Response Paper to The World is Flat, Chapters 3-9.

The World is Flat Response Paper #2

The human classification of an “untouchable” has never appealed to me as a positive term for ranking a group of people. I have always thought of “untouchables” as the lowest ranking in the Indian caste system. No one wants to be around them. No one wants anything to do with these people. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman brings forth a new meaning to the word. An “untouchable” is everything you want to be, it is the ability to think beyond today’s technology, and it is a development that we must work towards.

Friedman, along with the words of A Whole New Mind author, Daniel Pink, states ‘If we want more of our young people to be untouchables…we need to focus education on constantly developing our students’ right-brain skills-“such as forging relationships rather than executing transactions, tackling novel challenges instead of solving routine problems, and synthesizing the big picture rather than analyzing a single component.”’ (Page 321) To me, when it comes to any subject, the big picture has always seemed to make more sense and has been easier to understand than specific details. The big picture allows each small detail to be woven together, forming a larger idea.

As humans, we have an advantage over all of the machines that are helping us each and every day. We see the bigger picture. The bigger picture is beneficial to us, because it allows us to know more. When using our right-brain skills we are learning more about each of the left-brain skills we take part in. By knowing more about the detailed and specific work we are doing, we are becoming untouchable by not allowing the technologies of today to surpass or outperform the human brain. At this point in time, these machines can only compete against the left half of the brain. Well, in case you didn’t know, two halves make a whole, and we sure can put that other half to use.

Pink is quoted, “After all, …our caveperson ancestors weren’t plugging numbers into spreadsheets or debugging code. But they were telling stories, demonstrating empathy, and designing innovations. These abilities have always been part of what it means to be human.” (Page 323) Humans have the ability to put together stories and bring about larger concepts, but to do so we must revive our right-brain way of thinking.

Our machines, computers, hand-held devices, and smart phones, even the foreigners overseas have been doing so much of the work for us. They have been beneficial and they have helped in ways that were never imagined, but now, Americans are being surpassed and left behind. To thrive again and put our human instincts, which have been stuck on the right side, to work, we must challenge ourselves and put our brains and ideas back into the race. We can no longer concentrate on the little details, but we must look at technology as a whole, as a bigger and broader picture, so that we can bring about new ideas to contribute to the constantly technological advancement that is surrounding us.

“I would guess that one way you nurture your right brain is by doing something you love to do... because you will bring something intangible to it, something out of your right brain, which cannot be easily repeated, automated, or outsourced.” (Page 323) We do what we love. I’m a theatre major, and I did not decide to head into that field because I thought the money would be pouring in. I chose it because acting is my passion. It is something I love to do. The last words on page 323 refer to doing what you love as “a survival strategy”. This is true in that doing what you love allows you to bring more to the table. When you focus and have a passion, you care more about your subject and want to improve. All through high school, in every AP class, I was told that the difference between AP and regular courses was the fact that AP makes the student look at the bigger picture and the aspects behind it. Regular courses just merely look at the concrete details and facts. AP allowed me to think outside of the box, to think and do more than the average student. I feel that working with the right side of the brain is allowing humans to do the same. When a human steps out of the norm and takes on new ideas that may have never been thought of, they are going beyond what any machine can do.

Pages 321 through 323, reminded me that using your right side of the brain and doing what you love is a critical life lesson. Whether you are striving to surpass the machines and people across seas that only know how to use the left side of the brain or you are simply acting on a stage, you are slowly but surely becoming untouchable.

Sex Signals

The Sex Signals production was full of overacting and ridiculous jokes. I will admit that at times, the two players were full of wit and humor, but the majority of the time, I was having a hard time taking it all seriously. I did learn a lot, and the show was full of good meaning. Overall, I was disappointed. I guess that is what really I'm trying to say.

SU Honor Code

SU HONOR PLEDGE

"I have acted with honesty

and integrity in producing

this work and am unaware

of anyone who has not."

Today, first-years attended the Honor Code ceremony. We learned the history and importance of the SU Honor Code. We learned that we will be writing and signing this sentence over and over on each of our pieces of work throughout the next four years. I realized then and there that this is a serious matter. I already understood the reasoning behind it all, but when that one guy, that one inconsiderate tool, decided to open his mouth and disrespect each and every student and faculty member on that stage, I understood even more that not everyone will abide by this pledge. I realize that some people are so low and so selfish that they can not pause for a few moments to listen.

Throughout my life I've always been a leader. I've always had a loud mouth, and I've always had something to say. I have learned in the past few years that being this way is perfectly fine, but I've also learned and have come to understand that stepping back and reflecting and listening and respecting is even more of a wonderful thing.

