AntiWar

From the Roman Empire, to the Napoleon conquest, war has been prevalent throughout our entire human evolution. We have made incredible innovations but nearly two thousand years later, it is still extremely present throughout our human society. In the last two hundred years we have seen the most deadly and destructive conflicts in the entirety of human history. It seems as we progress as a society and humans we can't escape our natural instinct for conflict, but rather just invent ways to cause more destruction. This is still true today within the United States as we have been in almost a constant state of conflict or war my entire lifetime. It started with the invasion of Iraq, then the war in Afghanistan and now we seem to be supporting a war in Israel and a war in Ukraine. It seems to never have an end. We even have things like the war on drugs in which we go into other countries to prevent drugs form reaching our borders. As a wealthy, prosperous, and powerful nation, many look to us to solve the worlds problems and correct injustices around the world. And although this may seem noble, this is far from the part we actually play within conflicts. 

Woodrow Wilson first got the United States involved in World War I (after saying that he wouldn't do so), it has started a trend where the United States government has taken conflict abroad in order to pursue our own self interests and take preventive measures against harm. This has led to increased conflict with many other countries around the world and meant that while we are helping some, we are also harming others. World super powers no longer want to work with us and respect us, but otherwise pray on our failure and actively try to harm us.

The idea of a peaceful and more connected world has become much more talked about in the past 50 years, however, we still see conflicts and death continue to occur. And with the escalation of nuclear threats around the world, the possibility for extinction is much more real. 

So, where does this bring us in today's society. Well liked we talked about in class and in these articles, you don't see much large media or civilian push back on these wars. Honestly, most of the time you see much support and appreciation for all we are doing. This is because our media does not enforce ideas like the American Conservative or Antiwar.com that war is bad. Instead we listen to our politicians enforce why these wars are beneficial and that we are doing it because we are "good people". However, this leads you to miss out on the many facts of why these wars are harmful for our countries national defense, development, and people. Some of these facts include that we are wasting trillions of dollars to support the wars in Ukraine and Israel, we are closer to war with China and Russia then ever, and we are not focusing on our issues at home. There are millions of Americans struggling around the country and instead of helping them we are focusing on trying out all our new weapons of war. 

So, in my opinion the reason why we don't hear from these sources or similar ideas more is that many Americans and people are not even aware of the issue. We our so busy in our everyday lives that we forget to check in on what our presence is around the world. Where a narrative as simple as Russia is invading Ukraine and believe that we must step in an d be the hero. However, this has not and will not always be the case. So, I urge everyone to research these topics and be informed about the reasoning behind these conflicts before we support them. Because even though it might not seem like it, it can have an impact on our very lives. Which we have seen recently as our fellow North Carolinians were hit by Hurricane Helene and could not be given more than a thousand dollars in relief . However, we spend trillions in support of Ukraine. So, just be cautious and know what impact your support can have. 

Relationship With Technology (Final Blog)

The landscape of technology has changed exponentially from my youth to now. I have seen flip phones, blackberries, gaming consoles, flatscreen televisions, smartphones, and laptops. But as technology has grown, so have I. The impact that technology has had on my life and my relation to it has developed and changed as a result. I have grown to use technology to my benefit and prevent it from holding me back. As we all know there are many pros and cons to technology and the impact it can have on us all. For some people it can help grow their knowledge, business, or mindset. But for others it can consume their livelihood and lead to mental health struggles. It is all determined by our relationship with it, and how we let it impact our lives.

Looking at my relationship with technology over the years, I would definitely say that I have had ups and downs throughout my life. Growing up with the inventions of the Ipad, Iphone, and gaming consoles, meant that I spent much of my youth on technology. Mostly playing games and engaging with content online. Although it was all healthy and for fun, this meant I spent a lot of time online. However, I also played three sports which helped balance the overwhelming use. In high school and as I grew up, I realized that my technology use was quite high and that I should cut back. This led to me limiting my use of social media, video games, and just the internet in general. This is a limit that I still use today in my daily life. However, being in college, means that there is many more reasons and resources I must use in order to learn. So, this has led to me to using technology and being on my computer much more then previously throughout my life. Also, having a finance internship over the summer meant I spent most days on my computer and using technology. Using all my resources and program's to finish my work as efficiently as possible. And although I use technology a lot in my daily life, I feel as if it is a healthy relationship and is used to progress my life forwards. 

