Causal rewrite- doglover

Posted on April 14, 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. As the social media platform most tolerant of hate and negativity, toxicity, embarrassment, and cyberbullying, 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. Because currently there is no punishment on instagram, people just continue to keep being mean because they don’t see anyone getting punished for it. 

Lets take a look at an example: “Teen queer artist dies by suicide after hate comments on Instagram reel.” Her name was Prashna was a social media influencer, specificicaly a makeup artist. In one of the instagram reels she posted, she received a numerous amount of hate. “the artist’s comment section was flooded with over 4,000 homophobic remarks which abetted them to die by suicide. The artist had over 16,500 followers on their Instagram handle, ‘glamitupwithpranshu’.”. This influencer got so much hatespeech from other users that she felt the need to commit death by suicide. Another example is on TikTok in 2023. A little kid, Kevin Gabor struggles with Ostiogenisis imperfecta was attacked on TikTok. He was receiving so much hate online. “”You know I can’t play, I can’t run. I can’t hang out with friends outside. I can’t do a bunch of stuff,” Kevin pleads. “Because I could break something and I have an online community so that I can share and have friends with and you’re trying to take that away from me.” 

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. So if they are using Ai to ban users who are being offensive/using hate speech, this technology needs to be very specific and can correctly filter out users who are showing hate towards others.

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

Desk, N. N. (2023, November 25). Teen queer artist dies by suicide after hate comments on Instagram reel. NDTV.com. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/teen-queer-artist-from-madhya-pradeshs-ujjain-dies-by-suicide-after-hate-comments-on-reel-claims-actor-4604517 

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/

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

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

Wetzel, J. (2023, August 29). Disabled child’s desperate plea to stop online trolls brought out the best in Social Media. Upworthy. https://www.upworthy.com/childs-plea-to-trolls-brought-out-social-media-best 

Posted in DogLover, Portfolio—DogLover | 1 Comment

Def/Cat Rewrite— SNOWMAN

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Snowman10

The growth need for environmentally friendly transportation is being met by solar electric vehicles, or SEVs (Source 1). These cars’ designs incorporate solar panels, which enable them to use solar energy to power different parts of the car and increase range. SEVs seek to reduce their environmental impact and lessen their reliance on conventional energy sources by turning sunlight into electricity.

As Source 2 points out, integrated solar panels are a basic component of SEVs. With the help of these panels, solar energy can be transformed into useful electricity that can be stored in the car’s battery system. Through this integration, SEVs can use solar power in addition to conventional charging techniques, which lowers operating costs and lessens reliance on external charging infrastructure.

However, a number of variables, such as the amount of surface area that can be used to install solar panels and the effectiveness of solar energy conversion, affect how effective solar panels are on SEVs (Source 3). Vehicles have a limited surface area, so it might be difficult to produce enough solar power to completely charge the battery or greatly increase the vehicle’s range. In addition, variables like driving style and weather can affect how much solar energy is collected and how it affects the overall performance of the vehicle.

These obstacles, developments in solar panel technology and automobile design are propelling the SEV industry’s innovation (Source 1). In order to maximize solar panel efficiency and incorporate solar charging capabilities into vehicle systems, manufacturers are currently investigating new approaches.Some SEVs, for instance, have solar roofs or body panels that optimize solar energy capture while blending in seamlessly with the exterior of the car.

Additionally, SEVs can supplement the current infrastructure for charging and provide consumers with a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation (Source 2). SEVs can help fight climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions and utilizing renewable energy sources like solar power. Furthermore, buyers looking for increased energy independence and lower lifetime operating costs might find SEVs appealing.

In conclusion, even though SEVs are an exciting new development in the automotive industry, a number of factors, such as consumer preferences, infrastructure development, and technological advancements, will determine how widely adopted and impactful they are on the market. SEVs could have a big impact on how mobility develops in the future if automakers invest in environmentally friendly transportation options and solar panel technology advances.

References

Roberson, W. (2024, February 20). Why doesn’t every electric car have solar panels? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/billroberson/2022/11/30/why-doesnt-every-electric-car-have-solar-panels/?sh=b35b7d71ac62

Lacivita, B. (2023, July 17). How electric cars with solar panels are changing the game. Family Handyman. https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/electric-car-with-solar-panels/

Brigham, K. (2022, November 22). Why solar electric vehicles might be the next generation of EVs. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/22/how-sono-aptera-and-lightyear-are-making-solar-powered-evs-a-reality.html

Hans. (2024, February 13). Solar energy and Sustainable Transportation: Promoting Clean Mobility – ManagEnergy.tv. ManagEnergy.tv. https://managenergy.tv/solar-energy-and-sustainable-transportation-promoting-clean-mobility/

Hedi. (2021, December 27). Top 10 different types of solar transportation technologies. Solar Power Nerd. https://solarpowernerd.com/solar-transportation-technologies/

‌

Posted in Def/Cat Rewrite, Snowman | 2 Comments

Research Paper- Username

Posted on April 14, 2024 by username1132005

Dogs Being Lifesavers of Their Homeless Owners

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. 

Dogs can be some of the most loyal and important figures in people’s lives. They are there for you when others aren’t, and wont turn their backs on you. While dogs are very popular amongst most, some people do not like dogs for a number of different reasons. Some could be afraid of dogs based on the stereotypes of their breed, they could have had a bad experience with a dog, or they really just do not care about them as a whole. It is normal for people to not want to approach a dog they have never interacted with before. In the case of a homeless dog though, there is nothing more to worry about from their dog, to any other dog out there. The stereotypes need to be broken with the homeless animals, and people need to widen their horizons in order to see past the negatives and realize that dogs are the reason why donations are more prevalent when with a homeless person. 

If a mom and her daughter are walking the streets and see a homeless person, they may not feel safe going up to the homeless and giving them a donation. Especially if the daughter for example is at a young age, the mother could have some drawbacks. 

