Causal Argument — Holistic25

Posted on March 10, 2024 by holistic25

Claim Back Your Health

Here’s the scoop: our toxic laden environment promotes cancer, disproportionately more potent in the setting of our homes. Reduced to the confines of the four walls of your room, petrochemicals become concentrated, thus being more liable to wreak havoc on human health. To understand why petrochemicals are so harmful to human health, it is necessary to understand not just what the materials are in your conventional mattress, bedding, and furniture, but what these materials are made from.

A study conducted at the Australian National University in Canberran examined the effect of natural versus synthetic bedding on children. Encompassing 863 children, an initial infant survey was conducted followed by an asthma study 7 years later. The majority of children were exposed to a single synthetic fiber type (64%) while about a third were exposed to natural-fiber bedding, and the rest had multi-synthetic fiber bedding. The results were startling: the children who slept in the multi-synthetic bedding were over two times more likely to develop wheezing in the night versus their counterparts with the natural fiber bedding.

There is an abundance of concern when it comes to an already vulnerable population such as infants, whose tolerance for toxic load is far less than that of an adult. In infancy, a child’s kidneys, your body’s main mechanism for filtrating toxins, are not yet fully developed. The introduction to an alarming number of petrochemicals when organs are still developing is nothing short of overload for this population.

Demonstrating the alarming rate at which petrochemicals in the 21st century appear in the environment, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) investigated the impact on the composition of breast milk in relation to fire retardants. In the assessment of the breast milk pertaining to mothers across the United States, it was concluded that “Milk from two study participants contained the highest levels of fire retardants ever reported in the United States, and milk from several of the mothers in EWG’s study had among the highest levels of these chemicals yet detected worldwide.” Of the 20 first time mothers accounted for, the amount of these specific flame retardants in their breast milk were 75 times greater than the average of all accounted for European studies at the time.

Further contributing to the problem is the chemical giant, Dupont. Their Teflon product is used for the purpose of being water and stain repellent, yet DuPont has been on the hook for $10.25 million for not disclosing the treacherous chemical in their product, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). DuPont’s lack of disclosure regarding PFOA was eventually discovered by The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA faulted DuPont in these accusations for not properly disclosing the company studies DuPont possessed centered around the chemical PFOA. It was found that DuPont never released a company study that showed two out of every 5 babies born to DuPont plant employees had eye and face deformities, a common side effect of PFOA.

Illustrating the consequences of an unregulated mattress industry, it takes facing the health consequences before addressing the problem. Unfortunately, that’s what happened in the “Smelly Bed” recall in January of 2002, resulting in tens of thousands of mattresses being recalled due to TCA (trichloroanisole) contamination by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This rascal of a chemical causes irritation with direct contact or inhalation, producing severe burns to the eyes and skin, accompanied with swelling of the lungs and throat. This bad batch of tens of thousands of mattresses came from polyurethane foam-based mattresses.

Not only are young children vulnerable from the standpoint of lacking the ability to filtrate toxins due to incomplete organ development, but also from a practicality standpoint. They breathe faster than the average adult, and they spend the majority of their day sleeping in crib mattresses. A study analyzing 20 crib mattresses sought to evaluate their potential toxic emissions. Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) were measured at greater rates in polyurethane foam mattresses. These gasses vaporized at room temperature lead to symptoms such as nose, eye, throat, and lung irritation. As well, defects of the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys have been associated with VOC’s.

With all this evidence in opposition to petroleum based products, what can be offered as a solution? A review in the International Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine offers insight into the situation. They chronicle a multitude of evidence through epidemiological studies, longitudinal studies, and cross-sectional studies as it pertains to bedding and asthma. It is abundantly evident that synthetic fibers detract from respiratory health. Feather, a natural material, is comparatively stacked up against that of synthetic beddings and not only doesn’t induce asthma like qualities such as wheezing but offers evidence that it is supportive against asthma.

Astutely noted by Crane and Siebers, there are few publications as it relates to studying asthma in infancy and bedding. The data is scarce, but it’s promising. The first to demonstrate feather bedding material posing as a protective effect was Nafstad and company. They initiated a cohort study analyzing the effect of the type of duvet children were exposed to at 6, 12, and 24 months. The conclusion was by age 2 and 4, the children exposed to feather duvets were inversely associated with asthma and other respiratory problems.

Another study out of New Zealand examined whether feather duvets and feather pillowcases were effective in promoting respiratory health. At age 2, this cohort study monitored infants wheezing rates. At age 4, the impact of using feather duvets and pillowcases was studied as it related to the diagnosis of asthma. There were over 500 children monitored, and the minority of the children were sleeping with feather duvets and pillowcases. At both progress markers at 2 and 4 years old, it was found there was a statistical significance in the infants who used feather pillowcases and duvets in preventing wheezing and asthma compared to the infants who were not using feather bedding.

Within the confines of our homes, a consumer’s decision makes all the difference in procuring a restful and healthful sleep. Certainly, industry’s standards, especially in the U.S.A., don’t purposefully tell you what the material of your bedding is made from, but an educated consumer adopts a reductionist mindset. Petroleum based products are harmful to health, while natural fibers at its worst don’t trigger wheezing or asthma, and at its best promote respiratory function throughout a night’s rest.

References

Association, A. L. (2023). Volatile organic compounds. Retrieved Feb 27, 2024, from https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/volatile-organic-compounds

Australian Government. Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Retrieved Feb 27, 2024, from https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/npi/substances/fact-sheets/vinyl-chloride-monomer-vcm

Bader, W. (2010). Toxic bedrooms: Your guide to a safe night’s sleep SCB Distributors.

