Semester Reflection

I'm not sure if any one else is thinking the same thing, but I am thoroughly enjoying this class and I look forward to what ever we are going to learn in the future. I continually had spontaneous, seemingly random deep thoughts and realizations during 3rd and many of those inspirations became blog posts at one point or another. I George can attest to the fact that I think a lot about life and society and other things I would never normally think about, and I enjoy it. It feels as though I continually have my mind blown of a weekly basis, and I love it. This class has been so interesting, and it isn't just Fletch doing a great job or good material and lesson plans, although those are true too. It's all of us who make the class so great. We have a couple big personalities in the room so discussions are sometimes very one sided, but over all we have a good group of people who all have different view points and opinions, and although we all didn't get to participate in Socratic Seminar, almost everyone posted on the blog about ideas and realizations they had, but never got a chance to say. This shows that while we may struggle with speaking out in class, at least we have good ideas and things to contribute. I think we had a great semester together and in a way I'm excited to try sitting at new tables, although I do like my current table a lot. I think next semester however we should try to push ourselves and each other to speak up in class more and to give others a chance to speak if we find ourselves being the only one who is ever talking. Overall I feel great about our class and I can't wait to start off the new semester with you all on Monday!

who controls the past controls the future

     Who controls the past controls the future. This statement is very powerful and meaningful because it relates to everyone's life. If you think about the future, where do you see yourself in 10 years? The actions and decisions you make now will impact my future. Also, looking into the past where did i imagine myself being now. This is very important because in life one chapter closes and another opens. Your destiny may already be finalized depending on the choices you make in the present. For example, if i worked hard to become a a doctor or a lawyer, my state of mind now will directly impact the future.

free thought and free speech

     Free thought and free speech are different because nobody can read your mind. However when you speak people will hear and there can be consequences. Nobody's thoughts are controlled but speech can sometimes be controlled. In 1984 thoughtcrimes control free thought and individualism. To sum it up free thought is alot more powerful because it goes unnoticed and a person is able to think of anything they want; however, we can't really share all of our thoughts.

friday

     During the discussion on Friday i felt like people had good arguments and opinions on the topics that were brought up. I like how we were relating 1984 to our lives because it helps me get a better understanding of the book and the world we live in. In addition from what i heard on friday, it feels good to know that most people are conscious and aware of things such as the government interrupting our privacy, 1984, etc.. It is great to discuss these things and listen to different point of views. Also, the statement "reality exists in the human mind and nowhere else" is a powerful statement because we could be living a dream who knows, maybe that is why everything happens for a reason.

How Does the World View You?

Think about this, what do you see when you look in the mirror? What kind of person do you see yourself as? now take it one step further and imagine how other people see you. If you were to receive an honest opinion from someone who knew you well but was not biased to make you feel good or to hurt your feeling, what would they say? Now take it even one step further, and imagine what you look like to a stranger. How does a person see you as they view you for the first time? I've been sporadically thinking about all these questions for about 3 years, and they intrigue me. I sometimes even get stuck on the first question, who am I really? But now is not the time for me to question my being and sanity, I have a point I was getting to.
I realized a few days ago that these age old questions now have a new, "Little Brother" question that has never needed to be asked but now it is a very prominent and relevant to our culture, and its becoming one of the most important of the 4 questions, how would someone see me if all they saw were my posts and comments on social media? I think the best, most preferable answer to this question, and the answer I wish I could give but sadly cannot, is that people can learn just enough about me on social media to know and be intrigued by my interests. I think it should be every ones goal to use social media to show off what we like and dislike in a tasteful manner. However I will be the first to kick my ego to the curb and say I either use social media way too much, or too little. I believe social media is good, and it is useful to keep in touch, to entertain, and to stay updated. So I wish I were able to use it more, although my particular situation is such that I can't go on regularly, or at least as regularly as most people. However occasionally when I do get the chance to go online, I get carried away, posting too much, commenting boldly and humorously, albeit obnoxiously as well. I can't seem to find the right balance and I see many people do as well. There is an abundance of posting about personal issues that, in all honestly, should stay private, or at least refrained from being put out onto social media. Many of my friends I've noticed can seem a bit depressed, moody, or even bipolar because of how they post and in the end they can seem like attention seekers. I suppose every one wants attention at some points in their life, and I can understand that, but too much is too much, and there is a line that shouldn't be crossed online, however fine that line it may be. The main point I'm trying to make is that maybe we aren't thinking enough about our use of social media, and maybe we ought to think more. It is hard, but I think if we were to cut back on out obsessiveness about letting everybody know our deepest feelings, we might not be in this predicament of being monitored and having our privacy violated through social media. Because if you think about it, if someone can know your deepest feelings, desires, and issues, who you hang out with the most, who you hate, love and what you do in your free time, just by glancing at your twitter profile couldn't that person easily use that information against you through manipulation, surveillance, or something else?

Free Thought and Free Speech

Free speech and free thought are not that different from each other. In the book 1984, they live in a very different world. For them, they really don't have the freedom of speech or thought. They say that if you are thinking something that goes against their laws then you are thecnicly breaking the law and should be servierly punished. So for them free speech and free thought are the exact same thing. If they say something that goes against what they belive in them ita against the law and you will get arrested. Now if you think it and they end up having proof you thought it, you will also get arrested. So yes it is the same thing. Depending on how you look at it 

Michio Kaku- intelligent, world renowned, Japanese Scientist... Mind Reading

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XsXXD8iEyU -- Saw this about 2 weeks ago.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57jsJZjnpqo -- and i found this one today


Sorry for sharing so late!!!