Definition Rewrite- Username

Posted on March 4, 2024 by username1132005

The Price Dogs Pay for their Owner

The rise of homeless people around the world has skyrocketed over the years, but right now in America, the rates are at an all time high. Out of half a million of the homeless population, only some are blessed with having a companion alongside them, in the form of a dog. The presence of a dog can offer the homeless unconditional love, strength, companionship, and benefits. The benefits can be in forms of a conversation, a meal, a smile, or even a donation. Dogs can be lifesavers for their owner, and can be the reason why they get through life. Even though dogs can be lifesavers for their humans, it could end up being the opposite for the dog. The lifespan of the dog is at risk due to the conditions they face, but that is the price that they pay. 

One benefit that dogs can provide is drawing in attention from the pedestrians around them. Seeing a dog alongside a homeless person could lead people to open up their hearts, and their wallets to someone in need. A pedestrian is more likely to open their wallets and give a donation if they see a struggling dog, due to the fact that they can help the dog and its owner. All while the benefits from being outside with the dog could help the homeless, it may end up backfiring if the person tries to go to a homeless shelter. The shelters may not end up taking both of them in, and would have to make the homeless choose between their dog, or a bed. 

At the end of the day, the homeless are people just like us who need love and attention in their lives, as do their pets. Dogs need love and care as well as humans to keep going and keep providing the benefits they provide. The empathy that dogs bring to people is an important aspect as to why the amount of benefits are at an increased rate compared to without. 

Humans are often visual learners, and need to see things to believe it. In order for people to want to benefit the homeless, they would need to see the love and passion that the homeless have for their pet. The more love they see, the more likely they are going to want to help. According to the article titled, Are Dogs Children, Companions, or Just Animals?Understanding Variations in People’s Orientations toward Animals, written by Blouin states that, “the protectionistic have high regard for both pets and animals…they view pest as valuable companions and as creatures with their own interests.”If the homeless showcase a protectionist type of love for their dog, people will notice that and will hopefully want to give back and one help the homeless, which in return would be helping the dog. 

Dogs give up a lot to be out on the streets, which people may not realize. The dogs are in a very vulnerable position out there, and are very over-stimulated especially if they are in a city. Dogs give up a warm safe home, a yard, and even constant food and water if the homeless cannot afford it. According to the article, Companion Animal Overpopulation, written by Peta states how, “animals who depend on humans to meet their needs for food, water, veterinary care, shelter, and safety cannot survive for long on their own.” If a dog is staying with their owner outside with terrible conditions, that shows the love that they have for their owner. The dog may not choose to stay with the homeless, but if it does it is really showing their owner and the public the dedication and love that it has for its owner. If the same people are walking past the homeless and their dog everyday, they are going to see the love on both sides that the homeless, and the dog show each other. That in return should be striking to a pedestrian and hopefully make them more likely to toss some coins or bills in the homeless cup. 

Social interaction is something that varies from person to person. Some people are content with just a hello, while others would prefer to go have longer and deeper conversations with people they may not even know. Social interaction is something that many homeless out on the streets have a lack of. Certain people may find themselves hesitant to go near a homeless person, based on their stereotypes or their looks. This is dehumanizing them and making them feel unworthy. Something that a dog can help them with is acting as a conversation starter. The dog can make their humanity clear, and can show the pedestrians that they do have a heart and something to live for. Many people love dogs and if they saw one would be attracted to them. Which in this case is in the homeless favor because it is making them more approachable, and kind-hearted.

As with people, dogs do not live forever. It is important for the dog’s health to be in good standing if they are out on the streets because of the fact that they are dealing with terrains that the average dog would not. The homeless, if they have a dog, put the dog’s health and necessities before their own. Even if the homeless are low on money they received from donations, and are hungry, more times than not they are going to take care of their pet first. According to the article titled, Pets & Homelessness in LA, written by Sabo states how, “…the average life of a street dog is around 3.5 to 4 years, compared to indoor dogs under 20 pounds who have an average lifespan of 11.” This evidence makes sense that the average street dog is not likely to live longer. The shorter life expectancy would be a heartbreaking thought to the homeless, which would give them motivation to ensure that they are going to receive as many donations as possible in order to care for their pet. 

References

Are Dogs Children, companions, or just animals? understanding … (n.d.). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272271895_Are_Dogs_Children_Companions_or_Just_Animals_Understanding_Variations_in_People’s_Orientations_toward_Animals 

Companion animal overpopulation and homelessness. PETA. (2020, August 20). https://www.peta.org/issues/animal-companion-issues/overpopulation/ 

Sabo, P. (2020, June 12). Pets & homelessness in la . The Vanderpump Dog Foundation. https://www.vanderpumpdogs.org/our-blog/pets-amp-homelessness-in-lanbsp

Posted in Def/Cat Rewrite, Portfolio—Username, Username | 5 Comments

definition rewrite-doglover

Posted on March 4, 2024 by doglover7025

The Clock Is TikTok-ing for Online Hate

We all agree that hate speech on social media is toxic, abusive, and very dangerous to sensitive youth. But legislating what qualifies as hate speech is a thorny problem, and free-speech advocates have a clear constitutional right to insist that their words are protected. This essay will provide a clear set of rules for the online community to recognize the characteristics of hate speech so it and its practitioners can be lawfully banned from social media.

