Reflective Blog Post

I feel that I have not utilized my blog to its fullest potential. Looking back, I have very few blog posts, and I have also not extensively participated in discussions on other people's blogs. In my own blogs, I feel like I could have gone more in depth on many of them, which could have helped with planning my papers. Blogging itself is a different written medium from what I am used to. Compared to in-class discussions, blogs have to be more organized with an actual point behind them. In-class, you can kind of just say whatever comes to mind. The most important thing in in-class discussions is that you are talking and thinking. It doesn't matter if you idea isn't fully thought through. Though blogging is kind of the same, there still needs to have an ultimate opinion within. However, unlike formal writing, I feel that you are still allowed to  extrapolate into many different directions while blogging without having to have a concrete idea of where you end up. It's almost like thinking out loud on the internet. However, I don't really see myself continuing to blog in the future.

Examples of Digital Activism

     One big example of digital activism is the Facebook group "Saving the Children Africa". Though the group has hundreds of thousands of followers and members, they actual organization has only raised about $12,000. This means that though there was a huge turnout of virtual support, there was actually a very low amount of actual participation by its members. The location where I got his information is http://www.meta-activism.org/2011/02/net-delusion-reviewslacktivism/. Though there are a few examples of ineffective digital campaigns listed in this article, the author of the article also refutes why these few examples serve as a basis for digital activism as a failed cause. This lack of actual commitment and participation seems to be a common pitfall among digital activist causes.
     Another big recent example of an online activist cause if the recent release of the KONY 2012 video. The video itself was very artfully made and full of emotional appeal. However, the content of the video itself was very broad and simplified. It failed to give a more detailed and comprehensive overview of the current crisis in Sudan/Uganda with the government itself saying that Joseph Kony was no longer a major threat to the area. It was also revealed later that the track record of the organization behind the KONY 2012 video, Invisible Children, actually had a very poor track record for on the ground change. It was revealed that only %30 of their income was used on actual aid to the region. This website offers some extra criticism of the organization and video http://keepittrill.com/online/2012/03/kony-2012-scam-stop-supporting-invisible-children/. Kony 2012 served to highlight how an online digital activist cause can cause massive sudden support from people who know very little about the actual subject and crisis. This is due to the relative ease of giving support to the digital cause. Because it is so easy to give support, no initial research is really needed in order to start "participating" in its social change. Here is a link to the KONY 2012 video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

Social Network Activism

I myself have participated once in social network activism during the Kony 2012 media storm. Though I had little information about the organization "Invisible Children" when I first "shared" their video, I believe that was irrelevant at that point considering that the main point of the video was to just spread awareness of Kony himself. Though I later learned that Invisible Children itself has a very poor track record with actual on the ground help, and they had offered a very oversimplified explanation of an almost irrelevant crisis that has been on the downslide for a couple years, this was all beside the point as the main purpose of the video was still just to spread awareness which could do no actual harm. However, I did not follow through in any way after the initial reaction, though someone who had seen me "share" the video might have.

Wikipedia

After investigating Wikipedia's process, I am more likely to use it as a source. I would not use it as a primary source though. It would likely just be a secondary source that I use for background information. One important change to how I use it would be to always check the sources for each claim within the article that I am interested in using. This way I can double check myself to see if the information is accurate. Another important change I would make is to look at the discussion history. I would not use this every time, as the level of critical discussion changes for each subject. However, if the discussion seems to be intellectually sound, then it would be a great source of debate and critical thinking.

Authoritative vs. Communal Acquisition of Knowledge

It was often in my classrooms that I would encounter tension between authoritative and communal acquisition of knowledge. While in the classroom, the authoritative source of information was the teacher. There would be no discussion, and what the teacher said was accepted as fact without question. However, when working on homework outside of the classroom, where self-study was necessary, a communal acquisition of knowledge was more present. Through discussion and debate, the techniques and solutions to problems would be obtained. Personally, this communal acquisition of knowledge much better suited me, as it was more involved and demanded more critical thinking. Though the conclusions we came to were not always correct, just by the process of critical discussion, I was able to gain more insight into the subject than through an authoritative source.

