JOURNAL ENTRY #6: Technological Development Journal Response

In juxtaposition with “Voice box and Flute” and “Earth 2.0”, Mckibben’s essay “The Post-human Condition” displays a complete Dystopian view of the advancement of future technologies. He believes that the idea of the future consists of people wanting to give up old contexts, and goes to more extreme measures such as genetically modifying unborn children in order for them to possess specifically chosen traits. He feels that the possible outcome of future technologies is drastic enough to ultimately ruin the lives of humans. Both video and audio documentaries present positive views in the development of humans in this technological age. With this new technology of an electronic voice box, it allowed for her to continue living her life despite having a fatal disease. Thanks to the research that went into this technology Sarah Greenfield was able to once again have a voice as at least a source of communication and interaction. Other technologies similar to this one have managed to benefit many in making lives easier as well as saving them. In “Earth 2.0” we get a glimpse into a re-imagined and modified technological world that seems way out of reach in complexity at the moment. New technologies may be able to contribute to make the world an entirely innovated Utopian like haven. Mckibben’s concerns seem to not be so believable or strong when juxtaposed with these sources. In this case the positives rule out the negatives. Due to the possibilities, numerous improvements can be made in order to contribute to the development of humans for the future. These additional sources also complicate Mckibben’s views because if technologies can ultimately help humans and save their lives, this would definitely make a Utopian society rather than a dystopian one. They provide concrete reasoning into what it means to be a human in the technological age. 

JOURNAL ENTRY #5: Valedictorian Speech Journal Response

Upon watching the video of the valedictorian speech given by Erica Goldson speaking out against school, I was amazed by the amount of nerve the teenager had to speak so strongly, as the school’s administration squirmed in their seats behind her. She spoke out about an issue in front of the public that consisted of parents, students and teachers in this case. She touched on how students don’t get the most out of school through public education, and differentiating the difference between thinking and critically thinking. She states how students are constantly brainwashed as they enter the labour force after their schooling. Innovation instead of memorization within academics, there is a stress on not only memorization, but on coming up with new innovative ideas. Personally after attending a semester of university education, I feel that high school did not prepare me adequately for the challenges and expectations set out for me. The inadequate teaching in high school, and lack of guidance and life skills discouraged my transition to post-secondary education. I agree with Erica Goldson on how the school system hasn't prepared students for thinking outside the ideological structures of society. It hasn't prepared one to effectively think critically and make decisions upon entering the adult world. I feel that if the school system had encouraged earlier on in the education of students, then they would adapt well to the rapid transition from youth to adult.

JOURNAL ENTRY #4: "They say, I say" exercise paragraph

The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) is an important source of transportation for numerous commuters every day. They see that with using the subway they save money and time upon travelling to a destination rather than walking, biking and driving. However, the TTC has recently hiked its fare prices. On the contrary, the service can be unreliable and frustrating due to various conflicts, such as lengthy waiting for buses and streetcars or subway delays especially in certain climates or when in a rush. For the truth is, commuters need to just cope with it because the subway is convenient and fairly inexpensive; and with the system running throughout Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. In this essay, there will be an emphasis on the pros and cons of the TTC, and if it is possible to live without it.

JOURNAL ENTRY #3: Articles "Are we Becoming Cyborgs" and "The Post-human-condition"

"Are we becoming Cyborgs" from the New York Times published November 30th, 2012:

• With the start of the millennium, people all over the world have been using the internet extensively especially for social media purposes
• By the change in interaction, could this ultimately change us as humans?
• Susan Greenfield a professor from Oxford suggested that "current technologies are alternating life in just two dimensions- stimulating only hearing and vision" and that technology's role is as one's lifestyle instead of making improvements to one's life. In order to gain knowledge, one needs conceptual framework.
• Maria Popova the curator behind Brian Pickings, a website of "eclectic interestingness" states how mainstream media uses chronology to indicate to internet users that whatever is posted at the top and is more recent possesses more meaning; but the older posts are simply "timeless". "Cyborg" refers to an enhanced human. cyborgism of today is all made up of algorithms. Instead of enhancing human cognition, starting to replace or displace meaningful human interactions.
• Evgeny Morozov an author of Net Delusions and contributing editor to The New Republic proposed that Facebook has gotten people into thinking that within politics they are considered "slacktivists". Is it possible for Facebook to displace other forms of activism? Within new technologies tend to trigger moral panics and may be the cause of possible political and social consequences. He also claims that without technology, it can't be imagined how the evolution of humans could exist, so in that case we have always been cyborgs. Technology should be mediated when it comes to areas of friendship.

​"The Posthuman Condition" from Staying Human in an Engineered Age by Bill McKibben.

• Human Genetic Puzzle: all around the world scientists are trying to find better cancer drugs and a vaccine for Aids.
• Looks into possibilities with genetically altering children int he future to enhance your abilities
• Hunter-gatherer ancestors had a meaning-saturated world. In the last 500 years scientists have offered new explanations and technologies.
• There is the trading of old contexts as community had disappeared with "traditional values"; individual freedom.
• Without any context from the church, village, family and the natural world; as individuals we need to provide context ourselves.

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JOURNAL ENTRY #2: INTRODUCTORY READING- "They Say I Say" Entering the Conversation

"They Say I Say" is a formula. "They Say" refers to ideas in response to some other group, while "I Say" refers to your own ideas. The purpose of the book is to shape you into a "critical intellectual thinker". Essentially you should avoid making points in your writing that possess no meaning.

The activity I thought of that I particularly do well in, in regards to the writing is dance. I figured out from the text that when performing a particular activity requires learning to do it in a series of steps or moves that will start off seeming difficult. The same concept can be found in writing.

JOURNAL ENTRY #1: Reflection

After attending the class I was a bit thrown back by the class being known to students in the past as a "writing boot camp". The course was meant to be an intensive writing course, and that made me skeptical about whether or not I was going to survive in the course. I am eager to see where I will get to as a writer on this journey through discovering key questions in humanities.