Even though not all people are dog people, the dog should actually make the mother in this example more comfortable around the homeless. The dog is a symbol of loyalty and peace so the mother should feel better that the dog is present in this case. If the mother can see the relationship between the dog and its owner, it should evoke more sympathy, rather than fear of the unknown. 

Dogs can easily adapt to their surroundings, and see social cues in humans, so the mother in this case should not have any fear when it comes to the homeless dog. The dog is outside all day watching people and if in a city, seeing the hectic nature of its surroundings. Having people come close to the dog and its owner on a daily basis, should emit the fear of the mother, and show her that the dog is not a threat. If the dog has been out on the streets for a long period of time, then it should be adapted to its surroundings and should not attack. According to the article titled, How To Help Your Dog Adjust To A New Environment, written by Trott states how, “…with the proper training and introduction, most dogs will quickly adapt and start taking every new location in stride”. Especially if the mother and daughter often see the homeless and its dog, then that should give the mother more clarity that the dog is adapted to its surroundings and is not going to attack.

If the owner’s dog were to be vicious and attack, why would the owner have it outside if they want people to approach them and give a donation? The goal is to have the dog be there to be welcoming and make everyone feel more comfortable, not drive people away. 

Diseases and illnesses can be carried by any type of dog in any type of environment. It is common for dogs to pick up diseases including fleas and ticks anywhere, including in a house or even on the streets. To categorize a dog that lives on the streets by saying that since they are outside 24/7 then they should have diseases is not necessarily fair to that dog. Any dog can pick up a disease since they like to explore and sniff around places. There is no more to fear than a homeless dog on the streets in terms of diseases, than any other dog. Just because a dog is outside on the streets does not automatically mean that they are carrying a disease, when a stranger’s dog could in fact have fleas and ticks.  

It would not be fair to be afraid of a dog on the streets due to the fact that they could potentially be carrying a disease. According to the article titled, Tips To Keep Your Pets and Family From Getting Fleas and Ticks In Your Yard, written by A&A Lawn Care and Landscaping, shares how dogs are more likely to contract a disease if they are, “…out in the yard, if you have woods or high grass, ticks undergo what’s called questing, where they crawl up on these low shrubs or grass and hang out”. Out in the city, the homeless would want to stay out in the open on the streets where they are most visible to the public, and that would not be where there is a lot of grass land or trees like in a park. 

Other dogs that are owned by someone in a city could be getting closer to grass and trees where fleas and ticks are, compared to a homeless dog. If someone is still too nervous to approach a homeless person because of their dog, they could not go anywhere close to the dog and quickly give a donation to the owner and walk away. 

 There are mass amounts of stereotypes when it comes to dogs, and even homeless people. It is important for people to feel out the vibe of the pairing before going to approach them. For some people, they would not want to go ahead and approach a homeless person and their dog because of the stereotypes of the dog breed. If the stranger walking by the homeless and their dog can see their relationship and see if the homeless is going near their dog and petting it, it should show how there is a real connection and love to the dog, regardless of the breed. 

The Pitbull dog breed is a breed that is constantly being misunderstood and not given the time of day or any attention. Each dog is different with different temperaments and attitudes towards people. According to the article titled, Pitbull Abuse and Neglect, written by Admin states how, “As with any breed of dog, if a dog is raised to be mean or aggressive, as many breeds are trained in the dog fighting world, they may behave that way.  Dogs truly want to obey and please their master”. If a stranger can see how the homeless are in control of their dog, and if the dog listens to commands, it should show how the dog is behaved and should not be a threat. 

If a homeless person has a Pitbull it is not fair to automatically rule them out of receiving a donation, when even the littlest dog can do damage. It all depends on the level of training a dog has, and the relationship between the dog and its owner. The dog should show a symbol of sympathy, rather than a symbol of fear driving people away. At the end of the day, the dog is not out on the streets to look pretty, they are out there to help their owners and try to get people to give more donations. 

There is no more to fear than a homeless dog, compared to any other dog. If a dog is out on the streets, it should actually be more behaved than any other dog since it needs to stay put and stay calm due to the mass amounts of people surrounding it. The dog and its owner are a big factor with why people would or would not approach them and give a donation. The relationship between the dog and its owner should be clearly visible that there is love and trust between them, which in return should bring in more donations because people will feel comfortable enough to approach them. 

It may be hard to approach a homeless person and their dog, but imagine stumbling across a dog in distress needing help. The dog looks brittle, and looks as if it is struggling, alongside its owner. The owner and its dog have a clear look of helplessness, and you can feel the pain as you are walking by them. Being homeless and out on the street cannot be easy, which can be shown visually through the homeless and their dog. The homeless around the world every single day are struggling for their lives. If a homeless person is seen fighting for their life, with a dog also struggling, the best thing that could be done is helping them out and giving them a donation. A meal, a drink, or even some money could go the longest way in terms of helping out a homeless person and their dog in desperate need of help. That one cent can make all the difference with making sure that the homeless and its pet can survive and get through their day. 

Nobody chooses to be homeless, and live a life out on the streets, but with the rise of costs around the world, it is what has to be done for some people. It is getting harder to afford basic necessities due to the rise of costs, and the pandemic Covid 19 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”. With rent prices skyrocketing, and job losses, it has put so many out of their homes, leaving them all alone without anything to their name. If one is lucky, they could have a companion in the form of a dog alongside them to guide them through life and provide mass amounts of benefits. Some homeless could even have found a stray dog and taken it under their wing so that together they could flourish and hopefully get some help.  

Having good mental health is extremely important for humans and dogs in order to have a good head on their shoulders and to have a positive outlook on life. Being out on the streets cannot be easy, and having a dog can make all the difference. If the homeless are lonely and have no will to live, having a dog can essentially save their life and give them a reason to live. The benefits that dogs provide for the homeless mentally and physically are endless. According to the article titled, The Science behind Why We Love Our Dogs, Padmabandu states how, “Interacting with a dog can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and provide other health benefits”. All while the dogs are helping the homeless mentally, they can also be helping financially. If the homeless look happier and have a good attitude towards people, that could make the strangers walking by feel more comfortable approaching the homeless and giving a donation. 

