuana is not legalized is because it slows a person's decision-making process. I feel the real reason marijuana is not legalized is because of the government's view on it. It is assumed that marijuana breeds chaos and insolence when in fact this only comes from people who feel inclined to create negativity prior to smoking. It is not surprising to me that marijuana is legal in the Netherlands who recently closed eight prisons because there is a lack of need.
If people in government were paying attention they might realize that legalizing marijuana would boost the economy. The Wichita Eagle states, "[California] would overhaul the state's marijuana laws and allow possession, sale and cultivation of marijuana for people 21 and older while imposing a $50-an-ounce sales tax, much like taxes on tobacco and alcohol. The billions in revenue this would generate might be one way for the state to help solve its budget problem." (Anonymous, 2010). It is comical to me that people think that by keeping marijuana illegal they will prevent people from smoking. It simply creates a black market. Our country is based on a very straight-laced Christian ideal and this is just not how the world works anymore. It is so important to adapt and change with the times because without accepting a change in thought society can become stagnant.
Gabe Semenza asks the question, “Do you want your children getting their hands on a drug (in this case, marijuana) the way they can beer or cigarettes?” (Semenza, 2009). My answer is that if I were to have children I would rather they had access to marijuana any day of the week than alcohol or cigarettes. As I do smoke cigarettes I can confidently say that they are highly addictive. They become habitual and I have heard it said it is more difficult to stop smoking cigarettes than to quit a heroin habit. You can overdose from drinking alcohol it is merely called “alcohol poisoning” rather than “overdosing”. Alcoholism runs in families and can destroy lives. Though you can become habitually and mentally addicted to marijuana you cannot become physically addicted.
A petition created to legalize marijuana states, “Regulated, legal market in marijuana would reduce marijuana sales and use among teenagers, as well as reduce their exposure to other drugs in the illegal market. The illegality of marijuana makes it more valuable than if it were legal, providing opportunities for teenagers to make easy money selling it to their friends. If the excessive profits for marijuana sales were ended through legalization there would be less incentive for teens to sell it to one another” (Anonymous, 2010). I could not agree more with these statements. Right now a huge part of the allure of smoking and distributing marijuana is that it is illegal. The black market is everywhere and anyone can easily have access to it. We have to think logically and realize that every demographic smokes marijuana and is not going to stop because people wish it away.
It is completely understandable that some of the public might be hesitant about legalizing marijuana. We have grown accustomed to this law and are relatively comfortable with it, with the exception of those actively fighting. This being said, the alcohol prohibition shows us that some governmental decisions are unnecessary. If alcohol were illegal the public would not stand for it and I feel we should view marijuana in this way. The only difference is that marijuana has been illegal for so long that it has become concrete law and has become taboo because of this law. Why have something in front of us that is so beneficial to the medical world and has no serious side effects and allow it to stay banned? It reminds me of banning books, it is just completely unnecessary. I realize that legalizing marijuana is more than the literal. It symbolizes a shift in tolerance that has progressed throughout our society. I feel that tolerance for homosexuality and different ethnicities falls along the same lines as tolerance for marijuana. It is simply another shift in understanding that should take place.
We now embark on an era where the idea of marijuana is shifting from negative to positive. Many people naively lump it into the same category as heroin and cocaine. I truly believe that if people were more informed there would be a shift in the understanding of not only marijuana in general, but its positive effects on the medical world. It is important for the public to understand that marijuana has been given an unjustifiably negative reputation because people were not as informed as they are now. We now have the information at our disposals and all I would like to see is for people to carry out research before making a choice on whether a plan should be legal or not. It is up to the public and we can influence the government’s decisions. We just have to care enough.
References
Anonymous, (2010). Why Marijuana Should Be Legal. www.petitionsite.com.
Anonymous, (2010). Pro-con: Time for states to legalize marijuana? The Wichita Eagle.
Buchanan, W. & Colliver, V. (2010). Clinical tests cite benefits to pot. San Francisco
Chronicle.
Melamede, Robert, (2010). Don’t believe the lies! The TRUE benefits of Marijuana.
www.squidoo.com.
Ortega, J.R. (2010). CON: Other alternatives available to avoid legalizing medical marijuana.
