Well, this is the last blog post for this particular class that I "have" to post. I would say that the class is completely not what I expected. However, that is not to say that I did not enjoy it, I did. I think my favorite part was the moderated topic forum discussions. It allowed so much freedom to be able to converse with classmates on such a wide breadth of topics and you could share ideas. Even with controversial issues, it was good to see that people didn't resort to anger or name-calling and I think that overall, people were really respectful of each other. That was rather refreshing to me. I have been in classes were people actually broke down and cried over controversial issues or got really angry to the point of unreasonableness. I didn't see that happening in the class. Although, I do have to say that I avoided some topics because I knew how they would make me feel and I didn't think I could maintain my "cool", so I just didn't reply. I wonder if there are other people who were doing the same thing.
The only thing that I really missed was getting to know people in person. You can meet people online and hear their ideas, but I think without the face-to-face interaction, it leaves a void. I don't really participate in a lot of online chat rooms, so perhaps I'm just not up to speed on the whole internet relationships thing, so maybe that's it. And I will admit, I'm rather old fashioned when it comes to going to school - I like the classroom interaction.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the class and I'm thinking about taking Dr. Hochenauers Blog class, perhaps next fall. :)
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Guns on campus
I created a moderated forum topic on the issue of being able to carry guns on campus or not. I just wanted to hear what people had to say.
It seems that there are people on both sides of the issue and on the fence about this topic.
What I find interesting is the people are against the ability to carry a concealed permit on campus because they would no longer feel safe. To me, this begs the question: Do they go anywhere else in society except the post office and the courthouses? Are they afraid to go to the mall, or out to a movie, or to church, or anywhere else? Because people are allowed to carry concealed weapons in those places. Perhaps because the in the news in the recents years there have been tragic shootings at schools - of all levels. This really highlights the gun issue on campus.
Personally, I think a lot of the tragedy could have been prevented if people were allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. For example, a student could have taken out the shooter before the shooter killed all of the students that they did kill.
Will this issue be resolved? Perhaps one day, although probably not the way that I am hoping . . .
It seems that there are people on both sides of the issue and on the fence about this topic.
What I find interesting is the people are against the ability to carry a concealed permit on campus because they would no longer feel safe. To me, this begs the question: Do they go anywhere else in society except the post office and the courthouses? Are they afraid to go to the mall, or out to a movie, or to church, or anywhere else? Because people are allowed to carry concealed weapons in those places. Perhaps because the in the news in the recents years there have been tragic shootings at schools - of all levels. This really highlights the gun issue on campus.
Personally, I think a lot of the tragedy could have been prevented if people were allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. For example, a student could have taken out the shooter before the shooter killed all of the students that they did kill.
Will this issue be resolved? Perhaps one day, although probably not the way that I am hoping . . .
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Alternate Reality
The internet truly is a wondrous thing. So is the mind. Both are not all that dissimiliar. Both operate extremely quickly and are virtually limitless, at least in their learning capability. Although I think that storage of information in the mind can be limitless as well.
The mind brought us imagination of unparalleled use. Imagination has brought us innovations and ceaseless new technologies throughout the generations. And now imagination has brought us the internet.
The internet has brought us alternate realities where the mind can use its imagination to roam free and in complete control. In a sense, it's almost like the id is taking over. Online games such as Second Life, WoW, Eve Online and others provide clients with the opportunity to take place in worlds that they never could in reality. For example, in WoW, you can ride a gryphon, learn super healing powers, and fight to the death, over and over again. In Second Life you can be a completely different person from who you are. In Eve Online you can travel through space.
The downside, to me, is that the draw is so powerful, that over time the client gets more and more sucked in. This happened with my brother, who is actually now back in the Marines and is in Iraq (where he won't have access to WoW for many months, I'm sure much to his regret). Different life circumstances eventually led my brother to turn away from reality and submerge himself in the world of WoW. [If you ask him, I'm sure he'll tell you a different story. This is my point of view.] I think that spending 18-20 hours a day or more or going on binges of playing for two or three days straight is far outside of the "norm" for playing time, whatever that is. It got to the point where my brother would skip work or class so that he could play online. Or would rather go play online while he eats dinner than eat with his family. (My brother lived with my husband and I for seven months before leaving for the Marines.) It was very hard to accept.
