#my best attempt at a personal sociological observation

[creamlacecami]

i aim to nurse femininity back to health, in doing so through my own.

[freedom-of-fanfic]

i’m here for the discussion, not the discourse (a manifesto)

In my FAQ I mention that ‘despite running a blog that talks a lot about anti-shipping, I try to ignore anti-shippers.’

Of course, I don’t actually ignore anti-shippers. I read their posts regularly and think about what they mean, and why they’re saying it, and who planted the rhetorical seeds condoning their behavior. But I try to not get into arguments with anti-shippers.

There’s a lot of reasons for my reluctance to argue with members of a community I frequently analyze. Most importantly: anti-shipping rhetoric is intolerant*. But another reason I avoid arguing with anti-shippers is because they discourage and shut down nuanced discourse on complicated topics. When any attempt to engage in a less than black&white discussion of fraught topics such as taboo sexual fantasies in fictional works is buried in an avalanche of disgust, no meaningful discussion can occur.

What I’m advocating for these days is less ‘anything goes, absolutely no limits, full stop’ and more ... well. what the rest of this post gets into.

Here’s my FreetoFic manifesto, aka: why I run this blog:

Mainly: I believe nuance is everything. 

Hardly anything is black&white ‘bad’ or ‘good’, ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’. For example: in moving to huge aggregate social media sites, fandom became easier to locate and adult/dark fandom content easier to access on accident. Realistically, we can’t just censor all adult/upsetting content: so how do we keep underage minors/anyone who doesn’t want to see this stuff from seeing it? What is the responsibility of the creator vs the consumer? Sites like tumblr and twitter make it hard to address things in nuanced ways, so I’m trying my best to discourage simplified groupthink and encourage nuanced, independent thought on complicated & fraught subjects.

I prefer accurate education on potentially dangerous things to censorship of the thing. 

Censorship doesn’t made hated things go away; it just pushes it into hiding. Pretending upsetting things don’t exist by forbidding people from writing or talking about them doesn’t actually make the upsetting thing stop existing. I advocate letting ppl talk about these things via fiction if they want while increasing education on the reality of the thing, so even inaccurate, bad fiction doesn’t trick ppl into thinking the fictional version is realistic.

I think reality and fiction have a complicated relationship that can’t be reduced to ‘fiction does not affect reality’ or ‘fiction affects reality’. 

I use this blog to examine the actual relationship of fiction and reality.

I think fandom and activism have been conflated, to the detriment of both. 

When fandom/fanworks are ‘supposed’ to be activist, it stifles creativity and hurts ppl who consume fanworks while thinking they’re all activist educational material when they’re not. I try to fight this conflation.

Words have definitions and they matter.

people who defined themselves as ‘anti-[ship]’ had begun to use words like ‘pedophilia’, ‘children’, ‘child porn’, etc in wildly expansive ways, which has been used to justify accusing people who ship what they hate of being sexual perverts and child molesters. It upsets and tires me out, so I use this blog to address the hyperbolic rhetoric.

I’ve noticed a lot of abusive, cultlike behavioral patterns and intellectual dishonesty among people who argue fandom should be censored according to their tastes/beliefs. 

It makes me worry because (1) I’ve noticed that these behaviors are spreading, even to some people making counterarguments, and (2) the dishonesty and misdirection irt how to identify dangerous people in fandom is literally making it easier for abusers to hide. I do my best to point out the abuses and untruths perpetuated in the name of ‘anti-pedophilia/incest/abuse’ rhetoric - and to address that predatory people are on all ‘sides’ in fandom, advocating for whatever their chosen prey advocates for - to protect people from false flagging.

I am increasingly aware of a connection betweeen fandom policing rhetoric and anti-kink/anti-porn rhetoric, which are SWERF arguments.

I want to draw attention to nonintersectional radfem influence in fandom for those who don’t want to be influenced by them.

I want to remind people who are targeted for harassment campaigns by people policing fandom that they are being abused, and no matter what they said or created that triggered the attack, it does not justify the treatment they are receiving.

.

I want to remind people that it’s okay to imagine and examine potentially harmful/dangerous concepts. 

It doesn’t make you a bad person & doesn’t mean you’re doomed to act on your imagination in reality. Fandom policing seems to have made a lot of ppl scared of themselves, and I try to dismantle that.

fandom is a microcosm that echoes the social climate it’s swimming in. 

For example: as authoritarian thinking has swept through America / the western world, so it has swept through English speaking fandom. Sociologically speaking, fandom is a great place to observe comparatively low-stakes behavioral patterns. I write about what I notice here.

Finally: I love fandom.

and I want everyone - even fandom policers - to find fandom a happy place to be instead of an upsetting place. I don’t know how we get there, but I figure talking about it is the first step.

---

‘discourse’, in the academic sense, is an ongoing (& ideally intersectional) dialogue dedicated to defining, debating, expanding, and exploring complicated, often-fraught topics. This is deeply valuable!

But colloquially, ‘discourse’ means ‘ongoing public argument in an open forum.’ Modern social media is designed to encourage it - and nothing keeps the argument going like limiting context and nuance. Intolerant groups thrive in environments like these.

I’m not here to participate in the colloquial ‘discourse’. I’m here for something deeper (and kinder.)

*intolerant rhetoric dehumanizes and scapegoats a group of people, then advocates for committing acts of violence - physical, mental, or institutional - against them.  As a person who calls for tolerance of opposing ideals, I’m obligated to ignore and shut down intolerance. (This is the Paradox of Tolerance.)

[harperhug]

In case the article gets paywalled:

What Good Is 'Raising Awareness?'

Just being educated about diseases isn't enough to make people healthier.

In 2010, a strange meme spread across Facebook. People’s feeds were suddenly filled with one-word statuses saying the name of a color, nothing more. And most of these posts were from women.

The women had received messages from their Facebook friends that were some variation on this, according to The Washington Post: "Some fun is going on ... just write the color of your bra in your status. Just the color, nothing else. It will be neat to see if this will spread the wings of breast cancer awareness. It will be fun to see how long it takes before people wonder why all the girls have a color in their status. Haha."

Oh, okay. It was for breast cancer awareness. Except, no, wait—how? The Susan G. Komen Foundation had nothing to do with it, though it did get them some Facebook fans, according to the Post story. It wasn’t clear at all who started it. There was no fundraising component to the campaign. And the posts weren’t informative at all. In fact, their whole point was to be mysterious. Maybe people asked their friends what they meant by just posting “beige” or “green lace” and then they had a meaningful conversation about breast-cancer screenings and risk factors, but I’d guess that happened rarely, if at all.

This incident is just one example of the nebulous phenomenon of “raising awareness” for diseases. Days, weeks, months are dedicated to the awareness of different health conditions, often without a clear definition of what “awareness” means, or what, exactly, is supposed to come of it.

Recommended Reading

According to a commentary published this month in the American Journal of Public Health, the United States has almost 200 official “health awareness days.” (The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists all national health observances on its website.) And that’s not counting all the unofficial ones, sponsored by organizations.

The paper was an attempt to begin to investigate whether awareness days actually improve people’s health. Jonathan Purtle, an assistant professor at Drexel University’s School of Public Health, teamed up with Leah Roman, a public-health consultant, to see whether awareness could even be quantified.

“We both kind of anecdotally observed that there seem to be more [awareness days] than ever,” Purtle says. “In public health, and in medicine, we’re putting more and more emphasis on evidence-based practices. Everything should be informed by science in some way. We asked ourselves, has anybody ever evaluated these things, do we know if they’re effective at all?”

The answer: Not many people have, and we really don’t.

Awareness days do seem to be on the rise, by at least a couple measures—the researchers found that more than 145 bills including the words “awareness day” have been introduced in U.S. Congress since 2005, a huge leap compared with previous years. Articles that reference "awareness day"  in the PubMed database have followed a similar, but less extreme, upward trajectory.

Trends in Attention to Awareness Days in U.S. Congress and Health Science Literature

But most of the articles Purtle and Roman found in their search (which was just preliminary, not a systematic metareview) were editorials or commentaries announcing or discussing awareness days. Only five studies empirically evaluated the effects of an awareness day, “but the designs weren’t that rigorous,” Purtle says. The best one, according to Purtle, found that on “No Smoking Day” in the U.K., five times more people called a quit smoking hotline than the daily average. “But that was about it,” Purtle says.

So evidence really is lacking on what good these awareness days do.

Liz Feld, president of the nonprofit advocacy organization Autism Speaks, says she has seen results from World Autism Awareness Day, which was April 2, and Autism Awareness Month, which goes on for all of April. The organization has raised more than $10 million so far in April, more than 50,000 people registered on Autism Speaks’ website, and more than 18,000 buildings around the world illuminated with blue lights on April 2 as part of the “Light it Up Blue” campaign. A spokesperson also told me that “Light it Up Blue” was a trending topic on Facebook and Twitter on April 2.

The money is something concrete that came out of the awareness month, but what about the rest?

“One-third of people who live with autism are nonverbal,” Feld says. “The power of a global blue-light movement is very strong. On that day, that is the collective voice of the autism community. That’s a show of power. The blue lights are really a voice.”

Here, "awareness" seems to mean sending a message, getting attention, and getting people to talk about the issue, at the very least on social media. During the week of the most recent World AIDS Day, December 1, 2014, AIDS.gov got the most engagement and new followers of the entire year, Miguel Gomez, the director of AIDS.gov, told me in an email. Perhaps not coincidentally, the organization’s HIV Testing and Care Service Locator got nearly triple its average traffic on December 1.

Social-media activism gets a lot of criticism, some of it deserved, some of it less so. (There's even a somewhat pejorative term for it: slacktivism.) On one hand, it’s an easy way to reach a lot of people, and it often amplifies the voices of the marginalized. On the other hand, changing your profile picture for an awareness day (something Autism Speaks asked people to do for Light It Up Blue) might just be the smallest possible unit of support for a cause. If not backed up by money or deed, it’s little more than lip service. But lip service is not nothing—if enough people do it, it could help shift cultural norms, as Melanie Tannenbaum wrote in Scientific American, about people supporting marriage equality by making equals signs their profile pictures.

“Based on everything that we know about our brains and their bafflingly strong desires to fit in with the crowd, the best way to convince people that they should care about an issue and get involved in its advocacy isn’t to tell people what they should do—it’s to tell them what other people actually do,” Tannenbaum writes. “And you know what will accomplish that? That’s right. Everyone on Facebook making their opinions on the issue immediately, graphically, demonstrably obvious.”

With a controversial issue like marriage equality, enough equals signs on Facebook pages could send the message that this is a common cause to support, and just maybe, gather more support, in a snowball-rolling-down-a-hill sort of way. The thing is, though, that with diseases, everybody’s pretty much already on the same side. There aren’t pro-cancer people who need convincing to come around.

“The question I would ask Autism Speaks or someone who's doing some sort of initiative like ‘Make your picture blue,’ is how they think that will trickle down into some sort of positive outcome for people with autism,” Purtle says.

So I asked.

“First of all, anyone who takes the time to change their picture, they feel invested, like they’re part of something,” Feld says. “That’s the culture we live in now. It’s a way for them to participate. It creates a sense of a community, it really goes back to that. People like to be part of something, look at the ALS ice-bucket challenge. They wanted to be part of something that was bigger than themselves. It’s free, it makes you happy, it makes you feel like you're doing something.”

But Feld recognizes that this isn’t enough.

“You’ve got to follow it up with something else,” she says. “What comes with raising awareness is a responsibility to do something about what you’re aware of. I always say to people, ‘April 2nd is great but what happens April 3rd?’”

When so much is vying for people’s attention, especially online, including the couple hundred other awareness days, even if you get people to listen, how do you get them to do more than just post a status?

There is a sociological theory called narcotizing dysfunction, which proposes that the more people learn about an issue from the media, the less likely they are to do something about it. Purtle and Roman posit that this might be an unintended effect of awareness days, that people might “conflate being knowledgeable about a health issue with taking action to address it.” It’s not enough to just say “this is a problem, and we need to do something about it.” There are a lot of problems in the world that need doing something about.

So in addition to awareness-raising, to try to get people to do something, Autism Speaks fundraises and asks people to sign petitions. “[When we try] to get corporate sponsors, I always tell people here, you can’t just go pitch this as a moral imperative,” Feld says. “There are a lot of moral imperatives. An effective awareness day has got to give people a window into what a real person who's living with autism is going through. My goal is for people to see the face of someone with autism on Autism Awareness Day, so that they carry that with them on April 3rd, April 4th, April 5th.”

Awareness days wouldn’t be so popular if there weren’t an appetite to address health problems. “People want to do something, which is good,” Purtle says. What he worries is that awareness campaigns’ focus on the individual—what you need to know, what you can do—could reinforce existing troublesome ideas about the origins of health, especially with conditions like obesity and heart disease, where lifestyle is a big risk factor.

A lot of people believe, he says, that “it’s really people’s choices that determine their health outcomes and if they’re unhealthy it's either: 1. They made bad choices, or 2. They’re just unlucky and have some genetic thing. These awareness [days] seem to be reinforcing that if you’re aware of the health issue, it’s a good step, and it might be even sufficient to address the health issue. That really flies in the face of the complexity of the various forces that influence a person’s health and a population’s health.”

Those forces include environmental, societal, and economic factors—things that can’t be fixed with knowledge alone. “I think if more people understood that, perhaps we’d see awareness days looking a little bit different,” Purtle says. A better awareness day, he thinks, would spread information about the prevalence of a condition and its risk factors, as well as policy changes that could lessen disparities or help people living with the condition.

“Neither Leah nor I think awareness days are necessarily a bad thing, nor is awareness a bad thing,” Purtle says. “Awareness can be a first step toward changing behavior, but in my opinion, more importantly it would be a first step to positively address the policies that impact a population's health.”

[wingsofkpop]

When You Love Someone - Part Four /// Eros

pairing(s): Park Jaehyung x Reader, Day6 x Reader

genre: High School!AU, Young Love!AU, pretty much all Angst this one is

warning(s): None

word count: 2,7k

synopsis: There are many paths in life, but the longest of all is the path to the heart. In your eyes, what does it truly mean… to love?…

chapter directory

In the entire four years of your friendship, you and Sungjin have only had one meaningful fight that led to eventual disaster. It was right after winter break of junior year at the high school’s annual Winter Formal event. To be honest, you can’t remember the true details since the entire night was merely a blur of fake snowflakes and mediocre music—all except it was the first time you’ve ever seen Sungjin lose his temper. 

From what you can remember, you had been dancing with Jae—both of you agreed to remain friends after your breakup—when Nayeon and her entourage ended up spilling their cups of punch on your mother’s old homecoming gown, a dress that her own mother had given to her in the past. It was an accident, until Nayeon laughed and said you could pass for a tramp on the side of the road. You blacked out with rage after that, so the rest is a little fuzzy, but the last thing you remember is Sungjin dragging you outside the party and angrily chastising you for causing a scene—it's also important to note that this was where you first learned the two were dating. Anyway, still blinded by your temper, you ended up saying some pretty nasty things about not only the cheerleader, but your friend as well. And he, the same to you. 

Long story short, the two of you avoided each other like the plague for almost a month. However, you were the one who caved first and waited almost an hour on his doorstep to apologize to him in tears. It’s something neither of you have talked about since then, being mutually agreed that it’s definitely not one of the best moments in your friendships, nor have you really thought about it much. Until now. 

After your screw-up, you tried to call Sungjin the next day as well as the day after. You tried to call once in the morning, twice in the evening and once before bed—knowing that he’s probably up late studying or working on some last minute college stuff; Sungjin’s always been an overachiever like that. You also tried to catch him at school, but no matter how early you arrive to his classrooms or how late you stand outside the building, his face never comes into view. It’s as if he has vanished from your life with as little as no trace to find him. 

It’s ironic… cause you miss him more than ever. 

You watch the soccer team battle against one another, likely practicing for an upcoming game. The sight of a dozen students in bright, neon uniforms chasing after a black and white ball was boring, but mind-numbing. Not enough to completely distract your brain from the ache in your chest, but enough to at least calm your thoughts. Your eyes twitch when you spy one of your own friends, Jihyo deliver a kick that lands the ball in the opposite goal. Shouts and cheers emerge across the field—you meant to call out your own praise, but you couldn’t find the voice. You couldn’t find a lot of things lately. 

“Since when do you watch soccer?” Your gaze snaps to the side at the familiar demand of your best friend. Wonpil carefully climbs his way down the bleachers to where you’re currently sat, lowering next to you with a sigh of exhaustion, “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” 

You shrug still not meeting the newcomer’s eyes, “I needed some air.” 

“Long day?” 

“I guess.” Wonpil huffs at your reply, but makes no attempt to scold you for your indifference. Instead, he also turns his attention to the active players, eyes darting back and forth as the ball rolls about the field. You find yourself suffocating in the awkward silence—completely aware that Wonpil wanted to say something more—and turn to face the boy with a glare. He catches your gaze with an expression of surprise. 

“What?” 

“If you want to say something, Pil, then just say it.” 

His face goes blank. “It’s not my place to say anything, noona.” 

“You say that every time-” You chuckle, the sound laced with sarcasm. “-can never have an opinion, can you?” Once the words leave your lips, guilt immediately spreads through your body. Your eyes flutter shut with another sigh, “Sorry… that wasn’t fair.” 

Wonpil shrugs, “I’ll let it slide. I know you’re having a hard time, right now.” 

“I just don’t know what to do, Pil.” You confess, carding a hand through your wind-blown hair. “He won’t talk to me, much less see me.” 

“You hurt him,” Wonpil says. “Can you blame him?” 

“Of course not. I just don’t know how to fix it.” You bury your face in your hands, “I mean… what if he never forgives me?” 

“You’re so blind, noona. Both you and Sungjin.” 

“What?” 

“After all these years and you still haven’t noticed,” He shakes his head with an impatient sigh. 

Your eyebrows furrow, “Haven’t noticed what? What are you talking about, Pil?”

“I’m talking about the fact that Sungjin is in love with you,” Wonpil answers, “and you’re obviously in love with him.” 

The first feeling that enters your chest is the incredulity that your best friend would even consider saying something like that, but when you open your mouth to retort and defend, you find your own throat dry with speechlessness. It’s not like you’ve ever not thought about what it would be like to date Sungjin—hell, every person has thought about what it would be like to be romantically involved with their best friend at least once in their life—but you’d never let it go farther than that… right?

You think back to the most golden of moments you’ve shared with the boy, analyzing each one in closed-detailed context: He listens when no one else will. He accepts all of you, the worst of your flaws included. He always has your back even in the most inopportune of situations… But aren’t these all things that best friends do for each other—with some extra benefits in between? Like the skinship and nicknames… or the fact that your heart beats a million times faster whenever you hear his voice… or maybe that you never feel truly complete until he’s around...

Your stomach aches at the realization—because you know better than to lie to yourself and certainly not your own heart.

“...Why did he never say anything?” You murmur finally, already physically and psychologically exhausted from the thoughts bouncing through your mind. With tears welling in your eyes, you meet the gaze of your other best friend. “I mean… after Jae and I broke up, I thought he would at least-” 

“-He didn’t want to hurt you anymore than you already were, noona.” Wonpil moves a hand to your knee, sympathetically squeezing the flesh. “That’s why him and Nayeon started dating… so he could get over you…” 

“But I just-I still don’t understand… Why stay away all those months?” 

Wonpil sighs, “He was afraid that he would ruin what little time you have left together before graduation—so I told him he needed to figure out what he really wanted before it was too late.” 

“You…?” You whisper, “All those times you tried to get me to talk to him… so he could-” 

“-so he could see how much he needs you, or at least, you could realize.” He chuckles sarcastically, “Like I said though, the both of you are just so freaking blind.” 

You shake your head, still drowning in disbelief, “...What do I do?” 

“That depends… Do you love him?” 

“I-I… I think so.” 

“No, noona.” Wonpil’s gaze is stern, almost as if he were scolding a small child. “Do you love him?” You shiver beneath the intensity, but gradually relax as more and more intrusive thoughts settle themselves within your mind. Soon only one remained: 

“I do.” 

Wonpil smiles, “Do you want to be with him?”

A smile of your own forms for the first time in the past few days. “Yes, I do.” 

“Then go.” 

“What?” 

“Honestly, noona-” Your companion delivers a hefty shove to your shoulder and points back toward the school, “-you’re killing me here! Go get your man!”

Your eyes widen, “Right now? But he won’t talk to me-” 

“-Just go!” A surprised gasp escapes your lips when you realize your and Pil’s conversation had attracted the audience of the soccer players. You almost laugh at their invested expressions, but decide not to test just how far their and your best friend’s patience goes. Instead you take off across the field and back toward the building with your heartbeat pounding in your ears. 

You can only hope Sungjin will be willing to listen one final time.  

“I just can’t believe Mr. Nichkhun won’t allow me to write a song in place of a story for our project.” Wonpil explains as the two of you watch Kang Younghyun shove his way through a bunch of giggling sophomore girls. He continues to sail his way through the crowded hallway, passing the two of you without so much as a second glance. You hold back a laugh as Wonpil visibly shivers and continue to pilfer through your locker even as he drags on about the teachers of the school are limiting student expression.

“Don’t give up just yet, Pil,” You say, switching out your trigonometry materials for your sociology ones. “If you prove to Mr. Nichkhun that you really want to do that, I’m sure he’ll change his mind.” 

“I can’t help it.” Your companion sighs, “I really don’t want to have to write a fairy tale.” 

“Then why on earth did you take creative writing?” 

“It seemed like an easy A at the time.” 