However, this doesn't mean that there aren't times where I abuse this access to technology. Many times I find myself scrolling and watching videos much longer than I intended, and feeling the urge to check my phone constantly throughout the day. This can be said of many teens today, as a study found that teens spend an average of 7 hours and 22 minutes on a screen a day. This study compares how technology can almost be seen as a drug today, with many young people using and abusing the invention. 

However this doesn't just apply to teens, as the average adult spends nearly 7 hours and 4 minute a day looking at a screen. Which makes sense when you consider that many people work jobs that rely solely on technology. As the world continues to advance, we have relied on technology to carry our business functions and make workflow more efficient. 

But what impact can this technological use have on us as human beings? Well, some benefits of  technology are that it can increase communication, efficiency, productivity, learning, revenue, and innovation. All benefits that have progressed our society by leaps and bounds. Leading to a more educated and efficient society. However, this quicker moving society has also had some unseen or looked over negative impacts. These can be impacts such as mental health struggles, depression, job loss, privacy concerns, cyberbullying, depression, sleep disruptions, and technology addiction. All issues that we can seen in our daily lives, and have most likely seen in people we know. The National Institute of Health found that "the increased usage can have effects on brain functioning that will compromise sleep and cognitive abilities and develop risk for certain mental illnesses including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, and attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD).". All issues that we have seen spike over the past two decades and since the development of technology. 

I believe I have been able to limit most of these effects by being conscious about my social media use and having those around me hold me accountable. I know in my family growing up, there were some times and places where we typical didn't use technology. Things like the dinner table, while doing homework, or whenever we were all trying to have a discussion. This has helped make both myself and those around me accountable for screen time. However, temptations continue to limit me each day and prove challenging as you progress through life. One major challenge daily is the idea of FOMO or the fear of missing out. As your constantly are worrying about what people are up to and what you are missing out on. However, with continued discipline this habit can be diminished. Another major challenge of today is Artificial Intelligence or AI and it's impact on our daily lives. Many studies have found that about a quarter (27%) of Americans say they interact with artificial intelligence almost constantly or several times a day. With this incredible exponential growth, it is yet another hurtle we must overcome and understand in order to have a responsible and beneficial relationship with technology.

As you grow and develop with technology, you also begin to realize of when it's appropriate and when it's not appropriate to use. This can not only help your use but also prevent you from engaging in negative material online. Since technology has grown so large, it has reached places and people that use it for the pursuit of harm or darkness, with nearly 90% of people aged between 18 and 34 have witnessed or received harmful content online at least once. Thus, meaning that sometimes you can find yourself engaging with content or users with bad intentions. However, by being technologically responsible, one can limit these encounters.

Regardless of all these facts, a study found that "overall views about the effects of technology are also largely positive, if a bit less so in comparison with science. About half of adults (52%) say technology has had mostly positive effects, compared with 38% who say there have been an equal mix of positive and negative effects of technology." Showing that a majority of us know about this push and pull of technology. And although it can benefit our lives it can also negatively impact our lives.

So, in order to keep up with the progression of technology, and keep a healthy technological relationship, we must be conscious of how to do so. This includes things like, keeping your information safe, limiting use, and understanding your online footprint. The technological world is incredibly complex and most don't understand it's inner working. This can lead to a person being hacked, exposed, or mistreated online. So, staying updated and educated on technology is incredibly important. And, spreading it to those who may not understand just might just go a long way. All which assist in developing a persons never ending journey with technology. 

 

EOTO #2 Reactions

 

Awareness, Mediasphere, Theories, Policy, and the Age of AI are all incredible topics in which we were able to discover throughout the Each One Teach One #2 presentations in class. Covering these topics provided me with a deeper understanding of our political system and how humans share and decipher information. Some of the topics I found impactful during the presentations were eco-chambers, propaganda, confirmation bias, mainstream media, the Sherman antitrust act, and generative AI. All these topics significantly impacted my view on how our society runs, considering the widespread implications they have without us even knowing. 

So, firstly, I learned that eco chambers are when a person only encounters and is provided with information that reinforces their opinion. This is commonly seen on social media, as algorithms are designed to provide users with content that they enjoy or engage with most. So, it would make sense that users are constantly given information they agree with. Only pushing the user further and further to the opinion that they previously held. However, these eco chambers can also be found in other places, such as within families, schools, parties, and any other form of group learning. These places can create an environment in which many or all the individuals are on one side of the spectrum, thus leading to everyone agreeing and finding evidence to support that opinion. This limits the ability for discussion and debating of ideas to take place. Thus, creating an eco-chamber within the group or space. This was eye-opening, as I feel like not only myself but a lot of my peers fall into these eco-chambers. We use social media to stay up-to-date and research topics; however, we don't think of the negative impact that this can have. 

