Class Experiennce

         This is the first class that I have taken that required the use of blogs.  I think it was cool to be able to have my thoughts posted publicly, as well as being able to comment on my classmates blogs.  This experience gives me a better insight into to the world of technology and helps me feel more comfortable with working with computers.  I have recently become a tad bit more computer literate and I am enjoying the fun that the world of computers can bring.  I have to admit, the downloading thing can be HIGHLY STIMULATIIIIIIING!  Being able to get what you want, at the click of a button, can lead to addiction.  Sometimes it seems almost to good to be true.  In spite of my new found interest or hobby, I still am leary of technology and the horrors it can bring.  Therefore, I poise myself and control my urges and point and click my little heart away.

“Today Is The First Day of The Rest of My Life”

         This "oft-repeated mantra" is the motivational and inspirational quote for those who perpetually seek to release their psyche from past failures or unwanted occurences in one's life.  It is a cop out for those who seek to use "psychological mind trickery" in hopes of starting over.  Kind of like how people do with video games, when they mess up they puch reset and start over. I always thought that when you come out of your mother's wound, that was the begining of life's external  experiences and time altered itself for no one , but kept marshing on..  Those who use and/or abuse this quote should be forced to return back through the birth canal and began anew for real!  Then it might truly be the first day of things!!!

Camp Concentration Reading Response

           Thomas Disch’s Camp Concentration told of some of the atrocities that the Jews encountered during their struggles in the Concentration Camps.  I was impressed with the story line and the insight into Eliezer’s feelings and determination to live.  He has a sense of loyalty to his father, but yet, wavers psychologically with his commitment to his father and himself.  A young boy is usually not prepared to handle such responsibility.  He shows wit and creativity as he saves his father periodically from death, either by execution or for health reasons.  The end of the story leaves the reader to mildly question if Eliezer will have enough fortitude to continue to endure with the past occurrences and his future freedom.

Neuromancer

            Neuromancer by William Gibson was very interesting in that the theme of cyber punk is a new kind of reading for me.  I am mostly attracted to non-fiction, but I usually can find some reality in all reading. I thought that the novel stimulated my imagination and even though futuristic settings seem exaggerated, the possibility of new technological advances and their affects bring these futuristic scenarios into realistic thoughts of how the future could become.  I found the array of characters from various social stereotypes to be interesting.  The new age of pimps, hustlers, drug dealers, and cyber junkies seems reminiscent of modern day life.  The theme of technology ruling the world seems to be “oft-repeated” throughout the novels we have read.  Although interesting and even funny, the picture that cyber punk novels paint seems to be prophetic, in that man’s obsession with advances in technology will lead him into a world hypnotized and ruled by machines and artificial intelligence.

One’s Actions Can Distort One’s View

            

            Philip Dick’s futuristic novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep emulates modern day society’s way of life.  The understanding of technological advances pushes the creative powers of mankind to a limit even superior to their own understanding.  The novel sets the tone by creating a setting of the aftermath of an enormous World War that infests the atmosphere with radiation and has catastrophic causes across the Earth.  This tragic event also leads to a society where most animals become extinct, making them a symbol of wealth and status.  Since animals are now “a rare commodity”, they represent material things such as “present day”, designer clothes, and expensive cars.  To own an animal after the nuclear fallout was to show one’s membership in the elite or rich class in society.  Just like in modern society, those who cannot afford the finer things in life improvise, the people of the new world also imitate items from the rich and famous by making “bootleg” animals, like modern day fake Gucci products, to give the fake representation of high class living. 

            Philip Dick’s novel also brings the reader into the psyche of those who are enslaved and those who are slave masters.  The elite have made advance in technology and can now create androids that are almost indistinguishable from humans.  This shows how the need to place one’s self above others can create circumstances that the creator may not be ready to handle.  This oppression and social isolation of the androids is reminiscent of the treatment of blacks during the time of slavery.  In thinking they were better, more intelligent, and moral, slave masters where convinced that they were exercising the epitome of human action, when in reality they were just as fake, savage and artificial as they viewed the androids in Dick’s novel.  However, even in the midst of prejudice, truth shines its way through and blinds one, forcing him or her to face their true selves, as with Rick Deckard the bounty hunter in the novel.  

