Blog 8- The Hindrance of Anti War Voices

Young people today do not know much about dissent. If I am being completely honest, I did not really know what the word meant until I got here to High Point. Dissent is defined as disagreeing with the majority opinion. Our whole lives we have been told what to think mainly by our parents, but really by any authority figures like teachers, law enforcement, and the government.The First Amendment is supposed to protect dissent, but in some cases, voices of dissent (especially pertaining to war) are hindered or shut down. In the time of World War I, those who voiced their antiwar opinions were actually put in jail just for disagreeing with the government. 

While the government cannot easily or legally put people in jail just for disagreeing with them in today's age, they can make the opinions hard to find. Antiwar voices are rarely (if ever) featured in mainstream news and hardly acknowledged. After exploring a couple different sources like antiwar.com and The American Conservative, I realized I had never read any articles with such strong antiwar voices or ever even heard of these websites. Antiwar.com is a bit visually and mentally overwhelming with many different stories crammed into a small space. It almost feels wrong to be reading these opinions because that is what the government run media has influenced us to think. The American Conservative is structured more like a mainstream news source. The site is less aggressive than antiwar.com, while still getting their dissenting opinions conveyed. 

The public should be able to see a different opinion other than the government's on everyday news platforms. The government does not have to agree with the opinions, but they have to respect them as long as they are not threatening or violent. While the First Amendment protects a citizen's right to disagree with the government, the government tries its best to shut down or hide those voices from the public, which seems like an easy gateway to censorship. The fact that the government believes they need to hide dissenting opinions to keep their authority and power is strange due to the fact that the United States' government is a democracy and it gets its power from the people. The government only functions correctly with the consent of the governed, so the people should be able to voice their opinions even if they go against the majority. 

Blog 7- Presentation Impacts: What I Learned

All the EOTO presentations were very well done. I learned a lot from each group. One of the topics that fascinated me was Salem's presentation on the history and use of carrier pigeons. While most of us have heard of carrier pigeons, I had no idea how they were really used. I had always thought that these birds just naturally knew where to go deliver messages to, when in reality, the pigeons only know one place to go and one place to return. I had no idea that carrier pigeons were such an important way of communication all over the world in the past that even powerful leaders such as Genghis Khan used them to transport messages. 

Another presentation that stuck with me was Caroline teaching us about the history of the newspaper. As a journalism major, I was very interested in this topic. Most young people today have never read a concrete newspaper as many have gone digital. Newspapers in general are vanishing as they are taken over by social media platforms. Caroline's presentation reminded me of how important newspapers can be. I had no idea how the first newspaper started, but I now know that colonists of the United States started the first newsletter of sorts (Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick) to help establish a society. Since Great Britain still had control of the U.S. they shut down the publication. About fourteen years later, the first consistently printed U.S. newspaper was born, The Boston-News Letter. Newspapers were so important to the growing society of the United States to get any sort of news of what was happening there or back in Britain. It allowed colonists to feel involved and informed. 

I even learned a lot from my own group during presentations. I found Corrina's information on Instagram very interesting and pretty surprising. This presentation really stood out because most young people in the U.S. are affected by the social media platform everyday. The topic felt much more personal and the presentation was very well done. It was interesting to learn about the origins of Instagram and compare it to what it has grown to be. Although we all know social media (especially Instagram) is just an edited version of life that doesn't exist, Corrina's presentation reiterated that fact that we do not always remember. She highlighted both the pros and cons of the platform, and posed great questions to the audience, really making us think about our Instagram use. 

Blog 6- The Diffusion Theory: Apple Takes the World by Storm

 

In 2007, the iPhone took the world by storm and still does today. When in a room of young adult to middle aged Americans, I can guarantee that over half of them have a iPhone in their pocket or purse. Apple transformed their niche product for early adopters into a dominant economic force. When the iPhone was first released, it was still a "relatively niche product," confined to one wireless carrier and targeted at the early technology adopter. Now it has become a much bigger deal, in the first quarter of 2010, Apple sold 8.7 million iPhones. In the first quarter of 2018, Apple sold 47 million iPhones. The iPhone has become intertwined in our lives because it replaced so many other devices. It is all about convenience. Most young people don’t even have alarm clocks anymore,while it also replaced in-car GPS devices, MP3 players, and even flashlights.

