Entry#6: Does Technology Worry You?

  When it comes to analyzing technology and the extrapolation rate of advancement within our society, many worries start to surface. The biggest worry I have is the fact that technology is leading humanity further away from the way we have lived for generations. This change can be seen in newer generations, and more predominately in the ones that follow. Think about what consumes people today: Facebook, Twitter, “reality” television shows, cell phones, laptops, and iPads. 

Important news you must read from BuzzFeed

These technological innovations and media platforms are corrupting us in ways we cannot yet comprehend. Each day the depths of our conscious and unconscious psyche are being attacked by advertising, pop ups, and information deemed “important” for consumption; I’m talking to you BuzzFeed.

         

Have you experienced this?

          If you were born in the early 90’s, like I was, you may recall being outside for a majority of your childhood. Technology that exists today was not as prevalent back then, as it was just surfacing into the world. Jumping to current day, how often do you see children with some type of electronic device? That could be a cell phone, iPad, personal computer, etc. The roots of our being were to be in nature, as it is a vital part of natural development. With advancing technology, children spend more time inside and isolated, in front of a screen rapidly placing images within your brain. It’s no secret that over the last 20 years, cases of depression, anxiety, A.D.H.D., and others have exploded and become more rampant. How can one not question the cause of this? It is a fact that children and teenagers who spend too much time watching television or playing on the computer have a higher risk of developing A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. at earlier ages. This may then result in a poorer performance in various aspects of their lives if not treated.

The many distractions of Facebook and anxiety

            Granted, without technology we would not have the advancements in medicine, sciences, and other fields that we do today. Most professions these days require the use of technology in some form or manor. Yet, when these profound innovations start affecting the development of children and teenagers, when and where is the line drawn? Technology has the power to rewire our minds and make us think differently than we would without it. I can attest to these differences. Most nights I venture outside to lie in the grass and graze up at the sky filled with billions of stars. I’m filled with thought and wonder. Contrary, a friend of mine almost obsessively lives her life on Facebook and suffers from extreme anxiety. This could be a coincidence, but the rising numbers of mental disorders don’t lie. Something has to be causing this change. There are many studies investigating Facebook addiction and its effects as well.

Keep your brain healthy!

            I think we as a society must be careful in how we approach these amazing, but potentially detrimental innovations. We must be cognizant of how they’re affecting our brain function and thought process. Advertising is the process of convincing someone to consume their product. It is highly studied and geared to manipulate its audience. When children are seeing hours of commercials in a single day, how can it not be insinuated that that is having a harmful effect? In the end, technology will keep advancing, and if we chose to do nothing, we will eventually be controlled by it. Not necessarily physically, but mentally. What do you think?

Entry#5: Arizona60 Initiative

In the article, Ducey: Why Arizona needs more college grads, we are introduced to the governor of Arizona. Yet, he switches the voice/tone of the article to appeal to citizens of Arizona by stating that he wants to talk about education as a husband and father, not an elected official. Therefore, this may expand the audience size that find interest and relate to this article. The purpose of the article is to emphasis the importance of educated people in Arizona and how that will beneficially impact the state (Ducey). Ducey tells the reader about the Arizona60 initiative, which details the state’s plan to have 60% of Arizonians with a college degree or certificate by 2030 (Ducey).

                Firstly, Ducey mentions that with a degree or certificate, a person’s opportunity pool increases (Ducey). With that, a person may be able to find a job easier; this would lower the unemployment in Arizona, as well as welfare dependent families (Ducey). I believe that in today’s society a degree, associates or bachelors, is almost a necessity to do anything. With increasing competition and population, employers seek to hire the most qualified person for the position. People that only have a high school diploma are severely limited in the options available to them regarding career paths. Not only that, they make less money than a person that has a degree or certificate (Ducey). As Ducey points out, 2 out of 3 jobs will require some sort of degree by the year 2020, which is coming very quickly (Ducey). It’s not too farfetched to think that number will increase in future years.

