CR#6.5 It's your problem, not the phone's.

     Firstly, sorry about being late. There has been lots of stuff bothering my mind and I just had to calm down a little before starting all my works.

     Young Soo has chosen the topic, development in communication technology makes people more lonely. This kind of issue has been handled numerous times and each time I saw the article, I felt thoroughly cynical. The reasons I will provide in the following.

     The definition of "loneliness" must be established before discussing any further. Being lonely is a completely different matter from being obsessed. When Sherry Turkle talks about parents looking into their phones 24/7 and children not being able to function properly without their cellphones, that's more of an obsession problem. If you say that you feel lonely due to the easiness of communication provided by the new technology, you happen to prove yourself that you are just too vulnerable of being affected by such gadgets. The reason why anyone would feel lonely is because a person would rely too much on one's phones. Because one is so obsessed in one's phones, they tend to believe that they are going to be left alone without their phones. Is it the technology's fault? No, I do no think so. It is the individual's fault for being too easy. Millions of people uses smart phones and social networking services. Do they ALL feel lonely when detached from such tech? No. I don't.

     Sherry Turkle gives her speech in the premise that what is communicated through  social networking services cannot have much weight. She talks in a mood that only light issues are dealt in such devices. I believe that it is not true.

1. The social networking system has made it easier for people to say things that they are too much embarassed to say face-to-face. Before my dad and I started Cacao Talk, my dad never really told me how he felt. Now that he has a handy way of communicating with me, he tells me that he loves me, todos los dias.

2. The social networking system has abled you to communicate with people whom you would just have forgotten if without the help of such services. When I signed up for Facebook, I was really surprised that my elementary school friends have added me as a friend. I would not have been able to contact them if it wasn't for Facebook.
3. As what Sherry Turkle has mentioned, such communication system has made it able for people to think more before speaking, or writing about an issue. Because of this unlimited time given, people are able to talk about serious issues more thoroughly.

So 'development in technology has made people more lonely' talk, in my perspective, is a loser's talk. It's just like proving yourself that you do not have that much of a control over yourself. It's proving yourself that you are letting yourself get addicted to your phone.

"It's Your Fault!"

Don't insist on English? Very likely : (

"Korean is the most scientific language in the world" they say
"We have to learn other cultures in this globalized century" they say
However, every single person in Korea, or perhaps every individual in the world is "highly" recommended to speak English, so that we can all "communicate" together.

I've always had a skeptical view on this global language issue.
English is undoubtedly recognized as THE language which everyone must speak in order to communicate over nations.
But, why english?
What does english have in such an authority that everyone MUST learn it?
It is not like that english is the easiest language to learn nor the language has the highest percentage of being the first language.
Why are we so obsessed in learning such a language which is not even ours?
Why do we have to submit our english scores when applying for a high school, a university, or a job?

Why is english taking such a huge portion in our lives?

I do get the idea that english is already learned by many people and it is now the most efficient way of communicating.
However, I'm still curious about why in the first place english became the global language, and the most sufficient answer I could find was because it is the language of the United States, the big strong country.
Because America has seemingly large power over other countries its language is inadvertently acknowledged as a global language.

Yes, english is blocking other countries from giving other people chances to learn their language.
However, because english is already in a widespread use, I say there is nothing we can do about it.

30 days of "not doing ANYTHING"

     Every KMLA students seem to complain about all the works they have to do. The ridiculous amount of homework, quizzes, and presentations are killing them. Other people complain about the amount of the works they have, too. Most businessmen hate to go to work. Many children shudder at the fact that they have to go to school for at least twelve years. However, they are underestimating the importance of those works. Here, I suggest a perfect project, not only for KMLA students, but also for those who do not appreciate the thankfulness of "having something to do."
     The project will be, "not doing anything for 30 days." The procedure is simple. You will not be able to do anything except eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom. You will stay at home, and not go to work or to school. You will not be allowed to go shopping, doing exercise, or going to beauty salons. You will get all the rest you longed for! What a perfect chance.
     However, the purpose of this project is not just taking enough rest. The true meaning of not doing anything is for you to understand the beauty of doing something. Old quotes say that your hands must be always busy. My grandparents used to tell me that people will feel very depressed when having nothing to do. They will not be able to find a meaning in their lives. If KMLA students are to join in this project, they will be able to acknowledge the school's purpose of making them work alot.
     There are some Korean words indicating those people who just stay at home and do nothing.  He or she is called a 건어물남(gun-a-mul-nam) or a 백수(baek-su) if it's a he, and 건어물녀(gun-a-mul-nue) or 백조(baek-jo) if it's a she. The picture above, is a typical gun-a-mul-nam. They are regarded as social harms and are told to children by their parents to never become one of those kinds. This project will help children to have an actual idea of how boring the life is when you do not have a job or a goal.
     Just for fun, I attach a UCC portraiting a Baek-su. A lady is bragging about his son, saying that he got accepted into a well-known company. She says that she lives in the enjoyment of raising her children. Just then, her son comes out of the closet. The last line says, "What else enjoyment would you have now?" It is supposed to be funny.......haha