Unfortunately, we all have different viewpoints on what we consider hate. “A social approval-based theory of online hate suggests that the motivations and gratifications of those who post hate messages are not primarily to antagonize their ostensible victims.” This is where it becomes tricky, trying to distinguish the difference between accidental hate based on viewpoints, and actual hate. 

Let’s take Leslie Jones for example. In July 2016, Jones was receiving ongoing hate on Twitter They posted unexplainable tweets under her name, made racist comments, and set pornographic images. Why is that?- All because she was set to act in the new Ghostbusters movie at the time. Yes, the British journalist Milo Yiannopoulos, who started the hate towards her on Twitter, was banned permanently from Twitter. This issue is viewpoints and opinions. Just because you don’t agree with something someone says doesn’t mean you have to publicly tear them down on social media, to the point of deleting your account. 

The impact of being mean to someone can be intense. It can lead to feelings of sadness, or anger. It can lead to a low self-confidence, and behavioral responses. The people that are hateful just get to hide behind a screen for example, being mean and negative, but don’t have to deal with the negative effects. That’s the issue with social media. Some random person can sit in the room behind a screen and tear another person down, but does not receive any negative reprcussions. 

Even though there are many positive effects of social media, there are negative effects as well and this negative effect seems to be a very popular issue around the world. That is why I think that hate should be banned from social media. Freedom of speech is a topic in the social media field. Some people say things that they shouldn’t on social media, but then defend themselves by saying “but I can say that I have freedom of speech”. No you can’t, because of the laws. Social media laws and guidelines are different from each other. These platforms have their own conditions and terms/ guidlines. The “freedom of speech” card can’t be used because of these laws and they can and will ban you. But the issue is, the people keep making different accounts and will most definitely find a way to come back and hate on you and tear you down. Because of these laws, people can’t get into trouble that’s legal oriented, but they can still lose their jobs if their employer sees this hate,  or lose  “brand deals’ ‘ if they’re an influencer. 

If we find a way to ban hateful users permanently, if the evidence is credible and sufficient, we might finally be able to positively use social media again. Everybody, no matter who, should be able to go on social media and post what makes them happy. The hateful people that tear others down negatively affect so many people and it makes people feel like they can’t share what they want. 

In conclusion, People tend to have different viewpoints on what being considered “mean” is. But nonetheless, Every online SM platform should be compelled to abide by the same rules of behavior. Doing this would not only improve the people but would improve the app. 

                                 References

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 Def/Cat Rewrite, DogLover, Portfolio—DogLover | 5 Comments

Definition Rewrite – Ilovemydog

Posted on March 4, 2024 by ilovemydog

The “Golden Era” of Rock and its Social Reformation

In the 1960s and 1970s, rock endured what many consider its “golden era.” During this time, rock bands created catchy tunes and songs with profound social impact. Artists used their music as a vehicle and tool to challenge norms and advocate for meaningful change. However, the definition of “making a difference” in people’s lives varies. Many songs out there challenged different things that were causing injustices in the world. The songs addressed social issues like civil rights, gender equality, and anti-war sentiments, while others may have addressed different societal issues at that time. The term “social reform” can relate to a broad spectrum of many different perspectives, but in this case, it is while discussing the transformative power of rock music during its golden age.  

The 60s and 70s were filled with significant global issues, many of which are still seen today but were particularly prominent during this period. These issues include civil rights, gender equality, and anti-war movements. Musicians during this time rose to the occasion, using their influence on their audience to shine a light and perspective on these specific issues. Through their music, they sought to challenge the societal norms, advocate for change, and to offer a new and enlightened perspective on these matters. This change could have been presented through protest songs, anthems, or calls for peace. Artists used their platform to shape the discourse presented in society and inspire diverse types of action on these issues as well.  

Artists known for their activism in this time include, but are not limited to, Pete Townshend of “The Who” and Sting from “The Police.” In an article on the Human Rights’ Careers website called “15 Artists Using Music to Promote Human Rights,” it is said that Pete Townshend “was the first musician to perform for Amnesty International’s Human Rights Concerts and inspired other renowned rock musicians to support the human rights cause.” Townshend’s commitment to using his music as a platform for human rights highlights the significant impact artists can have beyond just their music, as Townshend influenced other renowned rock musicians to support the cause. Sting is known for his activism and is said to have “written songs inspired by his concern for world hunger and oppressive political regimes.” A notable example is his hit single “Russians,” which was released during the Cold War era. This song addressed the nuclear arms race and the need for a solution to it all. He not only raised awareness but provoked thought and reflection on the global issue. These artists fought through their music to bring their beliefs forward to their major audiences.  