                Ducey states his plan of action for the Arizona60 initiative: providing an added $142 million to K-12 education and an additional $38 million to universities (Ducey). While this may sound good, he vaguely states what the money will be used for. Ducey says that he looks to provide new resources to educators with a specific goal in mind:

Increasing college readiness, working with employers to identify skills needed for today’s jobs, improving high school graduation rates and making it easier for Arizonans to finish their certificates or college degrees – these are areas that we know will move the needle. (Ducey)

I find this to be lacking details and it leaves the reader with many questions. How is the money being spent going to increase college readiness? Is it change to the education goals and process? How exactly do you improve high school graduation rates? He says in the quote above that he will make it easier to finish college degrees or certificates, but how? By making the material taught less difficult? What are the aspects that make a college degree difficult to obtain? Personally, I think the responsibility falls on the student. The student must have self-discipline, motivation, priority and time management, etc. Money isn’t going to make it easier to earn a college degree, unless the initiative wants to incorporate motivation classes into high school. I don’t see that as part of the plan.

                Ducey ends the article stating his goal to make Arizona the best place to live, work and get an education (Ducey). While the intentions of the Arizona60 initiative seem good-natured, I feel that as a citizen of Arizona I am left asking how. Indeed, the more money put into the education system the better. But this doesn’t necessarily address the specific problems that are interwoven within the current education system. For example, a local school district (Dysart) allows students to retake tests an unlimited amount of times to earn a grade they’re satisfied with. How does this policy teach students responsibility for their grades? It doesn’t. In fact, it encourages students to neglect studying entirely, skipping the vital process of learning. Moreover, this puts significant expectations on teachers to remake new tests each time a student wants to retake. The Dysart school district puts quantity over quality. They show high average grades of their students within the district, as if it was an achievement. The truth is, those district grade levels are only achieved due to students being able to countlessly repeat tests and assignments until they’re satisfied. There is no punishment for a lack of studying, besides a temporary, replaceable grade. While I hope the Arizona60 initiative corrects specific issues like this, it will take more introspect than plainly giving more money to the state school system.

Works Cited

Ducey, Doug. “Ducey: Why Arizona Needs More College Grads.” Azcentral, The Republic, 17 Sept. 2016, www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2016/09/17/arizona-needs-more-college-grads-ducey/90363958/.

Entry#3: Finding the Truth

The article I chose to write about is called, “How Dangerous is Jordan B. Peterson, the right-wing professor who ‘hit a hornets’ nest’?” This article is published by The Guardian and located under the “science” section. Firstly, I’d like to note that this article attempts to keep things neutral and unbiased; the author provides background information on Jordan Peterson, his followers, what he is arguing, as well as the opposing side views of him. While this is a proper way to write a neutral article, the author uses specific wording to give the tone and meaning a twist, which can be interpreted as being biased against Peterson. Without even getting into the article yet, you can read the title see the choice of words being used and their implications.

                Jordan B. Peterson is a professor at the University of Toronto and has a bachelor in political science, a bachelor in psychology, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology (Lynskey). He has been in the news within the past two years due to his views on the way society is shifting in an ever-growing political correctness type of way. He adopts a rational/logical, science based approach to thinking about issues in the current world. As the article states, this is what makes him dangerous: a man who actually believes what they’re saying and isn’t pressured to back down by the social justice movement (Lynskey).  Peterson’s beliefs and morals are based on fundamental human rights, such as free speech. Peterson became an icon in the political conversation when a federal amendment to add gender identity and expression to the Canadian Humans Right Act became law in Canada (Lynskey).  As well, the University of Toronto implemented plans for mandatory anti-bias training (Lynskey).  In Canada, hate speech, however that is officially defined, is a punishable offense. Peterson found issue with this, noting that it infringed on his fundamental free-speech. For example, he is known for being against using gender pronouns, as he finds being forced to use specific words is against free-speech. This can be considered hate speech in Canada.

