Mediated Communication #4

http://www.npr.org/2014/10/03/351554044/where-does-creativity-come-from

One day while driving to work I was listening to NPR. Ted talk was on and he was talking with Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. She was mentioning something about creativity and how it’s not always easy to have words come and flow when we need them to. Not even for a published writer like herself. It was the weekend before our second paper was due and I was having a hard time getting words to come. I had a lot on my plate that weekend and just couldn't focus. I had done a lot of reading and searching for cases that would support my side of the argument, but I was still having a hard time organizing my thoughts enough to get anything on paper. I was getting frustrated and stressing over my grade and not understanding why, after all the work I’d put in, couldn't I just sit down and present what I had found?

When I went to find the actual interview I found this little presentation that she had given on the creative life and found it quite interesting. She talks about having a safe distance from “the reaction to our writing.” The way others think or feel about our creative expression needs to be the last thing we worry about. Easier said than done. Sometimes we just need to write and hope our thoughts come together in some sort of organized creative work. Even the best, seasoned authors don’t write fabulous things all of the time.

The biggest thing for me was when she talked about “just showing up” and doing your part. Sometimes that is all we can do. We've studied, we've worked, we've worried. Sometimes it’s just a matter of “doing our job.” With that, hopefully it’s enough to at least get the thoughts and words on paper, even if it isn't quite what we want it to be. Sometimes our creative juices flow and at other times they lay dormant.

One other thing that she mentions in regard to this is how if we consider our creativity being “on loan” to us, maybe we would look at our creative process differently and it wouldn't be so frustrating when those feelings of inadequacy show up as we try to produce a piece of work worthy of an A.

This whole interview, to me was cogent reasoning and thinking. I find in my life I get too emotionally attached to some of the things I create, whether it’s a sewing, scrap booking, or school project. What are others going to think? Will they like it? When I was writing my paper I was so worried that I was going to do it wrong, that what I was going to write wasn't going to be good enough. I've been out of school for so long.What if I can't formulate thoughts into words that make sense? In reality, as long as I show up and do the work, accept that sometimes it’s easier than others, and that in the end my talents are on loan to me, it makes it easier to get things done. If I do my best, that is all I have. If I do my best, it should be enough; even if it’s just for me. This segment reminded me that I am good enough, just the way I am. It's none of my business what others think of me. As long as I have done my best, I've done what was asked of me.

mediated communication #3

Brookings.edu- Civilian Drones, Privacy and the Federal-State Balance

This nice article showed up on Twitter the other day. All of us want our privacy. It seems that the discussion is about who should control the regulation of private drone use; the state or the federal government. Can there really be a balance? Does the use of drones invade our privacy? “which drones (government or private) will present the greatest threats to privacy (2).” I’m thinking that any use of drones, recording our conversations or our comings and goings is a breach of our privacy. It’s like having someone walk into your yard uninvited.

“Unlike some state houses, the U.S. Congress hasn’t seriously considered or passed a bill to set general privacy standards or to regulate drones and privacy specifically (3).” “The past few years have seen a raft of proposed and enacted laws, principally or exclusively aimed at restricting drone surveillance by public officials. Some states, like Florida, Utah, and Montana, generally preclude police from using drones, unless officers obtain a judicial warrant founded on probable cause or confront an emergency.5 (4).” This seems a bit more reasonable but who gets to decide when it’s warranted? Is it really necessary to have drones at all?

“The prohibitions against invading privacy, intruding upon seclusion, publishing private facts, and stalking all might be implicated when a drone, heavily sensored up, hears or sees somebody who doesn’t wish to be heard or seen.15 (10).” Is this just another form of invasion of our privacy? If private drones are put into the wrong hands, this could be a serious problem.

I find this to be partly cogent due to the fact that these drones are in use and I’m sure they provide some measure of help in certain situations. However, I feel it’s fallacious due to the underlying implications that the government, state or otherwise, has the right to intrude on our privacy. Perhaps they do if they have suspicions that we are doing something against the law. However there are laws that protect us until proven guilty. Not only this, but there are also laws against videoing and sound recording civilians without them knowing. If private drones become common place. What’s to keep them out of the hands of the peeping tom or the stalker?  Personally, I would be upset if I knew that someone was watching me without my consent. Where is the privacy line? who gets to determine where it is set? Certainly not the government. Or can they?

mediated communication #2

'Any boy who tells you that he hasn't seen porn is lying. Porn changes what you expect from girls'

In the age of relentless online pornography, chatrooms, sexting and smartphones, the way teenage boys learn about relationships has changed dramatically (by Akin Ojumu, Observer)

I found this interesting article on pornography and it’s availability to our youth. With this being such a devastating subject in my own family, and a topic that lends itself to very differing opinions, I thought I would take the time to read it. I found it on my sister-in-law’s facebook page and it caught my eye. Knowing that pornography is a very real addiction, I was curious to see what the opinion was in this particular article. It was posted in the Observer September 27, 2014 and the interviews were done in England, which implies that this issue is a problem in more than just the US.

In fact, Akin Ojumu, the article’s author says,  “the current accessibility of pornography is astonishing. I'm not sure how I would have dealt with the temptation of smartphones that make pornography instantly viewable all the time.” With this age of technology and information, pornography is literally at our fingertips. In fact, it’s there when we aren’t looking for it. With just the click of the button, anyone can find pornography. It’s in our movies. It’s in our music videos. It’s all over the internet. It’s seriously affecting the way that kids view relationships. This article focuses a lot on boys, in particular, but this problem is not specific to males.

