Robots

In class this week we began to talk about robots. I think this section is very interesting. I learned something new this week and that is robot stands for mechanic slave. We watched a movie in class about someone who mother had died and she came back to life in a robotic form. I very excited to start this section because I have always enjoyed learning about robots every since I was little with tv shows like the Jetsons.

Robots and Rights?

I'm looking forward to future classes regarding robots, however, I have never actually thought about robots receiving actual rights. It seems completely unuseful for robots to have rights. I must admit that I am a little weary about what the future holds in regard to robots. If people are smart enough to create a being that can replace human actions, what is going to stop the human popualtion from using those robots to replace every day things. I think Borgmann would be upset to find out that the invention of robots was replacing focal things and practices.

Robots and Rights

I also agree that robots should be given some form of rights but only if they are cabable of being able to experience the same things humans can. Such as feelings of sadness, anger, happiness all the emotions. I also believe that they only should be given rights if they are cabable of making their own decisions instead of just taking orders. Because just like any human being, if you do something wrong you suffer the consequences and if you do something great you reap the rewards. Same goes for a robot if they are capable of making their own decisions. they should be treated as humans if people are portraying them as humans and giving them human qualities. But i actually hope this never happens because it would take away from the actual form of a human being and take away from the whole truth of God creating us. Being human would have no siginificance if robots could be creating on the dot with thoiughts, feelings, and actions.

Robots

In class today we talked about robots and should we consider giving robots human rights. I believe that if technology becomes that advance and robots are able to experience some type of emotions I feel that we should give them some human rights instead of no rights at all. They wouldn't have rights such as being able to vote, or the right to bear arms. They should be given rights that protects them from the justice system like no excessive bail, the right to a speedy trial, no cruel or unusual punishment, and the right to an attorney. I believe that robots should have those rights because if they do something wrong such as break something or misplace an item of there owners the own may want to bring harm to the robot and those rights would protect the robots from being destroyed.

Straight Story

I really enjoyed watching Strait Story mainly due to the simplicity of things depicted in the film. It made me long for a more simple world. In today's world everyone is moving so fast and rushing including my own contributions to this. I wish we lived a more simple life without all the commodities offered by big corporations. It would make our world a more social and more family oriented one. I also liked this movie because I enjoy the country and appreciate the harversting of the corn field's and also of lawn mowers. I have been around those two things all my life and I was very comfortable in watching the movie and that is probably why I like it so much. All in all, I kinda wish I lived in the older days or in the country away from all the city rush.

Saddest Part of "The Straight Story"

I thought that the saddest and most movie part of the straight story was when Alvin was gathered around the camp fire with the bikers. First he is amazed by them when they ride by, so fast and able to move so fast. One of the bikers later that night asks him, "What the worst thing about being old." And Alvin says, "Remembering when you was young." I think that is so sad for him to be surrounded by so many youthful people and have that reminder of what he will never have again.

Technology and the Wilderness

Borgmann looks at the wilderness and nature as a matter of ultimate concern. He thinks that we should connect to the wilderness and nature, but the idea of a true wilderness is gone because of technology. He brings up two ideas from the book by Leo Marx about the garden and the wilderness. He says that the garden is unspoiled and full of promise while the wilderness is untamed, scary, and presents an image of what has yet to be overcome. So therefore, we needed technology to tame the wilderness which is now ultimately gone because we've destroyed it. Because of this the environment then becomes a focal thing. This is almost sad to think of because when we moved out West from Europe, we basically took over the land and destroyed the wilderness that was once here and we can no longer fully experience this.

"A straight story"

I disagree with the privous blog about the ending of the movie. Although the movie abruptly comes to a close leaving the brothers sitting on the porch in silence, the director feeds you enought information with the final shot. Prior to the credits, the dierector reveals a still shot of the enchanting night sky illuminated by stars. This scene represents the answer to the most important issue in Alvin's life. Alvin discribes his countless nights spent underneath the endless night sky with his brother while he is camping out in the cemetary. Their bond was strengthend from those late night conversations, learning more about the other than they truly knew about themselves. I personally enjoyed having an ending that didn't neccessarly "spell it out" for you. As for all of the other questions, how Alvin returned home and so on, those are insignifigant. The main point of the story dealt with his journey and rekindling the bond with his brother.

Focal Things and Practices in Relation to "A Straight Story"

Borgmann in his text pointed out that focal things and practices were vital in improving the modern day technology. The film, "A Straight Story," Alvin rode a tractor rather than driving a car. He is a family man, who appreciates all of the environment around him. In many scenes of the movie, the director would show Alvin admiring the scenery. Another important aspect would be camping out every night. Many people on road trips would stay in a hotel, but Alvin loved the scenery, loved the outdoors, so he would build his own campfire. Borgmann would definitely define these aspects as being focal things and focal practices because they involve engagement and emotional appeals. Alvin's brother would not have appreciated him coming to see him as much knowing it took him over 5 weeks to get to his house. Also, the risk taking of him not talking to his brother, but then taking this trip would be another good point in Borgmann's point of view.

