Everyone texts. If you don’t text, you’re pretty much considered ancient. But what has texting done to our society? Instead of meeting up to talk to someone, we send them a quick text. Throughout classes, we are constantly occupied by the messages on our phone. Even when we walk, our faces are glued to our phones to respond to a message to one of our friends who could literally be in walking distance.  Has this modern convenience backfired on our generation? Has is hindered us from being able to effectively converse with one another?

In an article found in the Olympian,texting can be and is often used as a technique to avoid interaction with others. We all know what that’s like when we don’t really feel like talking to someone, we text them instead because it allows us the opportunity to avoid speaking. The article also mentions how texting allows for complete control over responses. At any time during a text conversation we can think about our response (type, backspace, and type again) or choose to not even respond at all.

Another article suggests yet another hypothesis for why texting is killing the art of conversation. PR Daily mentions 4 different reasons as to why texting just may become our talking demise.  Reducing the need for deep conversations, decreasing the need to know correct spelling and grammar, prohibiting people from being fully attendant and increased ambiguity are all disadvantages that are created by texting.

More studies show that texting isn’t all bad, it just needs to be done in moderation.  An article from the Intelligencer said that people prefer texting over a phone call, but found that writing skills had enhanced with people from our generation.

With the vast number of opinions and ideas about texting, it is clear that it has both advantages and disadvantages. The key to being able to text without losing the art of conversation is to text in moderation and has physical interactions and phone calls regularly. That way, you can master both!

Sources:
http://www.theolympian.com/2011/05/11/1647330/social-crutch-of-cellphone-texting.html
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/4_ways_texting_is_killing_our_communication_skills_13330.aspx
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/570637.html

I would like to consider myself to be a lover of the arts, all of them. I especially enjoy using my own body as a canvas. As of now, I have 7 tattoos. I’ve been getting them since I was 16 and have averaged about 1 a year ever since. I just can’t help myself. Before going to the parlor, many people warned me that they were addicting and that I would end up with half of my body covered in ink. I assured them they were wrong, but here I am, 6 tattoos later and eager to get more. Why do they seem so contagious? Are they really addictive?

            According to a website that focuses on addictions, tattoos are not listed in the DSM as something that you can become addicted to. However, getting tattoos allows the release of endorphins. These chemicals are released to help deal with the pain that comes along with having a needle dug into your skin to create a desired image. The article explains how the release of these chemicals, along with the associated pain, allows for an emotional attachment to be made with the experience. This memory then becomes a positive experience, that people want to happen over and over again.

            WordPress.com mentions a study that was done that supported the idea that tattoos were addictive. They concluded from a survey that they distributed that people become addicted to inking their body because it is a trend, it enhances social identity, and because they fall victim to the concept of consumer behavior.

            Interestingly enough, even with the research, the topic is still up for much debate. It is possible that the popularity among tattoos may be subjective, and unique to each person.  So, my advice, when considering getting a tattoo is to think long and hard about the decision. It could potentially be your first and only, or it may be the beginning of a creative addiction.

Sources:

http://www.addictionrehab.com/blog/are-tattoos-really-addictive-why-pain/

Are Tattoos Addictive??

Personally, I love a good horoscope. When situations seem to be tough, and a rough week full of tests is right around the corner, a horoscope that reads “good things are in your future” always brightens my mood. When I read magazines, I always flip to the back to see what’s in store for my life for the upcoming month. They don’t always fully relate, but they do always seem to have some weird correlation with the exact things that are occurring in my life.  This magical form of prediction is used by many. So many, in fact, that they’ve even developed apps for it, so you can get your horoscope on the run, throughout a busy day. But how accurate are horoscopes? Is there any real truth to the predictions we read about our potential futures?

According to an article written by  Pacific Standard, horoscopes are great for entertainment, but horrible for exposing truth. They mention a study conducted in 1948 that had subjects fill out a personality test. The results he showed them all came from a local newspaper. When he asked them to assess how true the results were, they all claimed that they were accurate. This study shows that the results were correlated to the people at all, rather the people made the results relate to them. Over the year, different studies have been done, but the same results are concluded, horoscopes just aren’t true. However, humans have an outstanding talent that makes horoscopes so popular, the ability to read into what we want to believe.