Beckett, E. M., Miller, E., Unice, K., Russman, E., & Pierce, J. S. (2022). Evaluation of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from memory foam mattresses and potential implications for consumer health risk – ScienceDirect. Chemosphere, Volume 303 doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134945

Boor, B. E., Järnström, H., Novoselac, A., & Xu, Y. (2014). Infant exposure to emissions of volatile organic compounds from crib mattresses. Environmental Science & Technology, 48(6), 3541-3549. doi:10.1021/es405625q

EPA. (2009). Publication no. 13: Man-made chemicals in private drinking water wells. Retrieved Feb 27, 2024, from https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-Agencies/DPH/dph/environmental_health/pdf/13ManMadeChemicalsinPDWWpdf.pdf

Home – GOTS. Retrieved Feb 27, 2024, from https://global-standard.org/

Lugavere, M. (2024). 370: How to detox common environmental pollutants that cause inflammation and disease | stephen cabral, ND

Matsui, E. C., Abramson, S. L., & Sandel, M. T. (2016). Indoor environmental control practices and asthma management. Pediatrics, 138(5), e20162589. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-2589

Schreder, E. Whatcom watch online – pollution in people: Toxic chemicals in the bodies of washington residents. Retrieved Mar 9, 2024, from https://www.whatcomwatch.org/php/WW_open.php?id=714

Siebers, R. W., & Crane, J. (2011). Does bedding affect the airway and allergy?: International journal of occupational & environmental medicine. International Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 2(2), 65-75. Retrieved from https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=59652038&site=ehost-live

Sumithra, G., Reddy, R., Kumar, G., Ojha, S., Jayachandra, G., & Raghavendra, G. (2023). Review on composite classification, manufacturing, and applications – ScienceDirect. Materialstoday, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.04.637

Tran, V. V., Park, D., & Lee, Y. (2020). Indoor air pollution, related human diseases, and recent trends in the control and improvement of indoor air quality. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), 2927. doi:10.3390/ijerph17082927

Vandenberg, L. N., Rayasam, S. D. G., Axelrad, D. A., Bennett, D. H., Brown, P., Carignan, C. C., et al. (2023). Addressing systemic problems with exposure assessments to protect the public’s health. Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source, 21(Suppl 1), 121. doi:10.1186/s12940-022-00917-0

Zucco, G. M., & Doty, R. L. (2021). Multiple chemical sensitivity. Brain Sciences, 12(1), 46. doi:10.3390/brainsci12010046

Posted in Causal Argument, Holistic | 2 Comments

Causal argument- doglover

Posted on March 10, 2024 by doglover7025

The Lack of Repercussions on Social Media

The lack of consequences for cyberbullying on social media websites, like Instagram is the reason there are so many hateful people on social media, and why the hate never stops. In today’s age, social media has become a pretty big part of our lives. It’s a way to connect with family, friends, and communities nationwide. But, with social media comes hate and negativity like toxicity, embarrassment, and cyberbullying. To shut that down, Instagram should include a mechanism for banning users who are mean to other users if the number of complaints lodged against them is credible and sufficient. Currently, there is no punishment on Instagram, people just continue to keep being mean because they don’t see anyone getting punished for it. Suppose the hateful user keeps attacking other users, and knows that they’re not receiving a punishment. In that case, it makes the hateful user want to attack more because of the lack of repercussions. 

Cyberbullying is unfortunately a very “popular” thing in the world. “Cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person”. As a result of this, the victims of CB face many issues including, bad mental health, embarrassment, and low emotional stress. When doing research on the consequences of cyberbullying, the key word that shows up in a lot of search results is “may”. “The person may get suspended from school”…. “The person may face serious penalties”. It shouldn’t be “may” it should be they will. “They will face serious penalties”… “they will get suspended from school”. Websites like instagram or X, let to many people off the hook and give all these people too many chances. Again, yes they can be reported, but it seems as though all those sites will do is just ban your account, and that person can make another one. Not to mention, who is checking these accounts, specifically who is running that department. Is someone sitting in front of a screen, declining or accepting who they want banned. Maybe, who knows. But, These cyberbullies keep attacking because the chances of penalties are 50/50. “In a quest to make Instagram a kinder, gentler place, the founders had borrowed from Facebook an AI tool known as DeepText, which was designed to understand and interpret the language people were using on the platform. The next year, they trained it to find and block offensive comments, including racial slurs. By mid-2018, they were using it to find bullying in comments, too. A week after Mosseri took over in October, Instagram announced it wouldn’t just use AI to search for bullying in remarks tacked below users’ posts; it would start using machines to spot bullying in photos, meaning that AI would also analyze the posts themselves.”We already know how unreliable AI can be at times, and we also know that It also can be incorrect. Why are we letting AI ban people and block offensive comments? There needs to be no AI, just real people detecting the hate. The hypothesis that I want implemented will have these specific users think twice before partaking in negative interactions and promote responsibility among the community.

Additionally, hate speech and discriminatory language have no place on social media platforms. Implementing stricter repercussions for users who engage in hate speech could help create a safer online environment. This could include suspending accounts, removing offensive content. “It means that a small group of private companies have a lot of power over what speech gets heard and what speech doesn’t,” Nott says. “While that might not violate the First Amendment, it is something that people who value free speech should pay attention to [in the future].” 

In conclusion, the hypothesis that Instagram should include a mechanism for banning users who are mean to other users, based on credible and sufficient complaints, holds significant promise for providing  a more positive and inclusive online community. As mentioned before,  social media can be a very positive outlet and hold many beneficial features. But, it also holds negative features and with that holds many issues, specifically cyberbullying and hate. Social media sites like instagram, need to hold more of the people who hate accountable. If there are no repercussions involved and nobody faces consequences, these people will continue to keep hating, which is the root to why so many people hate social media. 

References

Steinmetz, K. (2019, July 8). Inside Instagram’s ambitious plan to fight bullying. Time. https://time.com/5619999/instagram-mosseri-bullying-artificial-intelligence/ 

Miller, J. (2020, April 21). Can Hate Be Banned From Social Media? New Jersey State Bar Foundation. https://njsbf.org/2020/04/21/can-hate-be-banned-from-social-media/

Walther, J. B. (2022). Social Media and Online Hate. Current Opinion in Psychology, 45.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.12.010

Posted in Causal Argument, DogLover, Portfolio—DogLover | 4 Comments

Casual argument-SNOWMAN

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Snowman10

Solar Power: Balancing Benefits and Challenges

People­ are seeing the­ light with solar energy – it’s becoming popular be­cause it’s clean and rene­wable. But it’s not just about the good stuff, we’ve­ got to deal with the tough stuff too.