The Importance of Free Will

            One quality that separates higher intelligent life forms from others is the ability to exercise free will, meaning the power to choose one’s own way of life and decisions that affect the outcome of his or hers life.  Free will is also a distinct characteristic of a god, ruler, or creator.  It gives one the unlimited power to use intelligence for any purpose that one desires, rather it be good or evil.  Free will is the factor that makes life worth living and is the essence of one’s being and the underlining factor in determining the outcome of one’s future.  This power to choose one’s own destiny is a right, privilege, and responsibility imposed upon by the creator of all things.  Without this right, one is no longer free and begins not to function as human, but as a lower life form that is subject to the will and desires of others.  Throughout the history of the Earth, human beings have perpetually attempted to restrict the free will of others by seeking to change the outcome or future of those who eventually become mentally or physically enslaved to the wishes of those in control. 

            In the movie Minority Report, the police sought to eliminate crime by developing technology that could supposedly predict criminal behavior before it happened.  Just before a potential criminal would commit a crime, the police would burst in and arrest him immediately before the “crime” was committed.  Although it seems as though this is an excellent protective measure to protect society from impending danger, the free will of the authorities began to infringe upon the free will of citizens, leading to the will of the citizens being restricted.  The citizens were not given the chance to change their minds at the last minute.  Also, the outcome of the lives of citizens were affected because they were actually punished for crimes that they did not actually commit, but had the “strong potential” to carry out.  With this type of system imposed upon society, the prejudice and selfish desires of the authorities could “strongly” influence those in charge to jail or execute unwanted types of humans on the planet.

Identities

           Creating online identities are really fun and if used effectively, one can excite the minds of the readers, while creating the persona one has always wanted.  Through using these anonymous identities, the writer can express his or her ideas freely without fear of being criticized and recognized.  When human beings can hide behind some covering, they tend to express their true feelings.  Creativity emerges and before one knows it, he or she could be in for the surprise and/or shock of their lives.  Through online identities, people feel more secure because they can escape into a world that they create, control, and become a part in, while shedding their unwanted attributes that they feel insecure about. 

            Creating an identity can also attract a particular or universal audience.  Combining the right persona with the right intensity of ones emotions and passions can make an aspiring author an overnight celebrity.  People are drawn to controversy that’s racy but not too dangerous.  Image is the defining key in attracting unknown audiences.  Using this image wisely and productively can be beneficial in advertisement, promoting social change, and inspiring others to perpetually and positively change their current condition.

Tips For Blogging

          I think that one of the first steps in creating a web blog is to have an intent or purpose in mind.  Blogging is a way to attract an audience that may share the same ideologies as the author.  It is also important to seek to motivate and inspire others toward changing negative behavior and to promote positive social change.  Knowing your audience and who may read your ideas can help you to construct your writing more appropriate to your readers.  This will help not to excite negative misinterpretations of your ideas, but yet still allows one to be firm and confident in his or her writing.  One should also be passionate about the stand one takes on an issue.  If you don’t really believe in your cause, then others will not either.

Frankenstein and The Island: Why Doesn’t Daddy Love Me?

           In the age of advances in technology, mankind has become perpetually self-indulged in playing the role of the ultimate creator.  Humans have been used as test subjects for selfish scientists who seek to alter or control nature.  The movie The Island and the book Frankenstein are representative of such scientific projects that seek to create and manipulate humans, while also showing the negligence and lack of caring of one’s creation.  This lack of responsibility towards creation leads those who are left behind to become awakened to the true nature of their “masters”, thus leading to destruction and misery as a means of finding acceptance.  