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 a stranger loves dogs and sees out out on the streets, by nature they would be inclined to go up and give it love. While the stranger is petting the dog or even just being near it, they could have a conversation with its owner. That conversation could be the owner explaining its circumstances or life story. The conversation potentially would not have happened if it was not for the dog there being the icebreaker, or why the stranger even approached the pair. 

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”. 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. 

It doesn’t matter where the dog came from, if it is a new dog or an old dog, that dog can be the reason why the homeless life is saved. The dog is putting itself at risk and living in horrible conditions all for their owner. The dog’s sympathy for its owner is important for the owner to see and realize, alongside the strangers. When people can feel the love, they would be more open to helping the pair so that they can continue to love and take care of each other. 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. Even with all of the hardships that the homeless face on a daily basis, if they have a dog the problems can seem less, and they could be happier. The donations, the love, the care, and more are the reasons why every homeless person could benefit from having a furry friend by their side, and to go through life with. 

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 

Admin. (2018, July 5). Pitbull abuse and neglect. Animal Justice League of America. https://www.animaljla.org/pitbull-abuse-and-neglect/ 

Tips to keep your pets and family from getting fleas and ticks in your yard…: A&A Lawn Care & Landscaping. A & A Lawn Care & Landscaping. (2021, March 31). https://aalawns.com/tips-to-keep-your-pets-and-family-from-getting-fleas-and-ticks-in-your-yard/ 

Trott, S. (2024, March 19). How to help your dog adjust to a new environment. Now Fresh. https://nowfresh.com/en-us/help-your-dog-adjust-to-a-new-environment# 

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 Portfolio—Username, Research, Username | 2 Comments

rebuttal rewrite-doglover

Posted on April 14, 2024 by doglover7025

Freedom of Speech

The term “Freedom of speech”, is used as a lot of people’s defense when being offensive on social media. They make hateful comments about one’s race, sexual orientation, or opinions but then can “win” by saying “I can say what I want… freedom of speech”. Freedom of speech, or the “First Amendment” is “Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction”. Banning users based on what they say raises concerns about the freedom of expression. But in all actuality, freedom of speech doesn’t apply to social media. Sites like Instagram have their own set of First Amendment rules. This means that Instagram and other social media sites can moderate the posts without violating their rights. 

According to Instagram’s guidelines, ““We remove content that contains credible threats or hate speech, content that targets private individuals to degrade or shame them, personal information meant to blackmail or harass someone, and repeated unwanted messages. We do generally allow stronger conversation around people who are featured in the news or have a large public audience due to their profession or chosen activities.””. This rule goes against the First amendant , which is beneficial because  you shouldn’t be allowed to just say anything because you have the right to. 

Determining what is considered harmful can be challenging. Hate speech might not be physical, but can be mentally harmful and can lead to violence to a specific person or group. For example, take a look at “John Stuarts: Mill Harm example”, he states that “people should be free to act however they wish unless their actions cause harm to somebody else.”. Yes, that’s true but there is a fine line between freedom of speech and hate speech. 

Another rebuttal thrown out is “effective level of banning ”. Yes, Permanently banning hateful users does not necessarily solve the underlying issues, and we should be addressing  the causes of hate speech with lessons, and community, and links + articles. But, It’s hard at times to try to change someone’s mind or opinions+views. Especially if a person has a strong view on their opinion, you’re not changing anything. Putting out an article won’t lead that person to not do it, honestly, it might make them do something more hurtful. With the boldness levels of people on  social media, some people will say whatever they want knowing that they might not ever face that person. So, banning the users will help make the social media environment more clearer. It’s now the person’s issue as to whether they want to make themself more nicer. 

An important rebuttal that could be thrown at this argument is “Possibility for Unfair Punishment”. Banning users based on the number of complaints without an investigation into each case could result in unfair punishment. Innocent users might be penalized, while actual users could go unnoticed if they have fewer complaints against them. With this mechanism that would be added, it would be very selective of who is banned. We would not only look at the number of complaints lodged against them, but the content of what they’re posting that was flagged. So unfair punishment wouldn’t happen because of the selective banning process. 

In conclusion, while freedom of speech is a fundamental right, advocating for freedom of speech without considering its potential risks or lack of research, is a big issue. Freedom of speech does not combine with  It’s the reason why so many people use hate speech on social media. There is a very thin difference between freedom of speech and hate speech that people tend to defend their hate with “Freedom of speech, I can say what I want etc.). If Instagram contained  a mechanism for banning users who are mean to other users if the number of complaints lodged against them is credible and sufficient would help the social media community overall. The amount of hate speech and negativity would decrease. 

References

Alharbi, A., & Al-Sowayan, N. S. (2020, April 3). The effect of ketogenic-diet on health. SCIRP. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=99691

Centre, T. E. (2021a, December 15). What is the harm principle? ethics explainer by the Ethics Centre. THE ETHICS CENTRE. https://ethics.org.au/ethics-explainer-the-harm-principle/#:~:text=The%20hard%20 principle%20says%20people,English%20 philosopher%20 John%20 Stuart%20mil. 

Posted in DogLover, Rebuttal Rewrite | 1 Comment

Research paper -Thatpersonoverthere

Posted on April 13, 2024 by thatpersonoverthere

Tactile art therapy is important

When most people think of therapy they think of sitting, or lying down in a futon while they talk to a person who most likely has glasses on across the room. They tell this person their struggles for the week and the person at the other end of the room usually has some type of solution or fix to their problems. Art therapy is different to this, it uses art along with a care plan a therapist has made for their client. There are several ways to misinterpret art therapy from believing that unqualified therapists who believe that the mere creation of art is art therapy is able to effectively give a wholesome experience for their client ;to believing that art therapy can be done using Ai. If a therapist is unqualified to help their patient or gives advice that is counterintuitive to modern therapeutic doctrines such as the modern self help genre then this can not be considered therapy.  Art therapy is intended to use therapy to deconstruct either past trauma or emotions, and using a computer program to bypass this would not result in progress but further confusion as the emotion displayed in the piece is a hollow representation of that person’s true expression.