Solar power is a game­-changer. Users save mone­y. The earth breathe­s easier as it curbs pollution and gree­nhouse gas emissions. Plus, the drop in the­ cost of solar tech opens doors for more folks. It’s e­asy to see why it’s giving fossil fuels a run for the­ir money! Solar panel tech has also got a boost. The­y’re getting bette­r at turning sunbeams into electricity, making the­m even more valuable­ and useful.

But solar power has proble­ms too. One worry is what to do with old solar tools. More and more solar pane­ls are getting very old. Sadly, many e­nd up in trash piles. This can hurt the earth. Making solar pane­ls uses things that could harm nature if not taken care­ of right. So, we must be careful with the­ things used to make solar panels.

We ne­ed to take steps now. Starting re­cycling for old solar panels can help the e­nvironment and cut down trash. Scientists and engine­ers must find ways to reuse solar pane­ls easier. Their work should make­ solar panels greene­r and hurt the Earth less. Solar power can be­ good for people and the e­arth if we use it right. It makes e­nergy from sunlight. This is cleaner than ge­tting energy from things like coal or oil. But solar pane­ls need rare me­tals and can be hard to throw away. If we think about these­ problems, we can make solar work be­tter. We can find ways to build solar with less rare­ things or build them to last. We can also find good ways to fix solar when it’s done­. If we do this, solar can give us ene­rgy without hurting the earth too much. Then pe­ople can use solar for a long time.

References

1. Atasu, A., Duran, S., & Van Wassenhove, L. N. (2021, June 18). The Dark Side of Solar Power. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/06/the-dark-side-of-solar-power

 

2. Kerr, E. (2019, March 21). The Future of Solar is Bright. Science in the News; Harvard University. https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/future-solar-bright/

3. Stauffer, N. (2020, June 23). Researchers find benefits of solar photovoltaics outweigh costs. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology.(https://news.mit.edu/2020/researchers-find-solar-photovoltaics-benefits-outweigh-costs-0623)

Posted in Causal Argument, Portfolio—Snowman, Snowman | 3 Comments

Casual Argument- Username

Posted on March 10, 2024 by username1132005

How’s Dogs Can Save Humans

Imagine minding your own business, taking a stroll down the street of a busy city, and stumbling across a person alongside a dog in clear distress needing help. Anyone with any sympathy would think to themselves, maybe I should take some time out of my day to help someone in need. The homeless people around the world every single day are struggling for their lives. The homeless could benefit from having a companion like a dog to help them get through life. Dogs in general provide companionship and strike emotions to their owners and people around them. Dogs are crucial for many people to have in their lives due to the vast amount of benefits, but for a homeless person, they are that much more important. 

There has been a rise of homelessness around the world through the years due to many factors such as pandemics, and the new rise of inflation. It is getting harder to afford basic necessities due to the rise of costs, and the pandemic ended up putting many out of work. The article titled, US homelessness up 12% to highest reported level as rents soar and coronavirus pandemic aid lapses, by Freking states how due to inflation, there were, “…more people being evicted…”(Freking, 2023). The evictions and house costs that rose were some of the factors for why the homeless numbers rose. Due to these factors, many have been left homeless with only themselves and hopefully some faith because of the costs. If one is lucky, they could have a companion with them to guide them through life, and to make them stand out amongst other homeless people. The emotional appeal dogs bring to the table is one of the leading factors for why they can help a homeless get some help, and could maybe even turn their life around. The homeless who have dogs realize that if they have them with them, they can get better results for themselves due to the appeal they provide. That would be a smart move for any homeless person, not only for the appeal, but the other benefits that come with it emotionally. 

Covid 19 was a deadly virus that went around the world causing a multitude of stress, depression, death and life changes. This virus caused some people’s lives and realties to be flipped upside, and changed in the blink of an eye. As a result of these changes, and even becoming homeless, that would have been the best time for someone like a homeless person to purchase a dog. The emotional aspect of these animals take over any price and complication they could potentially have. While someone could be walking the streets and not thinking about anything other than doing what they need to be doing for their day, they could come across a human and their furry friend. The best outcome would be that the stranger would approach the homeless and have a conversation with them to hear out their story and why they are where they are, and how they want to improve their life. A cause for making the homeless have a better outlook on life and improve their mental health, they may need to take that step and get a dog. The benefits go on and on, which the article titled, The Science behind Why We Love Our Dogs, by Padmabandu states how, “Interacting with a dog can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and provide other health benefits”(Padmabandu, 2023). Dogs have health benefits on top of the other benefits that the homeless need, like drawing in attention from the strangers walking on the streets. 

Dogs are a great conversation starter, especially if someone is really a dog lover. Some people prefer dogs over humans, which could be an amazing situation for this case between a homeless person and their dog. If someone really loves animals and wants to help them out, they could provide a donation. That donation would hopefully be more than the average due to the fact that there are two beings that need help and money. The dog could have the benefit of for example money to increase because the dog and its owner need to get their basic necessities. Homeless not only need to try and take care of themselves as much as possible, but if they have a dog they have that to worry about and take care of. If the homeless could have more conversations explaining their circumstances and their situation, they would hopefully be able to get more donations. Having people hear out their story of why they ended up where they did could cause people to be sympathetic and help them out. In return the stranger helping would get their good karma due to the fact that they helped out a homeless, but also an animal.  

Some may claim due to stereotypes that homeless people do not have any drive for their life and have no responsibility. If they had a dog with them though, those claims would be put to rest. Anyone that owns a dog or knows someone with a dog knows that they are expensive and a ton of work. It is not easy to take care of dogs in a house, but imagine on the streets. A homeless person having a dog with them, and strangers seeing them trying to take care of their dogs show huge responsibility and drive. It shows that they are humans too with hearts and a drive to take care of something. According to the article titled, People with Pets Experiencing Homelessness, by ASPCA states how, “Studies have shown that people experiencing homelessness report that their pets provide a sense of responsibility and are a reason to live, reduce substance use, and motivated them to seek healthcare”(ASPCA, 2024). It is good for a homeless person to be in charge of something, so that they have something to live for. Being responsible for a dog is going to help the homeless in more ways than one and will definitely make the strangers see that they are responsible enough to take care of another being. The responsibility that the homeless show with dogs could strike people by surprise and make them more inclined to wanting to stop over and help the homeless and their dog. 