Secondly was the topic of propaganda, or deliberate attempts to influence people's opinions and values. Propaganda, although some might say doesn't exist, has been around for centuries and is continually used today to influence people. Governments, groups, and activists use propaganda in order to push their agenda onto others, usually without them even knowing. Some prominent examples we have seen throughout human history would be during World War II. Nearly every nation around the world was creating propaganda to show how bad the other side was and why their citizens should stay motivated to win the war. Although very effective, if discovered by those it is being used on, it can severely impact their trust and respect for the institution. I found this extremely important throughout the presentations because not only is it important to know what impact it has played in the past, but also to be able to recognize it when used in the future. Being able to decipher when it is being used for good  and when it is brainwashing the population. 

Thirdly, confirmation bias was a notable topic, as it explained why we have so much division within discussion today as many people fail to recognize their confirmation bias. Two people can often look at the same evidence or facts and take completely different opinions or takeaways from it. This comes from their confirmation bias or tendency to favor their previous opinion and interpret information using that. This leads to people losing the ability to be openminded or not have an opinion on a topic. Simply because they have a previous opinion or ego regarding their view and desire to be right. I feel as though this is one of the greatest problems facing society today, as the key to innovation is through the discussion of ideas and thinking outside the box. If we continue to tear each other down and shut down discussion, it will prohibit our ability to move forward. 

Mainstream media is traditional broadcasting or publishing outlets that convey news and stories to the public. They have played another major role in this dissemination of information, as there is usually a bias or misleading of facts in order to portray a certain position. Although this is not true for every mainstream media source, we have seen in the past few decades an incredible rise in the bias of media and the impact they have on political opinions. However, many have picked up on this bias and have begun to pursue other avenue's of information and research. Leading to the decrease in ratings of these outlets and the rise of alternative media sources. 

The Sherman-Antitrust Act prohibits companies from limiting competition in the marketplace. This helps stop the creation of monopolies in order to benefit the consumer. This is because without competition, one company can create a system in which they control what prices the consumer must pay, which often leads to price gouging and unstable economic conditions. Passed in 1890, the Sherman-Antitrust Law was some of the first laws targeting monopolies and the continued growth of competition within the United States. This is important because competition is what allows growth and the pursuit of new products. Without it, companies would have no problem collecting their profit over the entire industry and selling as much as physically possible. However, in recent decades we have seen the idea of media consolidation take place. This is the idea that as time goes on, there are fewer companies; however, each has more control than previously. This leads to a market in which many big companies own the market and make it impossible for smaller companies or newcomers to enter the industry. Although a sad truth, that is the direction that the world has moved towards, and it has been incredibly difficult and delicate to regulate.

Finally, generative AI was another topic that stuck out to me in the presentations because of the future impact it will have and has already had on society. With almost every innovation, we see it progress exponentially after creation and eventually become something no one could have ever imagined. Some examples being the smartphone, television, search engine, or internet. Generative AI, which is an AI algorithm that creates new images, text, and information, is like the next step in this timeline. Generative AI's ability to continuously learn from itself and develop shows me that there is no limit for how effective it can become. Having the power to change the world and society even more than the technologies before it. 

All the Each One Teach One #2 presentations made me much more informed on how we as humans depict information, interpret it, and then express it to others. Although sometimes it may seem simple, it can get extremely complicated when opinions, politics, and bias are also at play. Being able to recognize these is not only what makes you a better voter or activist, but what makes you a better citizen. Also, being able to put your best, non-bias foot forward is what allows us to form our own opinions and respect others. Ultimately leading to healthy conversations and the progression of society. And although this is not easy and takes time, it is incredibly rewarding and leads to a prosperous society. 

The Overton Window

In todays chaotic political climate it can be difficult for individuals to agree on issues or compromise to better society. This has mostly been the result of a shift in political ideology and the distancing between two distinct parties. Political affiliation has become less about your socioeconomic status, race, geographic location, sexuality, age, and gender and more about whether you are a Republican or Democrat. In order to describe this shift, we can use a political theory named the Overton Window, also known as the Overton Window of Political Possibilities. The Overton Window refers to the range of policies that the public is willing to accept. The idea is that policy's that make sense will fall inside the window, while those that are outside the box or radical will fall outside the window. This is depicted in the graphic below which shows a baseline of how policies are distributed along the range.

