To What Extent Are Ethical Theories Helpful When Considering the Issues Surrounding Homosexualit

To what extent are ethical theories helpful when considering the issues surrounding homosexuality? Many ethical theories can be used to discuss and interpret the issues surrounding homosexuality. I shall begin by outlining some relevant views, from the perspective of Virtue, Utilitarianism, Natural Law, Christian Ethics and Kant Christian Ethics can be separated into difference sections as there does not appear to be one single Christian view on homosexuality . At a glance, many Christians interpret passages in the Bible as condemning homosexuality and something that people should be cured of.The Protestant approach is ‘to love the sinner and hate the sin’ which would mean that the practice of homosexual acts is wrong, but homosexuals themselves ought to be loved. The Roman Catholic approach teaches similarly- there is nothing wrong with being homosexual, but a homosexual act is a sin. They would say then that a homosexual must commit themselves to celibacy, a view influ enced by Paul. There are more liberal approaches within Christianity where homosexuality is not an issue, as long as the relationship is stable and committed; the same as a heterosexual relationship.This view is also founded on Bible teachings- if God created man in his image and God is perfect, then all people are good because God made them either straight or gay. Aquinas’ Natural Law states that the purpose of sex is purely procreation and as homosexuality can never result in a child, it defies Natural Law and must be wrong. The primary precept of ‘Continuation of the species through reproduction’ is also violated by the concept of homosexuality for the same reason.It also involves sex outside of marriage which Aquinas also: Aquinas, the behind natural law also condemned homosexuality as ‘unnatural’, so natural Law clearly has very strong views against homosexuality. Utilitarianism would currently view all sexualities as viable as it is likely ther e are more gay people than people who are upset by homosexuality, therefore it is the greatest good for the greatest number. However, were the majority of earth’s population to become homosexual, Utilitarianism would no longer approve as it would not lead to the continuation of the human race, which would be not good for a great number of people.Utilitarianism holds a fairly liberal view on homosexuality, saying that there may be a situation in which there is a happier homosexual couple than a heterosexual couple, in which in fairness to the homosexual couple, it would be right to allow them the happiness of being in a relationship. However they may also say that homosexuality is currently held in a somewhat negative view by man people, and that their happiness is in question if they are an ‘outcast’ in society.The first maxim of Kant’s Categorical Imperative could be a problem with homosexuality as it implies that if you are homosexual everyone else ought to be to  . Universalisation says that we should apply homosexuality as a maxim and apply it to everyone; however this would lead to a problem, as the continuation of the species would not occur. We could however adjust this maxim for sexuality, however, this may be moving away from the absolutist nature of Kants categorical imperative. He also states that marriage is the only place in which sex may take place. However, were gay marriage to become legal Kant may approve.Fletcher’s Situation ethics encourages only the most loving thing, which would mean that the only thing that would be wrong according to it is sex without a loving commitment. This would mean that there is no problem with being homosexual and relationships are fine as long as they are loving and committed. In Christian Ethics there appear to be many contradictions in approaches to homosexuality. Where many say the Bible condemns homosexuality, others say that the most important message of the Bible is to lo ve your neighbour, which would of course include homosexuals.As well as this, there is the question of such an ancient texts’ relevance in contemporary culture. Many messages of the Bible are ignored and dismissed as culturally irrelevant, for example, many messages about the rights and roles of women, as if the Bible and the Church have managed to change the views on the role of women, they could indeed do the same for homosexuality. It could be argued that we should prioritize loving everyone over condemning homosexuality. For this reason, it isn’t a very good theory to refer to when exploring the issues of homosexuality. Natural Law, however, is much easier to understand.It has the advantage of having no room for misinterpretation and can be totally universal and absolutist. The only problem with it is that perhaps it is not in fact natural for humans to follow such strict laws. it is not liberal enough to allow for a loving relationship between homosexuals Utilitar ianism seems like a good theory to apply when looking at fairness in sexual ethics. As long as there are more homosexual people than people who dislike homosexuals and enough heterosexual people for continuation of the species to happen, all sexualities are fine and the majority of the human race ought to be content.The issue with Kant’s approach is the fact that the maxim of universalisation is difficult to apply to sexual ethics. As you can’t universalize homosexual sex as it would make continuation of the species impossible, Kant cannot condone this. However, this creates countless other problems when you think about how complex it would be to actually apply universalisation to every single aspect of sexuality. If we choose to ignore universalisation because we might not be able to continue the species at all if we were to stick to it entirely, we can then look to Kant’s rule of no sex outside marriage. This is, of course, much easier to follow.Fletcherâ€⠄¢s Situation Ethics following the cause of Agape seems the best approach to issues surrounding homosexuality. It can be universalized easily- have sex only in a loving committed relationship and is easy to remember and maintain. It does not discriminate between sexual preferences and