While some people would rather not stop and help someone in need, others would love to do that. Helping someone can make you feel good about yourself all while knowing that you made their day or even providing them with money so they can get a meal or a drink. It could be harder to step outside of their comfort zone and approach a homeless person. In certain situations they could look more intimidating than others. Everyone has their own story, background, and issues, in regards to who is out on the streets. As hard as it could be for some to approach a homeless person, imagine how hard it is for the homeless everyday. Dry mouth, rumbling stomachs, no money, no drive, no nothing. But if they do have a dog with them, that gives them something to live for, and far more approachable and trustworthy. 

Trust is huge for people due to the fact that if there is no trust, there is nothing. For a stranger to approach another stranger who is homeless, there needs to be some sort of trust or comfortability. What can provide those two things are dogs. Dogs make the homeless look more trustworthy and less scary because they are showing how they are good with the dog, so they could be good with talking to a stranger. If their dog looks fine with no wounds and looks taken care of, that would make a stranger realize and see that the homeless hopefully would not hurt them if they decide to approach them. The homeless at the end of the day want money and a meal and some hope. By looking trustworthy and approachable because of the furry animals, they have a better bet of obtaining what they are looking for.  

References

Freking, K. (2023, December 15). US homelessness up 12% to highest reported level as rents soar and coronavirus pandemic aid lapses. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/homelessness-increase-rent-hud-covid-60bd88687e1aef1b02d25425798bd3b1 

Padmabandu, M. (2023, June 5). The science behind why we love our dogs. Embarkvet. https://embarkvet.com/resources/science-behind-why-we-love-our-dogs/#:~:text=Dogs%20give%20us%20so%20much,pets%20tend%20to%20live%20longer. 

People with pets experiencing homelessness. ASPCA. (n.d.). https://www.aspca.org/improving-laws-animals/public-policy/housing/people-pets-experiencing-homelessness#:~:text=Studies%20have%20shown%20that%20people,social%20support%2C%20companionship%20and%20security.

Posted in Causal Argument, Username | 4 Comments

Causal Argument-Eaglesfan

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Brandon Sigall

Pitching to Excellence

Pitch clock in the MLB has caused various actions to happen and has changed the way baseball is played. It has had its effects on batters and has definitely had its effects on pitchers. Pitchers have complained for years about how batters were able to take their time doing routines and getting in the box to get ready for an at-bat. This pitch clock has granted the pitcher’s wishes and now batters have to step in before the clock gets down to eight seconds. Because of the pitch clock, the game and the players have now changed for the time being until the rule is possibly changed.

Pitch clock has had multiple effects on pitchers. Pitchers are now able to pitch faster and not have to wait as much time in between pitches. This wait being shortened and the batter not having as much time to think has resulted in pitchers seemingly gaining a slight advantage to the rule. In the article, Ask Hal: So who benefits most from MLB pitch clock, Hal Mccoy comments, “It seems, though, that the pitcher has the slight advantage. The time clock has disrupted batter routines like adjusting batting gloves and taking strolls outside the batter’s box after every pitch.” The routines of the batters were so crucial to them preparing for an at bat and possibly rethinking what a pitcher would do. When they have to take a pitch then step in the box within ten seconds they can get thrown off and not be as prepared for a pitcher’s next throw. 

Batters have seemingly got the short end of the stick when it comes to pitch clock. They have to be ready as soon as they get in the batter’s box whereas the pitcher can take a few seconds if needed once standing on the mound. Most of the pitchers in the league are trying to manipulate the clock as well. As soon as the batter gets in they like to pitch the ball and fire it as fast as possible to throw the batter off. In the article, Pitchers are Adamant, Zach Crizer claims: “At eight seconds, hitters are required to be in the box and alert. At that point, pitchers can fire the ball to the plate — ready or not — or simply hold it and make the batter squirm.” The batters have such little time to react to the ball being thrown that it mostly results in weak fly balls and even worse, strikeouts.

Pitchers have been testing out ways to get better with the pitch clock and because of that, some pitchers are seemingly better with the new rule than when the rule wasn’t a thing. In the article, It’s Time, Nate Schwartz states “ Devin Williams improved his tempo by 7.2 seconds and only lost 0.2 mph with the bases empty, but improved his tempo by 9.4 seconds and gained 0.5 mph with runners on.” When the pitch clock is shorter, pitchers are gaining tempo or pitching faster. When runners are on base Devin actually gets better as a pitcher, gaining an extra half mph of speed on his pitches. When pitchers didn’t have the rule and runners were on base, they seemed to think about what the runners were going to do and they seemed to worry. They now have no time to think about the runners on the basepaths and have to pitch well in order to get out of jams. The tempo increase along with the velocity increase is helping some pitchers to perform better.

Pitch clock has also changed the time of the game. Games have gotten shorter as a result of the pitch clock. It is more fast paced and action packed because of the new rule. The pitch clock has resulted in games being two and a half hours instead of the grueling three hours some fans don’t like. In the article titled, Baseball’s pitch clock has transformed game length, Ben Lindbergh comments: “One minute, there were still three MLB games going on; roughly six minutes later, all three were over, and baseball was done for the day.” A game can now go into the final inning of play and wrap up in as little as six minutes. Pitch clock makes it so that these pitchers and batters have to be quick. If they are not quick enough to follow the rules there are consequences.

There are consequences with not following the pitch clock and the batters and pitchers trying to take their times. An at bat can end without a pitch even being thrown due to the pitch clock. If the pitcher lets the time run all the way down to zero they are charged a pitcher violation and the batter is given an immediate ball. This can result in a big moment like walking in the winning run without even getting a chance to throw the pitch. Likewise however if the batter is not ready in the batter’s box by the time the clock ticks down to zero they are charged a batter’s violation and a strike is put onto the count they are already in. That same game winning walk off walk can easily change to a game ending strike out simply because the batter was not ready in time. This seems to benefit the pitcher more as they get more time. The pitcher gets anywhere from fifteen to twenty seconds to throw the pitch whereas the batter only gets about eight to be in the box. The rule seems a little unfair to batters but the rule was implemented to have more action and batters were the ones taking more time. They can no longer do their routines and because of that, the games have been getting shorter as the year moves on. 