A better example of an artist during the “golden age” using their platform to contribute to social change is Pete Seeger and his song “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy.” This track carries allusions to the Vietnam War. Seeger makes metaphors to a military commander leading his troops into a dangerous river. Which symbolizes the consequence of blindly following authority. The lyrics portray the pointlessness of the war and show what soldiers and civilians may be facing morally. In the book, “Pete Seeger, Musical Revolutionary,” by Brett Clark and Scott Borchert, it is said that “a 1968 audience would have clearly understood that this song is also about Vietnam.” In 1967, Seeger, an already blacklisted artist, performed his song on the Smothers Brothers comedy hour and was censored by CBS. In the same book is his response to being censored which is, “I’m very grateful to C.B.S. for letting me return to commercial broadcasting,” he was quoted in the New York Times, “but I think what they did was wrong, and I am really concerned about it. I think the public should know that their airwaves are censored for ideas as well as for sex.” Seeger did not agree with the censorship put on his performance. With his power of music, he added to an ongoing anti-war rebellion and sparked the interest of even more people across the United States. But by 1968 these censors relented, and Seeger returned to the show. He ended up playing the same song, and this time it was broadcast to the homes of millions of people.  

From this “golden era” came the gradual shift to modern music and rock. Within this shift, there were changes in style, theme, and demographics. The style changes became more colorful and sparkly, the themes changed to the use of many swear words and sexually suggestive lyrics, and the demographics geared more towards the satisfaction of young teens. With these changes, the result was getting rid of overly political themes in modern music.  

This “golden era” of rock music had not only a certain style and sound but also a commitment to rebellion and social change. While there may be certain eras of music that share similarities in their rebellious forms or themes, the cultural impact and historical context of the “golden era” set it apart as a unique period of innovation and change. It may seem that the golden era or rock could come back, but the landscape of the music industry and society has evolved making the same replication of the “golden era” unlikely.  

Modern music has the industry’s influence glooming over its shoulders. The music industry now takes artists, constructs, and shapes what is produced and how. Many record labels in modern times decide what is considered an acceptable genre and song. Along with this is also the industry’s marketing control. They decide what to put out, who to collaborate with, and who to direct the content to. Making it easier for the artists to succeed with no need or want to speak out against the conflicts around the globe. Marketability also causes artists to want to appeal to mainstream media. The fear of speaking out could be influenced by the stability that the artists receive as well as the opportunities given to them if they “behave” according to the record labels’ standards.  

The industry was around in the 60s and 70s, but they were not as controlling over artists as they are now. During that time, musicians had creative control over what they wanted to release and with that creative control, the issues that they felt needed to be addressed could be. Without industry towering over them, they had the freedom to do what they thought was right.  

Realistically, there have been musicians in modern times who used their platform and music to speak out against the world’s injustices. Nowadays the issue is that when artists do speak out, the message is not always received, and speaking out can affect them in many ways. Some of these ways are with business and personal issues. One of the artists that have recently used their platform is Annie Lennox. In the article on MEAWW’s website called, “Internet furious after Annie Lennox’s live Grammys performance ‘cut off’ over singer’s plea for ceasefire in Gaza,” it is said that “CBS cut the political activist’s mic.” While on stage and being broadcast to the world, Lennox spoke out about the war but was censored overall.  

These days when artists speak out censorship and blacklisting are the scariest part. The backlash of fans all over the world plays a significant role as well. Cancel culture has become some frequent that overall, most musicians with major platforms do not feel the need to speak out.  

It is also important to point out that there are artists that create uproar with their content, but they may not be speaking about global issues. These days a lot of artists put out provocative content or have behavior that seems “out of pocket,” But usually this behavior tends to create a rise in streams and album sales. Working more for the industry than against.  

In short, the “golden era” of rock music in the 60s and 70s was built around the musicians who used their music and platforms to address the issues that pressed society at that time. Artists like Pete Townsend, Sting, and Pete Seeger are prime examples of using music to create conversations about civil rights, anti-war movements, and human rights. But with the way modern music evolved, the spark that once led musicians to speak out about these problems has had a noticeable shift. This influence comes from the new control and powers of the music industry and the influence of marketability. Although some modern musicians do use their platforms, many stop out of fear. This fear is from the censorship and backlash. Despite these challenges, the “golden era” of rock music serves as the sole reminder of how music can affect and inspire change with real-life issues and social constructs.  

References

(PDF) Pete Seeger, musical revolutionary – researchgate. (n.d.). 

Bharti, A. (2024, February 5). “shame on you!” Grammys under fire for cutting off Annie Lennox’s mic as she pleads for ceasefire in Gaza. MEAWW. 

Higa, K. (2022, July 19). 15 artists using music to promote human rights. Human Rights Careers. 

Posted in Def/Cat Rewrite, ILoveMyDog, Portfolio—ILoveMyDog | 1 Comment

Definition Rewrite-Hockeyfan

Posted on March 4, 2024 by hockeyfan

Needs a Title

Hockey is a sport played across the world. It ranges from Town Leagues, to National Leagues. This sport is enjoyed by people all over, of all age ranges, but now it poses a safety question. Safety is defined as a condition of being protected or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury. Now you may be asking yourself aren’t all National League sports dangerous? The answer would be yes, however the statement I am making is that Hockey is the most dangerous. Hockey should be more regulated, as well as protected when it comes to the gear the players wear on the ice. 

Hockey is the only National League sport that involves a very sharp blade for the duration of the game. While the blade is not intended for misuse or injury, there have been times in which it has inflicted injury or even death. Adam Johnson, a former NHL player, tragically died on the ice after his neck was cut by a blade during a hockey game. The lack of neck gear provided during the game could have completely changed the outcome of this event, an act of safety is not something one would use to describe what happened. 