The article mentions a 12 year old boy who pleaded guilty to raping his 7 year old sister after watching pornography online. When things like this are viewed, the images are seared into the mind and the curiosity and desire to try those things can be a driving force to possible violent behavior as in this case. More common is the way that relationships with the opposite sex are viewed. It can skew the expectations on what a healthy sex life should be like. I personally feel that pornography is extreme. It is not the norm. Unfortunately, the viewing of pornography can also cause boys to expect a certain body image in girls. Boys want their girls to look like the pictures they see. It can warp perception of what a girl actually looks like.

With all of this sexual stimulation around, but yet being warned to be careful, it’s not wonder that our youth don’t know what to do with their bodies. They are getting mixed signals. They also mention sexting in this article. One boy was quoted as saying,  "If a girl wants to send pictures to a guy then it is her risk. If she decides to send pictures to a boy, she is putting her trust in him and if the boy decides to expose her, then that is her mistake," says David, 18. I have to ask why a girl would even send such a picture but it happens. It is said that sexting can lead to certain expectations as to what a girl should “do” and the acts she should perform.

One way that is suggested to help combat this epidemic is to focus more on teaching children about loving and proper relationships in conjunction with sex education. The program for teaching children about maturation focuses on sex. They don’t talk much about relationships. It’s more about the body. “One of the key recommendations in Basically … Porn is Everywhere was that sex and relationships education should be renamed relationships and sex education to signify a change in emphasis in what is taught.”

I find this article to be very cogent and has a place in our conversations. I agree that pornography can negatively affect relationships in both our youth as well as adults. Personal experience has been very negative in regards to this topic. Pornography can lead one down a path of destruction that sometimes cannot be made right. Our society has become so focused on sexuality, body image, weight, and the outward appearance. With all of this smut out there, how do we combat it? In the home, first and foremost, but we know it take a village to raise a child. And our youth need a city! Sometimes what is going on in the home is exactly opposite of what would help the most. We need to set the example of healthy and loving relationships to our children. We need to have open communication and discuss this very sensitive topic. However, I don’t believe it should be so sensitive any longer when it permeates every aspect of our lives.

Are Drug Addicts Born Susceptible?

My husband and I are in the Addiction Recovery field, he more so than I. We work at facility called Therapia here in St. George. Something that I’ve wondered about for a number of years is the cause or reasons behind depression, addiction, and other things having to do with the mind. Since starting work (less than a year ago) at Therapia I have learned a little bit, but the information is overwhelming.

My brother in law committed suicide in 2002 and I remember it being such a sensitive topic and no one really wanted to discuss it. My ex husband was angry with him for doing such a thing to himself and to his family. We had a counselor come in and talk to us as a family and explain that depression is a disease. An illness of the mind. While medications can help to suppress these feelings, they can’t take the illness away. It’s like putting a bandaid on a scrape. It just covers or masks the injury, but does not necessarily heal it.

Fast forward a number of years of marriage and I found myself in a relationship with an addict. Twenty-one years, give or take some. During those years I wondered and questioned, but couldn’t understand why my ex-husband “wouldn’t” give up his addiction. Counselors, bishops, weekly meetings, programs; nothing was working. At least not well enough for me. He wasn’t willing to make the changes. Or was it that he “couldn’t” make the changes? One counselor said it was again, an illness of the mind. Long story short, I left that relationship and am now in another relationship (which is fabulous) and have been able to learn a few things. I am by no means an expert, but I have a desire to understand those that I work with in recovery and what causes this to happen to them, and not to others.

My husband posted this on his facebook page and I found it interesting. It talks a little bit about the brain and how some are more susceptible to addiction to others. We all have DNA passed down to us from our parents. Some have blue eyes. Others have brown. Some have dark hair and still others blonde, red, or any shade in between. Some are short. Some are tall. Well, you get the idea. Those are things that we will all have for life. We also have seen reports about genetics being linked to the probability of having diseases such as cancer and even Parkinson's Disease, just to name a couple.

Research is now on board saying that addiction is 50% heritable. It is in our genes and as such can determine the way our brain develops and responds to stimuli such as stress and pain. Outside sources can influence the addict brain and create situations, if will, that can make that person more vulnerable to depression, low self esteem, and hopelessness. Most addicts get involved with drugs to escape those situations that they find unbearable. Alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography; anything to stimulate that “feel good” part of the brain. This practice will exacerbate the problem and damage the brain, causing the need for more. But that is for another discussion. Addiction is truly a vicious cycle.

I found this segment interesting and feel that it is an example of cogent reasoning. The brain is very complicated and controls everything we feel and do, both voluntarily and involuntarily. We are all born with certain genes that cause us to be a certain way. Things that we cannot change about ourselves. I do know that it is an initial voluntary choice to use drugs or alcohol, however, once certain triggers have been touched, it's harder for some to turn them off. It takes counseling, medicine, willpower (which is very hard to come by at times), and courage. We cannot control the genetic predisposition we have been born with, but we can learn to say no to begin with. We cannot control the consequences of our choices any more than a drug addict born with a predisposition for this disease. We cannot decide to have high blood pressure, Parkinson's disease or cancer. Those genetics are there, choices or not. I have so much to learn but find this topic very interesting.