Art therapy: A creative and Expressive process created by the Indian Journal of Positive Psychology in 2014, describes the beginnings of art therapy in the mid 20th century in both the UK and United States. In Britain there are two conflicting ideas for how art therapy started, one pertains to the calming aspects of creating art in general and the other is attributed to the speedy recovery from tuberculosis. Though both definitions are significantly outdated.

Art therapy as defined by the National Library of Medicine, explains that art therapy is most commonly used with those that have mental illnesses 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 the real world and to have someone help them understand their abstract feelings better. Trying to explain systemic racism and how it affects those it seeks to demonize may be hard to understand if the person has never fully realized that’s what they’ve been experiencing their whole lives. Though it may be a bit easier through either an image or another art form, as this could allow for the patient to perhaps sculpt a piece about how they view their body, and their therapist could help to break down the harmful stereotypes that may negatively affect their body image. 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. They can hold it in their hands, they can feel it as their piece is being made, this process is not the same in digital. 

Though these two definitions may differ from one spoken by Abbie Kasoff in , the director of Say It with Clay via a telephone interview. She describes art therapy as Therapy with a specific treatment plan that involves art. She goes on to state that “art with a therapeutic approach” isn’t art therapy. That art therapy must involve someone with a master’s degree in art therapy, though this requirement is different  in all 50 states. Art with a therapeutic approach such as coloring with an adult coloring book isn’t exactly what counts as art therapy(Abbie Kasoff). 

Though there are several types of art therapy some not even falling in the traditional definition of art therapy.  Abbie Kasoff The current Chief Executive director of the organization says it with clay describes art therapy as Therapy with a specific treatment plan that involves art. She goes on to state that “art with a therapeutic approach” isn’t art therapy. That art therapy must involve someone with a master’s degree in art therapy, though this requirement is different  in all 50 states. Art with a therapeutic approach such as coloring with an adult coloring book isn’t exactly what counts as art therapy. Art with a therapeutic approach or AWTA is what most people think of when they hear about art therapy because it fits the idea of what art is for people who may not care about it. That art is something only used to relax, that it’s always fun, or that it’s easy. But art can be used in several different ways and can invoke feelings of grief, pain and understanding. And when exploring these complex emotions it is important to have someone who is equipped to help get through the feelings, a sentiment that Kasoff also strongly expressed.  If such a person is not there with the patient then they may have trouble navigating their emotions and the patient suffers because the person they trusted with healthy exploring their emotions has been ineffective it may create a new problem. It could leave the patient worse off as they may refrain from exploring their emotions with therapy again. 

For art to work there must be some type of meaning attached to it. Art has this meaning attached to it because art is important, take ancient peoples, they used their art to depict gods, even more ancient people used art to document surroundings. If a certain way of life is important to a civilization then we should see some representation of that in the forms of art. If someone is looking to improve their life through art therapy then isn’t it important to gather a baseline look into their life? To have a sort of jumping off point.

So we have to account for what modern life values. A recent example of what the average American values is seen in the craze of the stanley cup. A cup, a resource used to ensure people get their proper intake of water, can turn into such a craze that there are now ways to decorate a cup. And some people have multiple of these cups that are also intended to reduce waste. This example speaks to a modern way people express themselves, that Americans live in a culture that is so deeply rooted in individualism that we can get lost in it.

This in itself could be grounds to receive art therapy. The ever constant task of trying to live a life both dependent and independent of social pressures, and feeling like failing to live up to this unrealistic standard is a moral failing. This is not to say that everyone who was swept up in the stanley cup wave needs art therapy, this example is just one aspect of modern life that may bleed into culture and behaviors that could be beneficial to work through in art therapy. Perhaps creating a mug with the feelings of individualism with an art therapist could be a small victory in a young person’s overall therapy journey. A small hurdle in deconstructing how negative social pressure has affected how a person interacts with the people around them. 

Digital media has risen rapidly in the 21st century and this may be due to it’s affordability.Art supplies cost money and depending on the specific supplies this could put a significant dent in someone’s pockets. So evaluating whether digital media would be a viable option for Art therapy is important. 

Another idea that may clash with the central thesis of this paper is the idea that digital media can be introduced into art therapy and have no real drawbacks. This idea may be true for some people but may also leave others behind. For people who have trouble with anxiety when talking with people, it would actually do more harm than good. 

A study conducted by Frontiers in Psychology ,discussed the use of digital media in art therapy in the future. Concluding with the sentiment that digital art therapy would be helpful as it would be used to reach more people. While this sentiment is true in practice, a core component of therapy and especially art therapy is the human connection to both the art and to the therapist and part of that would be lost with creating and talking through a screen. If art therapy is used for those with communication issues, and let’s say that one of those people were to use digital art therapy it wouldn’t be as effective. They can simply hang up the phone if they get overwhelmed instead of having the therapist being in the same room as them and helping to get to the root of their emotions. The core part of their therapy is messed up and may put them off track.

Even someone who is used to routine may be affected by digital therapy in a negative way, of course with traditional art therapy it exists in a specific location and that patient may have trouble getting to that particular location due to weather or a natural disaster, this would still be the case with digital media. It breaks the idea that digital art therapy can be done anywhere through video calls. Even if the video aspect is not there and the patient is in the room with the therapist the app the art is done on may crash or perhaps the therapist or the patient forgot to charge the device, this could cause more frustration because the patient paid the therapist for art therapy for part of the day and due to circumstances out of their control they are unable to get their treatment. This type of therapy isn’t accessible if the person lives in an area with trees or forgets to charge their device. And while yes, charging their device would also be an effective way to build a routine, it may enforce a negative routine as increased screen time and exposure to blue light from computer and phone screens puts one’s eyes at risk. 