You shrug while rearranging your art supplies, “That’s why you shouldn’t always go for the easy way out.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

Your laugh at the boy’s defensive tone, but the sound gradually dwindles when you peer past his shoulder. Barely a couple feet ahead was Sungjin, deep in conversation with some other students you recognized from the student body, and at his side was none other than Nayeon, the head cheerleader herself. 

Wonpil, startled by your sudden mood change, looks over his own shoulder. His features soften as he observes the sight as well, turning back to you with a sympathetic expression. You avoid his likely apologetic eyes and continue to search for a pencil, even though you already have two tucked away in your notebook. 

“You know-” He pauses for a moment as if arranging his words, but quickly resumes, “-The dance was weeks ago, noona… You should go talk to him.” 

“And say what? I think Nayeon’s the most self-centered, dramatic, privileged brat that I ever met and have no idea what he sees in her?” You slam your locker door with a huff before turning to face your companion, your tone a bit more softer than before. “I can’t talk to him, Pil. Not after everything we said to each other.” 

“I’m sure Sungjin is missing you just as much as you miss him, and if you just tell him how you feel-” 

“-He could care less about how I think they’re incompatible. He made that very clear.” 

“Are you sure that’s the real reason why you don’t think they should be together?” You freeze at Wonpil’s question, nearly sending your books crashing to the floor. After taking a moment to compose yourself, you glance back—unaware of the panic in your eyes. 

You shake your head, “What other reason would there be?” 

He stares back, his expression completely blank. “I don’t know. Just wondering.” 

You take his statement for what it is, feeling relief when Jae appears from somewhere amongst the crowds. You bid your best friend a final farewell before slipping your arm through your other friend’s and dragging him down the corridor toward your next class. When you pass Sungjin, you make sure to laugh a little louder at Jae’s joke. 

—As if it would distract you from the slight ache radiating from your chest.  

You managed to track Sungjin down in the hallway, having just caught him leaving a National Honor Society meeting in the library—memorizing his after school activities schedule does have an ounce of worth. Upon your arrival, the boy obviously notices your presence and attempts to duck behind his other club members in order to escape. 

“Wait, please! Sungjin!” Dashing around the group of students, you stop Sungjin just as he reaches the threshold of the front doors. Once again, the boy tries to maneuver around you to slip out the exit, but you block the doorway before he can pass. “Will you please just talk to me?” 

“Move, (Y/N). Please.” 

“Not until we talk.” He moves to push past you again, and this time you go for his wrist. “Sungjin, please...” 

At your whine, Sunjin stills. A brief moment of silence encompasses the atmosphere before it’s interrupted by his murmur, “What, (Y/N)?” 

 “About the other night,” You begin, “I’m so, so sorry-” 

“-You’re sorry? That’s what you came to say?” 

You frantically shake your head, “Well n-no, but I needed you to know that.” 

Sungjin stares at you for a moment, his eyes filled with something that you couldn’t read. His gaze sends tremors to your knees, but you stand your ground, your conversation with Wonpil echoing in your head like a motivational symphony. However, anxiety floods your system as an expression of frustration emerges over the boy’s face. His sigh of exhaustion sends more shivers through your body. 

Sungjin’s head rocks back and forth, “I can’t keep doing this with you.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“This.” He says softly, “I’m always there for you, (Y/N), whenever you need me.” His eyes finally lift from the floor to meet your gaze and you find your heart shattering at the absolute pain present within the chocolate irises, “but the one time I need you, you’re not there.” 

His statement has tears welling beneath your lids, guilt and dread blossoming in your chest like a poisonous flower. You step closer to your companion, moving your hands to his elbows. He continues to hold your eyes even as salty droplets begin to spill from his own. 

“I know I messed up-” Your voice cracks. You take a moment to compose yourself, to stop the tears from escaping, before continuing, “-but if you just let me explain and let me fix this...” 

“Enough damage has already been done, (Y/N).” Sungjin pulls away from your grip, leaving your arms to helplessly fall to your sides. You can’t bear to watch as he heads toward the door, instead keeping your eyes on the linoleum floors. You don’t bother to hold back the tears this time, allowing them to flow down your cheeks like rivers of fire. However in the very corner of your vision, you notice his figure pause just beyond the door. For a moment, you had hope—until his cracked comment met your ears: 

“Some things are just best left broken..” He smiles sadly, “I hope you find whatever it is you want, sweetheart.” You watch Sungjin exit the school, his silhouette fading with each step he takes into the blinding sunlight—and you’re left with nothing but another round of fresh tears and a heart broken to pieces. 

“(Y/N)-noona!” You quickly dry your tears as Wonpil appears from the opposite end of the hallway, a red-faced and gasping Jae not too far behind him. You meet them halfway, somehow finding the strength to move your legs, and the bright grin across your best friend’s face immediately falters when he takes notice of your tear-stained cheeks. 

“It’s like I told you, Pil. He won’t talk to me.” 

“Then we’ve got some work to do.” Your companion grabs your wrist and pulls you forward with Jae following not too far behind, leading you toward the exit where Sungjin disappeared only moments before. “You’ll need that prom dress first.” 

“I already told you, Pil.” You say, comfortably adjusting your limb in his grasp. “I can’t afford the dress, especially after I quit from the store-” 

“-We bought the dress for you, (Y/N).” Shock invades your body like an electric current at Jae’s amused reply. He bumps his shoulder against yours before sending you a mischievous smile: 

“-but you owe us, and not only for the dress—but for finally setting you up with the guy you’ve been madly in love with for nearly all of high school.”

[nihilist-commentary]

Self-Imposed Societal Alienation and Cultural Hegemony: A Sociological Look at Modern-Day Perceived Intellectualism

The possibilities of self-actualization and individualism are endless in the post-modern society of the 21st century. The vast access to all sorts of media, information and knowledge allows people not only to change their habitus but to create a prototype of themselves that they will in turn use to self-actualize. In this short thesis I will be analyzing what self-actualization means within the context of a modern, post-internet generation and how alienation drives a cycle of endless need for development and transcendence. As a caveat, it is obvious that sociological observations as such are inherently biased and there would be no natural way for me to conduct this enquiry into the adolescent psyche without my own prejudices, though I will do my best to approach this issue from a scientific and distanced standpoint. 

The search for one’s “self” is understandably the biggest question plaguing the minds of young adults, no matter the generation. What makes individuals born within the last 25 years so different is the very different approach to media consumption and media sharing. Individuals have access to a lot more information now than ever before; information that young brains ingest and process rapidly in order to enhance the speed of personal growth. The urge to be “completely individual” and self-actualized is the driving force of young adults, self-expression is thus a tool to firstly attract others who may be on the same path and secondly to categorize, fit and puzzle the aspects of their own mind together to form a cohesive personality. Individualism has been turned into a trend and it seems that seeking out like-minded people does not suffice; the fact that individualism is such a common practise leads to the creation of social groups of like-minded “intellectuals”, from which later on, new forms of individuality will be formed in order to escape exactly those social groups. 

Human has an unsatiable thirst for self-development, though I dare to question how much of oneself’s transformation is truly self-driven. In the light of digitalization, a notion very much new to sociology, it seems the process of self-actualization and change is exponentially more rapid as opposed to a mere thirty years ago. While self-actualization may start within the individual, it is de facto driven by the circumstances around them and particularly by the media consumed by this individual, media that is “hand-picked” by others that this specific individual is modeling themselves after. The notion of “hand-picked media for intellectual adolescents” is a concept that I will address later on within the adjusted introduction of cultural hegemony. For these purposes, I will not be referring to cultural hegemony as a class-based domination, but rather, a consequence of perceived intellectuals enabling their own behaviors. 

Social groups based on equal values, global perspectives and opinions are not inherently a bad thing, though it appears that social groups with a higher degree of self-perceived intellectualism and individuality alienate themselves to a much bigger extent than others.  

This alienation leads to a disproportionate view of the self, society and social dynamics. It appears that self-perception and external perception mismatch and thus this leads to complications in terms of self-identification. The excessive alienation from society and all that is “normal” and “average” distorts the sense of self to a point of unreliability of one’s own perception of social interactions between different agents. Particularly the forceful movement away from all things expected and common becomes a crucial aspect of these individuals. Individuals are no longer tied to and stratified based on their social class, such as Marx argued it, but rather, based on their intellectual integrity and rejection of the status quo. Even a sense of superiority may arise within these individuals; this notion is a direct consequence from societal alienation that has turned into the alienation from one’s own being. 

Mostly, this is expressed in idealist philosophies of life and condescendence towards all other practises, which is also reflected in the cultural hegemony of these post-modern intellectual groups. It becomes ironic once individuals, seeking out their own being, realize that this is not feasible, despite a group of what seems equals; difficulties arise when building opinions and a dynamic change of world perception may ensue. Concrete self-perception fails as an individual disappears within a sea of other “more individual” individuals. What Erwin Goffman theorized about the ego thus becomes evident here, too: rather than establishing a coherent, all-fitting persona, intellectuals create versions of themselves to present, in order to adhere to the values of different groups. 

There, thus, exists the notion of self-inflicted alienation from the basic social group, in order to enhance one’s own perception and increase the degree of “individualism” within oneself. The forceful retraction from “mainstream society” into the depths of pseudo-intellectualism creates a bubble in which an individual feels like they are surrounded by like-minded people, and this happens in every social dynamic setting of young adults, regardless of cultural, linguistic or educational background. 

There is however, and, allow me at this stage to paraphrase Pierre Bourdieu, the underlying factuality that individuals from higher educational backgrounds, hence those pursuing higher education or those involved in literature and general sociological academic discussions, tend to elevate the sense of individuality and intellectualism of their own group to a degree that it reaches cultural hegemony, the notion that this group dictates what is “good taste” or intellectually appealing enough for them. This cultural hegemony is experienced in all areas of the arts, literature, music, theater, and fine arts, and it transcends these inherently flawed distinctions by surpassing each genre of the arts and incorporating the notions of intellectual elitism into everyday life. 

What I attempted to outline above is not a critique, it is not praise either, but it is merely an observation. Sociological analyses tend to only become available once the next generation has reached adolescence, a fact that perhaps highlights the flaw of retrospective knowledge within sociology. Regardless, even this observation stems from a flawed perception, as I, too, am not immune to the concepts outlined above. 

[arcticdementor]

My first reaction to the work of Barbara Ehrenreich was one of complete indignation and contempt. A professor had assigned Ehrenreich’s book Nickel and Dimed (2001) for an English prerequisite at my commuter college—the urban satellite campus for two major universities intended to cater to low-income and nontraditional students. (Go Jaguars!) The book was a committed work of first-person journalism premised on a compelling challenge: to “see wheth­er or not I could match income to expenses, as the truly poor attempt to do every day.” What Ehrenreich “revealed” was the constant struggle to make ends meet, a total lack of security in employment, housing, and resources, declining health from backbreaking work, and the endless humiliations of the American blue-collar worker.

About half of the people in my class were actually “college age,” while the rest were older students with jobs and often children, but not necessarily any higher education under their belt. It was a night class, and when the professor looked around the sparsely populated room, it was usually missing one or two mothers who couldn’t find childcare that evening. Once someone stumbled over a desk, knocking a pile of books to the floor. One of my classmates—an active service member on leave—responded to the din by instinctively drop­ping to the ground in compliance with his training and/or PTSD. Sometimes children colored outside the classroom or students left early to go to their night shifts. Needless to say, most of us found the book boring and its “revelations” laughable. This is not to say it was an unpleasant experience, as it gave us the rare and delicious opportunity to scorn and scoff at the ignorance of the educated. But we were not impressed, to say the least.

It was years later that a friend explained to me that Nickel and Dimed was in fact a revelation, just not for socialists. “Well yeah,” she said matter-of-factly, “that book wasn’t for us, it was for professional‑managerial-class liberals.” This wasn’t my first exposure to the phrase “professional managerial class” (PMC), but it was the first time the distinction seemed so sociologically significant as to force me to revise my opinion of Ehrenreich’s work. Is she a progressive liberal whisperer, spreading the gospel of class politics to the PMC? Is such a task even a worthwhile endeavor?

…

The PMC is a somewhat mushy category. Its defenders and denialists, particularly in academia and the legacy media, often like to include such beloved professions as public school teachers and nurses among its ranks, a wishful idea of inherent fellowship among the college-educated. But such a loose classification conveniently ignores the “managerial” part of PMC. True PMC personnel exercise influence in the management of institutions. College professors, for example, have a role in managing the university—although this is cer­tainly less so as higher education neoliberalizes (as adjuncts fill the jobs once held by tenured professors, and administrators and donors control more uni­versity operations than ever before). Still, tenured professors and administrators have a hand in the management of the middle-class labor force, including who gets to enter it. Nurses, meanwhile, don’t actually manage patients (who under privatized medicine are reduced to customers), and rarely manage much of the hospital. Likewise, public school teachers don’t actually manage their students so much as provide a service for them, and are managed almost com­pletely by non-teacher administrations.

Squishy and permeable as it may be, PMC is still a useful term for the class of professional managers, regardless of all the disingenuous and pedantic protest. Ehrenreich, of course, was not the first to recog­nize or define the managers among the middle class. There was David Riesman’s The Lonely Crowd, C. Wright Mills’s White Collar: The American Middle Class, and the debates between Erik Olin Wright and Nicos Poulantzas, to name a few. But Ehrenreich set out not simply to define and locate the professional managerial class, but spe­cifically to interrogate its own self-awareness. As she writes in the introduction to Fear of Falling, “This book is about what could be called the class con­sciousness of the professional middle class, and how this consciousness has developed over the past three decades.”

This class consciousness, however, has been notoriously avoided by the professional middle classes themselves. In his 1976 “Notes and Commentary on the Irresistibility of the Petty Bourgeoisie,” German author (and who is better equipped to articulate the formal barriers of professionalization than a real-life veteran of the Hitler Youth?) Hans Magnus Enzensberger argued that the managerial class could be de­fined precisely by its inability to attain consciousness of itself as a class.

…

Proving Enzensberger’s point, the very existence of a professional managerial class is often most controversial among the sort of left-wing intellectuals who might fit the description. Take for example David Sessions’s recent Jacobin article, “The Right’s Phony Class War,” in which he rejects the “mythical managerial class” as a right-wing boogeyman conspiracy theory, referring to it as “a pseudo-sociology that pits an ambiguous ‘managerial’ or ‘cosmopolitan’ ruling class against the rest of the country—and lets the people who actually hold political and economic power off the hook.” (It’s worth noting here that theorists of the PMC do not consider it a “ruling class” by definition, but rather a category with a relationship to capi­tal that is distinguishable from both capitalist and worker.)

By contrast, Ehrenreich made no bones about exposing the ideolo­gy of her own frenetic class. And like Enzensberger, Ehrenreich understood the importance of such a class’s apparent instability in the midst of the ongoing class war. Enzensberger believed that the center could not hold, that some of the middle class would join the “goats” of capitalism, while most would eventually be proletarianized with the “sheep,” and “reap the fruits of socialism.” Such an outcome had not come to pass when Enzensberger was writing, leaving him to contemplate the inscrutable resilience of the professional middle class.

His conclusion was that the middle classes—by virtue (or sin, if you prefer) of their position as a “multiply articulated assemblage”—retained an “adaptability” or “characterless opportunism.” His de­scription of this ethos was damning: “Never to take a final stand and to seize every possibility: those are the only lessons that the class has learned from its variegated history.” This “adaptability” had occasionally led the PMC to progressive politics, as has occurred recently, but, he observed, this is not a fixed feature so much as a strategy that lends credibility to its secure role as the architects of cultural hegemo­ny.

Or, rather, seemingly secure role. It turns out that all Enzensberger had to do was wait a bit longer.

…

The root of this neurosis was the historic ambivalence and dread with which the class understood itself as a tenuous “elite” that may or may not succeed in reproducing itself as a class. (Unlike other classes, each generation of the PMC had to earn its status through educational credentialing, qualifying employment, and professional achievement.) As the shock troops of Taylorism, it was as if the PMC always knew on some level that Taylorism would come for it one day as well. Later we learned that these insecurities were justified and that the “fear of falling” was a valid concern: the PMC Ehrenreich described in 1989 was a bubble, a temporary postwar glitch.

…

It seems to me that Ehrenreich has answered her own question here. The PMC have been—at best—fair-weather friends to the working class, and at worst have been even more devious exploiters by dint of their “liberal” credibility. As the class which ushered in neoliberalism, I would denounce the crimes of the PMC far more forcefully than Ehrenreich.

When the PMC are flying high, their middle-class liberal initiatives to combat poverty have been inhumanely punitive and ineffectual: policies like prohibition, eugenics, and broken-windows policing come to mind. On the institutional level, liberal think tanks like the Center for American Progress and wealthy NGOs like the Gates and Ford Foundations have reliably pushed for neoliberal policies and private sector solutions to poverty, conveniently avoiding expropriation, redistribution, and universal public programs and services.

…

So I do not weep for this sinking ship, and would instead save my tears for the members of the working class, who have been left with the check, though they may now include a number of recent PMC exiles. Which leads me to the more practical question: Will a sizable number of these erstwhile PMC join the sheep? Or will most of them instead identify with the goats, following Steinbeck’s pathetic “tem­porarily embarrassed millionaires”? Or will they find no class con­sciousness at all, drifting into lumpen listlessness, atomized from both flock and herd?

…

I am still at times asked to speak at DSA events, including a recent one for the DSA Tech Action Working Group—a decidedly PMC collection of DSA members working in tech. Inspired by Google software engineer James Damore’s infamous “anti-diversity memo,” the subject I was to speak on was “diversity in tech.” The friend who asked me to speak rightly recognized that the tech industry is no longer a small cabal of entrepreneurial specialists but is increasingly expanding into a global labor force of workers—from petit bourgeois to prole, if you will.

I cannot, however, say I found many examples of such workers at this event. Multiple representatives from HR departments spoke up, one to say that “it’s all about hiring practices,” and to urge the attendees to come to HR whenever they had a problem. One woman wanted to read a long academic article about a typesetters’ union fighting automation and other changes that would open the floodgates for underpaid, largely female scab labor. She was under the im­pression that this exposed the sexist nature of trade unions.

The crowd was very “diverse” in all the Ikea commercial ways that warm our Coca-Cola liberal hearts, but some of the most insightful observations came from the bearded and (presumably) cishet white males. One timidly put forth that “HR actually works for management,” while another recognized that the biggest source of “diversi­ty” in the tech industry is highly exploited third-world call-center workers.

At first glance, the superior class consciousness of the beardy white male tech bro may appear counterintuitive, but it is a function of tech industry managerialism that he has a better view of class con­flict. As an industry, tech has thoroughly absorbed “diversity” into its corporate culture and HR programming, for both legal liability and liberal credibility reasons. If you’re a woman and/or minority work­ing for Google and your job is miserable, you are told by the whole world—and by your employer itself—that this is because you are a woman and/or minority. But, you are also told, your employer is here with sensitivity trainings, diversity initiatives, and at-will firing practices (you know, for the bad employees) to remedy all of that and to build a better work environment and, thereby, a more egalitarian world. If, however, you are a straight white man working for Google and your job is miserable, you know it’s because your job is miserable, and the company isn’t there to help you. Liberal identitarian HR obfuscations don’t work as well on exploited and precarious dude-bros.

The evening culminated during the Q and A, wherein a woman earnestly asked, “What do I do if some alt-right guy wants to be in the union?”

Visibly vexed, I replied that if an alt-right guy wants to be in your union, you won.

This statement was met with noticeable consternation, so I went on to explain that you want everyone in the union because the end goal is a closed shop. I explained that this is the very premise of a union: it is not a social club for people of shared progressive values; it’s a shared struggle, and collective politics are the only thing that can actually break down all that office bigotry you’re so concerned about. She did not appear convinced.

I use this particular anecdote to illustrate the obstacles to building a socialist PMC, but I have many others (particularly in the recent spate of white collar unionism), and herein lies the tragic irony of the great middle class exodus: even when they fall, and even when they find themselves in “Left spaces,” they are still too proximal to man­agement—or at least believe themselves to be—to imagine much beyond human resources liberalism. Very frequently, they view blue-collar workers as inherently illiberal antagonists. (Just look at the response to the failed Clinton campaign by prominent members of the liberal media and academia, who have finally answered their fa­vorite old canard of “Why do the working class vote against their own interests?” with accusations of innate bigotry and misogyny.)

Many dedicated socialists of the professional managerial class, from Ehrenreich to my friend who organized this event, have his­torically overestimated the degree to which “liberals” can—or ever really did—benefit working-class Americans. Instead, most PMC lib­erals tend to project their own interests onto the working class, in order to legitimize their decidedly middle-class ambitions (say, a cor­ner office and stock options at a tech firm) through progressive politics. Thus, when middle-class fellow travelers hear the phrase “lib­eral elite” to refer to the progressive PMC, they assume it can be nothing more than a dog whistle, meant to incite working-class re­sentment against themselves. Sessions’s Jacobin article offers an ex­plicit example of this mindset, though Fear of Falling, too, at times protests too much against the right-wing populism that makes hay by criticizing a supposedly mythical “liberal elite.”

…

It’s fair to say that the PMC’s paternalistic contempt for the working classes has been well documented, including by Ehrenreich herself, but what PMC intellectuals often fail to grasp is how much members of this class also hate one another. The PMC has historically had very little class solidarity (McCarthyism comes to mind), and their recent proletarianization—exacerbated by a hypercompetitive job market, atomization, remote work, precarity, internet social dy­namics, professionalization, Taylorism, etc.—has done nothing to suppress their desire to eat their own. Ehrenreich herself recently experienced this cannibalism firsthand.

…

I’ve said before that expropriating Yale and Harvard and converting them into public institutions would be a victory in the class war. But the small liberal arts colleges of the PMC—the Reeds, Wesleyans, and Oberlins—they may actually need to be burned down.