While the pitch clock has caused some serious changes to the game of baseball, it has overall been a good change and the fans are starting to get on board. Whether it is a casual fan or a die-hard fan, most fans agree the games were just too long to watch and would often get bored. All the routines and playing around in between the game was not satisfying to them. The pitch clock has changed that and made the game more enjoyable.

References

Lindbergh, B. (2023b, May 1). Baseball’s pitch clock has transformed game length-and not just in the obvious way. The Ringer. https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2023/5/1/23706488/pitch-clock-2023-shorter-games-uniform-duration

Schwartz, N. (2024, January 9). It’s time: How did the pitch clock affect pitchers in 2023? Pitcher List. https://pitcherlist.com/its-time-how-did-the-pitch-clock-affect-pitchers-in-2023/

Writer, H. M. – C. (n.d.). Ask Hal: So who benefits most from MLB pitch clock?. dayton. https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/ask-hal-so-who-benefits-most-from-mlb-pitch-clock/YI2NYCIC5ZBALNY3B2NXIJDMII/

Yahoo! (n.d.). Pitchers are adamant: MLB’s pitch clock will give them an edge over hitters. will spring training games prove it? Yahoo! Sports. https://sports.yahoo.com/pitchers-are-adamant-mlbs-pitch-clock-will-give-them-an-edge-over-hitters-will-spring-training-games-prove-it-175136106.html

Posted in Causal Argument, EaglesFan, Portfolio—EaglesFan | 5 Comments

Causal Argument – Ilovemydog

Posted on March 10, 2024 by ilovemydog

Needs a Title

The main goal of music is self-expression. Classical writers dating back to the earliest forms of music expressed a theme or idea, like Vivaldi meticulously expressing the feelings involved with each season; fall, winter, spring, and summer. Music was created to show emotion and demonstrate strong feelings that are too difficult to put into words. However, the purpose of music is to transition into something more superficial. Producing music has become more about making money and less about producing a soulful song. Artists feel societal pressure to produce songs that will hit top charts from their managers and supervisors, rather than producing music they believe in. The lessoned autonomy of music due to the music industry controlling artists’ output has caused less personal and politically influential songs.  

The lessened autonomy of music directly stems from the music industry enforcing stricter protocols on their artists. Compared to the 1960s and 1970s, called the Golden Age of Music, artists had to sign more restrictive contracts. Signing with labels is almost 100% necessary for artists to be successful, but many of these contracts are not fair or equally as beneficial for the artist as the label. Not only are these contracts confusing and restricting, but many artists are young and naive, which means they are more likely to get a contract that takes advantage of them and their music. For example, LeAnn Rimes, a young country music star, had signed a contract with Curb Records at 12 years old and “might be 35 years old before she finished delivering the 21 albums, she owes the record company”, this star being one of many to this deal with the devil. Kevin Murray, a previous music agent states that “if you don’t sign a contract, you don’t have a career” which makes the idea of artists signing themselves to a label much more enticing, despite the strict rules and lessened personality within their music. If artists must follow certain rules or are forced to produce a certain amount of music, their concern will be less with the quality of their work but rather with quantity. Artists will continue to pump out superficial songs rather than taking the time and effort to make their music have meaning, even if it is simply a more personal song rather than a grand political statement.  

Artists continue to be controlled outside their contracts with their own market-driven music production choices. Artists know which songs will hit the top charts in the modern day, therefore causing them to write shallow music that does not carry any weight. This essentially means that the need for money and fame outweighs their intrinsic motivation to write music. Similarly, artists are less likely to take any sort of political stand in their music during this modern era because of the intense “cancel culture” that follows all celebrities and artists. “Cancel culture” is a fairly new term with the rise of excessive social media use in which celebrities are “canceled” for specific actions or morals, and therefore lose their media presence and following, and usually a lot of money. Because artists can be so easily “canceled” on social platforms, the idea of writing a politically or socially vulnerable piece is not as appealing as writing a guarded, easy-to-win hit. While one might argue that social media makes it easier for listeners to have a deeper and more personal connection to the artist and their music, online culture is so toxic that many artists are afraid to let their listeners get that close. However, artists hiding their true intentions come with a price: less impactful music that is not causing the political form it used to. According to Youth Time Magazine, artists say “One of my greatest fears as an artist is being canceled as a musician,” which makes artists more “careful” so to speak when regarding any polar stances they take, whether on their social media or within their albums.  

This brings around a general point: the lack of politically relevant and influential music contributes to a reduced effect of music on listeners’ engagement with social and political issues. While artists are stuck in their contracts and “safety nets,” people turn to social media for political ideas rather than the previously largest type of media for common people: music. Pew Research Center study highlights that a substantial portion of Americans engage in political and social activities through social media. Artists are losing their grip on listeners because of their less involved music causing people to be less engaged with today’s societal issues.  

Music is meant to be challenging and force people to think outside of their comfort zones. Hearing of political ideas through different forms of media allows people to be constantly thinking about modern-day issues from different points of view. Artists failing to produce this complex music causes people to be disengaged, indifferent, or even worse, not aware of the injustice or problem in the first place. To revive music’s role as a form of social and political activism, artists should take advantage of social media campaigns. Artists from diverse backgrounds can collaborate on projects that highlight social and political issues from a global perspective and promote this music on their many platforms available. This not only advertises their music but promotes the political reform that music once provided many. The diminishing personal and political impact of music can largely be attributed to the music industry’s control over the creative output of artists, leading to a reduction in the production of personal and socially influential tracks. 