If the accessibility of this type of therapy is offset by the effectiveness of the particular method of art where a core component is to make it more effective then is it worth it. Is it worth it to undercut the main focus of therapy? 

In another study done by Front Psychology, found under the National Library of Medicine, 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 high school, 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 high schoolers 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. This study didn’t take people without learning disabilities into account, people that might have anxiety or ptsd might not have a positive experience with art therapy. The population size and demographic for this experiment is too small to really say whether or not the experiment works or not. It’s good to take a break from the constant screentime in daily life to pick up clay and discuss emotions with someone trained in dealing with those emotions. 

Another aspect of digital media is AI art and it’s potential applications in several creative fields, including art therapy. A study published in The International journal of Human-Computer Studies this year discusses the possibility of using Ai in art therapy:

“However, the potential of digital technologies has not been fully leveraged; especially, applying AI technologies in digital art therapy is still under-explored. In this paper, we propose an AI-infused art-making system, DeepThInk, to investigate the potential of introducing a human-AI co-creative process into art therapy, by collaborating with five experienced registered art therapists over ten months. DeepThInk offers a range of tools which can lower the expertise threshold for art-making while improving users’ creativity and expressivity.”

Claiming that AI can improve creativity and expressivity is impossible, the only way to improve in something is by doing it. The computer drawing the picture for you doesn’t count because the computer can’t feel the same emotions a human can. The whole point of art therapy is to create while feeling complex emotions, that can’t be fully achieved without making the piece one’s self. The art work doesn’t represent a person’s complex emotions, it represents what a computer may think are complex emotions. What a computer feels and what a person feels are two different thing, namely because a computer can only imitate human emotions. 

The desire to create without the skills needed can be circumvented with AI. This again touches on the paradox of individualism. AI was initially presented as a tool to help people, and while this still technically fits the definition of a tool it does not fit the already very loose definition of art. Thus it would not be helpful to art therapy as a core tenet is the creation of art by one’s own hand. 

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.  As opposed to digital, where the only thing connecting the person to their art is a screen. Process of creating art will feel different and sort of wrong in a way, it feels better to hold that piece of art in one’s own hands, to see the pride in knowing they made it themselves. 

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.

Tactile therapy, or traditional art therapy, is very important to the growth of patients that perhaps have trouble expressing their emotions or have developmental issues. If a patient is in an environment that allows them to focus on another priority instead of only their emotions it can help them to allow their emotions to flow more freely. Thus the method is crucial to their recovery plan the therapist has compiled for them. Messing up this routine may worsen the effectiveness of treatment.

References

Bellaiche, Lucas, Rohin Shahi, Martin Harry Turpin, Anya Ragnhildstveit, Shawn Sprockett, Nathaniel Barr, Alexander Christensen, and Paul Seli. “Humans versus AI: Whether and Why We Prefer Human-Created Compared to AI-Created Artwork – Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications.” SpringerOpen, July 4, 2023. https://cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-023-00499-6. 

Lin-Fisher, Betty, and Bailey Schulz. “What Is so Special about Stanley Cups? The Psychology behind the Year’s Thirstiest Obsession.” USA Today, January 31, 2024. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2024/01/13/stanley-cup-obsession-explained/72176008007/. 

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

Schukei, Abby. “Digital vs. Traditional Art: Is One Better than the Other?” The Art of Education University, March 27, 2023. https://theartofeducation.edu/2019/05/digital-vs-traditional-art-is-one-better-than-the-other/. 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

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

Xuejun Du, Pengcheng An, Justin Leung, April Li, Linda E. Chapman, Jian Zhao, DeepThInk: Designing and probing human-AI co-creation in digital art therapy, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies,Volume 181,2024,103139,ISSN 1071-5819, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2023.103139.

(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071581923001489)

Telephone interview with Abbie Kasoff

Posted in Portfolio—ThatPersonOverThere, Research, ThatPersonOverThere | 9 Comments

Causal Rewrite-Username

Posted on April 13, 2024 by username1132005

How Dogs Can Save Humans

Imagine minding your own business, taking a stroll down the street of a busy city, and stumbling across a dog in distress needing help. The dog looks brittle, and looks as if it is struggling, alongside its owner. The owner and its dog have a clear look of helplessness, and you can feel the pain as you are walking by them. Being homeless and out on the street cannot be easy, which can be shown visually through the homeless and their dog. The homeless around the world every single day are struggling for their lives. If a homeless person is seen fighting for their life, with a dog also struggling, the best thing that could be done is helping them out and giving them a donation. A meal, a drink, or even some money could go the longest way in terms of helping out a homeless person and their dog in desperate need of help. That one cent can make all the difference with making sure that the homeless and its pet can survive and get through their day. 

Nobody chooses to be homeless, and live a life out on the streets, but with the rise of costs around the world, it is what has to be done for some people. It is getting harder to afford basic necessities due to the rise of costs, and the pandemic Covid 19 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”. With rent prices skyrocketing, and job losses, it has put so many out of their homes, leaving them all alone without anything to their name. If one is lucky, they could have a companion in the form of a dog alongside them to guide them through life and provide mass amounts of benefits. Some homeless could even have found a stray dog and taken it under their wing so that together they could flourish and hopefully get some help.  

Having good mental health is extremely important for humans and dogs in order to have a good head on their shoulders and to have a positive outlook on life. Being out on the streets cannot be easy, and having a dog can make all the difference. If the homeless are lonely and have no will to live, having a dog can essentially save their life and give them a reason to live. The benefits that dogs provide for the homeless mentally and physically are endless. According to the article titled, The Science behind Why We Love Our Dogs, Padmabandu states how, “Interacting with a dog can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and provide other health benefits”. All while the dogs are helping the homeless mentally, they can also be helping financially. If the homeless look happier and have a good attitude towards people, that could make the strangers walking by feel more comfortable approaching the homeless and giving a donation. 