…

Middle-class liberal Remoaners have somehow branded bourgeois cosmopolitanism as Left internationalism, throwing the Corbyn cam­paign under the bus for the sake of an unaccountable capitalist cabal. They’re currently attacking the Labour Party “from the Left,” some because they have mistaken the European Union for the Comintern, and some merely to keep their holidays in Mykonos convenient (not to mention mysteriously affordable these days). Many former Sanders supporters—most notably in “Left media”—have jumped ship, or at­tempt to play both sides, claiming to favor more “electable” candidates as they pander to liberal and iden­titarian hacks in the media and the Democratic Party. Socialists mis­take the middle-class progressive for the comrade at our own risk; a foundation that relies too heavily on the ranks of this nervous, fickle class is doomed to crack and crumble, along with anything we try to build on top of it.

…

The PMC can—and should—be brought to commit to its own abolition, but attempting to evangelize a class that has so much dif­ficulty even acknowledging its own existence is a futile endeavor. At this rare and fragile moment of opportunity for socialism in America, the best bet for Berniecrats is to build a strong base of workers com­mitted to social democratic reforms. The PMC will follow, as they always do; they’re the cart, not the horse.

[ill-be-istj-if-no-one-else-is]

MBTI, Mental Health, and Uncertainty

This is a long post but I think it might be one of my most important ones, and I hope you can take the time to read it.

In light of a couple recent questions I want to address mental health in a different way than in the PSA post. I do still stand by that post! But it was intended to be more along the lines of providing succinct encouragement with clear steps, rather than a means of providing deeper context.

MBTI is an unreliable way (at best) to deal with mental health. It was not designed for it. It has a few aspects that are useful in a limited way, which is honestly how I feel about MBTI at large - it is one tool in a very large toolbox, and it’s not necessarily the best one at that, and plenty of people get along fine without using it at all. (in fact if you’re not up to reading the rest of this post consider this paragraph my main point and the rest all elaboration on that theme).

On a larger scale, a lot of Tumblr advice is a terrible way to deal with mental health. I recognize I’m offering advice here on Tumblr but in general my statement re: all things mental health is that stigma, accessibility, and poor clinicians are all serious barriers to good mental health information and treatment, but that doesn’t mean that the more accessible options of “randoms on the internet” or “psychological theories with a strong internet presence” are a viable substitute.

I think a personal example may be helpful here, so: I have some very severe food allergies. I’ve had them my whole life. And I do fully believe that they’ve shaped aspects of my personality. In some ways, they’ve made me more cautious and desiring of control over my environment. They’ve pushed me to explore things like cooking. They’ve required me to become someone who plans ahead, who advocates for herself, and who’s comfortable saying a firm “no” to intended hospitality. They’ve given me some areas of anxiety. They’ve made me a faster reader. They’ve arguably contributed to my sense of humor.

If I could push a button and get rid of my allergies, I would, without question, because they are often a source of stress and inconvenience. But they did contribute to me as a person, and had I grown up and developed without them, I would probably be different in some ways - and I have no idea how exactly I’d be different. Would I be as fast a reader or as detail-oriented if I didn’t have to read ingredients lists at a glance? Maybe - I was a bookish kid. Would I be as responsible and assertive? Possibly - I’m an oldest child, I was always on the stubborn and independent side. But really, who knows?

I went to a doctor when I was in grad school for a check-up and a top-up of my epi-pen prescription. I said I hadn’t had to use the epi-pen in years. He mentioned that he had a friend with the same allergy who had a reaction once every year or so because he was a little scattered and a huge socializer and people-pleaser, and so he often had reactions to baked goods around the holidays - baked goods that I would unequivocally politely turn down. Same condition. Wildly different responses.

Mental illnesses or conditions are highly analogous to this experience - if they’re debilitating and unpleasant, even if they’ve caused you to develop in positive ways, you’ll be glad for those benefits but you may wish you could flip a switch and get rid of them.

But other conditions might be so central to your identity that you genuinely would not be you without them, and the issues that arise are because your identity is not well-accommodated in your environment

And while I can speculate on which sorts of conditions fall into which bucket (most people with depression would put it in the first; autism, for many autistic people, is in the second; this is a huge topic I can’t do justice here but you can even see this categorization in my language). But in the end, it’s a case-by-case choice dependent on the person with that condition. For more on the nature of ‘abnormal’ conditions and self-conception I highly recommend the Oliver Sacks essay “Witty Ticcy Ray” specifically, and his essay collections The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars. But if you can’t get to those my point is that people’s relationships with things that affect their cognition are complex and deeply personal.

So coming back to MBTI. Is MBTI the reason why I am vigilant and others with allergies are less so? Well, we don’t entirely know where type comes from, but maybe. Maybe it’s my upbringing, maybe it’s my inherent self, maybe it’s something else. We don’t know. I don’t know.

With mental illnesses, there’s a second factor. Allergic reactions are physiological and predictable- doesn’t matter what kind of person you are, if you eat the thing you can’t eat, your body will initiate the immune response. But when your illness or condition also affects your cognition, MBTI isn’t just a reason for how you respond to the condition. Your type, or at least your personality that you attempt to categorize into a type, is both influenced by and feeds into the outward signs of said condition. The outward signs of mental illnesses are themselves diverse! The PHQ-9 survey, a very common depression screening tool, doesn’t require that you display every single possible symptom - just a certain amount of them together (and even then it’s just a starting point for an individual follow-up. So we don’t know what’s ‘you’ and what’s the condition and what’s the combination thereof and even if you and the effects of said condition can really be seen as separate entities.

What this means practically is that figuring out how personality type, in any system, impacts mental health is an astronomically hard task, because both type and mental illness are best described as collections of a sufficient number of coexisting patterns of thought and behavior, not an absolute yes/no. If you’re trying to figure out yourself, again, MBTI is one of many tools and should not be your only point of reference - it’s a good starting point but at some point you’re going to have to leave it and jump into the vast unknown of what the self truly is (I feel very cheesy typing this but funnily enough I think Jung would back me up here). But only you can really do that. I certainly can’t do it for you.

Something that I think a lot of people forget is the origin of MBTI. MBTI was developed using Jung’s idea of cognitive functions as a starting point, and the catalyst was Myers and Briggs (her mother) noticing that Myers’s husband (an ISTJ) was really different from them (both high Ne users) in terms of personality. They took a theory because it matched what they observed in real life. I am unsurprisingly in favor of this. You want to know how people act? Interact with them! You can sum up larger trends in a theory, but it will always be a simplification of the infinitely complex truth. You can’t know how MBTI will make any one person act with any certainty - you can only guess.

Similarly, things like loops and grips are a bit of a one-way street. MBTI theorists observed that certain patterns of stress behavior tended to crop up more frequently in individuals of the same type and came up with names for them and a theory to describe why they may occur. This does not mean that the same behaviors cannot exist in people of other types. This does not guarantee that a person of a certain type and under stress will fall into a loop, a grip, or really do any specific action at all. As I have said many times and will say again, mental illness and stress have real, measurable neurochemical effects and people will ‘self-medicate’ (eg: seeking endorphin-releasing activities when unhappy), and type doesn’t enter into it (which is also why I think the advice to look at your stress behavior is not particularly good).

Finally, even if you are in a loop or grip, if you’re having a difficult time, a decent therapist will probably give you advice that isn’t out of line with MBTI recommendations, because there’s more than one way to come to the same conclusion! A lot of advice is broadly applicable - start with small steps and be gentle with yourself, for example. Play to your strengths - and you don’t need to know MBTI to know what you’re good at. You need to have a general sense of who you are and MBTI is a way to categorize who you are, not a way to do that initial self-discovery.

In conclusion: I know I sound like a broken record, but if you’re interested in human behavior at large please, please treat MBTI as one of many aspects of it. If you have the opportunity to take a class or do some serious reading about neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology, sociology, or basic statistics I recommend it, and whether or not you can do those things, interact with people! Sitting behind a computer screen theorizing how an archetype that must necessarily describe literally hundreds of millions of people is not really a helpful exercise! “Go outside” isn’t a threat to be read in the tone of ‘get off my lawn’; it might be said in a mildly exasperated way but it is meant as an invitation to a vast resource that you are not using to its fullest.

[sunnysynthsunshine]

New Year New Roomate (the self insert stories) (The Young Ones)

A couple of short stories I thought up about The Young Ones some of which involve my oc Kelsie (the new "5th" roommate).

Chapter 1

 The 5th Roomate

It had been a few days since recovering from the bus incident luckily Mike was able to get enough money for the boys to continue living in their Bristol student house, They were given news that there would be a new roommate living with them.

Her name was Kelsie, the 5th roommate she was a drama/media student and she was new to scumbag college She entered, she put her belongings in her room and was quiet She had a jacket, band shirt, choker, shorts, leggings and boots on

Mike, Vyvyan, Rick, and Neil were confused but fascinated Unlike other birds, they had previously seen this Kelsie girl didn't talk much outside of mumbling and sarcasm

Rick decided to talk to her while he was studying Kelsie got out her notebook and started writing

Rick peeked over at what Kelsie was writing about

“So what’s the course like?”

Kelsie shrugged

“It’s alright I guess what do you study?”

Rick said, “Sociology and Domestic Sciences”

From the living room, Neil overheard saying “Domestic sciences maybe you should help me with the cooking sometimes”

“Shut up Neil” Rick answered back

Kelsie finished writing and watched TV  ignoring him

when she went to the sink to put her dishes away she saw Vyvyan sitting on the counter drinking tea

Kelsie complimented his t-shirt

“Oh Rush that’s a great band”

“I know what bands do you like?”

Kelsie answered

“I love Blondie, Iron Maiden, Sex Pistols, Simple Plan and various other bands”

Vyvyan said,

“Good taste, I don’t know what Simple Plan is though”

Kelsie asked

“What do you study?”

Vyvyan said,

“Medicine I’m going to be a doctor if I can be if not I’ll be a surgeon”

Kelsie joked “So you like playing with people’s bodies”

Vyvyan laughed

“Yes, with all these new diseases people need someone to help them and considering the bastards in charge of the health system no wonder people are dropping like flies”

Vyvyan chuckled again sipping his tea

“You know that bastard rRck?”,he once tried to down laxatives and goes on and on about starting a revolution but never actually goes through with it"

“I see” Kelsie answered

Vyvyan said,

"I mean he's alright sometimes but other times he does my head in so we fight a lot"

"perfectly understandable" Kelsie responded

Later after realizing not much was on television that night they went to bed

Chapter 2

: Distracting Mr Balowski

Mr Balowski is about to annoy the boys once again but will their new roommate be able to distract him?

It was like any other day for four college students Vyvyan was watching television, Rick was reading & Neil was doing some coursework while Mike was busy doing "Business" on the other sofa in the room the newest member the 5th roommate of the Young Ones was relaxing until there was a knock on the door... It was Mr. Balowski what sort of scheme was he planning next?

the house had just gotten cleaned after all the time warps and if Mr.Balowski was going to do anything that would make Lazy Vyvyan and Rick get off their asses to have to deal with that would be an ant being a molehill.

Vyvyan sighed at the doorbell ringing "Oh No"

Rick said

"Wait I've got an idea"

Kelsie yawned on the sofa with her headphones on

when Rick suddenly ran over to her "hey Kelsey you're studying Drama right?"

Kelsie nodded

"Yeah?"

Rick made a suggestion

"how about you try to distract Mr. Balowski"

Kelsie didn't know who he was talking about

"Uh, whos' Mr. Balowski?"

Vyvyan answered

"The most annoying bastard in the world second to Rick"

which Rick glared at

Kelsie sighed

"I'll see what I can do"

Kelsie then answered the door looking stoic

"Hello what are you selling"

Mr. Balowski explained

"Yes, I'm looking for Mr.Rick, Mr. Vyvyan, Mr.Mike, and Mr.Neil"

before he removed  his shades

"Oh, Oh my and who are you?"

Kelsie attempted to sound like a generic sexy anime girl

"Oh, It's". she flipped her hair seductively Kelsie"

Mr. Balowski realized

"I might have the wrong address"

Kelsie said

"you know I love guys with Russian accents"

Mr. Balowski blushed

"Oh my "

Kelsie asked holding her phone out

"you want me to show you this band I like My Bloody Valentine?"

Mr. Balowski was turned off and disgusted

"erm no thanks have a good day"

Mr Balowski had ran off

Kelsie cringed

"Oh my that line made me cringe it sounded so wrong"

Rick grinned

"brilliant  at least you got rid of him now we know the best way to stop him is to gross him out"

Chapter 3

: Looking for SPG

Vyvyan can't find his Glaswegian hamster SPG so he tries to think of a plan to get him back

Vyvyan had lost SPG so he was looking around the house for him

"SPG SPG SPG!!!!!!!!!! Where are you?" he yelled

Neil was confused as to why Vyvyan was repeating himself

"why are you saying the same thing over and over again?"

Vyvyan shouted

"It's SPG he's gone missing"

Neil shrugged so he could get something out of the fridge

"Oh well, I'll be using some food for class and?

Vyvyan suddenly got an idea

"I know I'll get some hamster food and bait surely he'll arrive when sees it"

so Vyvyan got some hamster food and poured it all over Rick who was having a nap on the sofa

to get SPG's attention

SPG crawled out of a hole noticing the bait

"I see something"

Kelsie was also resting next to Rick

"I see a sweet looking lass"

SPG walked along Kelsie and then started to jump and crawl all over Rick

Rick trembled unamused

"Ah! something's biting me get it off get it off VYVYAN WHAT PRANK DID YOU PULL THIS TIME?"

Vyvyan smirked as he had found his hamster

"I didn't pull a prank I was just looking for SPG"

Rick scoffed and whined,

"oh your filthy hamster that explains why I smell like onion sandwiches"

Vyvyan explained,

"I needed bait and I knew you'd be the perfect test subject"

Chapter 4

: The Reveal (Rick)

Kelsie (their new roomate) has been hiding their gender identity for quite sometime and they decide to come out to Rick the person that they thinks will understand

It was around dinner time and Kelsie hadn't joined usually kelsie would just chill in her room but this time was longer than before Rick snuck upstairs to see what was the holdup  

he saw Kelsie looking in the mirror of her wardrobe trying to press in her breasts making it looks like she didn't have them

Rick was puzzled by this he had also overheard Kelsie punch a mirror mumbling about how she felt about her gender identity so he observed until he saw Kelsie's eyes turning indicating that she had seen him notice.

Rick asked

"What are you doing"

Kelsie answered

"You must promise not to tell a soul"

Rick nodded making mime like hand gestures

"Cross my heart, not to die, punch a fascist in the eye". "Vyvyan and Neil know enough about me to make me the next celebrity my secrets might be around but I'll keep yours safe and sound"

Kelsie rolled her eyes

"was that another hiaku of yours?"

Rick shrugged it off

"anyways what is this horrible and private secret you want to tell me?"

Kelsie confessed

"I-I may be biologically female but I feel more like a male and sometimes I just feel like nothing ever since I was little I would identify with boys most of the time"

Rick said

"Oh well that's not bad I feel nothing all the time, the world's existence is nothing"

Kelsie tried to explain

"What I mean is I want to be seen as a boy more than a girl sometimes it's hard having to deal with forced expectations and all the pressure"

Rick processed the information, taking the information in a serious understanding way as he also got  personal in his response

"I understand as someone who is androgynous I understand that gender roles are stupid I'm in a similar boat I'm biologically male but I'm non binary those feelings are normal society might say your not ladylike or that you don't fit their standards  who cares what society thinks I think you should be what you want to be and if that involves you sometimes being one of us boys then I have no problem with that"

Kelsie felt accepted as she sniffled a bit "Thank you, Rick, living with mainly some conservative brothers I would always feel different compared to the other girls it's great that I have a roommate who feels the same I accept you

they then held each other in an embrace

only for Vyvyan and Neil to walk in

Neil said "Rick's a transvestite"

Rick was offended at them ruining such an emotional moment

"STOP BRINGING THAT UP!"

Vyvyan joked

"is that why you have girly pigtails in your hair?"

Rick whined

"OF COURSE NOT beside it's in fashion now for men to have more femmine hairstyles"

Kelsie smirked at him

"so you won't be offended by the poof comments?"

Rick was still glaring at Vyv and neil but he smiled when addressing Kelsie

"Not particularly but I want all men to love each other like brothers men like you"

Vyvyan laughed while he started a slapstick fight with Rick

"HA Rick's still a poof"

Rick screamed fighting back

"AM NOT"

Neil asked

"So you're Gay?"

Rick ranted

"NO, I just wish males were more friendly towards each other!"

Neil moaned

"Gay also means happy"

Rick kept shouting

"When am I ever Happy?"

Vyvyan smirked

"then why did you smile at kelsey and not at us?"

( while kelsey just watched tv ignoring the others they were blushing.)

Chapter Management

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Chapter 5

: The Reveal (Vyvyan)Summary:

After what happened earlier Vyvyan decides to go to a Rock festival with Kelsie which he unexpectedly enjoyed (both the music and the cuddling)

Chapter Text

Vyvyan announced

"I've got tickets to a punk festival who wants to join me?"

Kelsie decided to join him

(At the concert)

Vyvyan and Kelsey were sitting on a picnic rug eating mozzarella sticks, hot dogs, and junk food while enjoying the music

Vyvyan felt like maybe he could make a move while he had the chance so he put his hand round, Kelsie, while she was busy bobbing her head along to the musical screeching she found the cuddle to be quite comfortable

Usually Vyvyan was the tough type who was rowdy, loud and tough but on the inside, he had a soft spot for women and platonic emotional connection he would never tell any of the housemates that except for that one time he accidentally joked/blurted out to Rick one time that he fancied him Rick was the poof not him.

It was a fun concert but the fuzzy feeling he had in his heart made the concert more enjoyable than it was planned to be

then the band Against Me! performed onstage

Kelsie awoke from her Nap "is that Laura Jane Grace?"

Vyvyan nodded as he ate from his crisp packet

halfway through the performance, Kelsie asked: "Do you like Against Me?"

Vyvyan yelled

"Of Course I bloody love them one of my favorite punk bands of all time"

Kelsie lowered her voice

"Vyv can I tell you something?"

Vyvyan said

"What? you're going to have to yell It's a bit hard to hear you

Kelsie made her voice louder

"It's something personal Vyv"

Vyvyan answered

"alright whisper it then"

Kelsie explained

"Vyvyan sometimes I feel like a bloke sometimes I know I'm biologically a female but I don't feel like one I like the idea of transitioning but I want to wait for a while first because of the risks involved

am I a bloke or am I a woman?

Vyvyan understood

"I know that feeling all too well Kelsie, a few years ago I myself started my transition from a woman to a bloke it was a rocky road but worth it, in the end, I'll give you advice sod what people think whether your a bloke a woman or anything in between your still Kelsie and that's what matters"

Kelsie smiled as he and Vyv headbanged to the song being performed only for Vyvyan to hold Kelsie's hand before they cuddled

Chapter Management

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Chapter 6

: We are all Mad hereSummary:

the authors ideas on the backstories of the characters (including Kelsie)

Chapter Text

Neil wasn't just a hippy he was a trustafarian while he loved learning about different cultures and saving the planet he came from a very posh high-class family but there is a reason for his self-deprecation because he was so different compared to his family he felt like an outcast so much so he questioned whether or not he was needed at all he eventually just stopped caring about himself altogether.

He became what was known as a flower child he had a connection to nature that others in his family didn't while he hated society he loved the theory of the world's existence whether it meant the many flowers in his families garden or the amazing animals he would find at the zoo.

He learned about Buddhism and he decided to study peace studies at university and made a friend there at Scumbag college he met 3 other misfits, even though he thinks they don't care about him they do they have a soft heart on the inside.

Vyvyan was a troubled child his mom was a shoplifting bartender who cared more about drinking, smoking & stealing than caring for her daughter turned son, she and Vyvyan would sometimes fight and because of her behavior Vyvyan had trouble fitting in as a child other kids were scared of him, authority challenged and broke him mentally he was a rough kid often mistaken for a bully when really he just wanted friends but his own bullies made him bite back making his behaviour violent at times when he didn't want to be.

His dad was ok for a short time he was in his life but  his mom divorced and due to his dad's busy work schedule they rarely spoke however... he did introduce Vyvyan to the Metal scene due to enjoying many horror movies and comics that involved different creatures and scientific experiments that gave Vyvyan the idea to study medicine while he hated society he also hated how diseases like "AIDS" and "Cancer" had the ability to kill so many people.

The reason why he acts strangely is because of how he was raised, he didn't know any better and was mostly raised on television,comic books and the working class neighborhood he lived in that and other than his metalhead buddies at scumbag college he didn't really have any friends to mess with or joke around with or share his video games with he hides it with the anger problems he has but deep down he does care.

Mike's dad was an Italian immigrant who would often bring girls home to pleasure  Mike had a happy childhood but he knew the government and society were crumbling by the time Margaret Thatcher became prime minister he inherited his flirting skills from his papa, he was close to his dad but he had no idea what happened to his mother not that he cares anyway.

Rick was an outcast despite being raised conservative he leaned more left when Margaret Thatcher was in office Rick would cringe internally when he'd hear what her next scheme was going to be on the news he didn't feel like other guys  they were all about sports, getting girls and being tough while he was more interested in changing the world, the arts and fashion he often would write poetry when feeling down so he used that to his advantage.

However his parents didn't really approve of some of his choices and would often take their anger out on him Rick didn't have many friends despite trying to join various groups at school giving up but having developed an ego due to his good grades to hide the fact he was hating life he made jokes but not many people would find those jokes funny he thought he was entertaining the audience when really he was annoying them.