I inquired as to why, what is that has drawn him so into this alternate world. The answer wasn't exactly what I expected: it's the people. He's been playing with the same group of players for years. Most of these players he has never met face to face, but they know each other so well and I would say so intimately, that strong friendships have formed over the years. I would not be surprised if this group of friends, and others out there like it, have shared deep secrets with each other that the "real" people in their lives don't know about. It's a whole other world, it is quite literally, an alternate reality, with alternate friends who are real people, that one has never met. A world where they can fight together, stand up for each other, be heroes, fall in love, learn unique skills - be a band of brothers (I don't think there are any females in my brother's online clique).
To me, this begs the question of what happened in real life where they cannot forge the same kinds of relationships? Has society become to femine for them? Has the chivalrous hero been lost to history? Is there something to be said for going to war the "old fashioned" way? (By that, I mean like in medieval times.)
And lastly, how to do you get this person back? If they prefer their alternate reality, why would they want to come to back to the "real world"? There is real pain, real love here. How do you get them back?
The mind brought us imagination of unparalleled use. Imagination has brought us innovations and ceaseless new technologies throughout the generations. And now imagination has brought us the internet.
The internet has brought us alternate realities where the mind can use its imagination to roam free and in complete control. In a sense, it's almost like the id is taking over. Online games such as Second Life, WoW, Eve Online and others provide clients with the opportunity to take place in worlds that they never could in reality. For example, in WoW, you can ride a gryphon, learn super healing powers, and fight to the death, over and over again. In Second Life you can be a completely different person from who you are. In Eve Online you can travel through space.
The downside, to me, is that the draw is so powerful, that over time the client gets more and more sucked in. This happened with my brother, who is actually now back in the Marines and is in Iraq (where he won't have access to WoW for many months, I'm sure much to his regret). Different life circumstances eventually led my brother to turn away from reality and submerge himself in the world of WoW. [If you ask him, I'm sure he'll tell you a different story. This is my point of view.] I think that spending 18-20 hours a day or more or going on binges of playing for two or three days straight is far outside of the "norm" for playing time, whatever that is. It got to the point where my brother would skip work or class so that he could play online. Or would rather go play online while he eats dinner than eat with his family. (My brother lived with my husband and I for seven months before leaving for the Marines.) It was very hard to accept.
I inquired as to why, what is that has drawn him so into this alternate world. The answer wasn't exactly what I expected: it's the people. He's been playing with the same group of players for years. Most of these players he has never met face to face, but they know each other so well and I would say so intimately, that strong friendships have formed over the years. I would not be surprised if this group of friends, and others out there like it, have shared deep secrets with each other that the "real" people in their lives don't know about. It's a whole other world, it is quite literally, an alternate reality, with alternate friends who are real people, that one has never met. A world where they can fight together, stand up for each other, be heroes, fall in love, learn unique skills - be a band of brothers (I don't think there are any females in my brother's online clique).
To me, this begs the question of what happened in real life where they cannot forge the same kinds of relationships? Has society become to femine for them? Has the chivalrous hero been lost to history? Is there something to be said for going to war the "old fashioned" way? (By that, I mean like in medieval times.)
And lastly, how to do you get this person back? If they prefer their alternate reality, why would they want to come to back to the "real world"? There is real pain, real love here. How do you get them back?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
What to write about?
Hmm, I'm not really sure what to write about for this particular blog . . . I guess I could write about life. :)
In a word, my life right now is overwhelming. Mostly because I'm so incredibly tired from the pregnancy. It's hard to keep up with just the daily stuff of getting up and getting dressed and focusing on what I need to accomplish for the day, whatever task is at hand. I have been cutting things out of my life very slowly. My hours at the Red Cross every week are getting shorter and shorter and I told Susan, the Community Disaster Education Coordinator, that I may not be able to come back until after I have Sophie. The great thing is that everyone at the Red Cross that I work with is very supportive and understanding. Of course, I only go up there for a half day per week anyway.