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 a stranger loves dogs and sees out out on the streets, by nature they would be inclined to go up and give it love. While the stranger is petting the dog or even just being near it, they could have a conversation with its owner. That conversation could be the owner explaining its circumstances or life story. The conversation potentially would not have happened if it was not for the dog there being the icebreaker, or why the stranger even approached the pair. 

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”. 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. 

It doesn’t matter where the dog came from, if it is a new dog or an old dog, that dog can be the reason why the homeless life is saved. The dog is putting itself at risk and living in horrible conditions all for their owner. The dog’s sympathy for its owner is important for the owner to see and realize, alongside the strangers. When people can feel the love, they would be more open to helping the pair so that they can continue to love and take care of each other. 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. Even with all of the hardships that the homeless face on a daily basis, if they have a dog the problems can seem less, and they could be happier. The donations, the love, the care, and more are the reasons why every homeless person could benefit from having a furry friend by their side, and to go through life with.

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 Rewrite, Username | 1 Comment

NatureChild – Rebuttal Rewrite

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Naturechild101

The Sun’s Position Change Would Cause Destruction

The Sun’s position undeniably produces a source of energy that supports many branches of life available today. The Earth and Sun are at a certain equilibrium that makes it possible to survive and evolve further along. The Sun makes photosynthesis possible for plants by converting the Sun’s energy to carbon dioxide and water to produce useful sugars. For the ocean, the sun’s heat supports life by keeping the water at a certain temperature allowing the water cycle consistent, thermal gradient production helps generate power, and the most obvious, keeping the ocean a liquid and not a solid.

The benefits for animals, The supported vegetation and plants previously mentioned create an abundance of food, constant vitamin D to continue bone growth, and a sun bath for animals who rely on the rays to have blood circulation. With all the benefits that the Sun provides, a change in position will always cause a negative affect on what’s already here.

However, the strongest argument against my thesis is that it’s good for the sun to change positions because the biggest fear amongst the human race is developing any type of cancer caused by the sun’s rays. Too much UV Rays to the skin’s surface could result in vision loss, damaged immune systems, and skin damage. Some individuals believe that the sun being moved farther away would extinguish the fear of the Ozone layer of the atmosphere being damaged. Mass pollution has been found to be a reason the Ozone layer weakens over time, so if being worried but contributing to the source of your problem is the way for you, go for it. A “solution” into preventing humans absorbing too many UV rays would be to simply wear sunscreen and don on additional clothing to further protect the skin.

Even though the argument is that changing the sun’s position would actually beneficial for Earth, the effects on species could outweigh the “Pros” listed. Yes, pushing the sun further would reduce the number of rays and decrease the percentage of cancer, but at the cost of literally everything dependent on the nutrients the sun provides. Bone growth in creatures would diminish due to the sudden lack of natural vitamin D provided and the temperatures of oceans along with bodies of water would be thrown off, slowly killing the animals that reside there. To keep it short, you don’t change how much something gives just because a small group can’t handle it.

Works Cited

Johnson, Yvonne. “The Effect of Sunlight on Animals & Plants.” Sciencing, https://sciencing.com/the-effect-of-sunlight-on-animals-plants-13427960.html.

 Accessed 7 April 2024.

Kon, Rebecca. “Food from Sunlight | The Huntington.” Huntington Library, https://huntington.org/educators/learning-resources/survival-through-adaptation/getting-food/food-sunlight.  Accessed 7 April 2024.

“The light in the ocean, much more than the engine of photosynthesis.” Institut de Ciències del Mar, 4 March 2021, https://www.icm.csic.es/en/news/light-ocean-much-more-engine-photosynthesis.   Accessed 7 April 2024.

“Sun Safety.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/sun-safety . Accessed 7 April 2024.

Posted in NatureChild, Rebuttal Rewrite | 1 Comment

Rebuttal Rewrite—Temporal

Posted on April 10, 2024 by temporal111

Elitist Language

Oftentimes, people might tell others that they’re speaking incorrectly, or that their language is inappropriate or impure. Although this can be true if the other’s syntax is completely unintelligible, many times, the complaint can have no meaning outside of pure elitism. Many attempts to purify language are caused by the wealthy upper class rejecting the language of the poorer class.

A common argument against the claim that it’s just elitism is the idea that we need to keep language “pure.” However, what does this really mean? MIT linguist Noam Chomsky, who revolutionized the field of linguistics at a young age, and was once asked in an interview what, say, the French theorists mean when they say they want to keep the French language pure, which would then entail a higher status to those who use the “pure” form of the language as oppose to those who don’t. “That doesn’t mean anything” was his response. Language is extremely subject to change and evolution. Chomsky goes on to explain that in fact, because, for most of history, and even in many places today, people speak a different language than the people in the next village over, the concept of a national language is a modern phenomenon. In addition, 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.

One may try to argue that the language cannot be controlled by elites because there is no concrete case of that happening. Well, there are many cases in which it happened, take the catholic church for example. In the middle ages, the rules of society were heavily determined by the church, and also during this time, Latin was considered to be the proper language of the upper class. The bible was then only written in latin, so that only the upper class priests could read and interpret what they were saying, which would then determine the rules of society. This type of system only ensures that the poor are excluded from governmental decision making, and it’s done through the exclusion of language, specifically in refusing to translate the bible to the common languages of the time.

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. Now an argument against this is that these words actually are bad and you shouldn’t say them. Well, why not? Who decides they are bad? The reason why they are considered inappropriate varies, but it usually is from prior elite individuals deciding they are bad arbitrarily to ostracize the poor. One such example is from 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). So essentially, the word shit is considered inappropriate because the elite normans didn’t like the poor anglo saxons using them.