McClathy-Tribune Business News.
Ortega, J.R. (2010). PRO: Texas should legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. McClathy-
Tribune Business News.
Patterson, J. (2008). Marijuana: For Medical Purposes Only Pt. 2. Youtube.
Semenza, G. (2009). Con: Legalizing marijuana won’t improve society. McClathy- Tribune
Business News.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Always Learning!!
At first I was a bit intimidated and skeptical about critiquing my fellow classmate’s blogs. I am just now understanding it more thoroughly myself so how could I possibly have anything to say? Well, I definitely surprised myself. I found that it was fairly simple to differentiate between what I liked and what I disliked. In the “real world” I highly doubt that someone would stumble across a blog and refuse to read through it because the color of the background is not to their liking. As long as it is aesthetically appealing, easy to understand, and well- written it can draw you in. This is something I have really enjoyed about making my own blog. There is creative freedom to a large degree which can be an extension of who you are and your own creativity and professionalism.
In my dissection of a few blogs these are the components that stood out to me as good ideas to incorporate. Jodi Rama’s introduction immediately sucked me in. Her introduction is, “Getting caught up in the hustle and bustle has become a natural part of life. We all have amazingly busy lives, so who has the time to 'stop and smell the roses'? You do. Follow me on little Pieces in Time and you will realize the urgency on the time crunch to make the most of those little moments” (Rama, 2010). Are you serious?? I love this introduction! All I wanted to do was continue reading and I was not disappointed because she consistently incorporated the concept behind her introduction throughout her posts. A good introduction is so important because we are so used to instant gratification that something less than catchy may cause someone to turn away from the blog immediately. It made me realize that my posts do not really reflect my blog title. I plan on changing it to something more appropriate before it is due to be completed.
Another aspect I found to be important was that the presentation needed to come across as professional since this is supposed to be a “professional blog”. Jason Knapp’s blog just screams professionalism. The background consists of different shades of blue which for some reason I associate with being proficient. His introduction is, “Discussions On Communication And How It Influences Our Lives” (Knapp, 2010). Immediately I knew that this was a professional blog geared towards communications. His font is simple and easy to read which causes you to feel compelled to continue exploring what he has to say. His blog made me realize that I have a lot of work to do on my blog. I like mine but it is not quite as professional as I would like for it to be.
Lori Klosterman’s blog is just lovely. She uses a brown and peach background that is visually appealing and is not too distracting. She discusses personal aspects of her life saying, “This has been a whirlwind weekend. It started off Friday night, the last day of school for my daughter, Grace, and she was excited! A local church was having its annual festival, and a number of her friends were going to be there. Of course, she had to go” (Klosterman, 2010). She also incorporates professional and well-written posts saying, “Having a clear plan, meeting with the difficult employee, and outlining your expectations of that employee will help to give a realistic, achievable goal to work toward in bettering his or her behavior. With the oversight of a manager who has demonstrated care and concern for all of his employees, positive results can be attained” (Klosterman, 2010). I like the fact that she incorporates personal and professional information and thoughts. The personal posts show her personality and individuality while her professional posts exude a qualified and skilled understanding about communication. It definitely inspired me to make my blog more interesting.
My praises are a bit more extensive than my criticisms. Maybe this is because I have a difficult time criticizing people or maybe it is because these blogs were very good in my opinion. That being said, the only faults I saw are as follows. Lori might need to incorporate subheadings as to make it easier to read her posts. I had the same critique and I agree with it. Subheadings break up the posts so they do not seem quite as daunting. Jodi’s main picture takes away from the idea of professionalism because it is of family members but I still love the picture! Jason also incorporates pictures which may take away from the “professionalism” but I like that he added them because it gives us a glimpse into his life.
At first I was a bit intimidated and skeptical about critiquing my fellow classmate’s blogs. Even so, I am realizing that our blogs have to balance professionalism as well as creativity. They must be simple but well-written as to draw the reader in and also be understandable. There are a LOT of blogs out there and yours has to stand out and show individuality. It also has to be aesthetically interesting without overwhelming the reader. Creating blogs is fairly simple but they really are an art unto themselves. It is about promoting yourself and doing it in a way that you are proud of. You are displaying your work and your skills in a public arena. I just hope to live up to these expectations.