He went on to study sociology at school he also read up about socialism and anarchism and felt like starting a rebellion (in his head).

He genuinely is a weak coward and he knows it but he hates that fact too so he distracts himself often whether it be with poetry, mind games or just failing to get back at Vyvyan for 80th prank he pulled on him that week he may get irritated by Vyvyan and Neil's shenanigans but they are the only friends he has...well until Kelsie came along.

Kelsie never really fitted in at school she used to think she could entertain people like Rick but after getting bullied by kids younger than her  she stopped that idea she was interested in fantasy and witchcraft but then a rumour was spread around the school saying Kelsie was possessed and worshiped the devil she did not want her brothers to find out about her religious beliefs.

After doing research Kelsie became an anarchist she was often used as a scapegoat and felt socially awkward often sometimes tilting her head randomly or occasionally stuttering due to a development disorder she has but never mentions. She had a confusing personality trying to be kind but as times passed became more stoic and emotionless due to trust issues via the internet she delved into escapism through tv, music, anime and various other media based outlets.

She moved to scumbag college and ended up in the same student house as Neil, Vyvyan, Rick and Mike she felt more accepted there and every day was a day of laughter, randomness and unexpected hijinks after joining Kelsie started working on her social skills and wasn't as shy as before.

(despite Kelsie being the same Kelsie from the Matzelberger stories since this is in a more human universe her backstory is slightly more like "Kelsey" (the author) than Kelsie (the OC).

Chapter 7

: Why am I screaming why can't I stop?Summary:

Kelsie has a unexpected panic attack,luckily the boys try to help her

Chapter Text

(Note: this particular scenario was based off a real-life event that happened to me but that didn't end as well as this scenario did)

Sometimes your mind plays tricks on you and sometimes you are your own worst enemy

Kelsie had planned to spend the Saturday afternoon relaxing, However, that didn't go as planned she didn't feel well but not in an "I have a cold way" in an "I'm shaking and shivering and I can't stop while uncontrollably crying" way.

Kelsie tried distracting herself with music but something odd was happening

her hands felt shivery, her stomach was continuously feeling warm and sweaty

then Kelsie started to howl  as she held her throat lightly it felt warm, dry and she was drowsy a little faint

Kelsey's mouth felt like it was blocked by something feeling like she wanted to choke

her body was heating up like an oven and her mind was giving her a feeling of terror and fear

this caught the attention of a certain spotty faced anarchist as he ran down the stairs wondering where the screaming was coming from

"Kelsie?  a-are you alright?" he said concerned

Kelsie shook her head "No Rick I feel like I'm having a panic attack" Kelsie burst into tears "why can't I stop crying I was fine earlier?". "make it stop make it stop WHY CAN'T I STOP??"

Rick tried to understand what was going on as he ran over to the sofa

"Oh dear"

he tried to reassure Kelsie

"it's ok I'm here um how many breaths can you take?"

Kelsie started to attempt some breaths

Rick nodded

"that's good"

before Rick pondered

"As much as I don't want to ask Vyvyan for help I'll probably have to he is a medical student so he'd know more about handling these situations than I do"

"Stay on that sofa Kelsie  I just need to go and get something I'll be right back," he said before running upstairs past the hallway into Vyvyan's pigsty of a bedroom

"VYVYAN!!!!" he yelled

Vyvyan yelled back

"what do you want?"

Rick asked

"Do you have any books about Panic Attacks?"

Vyvyan complained

"what would you need my bloody textbooks for???"

Rick explained

"it's Kelsie she's had a panic attack"

Vyvyan understood

"Oh... have you made her breathe in and out?"

Rick nodded

"Yes her breathing is normal but she's been sweating, shivering and feeling drowsy"

Vyvyan answered

"Right I'll see what I can do"

Vyvyan and Rick ran downstairs where Kelsie was sitting her legs felt weak shaking like a jellyfish

Rick said

"Kelsie! Vyvyan's here I think he might know how to help"

Vyvyan then got a cold washcloth and lightly rested it against Kelsey's face, Neil was told about the situation so he prepared a tea with two sugars and some milk.

Kelsie was eventually able to settle as she laid snug in a blanket as she watched some tv with Rick and Vyvyan Kelsie got better in the past when she would have panic attacks she would've either hid the fact she was having one or she was left to deal with it herself at least now she had Vyvyan, Rick, Neil and sometimes Mike she wasn't alone.

The Young Ones may be a boisterous bunch but they are a soft bunch as much as they don't like to admit it sometimes.

Chapter Management

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Chapter 8

: Cuddles

It's a Stormy night resulting in power outages and a certain punk showing a weakness of his

It was like any other evening at Scumbag College as the storm crackled in the dark dim sky.

Mike was upstairs with some bird he somehow managed to get with

struggling to find food in the kitchen was the grubby self-deprecating Hippie Neil scavenging the fridge for leftovers as he rarely used the oven even if he did that would be dangerous considering the appalling weather.

Trying to ignore the noise was Rick in his room listening to some Dexy's Midnight Runners before the radio paused to static.

Kelsie was sitting at the table doing some coursework on the other side of the room Vyvyan was playing a video game.

Up in Rick's room when the radio and lights turned off it gave Rick a surprise.

"Oh Well that's just bloody great isn't it because of Thatcher and Republican oil deals it's been messing with the weather which is preventing me from enjoying some pop music stupid fascists they'll stomp on anyone's fun"

with a bored shrug, Rick reluctantly went downstairs to see what the rest of the flatmates were up to.

Rick ran down the damp steps when he heard a groan coming from Kelsey trying to practice some play dialogue for their coursework.

"Ugh I can't do it the words are coming out but my tone just doesn't fit the scenario and I just can't seem to smile today IT'S ALWAYS A FAKE ONE!"

"Now Kelsey I'm sure you can do it I fake a smile all the time what emotion is your character supposed to show?" replied Rick in a soft sounding tone while a stoic stubborn Kelsey answered coldly with

"Happiness"

Oh well, how do you feel when you are with me, Vyvyan, Mike, and Neil when you have to put up with all their nonsense and feel so eccentric your skin crawls?"

Kelsey took a bite into her Dorito before saying in a more neutral, calm laid back sort of way "I don't mind it actually It's quite a funny feeling like I  belong with you guys seeing what odd scheme Mike's planning or what concoction Vyvyan is preparing is a thrill to my day".

Rick was taken aback but it made him grin a little except it wasn't out of arrogance like it usually was.

clapping his hands together he said, "See? you can be happy sometimes when you are playing your southern belle stereotype just think that some of us are there with you sure you'll be able to steal the show!"

"Thanks" mumbled Kelsey sounding timid under her duffle coat while she proceeded to pack up her scripts and file folders into her bag placing it next to other bags under the staircase.

The Thunder had turned into lighting as the bolts struck the sky with a loud "CRACK".

Kelsey and Rick joined Vyvyan on the sofa while Vyvyan ignored them to focus on his game swiftly fidgeting the buttons on his controller staring at the blinding television screen despite how bleak the room had become.

Mike was trying to shag a gorgeous woman he was with....when the lights went out

He couldn't see a thing not even the irresistible looking woman sitting before him clad in only underwear.

As she tried to get to the next base, Mike was still puzzled he knew he was in his room but he didn't have a clue that he was supposed to be laid tonight suddenly he felt several sharp pricks at various regions of his body he fell backward feeling idiosyncratic as he left the room. After he had seen some light he noticed the lady had dug her painful fingernails into particular areas of his body Mike was usually the calm, collected flatmate of the group but not this time.

he yelped "ahh!" as he dashed downstairs clambering onto the sofa before shutting up

the final crack of lightening hit the power supply when Neil came running to the back of the sofa blocking Vyvyan's view while he completed the game Vyvyan was confused since the words "GAME OVER" are usually displayed when you die in a video game

it terrified him to notice his surroundings seeing the four other people taking up his space

the little hot headed metal head punk had enough as he screamed

screaming louder than the sound barrier making the electricity work again like magic

"Whoah! that was heavy like heavier than Thor's hammer" exclaimed Neil in wonder at what had just happened

Vyvyan shuddered feeling quiet a feeling he would only really show during classes or when sleeping

h-hold me he meekly said under his breath like if his voice colliding with the Thunder was too much for him

almost like he was scared though he would never ever admit to being scared of anything

Vyvyan? asked Rick concerned that his normally loud psychotic rival was acting like more of a "poof" than he was

"There there," said, Mike, as he rubbed calming circles on Vyvyan's back Kelsey lightly rested his head on Vyvyan's shoulder and Rick gave Vyvyan a gentle cuddle startling him slightly

"You Poof what are you doing?"

"I'm cheering you up matey you were scared of the thunder weren't you that's a bit soft ain't it?"

Vyvyan hated that his weakness was revealed sobbing a little not being able to think of any insults to get back at rick with

"Cuddles are alright even if they are for poofs" Vyvyan answered calming down before an irritated Rick started arguing with him making the punk smirk as the sun started to come out starting the beginning of another day.

Chapter 9

: Apolitical Anarchy

Rick and Kelsie babble about politics

Kelsie and Rick were protesting

Kelsie held a megaphone as she said

"Teresa May is trying to turn Britain into an authoritarian government

Rick said "Teresa's bloody Britain that's what I say"

Later a news crew who were recording people who were voting recorded their protest.

the News Reporter asked, "are you voting for labour or the tories?"

Rick proudly stood on his soapbox

"None of the above"

the News Reporter added what about Ukip?

Kelsie said "they are a bunch of fascists"

(later)

Rick innocently asked, "What is Northern Ireland's political spectrum like?"

Kelsie blankly stared "it's crap"

[md3artjournal]

7:39 PM 8/15/2021

So that VaatiVidya artbook is amazing.

This is the type of art I'm up against. x_x; I can't compete with that. I can't compete with artist alley. I can't make my living this way. But I also get suicidal when I return to "normal" lifestyles, so I can't just have a "normal" job.

If I could just compete on the level of web comic artists, maybe I wouldn't have to feel so bad about myself and my art. Maybe I'll never be on the level of videogame artists. But I could be like Marzi from Introvert Doodles, Sarah Andersen from Sarah's Scribbles, Emm Roy's Positive Doodles, etc. My dream is to be like kirakiradoodles---gods rest her good good soul ;.;! To just make cute, simple things, into adorable collages and calming/positive colors and just be CUTE. She's the farthest from some videogame concept artist, but her art makes me FEEL so happy and calm about life. Her and other web artists prove that you don't have to be an intricate digital painter. It gives me hope.

But then I also look at artist alley artists' also beautiful, simply stylized work. Like cosmically tiki. And I can see how little emotion my art holds. All my doodles are stiff and non-gestural. They barely convey emotion, let alone emotions! ;o;!!! I just feel like such a failure. At the very least, I don't belong in artist alley. ;_;

But the crazy thing is that my art, though objectively bad, even by my own observations, still makes me happy. I love seeing how far I've come compared to my old skills. And even if my art isn't as expressive with emotions and movement as most other people's art, it still can have a level of cuteness that makes me happy. And for such a long time, I've just wanted to be able to draw cute things. All my best art is realism, sharpness, and aggressive, chaotic brushstrokes. But all I've wanted is to make cute things! ;o;!!! I just want cute things...Is that too much to ask? ;~; And now, sometimes, fairly often, I can get it. I can make it. I don't think it's objectively good enough for other people, but *I* like it.

So maybe I should give up on artist alley and just be a hobbyist? But I don't know if I could sustain myself with a dayjob. I used to have an office job and tell myself that I'll just do the things to feed my soul and make life worth living, during my time off. But I spent all that time in traffic, exhausted, or stressing over running out of time before my next shift, instead. x~x I found myself "suicidal" for "no reason", even though I had all the financial stability that everyone told me was all I needed to live. And yet, I wanted to die. I used to go through life constantly attempting to die. I'm afriad to go back to that. I'm afraid to go back out there. Because I know me, and that's what I'll eventually do. Not that I should be afraid of death. I don't have any dreams, goals, or aspirations. But I'm just so tired and afriad of experiencing pain and fear everyday. Is that all life is? "Life is suffering", the Buddah says. Back in school, when school constantly made me wish I was dead, I didn't understand why I couldn't just leave being alive,since I had no goals or dreams to stay for. Then after my college years' botched suicide attempts, I realized that millions of years of evolution towards survival instinct, is not something easy to overcome. And I gave it my best. But I'm generally incompetent in all things AND coward. I knew that statistically men have higher suicide successes than women because they tend to use guns. I should have bought a gun if I wanted to be successful suiciding. But I realized I'm a coward. So I'll just drift through life, waiting to die. That's all I've been doing lately, during my 10 years hiding inside my house being a NEET, pretending to be an artist who "makes a living" in artist alley. And apparently not technically enough of a "hikikomori" to self-identify as one, without some rando on the internet telling me "I'm not a real hikikomori", I'm just "romanticizing mental illness", and implying all my feelings are invalid. I suddenly remembered that when I was little, I had these constant homicidal feelings and everyone who really knew me was afriad I'd grow up to be a serial killer. Nothing for years before that rando reminded me of my intense feelings to hurt other people, until them. But of course, I was only feeling homicidal when I wasn't suicidal. And both of those feelings were when I wasn't watching cartoons. That's the funny thing. There are things in this world/life that I like, but for most of my life, everything/everyone (I respected) has been telling me that those things don't count. "Cartoons aren't important." "Comic books aren't important." "Stop wasting time on that or we'll get angry." So if those things don't count, then there really is nothing to live for. I know objectively that they were probably wrong, since those things are the only thing I enjoy in life. So many times during childhood, I remember easing suicidal thought spirals, by remembering fandoms I loved or being afraid to die and not finishing a series. So even if the world was telling me that those things weren't important, I knew they were. But knowing and really feeling/understanding that are so different. It's hard to reverse a lifetime of conditioning, especially from people you respect. That's why the recent sentiment I've seen online has really struck me: Maybe life can just be "...wander through life finding interesting things until you die". That's the shard of Hope I need. Maybe it could even get me through a job, purely for getting money, so I could buy all the otaku/geek merch and time to enjoy geeky things.

I've always been obsessed with Hope. Was I aware it was because I was always so depressed?

I've always jumped at academic and psychological media studies, proving that geeky things---like videogames, comics, art, fiction, even daydreaming and Personal Myths, etc.---were important and significant in life. Was I aware it was some part of me was trying to fight back against all those voices in my head and all around me telling me that the things I loved weren't important?

Sometimes I think I should go back to school to study media's impact on psychology, culture, sociology, etc. Society especially needs it now, that social media, information systems, and entertainment media has becomes such an integral part of everyone's life, and are all using the same brain tricks as videogames or tapping into the same basics human psychologies as myths and folklore. But I'm so afriad of going back to school. The only reason I got through it before, was because I promised myself that once I was done, I'd never ever EVER have to return to ANYTHING LIKE IT ever again. I just hate the continual failure, every single day, at every single project, reminding me how I'm just not suited to this whole being alive thing and really should try harder at suicide. So I can't just go back to school and become some kind of media studies scholar/consultant. Besides, I'll fail at it, like I do everything else.

Why did I give up writing? That was the only thing I was confident at. ;_; I only became an art major because I wanted to be a writer who draws their own comics. Did studying art really take up so much of my time? ---Oh, now I remember. This was before always-on internet was a thing. Let alone, cheap. As soon as I was separated from my online writing community and my college dorms' always-on internet, I just lost all that encouragement to draw. And I probably wasn't reading as much anymore. Because after high school, I vowed off reading novels, in retaliation to all the crap they gave us to read for stereotyped reasons..."'We won't stereotype women', my ass...! Then why did you give us nothing but goddamned Romance novels to read in high school!? If you wanted our all-girls school to learn about prominent female writers, my brother's all-boys school a few minutes away was reading freaking Mary Stonecraft Shelley! Frankenstein! The first scifi novel, at a time when women weren't even given the intellectual credit to be anywhere near the science fields! But noooooo..."All girls love the Romance genre"...godfreakingdamnedbullsh...! Anyway, I switched to reading comics and fanfiction instead. So when I got disconnected from my fanfic/writer community, when I moved out of the college dorms, I must have gotten disconnected from reading/writing altogether. ;_; Good news: I got into manga; quickly absorbed a reflexive sense of storyboarding/paneling. Bad news, after the last Borders closed, I lost my habit of buying/reading new manga everyday, and lost even that skill. I guess I can't keep anything. Jeeze, no wonder I panic and obsess whenever I lose something, whether keys or a thought. But I'm still journaling-writing. And Tumblr-post writing. The other week, I thought about writing an article for a website, but my life experience is so idiosyncratic, I didn't know how to write for that audience. Apparently, I can't even write about my mental illness because it's not "real" compared to other people with the same mental illnesses I identify with. ~_~; I can't even write about struggling with the same doctor-prescribed regimens, because I've avoided doctors all my life. Too much anxiety there. Whenever a psychiatrist manages to trap me in an appointment, I can't think about anything except how to get out of there and avoid talking to another human being, especially about myself. No matter what tricks I have to pull to get out of there ASAP. Too bad I'm good at that. I should try NaNoWriMo more seriously this year.

[realyoungdarius]

2.3 Discussion: Job Match

b2.3 Discussion: Job Match

Getting Started

In their textbook, Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, and Wright (2019) explain,

Job analysis refers to the process of getting detailed information about jobs. It is important for organizations to understand and match job requirements and people to achieve high-quality performance. This is particularly true in today’s competitive marketplace.

Job analysis is the building block of everything that human resource managers do. Almost every human resource management program requires some type of information that is gleaned from job analysis: work redesign, human resource planning, selection, training and development, performance appraisal, career planning, and job evaluation. (p. 169)

The learning concepts from the Chapter 4 textbook reading include:

Analyzing an organization’s structure and work-flow process, identifying the output, activities, and inputs in the production of a product or service

Understanding the importance of job analysis in strategic human resource management

Choosing the right job analysis technique for a variety of human resource activities

Identifying the tasks performed and the skills required in a given job

Understanding the different approaches to job design

Comprehending the trade-offs among the various approaches to designing jobs

This research and discussion assignment will provide you with the opportunity to further advance your learning through skills advancement in how to obtain detailed information about jobs for the purpose of matching a candidate’s competencies, education, and experience with the needs of the position.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

Match knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) to job requirements.

Develop SMART goals for gaining KSAOs that are lacking or in need of greater enhancement.

Resources

Textbook: Human Resource Management: Gaining a Competitive Advantage

File: What Is a Scholarly Article?

Media: Employee Recruitment and Placement-Presentation A

Website: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Information Network (O*Net)

Reference

Teacher Stream, LLC. (2009). Mastering online discussion board facilitation. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/stw/edutopia-onlinelearning-mastering-online-discussion-board-facilitation.pdf

Background Information

According to Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, and Wright (2019),

Two types of information are most useful in job analysis: job descriptions and job specifications. A job description is a list of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities (TDRs) that a job entails. TDRs are observable actions. For example, a clerical job requires the jobholder to type. If you were to observe someone in that position for a day, you would certainly see some typing. When a manager attempts to evaluate job performance, it is most important to have detailed information about the work performed in the job (that is, the TDRs). This makes it possible to determine how well an individual is meeting each job requirement. (p. 171)

The authors continue:

A job specification is a list of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) that an individual must have to perform the job. Knowledge refers to factual or procedural information that is necessary for successfully performing a task. A skill is an individual’s level of proficiency at performing a particular task. Ability refers to a more general enduring capability that an individual possesses. Finally, other characteristics might be personality traits such as one’s achievement motivation or persistence. KSAOs are characteristics about people that are not directly observable; they are observable only when individuals are carrying out the TDRs of the job. (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, & Wright, 2019, p. 172)

For this activity, you will conduct a self-assessment, comparing and contrasting your competencies with those identified for your current job or for a dream job.

Instructions

Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

Read Chapter 4 in the textbook.

Review the media, Employee Recruitment and Placement–Presentation A

Navigate to the discussion topic and, in your initial discussion post, provide responses to the following discussion prompts:

O*NET – The chapter reading described how the Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*NET) can help employers. The system was also designed to help job seekers. There are programs: such as the My Next Move website, which focuses on ability profiling, interest profiling, and work importance location; there is an online resource center; there is the code connector, which helps people to find jobs in typical clusters of industries; there is the O*NET academy, which provides training to potential candidates for different careers; and there is a Data Collection program.

Visit O*NET’s website and write a brief summary explaining whether you think this new system meets the goal of promoting “the effective education, training, counseling, and employment needs of the American workforce.”

I  believe that the Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*Net) helps meet the goal of promoting “the effective education, training, counseling, and employment needs of the American workforce”.  There are programs: such as the My Next Move website, which focuses on ability profiling, interest profiling, and work importance location; there is an online resource center; there is the code connector, which helps people to find jobs in typical clusters of industries; there is the O*NET academy, which provides training to potential candidates for different careers; and there is a Data Collection program. These programs all aid to help potential career candidates pursue the career that they are best suited for!

The O*NET Interest Profiler helps find jobs that offer a bright outlook, help career seekers find jobs based on their interests, and help career seekers prepare for career paths they want to pursue. The initiative also helps career seekers who have been in the military, and career seekers who speak other languages! The O*NET Ability Profiler measures: Verbal Ability, Arithmetic Reasoning, Computation, Spatial Ability, Form Perception, Clerical Perception, Motor Coordination, Finger Dexterity, and Manual Dexterity! The O*NET Work Importance Locator measures: Achievement, Independence, Recognition, Relationships, Support, and Working Conditions.

