Post 7: Learning About the Printing Press

    I learned interesting facts about many different technologies from listening to presentations, but I was most fascinated by what I learned about the printing press. The first interesting fact I learned is that Johannes Gutenberg created a specific metal that was durable enough to not be crushed when pressed down in the printing press. I've always attributed Gutenberg with inventing the printing press, but I was not aware that he actually created a specific metal for his invention. I think that it was so innovative for his time to work with metal to make a product that would be more durable and long-lasting. 

    Another fact I learned about the printing press that was interesting is how it made an impact on the spread of education. As a result of the printing press being invented, knowledge became much more affordable, because books and information could be typed using the machine. This makes me wonder if we would be as educated and advanced in our knowledge today if the printing press had taken longer to be invented. 

The fact I found most interesting about the printing press is the impact it had on the progression of the Renaissance, the Reformation of the Catholic church, and the Scientific Revolution. So many important events, discoveries, doctrines, and changes came from these three movements, so I think it's fascinating to consider what type of impact these movements could've made without the printing press and whether or not the impact would have been as widespread. 

Lastly, I thought it was really cool to learn that Albert Einstein said that if the printing press wasn't created then the reformed church wouldn't have split and prompted the pilgrims to come to America. It's crazy for me to think that if it weren't for the printing press then I might not be here in the United States right now. 

I am so glad I learned such interesting facts about the printing press from the class presentations. It's amazing to see how big of an impact this invention has made throughout history. If it weren't for the printing press the world may be very different than how we experience it today. 

 

https://www.history.com/news/printing-press-renaissance

Post 6: The History of Netflix and It's Positive and Negative Impact on Society

                                                                            History:

Today the word Netflix is synonymous with the words “entertainment” and “television;” However, it took a long time for Netflix to become what it is known as today. In 1997 Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph were in Santa Cruz, California trying to invent “the next big thing” that could be their own “Amazon.com.” Hasting claims that the idea for Netflix was inspired by his “frustration over the $40 late fee charged by Blockbuster for his return of ‘Apollo 13.” Determined to come up with a solution, Hastings and Randolph got to work and eventually developed the idea the run a business where people could buy and rent DVDs online and have them delivered by mail. In 1998 Netflix was up and running as a website to sell and rent DVDs and in 1999 the company added a subscription service which allowed customers to rent unlimited amounts of DVDs at a monthly rate. Then, in 2000, Netflix also added a recommendations system which used ratings to predict other shows and movies that customers would enjoy watching. In 2002 Netflix went public and steadily grew in followers. It wasn’t until 2007 that Netflix really changed the game when they introduced their streaming service which let members watch content instantly without commercials. In 2009, Netflix started partnering with electronic companies to get their platform on gaming consoles and smart TVs and by 2012 they had obtained access to Europe. By 2013 Netflix completely changed the game again when they released their own content with programs such as "House of Cards" and "Orange is the New Black." By 2016 Netflix was available worldwide and they continued creating successful original content. 

                                                                       Positive Effects:

Netflix has positively impacted the entertainment industry by changing the way consumers view content. Before Netflix, consumers had to go to the movie theaters, rent VHS or DVDs, or watch whatever was playing on live TV. Once Netflix came along, consumers were able to watch whatever they wanted without having to sit through commercials or go out to see or rent whatever they wanted to watch. Netflix also helped consumers to save money by getting rid of expensive cable plans and only using streaming services. The company has also helped consumers to discover new content they love using their recommendations system which uses an AI-powered algorithm to create personal recommendations based off of what people enjoy watching. In addition, Netflix impacted the entertainment industry by influencing the creation of other video streaming Platforms such as Disney Plus and Hulu which creates jobs and helps the economy. Lastly, watching Netflix has become a great way for hard working students and adults to relax and take a mental break.

                                                                       Negative Effects:

Unfortunately, there are many negative effects that go along with the positive effects of Netflix. The ability to stream entire seasons of shows at once has led to the “Netflix Effect” which causes people to lose track of time and spend all day in front of the television binge watching shows. As a result, student’s grades are dropping, they are showing up late to class and work, and they are gaining weight by not going outside and performing enough physical activity. Watching too much Netflix can also cause people to procrastinate on important projects and leave assignments until the last minute. Another problem is that the electronic blue light from screens is messing up people’s sleep patterns when watching Netflix, because the light stimulates the brain to be alert, so people stay up watching Netflix much longer than they should. Lastly, watching excessive amounts of Netflix is causing the brain to get bored. Overtime this can lead to the brain not functioning as well and an increase in complacency. 

 

                                                                           Conclusion:

It is very interesting to watch the evolution of Netflix from an online DVD delivery platform to the corporate steaming service monster it is today. Netflix is used by so many millions of people around the world that it seems as though everyone is choosing to watch Netflix as their favorite pastime. While many good things have come from Netflix such as saving people money by getting rid of cable and acting as a way to relax and escape stress in life for a little bit, it has also led to a lot of negative effects, especially on people’s health. Just like with most technology, I think it’s important to find a healthy balance when using the addictive but entertaining streaming platform. I always try to remember to use all good things in proportion so that I don’t turn something good into something that will have greater negative consequences. 