Effect of Tiger Woods Apology

An earlier apology would have only helped his case. By waiting so long to issue a formal apology, it only allowed the speculation to grow, further damaging his image. Not only that, as the speculation and bad press grew, the worse his image became. This caused many of his sponsors to pull out from him. This also affected his golf games itself, considering much of golf is a mental game. An earlier apology would've ended the speculation and allowed the healing process to happen faster, salvaging part of his image and sponsorship.

Tiger Woods Apology

On November 27th, Tiger Woods left his home in his Cadillac and ended up crashing into a tree not far away. This came two days after a tabloid magazine accused him of infidelity. These charges ended up proving true, to an even greater extent than was first thought. It wouldn't be until months later that he would give a formal apology.This is controversial because Tiger previously had a very good public image. 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CG8QFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.time.com%2Ftime%2Fphotogallery%2F0%2C29307%2C1966486%2C00.html&ei=33F-T6WdBbHQiAKD2fGDAw&usg=AFQjCNG3UXIP0Aunq6Vo-pIUXYDlv00pzQ&sig2=9nTP5v4cJVG2HdnvqRl9VQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs8nseNP4s0

BP Oil Spill apology

On May 31, 2010, Tony Hayward (CEO of BP) told reporters that he was sorry how the spill was disrupting so many lives; however, he finished it off with how he would like his own life back. The reason this was so controversial was because it came soon after 11 men lost their lives in one of his oil pipe accidents. Also, it made it seem like he was personally suffering as much as the people whose livelihood depended on the Gulf. It made him come off as arrogant and ignorant of the severity of the situation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/02/bp-ceo-tony-hayward-apologizes-life-back_n_597966.html

How my engineering field incorporates critical thinking

My engineering field does a really good job of incorporating critical thinking. Many of the times, the professor only gives a simple explanation of a problem in class, requiring us to figure out the more complex homework problems ourselves. This requires a lot of critical thinking on our part. Also, the hands-on projects also require us to apply our learning to real-life problems. This requires us to critically analyze these problems and relate what we learned in class to solving them. I feel like my engineering classes could do more though in this respect; however, this could just be due to the fact that I am only in introductory classes at this point.

Critical Thinking

The most important skill in critical thinking is the ability to comprehend the material/question. If you are unable to do this, all following conclusions and analysis becomes irrelevant. Understanding the material/question is the foundation for all the critical analysis that follows. What logically comes next after that in terms of importance is the ability to critically analyze. One needs to approach a problem with an open and unbiased mind. They have to be able to think about the issue clearly and in a logical progression. The third most important skill is the ability to communicate your conclusions clearly. It doesn't matter how brilliant your idea is if no one understands what it is. To be able to communicate your idea/conclusion so that other people can also comprehend it is a vital skill.

New Insights on California Dream

Nothing has really changed for me in consideration to what "Hotel California" says about the California Dream. I still feel that the lyrics generally refute the idea of the California Dream and serves as a warning to future potential visitors. The only thing that has changed has been my analysis of the song. Earlier I had a very shallow take of the song, but after a deeper analysis, I've noticed many new things within the lyrics. I've noticed that there are many more instances of distortion of reality that applies to how the California Dream itself is distorted. My interpretation of the California Dream hasn't changed, but the support I see evidenced in the song has grown.

Eagles Hotel California Live at 1998 Hall of Fame Induction

Hotel California

The song I'm analyzing for the California Dream essay is "Hotel California" by the Eagles. I think it talks about how California itself is seen as lavish and extravagant, but soon turns into a nightmare. It's inviting and tempting at first, but then turns out to be addicting and self-destructive. The song itself seems to warn and refute the idea of the California Dream and turns into a cautionary tale of California itself.

The California Dream

What is the California Dream? This question was presented to me a couple of days ago in my writing 130 class. It at first elicited in me one of the stereotypical answers of "success, wealth, romance", before I truly started to ponder the question. Why did I come to California? I came from Tennessee to California knowing no one. It was a completely new environment for me and it was a major cultural shock. I think that is one of the reasons many people come to California, for a chance at new beginnings. That chance could also be for a multitude of other reasons, such as success, fame, or wealth. For me, it was a chance to grow and experience new things.