Topic: Depression

Everyone should watch this.

City

Amazing spray paint demo here. Very short, and I guarantee it will blow your mind.

Does Violence lead to Violence?

In times of crisis, such as the Columbine Massacre, Connecticut school shooting, or Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, people are fearful and devastated and thus quick to find reasons for these catastrophes. One such reason may be influence from the media. I believe that video games do not lead to or cause violence. In today’s world, people turn to any excuse to blame for violence. With the amount of readily available technology, the American population tends to blame violence in video games for discord in the country. Similar to many assumptions, the belief that video games lead to an increase of violence is false. Most of this incorrect knowledge has been based off of stereotypes.

Many people have a stereotypical view of the everyday “gamer”. Studies have shown that the average video game player is 35 years old and has typically been playing for about 12 years. Out of all of these gamers, forty percent are women (Cause Children). Video games have developed into a massive form of entertainment for players of all ages. For younger video game players, parents are able to set controls on game consoles, allowing them to decide what games their children can and cannot play. This allows parents to monitor their children’s gameplay and to not allow access to anything they may deem inappropriate. To establish safety, ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) created a ratings system based on a game’s content, such as “Everyone”, “Teen”, or “Mature” (ProCon). Later, in 2009, the Federal Trade Commission conducted a survey that discovered that 87 percent of parents were “satisfied with the computer and game ratings” established by ESRB (Cause Children). Video games lie on the same standard as other forms of entertainment, such as movies, music, art, or literature, in that not everything is appropriate for all ages. While people may want to blame violence on video games, they may first want to look at their awareness towards their children’s gaming habits and behavior.

No direct correlation has been made between violence and video games. If violent natures were caused by such games, then there should be a direct relationship between the two. Between 1995 and 2008, the rate of juvenile murders has dropped 71.9% and juvenile violent crimes have dropped 49.3%. During this same time period, the sale of video games have quadrupled (ProCon). Likewise, in the past twenty years, reports of robbery, rape, and murder in the United States have dropped while the increase in home video game devices have increased (Cause Violence). James Twitchell, an English Professor and advertiser, once told the media, “It seems doubtful, from the point of view of the species history, that the human brain, which came of age in the Olduvai Gorge, can be turned to the jungle at such speed simply by watching flickering pixels on a nineteen-inch screen” (Cause Violence). Humans can not simply have a mental break down from playing video games. For example, in Japan, the hub of the video game world, rates of gun-related homicide are two hundred times lower than those in the United States (Cause Violence). In 2005, Japan experienced 73 murders, while the U.S. had 2,279. Video game sales in the United States, per capita, were precisely $5.20 compared to $47 in Japan (ProCon). Despite these statistics, people still turn to video games as something to blame or contribute to the problem of violence.

Many people are against the distribution of violent video games because they believe that the games reward players for violence, thus increasing violent behavior (ProCon). While this may be true, players are aware that they are playing a game. Mentally sound players have the ability to distinguish reality from gaming fantasy, therefore provoking no thoughts of violence in real life. While a video game may dictate the type of violence, it does not cause its occurrence. Without video games, violent-prone youth would still lash out (ProCon). A game controller or device with colorful buttons is much different than using a real weapon on real people. If a crime is committed from someone “acting out a video game”, there are always other unaddressed issues in their lives. In the media, people only hear about the few incidents involving violent actions instead of the thousands of other non-violent gamers. Roger Ebert, a critic and journalist, wrote, “There was a time when books were vilified as the devil’s handiwork. The first radio and motion pictures were a ‘corrupting influence’. Television was deemed to be the death of society. Throughout mankind’s history, each new means of expression has been castigated as the cause of evil in the world” (Cause Violence). Allegedly, people have sought for something to blame for injustice and crime.