I learned that the SU Honor Code is more than just a pledge that is recited year after year. It is a tradition that allows us to be the people we are all called to be. With this pledge, we are telling ourselves and others to hold us accountable. We are being honest, genuine, and people full of heart.

The honor code is something special. It is more than it intends to be.

revised response paper to The World is Flat, chapters 1 & 2

Response Paper to The World is Flat Reading

“What could be flatter, I asked myself, than a free-trade agreement sealed using flat-screen TVs?” (Page 44)

That one line out of the entire book, The World is Flat, had me thinking more than any line. Our world is becoming so “flat” that we are advancing in a manner that forces us to focus on improvement. It seems as though we cannot step back to enjoy or admire what we have accomplished or what is around us, because we must persevere. We must keep moving, creating, and discovering. We ignore the “3-D” world around us and crave the “2-D” screens and electronic appliances that are helping us every day. This up and coming generation, this world as a whole, we are satisfied with a virtual world, as long as it eases our struggle to gather what we want and need. We are satisfied with a virtual world as long as it eases our daily routine. If all is easy, we are eliminating all challenges for ourselves. What if we reached a point of no more difficulty, no more challenge? Would we be pleased? Our world wants to be completely submerged in knowledge and accessibility. As long as we can have our own questions answered easily, we are satisfied, to an extent. Page 44 states that UBS Services use the phrase “Everywhere and right next to you” in a commercial. I feel that the “flattening” of the world is what we want, knowledge from everywhere, and right next to us.

“Everywhere and right next to us.” Those six words show how enveloped in technology this world is, how needy we are, and how controlled we love to be. In addition to the control and benefits that we long for, we also want quick and increasing improvements. We aren’t just demanding an easier life, we are demanding that it gets here soon.

“If the prospect of this flattening… makes you uneasy about the future, you are neither wrong nor alone…There is something about the flattening of the world that is going to be qualitatively different from the great changes of previous eras: the speed and breadth with which it is taking hold...This flattening process is happening at warp speed and directly or indirectly touching a lot more people on the planet at once.” (Page 49)

The speed of this transition, of the flattening, is unlike any of this world’s past experiences. The fact that it is so different than any past “fundamental shift” and affecting everyone world wide at a rapid rate, causes the fear of the “unknown” to be on a greater scale that we have not yet been able to comprehend completely. Our comfort with the 2-D may come from the lack of other options. We must be comfortable with this transition or else we will be overwhelmed. We will be overtaken.

Ever since I was little, I’ve always wondered what people who lived through new, life-changing inventions and/or memorable time periods thought about. I didn’t think that they could fathom something smaller than a vinyl record, something more vivid than “I Love Lucy”, or something more portable than a boom box. It seemed as though they were satisfied with their current “toys” and entertainment and were amazed when something new came about. I’ve never seen or heard about the side of them that constantly craved the need technological advancement. I feel as though this is where we, the people of 2009, differ. I feel that we expect more and are not fully pleased. This could be due to the speed at which we receive these electronics and their new editions. Forty years ago, technological advancements were not released so rapidly. Our past generations may have felt the same way when they sat on that brown circle rug in front of their bulky, black and white, bunny-eared, television set, but I’ll never know.

We are a bundle of mixed emotions. We are scared and uneasy, and we hide those feelings with comfort, with satisfaction in our 2-D, virtual world. Yet, at the same time, we cannot stop moving. We can not stop advancing further and further into a “flatter” world. “And that is why the great challenge for our time will be to absorb these changes in ways that do not overwhelm people or leave them behind. None of this will be easy. But this is our task. It is inevitable and unavoidable.” (Page 50)

‘“We believe that the mobile phone will become the essential controller of a person’s life,” added Mitsuishi, oblivious of the double meaning of the English word “control”.’ (Page 196) We are being controlled, and at times we do not even realize it. We look to our mobile phones, our TVs, our computers to help us when we are short on answers.

Alan Cohen, the vice president of Airespace, and his wise words, “Google is like God. God is wireless. God is everywhere, and God sees everything. Any questions in the world, you ask Google.” (Page 196)

Who is our God? Who and what is controlling us?

Josh Koenig, co-founder of music for America, says, “Were only seeing the first drips of what is going to be a downpour.” (Page 119)

I personally am “watching I Love Lucy” and playing with my iPhone. I am satisfied, and I am afraid to see the downpour. I cannot comprehend the power that this world is gaining from being “flattened”.

My apologies.

I'm really sad that I missed out on the Mindset lecture. I am sorry, very sorry.