                The Guardian provides a fair amount of detailed information about Peterson, but starts to show its shadowy bias as the article goes on. First off, the title of the article labels Peterson as right-wing, which establishes a preconceived idea in the readers mind about him (Lynskey). The truth is, Peterson classifies himself as a classic British liberal, whose focus is the psychology of belief (Lynskey). Furthermore, somehow The Guardian attempts to support their statement of Peterson as rightwing by stating that, “he is also adored by figures on the so-called alt-light (basically the “alt-right” without the sieg-heils and the white ethnostate), including Mike Cernovich, Gavin McInnes and Paul Joseph Watson,” (Lynskey). Just because some people adore you, does not mean you are associated with them. That is a logical fallacy. Yet, The Guardian attempts to use this as support for the article.

                Furthermore, The Guardian states that Peterson is a supporter of James Damore (Lynskey). You may recall that James was an engineer at Google and wrote a memo about/explaining what the gender pay gap really is, how it applies to Google, and how Google could increase diversity. Damore's memo uses neutral language and explains his thoughts in a logical manner. He was fired by Google for the memo being “controversial.” This connection between Peterson and Damore is used in attempts to further hurt the credibility of Peterson. Feel free to read the memo for yourself at firedfortruth.com. Draw your own conclusions.

                Continuing, The Guardian starts to use quotes from various people that lambast Peterson. Sure, the author technically didn’t say it, but they also didn’t include such impacting quotes from the other side of the issue. Again, this shows bias through selective quoting. Near the end, the author draws the conclusion that, “Peterson’s arguments are riddled with conspiracy theories and crude distortions of subjects, including postmodernism, gender identity and Canadian law, that lie outside his field of expertise. Therefore, there is no need to caricature his ideas in order to challenge them,” (Lynskey). What The Guardian does here is dismiss the strength of his arguments by concluding that they’re all based on conspiracy theories and distortions. This is simply not true, and anyone who watches an interview of him can deduce that Peterson has an established, classical way of logical thinking. He isn’t blasting off on fake moon landings, flat-Earth conspiracies, or anything of that nature.

The Guardian submits to the same problem we are experiencing in today’s political conversation: if someone has a different opinion/says something you don’t agree with, then they must be a fascist, alt-right/alt-left, bigot who has no idea what they’re talking about. That is the opposite of what is needed. We as a society need more people to have open-thought discussions without retaliation or ad-hominems. Otherwise, how are we ever going to progress?

Works Cited

Lynskey, Dorian. “How Dangerous Is Jordan B Peterson, the Rightwing Professor Who 'Hit a Hornets' Nest'?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 7 Feb. 2018, www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/07/how-dangerous-is-jordan-b-peterson-the-rightwing-professor-who-hit-a-hornets-nest.

Entry #4: How do you measure success?

The life strategies used to become more successful seem to differ not only from person to person, but factors such as age also come into play. These strategies aren’t just for use in college, but in life as a whole. People who are younger and entering the college environment for the first time had trouble coming up with thoughts on how to be a successful student; through multiple mini-interviews with friends and family, I only managed to bring out a few factors in each person. Freshmen, aged 18-19, would usually repeat the same aspects: dedication, diligent working, and a brain. Similarly to older, more experienced students, a willingness and desire to learn seemed to be the common ground of being successful. One could say that with age comes experience; therefore the younger you are, the less you may know about the world and how the system works in order to become a successful, happy individual. Yet, with that being said, only freshmen pointed out a certain aspect that is vital to have: time management. Without time management, organization flies out the window along with the loss of dedication. Being unable to plan when to do certain homework, activities, and socialize, I feel that one’s life could be turned into an egg scramble. Though a decadent scramble, filled with gracious knowledge, ethics and morals, and a touch of care, without organization it would all be impossible to find within the goopy mess.