References
Klosterman, L. (2010). Lori’s Libratory Life. Blogspot.
http://lorislibratorylife.blogspot.com/.
Knapp, J. (2010). Musings With JFK. Blogspot. http://musingswithjfk.blogspot.com/.
Rama, J. (2010). Pieces in Time. Blogspot. http://piecesintimewithjr.blogspot.com/.
In my dissection of a few blogs these are the components that stood out to me as good ideas to incorporate. Jodi Rama’s introduction immediately sucked me in. Her introduction is, “Getting caught up in the hustle and bustle has become a natural part of life. We all have amazingly busy lives, so who has the time to 'stop and smell the roses'? You do. Follow me on little Pieces in Time and you will realize the urgency on the time crunch to make the most of those little moments” (Rama, 2010). Are you serious?? I love this introduction! All I wanted to do was continue reading and I was not disappointed because she consistently incorporated the concept behind her introduction throughout her posts. A good introduction is so important because we are so used to instant gratification that something less than catchy may cause someone to turn away from the blog immediately. It made me realize that my posts do not really reflect my blog title. I plan on changing it to something more appropriate before it is due to be completed.
Another aspect I found to be important was that the presentation needed to come across as professional since this is supposed to be a “professional blog”. Jason Knapp’s blog just screams professionalism. The background consists of different shades of blue which for some reason I associate with being proficient. His introduction is, “Discussions On Communication And How It Influences Our Lives” (Knapp, 2010). Immediately I knew that this was a professional blog geared towards communications. His font is simple and easy to read which causes you to feel compelled to continue exploring what he has to say. His blog made me realize that I have a lot of work to do on my blog. I like mine but it is not quite as professional as I would like for it to be.
Lori Klosterman’s blog is just lovely. She uses a brown and peach background that is visually appealing and is not too distracting. She discusses personal aspects of her life saying, “This has been a whirlwind weekend. It started off Friday night, the last day of school for my daughter, Grace, and she was excited! A local church was having its annual festival, and a number of her friends were going to be there. Of course, she had to go” (Klosterman, 2010). She also incorporates professional and well-written posts saying, “Having a clear plan, meeting with the difficult employee, and outlining your expectations of that employee will help to give a realistic, achievable goal to work toward in bettering his or her behavior. With the oversight of a manager who has demonstrated care and concern for all of his employees, positive results can be attained” (Klosterman, 2010). I like the fact that she incorporates personal and professional information and thoughts. The personal posts show her personality and individuality while her professional posts exude a qualified and skilled understanding about communication. It definitely inspired me to make my blog more interesting.
My praises are a bit more extensive than my criticisms. Maybe this is because I have a difficult time criticizing people or maybe it is because these blogs were very good in my opinion. That being said, the only faults I saw are as follows. Lori might need to incorporate subheadings as to make it easier to read her posts. I had the same critique and I agree with it. Subheadings break up the posts so they do not seem quite as daunting. Jodi’s main picture takes away from the idea of professionalism because it is of family members but I still love the picture! Jason also incorporates pictures which may take away from the “professionalism” but I like that he added them because it gives us a glimpse into his life.
At first I was a bit intimidated and skeptical about critiquing my fellow classmate’s blogs. Even so, I am realizing that our blogs have to balance professionalism as well as creativity. They must be simple but well-written as to draw the reader in and also be understandable. There are a LOT of blogs out there and yours has to stand out and show individuality. It also has to be aesthetically interesting without overwhelming the reader. Creating blogs is fairly simple but they really are an art unto themselves. It is about promoting yourself and doing it in a way that you are proud of. You are displaying your work and your skills in a public arena. I just hope to live up to these expectations.
References
Klosterman, L. (2010). Lori’s Libratory Life. Blogspot.
http://lorislibratorylife.blogspot.com/.
Knapp, J. (2010). Musings With JFK. Blogspot. http://musingswithjfk.blogspot.com/.
