Tag: BP01

Engaging the disengaged

Taylor W.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Art from an WSJ article ā€˜Can we Save Our children from Smartphonesā€™ depicting childrenā€™s attachment to their devices
https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-we-save-our-children-from-smartphones-03eaf449

Boundaries shift based on your life experience. I believe for every season of your life there is something new and different that you modify about yourself. You as a person are constantly evolving. In my generation technology plays a huge role. I recall being in Kindergarten having to take a computer course that taught me how to type and the fundamentals of a computer. For instance, how to use all of the different Pc applications.Ā 

One example of an establish boundary that Iā€™ve shifted towards is my boundary with technology as a whole. These days, you can almost find out everything about someone based on their social media presence. I donā€™t want to be that ā€œone stereotypical personā€ but in all honesty I feel like the internet has done irreparable damage to my generation. I feel like its too pervasive.

I was prompted to make this change based on being in Quarantine. At a time where my anxiety was at an all time high and I spent my days endlessly scrolling on the interweb. I thought how can I be more productive? As corny as it seems I went on a walk, in an effort to break from my constant immersion in technology. On this walk I decided to not take my earbuds and just walk listening to nature. My earbuds are like my emotional support crutches. They force me into an imaginary bubble. I hated how anti-social I had became. During the walk in my suburban dallas neighborhood I saw the usual things like trees, grass, and birds. But I also noticed something,Ā  a stark contrast. As I was walking I came across people my age and some older people. Most of the people my age were out walking their pets with their faces were glued to their phones. They might have looked up occasionally to check their path/walk across the street. And the older people were way more engaged ā€œliving in the momentā€ and even spoke greetings. From then on I made the decision to live my life more ā€œengagedā€. While technology has it benefits, I realized that the overuse can be disengaging.

The ChatGPT Takeover

Sydney V.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
The Kirby’s Foundation image depicting the potential roles AI will have in our lives in the future. https://thefusioneer.com/blog/the-future-of-ai-5-ai-advancements-to-expect-in-the-next-10-years/

Five years ago, if you had asked students what online resources they use to assist them with their classwork, many students including myself would have said Wikipedia or a similar website. In todayā€™s day and age, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) resources, such as ChatGPT and Metaā€™s AI tool on Instagram, has surpassed the use of Wikipedia by students when they need quick information. In the past five years, the role of AI has shifted from experimental technology to one used daily by many people. At its inception, it was used by many people in advanced science fields or technology industries. The AI that was previously used had a narrow scope and could allow me to answer specific questions or provide specific information. Now, AI is easily accessible to anybody who has a cell phone. AI can also handle more complex tasks which allows them to be used in a variety of industries.Ā 

I believe this shift in the use of AI can be attributed to increasing technological advancements and a larger need for more answers to societal problems. The advancements in computer and phone technology over the past five years have allowed more AI models to be released faster and more accessible. These technological advancements have also allowed the AI systems to handle more complex tasks which makes them more useful for both people in industry and everyday use. Since we live in a fast-paced world, the need for AI systems that increase efficiency and productivity has increased. It helps industries efficiently complete repetitive tasks at a lower risk of error. AI is also beneficial for some personalized tasks as it can provide specific information based on what is inputted into the system. It is important to be aware of our increasing reliance on technology, specifically AI because it relates to the transhumanism and posthumanism discussion. Are we allowing AI to help us enhance ourselves as humans or are we viewing this new form of technology as potentially being able to get to the same level as us?

Gunners in the Pursuit of Happiness

Jennifer V.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Gunner: for lack of better terms is a subgroup of students who are excessively driven in their pursuit of success that they disregard team work, over flaunt their achievements, and hoard opportunities from their peers. No one likes a gunner, but are they really to blame? Are their actions not just a direct response to the overly stimulated and competitive nature of out society? I think it starts with how success and happiness have molded into one entity instead of two different spheres of life.

In recent years, society dropped the idea that success and a happy, healthy life style are distinct aspirations that we should be striving for. Instead of leaving work at the office to spend time with family, the creation of technology has begun to to breakdown that barrier. The average cellphone is so crucial in the shift of work life balances because emails and work calls can now transcend the boundary of the office and invade the privacy of own’s home. In cooperation with technology, social media participates in pushing hustle culture forward by placing stigmas on people do not aspire to live the life of extreme stress and reward. Individuals are allowed to paint certain personas and images on the internet, where only their achievements and successes are shown. Of course, the responsibility of a social media user is to understand that a snippet of one’s life is not their entire story, but when everyone around you shows only success without failure in their life then people begin to feel pressured to achieve the same. As access to technology evolves, so too does academic performance. What was once considered genius is now the norm simply because we are able to use innovations to our advantage. Now we live in a world where great students are below expectation, and exceptional students are just ordinary; therefore, we created the perfect breeding ground for students/workers who believe they must prove their own self worth to a society that deems them worthless. At this point, is happiness even attainable if you are not the first in every aspect of your life? If happiness is an indicator of self worth and society is saying we are worth less, then societal recognitions is the key to happiness, which is also key to success, which is… on and on again.

Our society run on commodity, and it just so happens that our happiness and success are on the market too. Maybe if you work hard your whole life you will get a sale on the price of happiness. Happiness, an aspect that was once seen for its quality and experience, has now been quantified. I said before that I dislike gunners for their inability to cooperate and treasure the meaning to true camaraderie/team work, but I also feel like they are just trying to survive in a cut throat environment. Sad to say, but we live in a world where preying on other’s success will eventually bring you to the happiness we are taught to believe in. A type of happiness that’s not found in a lazy Sunday with your family, but a happiness that fuels the government that will not thank you for your sacrifices.

Reproductive Boundaries

Mya J.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

One established boundary that has notably shifted in the past five years is the right to bodily autonomy, particularly in the context of reproductive rights. This boundary was originally solidified in 1973 with the landmark Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which granted women the constitutional right to access abortion under the 14th Amendment. This ruling set a significant precedent, ensuring that women across the United States had the legal right to make decisions about their reproductive health without excessive government interference. In the past five years another court case had dramatically shifted that boundary. Particularly with the Dobbs v Jackson 2022 decision to regulate abortion to individual states. Many states have since then implemented restrictive laws about abortion.  

This decision marked a significant shift in the legal landscape, undoing nearly 50 years of precedent. On a state legislature level, some states have implemented “trigger laws” that immediately banned abortion upon the overturning of Roe. This shift has led to significant changes in healthcare access, with some women having to travel out of state to access abortion services, or facing the prospect of unsafe, illegal procedures, or possible jail time. Socially the shift has influenced the broader cultural discourse around women’s rights, bodily autonomy, and the role of government in personal decisions.  

The Dobbs decision has ignited debates and activism on both sides of the issue, highlighting the contentious nature of abortion rights in the United States. One of the main things that I believe prompted this change is the long-term conservative political strategy, especially in the supreme court.  With abortion rights becoming a key issue dividing liberals and conservatives. The political landscape has enabled more extreme positions to gain traction, influence policy, and votes. Another reason this change occurred could be because of religious influences, with many religious groups advocating for more restrictive abortion laws based on their moral and ethical beliefs. A significant boundary shifted majorly in just under 50 years’ time and in this political climate more boundaries may shift as well.