Violent video games may seem like an easy way to exploit violence in the United States, yet research has proven time and again that there is no direct correlation between the two. In 2004, the Secret Service conducted a poll that discovered that one-eighth of school-based attackers displayed more interest in violence in their own readings and writings than in video games (ProCon). Similarly, video games may also provide a safe, controlled aggressive outlet for young adults. A study in 2007 showed that 45% of male gamers play video games to help relieve their anger, and 62% claim that it “helps me relax” (ProCon). Society looks to point fingers at anything that may cause violence or a flaw in the American society, but video games have received far too much unjust scrutiny.

People tend to blame violent video games for much of the destruction and violence among children and young adults, but they do not stop to consider the stereotypes they are basing their arguments on. The average gamer is not a pre-teen boy holed up in a dark basement shooting virtual people for hours, but rather, a middle aged person who could be either male or female. Throughout history and from tracking sales, statistics have shown repeatedly that when crime and violence rates increase, video game purchases have dropped, showing no direct relationship between the two. Many worry that video games reward violence, but in actuality, they help players relieve stress in a safe, virtual environment. Those who place all cause for violence on video games are simply looking for something to blame. By taking a step back and looking at the whole picture, society may come to see how close-minded and obsolete their views truly are.

for those who want to see some of my sources or to read more...

Bernhard, Nicholas. "Video Games Don't Cause Violence." - Boulder Daily Camera. DailyCamera, 19 Jan. 2014. Web. 09 Mar. 2014.

Gallagher, Michael D. "Video Games Don’t Cause Children to Be Violent." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 10 May 2010. Web. 09 Mar. 2014.

ProCon.org. "Video Games ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. ProConorg, 10 Mar. 2014. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. 

How to Survive When the Aliens Attack: A Short Guide

Since I've watched five seasons of The Walking Dead, I like to consider myself a survival expert. Now, I'm not too sure that I'd actually survive if I was put in that situation, but I like to think I have some pretty good ideas.

***

The aliens are coming. With the amount of uncharted space, this invasion isn’t a matter of if, but when. Keep in mind: aliens have been planning their invasion for thousands of years, and humans stand at the disadvantage of having only moments to react. So in order to balance the odds, follow these simple steps.

First off, put together two Alien Survival kits that contain multiple pairs of socks, an extra pair of shoes, a jacket, a lighter, a tarp, sleeping bag, and cans of food. One kit goes under the bed in case the invasion occurs while at home, and the second kit should be placed in a car if fleeing is a must. Next, when the attack occurs, try not to panic. Whether panicking or not, the aliens will continue to invade, so there's no point in wasting precious time freaking out. Instead of panicking, proceed to the closest grocery store and take all of the cans of food, medicine, and gasoline that you can, and don't worry about paying for it. This step is imperative because as the aliens take over, food will become more scarce, so the more nonperishing food available, the better chance of survival. Do not worry about others, don't try to save anyone, and don’t help anyone; the less people to feed the higher chance of survival. Now would be the best time to seek shelter. The aliens will aim for the people running down the middle of the road screaming, so try to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Keep in mind, this is not a shelter to hunker down in and wait to die, think of it as a place to rest and wait for the aliens to complete their initial attack. After the hysteria dies down, it may be a good time to adventure out and collect more cans of food. Aim for places that aren’t obvious; head toward the closest camping store and pick up dehydrated food, water, and other camping gear. Avoid grocery stores from this point on, this is where most other people will search for food, resulting in fights over cans of beans and eventually running out of supplies altogether.

As time passes, the human race will shrink, and this is the time to start looking for other groups of people. Pack all necessary items into two bags, one that you wear under your shirt and the other on your back. This is simply a precaution; in the event of attack, the heavier backpack could be dropped to ensure quicker getaway, or if robbed there would still be the smaller backpack to refer to afterwards. After this step, it is mainly up to the reader to decide how to proceed. If no sign of life is detected, one could seek shelter alone and continue to wait out the invasion, which can only result in being captured or killed, starving or dying of sickness or infection, or living a lonely life with no hope. The other option includes finding a group of humans. After assessing the best course of action, option made include, but are not limited to, attacking the aliens, trying to live peacefully among the aliens, or creating an underground fort to avoid the aliens and rebuild society. The key factor in this step is aligning with the correct group of people.