              

  In the past, professors even seemed to be put back by the question: what makes a good, successful student? Which makes me wonder, is there such thing as a truly

successful student? How is success measured exactly? Is it by personal possessions obtained along the path of life? Or is success measured by the growing of an individual themselves? Either way, people thought that pursuing something that naturally interests them would be the right path to take; after all, working hard for something that means nothing to you isn’t very useful. Along with interest, comes attendance and dedication. To be ‘successful’ in class, there are many study strategies that can be used, but change from person to person. Some review notes right after class to engrave them into their mind. Others spend time reading the book and taking notes from lectures, leaving it at that. Others don’t review at all.

Everyone has their own personal way of preparing for this world that we must inherit, and society would tell you that there is only one way of living within it. At the end of the day, people will do what works best for them, regardless of what others tell them to do. One day these habits may change, but in order for change to come there must be enabling stimuli. Until then, we all will carry along with our lives, success and failure, figuring things out one day at a time.

Entry #2: What is Real?

A topic that I find interesting to converse about and to explore is creation and reality theory. Most people have their own beliefs on why we are here and what reality is. Yet, have you ever explored the possibilities of reality being different than what you think?

For instance, some people believe that what we experience day to day is actually produced by a virtual reality system we are a part of. There have even been TED talks on this reality theory. Think for a second, how could you prove you were not in one? Take for example the modern day video game, The Sims. The Sims is a game where you produce the reality and world in which your character, “Sim,” lives in. This involves controlling every aspect of every day: sleep, eating, hygiene, developing relationships, happiness, fitness, finances, construction, work, and nearly anything else you can think of. With technology growing at an exponential rate each year, is it too far-fetched to say we could one day create a video game so exquisite in detail that it mimics the precise details of reality we currently perceive? It is that idea that makes it a possibility.

A more conventional reality theory involves religion. In one form or another, a sentient being labeled God created the universe in its entirety. God gives us our purpose, a divine path, and an explanation of the world around us. Books such as the Bible, guide the morals and values of the people that participate in that theory of reality. Some people may ask, is this any easier to accept as the truth of reality than the simulation theory?

Others believe that the reality around them is due to sheer luck and evolution over billions of years. Of course, this theory of reality is known as Darwinism. Over millions of years, the human race, as well as every other species, evolved from microorganisms that were in the right place at the right time. The amount of

"luck” required for this process is extraordinary: the Earth being what it is; Earth containing the buildings blocks of life; the correct temperature needed for life to exist; the precise distance from the sun; the exact position in the universe; the list goes on and on. Some people view this theory of reality as nearly impossible considering the amount of aspects that are required for existence.

Yet, is one theory of creation and reality more acceptable than the alternatives? If so, why? It may be impossible to ever know how we got here; furthermore, finding an explanation that describes why we perceive the world in the way we do may never be found. While this may be true, if no one ever contemplates the topic, we will surely never arrive at any conclusion. Question the world around you!

Entry #1: The World of Blogging

When it comes to blogs, I have never had an interest in creating one or seeking out to read them. I have always viewed them as another social media tool for people to use. Personally, I very rarely use social media platforms. I do not own a twitter account, Instagram, Snapchat, or blog (until now). I do however own a Facebook account, but I have not been on it in well over two years. When it comes to social media tools, I feel that they are addictive and unhealthy. I have seen numerous TED talks on the issues of Facebook addiction and the realm of online social interaction. In my opinion, these tools further isolate us and diminish what it means to have a face-to-face connection/relationship with someone. With this being said, I also believe that social media platforms can be beneficial in certain scenarios, such as keeping in contact with long-distance friends. When talking about blogs specifically, I have always thought them to be personal rather than academic/scholarly. Upon viewing the many different blogs provided, I have gained some insight.

"AIN'T ABOUT AMAZON!!!"