            In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor seeks respect and power by creating a monster.  After recognizing his creation, he sees how horrific the creature has turned out and is forced to actually see a mirror image of the internal ugliness inside him.  After the creature feels no love or guidance from his creator, it eventually becomes apparent that the creature was not made to fit into society, thus causing rebellion and destruction.  Similarly in the movie The Island, humans were created as clones to satisfy the selfish wishes of those seeking to manipulate creation.  The clones find out the truth of their creators and they too rebel seeking their true selves and acceptance by society.

            Another similarity between the movie The Island and the book Frankenstein is the desire to have a woman while struggling through the search for love and acceptance.  Frankenstein wanted a mate and the character in The Island desired deeply to have a woman with him while struggling to overcome difficulties.  I believe that both the book and the film subliminally stress the need for a woman and her influence in making the world come into harmony.  The woman completes the cipher of creation by complimenting the male attributes, adding order and balance to creation, and serving as a strong support foundation that is needed for self and human development.

Technology Narrative

           My first hands on experience with technology came when I first started college.  I felt intimidated by having to use the computer to both research and type papers for my classes.  I’ve always viewed technology as the “devil’s tool” to monitor and control society, while subliminally promoting dependency on a man-made machine.  The idea of being able to access so much information, by the push of a button, always seemed too good to be true.  Furthermore, the notion that all of this knowledge could be obtained basically for free stimulated further doubt in its sincerity.  Throughout my college career, I’ve strayed away from the addiction to the web.  I generally only access the internet to obtain information for class assignments.  However, being that technology has become so prevalent in our society, I’ve been forced, in recent years, to bind a familiar relationship with our world wide web, as well as other technology based resources. 

            It all started my freshman year with my first English paper about Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.  I felt comfortable with my writing skills, but the fear came in wondering how to actually manipulate the machine to accomplish my task.  It seems really easy now that I am familiar with computers, but back then, this simple task seemed frustrating.  I later observed that the frustration was not just in the fact that I was unfamiliar with how to work the machine.  My frustration came from the responses of others as I asked what seemed to be basic or common sense questions in how to maneuver through the machine.  People seemed to become agitated and I was treated as if I were unintelligent.  Even when I explained that I was unfamiliar with computers, this made me seem even more outdated or “not cool”.  This reaction upset me very much and I decided to just figure every thing out on my own.  I developed a mild phobia of computers and my initially experiences helped to confirm my dislike for technology.  However, as my collegiate career moved on and my assignments became even more technologically based, I had to find a way to better or more comfortably deal with my reluctance to computers.             

          As I move along in my academic, I’ve become completely comfortable with the idea of using computers and other forms of technology.  I say that I have become more comfortable with using technology, not that I have become completely knowledgeable or advance in my actual use of it.  First impressions can definitely be long lasting and my experience with computers confirms my reluctance even until this day.  However, I have seen and do understand the importance of technology and how beneficial it can be in our every day lives.  Through the use of technology, I can e-mail messages and assignments to other people and my professors as well.  Through the use of web blogs, I am becoming more familiar with computers and I now have a forum through which I can communicate and express my personal ideas and opinions with a mass audience.  Through the use of computers, I can obtain information instantly, which helps me as a writer to conveniently access information and resources to use in both written and verbal expression.  I am also able to update information easily and quickly in order to keep information current and accurate, which contributes to my credibility as a writer.  Technology can also work to my advantage when during class assignments.  For example, using a power point presentation to express views and factual information makes your assignment more professional and interesting, as it provides an atmosphere of professionalism and credibility on the part of the presenter.   I can also view the opinions and research of others, which is not only informative, but also serves as a motivating force in my search for understanding the world in which I live, in hopes of contributing positively and productively to society.          

          My intent is to overcome my reluctance towards the use of technology by better familiarizing myself with the options that computer systems offer.  I believe that by daily use of computers and using the creative powers within my mind, I will become more interested in using technology creatively and to my advantage.  Through adding fun and informative ideas to my web blogs, I plan to increase, as well as diversify my audience.  Keeping up with technological advances will also increase my ability to network in the ever expanding work field, as well show my potential to perpetually increase my intelligence and leadership skills in an ever changing world.