IPhones are not only a product, but have become a status symbol. Apple's first smartphone represented a new age of technology that many people wanted to adopt early, especially the younger and middle aged generation. It was something shiny and new that caught on rather quickly due to the fact that Apple kept improving their product and making it more valuable. In today's world, iPhones distortedly represent the "upper class" or people with money. Apple has created such an image for their product that society assumes you must have money to have it even though that is usually not true. In a recent conversation in my human communication class, I even found out that Apple does not allow villains in movies to ever be shown with or using an iPhone. The company does not want their product associated with the antagonist of a story, which highlights how focused they are on their brand's reputation and why their sales are so high. The company has tweaked and perfected this image of the iPhone because you're not only buying the product, but also the elevated status that society now sees you in. 

Of course there are always the late adopters or those who never adopt the technology at all. For the iPhone, that group of people is usually the older generation or those who think that Apple as a company is too powerful, and they do not want to give them money (that would be my older brother). Older generations have seen a lot of change in their lives but this relatively quick and drastic rise of technology can be overwhelming. Personally, I have seen this through my grandparents. Both of my grandmothers eventually gave in and got iPhones as we put them on our plan because it was easier, allowing them to be in direct contact with us all the time. My grandfathers on the other hand are perfectly happy with their flip phones. 

Some would say that the iPhone has also created as many new industries as it destroyed with the rise of hundreds of thousands of apps and media platforms. In this case I think the positives can outweigh the negatives just pertaining to the iPhone itself, not social media. Although Apple is a big company that is already very large, I think iPhones are a good purchase, and just about everyone could benefit from adopting the technology. Since around half of those with smartphones in the United States have iPhones, it is easier to communicate and connect with others when having the same technology. It is many devices compiled into one, allowing for easy access to the internet, shopping, movies, music, and so much more. The world today and modern technology moves pretty quickly and if you don't keep up, you will easily be left behind. Technology (specifically iPhones/smartphones) are a big part of everyday life now as they make life easier and keep us connected. 

Blog 5- Privacy in the Digital Age (or Lack Thereof)

 

As a young woman in this digital age, it can be scary. Really scary. Meeting people through dating apps, social media, or pretty much anywhere on the internet can feel unsafe. Honestly, even talking to people you know personally online can feel unsafe. Sending "revealing" photos to someone you care about and trust can be used against you for blackmail or revenge. In some cases, women haven't even been aware they were being photographed as they are asleep or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Darieth Chisolm's story stuck with me, and I have thought about it a lot since first watching her video. Her story about her case and her unfortunate experience with "revenge porn" or digital domestic violence is something that can affect me and all women my age. It is a much bigger issue than most people think. According to Darieth's statistics one in twenty five women are impacted. One in ten women under 30 years of age are impacted. As an 18 year old, I have personally seen the harsh reality of digital domestic abuse at work. 

Revenge porn or digital domestic violence is defined as "the sharing of explicit or sexual, images or videos, without the consent of the person in the image." People all over the world have fallen victim to this disgusting invasion of privacy, and our government is not working to fix the problem. The United States government is allowing perpetrators to walk free or only have a simple misdemeanor or fine, while suicide rates increase and these women must suffer through pain depression, and silence. In 2018 (when Darieth's video was filmed), there was only one federal bill pending concerning this problem. The Enough Act was unfortunately not passed. Women fall victim to digital domestic violence now more than ever as our world becomes more technology focused everyday. The government should be passing bills like the Enough Act to keep women safe from online harassment. Darieth argues that the United States needs to have "clear, tough enforcement." We need to "demand accountability and responsiveness from online companies." We need to "promote social responsibilities for posting, sharing, and texting and restore dignity to victims."

Pertaining to this specific problem, victims should not be blamed. As a society, we should teach people of all ages not to spread intimate photos to others they were not directly sent to. Most would say that a way to protect women or anyone at risk for being sexually harassed online is to never send any intimate or risque pictures, but it is not always that simple. While everyone should always make sure they trust the person they are talking to online and make sure they are who they say they are, we should not be censored on what we can send. We are living in a society that basically tells young women it is their fault that their pictures got leaked. Where is the blame for the individual begging for the pictures, threatening to hurt the victim or themselves if they didn't send them or the individual that took advantage of someone asleep or in a vulnerable position due to drugs or alcohol? Young women should not be asking what they should do to protect themselves from invasions of privacy like this, but society should be highlighting how disgusting these perpetrators and predators are through the enforcement of harsh punishment and repercussions to decrease the risk of this harassment happening in the first place. 