Well, certainly that type of thing only happens to curse words right? Wrong. 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.

So in summary, because people in power want to remain 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. And, this must be because there are numerous historical examples, and the idea of a pure language doesn’t actually mean anything. 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

AHEF. (2017, March 17). The Reformation Led to the Translation and Printing of the Bible into the Peoples’ Common Languages. American Heritage Education Foundation, Inc. https://americanheritage.org/translation-printing-bible-common-languages

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/

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

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 Portfolio—Temporal, Rebuttal Rewrite, Temporal, You Forgot to Categorize | Leave a comment

Causal Argument — Ilovebees

Posted on April 10, 2024 by ilovebeesss

Cause and Effect of Tears

No matter how effectively we try to classify the different types of tears, it is difficult to reach a definitive conclusion about which specific type of tear serves as the primary catalyst for a given situation. The more we try to identify a singular category of tears, the more evident it becomes that certain situations provoke multiple emotional responses. Consequently, the quest to identify a solitary emotional reaction responsible for tears occurring reveals that it is the interaction of multiple emotions that gives rise to this expressive outcome.

When an individual goes through a situation that triggers a complex range of emotions, often these emotions are in conflict with each other, and crying arises as a physical manifestation of these feelings and emotions. Tears are not the exclusive result of a singular emotion; rather, they arise from the complicated interweaving of several emotional threads. For example, if a person only feels angry toward another person, tears may not be the immediate response. However, when this anger coexists with feelings of guilt, perhaps arising from the recognition that the other person has been consistently kind, except for a failure to acknowledge a particular issue, emotional conflict develops. The inability to express oneself without feeling bad for doing so can create a pressing need for a physical outlet, leading to the act of crying as a means of expression.

The same applies to college students who face situations that, such as failing a class, can dominate and completely change their existence and the path of their future. In the journal “Emotional Healing Through Induced Therapeutic Crying: A Mixed Method Approach” Reynold P. Varela, carried out three studies in which theories were explained about the effects that certain individuals have after crying. Varela shows that one of the results of crying is that it “gives one some degree of emotional freedom to release the pain, the burden, the anger, and the emptiness.” They underscore the idea that crying serves as a release of a set of intense emotions rather than a response to a single feeling. The effect of tears, therefore, is not simply a consequence of the situation but a means to achieve resolution and emotional expression. This supports the idea that an individual does not cry as a result of a single emotion but rather a set of intense emotions that results in the feeling of liberation. This release provides a necessary pause for emotional discharge, allowing one to gather the forces necessary for a resilient ascent.

The effect of conflicting emotions is to cry but the effect of tears is to feel that the situation has been resolved in some way. The relief that comes from crying comes from the realization that, through this emotional release, you have found a way to express yourself. Not simply the emotions that contributed during the crisis are conveyed, but rather the frustration of dealing with these conflicting feelings without a clear resolution. According to the book “Crying: The Natural & Cultural History of Tears” by Tom Lutz, “Crying often occurs at precisely those times when we are least able to fully verbalize complex, “overwhelming” emotions, least able to fully articulate our manifold, mingled feeling.” If an individual’s capacity to communicate and convey their emotions has been thwarted by the overwhelming array of feelings, the immediate response is often tears. 

The natural drive for control is a fundamental aspect of human nature. When we face challenging situations, we can lose this sense of control due to the helplessness of not being able to express the desired feelings vocally, so gaining a sense of control can be empowering and can even help people cope with certain emotions effectively. Crying is the factor that provides a feeling of control since the individual is actively accepting that they have no control over the situation, which counterintuitive provides a feeling of power, at least in the physiological realm. Although crying may not rectify the problems that cause the emotional crisis or stop the different emotions experienced, it serves as a conduit that connects the individual with this sense of control despite the complexities of the situation.

Another factor to take into account is that in addition to the effect of tears, they can provide mood stabilization. The journal, “Meaning and Importance of Weeping” by C.V Bellieni, describes an analysis in which the mood of 28 people who objectively cried and 32 who did not cry was rated, compared before and immediately after watching an emotional film. The researchers concluded that, after the initial deterioration in mood after crying that was observed in laboratory studies, mood quickly became even less negative than before the emotional event. Reiterating that crying could provide a feeling of relief and security that resulted in increasing the mood of the individuals.

In conclusion, attempts to classify tears into singular types are challenging, as the act of crying arises as a physical outcome when individuals experience situations that provoke a complex range of conflicting emotions. This action is evident in various settings, from personal relationships to the academic challenges faced by college students. Conflicting emotions or feelings lead people to cry, but the effect of tears is the idea or feeling that the situation has been resolved in some way. The relief that comes from crying comes from the recognition that through this emotional release, one has found a way to communicate and cope with overwhelming and complex feelings that may have been difficult to articulate verbally. Furthermore, crying offers a semblance of control in difficult situations since crying is a conscious acceptance of the lack of control over a situation, paradoxically empowering individuals since they have done something about the situation, in this case crying. This suggests that crying provides a feeling of relief and security and ultimately contributes to improving overall mood.