The first blog I want to talk about is the popular type blogs that gossip about celebrities, drama, and over exaggerate in order to draw a viewer in. The TMZ blog is filled with this type of material. From what I observed, the TMZ homepage uses improper grammar and spelling, along with click-bait 

titles scattered everywhere. These blog stories are filled with drama as far as the eye can see. While this type of blog may entertain people, I do not see the constructive purpose of this blog. For instance, why must we as an audience know about Jenna Dewan going to the gym? What am I supposed to learn or be entertained by? Millions of people go to the gym every day, so why is this specific post important? These questions remain unanswered in my mind; I do not see purpose in knowing that some celebrity went to the gym.

Jenna is spotted after going to the gym.

 The second blog I would like to mention is the Calculated Risk blog. Unlike the TMZ blog, Calculated Risk is more professional/academic. When briefly reading over article posts, I noticed that there are links to external websites that support the topic. In this specific 

image (below), you are able to see a link that leads to a government website and the implementation of graphs/figures. The author is reporting on data, providing sources, and is using a more professional tone. Grammar and spelling errors are nonexistent. I find these types of blogs to be more influential and purposeful than popular blogs. The goal seems to be consistent about informing the audience on a topic that may be useful in a variety of ways.

Details about finances and data.

The last blog I want to mention is the Strobist blog. Scanning over multiple posts, this blog aims to teach people interested in photography and lighting. As seen in the image below, the blog provides tutorials, guides, and even assignment walk-throughs. I would label this blog as casual, but also somewhat academic; its purpose is to teach and inform the audience. I would say the blog has a touch of an academic influence. I find these types of blogs to be my favorite. People are able to read the many posts within this blog and put the information acquired to real use. What is better than learning something you are passionate about and improving your own skills?

Blog featuring links to tutorials, guides, and assignments.

I have to admit that since the beginning of this blog entry, my perspective on blogs and what they were has changed. My initial views on blogs made me think of something such as the TMZ blog; in that sense, I was correct. Although, I did not know that there were more casual/professional blogs that aimed to inform or teach the viewer. It is this aspect that I wish to incorporate into my own blog. I would like my audience to engage in thought, possibly learn something new, or maybe even develop a different perspective on the world around them.

Entry: Who am I?

Welcome! I should start off by saying that my name is Alex Savittieri. I'm a free spirited, down to earth, go-with-the-flow type of person. Unfortunately, I am 27 years old and time isn't slowing down much. I have taken breaks here and there from school in order to explore new states and even other countries. During the summer of 2013,

This is what a student ambassador looks like in China.

I was nominated to become a student ambassador for the community college I was attending; I studied abroad in China for about a month. Before coming to Arizona nearly a year and a half ago, I attended Colorado State University for a year. It's located in Fort Collins and is surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains. At Glendale Community College, I plan to finish the few classes necessary for an Associates in Science. From there, I plan to transfer back to a four-year university. Though, I'm unsure where I'll be going at the moment.

Playing music during my brother's wedding.

I have many hobbies and interests, sometimes to the point where I'm unsure what to dedicate my time to. Leading that list is my love for writing, playing, and recording my own music. I've been playing the acoustic guitar for nearly 10 years; I dabble with the piano as well. When creating music, I enjoy incorporating many environmental sounds into my songs, such as water dripping, wind, or other obscure noises. I find it makes everything more interesting! Another love of mine is nature and being outdoors; I find it very therapeutic. While I was in Colorado, some friends and I would head up to the mountains during the weekends and explore the vastness that is the Rockies. We would often pitch a tent at small nature-engulfed campgrounds. 

Camping and hiking in the Rocky Mountains.

During any other spare time, I like to read books about homeopathy, raw veganism, meditation, and philosophy. 

Lastly, I enjoy having challenging, meaningful conversations with people. Any way I am able to gain insight or develop a new perspective on a topic is important to me. Anything ranging from the meaning of life to the obscure concept of time. It's interesting to hear what people think when asked questions they may not have thought about before. 

My goal for this blog is to provide interesting material for anyone reading; if it causes them to engage in critical thought or they learn something new, that's a bonus! Thanks for reading y'all.