For anyone who has internet access, this website seems like a treasure trove of information, which would help people to find their direction. Of course, a lot of the training and assessments have to be conducted by a trained professional, who would have the proper materials necessary to conduct the training! I even took the interest profiler test, which I have taken before, because of my interest in figuring out what my interests are and how I can apply them to a career and/or careers! The results displayed what is typical for me! 

Job Specification – Identify your current job or a dream job. Locate a job specification for your current job or a dream job. Attach the job specification as a document to your discussion posting, or provide a complete URL (web address) in your post for the job specification.

I am currently attempting to make it as a vocalist, and I am in charge of all facets of this business. I am doing my own marketing, which I was trained for, somewhat, in my undergraduate studies. I was a marketing major and political science and economics minor! 

I would like to delegate a lot of the jobs to someone else! For instance, I would like to have someone advise me in areas like finance, accounting, and road management. I have a better idea of how to conduct general management and marketing activities!

It would certainly help to be more inclusive when it comes to reaching more people, right? I guess that would depend on what my goal was when it comes to who I’m wanting to have become long-term patrons! Myself, as a manager in the high condition of organizational inclusiveness, would be rated higher on supervisory inclusiveness! (Rice, D.B., Young, N.C.J. & Sheridan, S., 2021).

There would also be a significant and negative interaction between organizational inclusiveness and supervisory moral identity. As someone who is attempting to be inclusive, I have opened my mind toward considering what different groups of people would consider to be moral! I’ve undertaken a study of the underpinnings of psychology, sociology, and political science; but especially sociology! (Rice, D.B., Young, N.C.J. & Sheridan, S., 2021).

Job Match – For each knowledge, skill, ability, or other characteristic (KSAO) identified in the job specification, evaluate how well your own KSAOs match the job requirements. This evaluation may be presented in paragraph or table format.

Summary Report for: 27-2042.00 - Musicians and Singers

Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.

The occupation code you requested, 27-2042.01 (Singers), is no longer in use. In the future, please use 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers) instead.

Sample of reported job titles: Choir Member, Gospel Singer, Musician, Opera Singer, Orchestra Musician, Percussionist, Singer, Singing Telegram Performer, Tenor, Vocalist 

https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-2042.00?redir=27-2042.01

The knowledge is in the area of: 

Fine Arts — Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. (Or, whatever other language you are attempting to reach people in!)

The skills involve:

Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

The abilities involve:

Hearing Sensitivity — The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.

Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Auditory Attention — The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Work Activities involve:

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Detailed Work Activities involve:

Perform music for the public.

Study details of musical compositions.

Practice athletic or artistic skills.

Conduct research to inform art, designs, or other work.

Train others on performance techniques.

Work Context:

Work With Work Group or Team — How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Physical Proximity — To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?

Contact With Others — How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Job Zone:

Title Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed Education Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Related Experience Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. Job Training Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Job Zone Examples These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.

SVP Range(6.0 to < 7.0)

Interests:

Artistic — Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Styles:

Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Work Values:

Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Related Occupations:

25-3021.00 Self-Enrichment Teachers   Bright Outlook 27-2011.00 Actors 39-7011.00 Tour Guides and Escorts 41-2031.00 Retail Salespersons 41-9091.00 Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers

Wage and Employment Trends:

Median wages (2019)$30.39 hourly Employment (2019)175,600 employees Projected growth (2019-2029) Slower than average (1% to 2%) Projected job openings (2019-2029)19,000

Top industries (2019)Other Services (Except Public Administration)Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

Sources of Additional Information:

Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

Academy of Country Music

Actors' Equity Association

American College of Musicians

American Federation of Musicians

American Guild of Musical Artists

American String Teachers Association

Chamber Music America

Country Music Association

International Bluegrass Music Association

International Society for the Performing Arts

Responding to my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats when involving my (KSAO):

My weakest link, when it comes to being a musician, is creating an image that goes along with the music. Sonically, I’m most of the way there. Selling my product comes down to the image I present. The logic and reasoning that goes along with my story is there. The visual image is what I need to work on most. 

SMART Goals – Specify two or three SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and established with a timetable/date for completion) for gaining KSAOs that are lacking or need greater enhancement.

So far, when it comes to my social media presence: I have 70 likes on my newest Facebook Fan page; I have 620 followers on Twitter; I have 1,084 followers on Instagram; I have 16 followers on my YouTube Channel. And, I have 30 followers on my Tumblr page. 

On my Facebook fan page, my last post garnered 96 views; which is more than the number of people who like the page. For the same post, on Instagram, I garnered 9 likes. 

My top tweet on Twitter, over the last 28 days, earned 231 impressions. In March of 2021, I’ve had a total of 208 tweets. I had 7,758 tweet impressions. I had 4,183 profile visits. I had one mention. And, I earned three new followers!

The video, on my YouTube Channel, with the most views, is a short post about a new product in the sex industry: sex dolls. lol I earned 182 views on that video. I also recently released my first music video, with the help of a videographer whose channel is called Coast Vibes. On his channel, my video garnered 178 views, with a total of 6 thumbs up and 1 thumb down. On my channel, which I posted about a week or two ago, I’ve garnered 10 views, and no thumbs up, and no thumbs down!

When it comes to, at least, measurable, achievable, relevant goals, I feel like I am getting closer to reaching some goals I’ve had. People are starting to understand my branding and geopolitical positioning. This is bringing about more awareness. 

I have struggled with building interest, though, because of how complex my products and services are, and because of the area I am operating out of at the moment. Muncie, Indiana isn’t exactly a hot bed for rap and hip hop artists. Muncie, Indiana is a college town. And, that is where I am hoping to unearth a lot of my fan base from, in order to help me grow. 

I would also like to create music in other genres, such as: country, pop, grime, drill, slightly political music, and maybe a little bit of rhythm and blues. I get the sense that the city I am operating out of would prefer my country and pop music! 

Ultimately, with the skills and knowledge base, skills, and abilities I have, I am hoping that I’ll be able to appeal to audiences across the geopolitical landscape; especially in the United States. I am attempting to reach people, mainly, based on behavioral and psychographic segmentation. However, I do realize I also have to consider demographic segmentation and geographical segmentation somewhat! 

And, I also realize that people, across the world, have different tastes and preferences when it comes to auditory and other sensory information. Some of my music will relate to other parts of the world, and the rest of it will hopefully appeal to people in different parts of the United States. 

The difficulty in doing this comes down to consumer behavior issues and/or problems; especially when people are attempting to discern what the “in” groups and “out” groups are doing. When you are attempting to bring people together, you have to recognize that not all of the people in these groups are going to accept what you have to offer. They surely wouldn’t consider you to be a purest in their eyes; especially when I’m attempting to shape thinking and feelings when involving issues like sexuality, gender identities, race relations, political party affiliation, issues and/or problems involving criminology, etc. Cases like the one provided in “ Prejudice, Stereotypes, and Labeling Effects: Sources of Bias in Person Perception”, show that there is a correlation between labeling a person and people displaying bias! (Jussim, L., Manis, M., Nelson, T. E., & Soffin, S., 1995)

My geopolitical positioning and branding is set up for me to attempt to be a diplomat and mediator across the world. As such, I’m more interesting in moderating different crowds, so as to attempt to be a solution for societal problems across the world! So, groups will likely have a favorite artist, who I am attempting to include in my vision for the world! My products are so complicated that it definitely helps to involve myself in arts, sciences, and  You know, as Novartis said, “Every disease is a musical problem; every cure is a musical solution.”

References

Jussim, L., Manis, M., Nelson, T. E., & Soffin, S. (1995). Prejudice, Stereotypes, and Labeling Effects: Sources of Bias in Person Perception. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 68(2), 228–246. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.68.2.228

Rice, D.B., Young, N.C.J. & Sheridan, S. Improving employee emotional and behavioral investments through the trickle-down effect of organizational inclusiveness and the role of moral supervisors. J Bus Psychol 36, 267–282 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-019-09675-2  

Provide a detailed post that demonstrates clear, insightful critical thinking. Your initial posting should be 200–300 words in length.

Organize your initial post by using a heading for each response to match those shown in bold text in Step 4.

Your initial posting is to include, at a minimum, three sources properly cited and referenced:

Post your initial discussion by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.

Conduct a critical analysis of postings by two of your classmates by the end of the workshop.

Each discussion response to a classmate should facilitate engaging dialogue and evidence critical thinking when addressing your classmate’s posting. Utilize the following ways to engage in scholarly dialogue and expand learning around the topics in this workshop:

Each response should be 200–300 words in length and include, at a minimum, three sources properly cited and referenced:

For questions on APA Style, review OCLS APA Writing Styles Guides

The Human Resource Management textbook.

Two academic journal articles obtained through OCLS.

For an explanation of what constitutes an academic source, review the "What Is a Scholarly Article?" file linked within the Resources section of this page.

Extension: Expand the discussion.

Relevancy: Relate the topic to a current event.

Exploratory: Probe facts and basic knowledge.

Challenge: Interrogate assumptions, conclusions, or interpretations.

Relational: Make comparisons or contrasts of themes, ideas, or issues.

Diagnostic: Probe motives or causes.

Action: Identify an application or an action in personal or work life.

Cause and Effect: Cite causal relationships between ideas, actions, or events.

Hypothetical: Pose a change in the facts or issues.

Priority: Seek to identify the most important issues.

Summary: Elicit synthesis. (Teacher Stream, 2009, p. 5)

The Human Resource Management textbook.

Two academic journal articles that are at least three pages in length and published within the last five years.

At least one academic source is to be different from the two academic sources provided by your classmate.

For an explanation of what constitutes an academic source, review the "What Is a Scholarly Article?" file linked within the Resources section of this page.

[sejjouaven]

(Quotes-Additional Notes) ‘Psychotherapy & Existentialism’ - Viktor E. Frankl (1967)

(Pg. 2)

"Man's freedom of will belongs to the immediate data of his experience."

(Pg. 3)

"Man is not free from conditions, be they biological or psychological or sociological in nature."

"Man is free to rise above the plane of somatic and psychic determinants of his existence."

(Pg. 6)

"Thus we could say that while the 'will to pleasure' mistakes the effect for the end, the 'will to power' mistakes the means to an end for the end itself."

(Pg. 8)

"If man were really driven to meaning he would embark on meaning fulfillment solely for the sake of getting rid of this drive."

(Pg. 9)

"...man also only returns to himself, to being concerned with his self, after he has missed his mission, has failed to find a meaning in his life."

"Rolf Von Eckartsberg, also a Harvard assistant of mine, has shown the insufficiency of the role-playing concept by pointing out that it avoids the very problem behind it--the problem of choice and value. For again there is a problem: Which role to adopt, which cause to advocate? We are not spared decision-making. "The same holds for those who teach that both man's ultimate destination and primary intention is to develop his potentialities. Socrates confessed that he had within himself the potentiality to become a criminal, but decided to turn away from materializing this potentiality, and this decision , we might ad, made all the difference."

(Pg. 12)

"...meaning must not coincide with being; meaning must be ahead of being. Meaning sets the pace for being. Existence falters unless it is lived in terms of transcendence toward something beyond itself. Viewed from this angle, we might distinguish people who are pacemakers and those who are peacemakers: the former confront us with meanings and values, thus supporting our meaning orientation; the latter alleviate the burden of meaning confrontation.""In this senses Moses was a pacemaker; he did not soothe man's conscience but rather stirred it up. Moses confronted his people with the Ten Commandments and did not spare them confrontation with ideals and values. Peacemakers, on the other hand, appease people; they try to reconcile them with themselves. "Let's face facts," they say. "Why worry about your shortcomings? Only a minority live up to ideals. So let's forget them; let's care for peace of mind, or soul, rather than those existential meanings which just arouse tensions in human beings.""What the peacemakers overlook is the wisdom laid down in Goethe's warning: "If we take man as he is, we (may) make him worse; if we take him as he ought to be, we help him become it."Once meaning orientation turns into meaning confrontation, that stage of maturation and development is reached in which freedom--that concept so much emphasized by existentialist philosophy--becomes responsibleness.”

(Pg. 14)

“In the course of growing awareness, it might then finally turn out that life never ceases to hold and retain a meaning up to its very last moment. This is due to the fact that, as a phenomenological analysis can show us, man not only finds his life meaningful through his deeds, his works, his creativity, but also through his experiences, his encounters with what is true, good, and beautiful in the world, and last but not least, his encounter with others, with fellow human beings and their unique qualities."

(Pg. 15)

"It goes without saying that suffering can be meaningful only if the situation cannot be changed--otherwise we would not be dealing with heroism but rather masochism.""Life can be made meaningful in a threefold way: first, through what we give to life (in terms of our creative works); second, by what we take from the world (in terms of our experiencing values); and third, through the stand we take toward a fate we no longer can change (an incurable disease, an inoperable cancer, or the like).""However, even apart from this, man is not spared facing his human condition which includes what I call the tragic triad of human existence, namely , pain, death, and guilt. By pain, I mean suffering; by the other constituents of the tragic triad, I mean the twofold fact of man's mortality and fallibility."

(Pg. 17)

"Each man is unique and each man's life is singular; no one is replaceable nor is his life repeatable, This twofold uniqueness adds to man's responsibleness.""Ultimately, this responsibleness derives from the existential fact that life is a chain of questions which man has to answer by answering for life, to which he has to respond by being responsible, by making decisions, by deciding which answers to give to the individual questions.""Again, I quote Geothe who once said: 'We must always aim at the bull's eye--although we know that we will not always hit it.' Or, to put it more prosaically: We have to try to reach the absolutely best--otherwise we shall not even reach the relatively good."

(Pg. 21)

"...in this age of existential vacuum, the danger lies much more in man's not being burdened enough (*Perhaps a burden caused by workings that are accumulative toward suffering?*) Pathology results not only from stress, but also from relief of stress which ends in emptiness. A lack of tension created by the loss of meaning is as dangerous a threat in terms of mental health as is too high a tension."

(Pg. 25)

"...we see that man is ready to suffer if only he can be satisfied that his suffering has a meaning.”

(Pg. 28)

"Today the exercising of one's freedom is sometimes hampered by what I call a crippling pandeterminism which is so pervasive in psychology. The doctor's pandeterminism plays into the hands of the patient's fatalism, thus reinforcing the latter's neurosis. There is, for instance, the contention that a person's religious life is wholly conditioned by his early childhood experiences--that his concept of God is formed according to his father image. In order to obtain a more accurate information on this correlation, I had my staff at the Vienna Poliklinik Hospital screen the patients that visited its outpatient clinic in a day. This screening showed that twenty-three patients had a positive father image, thirteen a negative one. But only sixteen of the subjects with a positive father image and only two of the subjects with a negative father image had let themselves be fully determined through these images in their respective religious developments. Half of the total numbered screen developed their religious concepts independent from their father images. Thus half of the subjects displayed what education has made out of them, and the other half exhibited what, by way of decision, they had made out of themselves."

(Pg. 31)

"Even in advanced years one should not envy a young person. Why should one? For the possibilities a young person has, or for his future? No, I should say that, instead of possibilities in the future, the old person has realities in the past-work done, love loved, and suffering suffered."

(Pg. 38)

Homeostasis, equilibrium, adaptation, self-preservation, defense, and adjustment are merely negative concepts and must be supplemented by positive concepts.

(Pg. 39)

The normal approach of man to the world is never primarily that of a means-end relationship. Rather, such a view, centered around the means-end relationship, corresponds to what is observed in animals which have been exposed to certain artificial conditions.

(Pg. 40)

This proves (regarding an experiment illustrated in the book) that even an animal is not normally, or at least not primarily, interested in the restoration of that psychic condition which is called satisfaction.

(Pg. 41)

"...'pursuit of happiness' amounts to a self-contradiction:..."

"A really good conscience can never be reached by grasping for it, but solely by doing a deed for the sake of a cause, or for the sake of the person involved, or for God's sake."

"A good conscience is one of those things which can be brought about only as an unintended side effect and is destroyed at the moment that it is sought after directly."

"He cannot even strive for "peace of soul", for this kind of peace, which apparently means the (re-) establishment of a good conscience, eludes him as soon as it has become a matter of intention instead of remaining a matter of effect. (of subjection)."

(Pg. 42)

"...homeostasis can never be the ultimate aim in life."

(On noogenic neuroses) "They are rather rooted in collisions between different values, or in the unrewarded longing and groping of man for that hierarchically highest value-an ultimate meaning to his life."

(Pg. 44)

"Each human being is unique both in his essence and his existence."

(Pg. 45)

"...self-actualization is an effect and cannot be the object of intention."

(Pg. 46)

"Only as man withdraws from himself in the sense of releasing self-centered interest and attention will he gain an authentic mode of existence."

(Pg. 47)

(On the challenge to responsibility) "Potentialism involves an attempt to avoid this burden of responsibility.

"A close examination of such escapism reveals that the potentialist finds the tension between what is and what should be intolerable. However, this tension cannot be eradicated, even by potentialism, for it is inherent in human existence.

"...acceptance of finiteness is the precondition to mental health and human progress, where the inability to accept it is characteristic of the neurotic personality."

(Pg. 48-49)

"Any theory which obscures the objectivity of the object and disregards its intrinsic otherness through the assumption that the world is a mere self-expression and nothing but a projection of the subject is a theory which misses the point."

"The essential dynamic which constitutes human cognition has its source in this tensional situation between man and that 'world' which he 'is in'. In logotherapy, this dynamics, in contrast to psychodynamics, is referred to as noodynamics."

(Pg. 50)

"The more the eye sees itself, the less the world and its objects are visible to it. The ability of the eye to see is dependent upon its inability to see itself."

(Pg. 54)

"...being, with its objective counterpart, which is meaning."

(Pg. 55)

"Thus, we can see that when speaking of man's 'being in the world' we should not deny that there is also a 'meaning in the world'. Only when we have taken this meaning into full account have we supplemented the subjective aspect of human existence with its objective correlate. Not before then have we become aware of existence as being expanded in a polar field of tension between the self and the world."

"No concept of the world is adequate, then as long as it is understood in terms of mere projection or self-expression. If, above all, the meaning in the world to be fulfilled by man and the values therein to be realized by him were no more than his 'secondary rationalization, sublimations, and reaction formations."

"The world must be seen as essentially more than that (objective)."

(Pg. 56)

(On the psychology of a mean's end outlook) "...for then he would have destroyed any authentic relationship with them. They would then have become mere tools; they would be of use for him, but by the same token, they would have ceased to have any value, that is to say, value in itself."

"When we speak of meaning, however, we should not disregard the fact that man does not fulfill the meaning of his existence merely by his creative endeavors and experimental encounters, or by working and loving. We must not overlook the fact that there are also tragic experiences inherent in human life, above all that 'tragic triad'-if I may use this term-which is represented by the primordial facts of man's existence: suffering, guilt, and transitoriness."

(In regard to suffering) "...patients never really despair because of any suffering in itself. Instead, their despair stems in each instance from a doubt as to whether suffering is meaningful."

(Pg. 57)

To look for the general meaning of man's life would be comparable to asking a chess player: 'What's the best move?' There is no such thing as 'the best move' apart from the one that is best within the context of a particular situation of a particular game.

(Pg. 59)

"...there is something different that seems to me to be an even more erroneous assumption underlying psychoanalytic theory-and, unfortunately, psychoanalytic practice-which we may call 'pandeterminism' By this I mean any view of man which disregards or neglect the intrinsically human capacity of free choice interprets human existence in terms of mere dynamics. Man, as the finite being he basically is, will never be able to free himself completely from the ties which bind him to the various realms wherein he is confronted by unalterable conditions."

(Pg. 63)

"Human existence is, in its essence, noetic."

"...man is self-determining. In actuality, man is free and responsible".

(Pg. 64)

"Man is free to be responsible, and he is responsible for the realization of the meaning of his life, the logos of his existence."

(Pg. 76)

"...hyperthyroidism brings about an inclination to anxiety states which the patient often responds to in terms of what is called 'anticipatory anxiety.' That is to say, he is afraid of the recurrence of anxiety, and the very expectation of such an attack precipitates it again and again. Increasingly, the patient is caught in a feedback mechanism between the primary somatic condition and the secondary psychic reaction."

(Pg. 77)

"...masked tetany frequently results in claustrophobias just as mild as hyperthyroidism does in agoraphobias."

"...anticipatory anxiety thrives in the existential vacuum."

(Pg. 82)

"What man is, he becomes through that cause which he has made his own."

(Pg. 84)

"...the ultimate meaning of man's life is not a matter of his intellectual cognition but rather the matter of his existential commitment."

(Pg. 88)

"Pain, death, and guilt are inescapable; the more the neurotic tries to deny them, the more he entangles himself in additional suffering."

"Although, the tragic triad is an undeniable fact inherent in human existence, it is rationalized away by means of technological progressivism and scientism."

(Pg. 89)

(Quote of Jewish sage [Hillel]) "'If I do not do this job-who will do it? And if I do not do this job right now-when shall I do it? But if I carry it out only for my own sake-what am I?'"

(Pg. 90)

(Quote of Lao-tse) "Having completed a task means having become eternal."

"What man has done cannot be undone."

"In the same fashion, a man who has failed by a deed cannot change what happened, but by repentance he can change himself."

"The difference lies in the fact that the right attitude is, then, a right attitude of himself."

(Pg. 99)

"There can be no question, therefore, that a prisoner did not necessarily and automatically have to succumb to the camp atmosphere. By virtue of that which I have in another context called the 'defiant power of the human spirit,' he had the possibility of holding himself above the influence of his environment. If I still had any need of proof that this defiant power of the spirit is a reality, then the concentration camp was the crucial experiment."

"...it is true that the good example productively gives birth to good."

(Pg. 103)

(On the underlying truth of the psychotherapeutic work in the concentration camp) "He who knows a 'why' for living, will surmount almost every 'how'."

