1. Do you think technology such as texts and emails improve or harm our communication skills? Why? (From "The Overconnecteds". I think that emails and texting harm our communication skills. By only texting, emailing, or talking trough myspace we are just becoming more impersonal. I just think that when you talk to someone in person or even on the phone you have more of a connection with that than you would through texting. I think it’s stupid when people say that texting is faster; I would much rather call someone it’s a lot faster than a text any day. Emailing is alright, people use emails a lot to keep in touch and to send important documents; emails are like the new letter and sending emails in an alright way to talk to someone. So I believe that technology like texting and myspace is harmful to our communication skills.
2. What impacts do social networking sites such as Facebook and mySpace have on society? Explain. (Article series in class). They actually impact society in a large way, that’s what I think at least. When adults are also getting accounts in social networking sites you know that it’s impacting everyone. Although there is an impact on society, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. Who honestly cares if everyone has a myspace, facebook, and a twitter account? So when it comes down to it, it’s a miniscule impact on society. The current war has a way larger impact on our current society; why are we worrying about who does and does not have a myspace?
3. How do you think you and your friends are affected by the marketing techniques described in The Merchants of Cool? I believe that everyone is affected by big conglomerate companies. If you work at home, stay at home, and produce all off your own material objects and food then you may not be affected; but do you know anyone like that? We all are affected by the media that surrounds us follows us home and is featured on everyone’s television sets at home.
4. How do you think technology has impacted our access to both "hard" and "soft" news? I really have no idea what you mean by “hard” and “soft” news. I guess if “hard” news is the information you can get on I internet and “soft” news is what is on the nightly news then I understand. I think it’s now easier to find “hard” news and it’s a good thing, because it means that we can be more informed when it comes to our news.
5. Refer to the "parasite violinist scenario". Would you kill the violinist to get him off your back? Or stay conjoined to him for 9 months? This is a tough question to answer because one answer benefits someone else a lot and another answer is looked down upon. I don’t think this question can be answered truthfully right now either; the only way you could honestly answer this question, is if you have a conjoined violinist on you. It’s a good question to ask though, it makes getting an abortion way more logical. Most people look at abortion as murder and an easy escape from a “fun night” or something. In conclusion, I would like to say that I would keep the violinist on my back, but I don’t know whether or not that’s what I would truly do.
6. Do you think America should disarm despite other countries' nuclear programs? Yes, we don’t need nuclear weapons at all. I think that either one of two things would happen if America disarmed there program. One thing is that everyone would follow the leader and everyone would get rid o their nuclear programs. The other thing that could happen is that we get nuked because we have no defense against other countries with nuclear weapons. I don’t actually thing that it’s safe to disarm a countries nuclear program in this day and age; it’s almost not safe because there is a constant threat from everyone. When it comes down to it, I believe that we should never have even messed around with nuclear warfare; but we are already stuck in it.
7. Do you think commercial farming is ethical and does knowing how your food is produced make you want to change your habits? Commercial farming is not ethical; it destroys our land and gives us less nutrients in food with a higher caloric content. It really doesn’t fix a lot of our current problems either. It’s like we buy cheaper food and in return the food is less healthy for you. The government should not be aloud to subsidize certain crops because it causes farmers to grow to many of certain crops.
8. Do you believe euthanasia is ethical? Why or why not?
When it comes down to it, it’s the individual’s choice. If they want to get put out of their misery then it’s their choice. I think that it is a little weird that a doctor gets to kill the patient, but if it was the patient’s decision then it’s ok. So in conclusion I believe that euthanasia is ethical.
9. Do you think creating "designer babies" is ethical? Why or why not?
Creating designer babies for anything other than health reason is unethical. If you are making “super child” then that is unethical, here are lists of reasons to explain why. For example, making you child smart can lead to being let down when your child doesn’t try hard and school. The possibilities with designer babies are endless, but it is immoral and unethical to make a choice for the unborn child if they don’t want to be a super child. You cannot make decisions for your child and you will be let down when your child isn’t everything you wished for.