The Overton Window was developed in the mid 1990's by a man named Joseph Overton, who worked as a political analyst for a political think tank known as the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Overton observed that politicians selected their policy's based on what the public will support and thus what will keep them in office. This political theory created a framework for why some ideas can gain support while others are determined to be radical or unthinkable. Showing that it all depends on the people's view and overarching opinion's on policy. 

To describe a little more of what the Overton Window is, we can use a child's bed time as a very simple and digestible example. Using the window from the first diagram as a baseline we can understand that having a bedtime of 4pm or 5pm would seem unthinkable and radical. And to the same point, a child having no bedtime at all would be radical on the other side of the spectrum. However, having a bedtime of 8pm or 9pm would make much more sense. Thus making it more sensible, popular, and acceptable. Meaning it would fall within the Overton Window, while 4pm/5pm, and no bedtime would fall outside the range. 

Two recent examples of Overton Windows at play and shifting would be remote/hybrid work and the legalizing of marijuana. We can see how in the past these ideas would have been outside the Overton Window and unthinkable because of the public view. Everyone believed that marijuana was too dangerous and remote work was ineffective. However as times change and the publics opinion changes we see a shift of the window. Politicians begin to introduce these changes and they slowly gain support until ultimately being implemented into society. 

So, how and why does a shift occur in an Overton Window? Well, there are six steps necessary for a successful shift in the window. These steps are the creation of a new idea, making the public aware, reframing the narrative, public acceptance, political implementation, and a feedback loop. Firstly there must be an idea or policy that is being introduced to the public that would shift the window in one direction or the other. Secondly the public must be made aware of the issue. Thirdly the issue must be reframed to seem like a good alternative and beneficial to society. Fourthly the public must accept this idea or policy over time in order for the entire Overton Window to shift. Fifthly it must be implemented by government officials in order to become actual public policy. Finally, there must be a feedback loop in which it is implemented into society and is proven to benefit that society. Another major factor of Overton shifts would include influential figures, cultural moments, and key events. These are all factors that can have a significant impact on an Overton Window and the public's view on certain policies. Some examples of these would be political activists such as MLK Jr, cultural moments such as the Civil Rights Act, and key events such as the "I Have a Dream" speech. While all these steps are necessary for an Overton Window. It is common that an Overton Window can shift for some and not for others. While some may accept an idea as reasonable and good policy others may still dismiss it entirely. This is where we see the major divide in todays society. 

The impact that the Overton Window has on society is that it helps shape public policy. Considering that public policy is based on the publics viewpoint means that the Overton Window has a direct connection to which policies are accepted and passed into law. This also means that an expansion or change in the Overton Window can occur too fast. Usually a result of political activist or figures ambition. Thus throwing off the time line of societal acceptance and cultural change. Showing that change often happens gradually as unthinkable ideas become acceptable over time. The final impact of the Overton Window is that it raises questions about the manipulation of public opinion to move the window in a particular direction. Usually using methods such as propaganda or misinformation. 

All these points about the Overton Window come together to form a political theory that has stayed extremely relevant since its inception. Mostly because of how logically it explain's our overall public policy and viewpoint on societal change. We see this as the two groups in the United States continue to shift in opposite directions on a spectrum. Driving the country and people farther and farther from working together and benefiting society. However with continued discussion and compromise, the political Overton Window can be restored to its healthy state and allow for citizens around the country to responsibly debate public policy. 

EOTO #1 Reactions

During the Each One Teach One Technology presentations, I had the opportunity to get a deeper understanding of many common technologies that I had never really understood the deeper background or implications of. This left me with a great appreciation for the history behind these technologies and what they truly contribute to overall society. This also made me think of all the possible future innovations in technology that will carry our society further and further into the future. Which is truly exciting considering all the incredible achievements and exponential growth we have achieved in the last two hundred years. So the most notable technologies that I learned more about during these presentations were the development of motion pictures, telephones, DVDs, printing presses, newspapers, and the telegraph. While all the technologies were impressive in their own right, these really paved the way for human society and are what I commonly associate with in everyday life. 

So, firstly, with the development of motion pictures, I learned some fascinating information regarding the timeline of how it became what it is today. Because, as we know, motion pictures have seen substantial innovation and progress into the area of 3D, 4K, and more. So, the first motion picture was filmed in 1888 and was only a 3 second clip. They slowly improved and lengthened over time and began premiering all around the world. The first colored film came in 1908 and was called "A Visit to Seaside," and the first CGI, or computer-generated imagery, was used by Alfred Hitchcocks in 1958. These developments massively impacted the popularity of motion pictures, which led to their "golden age" in the 1950's. This was where 3D was incredibly advanced, and millions of people used them as their primary entertainment. All this information regarding motion pictures really stuck out to me because we still use motion pictures today as entertainment, and Hollywood culture still carries celebrity life around the world. Without the technology of motion pictures and the ability to portray the actors' talents in such a way, the industry would be nothing. As time has progressed, people have expected more and more out-of-motion pictures. And fortunately, the technology has continued to progress and keep the industry and motion picture's exciting.