As a fan in the stands, imagine seeing your favorite playing bleed out on the ice due to an injury during the game. An otherwise healthy adult male bleeds out in front of 20,000 people due to a lack of neck gear. The trauma this not only causes the fans, but the families of the players this occurs to is despicable. The neck gear that could have saved this man’s life is not required by the NHL, had it been a life would have been saved among many others.

Most people enjoy watching a Hockey game not only for the love of the game, but for the thrill of it. It is an exciting part of the game when you see two players get into a fight on the ice. It is also reassuring when you see a Referee break up the fight before someone gets seriously injured, but that is not the case in all circumstances. An academic journal contained the story of how a Hockey Players career ended due to a fight on the ice. During this fight Steve Moore was struck in the back of the head then his face was pounded into the ice. The result of this was the loss of a career, and the penalty for it was a suspension and forfeit of pay. Had there been more regulation when it comes to the referees stepping, the injuries in this case would have been far less substantial.

The question we should ask ourselves is why there was no intervention while this was happening. The refs are there to regulate the game and make sure it is played correctly. They are also supposed to step in when a fight gets too intense. For this reason, there is no explanation to why no one stepped in, this caused something similar to a domino effect. A fight occurs, the referee does not step in, a player was seriously injured. 

Making a change to a dangerous sport is not something out of the ordinary. A rule was changed in the NFL relating to tackling and blocking. Prior to this change in 1968 there were 36 fatal injuries, as well as 30 paralyzing injuries. By 1990 there were 0 fatalities as a result of playing National League Football, this would be the first time there were 0 fatalities since 1931. 1 change in the rules changed the life of so many people and the people to come after them. A change like this in the NHL could result in a safer yet still enjoyable game.

Something the NHL has introduced is fines when you receive a penalty. Whilst this may make you not want to commit an act that could result in a penalty, it does not stop you from doing so. Therefore unless the penalty fines are so substantial in which it causes one’s concern of financial status it is simply useless. Most Hockey players make millions of dollars per season, so a fine costing a couple thousand dollars is not going to phase them. 

Sports is something that brings people together. This means that safety should be more of a concern when it comes to playing a National League Game. Dangerous is not a word that is used lightly, so that means when something is considered dangerous it should not be dealt with lightly. There are many solutions that could be put in the NHL world to just simply reduce the risk of fatalities on the ice. 

References

Archie, A. (2023, November 14). Man arrested in the skate death of former NHL player Adam Johnson is released on bail. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/11/14/1212945117/adam-johnson-hockey-death-arrest

Source 2: https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/manitob31&div=19&id=&page= 

Source 3: https://journals.lww.com/cjsportsmed/fulltext/2001/10000/eliminate_head_checking_in_ice_hockey.1.aspx?casa_token=1t0OVlSATkQAAAAA:UYBBDx_vfwh_SYSLYb56thmMvNP0c8O_8LjnXwooMEg0Q8Ke9g9BDvaDi5ca1RwYAt-dPMp6DGIJRknueR7VxBuCdw

Posted in Def/Cat Rewrite, HockeyFan | 4 Comments

Definition Rewrite- Temporal

Posted on March 3, 2024 by temporal111

Elitist language

Oftentimes, people might tell others that they’re speaking incorrectly, or that they’re language is inappropriate or impure. Although this can be true if they’re syntax is completely unintelligible, many times, this can have no meaning outside of pure elitism. Many attempts at trying to purify language is a result of the wealthy upper class not accepting the language of the poorer class.

For example, MIT linguist Noam Chomsky, who revolutionized the field of linguistics at a young age, was once asked in an interview what, say, the French theorists mean when they say they want to keep the French language pure. “That doesn’t mean anything” was his response. Language is extremely subject to change and evolution. Chomsky goes on to explain that in fact, for most of history, and even in many places today, people speak a different language than the people in the next village over, and the concept of a national language is a modern phenomenon. Because language will naturally evolve anyway, there is no point in trying to control it, and there is especially no point in trying to purify it considering some forms of language to be “impure”, whatever that means, based on things like social class. For instance, if language is constantly subject to change from location to location, then which one is “correct?” It would be a completely arbitrary decision.

An example of how the concept of unnecessarily controlling language is specifically targeted towards the common man is through the etymology of the word “vulgar.” People might  know the word vulgar to mean disgusting or vile, and it certainly does hold that connotation, but its original meaning was simply “common”. The reason why the word holds this meaning was because the language and habits of the common people, including curse words, (which were not limited to them but were associated with them) was seen as less refined, and that connotation has stuck with the word ever since. 

Another huge example of unnecessary language prohibition is the idea of curse words, which are words that are deemed to be inappropriate in certain circumstances. By inappropriate, I mean that if someone were to say one of these words in any general situation, it would be considered rude or inappropriate. Now, that would not be true in a very informal setting, such as a local bar, or just friends hanging in the privacy of their own home, but it would hold in most circumstances. Some of these words include but are not limited to: “fuck”, “shit”, “piss” and “ass.” One might notice that these words can all be expressed using words that have the same meaning, but for some reason are not considered to be inappropriate. Examples of these words, respectively, are: “intercourse”, “feces”, “urine”, and “gluteus maximus.” It seems redundant to frown upon “shit”, but “feces” is relatively formal. The origin of these words has to do with the merging of languages throughout history, as well as the role that language plays in social classes. Note, I will not be explaining the history of some other curse words that are slurs, as they are in fact offensive because their history and origin differ from the ones I will be explaining, that is curse words that have the same meaning as certain non-curse words.