(Pg. 110)

"In a sense, living through the concentration camp was one big experiment-a crucial experiment. Our dead colleagues passed the test with honors. They proved to us that even under the most deprived, the most humiliating conditions, man can still remain man-true man and true physician. What was honor to them who gave this proof, should be a lesson to us. It should teach us what man is, and what man can become."

"What then is a man? We ask again. He is a being who continuously decides what he is: a being who equally harbors the potential to descend to the level of an animal or to ascend to the life of a saint. Man is that  being, who, after all, invented the gas chambers; but at the same time he is that being who entered into same gas chambers with his head held high and with the 'Our Father' or the Jewish prayer of the dying on his lips."

(Pg. 110-111)

"What is man that you are mindful of him? 'He is a reed,' said Pascal, 'but a reed which thinks!' And it is this thinking, this consciousness, this responsibility that constitute the dignity of man, the dignity of each individual human being. And it is always to be ascribed to the individual person whether he preserves this dignity or tarnishes it. Whereas the first behavior is guilt. And there is only personal guilt; collective guilt is a concept which has no meaning. Certainly there is also the personal guilt of a man who has 'done nothing wrong,' but who has failed to do 'something right'; failed to do so because of the apprehension for himself or anxiety for his family, but whoever wishes to condemn such a man as a coward must first prove that in the same situation he himself would have been a hero."

([Translated] Quote of Paul Valery) "As long as we judge and accuse, we have not arrived at the fundamental truth."

(Pg. 113)

"The American psychiatrist, Freyhan, asserts that earlier centuries had both more anxiety and more reason for anxiety than our own age and points to the witch trials, the religious wars, the migration of nations, the slave trade, and the great plagues."

(Pg. 114)

"For it seems to me that the progress-minded, progress-intoxicated generation of the Darwinian epoch did not at all feel themselves humbled, but rather seemed proud of the fact that their monkey ancestors had progressed magnificently far, so far that nothing blocked the road any longer for further development, for 'superman.' Indeed, man's ability to stand erect had 'gone to his head.'"

(Pg. 115)

"One is left with the impression that the delusional ideas of our patients are shaped by the spirit of the age and change with it; that therefore the spirit of the age makes itself felt right into the depth of psychotic mental life."

(Pg. 117)

(On the symptoms of the collective modern neurosis--On the word/statement, '[ephemeral] attitude toward life') "And thus they have given up the idea of planning far ahead or organizing their lives around a definite purpose."

(On the symptoms of the collective modern neurosis) "A further symptom is the fatalist attitude toward life."

(On fatalist attitude) "He tends to consider himself a plaything of external circumstances or internal conditions and therefore lets himself be shifted around."

(On the symptoms of the collective modern neurosis) "The neurotic who suffers from the fourth symptom, fanaticism, denies the personality of others."

(Pg. 121)

"A nihilist is a man who considers Being, and above all his own existence, meaningless."

(Pg. 122)

(On the crisis of the existential vacuum) "And when does this vacuum open up, when does this so often latent vacuum become manifest? In the state of boredom."

(Pg. 124)

(In the words of Harvey Cushing as quoted by Percival Bailey) "The only way to endure life is always to have a task to complete."

(Pg. 126)

"Sexual libido only becomes rampant in the existential vacuum."

(Pg. 127)

"Man is not 'driven,' man decides. Man is free. (To decide of responsibility).

"The more a man strives for pleasure the less pleasure he achieves. And vice versa; The harder a man tries to evade unpleasure, or suffering, the deeper he plunges himself into additional suffering.

(Pg. 128)

"The possibility of realizing what I called attitudinal values--by the very attitude with which we face our suffering--is there to the very last moment (of our existence).

"That which causes our guilt, for which we are responsible, can no longer be changed; but the guilt itself can be redeemed and here again everything depends on the right attitude toward ourselves--upon true repentance."

"If the meaning of life consisted in reproduction, then every generation would find its meaning only in the next generation. (Not only sexual but also cultural, societal, economical, etc., regardless of circumstances.)

(Pg. 129)

"The so-called life not worth living does not exist. And even the manifestations of psychosis conceal a real spiritual person, unassailable by mental disease."

(After the illustration of ‘IQ: Idiots/Saints debate’ with Pere Beirnaert) "There is, therefore, and I hope I have shown it, no reason to doubt the meaning of even the most miserable life."

(Pg. 136)

"One characteristic of human existence is its transcendence."

(Pg. 141)

"...values do not drive--they pull."

(Pg. 145)

(On anticipatory anxiety) "This is the compulsion to self-observation."

"In addition to the fact that excessive attention proves to be an intrinsically pathogenic factor with regard to the etiology of neuroses, we observe that in many neurotic patients excessive intention may also be pathogenic."

(Pg. 146)

"Thus we see an interesting parallel in that anticipatory anxiety brings about precisely what the patient fears, while excessive intention, as well as excessive self-observation with regard to one's own functioning, makes this functioning impossible."

(On paradoxical intention) "This brings about a change of attitude toward the symptom which enables the patient to place himself at a distance from the symptom, to detach himself from his neurosis."

(On paradoxical intention) "Such a procedure must make use of the unique potentiality for self-detachment inherent in a sense of humor."

(Pg. 152)

"The traumata merely provide the contents of the respective obsessions, compulsions, and phobias. Even psychoanalysts are more and more inclined to assume that traumata in themselves do not directly cause neuroses. In some cases, I would dare say that even the opposite is true: The trauma does not cause the neurosis, but rather, the neurosis makes the trauma reappear."

(Pg. 160)

"Just as paradoxical intention is designed to counteract anticipatory anxiety, de-reflection is intended to counteract the compulsive inclination to self-observation."

(Pg. 163)

"Paradoxical intention lends itself particularly to short-term therapy, especially in cases with an underlying anticipatory anxiety mechanism."

(Pg. 165)

"...if an artist should become psychotic and nevertheless continue his artistic production, he does so in spite of his psychosis, never because of it. A mental disease in itself is never productive, a sickness as such never creative. Only the spirit of man can be creative, never a sickness of that spirit."

[lysavillanueva]

REFLECTION COMPILATION

         CHAPTER 1: THE   CONCEPT OF “SELF” FROM VARIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE

            This chapter thought us a variety of things from the class as well as it refreshes my memory on things that I already knew or just needed a reminder about.

           In this lesson, I have learned about the various philosophical perspectives from several philosophers like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, St Augustine, Rene Descartes, John Locke, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Sigmund Freud, Gilbert Ryle, Paul Churchland, and Maurice Merleu. Among these philosophers the one that describes and relates me the most is Socrates.

        Socrates made me realized a lot of things in life like it is better for us to know who really we are, who we should be, and who we will become. As an individual it will, it enable us to understand our true nature when we examine and reflect on the life we are living. I have realized that as a human being we need to exercise our introspection and to attempt to learn more about their fundamental nature and essence.

           In conclusion, self-reflection is the key to achieve self-awareness: it allows us to look neutrally at our thoughts, feelings, emotions, and actions. Through this practice, we are able to look at ourselves with interest and curiosity, and just like what Socrates suggests to achieve a meaningful and happy life only through knowing our purpose and value  and knowing the knowledge of ourselves that can be achieved thru incessant soul-searching.

          CHAPTER 2 : SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF SOCIETY

        As student, this chapter helps me in various ways which will result in mastering the self since it will provide knowledge which will help me make wiser decisions in life. Among the several philosophers that this lesson thought us the philosopher that I can coincide myself is Charles Horton Cooley.

        Charles Horton Cooley  is the philosopher that coincides with my personality because of his work on “looking glass self-theory”. He states “People shape themselves based on what other people perceive and confirm other people's opinion on themselves”, which is completely accurate. This has become new normal to society, individuals base their sense of self by the perception of others, some people base their whole persona on others’ perception about them, I  chose this philosopher because that’s how we feel sometimes, we tend to imagine others’ judgment about our appearance, we tend to live by their perception and not our own. Moreover, we chose Charles because of his astounding and relatable work. His work is more relatable since we’re in the 21st century where social media has taken the world by storm, and each year we tend to be more addicted.

        Our teacher Sir Raul Dadis, Jr. stated “we tend to imagine the outcome of something before we do it”. For example, before we post something on social media, we think what the outcome will be, “how many likes would it get?” “would like it or would they not?”. I think of that because we use those very judgments, that I receive from others to measure our self-worth, confidence, values and etc. In conclusion I chose Charles Horton Cooley because of his work on “Looking Glass Self” which is extremely accurate, relatable and if we fully understand his work, we can improve and “understand the self” better.

        CHAPTER 3: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL CONCEPTUALIZATION OF SELF THE SELF AS EMBEDDED IN CULTURE

        In this chapter, I have learned about the concept of the self. I have also discovered that self concept can be viewed in two ways which are the egocentric and sociocentric.

        In the egocentric view, the self is seen as an autonomous and distinct individuals while in the sociocentric on the other hand, the self is considered as contigent on a situation or social setting. I have also discovered that self identification may be attained by overcomming traditional practices or through internalizing divergent cultural models and suppressing any conflict on self representatio. Sometimes we individual also encountered identity struggle between assume identity and the identity that the society has set for us, that sometimes it make us confused.

        In conclusion, with this different views both are applicable and helpful for us to identify our self concept and also as an individual we tend to experience identity struggles when there is a discrepency between a person's assumed identity and the identity imposed by other and the society, we should not be over affected by it as long as we knew ourselves there's nothing to worry about and prove them who really we are.

CHAPTER 4: PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF 

       This chapter helps me define and describe the different psychological concepts of the self. I have also distinguished the various concepts of the self and identify their relationships.

      I have learned and realized in Carl Roger’s Self Theory that self concept is one of the important aspects of the self understanding which refers to the image of our self. We all know as a human being we are always striving for self fulfillment or self actualization and sometimes when the need of self are denied we often experienced severe anxiety. I have also observed this days that most of the teenagers are experiencing depression and stress because of lack of moral support or self affirmation, it is very important that us adolescents are supported in our effort for us to create a consistent, coherence or unified understanding of our psychological self.  Creating vision for our self  is also good for us to know where we are now and how far we need to go.

     In conclusion, as an adolescent  I should also take good care of my psychological heath. I should learn to cope up anxiety attacks and convert it into positive mindset. I have also realized that it is good for us to create a vision for ourselves on where we are now and how far we still need to go for us to become more motivated to pursue our life and our dreams.

        CHAPTER 5: WESTERN AND EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF

        In this chapter, I have learned about the differences of the western concept and eastern concept of the self

       I have realized that as an individual it is good for us to deeply aware of our self, our sense of direction, our purpose and volition. I have also discovered the different concept of the self in the Western and Eastern. For the western, people tend to think like Norah, people are separate and unique from each other. However, in eastern philosophy the self is often treated as an illusion. That is the idea that people are separate entities from each other and the world is not considered a reality in eastern thought. In simple terms from western people they tend to think of the self as an entity separate from other while in eastern the self is often treated as a illusion.

       In conclusion, even there are a lot of concept about the self it is best for us to be still aware of our self and what concept and direction that we follow as long as it would help us grow and what’s best for us either we think ourselves separate of illusion. 

                         CHAPTER 6: THE PHYSICAL SELF

       In this chapter, I have learned the process of physical growth and development. It deepens more my understanding of the physical self.

      This chapter helps me discover more about the physical self, the stages of life span, the two factors that affect physical growth and development, it's theories, the body image, and the importance of beauty. I have realized that as human beings e should know how to acknowledge ourselves, our beauty, and the whole aspects that we have. Although it is also good when we try to improve yourself to boast out self-esteem but most importantly we should always know how to be contented and accept who we are.

           In conclusion, our body has shaped by the inheritance that we possess from our parents, everything we have now is the product of where we came from. We should know how to be contented of our beauty. Some of us tend to judge others based on physical appearance. However, physical appearance alone is not enough to know a person's true character. It is important to see a person's inner thoughts and feelings. Above all things physical it is more important to be beautiful on the inside.

                          CHAPTER 7: THE SEXUAL SELF

        In this chapter, I have able to learn about the development of sex characteristics and the human reproductive system. I have distinguished attraction, love, and attachment, and I have also identified the cause and consequences of sexually transmitted infection, early pregnancy, and the importance of contraception and reproductive health law.

       Throughout this chapter, it helps me to know and discover more about the human reproductive system and its functions that before I have never known about. I have also learned the differences between primary sex and secondary sex. As an adolescent, I have learned and realized within this topic that all of us undergo a process wherein attraction, love and attachment have been present. When we talk about attraction it is the process to evoke interest, pleasure, or liking for someone or something. Love is complex it composes of mixed emotions, behavior, beliefs associated with a strong feeling of affection and respect for one another. Attachment on the other hand is being emotionally close to someone. This chapter also discusses the different sexual orientation and it also helps us distinguish the sexually transmitted infection (STID), early pregnancy, and the ways to avoid these diseases.

        In conclusion, we are the one who is liable for our own self we should try to know and discover ourselves like knowing the orientation that we belong to, we should know how to become a responsible individual towards sex activities for us to avoid this deadly diseases because at the end of the day we will be the one who will suffer if we underestimated this thing. 

                          CHAPTER 8: THE MATERIAL SELF

     In this chapter, I have developed my understanding of the material self, it also helps me describe the basic components of the material self and I have also developed the qualities of a wise buyer.

       Throughout this chapter have learned that for some material possessions are usually a reflection of a person's success or failure. We all know that self is composed of material self which is the manifestation of one's identity through material possessions. We have also tackled the basic components of the material self which are the body, clothes, one's car, pet, and other things that consider as his or her possessions. As an individual, this chapter helps me awaken and become more responsible for buying my possessions, we all know that possession made us feel satisfied and it describes the wholeness of us but sometimes it can only lead us to become an irresponsible individual because of its bad effect which could lead in compulsive buying disorder that we might possess.

        In conclusion as adolescents, we need to accept and appreciate the physical characteristics of our own body, we need to become more contented on the possession that we have today, and also we need to become a responsible consumer individual towards our possessions in order to achieve a balanced, happy and well-being life.

                            CHAPTER 9: SPIRITUAL SELF

      This chapter enables me to experience a feeling of oneness with a higher being and the universe. It also gives a deeper purpose or meaning of one's life and helps me developed the interaction, observation, and imitation in my family, school, and the church which also plays a very important role in developing my spiritual development.

          Spirituality is the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to the material or physical self. This lesson enables me to realize the recognition of a feeling or sense of belief that there is something greater than myself, something more to being human than sensory experience, and that the greater whole of which we are part is cosmic or divine in nature. I have also learned and realized that no matter what the religion we have as long as it helps us to connect our connection to the divine almighty it is definitely alright.

       In conclusion, spirituality enables us to search for the meaning of our life as a whole really means, the more we search for the meaning of our life the more motivated we are to explore and discover the meaning, significance, and purpose of our life. Any spiritual beliefs are well accepted, should be recognized and accepted as long as it helps us develop more our spiritual connection to our divine almighty.

                        CHAPTER 10: THE POLITICAL SELF

           This chapter begins with defining politics it includes concepts on political community socialization, social interaction, and citizenship. It also helps me to defines the influence of family, school, church peers, and media on the development of the political self.

        In this lesson, I have distinguished the function of the government, the system that our country belongs and also I have discovered and distinguished the rights, freedom, and obligation of an individual ad a citizen of his or her own country. I have realized that through socialization there is a political self every group that I belong, whatever my beliefs are it is also connected to the identity that I have possesses. My peers also play an important role in influencing our political self, the interaction that we have in our peers emphasizes the equal distribution of power, rights, and privileges among the member of the group that I belong to.

   In conclusion, as an individual, we should know or learn to discover who we are, our rights, and our obligation as a citizen of our country. I have realized that as a citizen I am obliged to follow the laws, rules, and regulations that our government has implemented, pay taxes honestly and on time, and to defend the nation if the need will arise. We should learn how to follow and do this for us to become a good influence individual for the betterment of our own self and for the country.

                                CHAPTER 11: DIGITAL SELF

     This chapter enables me to know the roles of mobile phones, the internet, and social networking in developing the digital self. It also explains the role of the government, school, and church in the prevention of identity theft, false information, and fake news. It also identifies the Filipino values of social networking.

        In my own understanding of the lesson, the digital self refers to ourselves that engage in the modern changes specifically the rapidly increasing development of technology advancement. As we have observed in our generation this day most of the youth are very exposed to the modern world and technology and we can really say that these changes brought both advantages and disadvantages. Some advantages are easy access information, entertainment, communication, etc and we can't deny that these things make our life easier. However, technology has a negative impact such as addiction or obsession that would lead us to trouble like the risk of our health and lacking time for family bonding.

         In conclusion, as a youth of this modern generation, we should always be aware of the priorities that we should settle first and we should know how to control ourselves towards overusing technology. It is alright to use these things because we all know that these things are also important, useful, and helpful but we should learn to use it moderately to avoid negative consequences that would only put us in a problem or danger.

          REFLECTION FOR UNDERSTANDING THE SELF SUBJECT

          Completing the term in Understanding the self class, I was able to benefit from a variety of new ghings from the class, as well as refreshes my memory on things that I already knew or just needed a reminder about.

         This subject helps me expands my understanding about who I am, what my values are and why I think and act the way I do. It was like a form of personal analysis that allows me to being my life into alignment of who I wish to become. I have also learned a lot of things physically, sexually, mentally and psychologically that really boast my self even more. I have realized that I should appreciate the beauty that I possesses inside and out and avoid unnecessary things that would just put me in danger. The various assignments and activities in this class really helped me understand and realuzed where I stand, what I need to excel, and what I need to work on. The biggest hurdle in the class for me was time management and slow internet connection. I am a procrastinator and always has been, so completing assignments on time was still a challenge for me the same with the internet connection as well.

       This subject thought me how to self-reflect, through self reflection it allows me to build emotional self awareness, like what we have discussed and learned that we should gain self affirmation and appreciate everything about us. We should allow ourselves to reflect and ask our self about some important question to gain a better understanding of our emotion, strength, weaknesses, and other factors. I have also discovered potentials about myself, I've never thought of myself as a leader but because of the class and group discussion I found that I am a good leader. I communicate my idea to ghe group while trying to balance the ideas of others so the group can come agreed upon decision.

       To sum it up, Understanding The Self really helps us students to deepen more about our understanding in our self, it also gives us a sense of awakening about the things that we should posses and avoid. I also like to thank Sir Raul Dadis Jr, for his excellence teaching performance to us, we know that it was also very hard for you teaching online but you also did a very great job. It was indeed a wonderful term full of learning, realization and joy.

[allomammal]

Mi Gente! | Essay on Race and Ethnicity

I'd like to pose a question to mi gente (Chicanos, Tejanos, Mexican-Americans, Latinos, or Hispanics): With which race do you personally identify? I ask this question because I've been thinking more and more about my own racial identity. Growing up, I understood that, to the racial majority and institutions of power, I was considered other, less than, and not American enough. This is something that our parents and grandparents knew and passed on to us. It may take a few to several generations before people from an immigrant context can rid themselves of this overwhelming sense of second-class citizenship and demand the promise of America. (Some never do). But in this cultural context, definitions of race are fuzzy and often confused with ethnicity or nationality. For example: Once, while screening for a clinical study, I observed this research coordinator asking the kid next to me to identify his race. The coordinator quickly spouted a few racial categories from which this kid could choose, but when the kid chose Mexican - which was not an option, and is a nationality, not a race - the kid was left dumbfounded. This is a confusion that I, and many others, know well. In fact, years earlier, while filling out employment forms, I was confronted with the same perplexing demand: Identify your race... Not sure what to select, I asked the lady at the desk what I was supposed to do. She told me to select White. Not wanting to threaten my own job prospects or rock the boat, I skeptically obliged, still unable to understand why the fuck I would select something that, at my core, I didn't identify as. In high school, the state-mandated standardized test (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, or TAKS) required students to fill-in on a bubble-form all the racial categories that applied. Occasionally, my rebellious teen-self would darken all of the bubbles. (I think at the time I had recently learned that there was only one extant biological race of human). Years later, I would go on to take some introductory anthropology classes and learn the difference between race and ethnicity. I would eventually see the one-woman show One Drop of Love and learn about the intersection of gender, class, and race. I eventually read about Imagined Communities which, while having no firm biological basis, still have enormous and real social, political, and economic consequences for racial/ethnic minorities.