References  

Anderson, M. (2018, July 11). 1. public attitudes toward political engagement on social media. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/07/11/public-attitudes-toward-political-engagement-on-social-media/  

Herron, I. (2022, May 25). The complicated relationship of music and cancel culture. Youth Time Magazine: News that Inspires, Updates that Matter. https://youthtimemag.com/the-complicated-relationship-of-music-and-cancel-culture/  

Laura. (2001, September 6). Music stars complain about stringent contracts. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/06/business/music-stars-complain-about-stringent-contracts.html 

Posted in Causal Argument, ILoveMyDog | 5 Comments

Casual argument-Thatpersonoverthere

Posted on March 10, 2024 by thatpersonoverthere

Art using physical art helps with portraying emotions

In the modern day there are many things to be wary of, the rising cost of necessities, global warming causing cataclysmic storms, the pandemic that ravaged the world, several genocides, and a general feeling of loneliness expressed by most teens and young adults.  In an article published by The National Library of Medicine, it highlights the correlation between social media usage and it’s negative impact on medical students during the 2020 pandemic. Social media perpetuates the need for better mental health management due to the nature of the content being shown, from my experience I can see a cute video about a show I liked as a child and in the next few seconds I could also be shown the horrors of war torn Gaza and Palestine. The same was true during the pandemic, racial tensions rose with the Murder of George Floyd and Beranna Taylor as rallying for defunding the police due to the sheer frequency the police murdered Black people. That mixed with the rising deaths to an unprecedented virus that had no vaccine at the time, would make the perfect recipe for disaster, this doesn’t even take into account the closing of several institutions such as schools so many of these students wouldn’t be able to see their friends.  This makes the perfect recipe for more people to seek therapy. And a time where expressing emotions may be uncomfortable to different people using physical art rather than digital art to portray these emotions may be the most beneficial to the modern day person as digital media has already taken up a large part of modern life. Physical art is also more immersive which can be beneficial when trying to work through emotions or situations. 

Art therapy as defined by the National library of medicine, explains that art therapy is most commonly used to assist those with mental illness and cognitive decline for its ability to assist with “quality of life”. And through that it was found that artistic expression would be helpful to explore as a supplement to traditional therapy. This can be helpful as it allows for someone to put their complicated feelings into something someone else may be able to understand. Trying to explain systemic racism and how it affects those it seeks to demonize may be hard to understand if the person has never experienced it themselves, though it may be a bit easier through either an image or another art form. It’s a more tangible form of expression and takes the abstract concept of hurting someone emotionally and puts it into a realistic context. It puts that emotion or feeling into something someone might be able to more readily understand and come to terms with. 

Using textile art forms may be more beneficial to a person seeking art therapy than non digital media. This takes from the benefits and drawback of art making in general. Using traditional art is helpful in improving different techniques due to the permanent nature of the medium. If you make the incorrect cut while making a dress or the wrong brush stroke while painting then you either start over or improvise a different idea for the project. This can also be beneficial in therapy to show the person seeking therapy that while their choices have consequences there is still room to work around it or to start anew. While with digital media those mistakes can be completely erased, and so could give someone a warped perspective of their mistakes or choices and consequences. Though there are several more reasons that physical media is more beneficial than digital media

Digital media has risen rapidly in the 21st century and this may be due to it’s affordability. In a study done by Front Psychology, found under the National Library of Medicine, it was found that using digital media may be beneficial when the patient has special needs.  The results of the experiment, where special needs children in their sophomore year in highschool, states “In particular, digital art therapy induces a holistic sensory experience by mobilizing visual images that could represent various expressions, emotions felt in music and tactile senses that made texts for people with intellectual disabilities with difficulty in verbal communication.” Though digital art was used for this experiment due to the availability and propensity of people using phones and computers, this does not mean that traditional art also couldn’t be used for the experiment. Teaching these special needs highschoolers how to express themselves with traditional media including clay and painting wouldn’t be all that difficult. Though there would potentially be a significant price involved. That is a small price to pay for tactile sensations and a better chance to immerse themselves in their feelings and potentially the feelings of others. Always being on one’s devices may lead to a lapse in reality and with the addition of a learning disability like the children in the experiment this could cause an even bigger lapse in development when doing art therapy. 

There are several benefits to traditional art therapy, a great example of this comes from the act of finger painting as it has been proven to enhance feelings of mindfulness and attention, both of which would be highly beneficial for therapy(Kaczmarek). When a person is mindful of their process and decisions when creating it can push the piece to be a more genuine work of art, this translates to the work being a more accurate expression of a person’s experience. 

Digital media may be important for getting baseline ideas and information down, though a more holistic experience can be achieved through traditional art when dealing with art therapy. Traditional art media creates sensations that can encourage mindfulness and can immerse one deeper into the creative process and therapy experience. Also with the overabundance of digital experiences it can be a nice change of pace to be encouraged to take a step back and create with a licensed therapist. 

References

Kim, J., & Chung, Y. J. (2023). A case study of group art therapy using digital media for adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1172079. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1172079

Raaina Mahevish, Khan, A., Mahmood, H., Qazi, S., Fakhoury, H., & Hani Tamim. (2023). The Impact of Social Media on the Physical and Mental Well-Being of Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-023-00164-7

Shukla, A., Choudhari, S. G., Gaidhane, A. M., & Quazi Syed, Z. (2022). Role of Art Therapy in the Promotion of Mental Health: a Critical Review. Cureus, 14(8). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9472646/

Stanko-Kaczmarek, M., & Kaczmarek, L. D. (2016). Effects of Tactile Sensations during Finger Painting on Mindfulness, Emotions, and Scope of Attention. Creativity Research Journal, 28(3), 283–288. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2016.1189769

Posted in Causal Argument, Portfolio—ThatPersonOverThere, ThatPersonOverThere | 4 Comments

Def/Cat Rewrite—Breakingbad45

Posted on March 6, 2024 by BreakingBad45

School Is Failing Us Mentally 

It seems like ever since the beginning of society people decided that if you are properly educated and can prove it you can solve anything you go through. Even though the cost of this is taking years of your life going through constant stress and anxiety dealing with assignments, the pay off should be worth it right ? When you are thinking about it in broader terms, why does every student need to go through stressful rigorous tasks to prove their worth to a group , job, or organization.

