Finding Help and Comfort Online
When you're looking for answers, where do you go?
Recently, my mom had to be hospitalized for endocarditis, and my father told me how he felt like he had become a doctor by searching on the internet for answers.
Imagine the doctor told you about a disease you had, but you had never heard of it before. People these days have access to information only doctors could obtain years ago. The internet can offer people new ways to find comfort at a time that is so painful. Instead of being left with only questions, people can now get answers if they know how to find it.
We are in the second generation of the internet, and people are using the internet to better their hobbies, shopping, and more. Ask a question, any question, and the internet has at least ten web sites with answers.
How can the internet better your life? The possibilities are endless, but where does the future lie with people who now have access to all of the information known to man? Will this benefit mankind, or make it worse? The future will be documented by the internet, and may be modified by it as well.
The article written by Mary Madden & Susannah Fox called Finding Answers Online in Sickness and in Health gives statistics about the recent rise of people who are using the internet to better their lives. This article discussed how people find comfort when their loved ones are in the hospital, and it is really true. I know this from personal experience. The internet has answers, answers that sometimes bring hope, answers that connect you to organized information on anything.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Hunger: Abroad and in America
It is sometimes hard for citizens of the United States to comprehend the vastly immeasurable problem of hunger because of the luxuries they enjoy. Even hunger, which is so close to home that it lives on the streets of urban areas, can continue unnoticed to the American dream-life. The free market and capitalistic society which the U.S. thrives on somehow justifies looking the other direction when it comes to hunger. The 12 myths about hunger This article explains many different common myths believed by the wealthy American. It is a true eye opener for those who do not seem to realize the effects of hunger.
“The real culprits [of hunger] are an economy that fails to offer everyone opportunities, and a society that places economic efficiency over compassion .” Is this referencing the U.S.’s economy? I do not agree with this statement because no matter where someone is in there life, they can go to work. Look at all of the immigrants from Central and South American that move to the United States and earn a living while they support a family back home. These strong work ethic individuals are the prime example of how anyone can thrive on the U.S. economy. Also, the U.S. is a very compassionate country that is always willing to lend a hand to another country. When the terrible tsunami hit Sri Lanka, Link to article. American military bases aided victims and millions of U.S. citizens donated money to help victims of the natural disaster. The U.S. is a caring compassionate country who will help anyone who supports freedom and democracy.
Another one of the “12 myths” discussed the truth of the benefits from organic farms saying, “Indeed, environmentally sound agricultural alternatives can be more productive than environmentally destructive ones.” I am a true supporter of locally grown foods due to my service learning at the Riverwest Cooperative. The benefits of an organic diet are being discovered by so many people in the U.S., and a greener lifestyle is adapted by many. This shows that many people are realizing their global impact as an extravagant consumer, and are making significant lifestyle changes to be more accommodating.
“It would be better to use our foreign aid budget for unconditional debt relief, as it is the foreign debt burden that forces most Third World countries to cut back on basic health, education and anti-poverty programs.” This was another theory that seemed too radical. Debts can not be left unpaid. This is one of the many values held by U.S. citizens. Our country holds debt just like other countries, but the U.S. pays its debts. If the U.S. relieves countries of their debt, that teaches irresponsibility. We already have many organizations offering relief in third world countries, and even large companies offer programs to third world countries with the RED campaign.
12 Myths About Hunger based on World Hunger: 12 Myths, 2nd Edition, by Frances Moore Lappé, Joseph Collins and Peter Rosset, with Luis Esparza (fully revised and updated, Grove/Atlantic and Food First Books, Oct. 1998)
“The real culprits [of hunger] are an economy that fails to offer everyone opportunities, and a society that places economic efficiency over compassion .” Is this referencing the U.S.’s economy? I do not agree with this statement because no matter where someone is in there life, they can go to work. Look at all of the immigrants from Central and South American that move to the United States and earn a living while they support a family back home. These strong work ethic individuals are the prime example of how anyone can thrive on the U.S. economy. Also, the U.S. is a very compassionate country that is always willing to lend a hand to another country. When the terrible tsunami hit Sri Lanka, Link to article. American military bases aided victims and millions of U.S. citizens donated money to help victims of the natural disaster. The U.S. is a caring compassionate country who will help anyone who supports freedom and democracy.