Blog 4- The History of the IPhone: Apple Begins to "Think Different"

 

 

January 9th, 2007. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, first reveals the iPhone at a Macworld convention in San Francisco, California. He described the phone as a "revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone." On June 29th of the same year, the iPhone went on sale, changing the world of communication forever. Just four short months later, 1.4 million iPhones had been sold as Time Magazine named the product "The Invention of the Year." 

Although many believe that Jobs was "always thinking ten years ahead of the rest of the computing and electronics world," he really envisioned the iPhone as just that: a phone. Even with the phone's "game- changing innovations," Jobs wanted it to be a cell phone first, the main goal of the product was to have it fit comfortably in the customer's hand. He believed the iPhone was the perfect size to fit in one's hand for making phone calls because he saw that as the most important function. The iPhone took two-and-a-half years to develop, and it really wasn't Jobs' idea. After releasing the iPod in 2001, Apple executives worried that iPod sales would plummet after cell phone companies figured out how to put MP3 players on their phones. Apple had to do it first. 

The iPhone 3G came out a year after the first iPhone was released. Apple's 2008 iPhone included support for 3G networks, including faster access to email and web pages, and a much lower price. But the most important addition to the phone was the App Store, which gave a way to build and sell software to millions of smartphone owners. The App Store will almost certainly stand as Apple's most important contribution to both the tech industry and society in general, even more than the phone itself. "Developers immediately began building apps and games that changed the way we communicate, work, eat, and play." The App Store made way for social media platforms and turned the iPhone into the "pocket computer" we know today. "The iPhone's story is one of evolution, not revolution. Each year, Apple has made their new model bigger and faster, refining the product without changing the basic form or its most well-known features, and it became more popular every time." 

As an eighteen year old, I personally don't remember a world without Apple, but it is pretty apparent that the iPhone has changed the world in many ways. IPhones became our "fastest growing obsession," which is not always a good thing. Roughly every year, people spend more time consuming media than ever before. "Time spent on the mobile web has also cut into other media activities, such as reading physical newspapers and magazines, and even watching TV." 

"Socializing, which used to be a non-media activity, now occurs on social media and over internet connections." We are raising generations that can barely speak to others face-to-face because they have little experience with social skills when all the communication they are involved in rests at their fingertips. The young people of today need constant validation, yet they are afraid or anxious when having to speak to others their age in person. The iPhone completely changed humans' ways of communicating. It began with audio calling, the best and most important feature of the first iPhone, but it slowly progressed into a way of contacting each other that sometimes doesn't use words at all. From calling to video chatting to texting to using emojis or just pictures on Snapchat. We have learned to just talk to others through pictures, which has taken a toll on communicating in person. 

IPhones can be bad for our brains as they allow us to do too many things at once and cause us to ignore the world around us. Our phones can actually cause a decrease in our cognitive abilities as we focus on multiple things at once. We ignore the world and others around us with our eyes glued to a screen. We only half listen to friends or partners while being distracted by a notification, putting strain on our everyday relationships. We struggle to sit still and appreciate calm relaxing nothingness as we always expect to be entertained by media and technology.  

When researching how the iPhone changed our lives and the world, a lot of the negative impacts surface. While I agree the negative effects need to be acknowledged and discussed, sometimes the positive aspects are lost sight of. These devices allow the internet to be at our fingertips, we are able to find any information we could ever think of, and we are allowed to contact and stay in touch with people from all over the world. An iPhone means you have "constant access to a wide range of enriching and empowering activities." Innovative ways to connect and communicate can open up a new world, providing exposure to different people and ideas. Communication can be seen as easier to people who now don’t have to be physically present to be involved. "The ability to take photographs and participate in social media can be empowering, allowing one person to share their perspective with millions." The iPhone was an amazing invention that quickly became integrated into our everyday lives and changed how the world works and communicates. Although it has its downsides, we would not be where we are today without it. 

Blog 3- Eight Values of Free Expression

 

As I am taking two classes at High Point this semester that deal with law, they sometimes connect and overlap. In my first year seminar called Law, Rhetoric, and Culture, we are studying the Supreme Court case of The Board of Education v. Lindsay Earls. Before my time here at college I really did not know what the word "dissent" even meant, but as I have prepared for a mock trial of sorts for class, supporting the dissenting opinion, I have become more familiar with the practice. As I have read Justice Ginsburg's dissenting opinion concerning the case, I see how important this value of free expression is. Young people today are not taught about protecting dissent although I believe it is one of the most important values of free expression. We are told we can disagree with others, but many people of my generation do not know how to argue intellectually, so disagreeing with them gets you nowhere as they have no information to back up their claims, making them angry and defensive.  