Rama, J. (2010). Pieces in Time. Blogspot. http://piecesintimewithjr.blogspot.com/.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
This might help
I read Helena Metcalf's critique of my blog to discover that I never posted my name!!! I didn't realize that!! Craziness. This is why it's good to have an outside perspective of your work. Thanks Helena!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Delivering Bad News
Review the case study below and in 350 – 700 words explain how you would approach this employee, anticipate the employee’s response, and discuss which conflict resolution techniques you would use. Submit your response to your instructor through the Dropbox in your online course and add it to your Blog.
“You are a department manager in a mid-sized company that provides technology support services. You have ten employees who are required to maintain a high level of technical expertise and deliver excellent customer service. One of your employees, who has been with the company for two years, is performing at a substandard level and you have received numerous complaints from customers and coworkers. In addition, this employee has displayed confrontational behavior which has created a hostile environment. You must now meet with this employee and deliver an ultimatum regarding the need for immediate improvement or dismissal.”
In this situation I would approach the employee in a non antagonistic manner. I would ask him/her if they would please come with me to discuss something that has been brought to my attention and that I have noticed. My instinct in this situation is to first ask the employee if there is something going on in his/her life to provoke this sort of negative behavior. If they say yes then I would ask them if they felt like talking about it. If they are compliant and feel like opening up then the conversation is more likely to go in a positive direction. If they do not feel like discussing the situation with me then I would have to give them an ultimatum. I would say, “Either you shift your way of approaching this job and your interaction with your coworkers or I am going to have to let you go. We have had many complaints about your antagonistic manner and it is affecting the working environment of the people around you”. I would use the initiation phase that occurs, “when at least one person makes known to the other that a conflict exists, such as reacting to another’s upsetting comment, pointing out the offensive nature of the other’s behavior, or reminding the other that she or he is expected to do something the person is not doing” (Cahn & Abigail, 2007, p.159). It might be as simple as them being unaware that they are causing such distress or maybe it is more complicated than that.
The best technique I could use when discussing the issue at hand with this employee is to remain calm and not allow the person to stress me out. Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. states, “The capacity to remain relaxed and focused in tense situations is a vital aspect of conflict resolution. If you don’t know how to stay centered and in control of yourself, you may become emotionally overwhelmed in challenging situations” (Segal, 2009). It is not going to benefit this employee at all if I lose my temper. I would then seem unprofessional and would not be setting a good example. By remaining calm the employee is more likely to respond to me in a relaxed and honest manner. If I become irate because he/she is not being compliant then the situation is bound to get out of control and lead to a verbal confrontation. Even if the employee does not like what I have to say, they will eventually respect the fact that I am being kind but firm, and calm but invested in the situation. It is all about balance and taking the time to truly listen to the other person.
As students venturing into the “real” world, we must be able to apply what we have learned in every situation. I certainly feel prepared and conscious of the constant need to take what we have learned into our day to day lives. Through practice and the desire, I know we can do this effectively knowing always that we are capable.
References
Cahn, D. & Abigail, R. (2007) Managing Conflict Through Communication. Pearson
Education, Inc.
Segal, J. (2009). Conflict Resolution Skills. Helpguide.
http://helpguide.org/mental/eq8_conflict_resolution.htm.
“You are a department manager in a mid-sized company that provides technology support services. You have ten employees who are required to maintain a high level of technical expertise and deliver excellent customer service. One of your employees, who has been with the company for two years, is performing at a substandard level and you have received numerous complaints from customers and coworkers. In addition, this employee has displayed confrontational behavior which has created a hostile environment. You must now meet with this employee and deliver an ultimatum regarding the need for immediate improvement or dismissal.”
In this situation I would approach the employee in a non antagonistic manner. I would ask him/her if they would please come with me to discuss something that has been brought to my attention and that I have noticed. My instinct in this situation is to first ask the employee if there is something going on in his/her life to provoke this sort of negative behavior. If they say yes then I would ask them if they felt like talking about it. If they are compliant and feel like opening up then the conversation is more likely to go in a positive direction. If they do not feel like discussing the situation with me then I would have to give them an ultimatum. I would say, “Either you shift your way of approaching this job and your interaction with your coworkers or I am going to have to let you go. We have had many complaints about your antagonistic manner and it is affecting the working environment of the people around you”. I would use the initiation phase that occurs, “when at least one person makes known to the other that a conflict exists, such as reacting to another’s upsetting comment, pointing out the offensive nature of the other’s behavior, or reminding the other that she or he is expected to do something the person is not doing” (Cahn & Abigail, 2007, p.159). It might be as simple as them being unaware that they are causing such distress or maybe it is more complicated than that.