References: 

http://www.edinboronow.com/article/netflix-the-good-the-bad-the-addictive

https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T003&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=12&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=11&docId=GALE%7CA461002064&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZEAI-MOD1&prodId=GPS&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA461002064&searchId=R2&userGroupName=hpu_main&inPS=true

https://www.thestreet.com/technology/history-of-netflix-15091518

https://muse.jhu.edu/article/553418/summary

https://search.proquest.com/central/docview/2290497056/257EFEFA66064A6FPQ/3?accountid=11411

https://medium.com/@10805833/netflix-and-its-impact-on-society-8357bcb96a22

https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2019/02/19/what-is-the-netflix-effect/#27e6da315640

Post 5: The Eight Values of Free Expression

     Each of the eight speech theories which promote freedom of expression hold great significance to American citizens. Every one of the theories guarantees American's the right to speak and express their point of view without fear of being punished. These free speech promoting theories are part of what make America different than many other countries where citizens are forced to say what government rulers force them to. 

    Among the eight theories, I would personally say that the fourth theory, which is the Individual Self-Fulfillment theory, is currently the most important. The Individual Self-Fulfillment theory, "enables individuals to express themselves and thereby create their own identity-and, in the process perhaps, find kindred spirits. Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency and autonomy. This theory is important, because it allows people to freely express their point of views and beliefs even if they are not the popular ways of thinking in society. Doing this allows people to fully be themselves in their expression and thinking and to find other people they can share their opinions with. Even if the majority of people thinking someone is insane for thinking differently than them, this theory assures citizens that their human dignity will not be seen as less than or inferior to others whose beliefs are contradictory. 

 Right now, in America, we are living in a world of cancel culture where if someone says one thing that the media doesn't agree with they are maliciously shamed on Twitter and other platforms for their unpopular views. While the government doesn't punish people for saying something that could be seen as offensive or against what the media promotes, private companies such as Twitter will block users and delete their public tweets if they don't like what they're saying. This is a tough situation because Twitter is a private company, but tweeting and sending messages on other social media platforms is the most convenient way to express opinions to the public. When Twitter blocks users and deletes their posts, they are essentially silencing the person and not granting them the same right to freely express their opinions as other users are granted to. Cancel culture has started a movement where it is perfectly acceptable to mute people you don't agree with and attack their human dignity as if it depended on their opinion on certain issues. 

        The reason the Individual Self-Fulfillment theory is especially important right now is because we are living in a time where it is becoming acceptable to condemn and "cancel" people who are exercising their right to speak freely about their opinions. With so many controversial issues currently transpiring in the United States it is particularly important during this time to allow people with all different views to voice their opinions so that healthy conversation can occur and people can better understand what to think about these issues. If the Individual Self-Fulfillment theory was taken away then I think a lot of discrimination would happen among people with opposing viewpoints. I believe it's very important to continue allowing every citizen to express their views freely so that that can unashamedly convey who they are in their entirety and easily find other people who think similarly and will support them. If people aren't able to truly express how they feel and what they think, then a piece of their individuality and humanity is taken away and valuable dialogue among people of various viewpoints is lost.     

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/07/17/has-twitters-cancel-culture-gone-too-far/5445804002/

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54374824

Post 4: Why Antiwar Voices Aren't Popular in Mainstream Media

     On the internet, there are antiwar websites that make claims that war causes religious persecution, unnecessary taxation of citizens, and promotion of harm. The authors and supporters of these websites would argue that war is never justified and that violence is never the answer to resolve conflict. While the websites make it seem like there are many people who would agree with the notion that war is never a good idea, antiwar voices are rarely acknowledged in the mainstream media. 

    If I were to guess why antiwar voices aren't typically heard in the media, I would think it's because believing war is never justified is a fringe belief system. While I don't think most Americans would say they believe war is always justified, I do think that most Americans would argue that there are some instances where military intervention is necessary to defend the nation and prevent more severe situations from taking place. With the hostile political climate experienced globally and the constant threats from countries such as North Korea, I think the majority of Americans would feel safer knowing that the military is fighting to protect our freedom and shielding the country from foreign invaders. 

    Since the majority of Americans believe war is sometimes justified to protect the United States and in some cases other countries from foreign threats and unjust rulers, antiwar voices aren't typically popular enough to be heard or encouraged by mainstream media. Instead, the media chooses to promote the opinion of the majority since that will get the most engagement and the most people to agree with them. 

    I think that you have to seek out obscure websites in order to hear antiwar voices because more work always goes into finding the voices of minorities. If the popular belief is that war is sometimes justified, then it is going to be easier to hear about and find media platforms where that belief is promoted. Voices from the majority will always be louder simply because there is more people advocating for one way of thinking over another. While it can take more work to find these obscure websites, it worth looking into them to see what other citizens think about important issues on government and military involvement. 

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/libya-the-ultimate-free-for-all-foreign-intervention/

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/how-our-pointless-wars-made-life-hell-for-religious-minorities/