The reasons for why the lower and upper class differ in language varies, but one important example is the Battle of Hastings. This battle took place in 1066 between the Normans (norse/french people) and the Anglo Saxons (the ancestors of the modern day english), and the Normans were the successors. As a result, the Normans were the ruling class, and the anglo saxons were the poor working class. (Vizarra, 2019). Now, due to the merging of these cultures, the languages also merged, changing the English language. An example of such change is the words used for food. The working class referred to animals they worked with using english words (i.e. cow and pig), whereas the elites referred to the animals that were served to them in Norman (beef and pork). 

The english words were considered less refined, and sometimes, so bad, that they developed into curse words; like the word shit for example, of Anglo Saxon origin (Dent, 2018).

It’s not just curse words that this happens too. The word “ain’t” used to be considered proper, believe it or not. But then, “ain’t became associated with lower-class characters” (Thesaurus.com, 2019). And now, ain’t is associated with the lower class, improper grammar, and isn’t really even considered to be a word. However, some might notice that it’s literally just a contraction of “am not”. This just goes to show that time after time, elites will consider certain forms of language (typically that of the poorer class) to be improper for no good reason whatsoever, and that these norms are carried throughout time, usually unquestioned. It seems as though the reason why it’s done is to subtly discriminate against people of the lower classes from the upper class.

Curse words tend to form around taboo subjects. As (Orlando 2023) put it, “profanity can also come from language involving sex and sexual acts, as well as bodily functions.” They also tend to evolve around sacred subjects such as religion (for example, it’s generally inappropriate to exclaim “Jesus Christ! As an interjection). This means that they do form naturally, it’s not all just the doing of elitism, however, elitism clearly exasperates it and creates more ideas of purity in language than necessary.

So in summary, people in power tend to try and control or purify language, seemingly out of an unwillingness to accept other cultures, and as a way of othering the lower class. Curse words tend to originate from touchy subjects, but many times will be exasperated by the upper class to belittle the lower class. So the next time you feel that your language isn’t proper or refined, just remember that the idea of a proper language is arbitrary and baseless, so that if your language effectively communicates to people, then it’s completely valid.

References

Chomsky, N. (1989). Noam Chomsky: upon reflection interview with al page 

The Concept of Language (Noam Chomsky) (youtube.com)

Dent, S. (2020, October 9). Susie Dent: how English swear words went away from the holy and back to the shit again. inews.co.uk. https://inews.co.uk/opinion/columnists/susie-dent-english-swear-words-171621#:~:text=The%20word%20comes%20from%20%E2%80%98scitte%E2%80%99%2

Dictionary.com. (2019, August 11). Why Is “Ain’t” Such A Controversial Word? Thesaurus.com. https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/aint-amnt-haint-baint/

Orlando, A. (2023, September 5). The history of swear words: Where the &%@! do they come from? Discover Magazine. https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/the-history-of-swear-words-where-the-and-do-they-come-from

Vizarra, I. ( 2019, October 14). Battle of Hastings: The War that Changed the Course of English Language Forever. Medium. https://medium.com/@ianvizarra/battle-of-hastings-the-war-that-changed-the-course-of-english-language-forever-c85f3d1269b7

vulgar | Etymology of vulgar by etymonline. (n.d.). Etymonline. https://www.etymonline.com/word/vulgar

C%20%E2%80%98excrement%E2%80%99%20%28and%20not%2C,majority%20of%20swear%20words%20are%20Anglo-Saxon%20in%20origin.

Posted in Def/Cat Rewrite, Portfolio—Temporal, Temporal | 1 Comment

Definition- Calm&Patient

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Calm&Patient

        Making decisions is an important part of sports, especially soccer. It determines how a match will turn out. A player’s ability to make quick decisions while under pressure can often be the line between success and failure. Mindfulness is one element that has gotten attention recently because of its possible impact on athletes’ decision making. Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhism and other traditions,and has been explored more and more in relation to sports psychology. 

    A state of active and open attention to the moment is defined as mindfulness. It includes having an unbiased understanding of one’s ideas, feelings, sensations, and environment. In order to develop this level of awareness, mindfulness practices methods like deep breathing, body scans, and meditation. Though its roots are in Buddhism, mindfulness has become popular in Western psychology as a method for treating depression, anxiety, and stress. Researchers have recently started looking into the possible advantages of mindfulness for athletes, especially regarding  improving performance and making better decisions under pressure.

         A study that was published in the Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology explored mindfulness and how it can affect soccer players ability to make decisions, specifically when they are making penalty kicks. The researchers found a strong connection between mindfulness training and improved performance under stress in their investigation. Researchers found out that athletes who took part in mindfulness training showed a significant gain in their ability to stay focused, control their emotions, and make smarter choices when things got intense on the field. These athletes performed significantly better overall because they were better able to keep their composure while under pressure and in high stake scenarios by practicing mindfulness.