I find it very hard to say no to things. It's really hard to go through this season of my life. There is so much that I want to sign up for too. For example, PWOC (Protestant Woman of the Chapel) is having board elections in May, and I would really love to serve on the board, but I know that I have to wait. How long I have to wait, I'm not sure . . . and there's a retreat coming up that I would love to sign up for to help out and serve the other laides, but it is scheduled for within a few weeks after Sophie will be born, so I know it is unrealistic to sign up. And there's activities and events at church that I would like to participate in, but again, I can't. For example, because I'm on pelvic rest and am on doctors orders not to stand for a long time or pick up heavy objects, I can't help out in the nursery (which is expected of all parents, at least one Sunday every three months.) It's just frustrating that my health keeps me from doing things that I want to.
I do know though, that it is just a season and perhaps my time to do these things will come eventually. In the meantime, I should be focusing on things that I can do at home. For example, extra Bible study or working on my Recipe Book that I started last fall.
In summary, it's just hard to live with two opposing thoughts and attitudes living inside you at the same time.
In a word, my life right now is overwhelming. Mostly because I'm so incredibly tired from the pregnancy. It's hard to keep up with just the daily stuff of getting up and getting dressed and focusing on what I need to accomplish for the day, whatever task is at hand. I have been cutting things out of my life very slowly. My hours at the Red Cross every week are getting shorter and shorter and I told Susan, the Community Disaster Education Coordinator, that I may not be able to come back until after I have Sophie. The great thing is that everyone at the Red Cross that I work with is very supportive and understanding. Of course, I only go up there for a half day per week anyway.
I find it very hard to say no to things. It's really hard to go through this season of my life. There is so much that I want to sign up for too. For example, PWOC (Protestant Woman of the Chapel) is having board elections in May, and I would really love to serve on the board, but I know that I have to wait. How long I have to wait, I'm not sure . . . and there's a retreat coming up that I would love to sign up for to help out and serve the other laides, but it is scheduled for within a few weeks after Sophie will be born, so I know it is unrealistic to sign up. And there's activities and events at church that I would like to participate in, but again, I can't. For example, because I'm on pelvic rest and am on doctors orders not to stand for a long time or pick up heavy objects, I can't help out in the nursery (which is expected of all parents, at least one Sunday every three months.) It's just frustrating that my health keeps me from doing things that I want to.
I do know though, that it is just a season and perhaps my time to do these things will come eventually. In the meantime, I should be focusing on things that I can do at home. For example, extra Bible study or working on my Recipe Book that I started last fall.
In summary, it's just hard to live with two opposing thoughts and attitudes living inside you at the same time.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Gender stereotyping
This week in class one of the required forums was on gender stereotyping in advertising. I chose to use the Carl's Junior commercial(s) to illustrate this because they are the ones that so blatantly stick out in my mind.
However, I think that gender stereotyping is everywhere. And it seems to start at birth. I say this because I am getting ready to have a baby (hopefully I'll make it to March 10th, even though I'm not due until the 30th). When someone is getting ready to have a baby, the American culture tradition is to get registered for various baby products. While most products are transgendered, such as pacifiers, toys and play things, a lot of products aren't. You still see the traditional "if it's a girl, they should wear pink and if it's a boy, they should wear blue". I am having a little girl and I have been blessed to have been given a lot of baby clothes. So my apartment therefore has been inundated with pink. I have some friends say the rationale is so that when a person sees your baby, they know right away if it is a boy or a girl. I have bought our little girl some boy-ish outfits (as declared by my friend Abby), that she will wear. I don't mind (at least not yet) making a clarification to someone of her gender. I've had to make that clarification for months now and she hasn't even arrived. Anyway, I like pink and some of the outfits are adorable, I just think that there is a very strong stereotype when it comes to clothing colors and gender. You don't see a lot of boys (I've never seen any) in pink or purple and you don't see a lot of girls wearing blue or green unless it has a lot of lace on it and it's a dress.
So where does the gender stereotyping end if it begins at birth?