So, letting the three aforementioned anecdotes serve as a general experience that many Tejanos/Chicanos/Mexican-Americans/Latinos/Hispanics go through, I wonder how we can adjust our behavior to claim an identity that feels authentic within the narrow bounds presented to us. I personally know (from my Tia's research into our genealogy) the name and location of the indigenous people from which my maternal lineage is derived. (I am privileged in this regard because many families do not have the know-how or wherewithal to determine their genealogy). Thus, I have demonstrable ancestral ties to both Mexican indigenous groups and European immigrants. So I have sort of started mulling over the idea of selecting both White and Native American, because (perhaps) that is more accurate from the standpoint of my most recent genetic lineage. I haven't fully fleshed out this idea, but it still seems problematic. If you follow Native Appropriations on Twitter as I do, you might be wary of claiming Native identity because, without having a meaningful connection to any specific tribe, their traditions, and culture, you may be taking away from their struggle - which, just like their people, is very much alive today. It seems to me that racial/ethnic identity should at least partly be tied to ancestry. However, the history of one’s ancestors may have been either passively lost through immigration or violently stripped away through slavery. Many hyphenated Americans exist in a liminal space where they are denied access to a ancestral identity and the promise of another. For example, some Black Americans reclaim their African ancestry with traditional African dress and claims of descent from African royalty. In Mexican-American culture, you see a direct analog of this in tattoos or graffiti art wherein Mexicanos claim to be descended from los Aztecas or los Mayas or, more generally, los Indios. In both cases, people are the products of a violent admixture of colonizer and colonized*. In both cases, people are exercising their agency for self-empowerment and (re)claiming their right to exist. In both cases, the mythos itself may be a construction used to deal with the reality that, for both Black and Mexican Americans, our ancestry was, at best, actively obscured and, at worst, purposefully destroyed by the dominant, White upper-class. When President Polk provoked the Mexican-American War, he was able to complete the usurpation of nearly half of Mexico’s pre-1836 territory and realize the pseudo-religious doctrine of Manifest Destiny. And when the US border crossed us, though we were technically granted US citizenship, we were denied the full promise of American identity, continually brutalized, and suffered the active erasure of our culture and deep history. And this is not a story far-removed from the present. My parents can tell you how their teachers disdained them, how speaking their language was not only discouraged but a punishable offense. My best friends can tell you how they were looked down on by teachers and administrators for being in ESL (English as a Second-Language). Our identity was (and still is) beaten into one of subjugation. Even within racial categories, there are nuances like colorism that structure social and economic outcomes. It is a hierarchy within a hierarchy that my little sister, a young Afro-Latina, will have to navigate, though many fairer-skinned Latinos may never even acknowledge. I am not a scholar of sociology or anthropology. The full story of my people is a long one, it is diverse, and it continues through the present. I make no attempt here of resolving the issues of identity for my people. I am simply describing the context for those who may not know our side of the story and are receptive to learning about our experience. To be sure, even many of my people may be relatively ignorant to our own history and, hopefully, can use this essay for deeper introspection on the concepts of race and ethnicity.

So let me pose the question, once more - this time, appended: With which race do you personally identify? What reasons do you have for identifying as such, and how might that affect your relationship with members of other racial groups? ___________________________________________________ *comparison of kind, not degree

[airoasis]

Daphne Koller: What we're learning from online education

New Post has been published on https://hititem.kr/daphne-koller-what-were-learning-from-online-education-2/

Daphne Koller: What we're learning from online education

Translator: Morton Bast Reviewer: Thu-Huong Ha Like a lot of you, i’m one of the crucial fortunate people. I used to be born to a loved ones the place schooling was pervasive. I am a third-new release PhD, a daughter of two academics. In my childhood, I played around in my father’s institution lab. So it used to be taken with no consideration that I attend probably the most first-rate universities, which in flip opened the door to a world of possibility. Sadly, most of the persons on the planet will not be so lucky. In some materials of the arena, for instance, South Africa, schooling shouldn’t be readily obtainable. In South Africa, the educational procedure was developed within the days of apartheid for the white minority.And as a end result, at present there’s simply now not sufficient spots for the many extra persons who want and deserve a high fine education. That shortage resulted in a main issue in January of this yr at the school of Johannesburg. There were a handful of positions left open from the typical admissions system, and the night time before they were presupposed to open that for registration, 1000s of individuals lined up external the gate in a line a mile long, hoping to be first in line to get one of those positions.When the gates opened, there was a stampede, and 20 people had been injured and one woman died. She used to be a mom who gave her lifestyles looking to get her son a chance at a greater life. But even in constituents of the world like the U.S. Where schooling is to be had, it could now not be inside reach. There was a lot discussed within the last few years concerning the rising fee of wellbeing care.What would no longer be relatively as obvious to people is that during that same period the price of bigger schooling training has been increasing at just about twice the cost, for a total of 559 percentage considering that 1985. This makes schooling unaffordable for many individuals. Ultimately, even for many who do control to get the greater schooling, the doorways of opportunity might now not open. Best a little bit over 1/2 of up to date institution graduates in the united states who get a higher schooling simply are working in jobs that require that schooling. This, of course, is just not actual for the pupils who graduate from the top institutions, however for many others, they do not get the worth for their time and their effort. Tom Friedman, in his contemporary the big apple instances article, captured, in the way in which that no person else would, the spirit behind our effort.He stated the gigantic breakthroughs are what occur when what’s immediately feasible meets what’s desperately critical. I’ve talked about what’s desperately crucial. Let’s talk about what’s all of a sudden viable. What’s instantly viable used to be confirmed by using three significant Stanford classes, every of which had an enrollment of a hundred,000 persons or more. In an effort to comprehend this, let’s look at one of those classes, the computer finding out class provided by my colleague and cofounder Andrew Ng. Andrew teaches one of the greater Stanford lessons. It’s a desktop studying class, and it has four hundred folks enrolled every time it is supplied. When Andrew taught the machine studying category to the general public, it had one hundred,000 people registered. So as to put that quantity in viewpoint, for Andrew to arrive that identical dimension viewers by teaching a Stanford classification, he would have to do this for 250 years. Of course, he’d get relatively bored. So, having seen the affect of this, Andrew and i determined that we would have liked to particularly attempt to scale this up, to carry the first-rate nice education to as many humans as we would.So we formed Coursera, whose purpose is to take the excellent guides from the excellent instructors at the fine universities and furnish it to all people around the world without cost. We currently have 43 publications on the platform from 4 universities across a range of disciplines, and let me exhibit you just a little bit of an outline of what that appears like. (Video) Robert Ghrist: Welcome to Calculus. Ezekiel Emanuel: Fifty million persons are uninsured. Scott web page: units help us design extra amazing institutions and insurance policies. We get incredible segregation. Scott Klemmer: So Bush imagined that someday, you’ll put on a camera right within the center of your head. Mitchell Duneier: Mills desires the pupil of sociology to enhance the high-quality of intellect … RG: putting cable takes on the type of a hyperbolic cosine. Nick Parlante: For each pixel within the photo, set the crimson to zero. Paul Offit: … Vaccine allowed us to eliminate polio virus. Dan Jurafsky: Does Lufthansa serve breakfast and San Jose? Good, that sounds humorous.Daphne Koller: So this is which coin you pick, and this is the two tosses. Andrew Ng: So in colossal-scale computing device studying, we’d prefer to provide you with computational … (Applause) DK: It seems, possibly now not incredibly, that pupils like getting the first-rate content from the first-class universities without spending a dime. Due to the fact that we opened the website in February, we have now 640,000 scholars from a hundred ninety international locations. We have now 1.5 million enrollments, 6 million quizzes in the 15 lessons that have launched to this point have been submitted, and 14 million movies have been considered. But it surely’s now not close to the numbers, it is also concerning the folks. Whether or not it’s Akash, who comes from a small city in India and would never have access in this case to a Stanford-first-rate path and would on no account be able to come up with the money for it. Or Jenny, who’s a single mom of two and desires to hone her competencies so that she will go back and complete her grasp’s degree.Or Ryan, who cannot go to institution, given that his immune poor daughter can’t be risked to have germs come into the apartment, so he could not depart the condo. I’m really completely happy to claim — recently, we now have been in correspondence with Ryan — that this story had a glad ending. Baby Shannon — you’ll find her on the left — is doing much better now, and Ryan obtained a job through taking some of our publications. So what made these courses so distinct? In any case, on-line path content material has been available for a while. What made it extraordinary was once that this was once actual course expertise. It started on a given day, after which the pupils would watch videos on a weekly basis and do homework assignments. And these would be real homework assignments for a real grade, with a real cut-off date.One can find the time limits and the utilization graph. These are the spikes showing that procrastination is international phenomenon. (Laughter) at the end of the course, the scholars acquired a certificate. They could present that certificates to a potential enterprise and get a greater job, and we know many students who did. Some students took their certificate and offered this to an educational university at which they had been enrolled for actual tuition credit. So these pupils have been really getting anything significant for their investment of time and effort. Let’s talk a bit bit about one of the vital accessories that go into these courses. The first aspect is that when you transfer away from the constraints of a bodily lecture room and design content material explicitly for an online structure, that you can break away from, for illustration, the monolithic one-hour lecture. Which you can spoil up the material, for instance, into these quick, modular models of eight to 12 minutes, each and every of which represents a coherent concept. Pupils can traverse this fabric in one of a kind approaches, depending on their heritage, their expertise or their interests. So, for illustration, some students might improvement from a little bit bit of preparatory material that different scholars would have already got.Different students possibly concerned with a designated enrichment subject that they need to pursue individually. So this structure allows for us to break away from the one-dimension-matches-all model of education, and enables pupils to follow a way more customized curriculum. Of direction, everyone knows as educators that scholars don’t be taught through sitting and passively watching movies. Maybe some of the largest add-ons of this effort is that we ought to have students who apply with the material with the intention to relatively have an understanding of it. There may be been a variety of reviews that display the significance of this. This one who seemed in Science final year, for instance, demonstrates that even simple retrieval observe, the place scholars are simply speculated to repeat what they already realized gives considerably improved results on various success assessments down the road than many different educational interventions.Now we have tried to construct in retrieval observe into the platform, as good as different varieties of observe in lots of ways. For instance, even our movies should not simply movies. Every short while, the video pauses and the pupils get asked a query. (Video) SP: … These four matters. Prospect conception, hyperbolic discounting, fame quo bias, base cost bias. They may be all well documented. So they are all well documented deviations from rational habits. DK: So here the video pauses, and the pupil types in the reply into the box and submits. Most likely they weren’t paying attention. (Laughter) so that they get to try once more, and this time they received it right. There’s an not obligatory clarification if they need. And now the video strikes on to the subsequent a part of the lecture. This can be a style of simple question that I as an teacher could ask at school, but once I ask that kind of a question in class, eighty percentage of the pupils are still scribbling the final thing I mentioned, 15 percentage are zoned out on fb, and then there may be the smarty pants in the entrance row who blurts out the answer earlier than someone else has had a hazard to believe about it, and i as the instructor am terribly gratified that anyone in reality knew the answer.And so the lecture moves on earlier than, quite, most of the students have even noticed that a question had been requested. Here, every single pupil has to interact with the fabric. And of path these simple retrieval questions usually are not the top of the story. One needs to build in rather more significant apply questions, and one additionally wants to provide the scholars with feedback on these questions. Now, how do you grade the work of one hundred,000 pupils if you happen to would not have 10,000 TAs? The answer is, you have got to use technology to do it for you. Now, happily, technology has come far, and we will now grade a range of exciting varieties of homework.In addition to multiple option and the varieties of quick reply questions that you saw within the video, we are able to additionally grade math, mathematical expressions as well as mathematical derivations. We are able to grade items, whether or not it can be monetary models in a business type or physical models in a science or engineering type and we will grade some lovely refined programming assignments. Let me show you one that is clearly beautiful simple but rather visible. That is from Stanford’s computer Science one zero one category, and the pupils are imagined to colour-right that blurry pink photo. They are typing their program into the browser, and one can find they didn’t get it relatively right, woman Liberty is still seasick. And so, the scholar tries again, and now they obtained it proper, and so they’re advised that, and they can move on to the next project. This capability to have interaction actively with the material and be advised when you’re proper or improper is particularly principal to scholar finding out. Now, of path we can not yet grade the range of work that one needs for all courses. Specially, what’s missing is the kind of principal pondering work that’s so predominant in such disciplines because the humanities, the social sciences, industry and others.So we tried to persuade, for example, a few of our humanities faculty that a couple of option was not such a dangerous method. That didn’t go over relatively well. So we had to give you a different solution. And the solution we ended up utilising is peer grading. It seems that earlier reports show, like this one with the aid of Saddler and just right, that peer grading is a surprisingly strong procedure for providing reproducible grades.It was tried handiest in small classes, but there it showed, for example, that these pupil-assigned grades on the y-axis are without a doubt very good correlated with the teacher-assigned grade on the x-axis. What’s even more stunning is that self-grades, where the students grade their possess work critically — as long as you incentivize them accurately in order that they can’t provide themselves a perfect ranking — are certainly even higher correlated with the trainer grades. And so this is an effective technique that can be used for grading at scale, and is also a priceless finding out strategy for the students, since they virtually be taught from the expertise. So we’ve the biggest peer-grading pipeline ever devised, where tens of hundreds of students are grading each other’s work, and fairly efficaciously, I have to say. But this is not virtually pupils sitting on my own in their living room working by way of issues. Around every one of our publications, a group of scholars had formed, a world community of people around a shared mental pastime. What you see here is a self-generated map from students in our Princeton Sociology a hundred and one direction, the place they’ve put themselves on a global map, and that you would be able to really see the worldwide attain of this type of effort.Students collaborated in these publications in a sort of one of a kind methods. Initially, there was once a question and answer discussion board, the place scholars would pose questions, and different pupils would answer these questions. And the relatively mighty thing is, because there were so many scholars, it means that despite the fact that a pupil posed a question at three o’clock within the morning, someplace around the world, there could be somebody who was once awake and dealing on the identical predicament. And so, in a lot of our guides, the median response time for a question on the question and reply forum used to be 22 minutes.Which is not a degree of provider i have ever supplied to my Stanford students. (Laughter) And you will find from the pupil testimonials that students certainly find that on account that of this giant online group, they received to engage with each different in many approaches that have been deeper than they did within the context of the physical study room. Students also self-assembled, without any style of intervention from us, into small be trained groups. A few of these were bodily be trained companies alongside geographical constraints and met on a weekly groundwork to work by means of hindrance sets. That is the San Francisco be taught workforce, however there were ones all over the place the sector.Others had been digital learn groups, usually alongside language traces or along cultural traces, and on the bottom left there, you see our multicultural common gain knowledge of crew where individuals explicitly wanted to attach with people from different cultures. There are some enormous possibilities available from this variety of framework. The first is that it has the skills of giving us a totally remarkable appear into understanding human finding out. On account that the info that we will accumulate right here is targeted. That you would be able to acquire every click, each homework submission, each discussion board publish from tens of hundreds of students. So which you could flip the study of human studying from the speculation-driven mode to the information-driven mode, a change that, for illustration, has revolutionized biology. You should use these knowledge to have an understanding of essential questions like, what are just right learning systems which can be effective versus ones that aren’t? And in the context of targeted publications, that you would be able to ask questions like, what are one of the most misconceptions which are more long-established and the way can we support pupils fix them? So this is an illustration of that, also from Andrew’s computing device learning category.This can be a distribution of flawed solutions to one in every of Andrew’s assignments. The answers happen to be pairs of numbers, so that you may draw them on this two-dimensional plot. Every of the little crosses that you see is a further unsuitable reply. The large cross on the high left is the place 2,000 students gave the specific equal incorrect answer. Now, if two scholars in a category of a hundred give the identical unsuitable answer, you can by no means become aware of. However when 2,000 scholars give the same incorrect answer, it can be variety of rough to overlook. So Andrew and his pupils went in, looked at some of those assignments, understood the foundation reason of the misunderstanding, after which they produced a designated error message that may be supplied to each pupil whose answer fell into that bucket, which means that students who made that same mistake would now get customized feedback telling them the right way to fix their misconception far more with no trouble.So this personalization is anything that possible then build by using having the virtue of giant numbers. Personalization is might be probably the most largest possibilities right here as good, since it provides us with the knowledge of fixing a 30-12 months-historic quandary. Educational researcher Benjamin Bloom, in 1984, posed what’s referred to as the 2 sigma crisis, which he observed by using finding out three populations. The primary is the population that studied in a lecture-headquartered study room. The 2d is a population of scholars that studied making use of a common lecture-headquartered study room, however with a mastery-founded process, so the scholars couldn’t move on to the following subject earlier than demonstrating mastery of the prior one. And in the end, there was a populace of students that had been taught in a one-on-one guideline making use of a tutor. The mastery-established populace was a full ordinary deviation, or sigma, in fulfillment scores better than the normal lecture-founded type, and the person tutoring offers you 2 sigma development in performance. To comprehend what that implies, let’s appear at the lecture-established classroom, and let’s choose the median performance as a threshold.So in a lecture-based classification, half of the scholars are above that degree and half of are under. In the man or woman tutoring guideline, 98 percent of the students are going to be above that threshold. Imagine if we could coach in order that ninety eight percentage of our students can be above normal. Thus, the 2 sigma drawback. On the grounds that we cannot afford, as a society, to furnish every student with an man or woman human tutor. But probably we will have the funds for to furnish every student with a pc or a smartphone. So the query is, how do we use technological know-how to push from the left part of the graph, from the blue curve, to the proper part with the green curve? Mastery is easy to attain using a laptop, considering a computer doesn’t get tired of showing you the identical video 5 times. And it doesn’t even get worn out of grading the identical work a couple of instances, we’ve seen that in among the examples that I’ve shown you.And even personalization is anything that we’re commencing to see the beginnings of, whether it can be through the personalised trajectory via the curriculum or one of the crucial personalized feedback that we have now shown you. So the purpose right here is to try and push, and see how a long way we are able to get toward the golf green curve. So, if that is so excellent, are universities now out of date? Good, Mark Twain certainly notion so. He said that, "college is a location where a professor’s lecture notes go straight to the pupils’ lecture notes, without passing by means of the brains of both." (Laughter) i encourage to fluctuate with Mark Twain, though. I feel what he was complaining about is just not universities however instead the lecture-based structure that so many universities spend so much time on. So let’s return even additional, to Plutarch, who stated that, "The mind is not a vessel that wishes filling, however wooden that desires igniting." And maybe we will have to spend less time at universities filling our students’ minds with content material via lecturing at them, and more time igniting their creativity, their imagination and their crisis-solving capabilities by way of truly talking with them.So how will we try this? We do this by means of doing energetic studying in the study room. So there is been many studies, including this one, that show that if you use active finding out, interacting together with your pupils in the classroom, efficiency improves on each single metric — on attendance, on engagement and on studying as measured with the aid of a standardized experiment. You will discover, for example, that the success ranking practically doubles on this particular experiment. So maybe that is how we will have to spend our time at universities. So as to summarize, if we could offer a top quality education to each person around the world totally free, what would that do? Three matters. First it might establish schooling as a important human right, where any one around the world with the capacity and the incentive might get the expertise that they must make a better existence for themselves, their households and their communities.2d, it would allow lifelong studying. It’s a shame that for thus many men and women, learning stops once we conclude high college or once we finish university. Through having this robust content material be to be had, we’d be capable to learn anything new each time we wanted, whether it can be just to develop our minds or it can be to vary our lives. And eventually, this might permit a wave of innovation, on account that powerful talent may also be observed at any place. Possibly the following Albert Einstein or the subsequent Steve Jobs is living someplace in a far off village in Africa.And if we might present that individual an education, they’d be ready to come up with the following massive notion and make the sector a better location for every body. Thanks very much. (Applause) .

[batterymonster2021]

Daphne Koller: What we're learning from online education

New Post has been published on https://hititem.kr/daphne-koller-what-were-learning-from-online-education-2/