Horoscopes seem relatable to most, because we make them relatable. The slightest similarity we will convince ourselves correlates to a specific situation occurring in our lives. An article written on the validity of  horoscopes says that we should be very cautious when reading horoscopes because we could be putting our faith into the wrong hands. So, the next time I read my horoscope, while it may have similarities or not, I’ll be sure to take it with a grain of salt, because they really are just for entertainment.

Sources:

http://www.psmag.com/culture-society/horoscopes-fun-but-utterly-fallible-25533/

http://ezinearticles.com/?Horoscopes:-True-or-False&id=294064

In general, I would like to think that most people are truthful. But we know that just isn’t true. Everyone lies. We’ve all done it before. Whether it is telling a little kid that Santa is real, or lying to your parents about your whereabouts, everyone at some point hasn’t been truthful. But why do we lie? What in us causes us to be so cool with the idea of deception?

An article that decided to investigate the truth about deception talks about a study that says we begin to lie at a very young age. Research has evidence to suggest that by age 3, we understand the benefits of lying, which often at that age, is avoiding punishment from taking a cookie out of the jar before dinner. But it doesn’t stop there. From that point, we continue to lie, and even increase our amount of lies as we age.  The article continues to explain how as adults, we lie, on average, about 13 times a week! Even I found that a little hard to believe, but with further consideration, it can actually be true. Whether it be a white lie, or something grander, deception is deception, and we, as humans, love it.

So what’s the reason behind it? The truth behind why we lie is quite simple. We want to make ourselves look good, and appear better than what we are. We lie to ourselves (probably more often than we think) and others for this sole reason. I know you’re probably thinking to yourself “I could care less what someone thinks about me.” Well guess what, you just lied to yourself. In a study done that was published by the Journal of Basic and Applied Psychology ,a sample was asked to have a 10 minute conversation. The results showed that 60% of those people had lied once during that time!

So, the next time that you yell at your significant other for not being honest, or at a friend for lying, remember that you are just as guilty. We all are. Lying is just a part of being human, whether it be good or bad.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/14/why-people-lie-truth-about-lying_n_3721537.html

http://www.livescience.com/772-lie.html

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about electronic cigarettes. This novice, convenient device not only keeps the average smoker from inhaling all of the terrible things that are found in cigarettes, but releases vapor to prevent second hand smoke. Sounds like the perfect compromise right? This new sensation has sparked my interest into investigating a little more about the “e-cig”. Are they really a healthier alternative to the traditional cigarette?

According to a study from NBC News , electronic cigarettes are a way for smokers to try to put an end to their addictions. The study monitored a group of smokers and compared the effects of the e-cig to a nicotine patch, as well as a placebo e-cig. The results showed that e-cigs did help people cut down on their tobacco use, but failed to show whether or not they were harmed by the new device. In fact, much of the studies I researched weren’t able to conclude whether or not they were healthy because they are not yet aware of the long term effects.

However, the Huffington Post provides a list of facts that should be known to the public about the new alternative.  Among the list is information that explains the harmful chemicals that the electronic device contains, and how it is sold to children because it is not yet regulated or taxed like traditional cigarettes. Interestly enough, they also mention the vast amount of advertising that occurs around them, despite the lack of health evidence.

So, I decided to weigh out the pros and cons. E-cigs contain nicotine, which is still an addictive substance. The media wants to make sure that everyone sees the great things an E-cig can do. Is that maybe to cover up all the bad that can potentially come with it?  They are able to be used everywhere, and are sold to almost anyone, which make them extremely attractive and convenient to the public.

I think that it is safe to say that E-Cigs are in fact a healthy alternative to the traditional cigarette, however, we still do not know if the electronic cigarette itself is healthy. My advice,when in doubt, do without.

Sources:

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/embargo-6-pm-saturday-e-cigarettes-good-patches-helping-smokers-8C11098306

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/03/electronic-cigarettes_n_3818941.html

 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324478304578171221462816296

      True Blood.The Vampire Diaries. Twilight. These shows have come into the public eye within the last few years and has truly raised a lot of attention. The blood sucking predator always seems to be portrayed as the mysterious desired stud that everyone wants to know more about. But, how truly are these plots that we follow so religiously? How real are the vampires we see on TV? Is Edward Cullen really an attainable being, or just a fictional character we like to read about? According to a video on the Huffington Post, vampires the way we see them portrayed may not be real, but there are vampires walking among us.
     Renfield’s Syndrome is a diagnosis given to those who have an obsession with ingesting the blood of others. They think that it provides them with power, and extraordinary abilities. Clinically is it called vampirism, because the condition is most similar to the lifestyle of the vampires writers create.This condition usually begins early in one’s life, with them using their own blood as a fuel to become excited or fulfilled. Through time, their condition evolves and they begin to drink the blood of living creatures such as animals. It peaks when desires of drinking the blood of other humans arises. Those that suffer with this condition usually steal the blood, but there has been cases of deadly encounters.
       Who would’ve thought that this condition existed?! I have to admit, I  found it a little more exciting when i read about vampires in books and seen them on TV. But I guess it’s true what they say, every good story always starts with a little bit of truth.