After deciding to join other people, first look to save any children. These will be the people who will grow up to hate the alien invaders the most, and will be key for overthrowing them. Also, align yourself with people who appear to be a part of a resistance. These people usually carry themselves with a no-nonsense appearance, as opposed to the humans that cower at the sight of you and turn to run away. They will not be saving the planet any time soon, and death would be highly likely if one were to join them. After joining the group that seems to have the best odds of survival, decide how to strike back.

            By now, the alien invasion has been occurring for several months. Survivors have noted alien behavior and have kept record of their technology and basic behaviors, and this is the time to put that knowledge to the test. In this step, the resistance will be sneaking into the alien stronghold. In order to accomplish this, assemble a group of people with a variety of skills, such as a few good fighters, a geek to hack the security system, people to stand lookout, and the most knowledgeable alien behaviorist. Next, sneak onto the central alien ship. Usually, this can be accomplished by working through complicated security and computerized systems, but just in case, make sure the attack party is armed. After breaking through the main systems and destroying the alien stronghold either through computer systems or with a large explosive, the other alien forces will be weakened. By this point, the most difficult task has been finished, leaving the humans with tons of alien technology to scare off the rest of the extraterrestrials.

            The final step in this process is to rebuild. Using the leftover alien technology, reconstruct the planet. Be sure to replant trees and natural habitats before rebuilding cities and towns. But remember, the only way to achieve this goal is through preparation. Do not forget to pack alien survival bags beforehand, and then when the time comes, seek shelter. Restock at a local camping store and lay low for a short period of time before joining a resistance group. Once you join the human resistance, take down the aliens, and then focus on rebuilding. Don’t count the chickens before they’ve hatched, otherwise death is inevitable. 

Schooling Systems

This is absolutely hilarious. Brian Regan, a comedian, gives a short piece about school and I guarantee you will laugh at least once. I know I laughed through most of this.

Do We Care About Earth?

Or do we just care about our home? If the human race were to leave the planet for something else, would the majority of us feel a moral obligation to continue helping Earth?

Free Will?

The other day, I started really thinking about free will and the society mankind has created. A good amount of it relies on people following the rules that have been set up around society, and when these rules aren’t followed, it causes discord. Yet, this small percentage of the population has the ability to make a huge impact on the world. They have the ability to wage war, or to cover a building in graffiti, or to shoot an innocent person, or something as seemingly small as steeling poor Billy’s lunch during school. These acts, whether big or small, lie outside of the “norm” created by society.

A few years ago, my Dad bought a new printer. Traditionally, whenever we bought a new electronic, we would smash or take apart the old one before throwing it out. Dad set the printer on the driveway, asking if I wanted to take the first hit. I bounced up and down; I was eager to smash just about anything to pieces. He handed me the sledgehammer, and as I looked down at the printer, a feeling of uncertainty washed over me. Smashing printers was bad. Breaking expensive things was bad. Yet, my dad had given me permission to destroy it. I brought the hammer down, leaving an unfixable dent in its wake. Part of me was thrilled, yet the other part was cringing. Why did I feel so bad about bashing our family printer that was just about to be thrown out?

Often, I have found, people make big talk about wanting to be unique and try different things. Then when the opportunity presents itself, more often than not, we turn it down. Why is this?

Ironically, my English teacher gave my class an excerpt from Steven Pinker’s book, Blank Slate, which deals with the battle over the denial of human nature versus surrounding culture. Pinker believes that humans grow into themselves through a combination of culture and biology, a combo which makes a good amount of sense to me.

On one hand, you can’t completely disregard human nature and genetic makeup. But at the same time, what element in our genes stops us from getting up in school and leaving for no reason? Or from pulling the fire alarm, even when there’s no fire? Perhaps our genetic coding has come to need some sort of orderly culture. Humans do tend to resist change, and by creating a society with standard rules, our “human nature” is satisfied in the process.