The best technique I could use when discussing the issue at hand with this employee is to remain calm and not allow the person to stress me out. Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. states, “The capacity to remain relaxed and focused in tense situations is a vital aspect of conflict resolution. If you don’t know how to stay centered and in control of yourself, you may become emotionally overwhelmed in challenging situations” (Segal, 2009). It is not going to benefit this employee at all if I lose my temper. I would then seem unprofessional and would not be setting a good example. By remaining calm the employee is more likely to respond to me in a relaxed and honest manner. If I become irate because he/she is not being compliant then the situation is bound to get out of control and lead to a verbal confrontation. Even if the employee does not like what I have to say, they will eventually respect the fact that I am being kind but firm, and calm but invested in the situation. It is all about balance and taking the time to truly listen to the other person.
As students venturing into the “real” world, we must be able to apply what we have learned in every situation. I certainly feel prepared and conscious of the constant need to take what we have learned into our day to day lives. Through practice and the desire, I know we can do this effectively knowing always that we are capable.
References
Cahn, D. & Abigail, R. (2007) Managing Conflict Through Communication. Pearson
Education, Inc.
Segal, J. (2009). Conflict Resolution Skills. Helpguide.
http://helpguide.org/mental/eq8_conflict_resolution.htm.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Media Technology
Internet
Media technology is becoming the norm in today’s society. The one that sticks out the most to me is the internet. It is amazing that almost every household has a computer, regardless of the financial situation. I found at this website (http://webliminal.com/essentials/eoc-rtfs/ch03.htm) that, “Communication is the most popular use of the Internet, with email topping the list of all the technologies used” (Web Essentials, 2000). A large amount of people use emailing as a main form of communication. From children emailing their grandparents about Christmas to teenagers and adults regardless of ethnicity, age range, or gender using it for personal and professional purposes, the internet is everywhere. You can also research information, communicate through blogs, and many other beneficial acts. I use the internet all the time. I use it for school, recreation (youtube.com, facebook.com, etc.), and research (atlantafilmcommunity.com, southerncasting.com, etc.). I have never been what one would call internet savvy. Growing up I rarely used the internet. I do not think I started using it until I was about thirteen and it was never for anything productive. Around sixteen I used it to blog on livejournal.com. I did not really use it for school until college and then the whole world opened up to me. I realized that this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Now I use the internet all the time and feel off when I have not been on at least once a day. This can be unnerving because it can be scary to be so dependent on technology but at the same time liberating because you are more aware of what is going on in the world and have access to incredible amounts of information.
Cell Phones
Next on my list is the cell phone. Joe Goertz states, “In 1843, a skilled, analytical chemist named Michael Farady began exhaustive research to find a space that could conduct electricity. He told of his findings, and these advances of 19th century science and technology have had an incalculable effect on the development of today's cellular phone.” (Goertz, 2006). I am twenty-three years old and received my first cell phone when I was fifteen. I had to buy minutes before I could use it and had to be careful that I did not run over on time. My nine year old cousin has a cell phone… and it is nicer than mine. His family is comfortable but by no means wealthy. There are family plans, unlimited minutes, roll over minutes, etc. It is convenient and fairly affordable to have a cell phone. Every one in my household has a cell phone and we have no land line. We use our cell phones for everything. We use it for directions, conference calls, keeping in touch, to say we are going to be late. The audience is pretty much everyone except for people who have sworn off technology or for my dad who like “being disconnected”. Though it has always been strange to me that he refuses to get a cell phone, I can also understand where he is coming from. I text all the time and it can be a bit overwhelming to be constantly plugged into the world. Sometimes I just will not answer my phone even though I like the person calling because I do not feel like communicating. Sometimes it is good and healthy to be unplugged from the world. For a while I realized I was allowing my cell phone to control me. No matter what was going on if I received a text I would jump across the room to check it out. I try not to do that anymore because I would prefer to have the power instead of it having power over me.