Source:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/15/renfields-syndrome-vampirism_n_1765799.html

          I have always loved scary movies, especially the horror movies that are based on a true story. Over the summer, I went with some friends to see The Conjuring, a movie based on a true story of a family that was haunted by a ghost. While the movie was enjoyable, and kept me on the edge of my seat, I couldn’t help but wonder how accurate this all really could be. We know that Hollywood loves to be dramatic, but you can’t advertise a true story that has no truth to it.

          It makes me wonder whether or not ghosts are real. Sure we’ve heard people claim that they have seen spaceships, or doors open and close on their own, but are there reasonable explanations for what we experience? After reading this Live Science article, they might be.

           Many ghost experts try to explain the existence of ghosts through modern physics. Beginning all the way back to Einstein’s studies, which discussed what happens to energy once it is no longer used. Where does it go? How does it change form? We know there is energy, but we don’t know where it goes, or if it can be called a ghost.
 
            Because of the constant uncertainty that is seen within the controversial topic of whether or not ghosts do exist, I have decided that faith in the supernatural is individual. With evidence to support both sides, it really is up to you to decide what’s real. Was Casper the friendly ghost really a little boy trapped on earth as a ghost, or was he just a figment of or childhood imaginations? We’ll probably never really know for sure.

Source:http://www.livescience.com/16951-einstein-physics-ghosts-proof.html

           Spanking has always been a controversial topic when talking about how to raise your kids. Everyone has a different opinion on what they think is right. Is it appropriate to spank them at a certain age? What about the amount of times the child is spanked in a given incident? How often is it okay to spank a child before it comes something we frown upon? Is it okay to use a belt, or a paddle? Many questions arise when we talk about how to discipline our children.
            While I think that whether or not spanking is a good way to discipline a child should be left up to the individual parent, it is shown that spanking really isn’t as effective as we all may assume.
             An article on Parenting.com gives insight on the method of spanking. While it was much more popular in earlier generations, we now have research to suggest that not only is spanking ineffective, but also has the ability to hinder parent-child relationships.  Spanking causes the child to not respect the rules or the authority figure, but rather teaches them to fear them. Instilling fear within children is not something that anyone wants to do, especially if you’re a parent.
           So if spanking is so bad, then why do so many parents do it? I don’t know. Maybe it’s because it’s what we know, and we’re just trying to raise kids the best way we know how. Maybe we find it to be the quick solution to a disobedient child. Whatever the reason, spanking is still pretty prevalent within our society. Will that ever change? Guess time will tell.

Source:http://www.parenting.com/article/is-it-okay-to-spank

          Growing up, were you ever told ” You are very book smart, but you have no common sense.” No? Well, me neither. Just kidding. Growing up that is a phrase that I often heard. As i got older however, and used those “book smarts” to my advantage, I realized that common sense may not be common at all. And who says that this common knowledge that everyone is supposed to have makes any sense at all? I had to dig deeper.

           After reading an article from Psychology Today, I realized that my hunch really could have some truth to it. I could be onto something! Because times are constantly changing, and people and societies constantly evolving, there really is nothing that is common. Yes, we may generally experience some of the same things, like riding the bus to school, or learning how to ride a bike, but we can not for sure say that those actions have always been experienced the same. And the “sense” part, well..its clear that we don’t always make rational decisions. Having “common sense” has to be based on one’s experience, which is extremely limited when we really think about it.
           Interestingly enough, we often use the term common sense to refer to different constructs that are present within our society. In other words, we use common sense as a way to describe not what we know through experiences, but what we think we should do or how we should act. We like to fit in with the norm, so we act accordingly, doing what we think is expected of us. 

           So really,common sense isn’t common, nor does it make much sense. I feel better knowing that I’m not the only one that has “book smarts” and not an ounce of common sense. None of us do, technically, even though we all so commonly use the phrase.