Next would be telephone's, which are single-handedly one of the most important inventions of modern times. Although this is different from smart phones or cellphones, the telephone paved the way for humans to be able to communicate and share information across incredible distances. Thus, impacting the speed of innovation and humans ability to collaborate in a new way. The telephone was invented in 1874 by Alexander Grand Bell and Thomas Watson, who discovered the principle of cross-communication. This led to the first outdoor telephone wire being strung in the United States in 1877. As time progressed, so did telephone's, with the number of lines increasing, their accessibility increasing, and their overall efficiency. Ultimately, leading to the pay phone in 1989 and then the rotary soon afterwards. In the early 2000's, the invention of the smartphone meant that the original telephone technology would become obsolete and outdated. However, without the original technology, we would not have such an incredible piece of technology right at our fingertips. 

DVD's were another invention that truly stuck with me during the presentations, mostly because I had used them so much as a kid and never really knew the history and science behind them. Laser Tech was created in 1958 by David Paul Gregg and James Russell. However, it wasn't used for a long period of time considering it was incredibly large, prone to breaking, and had little storage. However, after decades of innovation, they were able to improve its quality, thus spiking its popularity. There were two formats of DVD technology. CDs and DVDs. CDs were only audio, while DVDs had audio and visuals. One side of a CD was completely for looks, while DVDs had data on both sides. This led to the increase in use of portable CD and DVD devices. However, gaming consoles are where DVD technology met the end of its useful life, as they have become very obsolete and inconvenient. Overall, DVDs and CDs are an incredible development of human technology. However, with recent innovations, they are very rarely used in everyday life. Learning more about DVDs in the presentations really helped my understanding of the technology I had used so much as a kid; from long road trips to gaming at home, CDs and DVDs were used every day. But as times change, so has technology. Leading to the slow decay of use and them becoming a novalty item in homes around the world.

The printing press was an impactful technology as it changed the game of communication and recording knowledge that humans have achieved. Although it may seem simple. Writing down information in books and on paper was incredibly time-consuming and meant it couldn't be shared with many. However,
The ability to create many copies of something was extremely beneficial in spreading information. The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenbur when he built a large press system using metal letter blocks that were able to print material multiple times. This allowed for more efficient preservation of knowledge, exchange of information, and cutting the cost of books. Over time, it provided a platform for individuals to challenge authority and severely advanced society's ability to communicate. Thus progressing the human race and our continued innovation.

Resulting from the printing press came the development and surge of newspapers around the world. First found in Ancient Rome and called the Acta Diurna, meaning daily doings. Newspapers were a way to inform the public of events, deaths, births, and gossip by the government. Some other places newspapers were used in the past are Rome, Germany, China, and England. The pros of the newspaper were that it improved communication, credibility, analysis, education & literature, local news, and advertising. However, it also led to bias, manipulation, and environmental impacts. It also meant that nations would actively prevent the creation of newspapers in the pursuit of suppressing activists. This happened in the early days of America, as newspapers criticizing England were banned or destroyed for tretchory. However, after gaining independence and signing the Constitution, they were quickly reinstated. Although they are not widely used today, newspapers can be found online in order to keep people up-to-date on current events.

The final innovation I learned the most about and that was the most impactful would be the telegraph. One of the most revolutionary inventions since the printing press. Its basis was for electrical currents to travel between lines for long distances. By 1854, this allowed people to send coded electrical messages over long distances. Language is one of the most important aspects of society, so the development of the telegraph increased globalization and human evolution because it allowed for the exchange of information at faster rates and over long distances. A famous quote from this time period is "What hath god wrought, the first telegraph ever sent, and is a symbol of awe and wonder." This symbolized the start of a new society and how people were in awe and wonder by the technology. Although it is most famous for its use in surveillance and in wartime, that is not what it was originally intended for. 

The Each One Teach One presentations all taught me the importance of looking deeper into the developments we make as a human society and what it means for the future. Many times we get caught up in everyday life and forget to explore the innovations we make. However, understanding these technologies gives you a deeper understanding of our human timeline and how we have reached our current point. So, looking forward, I'm excited to focus and research on new technologies, examples being AI and VR and how they will and have changed our society.