Borgmann and A Straight Story

Comparing Borgmann with the Straight Story is through deictic discourse. Through the main character this was a way of showing focal practices and the importance of these focal practices. Through this demonstration of deictic discourse it makes people care about the reform that Borgmann has with using the art of in the movie, also the nature, and the relationships he has with other people. Borgmann's technology reform wants to make things more known and to appeal to people's better nature. He wants us to preserve our focal practices and not depend on technology.

The End of the Straight Story

The end of A Straight Story was terrible. It didnt really give us any indication on how Alvin got back home or did the two brothers fix their relationship with one another. I think David Lynch should start putting chapters in his dvd's because it's a lot of work to get back to the point you left off at.

A Straight Story

After watching the ending of this movie, I must admit that I was disappointed by the ending. I understand that Alvin accomplished what he set out to do, but I feel like there is more to the story. It would make a better ending and justify his entire purpose more if the audience knew how Alvin's relationship with his brother changed. If they stayed the same and didn't reconcile then his trip was useless. I like to think that the two brothers finally worked it out and remained close until their deaths. I think that life is too short to stay angry at someone for 10 years. I really liked the part in the movie where Lyle looks over at Alvin's tractor and asked if he rode that thing all the way there to see him. That part really put the movie into perspective and leads the audience to believe that the two brothers were going to end their feud. I can definitely see the correlation between this movie and Borgmann's concept of bringing into focus again the focal things and practices in life.

A Straight Story

I found this movie to be very moving. The desire for the old man to go forth on his way and travel to see his brother. This showed his strong sense of family, through his relationship with his daughter Rose and him traveling to see his brother, and to 'focal practices' . Some 'focal practices' would would be him connecting with nature through camping, also him learning about his machine, the lawnmower. Another would be the campfire circles where he would interact with people and share stories. But mainly his relationship with his machine, him wanting to know the past owner and wanting to fix himself, and wanting to travel the whole trip on his lawnmower even though it has been causing him some problems. He knew it would get him where he needed to get even though other thought there would be a better device, such as a car, to get him there, but he knew that a car wasn't the only way to get him there. He knew it would be hard and that is what made his trip mean so much to him.

A Straight Story

This week after watching some more of the movie the idea Borgmann stresses of using focal things and practices is becoming more apparent and visible. Some ways in which Alvin is using and practicing focal things and practices is by interracting with the environment around him. Instead of riding in a car and zooming by everything he is doing it his own way by taking a slow ride on his lawnmower and taking in every minute of it. He is appreciating everythign around him. He doesn't want to rely on anyone else to get him to his desitination. He says "I want to finish this one my own even if it seems impossible." Another way he is using focal things and practices is by talking to all of his people he is meeting along the way. He is interracting with them and staying engaged. The way he camps out every night and builds his own fires is another way. He doesnt sleep warm in a bed or doesnt have the easy access to cook things. He does it all without technology. Alvin also values the and appreciates the little things. He is a family man who appreciates the traditional idea of staying close to family and friends. Alvin is a perfect example of how Borgmann wants to reform technology.

Substantive vs. Instrumentalist Point of Views

Technology is further and further advancing, and because of this some may think they have no control over this (substantive). However, there are some who think they have total control over this (instrumentalist). As I look at it, I think I’m in the middle of the two point of views. Part of me believes that we have total control of it because people in the society are creating these advancements, however, part of me thinks we have no control because if something is easier, wouldn’t you use it also? Imagine going through stacks and stacks of books to look for information when one click on google will bring you right to what you need to know. Looking through books could take you hours, when the internet could take you less than one minute. Society is allowing the advancements, and to me, the society seems as if all the motivation is just making life easier, so where is the risk? Where is the emotional involvement?

Straight Story

The movie we started in class this week, A Straight Story, has very interesting meaning to it. First of all, Alvin is a very stubborn man and doesn't want much help with anything, even as he is getting old and does need help, particularly from a doctor. He is stuck in a lot of his ways and doesn't want to change. He gets news that his brother had a stroke and doesn't give much of a reaction at first, but ultimately decides he needs to visit him, and again, doesn't want help from anyone. He takes his lawnmower and a small trailer on a long trip because his medical conditions won't allow him to drive. This action by Alvin is very interesting, he is showing that nothing is as important as family. He also talks to the girl running away from home and expresses his views on family once again, which ultimately encourages her to perhaps go back home to them, because they will always love her no matter what, they are family. Thus far this movie has a lot of good points in it and is very interesting.