Computer Games
Computer games are also a form of new media. People who play games a lot might be seen as nerds and geeks. In a culture with Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Twilight fanatics, computer games fly along the same line of what I once heard called “nerdome”. Not knocking it in any way because I also enjoy some of these subcultures, but this is definitely the connotation. In actuality though, computer games can be a great way to communicate. I learned at this website (http://wiki.media-culture.org.au/index.php/Computer_Games_-_Education) that, “While there is a lot of controversy surrounding computer games and their negative impact on society, research suggests that computer games can actually be educative, beneficial and help in children’s learning and development” (M/Cyclopedia, 2004). People interested in WoW (World of Warcraft) and other similar games have formed a subculture filled with cyber interaction. I have talked to some people who play games like this one and it really is an entirely other world. Children through adults play and I am sure gain a lot of communication and teamwork skills along the way. You have to coordinate, strategize, and multitask. In a way these games are teaching people to have the world at their fingertips. It is instant gratification in a simple and convenient little package sitting on your desk or lap. We are becoming spoiled by immediacy. I get frustrated when my computer is slow and then I realize that I have definitely been born in a generation that craves and expects instant gratification.
Websites
The last media technology I would like to talk about is the website. Websites are used for advertisements, informing, and other forms of relaying information. A lot of websites are interactive. If you would like to have a question answered there is usually an area to contact someone who can help you. An example of an interactive website would be music websites. With smaller artists, such as Devin Townsend, you can even message back and forth which helps appease fan bases. These websites in particular accommodate to certain fan bases but websites cater to anyone who is a consumer, who uses the internet to research on decisions, etc. Websites make it easier to navigate on the internet. If there were no websites it would be just a jumble of information. They break information into different pages that can be easily navigated and more understandable. There are certain websites I go to everyday. One in particular is hotmail.com. I have two different email addresses. One I use for school and recreation and the other I use for everything acting related. When I go to these sites I login without even thinking about what I am doing. It is second nature to me because I have been doing it for years. I never sit back and consider how different it would be if websites did not exist and the internet was this chaotic stream of random information. This is something that is definitely taken for granted which is why I am happy we have been asked to discuss media technology. It has made me think about how intricate and complex all these technologies are that we use every single day.
References
Goertz, Joe (2006). The Origin of the Cell Phone. Articlesbase.
http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/the-origin-of-the-cell-phone-63578.html.
(2000). Communication on the Internet. Internet Web Essentials.
http://webliminal.com/essentials/eoc-rtfs/ch03.htm.
(2004) Computer Games- Education. M/Cyclopedia.
http://wiki.media-culture.org.au/index.php/Computer_Games_-_Education.
Media technology is becoming the norm in today’s society. The one that sticks out the most to me is the internet. It is amazing that almost every household has a computer, regardless of the financial situation. I found at this website (http://webliminal.com/essentials/eoc-rtfs/ch03.htm) that, “Communication is the most popular use of the Internet, with email topping the list of all the technologies used” (Web Essentials, 2000). A large amount of people use emailing as a main form of communication. From children emailing their grandparents about Christmas to teenagers and adults regardless of ethnicity, age range, or gender using it for personal and professional purposes, the internet is everywhere. You can also research information, communicate through blogs, and many other beneficial acts. I use the internet all the time. I use it for school, recreation (youtube.com, facebook.com, etc.), and research (atlantafilmcommunity.com, southerncasting.com, etc.). I have never been what one would call internet savvy. Growing up I rarely used the internet. I do not think I started using it until I was about thirteen and it was never for anything productive. Around sixteen I used it to blog on livejournal.com. I did not really use it for school until college and then the whole world opened up to me. I realized that this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Now I use the internet all the time and feel off when I have not been on at least once a day. This can be unnerving because it can be scary to be so dependent on technology but at the same time liberating because you are more aware of what is going on in the world and have access to incredible amounts of information.