However, I think that gender stereotyping is everywhere. And it seems to start at birth. I say this because I am getting ready to have a baby (hopefully I'll make it to March 10th, even though I'm not due until the 30th). When someone is getting ready to have a baby, the American culture tradition is to get registered for various baby products. While most products are transgendered, such as pacifiers, toys and play things, a lot of products aren't. You still see the traditional "if it's a girl, they should wear pink and if it's a boy, they should wear blue". I am having a little girl and I have been blessed to have been given a lot of baby clothes. So my apartment therefore has been inundated with pink. I have some friends say the rationale is so that when a person sees your baby, they know right away if it is a boy or a girl. I have bought our little girl some boy-ish outfits (as declared by my friend Abby), that she will wear. I don't mind (at least not yet) making a clarification to someone of her gender. I've had to make that clarification for months now and she hasn't even arrived. Anyway, I like pink and some of the outfits are adorable, I just think that there is a very strong stereotype when it comes to clothing colors and gender. You don't see a lot of boys (I've never seen any) in pink or purple and you don't see a lot of girls wearing blue or green unless it has a lot of lace on it and it's a dress.
So where does the gender stereotyping end if it begins at birth?
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Opinions
One of the things that I was not expecting from this advanced composition class was that we would be moderating our own forums. I have really enjoyed this assignment a lot and I think it's a really great way to learn about and discuss so many different topics, from the fun to the serious. It's always interesting to me the point of view that people have on various topics and it's been education for me to respond to various topics.
I have, in the past, struggled with internet communication, the netiquette, so to speak. I tend to really read people's body language when they talk (and it is something like 78% of communication), so when that is removed, along with tone and inflection, it can be hard to decipher what a person is feeling when they are writing. I think though that trying to remain respectful and encouraging (you know, with smiley faces, etc), helps with that. Does anyone else struggle with netiquette?
I have, in the past, struggled with internet communication, the netiquette, so to speak. I tend to really read people's body language when they talk (and it is something like 78% of communication), so when that is removed, along with tone and inflection, it can be hard to decipher what a person is feeling when they are writing. I think though that trying to remain respectful and encouraging (you know, with smiley faces, etc), helps with that. Does anyone else struggle with netiquette?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The New Zorro TV Series
I finally decided which TV show I was going to write my essay about. I didn't exactly watch a lot of television when I was growing up, so it was kind of hard to decide what I would write about. My two choices were The New Zorro TV Series or The Young Riders, but which played on the Family Channel in the early 90's, and both which involved many horseback scenes. The horses is what originally drew me to the shows, but I really loved to watch both of them.
My next obstacle was if I would be able to find these shows again. And low and behold [play crescendoing chorus] The New Zorro is on YouTube! At least, parts of the show are. Enough I think that I can remember quite a bit about the show. Ah, watching the opening scene, minus the music because my laptop's sound went out sometime ago, Zorro galloping across the desert, fording a river on his trusty Toranodo, the gallant black steed that was always at his side, doing stunts and tricks on horseback . . . ::sigh:: no wonder I tried to emilate those same stunts on my horse years later! It brought me goosebumps of excitement just watching it again. I could practically hear the hoof beats and smell the horse sweat and leather! I love it!
And The Young Riders is also on YouTube! When I was a child, I always wondered where in the US this show took place, and my guess is that some of it took place in Oklahoma. I will have to investigate . . . :D (but not tonight, because I have other assignments to finish). IF that is the case, who knew that I would end up living in this great state years later! Now, if only I still had my trusty steed . . .
My next obstacle was if I would be able to find these shows again. And low and behold [play crescendoing chorus] The New Zorro is on YouTube! At least, parts of the show are. Enough I think that I can remember quite a bit about the show. Ah, watching the opening scene, minus the music because my laptop's sound went out sometime ago, Zorro galloping across the desert, fording a river on his trusty Toranodo, the gallant black steed that was always at his side, doing stunts and tricks on horseback . . . ::sigh:: no wonder I tried to emilate those same stunts on my horse years later! It brought me goosebumps of excitement just watching it again. I could practically hear the hoof beats and smell the horse sweat and leather! I love it!
And The Young Riders is also on YouTube! When I was a child, I always wondered where in the US this show took place, and my guess is that some of it took place in Oklahoma. I will have to investigate . . . :D (but not tonight, because I have other assignments to finish). IF that is the case, who knew that I would end up living in this great state years later! Now, if only I still had my trusty steed . . .
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