A Straight Story

I am enjoying the movie, A Straight Story. At first it was a little slow but aftere leaving class on Tuesday I reflected on the movie and realized that what Alvin is doing is something great. The idea of traveling that long of a distance seems a little unrealistic on a lawnmower. But overall I think it is a perfect opportunity to escape the reality of life, take time to yourself, and reflect on the things that are important in life. Which Alvin seems to be doing when he reminisces on the old times with his wife, children and rose. he also does this when he is talking to the pregnant girl when telling his story about the bundle of sticks and how it unifies family. I found that to be a very good analogy.

A Straight Story

I am not quite sure what to think of this movie. I find it very interesting that a man just decides one day that he wants to travel across the country on a tractor. But once I stopped and thought about it, the idea seems rather humbling. A jurney across the country could be a very valuable experience, and doing so on a tractor travelling at pretty much a snails pace can give someone the opportunity to reflect without the chaos and busyness of the real world. I am anxious so see where this movie is going to go.

A Straight Story

In class this week we watched a movie titled "A Striaght Story". I was about the life of Alivin Straight who was going to see his brother who recently had a stroke. He drove to see his brother on a John Deer lawn motor. I thought the movie was interesting and also inspiring because it was based on actual events. I enjoyed looking at the movie.

Leisure Time

After reading the texts of this class, as well as the dicussions in the class, I have relized that technology has become a prevalent part of what people do in their leisure time. For me personally, I spend much of my time on the internet. It is an easy way for me to stay connected to people and communicate. One thing that I also use a lot that has not been discussed much is television, but more specifically TIVO. Society as a whole, has become very busy and complex. People always have to be somewhere are have this thing to do. But at the same time, we have to watch that show at 9 pm. Tivo has made it very convenient for people to go on with their lives but atthe same time give people the luxury of being able to watch their favorite show whenever they get some free time.

Leisure Time

Reflecting on Borgmann’s text and the chapter particularly on leisure time really makes you think about what you do with that during your day. I feel as though that leisure time is a rare opportunity in my day. Between school and homework and playing a sport, I hardly find other time to sit down and relax. However, this weekend I had the opportunity to go camping with family. I feel as though I may have been able to get a lot of other things done in this time, however, there is also a feeling you get only with family that can’t be mimicked by anything else. I wish there was more time in every day that we could spend improving relationships and getting to know one another better.

Leisure Time vs. Virtue

As I began to read the chapter in Borgmann's text, I really began to think about what I do with the leisure time I do have. After work, I usually come home and do a whole lot of nothing. I could use that time doing other things such as reading or homework. Rather than getting things accomplished, I opt to spend my time doing unnecessary things such as browsing the internet for things that I am never going to buy or spending my day watching television that does nothing but bore me. Borgmann is correct about how humans tend to spend their leisure time. I agree totally because most of us think it is unnecessary to go to a museum when you can just go online in your avatar and avoid having to go out. However, where is the risk taking in this action? Why not go out and do virtuous tasks such as going to a museum or tasks that increase knowledge?

Intrumentalist

I suppose I would consider myself an instrumentalist as opposed to a substantive or a pluralist. I do not feel like humans have zero control because of technology as a substantive person would feel. I feel that we have total control and that we use technology to reach our goals. I mean after all...we are the ones who thought up and created the technology. I feel sorry for those who think that technology is out to get them or is out to ruin their life. I do agree that our lives become too revolved around technology and need to slow down, but I do not think that technology has some sort of hold or control over us.

Grace

I suppose I never really thought about what I am replacing by driving, going to the zoo, etc. Instead of driving I could walk to the grocery store, I could be more involved with nature, and maybe see something I wouldn't have if I had just driven. I thought that it was an interesting example that was brought up in class today about going into nature and bird watching vs. going to the zoo. As said in class, there is so much more risk involved with going out into nature yourself. At a zoo, you are guaranteed to see whatever is it you want but when you go hiking and are looking for a eagle, there might be a chance you dont find one, but if you do the reward will feel so much better than it would at a zoo.

Leisure Time

I feel that the majority of people, especially myself, use their free/leisure time either watching TV or surfing the internet. I have been catching myself recently when I am bored, that I just automatically turn on the TV and flip through a bunch of channels or get on Facebook and wastes hours. Then you look back on your day and think about what you have accomplished, while I might have accompllished a lot, I could have done a lot more if I hadnt of spent so much time watching TV or on the internet. Being in this class makes me stop and think about how much my life is wrapped up in technology!

2nd Life

In class today I learned some interesting facts about 2nd life. Its a virtual world which is created by the gamers. Its very educational some medical schools use 2nd life because it allows virtual surgeries. I also learned that there are some vandalism that goes on in 2nd life like repeatedly bumping into someone else avatar. I wanted to create me an avatar after class because it sounded like fun. I also learned another interesting fact in class today about Tommy the watch dog. I learned that the geese on campus had tricked him into getting in the water so they could drown him.