Cell Phones
Next on my list is the cell phone. Joe Goertz states, “In 1843, a skilled, analytical chemist named Michael Farady began exhaustive research to find a space that could conduct electricity. He told of his findings, and these advances of 19th century science and technology have had an incalculable effect on the development of today's cellular phone.” (Goertz, 2006). I am twenty-three years old and received my first cell phone when I was fifteen. I had to buy minutes before I could use it and had to be careful that I did not run over on time. My nine year old cousin has a cell phone… and it is nicer than mine. His family is comfortable but by no means wealthy. There are family plans, unlimited minutes, roll over minutes, etc. It is convenient and fairly affordable to have a cell phone. Every one in my household has a cell phone and we have no land line. We use our cell phones for everything. We use it for directions, conference calls, keeping in touch, to say we are going to be late. The audience is pretty much everyone except for people who have sworn off technology or for my dad who like “being disconnected”. Though it has always been strange to me that he refuses to get a cell phone, I can also understand where he is coming from. I text all the time and it can be a bit overwhelming to be constantly plugged into the world. Sometimes I just will not answer my phone even though I like the person calling because I do not feel like communicating. Sometimes it is good and healthy to be unplugged from the world. For a while I realized I was allowing my cell phone to control me. No matter what was going on if I received a text I would jump across the room to check it out. I try not to do that anymore because I would prefer to have the power instead of it having power over me.
Computer Games
Computer games are also a form of new media. People who play games a lot might be seen as nerds and geeks. In a culture with Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Twilight fanatics, computer games fly along the same line of what I once heard called “nerdome”. Not knocking it in any way because I also enjoy some of these subcultures, but this is definitely the connotation. In actuality though, computer games can be a great way to communicate. I learned at this website (http://wiki.media-culture.org.au/index.php/Computer_Games_-_Education) that, “While there is a lot of controversy surrounding computer games and their negative impact on society, research suggests that computer games can actually be educative, beneficial and help in children’s learning and development” (M/Cyclopedia, 2004). People interested in WoW (World of Warcraft) and other similar games have formed a subculture filled with cyber interaction. I have talked to some people who play games like this one and it really is an entirely other world. Children through adults play and I am sure gain a lot of communication and teamwork skills along the way. You have to coordinate, strategize, and multitask. In a way these games are teaching people to have the world at their fingertips. It is instant gratification in a simple and convenient little package sitting on your desk or lap. We are becoming spoiled by immediacy. I get frustrated when my computer is slow and then I realize that I have definitely been born in a generation that craves and expects instant gratification.
Websites
The last media technology I would like to talk about is the website. Websites are used for advertisements, informing, and other forms of relaying information. A lot of websites are interactive. If you would like to have a question answered there is usually an area to contact someone who can help you. An example of an interactive website would be music websites. With smaller artists, such as Devin Townsend, you can even message back and forth which helps appease fan bases. These websites in particular accommodate to certain fan bases but websites cater to anyone who is a consumer, who uses the internet to research on decisions, etc. Websites make it easier to navigate on the internet. If there were no websites it would be just a jumble of information. They break information into different pages that can be easily navigated and more understandable. There are certain websites I go to everyday. One in particular is hotmail.com. I have two different email addresses. One I use for school and recreation and the other I use for everything acting related. When I go to these sites I login without even thinking about what I am doing. It is second nature to me because I have been doing it for years. I never sit back and consider how different it would be if websites did not exist and the internet was this chaotic stream of random information. This is something that is definitely taken for granted which is why I am happy we have been asked to discuss media technology. It has made me think about how intricate and complex all these technologies are that we use every single day.
References
Goertz, Joe (2006). The Origin of the Cell Phone. Articlesbase.
http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/the-origin-of-the-cell-phone-63578.html.
(2000). Communication on the Internet. Internet Web Essentials.
http://webliminal.com/essentials/eoc-rtfs/ch03.htm.
(2004) Computer Games- Education. M/Cyclopedia.
http://wiki.media-culture.org.au/index.php/Computer_Games_-_Education.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tiny font...
I apologize for the font being so tiny... It won't allow me to make it bigger and I'm not sure why. Every time I change it to a larger font it just goes back to this one. Any suggestions? Well actually this post had bigger font. Now I'm just all sorts of confused.
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