I think it gives people with serious mental health issues a disadvantage from the start of their academic journey. Mental health problems can affect a student’s energy level, concentration, dependability, mental ability, and optimism, hindering performance making it even more challenging for students to learn and succeed. In the American College Health Association 2015 survey, college students identified the following mental health issues as negatively impacting their academic performance within the last 12 months. “Almost 30% of students struggle with stress, 22% felt anxiety, while 14% were feeling the signs of depression.”

The consequences of these students don’t just affect them mentally, nore their future. It affects the families and the friends of that person causing a chain reaction of internal struggles. Many middle schools, high schools as well as universities should try to make it more known how to deal and handle these anxieties they are facing because many people are dealing with it and do not know how to handle it. The consequences for these faculties and schools if they don’t make a change will only cause the scenario to be much worse. Some of the poor student retention would cause schools to lose funds as well as having a possibility of not reaching their degree therefore not having valuable skills in competitive markets. 

According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), more than 1 in every 3 high school students experienced poor mental health during the recent pandemic. Nearly half of students felt persistently sad or hopeless, while about two-thirds of these teenagers had difficulty completing schoolwork. This shows how effective the virus was on people but also on their motor and social skills leading to this rise of depression. 

Another thing to think about when dealing with mental health is the fact that many faculty in the school departments don’t know how to pick out who needs help and who doesn’t. A study from The National Library of Medicine found that 80% of students and youth that need help do not go and get that help. I think something that could help both parties is the guidance department being more on board about current trends in teenagers and their behaviors. However, it has to deal with a wide range of things in dealing with someone’s mental health and treating it. 

Some of the other causes people could say would be social media or the internet. I understand this idea that people are influenced by others when online, when in reality people tend to deal with other stressors that make them feel this way. Most of the stress is caused by academic performance and low self esteem. I believe that the development of students since covid also made many students add to this low self esteem because of the fact that they were isolated without the social interactions we are used to.

Another reason for the way schools fail students is the social expectations they make the students feel. This causes some students to feel they need to live and do things a certain way and just guide someone into having a fixed mindset or a mindset that is closed minded and not open to other options. Academic stress is a leading cause of mental health struggles in students. More than ever, adolescents and young adults feel pressure to go to college, pursue extracurricular activities, excel in their courses, and pass universal, standardized tests. The thing that can also be solved by teachers and students is to find that steady balance so these students don’t feel the overwhelming amount of stress. But this needs to be done by parents, students and faculty to save more children in the future. 

According to the National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) “One in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year, and half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14.”  This shows that many kids are now discovering they may be dealing with a mental disability and it needs to be assisted with when going through school. Sadly about half of youth with mental health conditions received any kind of treatment in the past year.

School-based and school-linked mental health services reduce barriers to youth and families getting needed treatment and support, especially for communities of color and other underserved communities. The schools that struggle the most with mental health are the urban areas with no funding and what seems to be like no hope. Most kids in those areas are having trouble finding that drive and motivation to better themselves. You are a product of your own environment and if you happen to not live in the best society it makes it harder to feel that sense of safety.

The reason why school is failing us mentally has to be dealt with in many regions in order to succeed. The most important aspect is how can students learn at school how to take care of their well being while dealing with assignments and life all together. We cannot limit or eliminate education from people because without that we would have no guidance, just like that people and children need better outlets to express their feelings at school. And possibly find a way to maintain the stress you feel. There are many aspects to look at that can be affecting a student’s mind. Faculty must work together to make a difference and impact on students because their lives are their liability and if they were to ignore or give up those ideas then that would mean the school failed the students future.

References

bibguru helped me find that first one for you, BB:

Consequences of student mental health issues. (n.d.). Sprc.org. Retrieved March 6, 2024, from https://sprc.org/settings/colleges-and-universities/consequences-of-student-mental-health-issues/

https://sprc.org/settings/colleges-and-universities/consequences-of-student-mental-health-issues

Does School Cause Mental Illness? How School Can Affect Youth’s Mental Health 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12202276/

Posted in BreakingBad, Def/Cat Rewrite, Portfolio—BreakingBad | 4 Comments

Definition Rewrite – ExcellentStudent27

Posted on March 5, 2024 by excellentstudent27

Let’s Even The Playing Field.

Being a major football fan most of my life, I’ve developed a deep passion for the game and its stingy rules. Whether it be a pointless tug on an opposing players jersey or the slightest movement before the snap of the ball, rules are rules, and no matter how pointless or one sided they are, they all play a purposeful role in ensuring equal play for both sides. Except for one. The one rule I can’t wrap my head around is the current rule for being the first team to score in overtime. For those who don’t follow the NFL, currently in overtime a coin is flipped, and the winner of the toss gets to elect to either kick the ball away to the other team or receive the ball themselves for a chance to score. If the team that elects to receive the ball ends up scoring a touchdown on that very drive the game is over and they have won. This leaves the team who kicks the ball away no chance at competing for the win on their record. 

As rules are created to ensure fair play from both sides of the football, I can’t seem to find out why the NFL thought this rule fit that criteria. Statistics prove that 62.5% of NFL games that extended into overtime in 2020 ended with the team winning the overtime coin toss on top. Some may argue that it is eerily close to 50% given my claim that it is unfair to the team who loses the coin toss. But in 2012 that same statistic rose to 71.4%. How would you feel if your team only had a 28.6% chance of winning? 

My proposal lies in the current rules of overtime in the NCAA. Both teams have the opportunity to score, regardless of who gets the ball first. They enter a shootout format where they get the ball from the opposing team’s 25 yard line and have to score, if both teams succeed they alternate 2 point conversion attempts until one fails. Statistics show that the outcome of these games are nearly split 50/50 with a slight advantage toward the home team. Much more even than what was presented above. The idea of these rules meet the criteria of making the game fair for both teams, and adds a more exciting factor to the game.

Beyond the statistical and narrative implications, the proposed shootout-style overtime format holds potential benefits that extends beyond the confines of the game itself. By fostering a more inclusive and equitable playing field, such a reform has the capacity to resonate with a broader spectrum of fans, thereby enhancing the NFL’s appeal to fan bases across the country.