References

Becht, M. C., & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M., (1997). Crying and Mood: A Cross Cultural Study Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Tilburg UniversityTilburg, The
Netherlands

Bellieni, C. V. (2017). Meaning and importance of weeping. New Ideas in Psychology, 47, 72-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2017.06.003

Lutz, T. (2001). Crying: The Natural & Cultural History of Tears. https://books.google.com/books?hl=es&lr=&id=Nb1f9MpgO8IC&oi=fnd&pg=PA13&dq=crying+releases+emotions+&ots=P3NEs2YTwA&sig=xejiuCM9bk7Ky3wBlgU59XpPG2U

Posted in Causal Argument, ILoveBees, Portfolio—ILoveBees | Leave a comment

Rebuttal Rewrite- HockeyFan

Posted on April 10, 2024 by hockeyfan

National League Hockey Regulation

Hockey has become a widely loved sport across the world. It has also become one of the most dangerous sports due to the high velocity of the game. More players get seriously injured in National League Hockey because of the lack of regulation and protective gear, and in any other National League sport. Rules and regulations are put in place to make the game safe, so it can be enjoyed by the fans. One argument against this statement is that there is no need for more regulation, it would make the sport boring. Today other National League sports are being deemed boring as it has all changed so much. NFL games used to be exciting and fun to watch. Today’s games are not as anticipated as they once used to be. People are now gearing more towards MMA fights. Protective gear in an MMA fight could be considered the first punch, when someone takes down their opponent as soon as the match starts to “protect themselves”

While fights do happen and hockey games, and fans may enjoy them, they do not last very long, they cause injuries, they decrease playing time on the ice, which could all result in a team losing a game. It is common that during a hockey game, a fight will break out among two or more players. While this does get the fans attention, most of the times it is a short lived fight that doesn’t last very long. If we got rid of fights on the ice it would limit the amount of injuries that occur during a game, especially career altering injuries. It would also play a part in the amount of playing time star players receive on the ice. An article from the Oxford handbook of sports and economics mentions that when players get into a fight on the ice, they will get anywhere from a 5-10 minute penalty depending on the severity of the fight. This means that each team loses one or more players for the duration of the penalty causing them to potentially lose the game because their star player is in the penalty box. This then enrages the fans because they came to see their team win but due to a fight on the ice the team has lost.

While fighting is entertaining in both hockey and MMA, on the ice it can result in serious injuries, which could cause season or career ending injuries, which would result in fans being upset by their favorite players not playing. MMA professionals are trained on how to protect themselves and how to throw a clean punch. It is also the nature of the sport to fight. Hockey on the other hand is the opposite. The nature of the sport is to shoot the puck in your opponents neck as many times as possible per game. Fighting on the ice is not something hockey players train for which could add to the reasoning in which people get hurt, because they are not fighting properly. It has been proven that certain fights on the ice have caused career ending injuries. Fans may think that the fights on the ice are fun and entertaining, until their favorite player has a career ending injury. Fans would much rather keep seeing their favorite continue playing on the ice than see them in a 10 second fight. An excerpt from the book “Our Real Life Was On The Ice” encounters a Canadian hockey fan who speaks about his love for the game, and how much he enjoys seeing his favorite players versus their rivals. The fights in a hockey game only last for a few seconds, whereas seeing one of your favorite players on the ice while you grow up lasts a lifetime.

Injuries due to a lack of helmet regulations is also a big problem in the NHL. Some people don’t think it is that big of a deal that the face shields don’t fully cover a players face or neck. Chicago Blackhawks player Connor Bedard suffered a serious facial injury during a game this season versus the New Jersey Devils. This required him to get emergency surgery to repair his broken jaw which caused him to be out of multiple games. While he was not injured in a fight, rather an on ice collision, this could have been avoided with a more protective helmet. Had he been wearing a fully covering helmet which covered all of his facial extremities including his neck the injury would have been less serious and possibly avoided. When he returned back to the game, he was wearing a helmet some people may refer to as a “cage” or “fishbowl”. This is when a helmet fully covers the face to prevent facial injuries during playing time. An article from the “Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine” mentions how the orbital and facial injuries are at the most risk when it comes to NHL games due to the helmet regulations. The behavior of the players during the game needs to change. The NHL also needs to be held accountable for significant injuries that occur during games due to their lack of regulation. With the NHL being such a large franchise, one would think that they would advocate more for the safety of their player.

At the end of the day the real fans who want to see their favorite players continue playing would be in favor of more safety measures taken, as well as more regulation to take place during the games. As Hockey is one of the most dangerous sports, it makes sense to have it be the most regulated National League sport. MMA fighting is a fighting dominated sport, you go into an MMA match knowing you are going to be injured to an extent when you step out of the ring. National League hockey is supposed to provide a safe environment for the players and the fans. The players want to play a sport they are passionate about, not walk off the ice with a career ending injury, and the fans want to watch their favorite players win the Stanley cup at the end of a season, not lose due to a lack of regulation.

References

Taylor & Francis Online: Peer-reviewed journals. (n.d.). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/DMSO.S33473 

Google. (n.d.). The Oxford Handbook of Sports Economics Volume 1. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=GAH3nxAiy8QC&oi=fnd&pg=PA159&dq=do%2Bfighting%2Bin%2Bhockey%2Battract%2Bfans%2Bin%2BNHL&ots=ncydtMnM85&sig=i94IvjBb19wvnyuS-Dyq5uw5kKI#v=onepage&q=do%20fighting%20in%20hockey%20attract%20fans%20in%20NHL&f=false 

https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/32303884/THOMPSON_Our_Real_Life_Was_On_the_Ice_public-libre.pdf?1391626601=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DOUR_REAL_LIFE_WAS_ON_THE_ICE_A_Sociology.pdf&Expires=1712537697&Signature=AJVvfmT7MgvW1oZgZEYIEPOFZYBLV7QBknueSoxYU7HAGmGoqNA4bKIVrcrPLtz36D4Z5TI-S8zGkW-MfFdWns64pfyphwMj4JqUa16PIrIstfyuBi6cQTRvUEJQCgiwSRT2N5BidYjMvbba0X7YEQuPqZ9VZXCZ~3O09BIatQTPnLI~ACnjhUpyhigiqwd2kCxrcjfzt2Yze2uVzXiLtw7-1xtfOX6qgFYtBMjXpIRLBD33zXdcGJObIHTKSfxp9ek9JERqeeVV6KHFoxeI7d43MghnhIRo2Ri1Kt-YjRCBDel~JLzGWhtT~l7opyqjmeV6zcsRZaTcBk7YuRQzUg__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
Posted in HockeyFan, Portfolio—HockeyFan, Rebuttal Rewrite | 3 Comments