           A different study that was published in the Journal of Behavioral Sciences provided a look into the general connection between mindfulness and athletic ability. Researchers tried to investigate if mindfulness practice on a daily basis would improve athletes performance in a variety of sports, including soccer. They discovered that athletes who regularly practiced mindfulness reported feeling more focused, confident, and resilient during tough times.    It has been shown that the psychological advantages of mindfulness have real world effects, improving their performance and results in all areas. The results show the growing potential of adding mindfulness into athletes’ workout routines and the ability it has to help people to overcome the difficulties associated with competitive sports more skillfully and easily.

     A study on mindfulness and its long lasting effects on athletes’ decision making habits was released in the Journal of Clinical Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. The investigators’ research allowed them to fully understand how mindfulness training changes players’ cognitive abilities, especially when it comes to making decisions on the field. The results showed a strong relationship between mindfulness training and athletes’ increased levels of self awareness and emotional control. Athletes who learned these abilities were able to make more smart and logical decisions even under extreme pressure.  By navigating the complications of being in competition, they had increased clarity and confidence.

     An investigation published in the Frontiers in Psychology Journal examined outcomes of mindfulness techniques in athletes. Numerous results were found when the study looked at the effects of mindfulness practices like deep breathing exercises and meditation, on athletes’ cognitive function. Researchers found that athletes who actively practiced mindfulness showed significant gain in executive function, memory, and attention. These improvements are very important for athletes who work in high pressure settings where they must quickly absorb large amounts of information and make well informed decisions in a split second. The study spoke of the critical role that mindfulness plays in perfecting athletes’ cognitive skills and enhancing their ability to perform on the field.

    In addition, a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health looked at the full impact of mindfulness on the health and performance of athletes. By looking into the complex interactions between mindfulness practices and the mental and emotional states of athletes, researchers have gained a lot of new information. According to the study, athletes who regularly included mindfulness into their training regimens reported much reduced levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout. Through mindfulness techniques, athletes could develop a deep sense of inner peace and mental clarity that allowed them to perform at their best. They also were able to better balance their personal and work goals. This strategy improved players’ performance potential while also improving their general quality of life and creating a long term path for success in sports and other activities.

    Mindfulness has a lot of potential to improve soccer players’ decision-making skills, especially in high stress situations like penalty kicks. Athletes can improve their focus, emotional control, and cognitive function by reaching a higher level of present moment awareness, or being able to pay full attention and be aware in the current moment. This can eventually lead to more skillful decision making on the field. It is becoming more and more evident that including mindfulness techniques into athletic programs could have a major positive impact on players’ performance and general well being as research on the advantages of mindfulness for athletes grows. Coaches and trainers can change training methods and enable athletes to reach their full potential and do great in competition and during games by including mindfulness as an important part of athletic growth. As mindfulness becomes more and more popular in sports, it will become a vital tool for helping athletes grow their overall well-being and ability to perform at their highest level in a variety of sports

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Definition – Naturechild

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Naturechild101

A slight change in the sun’s position could cause
the Earth to become (UN)inhabitable for all life.

A knowledge known by all is the dependency our planet Earth has on the sun to continuously produce life. The sun produces energy which in turn allows us to receive solar energy to push processes both physical and biological to help support life on Earth. The role of the sun since the 14 century B.C.E. (Before common era) was providing heat, warmth, and sunlight to aid the production of plants and crops. The sun was undoubtedly worshiped by the masses of people like the Egyptian and the Maya, believing that this life giving force was a divine power that controlled survival. Worshipers had the right idea about the benefits of the sun and just decided to acknowledge and honor it in a different way.

Plants are an essential resource on the planet because they take in carbon dioxide and provide needed nutrients and CO2, key parts in the existence of human beings. Constant production of life forces will disappear from Earth due to the disturbance in the chain of life and cause a domino effect if the sun’s position were to change.

Calculated energy rates from the sun have been reported to differ slightly on a day-to-day basis. Different energy rates can affect the distribution of how much energy is received on the Earth’s surface and where.If the solar energy output changes, The production of clouds will be disrupted in the atmosphere and this will affect how water distribution is conducted as well. However, what if the sun was pulled closer to the earth, how would it affect the life as we know it? If the sun was pulled closer to the sun, a few things will occur.

The heat being received initially from the sun would increase exponentially causing the ocean’s temperature to rise. The raise in ocean temperatures would cause aquatic life to deplete especially if species need certain temperatures to thrive and reproduce. In the article “Ocean Warming Is One of the Big Climate Change Question Marks” written by the U.S. Government of Accountability Office on November 30, 2023 is states: “Marine heatwaves can stress and kill marine life and disrupt ecosystems. For example, they can cause coral bleaching.” (U.S GAO). Some species will be forced to migrate in to new area to continue reproduction and this could lead to more “invasive” species and overpopulation. Increased temperature will also cause coral bleaching, this means the coral will start to get rid of the algae that creates their color and results in the death of reefs and biospheres that are dependent on them.