While I strongly believe that protecting dissent is important, the value that feels most personal to me is individual self-fulfillment. Maslow's hierarchy of needs (pictured below) shows that self-actualization is at the top tier of human needs, although not everyone fulfills it. Motivation within oneself grows as the needs are met. "Free speech enables individuals to express themselves and thereby create their own identity — and, in the process perhaps, find kindred spirits. Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency and autonomy." As Americans, we are able to express ourselves anyway we like thanks to the First Amendment, allowing us to define ourselves and explore who we are as an individual. Self-actualization is a quite complex topic. It has been important to me for the past few years as I am trying to find myself and figure out who I am. I used to let others define my worth and I had no voice of my own, but as I have matured and gotten out of toxic relationships, I am slowly growing into someone I am proud of. 

Somewhere most young people can express themselves as they discover who they are is social media. One of the main values I see in action today, especially in this digital age is promoting tolerance. Tolerance is defined as the "capacity to endure pain or hardship." While social media was invented with positive intentions, it has grown into the monster we see today. All media and digital platforms have made it easier for people to send hate anonymously, since it's protected by the First Amendment, it is a reality we have to live with. Although it can be argued it has made us more "tolerant" as a society, I don't think this is a good thing. We are constantly bombarded with negativity that we can't get away from because a majority of young people (including myself) are somewhat addicted to social media. I recently watched the documentary The Social Dilemma that discussed the dangers of social media, while it focused on the invasion of privacy the media platforms cause without us even knowing, it acknowledged the mental health problems it has also caused. When suicide and depression rates have skyrocketed since the invention of the internet, this "tolerance" can get out of hand, something needs to be done. Unfortunately, the documentary does not give us any sort of solid solution except deleting all of our social media, which could help, but then a young person would be more isolated from people their age as social media is their main way of communication, creating a lose-lose situation in the long run. 

Blog 2- The Supreme Court

 

What did you learn about the Supreme Court that you didn't already know?

If I am being completely honest, I did not know a lot about the Supreme Court before watching the videos and reading the article. I have always loved Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but I never really knew what she did as an associate justice. I have now learned that the Supreme Court became a "model for courts across the world" (0:54) as it "interprets a 200 year old Constitution, safeguarding liberty, preserving the union, and upholding the rule of law" (1:30). It all begins with a case, which is defined as a "written petition asking the court to act" (0:15). I knew nothing about the process, and it was so interesting to hear how long the process takes, it is understandable why the Supreme Court only takes 100 cases a year for full consideration out of the 7,000 they recieve. 

What is the most important take-away point about the Supreme Court?

One of the most important key takeaways about the Supreme Court is that the Court is more open than most people think. Some people forget that the Supreme Court justices are people too, "not disembodied spirits" (2:07). It is a much harder job than one would think as it can be extremely taxing and overwhelming. "Being appointed to the Supreme Court is akin to being struck by lightning" (3:22) one justice stated. Some justices have said it can take anywhere from three to five years to get adjusted to the job and environment, while others believe that you "begin to do your work properly when you forget that you're there" (3:45).

What is the most surprising thing you learned?

I learned a lot from the videos on the Supreme Court, and many of the facts were surprising to me. One of the most surprising being that there have only been around 100 Supreme Court justices in the history of the United States, serving an average of 16 years. I honestly thought there would have been many more than that, serving for much shorter amounts of time. Another shocking bit of information was the sheer number of new cases the Supreme Court receives a week. It is understandable that the job can be tiring and overwhelming when the Court can only take about 100 (around 1.5%) of the 7,000 cases they receive a year for full consideration. The final quote that surprised me was when the video states that the United States Supreme Court is "the most powerful judicial body in the world" (1:00). I am not sure how this can be measured or if it is completely true as the quote is coming from a video made by the United States and can therefore be somewhat biased. It is a somewhat surprising claim, but I am not completely sure how it can be supported by facts. 

How did the video change the way you thought of the Supreme Court?

I have always respected our Supreme Court and those who work for it, but I feel as though my level of respect has grown with my knowledge as I now know more and can better appreciate what they do. I had no idea what a tough and time consuming job it is working for the Supreme Court, I now see they deserve more recognition for all that they do.