Another one of the “12 myths” discussed the truth of the benefits from organic farms saying, “Indeed, environmentally sound agricultural alternatives can be more productive than environmentally destructive ones.” I am a true supporter of locally grown foods due to my service learning at the Riverwest Cooperative. The benefits of an organic diet are being discovered by so many people in the U.S., and a greener lifestyle is adapted by many. This shows that many people are realizing their global impact as an extravagant consumer, and are making significant lifestyle changes to be more accommodating.
“It would be better to use our foreign aid budget for unconditional debt relief, as it is the foreign debt burden that forces most Third World countries to cut back on basic health, education and anti-poverty programs.” This was another theory that seemed too radical. Debts can not be left unpaid. This is one of the many values held by U.S. citizens. Our country holds debt just like other countries, but the U.S. pays its debts. If the U.S. relieves countries of their debt, that teaches irresponsibility. We already have many organizations offering relief in third world countries, and even large companies offer programs to third world countries with the RED campaign.
12 Myths About Hunger based on World Hunger: 12 Myths, 2nd Edition, by Frances Moore Lappé, Joseph Collins and Peter Rosset, with Luis Esparza (fully revised and updated, Grove/Atlantic and Food First Books, Oct. 1998)
Thursday, March 8, 2007
The Online World
The Internet has changed the way young people communicate and express themselves dramatically. Life before a cell phone almost seems ancient, but life without the Internet sounds like the end of the world!
Personally, I have more online accounts than I can keep track of. Some of these include Gmail, Yahoo, MSN, UWM, Myspace, Facebook, Xanga, my blog, and so many I cannot remember. It seems strange to think that only three years ago, I barely even used the internet, but now I could barely live without it.
The ability to express yourself online is something that I believe is bringing the world closer together. People from all around the world are communicating at all times of the day. Ideas that people once kept to themselves are now being shared to thousands simultaneously. The world is quickly becoming smaller and smaller.
This digital change comes with higher education, and I believe that the more educated people become, the more powerful the Internet can be. For example, at UWM, students are expected to know basic Internet skills to complete their assignments. In my Enviornmental Geography class, I have to respond to the teacher's questions online. In my Media Writing class, I am expected to know how to create a blog. Without useful online skills, it is nearly impossible to be successful. And at UWM, it is nearly impossible to learn.
The best thing about the online world is that it will continue to change and new forms of communication will continue to be developed. Expressing oneself online has never been easier, and this I feel is what defines this generation.
Here is the link to the article I am commenting on.
The Emerging Online Life of the Digital Native: What they do differently because of technology, and how they do it.
Personally, I have more online accounts than I can keep track of. Some of these include Gmail, Yahoo, MSN, UWM, Myspace, Facebook, Xanga, my blog, and so many I cannot remember. It seems strange to think that only three years ago, I barely even used the internet, but now I could barely live without it.
The ability to express yourself online is something that I believe is bringing the world closer together. People from all around the world are communicating at all times of the day. Ideas that people once kept to themselves are now being shared to thousands simultaneously. The world is quickly becoming smaller and smaller.
This digital change comes with higher education, and I believe that the more educated people become, the more powerful the Internet can be. For example, at UWM, students are expected to know basic Internet skills to complete their assignments. In my Enviornmental Geography class, I have to respond to the teacher's questions online. In my Media Writing class, I am expected to know how to create a blog. Without useful online skills, it is nearly impossible to be successful. And at UWM, it is nearly impossible to learn.
The best thing about the online world is that it will continue to change and new forms of communication will continue to be developed. Expressing oneself online has never been easier, and this I feel is what defines this generation.
Here is the link to the article I am commenting on.
The Emerging Online Life of the Digital Native: What they do differently because of technology, and how they do it.
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