Negative effects on humans due to increased temperature can be heat related illnesses such as rashes, exhaustion, and cramps. Dehydration would be a very common occurrence along with poor air quality that could trigger underlying complications within the body and cause the immune system to become challenged. The intense increase in temperature would make day to day activities limited due to essentially having a constant heat lamp beaming down on every part of the planet. If we were to be reptiles, this would be perfect for survival however I will leave that discussion to the theorists.

Now what would happen to the world if the sun was positioned farther away? When you keep heat on an item constantly, keeping it warm and comfortable but suddenly taking the heat away what happens? The item becomes colder and colder due to the rapid energy release until it no longer has warmth, this results in the item becoming very chilled. This is kind of similar to what would happen to the earth if you were to pull away the heat source, being the sun. The bodies of water such as the oceans, rivers, and bays would freeze over because there will no longer be supported temperature to keep the water in it’s liquid state. The Earth is just the right distance from the sun to keep water in it’s liquid form due to the balanced reasonable atmospheric temperature. You can just imagine when the atmospheric pressure is below freezing how matters originally in liquid states will change and cause challenge for further use.

Think of the worst snow day you’ve ever experienced, now imagine a snow day every single day all below -100 Fahrenheit. According to article “ What would Earth be without the sun?” Written by Wordopolis, It claims that “ The problem is that the temperature would continue to drop steadily. Within a year, the average global surface temperature could dip well below -100º F! By that time, the top layers of the oceans of the world would have frozen over.” (Wordopolis). We would go from living to the tropic to living to tundras within about 10 minutes of the sun disappearing. Vise Versa effects of what would happen if the sun was closer would occur and basically make life of earth uninhabitable and would leave humans on a constant hunt for warmth outside of their domains.

In conclusion, the change in the overall distance of the sun’s position would undoubtedly disturb how the earth has already adapted to be, causing rapid changes in ecosystems, habitats, and biomes. The world, which was once a piece of floating compacted rock, has adapted an accepted distance from the sun and has physically gone through evolutional changes to retain and successfully continue the production of new life at every turn. The Earth nurtures the Plants which produce oxygen and nutrients to sustain human life, aquatic life, animals, geographical landmarks, and so much more. A change in the sun’s position would essentially make Earth food on the stove. If you make it too hot (the sun being too close to the Earth), water will evaporate leading majority of specimens dependent on it to die off. The Earth would become a constantly overheated rock that continues to burn off anything remaining on the surface, survival rates will reduce and force new adaptation. However, if you make it too cold you’ll be left with froze over oceans and depleting temperatures that would eventually turn the Earth into the next pluto.

References

https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/how-does-sun-affect-our-climate#:~:text=The%20Sun%20is%20the%20source,air%20which%20drives%20our%20weather.

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/summer-winter-solstices-explained-how-sun-determines-longest-shortest-days-year

U.S. Government Accountability Office. (n.d.). Ocean warming is one of the big climate change question marks. Gao.gov. Retrieved March 3, 2024, from https://www.gao.gov/blog/ocean-warming-one-big-climate-change-question-marks

https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-would-earth-be-like-without-the-sun#:~:text=The%20problem%20is%20that%20the,world%20would%20have%20frozen%20over.

How does the sun affect our climate? (n.d.). Union of Concerned Scientists. Retrieved March 5, 2024, from https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/how-does-sun-affect-our-climate

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Purposeful Summaries- Coffeelover03

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Coffee Lover 03

Are multi vitamins healthy to consume everyday?-

Taking multi vitamins isn’t really protecting you from what needs to be protected in your body. As stated in the article 39,000 women realized that while continuously taking these vitamins , the amount of vitamins being taken can lead up to colorectal cancers. As for old people who take multi vitamins to get in their iron can most likely get heart disease from these vitamins rather than actually eating something that provides these nutritional value.

Cruelty towards Elephants-

Elephants are such beautiful animals. They are smart, kind, and protective. Thought humans take the best of them away. They erase their memory of being an animal and their freedom to rather just become a toy. Elephants are a sacred animal and should not be treated with such cruelty. They are used in shows at circuses to please the humans eyes, and implant that memory in their brai. Thought they don’t know the harm that is causing these poor creatures. They are being UNDERESTIMATED. As humans we should be able to use our voices and power to protect them. These beautiful creatures are being whipped and beaten till they get something correct. This isn’t the way they should be treated. I believe we are able to change the way we want things in this world. We should be able to put a voice to this situation.

Men defining rape-

As a woman I believe we have a choice. Though men also have a choice. A an shouldn’t force a woman to do things she doesnt want to. That’s why rape shouldn’t be an option to make women feel less than herself. A man shouldn’t force women. That is where they can go wrong. According to the articles it stated the code of Hammurabi said that rape defines as property damage against her father. Well that isn’t the meaning of it let me tell you. As a girl who went through something unfortunate that was younger, I would like to speak for those women who don’t have a voice. The meaning of rape is taking advantage of someone who doesn’t give the consent to sexual activity. That right there explains why we need to change this and effect this immediately.

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Definition/Categorical  – Breakingbad45

Posted on February 28, 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 their 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, not there 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 scenereio 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 disabillity 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 area’s 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.