Moreover, the adoption of a shootout-style overtime could serve as a catalyst for increased fan engagement and participation. The heightened drama and suspense  in this format are likely to keep an exciting factor in the game, drawing in casual viewers and avid fans alike. This, in turn, could translate into greater viewership numbers and revenue streams for the league, leading to long-term sustainability and viability.

Furthermore, the implementation of a fairer and more exciting overtime format has the potential to enhance the NFL’s reputation as a progressive and forward-thinking organization. Which is yet another good look for the league. It gives them values that sports fans across the world look for.

In conclusion, the proposal to adopt a shootout-style overtime format in NFL football represents a significant opportunity to enhance fairness, excitement, and inclusivity within the sport. By drawing inspiration from the collegiate model and embracing innovative approaches to overtime, the NFL has the potential to elevate the game to new heights of popularity and relevance. With thoughtful consideration and strategic implementation, the NFL can pave the way for a more vibrant, equitable, and captivating future for the sport of football.

References

Chris Jones. (2012). The New Rules for NFL Overtime. Mathematics Magazine, 85(4), 277–283. https://doi.org/10.4169/math.mag.85.4.277

Lindner, J. (2023, December 16). NFL overtime coin toss statistics [fresh research] • gitnux. GITNUX. https://gitnux.org/nfl-overtime-coin-toss-statistics/

Reisman, J. (2022, January 29). 63% of NFL fans think the overtime rules need to change. Pride Of Detroit. https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2022/1/29/22907708/nfl-overtime-rules-63-percent-fans-change-proposals

Team, F. T. D. (2022, January 25). NFL overtime rules: Should the league consider Adopting College Football’s OT format? FOX 29 News Philadelphia. https://www.fox29.com/sports/nfl-overtime-rules-college-football-overtime-formatWilson, R. L. (2020, July 14). College football overtime outcomes: Implications for in-game decision-making. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frai.2020.00061/full

Posted in Def/Cat Rewrite, ExcellentStudent | 5 Comments

Definition – ExcellentStudent27

Posted on March 5, 2024 by excellentstudent27

Let’s Even The Playing Field.

By: ExcellentStudent27

03/05/2024

Being a major football fan most of my life, I’ve developed a deep passion for the game and its stingy rules. Whether it be a pointless tug on an opposing players jersey or the slightest movement before the snap of the ball, rules are rules, and no matter how pointless or one sided they are, they all play a purposeful role in ensuring equal play for both sides. Except for one. The one rule I can’t wrap my head around is the current rule for being the first team to score in overtime. For those who don’t follow the NFL, currently in overtime a coin is flipped, and the winner of the toss gets to elect to either kick the ball away to the other team or receive the ball themselves for a chance to score. If the team that elects to receive the ball ends up scoring a touchdown on that very drive the game is over and they have won. This leaves the team who kicks the ball away no chance at competing for the win on their record. 

As rules are created to ensure fair play from both sides of the football, I can’t seem to find out why the NFL thought this rule fit that criteria. Statistics prove that 62.5% of NFL games that extended into overtime in 2020 ended with the team winning the overtime coin toss on top. Some may argue that it is eerily close to 50% given my claim that it is unfair to the team who loses the coin toss. But in 2012 that same statistic rose to 71.4%. How would you feel if your team only had a 28.6% chance of winning? 

My proposal lies in the current rules of overtime in the NCAA. Both teams have the opportunity to score, regardless of who gets the ball first. They enter a shootout format where they get the ball from the opposing team’s 25 yard line and have to score, if both teams succeed they alternate 2 point conversion attempts until one fails. Statistics show that the outcome of these games are nearly split 50/50 with a slight advantage toward the home team. Much more even than what was presented above. The idea of these rules meet the criteria of making the game fair for both teams, and adds a more exciting factor to the game.

Beyond the statistical and narrative implications, the proposed shootout-style overtime format holds potential benefits that extends beyond the confines of the game itself. By fostering a more inclusive and equitable playing field, such a reform has the capacity to resonate with a broader spectrum of fans, thereby enhancing the NFL’s appeal to fan bases across the country.

Moreover, the adoption of a shootout-style overtime could serve as a catalyst for increased fan engagement and participation. The heightened drama and suspense  in this format are likely to keep an exciting factor in the game, drawing in casual viewers and avid fans alike. This, in turn, could translate into greater viewership numbers and revenue streams for the league, leading to long-term sustainability and viability.

Furthermore, the implementation of a fairer and more exciting overtime format has the potential to enhance the NFL’s reputation as a progressive and forward-thinking organization. Which is yet another good look for the league. It gives them values that sports fans across the world look for.

In conclusion, the proposal to adopt a shootout-style overtime format in NFL football represents a significant opportunity to enhance fairness, excitement, and inclusivity within the sport. By drawing inspiration from the collegiate model and embracing innovative approaches to overtime, the NFL has the potential to elevate the game to new heights of popularity and relevance. With thoughtful consideration and strategic implementation, the NFL can pave the way for a more vibrant, equitable, and captivating future for the sport of football.

References

Chris Jones. (2012). The New Rules for NFL Overtime. Mathematics Magazine, 85(4), 277–283. https://doi.org/10.4169/math.mag.85.4.277

Lindner, J. (2023, December 16). NFL overtime coin toss statistics [fresh research] • gitnux. GITNUX. https://gitnux.org/nfl-overtime-coin-toss-statistics/

Reisman, J. (2022, January 29). 63% of NFL fans think the overtime rules need to change. Pride Of Detroit. https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2022/1/29/22907708/nfl-overtime-rules-63-percent-fans-change-proposals

Team, F. T. D. (2022, January 25). NFL overtime rules: Should the league consider Adopting College Football’s OT format? FOX 29 News Philadelphia. https://www.fox29.com/sports/nfl-overtime-rules-college-football-overtime-formatWilson, R. L. (2020, July 14). College football overtime outcomes: Implications for in-game decision-making. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frai.2020.00061/full

Posted in Definition/Categorical, ExcellentStudent | Leave a comment