Daphne Koller: What we're learning from online education

Translator: Morton Bast Reviewer: Thu-Huong Ha Like a lot of you, i’m one of the crucial fortunate people. I used to be born to a loved ones the place schooling was pervasive. I am a third-new release PhD, a daughter of two academics. In my childhood, I played around in my father’s institution lab. So it used to be taken with no consideration that I attend probably the most first-rate universities, which in flip opened the door to a world of possibility. Sadly, most of the persons on the planet will not be so lucky. In some materials of the arena, for instance, South Africa, schooling shouldn’t be readily obtainable. In South Africa, the educational procedure was developed within the days of apartheid for the white minority.And as a end result, at present there’s simply now not sufficient spots for the many extra persons who want and deserve a high fine education. That shortage resulted in a main issue in January of this yr at the school of Johannesburg. There were a handful of positions left open from the typical admissions system, and the night time before they were presupposed to open that for registration, 1000s of individuals lined up external the gate in a line a mile long, hoping to be first in line to get one of those positions.When the gates opened, there was a stampede, and 20 people had been injured and one woman died. She used to be a mom who gave her lifestyles looking to get her son a chance at a greater life. But even in constituents of the world like the U.S. Where schooling is to be had, it could now not be inside reach. There was a lot discussed within the last few years concerning the rising fee of wellbeing care.What would no longer be relatively as obvious to people is that during that same period the price of bigger schooling training has been increasing at just about twice the cost, for a total of 559 percentage considering that 1985. This makes schooling unaffordable for many individuals. Ultimately, even for many who do control to get the greater schooling, the doorways of opportunity might now not open. Best a little bit over 1/2 of up to date institution graduates in the united states who get a higher schooling simply are working in jobs that require that schooling. This, of course, is just not actual for the pupils who graduate from the top institutions, however for many others, they do not get the worth for their time and their effort. Tom Friedman, in his contemporary the big apple instances article, captured, in the way in which that no person else would, the spirit behind our effort.He stated the gigantic breakthroughs are what occur when what’s immediately feasible meets what’s desperately critical. I’ve talked about what’s desperately crucial. Let’s talk about what’s all of a sudden viable. What’s instantly viable used to be confirmed by using three significant Stanford classes, every of which had an enrollment of a hundred,000 persons or more. In an effort to comprehend this, let’s look at one of those classes, the computer finding out class provided by my colleague and cofounder Andrew Ng. Andrew teaches one of the greater Stanford lessons. It’s a desktop studying class, and it has four hundred folks enrolled every time it is supplied. When Andrew taught the machine studying category to the general public, it had one hundred,000 people registered. So as to put that quantity in viewpoint, for Andrew to arrive that identical dimension viewers by teaching a Stanford classification, he would have to do this for 250 years. Of course, he’d get relatively bored. So, having seen the affect of this, Andrew and i determined that we would have liked to particularly attempt to scale this up, to carry the first-rate nice education to as many humans as we would.So we formed Coursera, whose purpose is to take the excellent guides from the excellent instructors at the fine universities and furnish it to all people around the world without cost. We currently have 43 publications on the platform from 4 universities across a range of disciplines, and let me exhibit you just a little bit of an outline of what that appears like. (Video) Robert Ghrist: Welcome to Calculus. Ezekiel Emanuel: Fifty million persons are uninsured. Scott web page: units help us design extra amazing institutions and insurance policies. We get incredible segregation. Scott Klemmer: So Bush imagined that someday, you’ll put on a camera right within the center of your head. Mitchell Duneier: Mills desires the pupil of sociology to enhance the high-quality of intellect … RG: putting cable takes on the type of a hyperbolic cosine. Nick Parlante: For each pixel within the photo, set the crimson to zero. Paul Offit: … Vaccine allowed us to eliminate polio virus. Dan Jurafsky: Does Lufthansa serve breakfast and San Jose? Good, that sounds humorous.Daphne Koller: So this is which coin you pick, and this is the two tosses. Andrew Ng: So in colossal-scale computing device studying, we’d prefer to provide you with computational … (Applause) DK: It seems, possibly now not incredibly, that pupils like getting the first-rate content from the first-class universities without spending a dime. Due to the fact that we opened the website in February, we have now 640,000 scholars from a hundred ninety international locations. We have now 1.5 million enrollments, 6 million quizzes in the 15 lessons that have launched to this point have been submitted, and 14 million movies have been considered. But it surely’s now not close to the numbers, it is also concerning the folks. Whether or not it’s Akash, who comes from a small city in India and would never have access in this case to a Stanford-first-rate path and would on no account be able to come up with the money for it. Or Jenny, who’s a single mom of two and desires to hone her competencies so that she will go back and complete her grasp’s degree.Or Ryan, who cannot go to institution, given that his immune poor daughter can’t be risked to have germs come into the apartment, so he could not depart the condo. I’m really completely happy to claim — recently, we now have been in correspondence with Ryan — that this story had a glad ending. Baby Shannon — you’ll find her on the left — is doing much better now, and Ryan obtained a job through taking some of our publications. So what made these courses so distinct? In any case, on-line path content material has been available for a while. What made it extraordinary was once that this was once actual course expertise. It started on a given day, after which the pupils would watch videos on a weekly basis and do homework assignments. And these would be real homework assignments for a real grade, with a real cut-off date.One can find the time limits and the utilization graph. These are the spikes showing that procrastination is international phenomenon. (Laughter) at the end of the course, the scholars acquired a certificate. They could present that certificates to a potential enterprise and get a greater job, and we know many students who did. Some students took their certificate and offered this to an educational university at which they had been enrolled for actual tuition credit. So these pupils have been really getting anything significant for their investment of time and effort. Let’s talk a bit bit about one of the vital accessories that go into these courses. The first aspect is that when you transfer away from the constraints of a bodily lecture room and design content material explicitly for an online structure, that you can break away from, for illustration, the monolithic one-hour lecture. Which you can spoil up the material, for instance, into these quick, modular models of eight to 12 minutes, each and every of which represents a coherent concept. Pupils can traverse this fabric in one of a kind approaches, depending on their heritage, their expertise or their interests. So, for illustration, some students might improvement from a little bit bit of preparatory material that different scholars would have already got.Different students possibly concerned with a designated enrichment subject that they need to pursue individually. So this structure allows for us to break away from the one-dimension-matches-all model of education, and enables pupils to follow a way more customized curriculum. Of direction, everyone knows as educators that scholars don’t be taught through sitting and passively watching movies. Maybe some of the largest add-ons of this effort is that we ought to have students who apply with the material with the intention to relatively have an understanding of it. There may be been a variety of reviews that display the significance of this. This one who seemed in Science final year, for instance, demonstrates that even simple retrieval observe, the place scholars are simply speculated to repeat what they already realized gives considerably improved results on various success assessments down the road than many different educational interventions.Now we have tried to construct in retrieval observe into the platform, as good as different varieties of observe in lots of ways. For instance, even our movies should not simply movies. Every short while, the video pauses and the pupils get asked a query. (Video) SP: … These four matters. Prospect conception, hyperbolic discounting, fame quo bias, base cost bias. They may be all well documented. So they are all well documented deviations from rational habits. DK: So here the video pauses, and the pupil types in the reply into the box and submits. Most likely they weren’t paying attention. (Laughter) so that they get to try once more, and this time they received it right. There’s an not obligatory clarification if they need. And now the video strikes on to the subsequent a part of the lecture. This can be a style of simple question that I as an teacher could ask at school, but once I ask that kind of a question in class, eighty percentage of the pupils are still scribbling the final thing I mentioned, 15 percentage are zoned out on fb, and then there may be the smarty pants in the entrance row who blurts out the answer earlier than someone else has had a hazard to believe about it, and i as the instructor am terribly gratified that anyone in reality knew the answer.And so the lecture moves on earlier than, quite, most of the students have even noticed that a question had been requested. Here, every single pupil has to interact with the fabric. And of path these simple retrieval questions usually are not the top of the story. One needs to build in rather more significant apply questions, and one additionally wants to provide the scholars with feedback on these questions. Now, how do you grade the work of one hundred,000 pupils if you happen to would not have 10,000 TAs? The answer is, you have got to use technology to do it for you. Now, happily, technology has come far, and we will now grade a range of exciting varieties of homework.In addition to multiple option and the varieties of quick reply questions that you saw within the video, we are able to additionally grade math, mathematical expressions as well as mathematical derivations. We are able to grade items, whether or not it can be monetary models in a business type or physical models in a science or engineering type and we will grade some lovely refined programming assignments. Let me show you one that is clearly beautiful simple but rather visible. That is from Stanford’s computer Science one zero one category, and the pupils are imagined to colour-right that blurry pink photo. They are typing their program into the browser, and one can find they didn’t get it relatively right, woman Liberty is still seasick. And so, the scholar tries again, and now they obtained it proper, and so they’re advised that, and they can move on to the next project. This capability to have interaction actively with the material and be advised when you’re proper or improper is particularly principal to scholar finding out. Now, of path we can not yet grade the range of work that one needs for all courses. Specially, what’s missing is the kind of principal pondering work that’s so predominant in such disciplines because the humanities, the social sciences, industry and others.So we tried to persuade, for example, a few of our humanities faculty that a couple of option was not such a dangerous method. That didn’t go over relatively well. So we had to give you a different solution. And the solution we ended up utilising is peer grading. It seems that earlier reports show, like this one with the aid of Saddler and just right, that peer grading is a surprisingly strong procedure for providing reproducible grades.It was tried handiest in small classes, but there it showed, for example, that these pupil-assigned grades on the y-axis are without a doubt very good correlated with the teacher-assigned grade on the x-axis. What’s even more stunning is that self-grades, where the students grade their possess work critically — as long as you incentivize them accurately in order that they can’t provide themselves a perfect ranking — are certainly even higher correlated with the trainer grades. And so this is an effective technique that can be used for grading at scale, and is also a priceless finding out strategy for the students, since they virtually be taught from the expertise. So we’ve the biggest peer-grading pipeline ever devised, where tens of hundreds of students are grading each other’s work, and fairly efficaciously, I have to say. But this is not virtually pupils sitting on my own in their living room working by way of issues. Around every one of our publications, a group of scholars had formed, a world community of people around a shared mental pastime. What you see here is a self-generated map from students in our Princeton Sociology a hundred and one direction, the place they’ve put themselves on a global map, and that you would be able to really see the worldwide attain of this type of effort.Students collaborated in these publications in a sort of one of a kind methods. Initially, there was once a question and answer discussion board, the place scholars would pose questions, and different pupils would answer these questions. And the relatively mighty thing is, because there were so many scholars, it means that despite the fact that a pupil posed a question at three o’clock within the morning, someplace around the world, there could be somebody who was once awake and dealing on the identical predicament. And so, in a lot of our guides, the median response time for a question on the question and reply forum used to be 22 minutes.Which is not a degree of provider i have ever supplied to my Stanford students. (Laughter) And you will find from the pupil testimonials that students certainly find that on account that of this giant online group, they received to engage with each different in many approaches that have been deeper than they did within the context of the physical study room. Students also self-assembled, without any style of intervention from us, into small be trained groups. A few of these were bodily be trained companies alongside geographical constraints and met on a weekly groundwork to work by means of hindrance sets. That is the San Francisco be taught workforce, however there were ones all over the place the sector.Others had been digital learn groups, usually alongside language traces or along cultural traces, and on the bottom left there, you see our multicultural common gain knowledge of crew where individuals explicitly wanted to attach with people from different cultures. There are some enormous possibilities available from this variety of framework. The first is that it has the skills of giving us a totally remarkable appear into understanding human finding out. On account that the info that we will accumulate right here is targeted. That you would be able to acquire every click, each homework submission, each discussion board publish from tens of hundreds of students. So which you could flip the study of human studying from the speculation-driven mode to the information-driven mode, a change that, for illustration, has revolutionized biology. You should use these knowledge to have an understanding of essential questions like, what are just right learning systems which can be effective versus ones that aren’t? And in the context of targeted publications, that you would be able to ask questions like, what are one of the most misconceptions which are more long-established and the way can we support pupils fix them? So this is an illustration of that, also from Andrew’s computing device learning category.This can be a distribution of flawed solutions to one in every of Andrew’s assignments. The answers happen to be pairs of numbers, so that you may draw them on this two-dimensional plot. Every of the little crosses that you see is a further unsuitable reply. The large cross on the high left is the place 2,000 students gave the specific equal incorrect answer. Now, if two scholars in a category of a hundred give the identical unsuitable answer, you can by no means become aware of. However when 2,000 scholars give the same incorrect answer, it can be variety of rough to overlook. So Andrew and his pupils went in, looked at some of those assignments, understood the foundation reason of the misunderstanding, after which they produced a designated error message that may be supplied to each pupil whose answer fell into that bucket, which means that students who made that same mistake would now get customized feedback telling them the right way to fix their misconception far more with no trouble.So this personalization is anything that possible then build by using having the virtue of giant numbers. Personalization is might be probably the most largest possibilities right here as good, since it provides us with the knowledge of fixing a 30-12 months-historic quandary. Educational researcher Benjamin Bloom, in 1984, posed what’s referred to as the 2 sigma crisis, which he observed by using finding out three populations. The primary is the population that studied in a lecture-headquartered study room. The 2d is a population of scholars that studied making use of a common lecture-headquartered study room, however with a mastery-founded process, so the scholars couldn’t move on to the following subject earlier than demonstrating mastery of the prior one. And in the end, there was a populace of students that had been taught in a one-on-one guideline making use of a tutor. The mastery-established populace was a full ordinary deviation, or sigma, in fulfillment scores better than the normal lecture-founded type, and the person tutoring offers you 2 sigma development in performance. To comprehend what that implies, let’s appear at the lecture-established classroom, and let’s choose the median performance as a threshold.So in a lecture-based classification, half of the scholars are above that degree and half of are under. In the man or woman tutoring guideline, 98 percent of the students are going to be above that threshold. Imagine if we could coach in order that ninety eight percentage of our students can be above normal. Thus, the 2 sigma drawback. On the grounds that we cannot afford, as a society, to furnish every student with an man or woman human tutor. But probably we will have the funds for to furnish every student with a pc or a smartphone. So the query is, how do we use technological know-how to push from the left part of the graph, from the blue curve, to the proper part with the green curve? Mastery is easy to attain using a laptop, considering a computer doesn’t get tired of showing you the identical video 5 times. And it doesn’t even get worn out of grading the identical work a couple of instances, we’ve seen that in among the examples that I’ve shown you.And even personalization is anything that we’re commencing to see the beginnings of, whether it can be through the personalised trajectory via the curriculum or one of the crucial personalized feedback that we have now shown you. So the purpose right here is to try and push, and see how a long way we are able to get toward the golf green curve. So, if that is so excellent, are universities now out of date? Good, Mark Twain certainly notion so. He said that, "college is a location where a professor’s lecture notes go straight to the pupils’ lecture notes, without passing by means of the brains of both." (Laughter) i encourage to fluctuate with Mark Twain, though. I feel what he was complaining about is just not universities however instead the lecture-based structure that so many universities spend so much time on. So let’s return even additional, to Plutarch, who stated that, "The mind is not a vessel that wishes filling, however wooden that desires igniting." And maybe we will have to spend less time at universities filling our students’ minds with content material via lecturing at them, and more time igniting their creativity, their imagination and their crisis-solving capabilities by way of truly talking with them.So how will we try this? We do this by means of doing energetic studying in the study room. So there is been many studies, including this one, that show that if you use active finding out, interacting together with your pupils in the classroom, efficiency improves on each single metric — on attendance, on engagement and on studying as measured with the aid of a standardized experiment. You will discover, for example, that the success ranking practically doubles on this particular experiment. So maybe that is how we will have to spend our time at universities. So as to summarize, if we could offer a top quality education to each person around the world totally free, what would that do? Three matters. First it might establish schooling as a important human right, where any one around the world with the capacity and the incentive might get the expertise that they must make a better existence for themselves, their households and their communities.2d, it would allow lifelong studying. It’s a shame that for thus many men and women, learning stops once we conclude high college or once we finish university. Through having this robust content material be to be had, we’d be capable to learn anything new each time we wanted, whether it can be just to develop our minds or it can be to vary our lives. And eventually, this might permit a wave of innovation, on account that powerful talent may also be observed at any place. Possibly the following Albert Einstein or the subsequent Steve Jobs is living someplace in a far off village in Africa.And if we might present that individual an education, they’d be ready to come up with the following massive notion and make the sector a better location for every body. Thanks very much. (Applause) .

[dubaization]

The Unbearable Lightness of Transience: tales from Abu Dhabi

A review of: Unnikrishnan, Deepak. 2017. Temporary People. Brooklyn, New York: Restless Books

By: Yasser Elsheshtawy

This is a very troubling read. Indeed, it is one of the most disturbing writings on the Gulf that I have ever come across. At some point it is even unbearable. Yet it is of such terrifying force that its effect lingers long after putting it down. In the words of one reviewer “… this is not an easy book; in fact it is eviscerating.”[1] Throughout I have been trying to make sense of my reaction. It is after all not a particular new subject for those who have experienced life in the gleaming cities of the Gulf; who have engaged in numerous encounters and interactions and have been subjected to the temporariness that Unnikrishnan depicts in his fairy tale. Much has been said about the lives of laborers and migrants in these so-called ‘soulless’ and ‘artificial’ cities. The sense of transience and anonymity pervades such narratives imbuing them with a certain sadness at best or a clear descent into hell at worst. ‘Temporary People’ wisely avoids this simplistic binary instead opting for an unflinching examination of the everyday. In so doing it recognizes that there are numerous layers and nuances that escape such conventional narratives.

Abu Dhabi from above (Source: Author)

There is obviously so much more to these cities and the lives of its inhabitants. And this is what makes the ‘novel’ so troubling. It offers an unapologetic look into the psychological landscape of its temporary inhabitants. And in doing so unequivocally suggests a damning view of the kind of spaces and cities that lead to the phantasmagoric imaginary that permeates every page of the book. The stories are so over the top, ranging from poetic depictions of escape and longing to hypersexualized and perverse sexual encounters. Which is puzzling.  Why resort to fantasy and surreal landscapes to evoke what is real – particularly when the real already defies common sense in so many ways? It is – I believe – a sort of coping mechanism whereby one escapes into a fantasy thus being able to somehow deal with notions of displacement, temporariness, absence and lack of self-identity. Through these escapist tales one can begin to comprehend, while not fully understand, such societies. And yet the question remains: “What causes a society to look like this” as one reviewer inquisitively asks.[2] I will leave this for others to answer but what concerns me most – as an urbanist and architect – is what kind of spaces produce these sort of tales; can temporariness and transience be inscribed into space? Is it possible to design temporality, to implement policies that effectively create displacement? Are these issues only applicable to the spectacular, and as some would say, surreal landscapes of Abu Dhabi or Dubai?

The impact of modern city life on the psychological state of residents is not a particularly new subject. It has in fact occupied the minds of urbanists since early 20th century as cities modernized and there was increased migration from villages. At the heart of such inquiries is the notion that modern city life is characterized by anomie as it promotes individualism which is contrasted with a (romanticized) communal village life. Urban sociologists Simmel discussed this at length in his classic 1903 essay “The Metropolis and Mental Life.”[3] He noted that the city inherently enables a form of rootlessness and displacement. Closer to our time French anthropologist Marc Augé argued that modern cities can be depicted as non-places, sites of a super-modernity in which they begin to resemble airport lounges, supermarkets and other settings that evoke rootlessness and temporality.[4]

Abu Dhabi as a modern metropolis should thus, at some level, be no different than any other. But clearly we are dealing with a very different situation. As is well-known expatriate residents have no viable recourse to citizenship or permanent residency even though they constitute more than 80% of the population (an estimate). That sense of rootlessness is also visible in the built environment which lacks the kind of permanent markers that characterize cities with an established history and actual people that have lived there for generations. Such cities have a feeling of continuity that is imbued in their urban landscapes through layers of history and buildings. In the Gulf, and particularly in Abu Dhabi, there is a constant erasure of history and policies that promote homogeneity and frown upon any sight of disorder which would signify some sort of lived-in feeling. This stands in opposition to what many urbanists depict as cityness.[5]

Street encounters in Abu Dhabi near Hamdan Street (Source: Author)

This is then the landscape – both urban and social – within which the tales of “Temporary People” take place. Throughout, the built environment lurks in the background – the municipality parking lot taken over by youths; a grocery shop on Jawazat street where teleportation takes place; a building on Hamdan street witnessing horrendous acts. Supermarkets, streets, labor camps, the desert, shops – the city’s non-descript urban landscape is laid bare here for its inhabitants to enact their most perverse, extreme and outlandish fantasies.

And in the midst of all that a series of questions begin to take hold. What is it like to be looked at and to be constantly defined as a stranger? Does living in spaces that lack any specific identity or history heighten one’s sense of alienation? Does it evoke perverse and deviant longings? What kind of behavioral aberrations occurs in such spaces – real or imagined? Deepak Unnikrishnan’s stories deal with these questions – albeit obliquely. Perhaps his most poignant tale occurs right at the very beginning – where he describes a city “built by labor, mostly men, who disappear after their respective buildings are made.” They “become ghosts, haunting the facades they helped build.” And as if threatening all of us: “If you are outside, and there are buildings nearby, ghosts may already be falling, may even have landed on your person” (p. 3). Thus setting the stage, we become witness to tales of alienation and escapism. A woman who tapes construction workers after they fall, herself leaps from a building to become like the people she treats. Others turn into passports and suitcases after swallowing them. We observe how workers whose only recourse in dealing with a sense of longing to their loved ones is through the use of a device called “Fone” allowing them to be teleported to their homeland (a familiar sight in low-income and migrant neighborhoods is workers sitting outside their cramped accommodations or on rooftops talking to their family back home). An agricultural scientist grows people, i.e. workers, in a farm in Musaffah (an industrial district specifically planned to contain laborers) and decides on a whim to equip them with a sense of reason. This causes them to riot in front of the Burj Khalifa – an absurd tale highlighting the dehumanization they are subjected to and their commodification.

Expatriate residents in Abu Dhabi meeting in a public square (Source: Author)

But aside from these larger issues involving the lives of migrants, transnational connections and the like the more forceful tales relate to the intimate and everyday. Ordinary, quotidian encounters which are transformed into phantasmagoric stories. They highlight how transience and displacement is normalized, but also allude to the extent by which inhabitants of these disposable sites attempt to create a sense of agency. Indeed the most harrowing, disturbing and utterly devastating tales involve a molesting elevator, friction among youths in a parking lot leading to a vicious assault, and a clown subjected to unspeakable humiliation. Each of these tales does not invent reality – rather it is subverted and intensified, turned into a hyperreal depiction that defies any common sense. Yet it is utterly and completely real because it is grounded in the everyday. And in each the built environment and spaces of the city become a complicit culprit – buildings and elevators, leftover spaces and supermarket parking areas. Interspersed throughout are fantasies and longings of both locals and residents intensified by the city’s spaces and sites. For example, a local woman, dubbed Abaya by the narrator (an all enveloping black cloak worn by women in the Gulf), engages in a form of sexual play with a South-Asian clown impersonator in the backseat of a car. Themes of dominance, humiliation, language barriers and power, figure highly in this charged (and troubling) scene.

In a city in which any kind of encounter between races, classes and genders is not entirely feasible in a ‘normal’ sense the abnormal takes hold. Fantasies become reality. The deepest, darkest secrets and longings are enacted in one’s mind. And this is what makes the novel so harrowing and disturbing – the realization that this is not entirely fictional, that there is some sense of realness in the narrative. And that for those of us who have lived in the Gulf for any amount of time, the degree with which we can identify with these stories and sympathize with its ‘victims’ is perhaps the most ‘eviscerating’ insight.

Deepak Unnikrishnan did not explicitly talk about what kind of city – from an urban and architectural standpoint – evokes these psychic aberrations and longings. This is a tale yet waiting to be told. A tale of Temporary Cities.

Alleyway in Hor al Anz, Dubai (Source: Author)

Footnotes

[1] https://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21719433-united-arab-emirates-millions-non-citizen-workers-inspire-experimental-and

[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/books/review/temporary-people-deepak-unnikrishnan.html?_r=0

[3] Simmel, Georg. 1903. "The Metropolis and Mental life." In The Urban Sociology Reader, edited by Jan Lin and Christopher Mele, 23-31. London, New York: Routledge.

[4] Augé, Marc. 2008. Non-Places: An Introduction to Supermodernity, trans. John Howe. London, New York: Verso.

[5] Sennett, Richard. 1970. The uses of disorder: personal identity & city life. [1st ed. New York: Knopf; Sassen, Saskia. 2013. "Does the city have speech?"  Public culture 25 (2 70):209-221.