CR#3. Education Kills Creativity

     Lots of students in Korea grumble that the school education is ruining them. They always complain that the school is teaching them stuff that they do not need in the future. They always think that they will be able to do well even without the school education. I used to think that way, too. I thought that the overall education of public schools restrict my abilities-which can be considered creativity. However, I learned in KMLA, to think in a different perspective. Education is crucial in raising creativity.
     Even though you might think that you do not need math skills to excel in playing guitar, it is not true. Creativity does not come from bare ground. Let's think. Consider Thomas Edison. He is thought as the icon of creativity. He came up with various sorts of inventions and provided the world with convinience. However, was he uneducated? Hard to say yes. Even though he did drop out of school, he learned scientific knowledge thorugh countless experiments. Creativity of Edison did not pop out like what many people want these days.
     Yes, learning things you don't like can be very irritating. However, I say that those things you learn now will help someday in the future. Those knowledge will become stepping stones for you to enlarge your skills.

Debate Motions

#1. THB: Morning exercise in KMLA has more benefits than disadvantages.
#2. THS: Practice of abortion.
#3. THB: Corporal punishment must be banned.

Tada!

About Micheal Moore's "Join My High School Newspaper"

Michael Moore worte a letter to high school students to indicate that he is making a special place in his websiste for publishing ideas from them.
Though his suggestion is quite reasonable, I do not buy his way of expressing his thoughts.
He exaggerates too much.
Him saying lots of adjectives made me want to stop reading.
He might do a good job in persuading egocentric teenagers...but not people like me.

His idea of making high school newspaper is very attractive.
However, the reason I find this appealing is just because I will get "another" chance to publically post my opinions, not that I do not have anywhere else to.
Even though I am a student, I never felt that I do not have rights to post my opinions or say them aloud.
I've always played a important role in making decisions in my family.
My parents did not stop me from speaking out loud.
(I do not know what happens in American families, but I do not think that it is alot different.)
The case in the school is slightly different, but there are adequate reasons.
The school may restrict students from posting some opinions in the school newspaper.
However, since the school is a place where lots of people with lots of opinions gather, it is the school authorities' duty to adjust the differences.
One of the ways is to prevent the publishing of too colored opinions.
Besides, there are plenty of websites where one can express one's opinion.
For example, there are "Nate Pann"(Korean website for personal opinions), blogs, and even facebook.
There is no reason why the school newspaper should be the only place for one's thoughts.

Michael seems to encourage students to have negative opinions against the grown ups.
I think that it is he who is implanting bias in us.
He is trying to persuade us that all adults regard teenagers as not fully grown up and therefore do not have the right to express opinions.
Easy to say, but can you prove it? (Without making up ridiculous statistics?)

I have come up with three motions relating to this issue.

#1. THB: School newspapers must be censored by teachers.
#2. THS: The right of teenagers to vote.
#3. THS: The publicaton of political tencendies on school newspapers.

About "The Story of Stuff"

Annie Leonard, a passionate environmentalist, filmed a contriversial video clip, titled "The Story of Stuff."
Even though the video clip is thoroughly effective in acknowledging environmental issues,
the problems arose in the fact the it is TOO effective.
Leonard uses rather strong words in showing her opinions about the process of manufacturing.

I certainly agree on the fact that this video clip is capable of acknowledging people about the harmfulness of matufacture processes.
However, I say "no" on using this in schools to educate children.
Unlike adults or people who are capable of establishing one's own beliefs, children absorb almost every information that are given to them without any doubt.
This video can play a harmful effect in blocking children from thinking about environment themselves.
Since its language is so powerful and opinionistic, it can "brainwash" the children.
Plus, Leonard herself, exaggerates the facts to make them sound deadly.
For instance, she emphasizes on the fact that the manufacturing process contains tons of harmful chemicals.
However, there are companies which are anti-chemicals.
Also, since the nations care sufficiently alot about the pollution the factories cause, the companies are putting even more care in disposing waste.
She seems to ignore such tries to stand firm on HER POINT OF VIEW.

While watching the video, I was constantly thinking-if everything is so harmful, the development, the manufacturing process, the ways the people live, how are we going to live?
If she is against manufacturing, what is she going to wear, what is she going to eat, and where is she going to live in?
How are we going to live without all these manufacturing?
Is she suggesting that we could all go back to the primitive state and live in the Amazon?
Her points SEEM reasonable, but when you come to think of it, it is just so idealistic.

I have thought of three motions to debate according to this video clip.

#1. THS: the education of children based on User Created Contents(UCC).
#2. THB: the manufacturing process must be put to an end.
#3. THB: User Created Contents(UCC) are effect tools for confirming one's ideas.