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

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Definition – Ilovemydog

Posted on February 27, 2024 by ilovemydog

The “Golden Era” of Rock and its Social Reformation

In the 1960s and 1970s rock was in its “golden era.” This era consisted of rock bands from all over the world that produced not only earworms but songs that could make a difference in people’s lives and what they believed in. During the “golden era” of rock, artists used their music as a vehicle for rebellion and social reform, while now rock lacks in those categories with fewer artists using their platforms for societal reformation and change.  

The 60s and 70s were filled with major global issues. Occurrences that are still seen today but were more prominent in this period. Some of these issues include civil rights, gender equality, and anti-war movements. With these issues, music would rise to the occasion, influence the audience, and give a broadened and new perspective. Some artists known for their activism in this time include, but aren’t limited to, Pete Townsend of “The Who” and Sting from “The Police.” In an article on the Human Rights’ Careers website called “15 Artists Using Music to Promote Human Rights”, it is said that Pete Townsend “was the first musician to perform for Amnesty International’s Human Rights Concerts and inspired other renowned rock musicians to support the human rights cause.” Sting is said to have “written songs inspired by his concern for world hunger and oppressive political regimes.” These artists fought through their music to bring their beliefs forward to their major audiences.  

A better example of an artist during the “golden age” using their platform to contribute to social change is Pete Seeger and his song “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy.” In the book, “Pete Seeger, Musical Revolutionary,” by Brett Clark and Scott Borchert, it is said that “a 1968 audience would have clearly understood that this song is also about Vietnam.”  In 1967, Seeger, an already blacklisted artist, performed his song on the Smothers Brothers comedy hour and was censored by CBS. In the same book is his response to being censored which is, “I’m very grateful to C.B.S. for letting me return to commercial broadcasting,” he was quoted in the New York Times, “but I think what they did was wrong and I’m really concerned about it. I think the public should know that their airwaves are censored for ideas as well as for sex.” Seeger didn’t agree with the censorship put on his performance. With his power of music, he added to an ongoing anti-war rebellion and sparked the interest of even more people across the United States. But by 1968 these censors relented, and Seeger returned to the show. He ended up playing the same song, and this time it was broadcast to the homes of millions of people.  

From this “golden era” came the gradual shift to modern music and rock. Within this shift, there were changes in style, theme, and demographics. The style changes became more colorful and sparkly, the themes changed to the use of many swear words and sexually suggestive lyrics, and the demographics geared more towards the satisfaction of young teens. With these changes, the result was getting rid of overly political themes in modern music.  

Modern music has the industry’s influence glooming over its shoulders. The music industry now takes artists, constructs, and shapes what is produced and how. Many record labels in modern times decide what is considered an acceptable genre and song. Along with this is also the industry’s marketing control. They decide what to put out, who to collaborate with, and who to direct the content to. Making it easier for the artists to succeed with no need or want to speak out against the conflicts around the globe. Marketability also causes artists to want to appeal to mainstream media. The fear of speaking out could be influenced by the stability that the artists receive as well as the opportunities given to them if they “behave” according to the record labels’ standards.  

The industry was around in the 60s and 70s, but they weren’t as controlling over artists as they are now. During that time, musicians had creative control over what they wanted to release and with that creative control, the issues that they felt needed to be addressed could be. Without the industry towering over them, they had the freedom to do what they thought was right.  

Realistically, there have been musicians in modern times who used their platform and music to speak out against the world’s injustices. Nowadays the issue is that when artists do speak out, the message isn’t always received, and speaking out can affect them in many ways. Some of these ways are with business and personal issues. One of the artists that have recently used their platform is Annie Lennox. In the article on MEAWW’s website called, “Internet furious after Annie Lennox’s live Grammys performance ‘cut off’ over singer’s plea for ceasefire in Gaza,” it is said that “CBS cut the political activist’s mic.” While on stage and being broadcast to the world, Lennox spoke out about the war but was censored overall.  

These days when artists speak out censorship and blacklisting are ultimately the scariest part. The backlash of fans all over the world plays a significant role as well. Cancel culture has become some frequent that overall, most musicians with major platforms don’t feel the need to speak out.  

In short, the “golden era” of rock music in the 60s and 70s was built around the musicians who used their music and platforms to address the issues that pressed society at that time. Artists like Pete Townsend, Sting, and Pete Seeger are prime examples of using music to create conversations about civil rights, anti-war movements, and human rights. But with the way modern music evolved, the spark that once led musicians to speak out about these problems has had a noticeable shift. This influence comes from the new control and powers of the music industry and the influence of marketability. Although some modern musicians do use their platforms, many stop out of fear. This fear is from the censorship and backlash. Despite these challenges, the “golden era” of rock music serves as the sole reminder of how music can affect and inspire change with real-life issues and social constructs.  

References

(PDF) Pete Seeger, musical revolutionary – researchgate. (n.d.). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272437319_Pete_Seeger_Musical_Revolutionary  

Bharti, A. (2024, February 5). “shame on you!” Grammys under fire for cutting off Annie Lennox’s mic as she pleads for ceasefire in Gaza. MEAWW. https://meaww.com/internet-furious-after-annie-lennoxs-live-grammys-performance-cut-off-over-singers-plea-for-ceasefire-in-gaza  

Higa, K. (2022, July 19). 15 artists using music to promote human rights. Human Rights Careers. https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/artists-using-music-to-promote-human-rights/ 

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