should end with as many people happy as possible. In conclusion, there are many ways in which ethical theory can be used to address issues surrounding homosexuality. It is perfectly possible to be ethically sound and homosexual simultaneously, main problems arrive when we consider rules about procreation and the continuation of the species To What Extent Are Ethical Theories Helpful When Considering the Issues Surrounding Homosexualit To what extent are ethical theories helpful when considering the issues surrounding homosexuality? Many ethical theories can be used to discuss and interpret the issues surrounding homosexuality. I shall begin by outlining some relevant views, from the perspective of Virtue, Utilitarianism, Natural Law, Christian Ethics and Kant Christian Ethics can be separated into difference sections as there does not appear to be one single Christian view on homosexuality . At a glance, many Christians interpret passages in the Bible as condemning homosexuality and something that people should be cured of.The Protestant approach is ‘to love the sinner and hate the sin’ which would mean that the practice of homosexual acts is wrong, but homosexuals themselves ought to be loved. The Roman Catholic approach teaches similarly- there is nothing wrong with being homosexual, but a homosexual act is a sin. They would say then that a homosexual must commit themselves to celibacy, a view influ enced by Paul. There are more liberal approaches within Christianity where homosexuality is not an issue, as long as the relationship is stable and committed; the same as a heterosexual relationship.This view is also founded on Bible teachings- if God created man in his image and God is perfect, then all people are good because God made them either straight or gay. Aquinas’ Natural Law states that the purpose of sex is purely procreation and as homosexuality can never result in a child, it defies Natural Law and must be wrong. The primary precept of ‘Continuation of the species through reproduction’ is also violated by the concept of homosexuality for the same reason.It also involves sex outside of marriage which Aquinas also: Aquinas, the behind natural law also condemned homosexuality as ‘unnatural’, so natural Law clearly has very strong views against homosexuality. Utilitarianism would currently view all sexualities as viable as it is likely ther e are more gay people than people who are upset by homosexuality, therefore it is the greatest good for the greatest number. However, were the majority of earth’s population to become homosexual, Utilitarianism would no longer approve as it would not lead to the continuation of the human race, which would be not good for a great number of people.Utilitarianism holds a fairly liberal view on homosexuality, saying that there may be a situation in which there is a happier homosexual couple than a heterosexual couple, in which in fairness to the homosexual couple, it would be right to allow them the happiness of being in a relationship. However they may also say that homosexuality is currently held in a somewhat negative view by man people, and that their happiness is in question if they are an ‘outcast’ in society.The first maxim of Kant’s Categorical Imperative could be a problem with homosexuality as it implies that if you are homosexual everyone else ought to be to  . Universalisation says that we should apply homosexuality as a maxim and apply it to everyone; however this would lead to a problem, as the continuation of the species would not occur. We could however adjust this maxim for sexuality, however, this may be moving away from the absolutist nature of Kants categorical imperative. He also states that marriage is the only place in which sex may take place. However, were gay marriage to become legal Kant may approve.Fletcher’s Situation ethics encourages only the most loving thing, which would mean that the only thing that would be wrong according to it is sex without a loving commitment. This would mean that there is no problem with being homosexual and relationships are fine as long as they are loving and committed. In Christian Ethics there appear to be many contradictions in approaches to homosexuality. Where many say the Bible condemns homosexuality, others say that the most important message of the Bible is to lo ve your neighbour, which would of course include homosexuals.As well as this, there is the question of such an ancient texts’ relevance in contemporary culture. Many messages of the Bible are ignored and dismissed as culturally irrelevant, for example, many messages about the rights and roles of women, as if the Bible and the Church have managed to change the views on the role of women, they could indeed do the same for homosexuality. It could be argued that we should prioritize loving everyone over condemning homosexuality. For this reason, it isn’t a very good theory to refer to when exploring the issues of homosexuality. Natural Law, however, is much easier to understand.It has the advantage of having no room for misinterpretation and can be totally universal and absolutist. The only problem with it is that perhaps it is not in fact natural for humans to follow such strict laws. it is not liberal enough to allow for a loving relationship between homosexuals Utilitar ianism seems like a good theory to apply when looking at fairness in sexual ethics. As long as there are more homosexual people than people who dislike homosexuals and enough heterosexual people for continuation of the species to happen, all sexualities are fine and the majority of the human race ought to be content.The issue with Kant’s approach is the fact that the maxim of universalisation is difficult to apply to sexual ethics. As you can’t universalize homosexual sex as it would make continuation of the species impossible, Kant cannot condone this. However, this creates countless other problems when you think about how complex it would be to actually apply universalisation to every single aspect of sexuality. If we choose to ignore universalisation because we might not be able to continue the species at all if we were to stick to it entirely, we can then look to Kant’s rule of no sex outside marriage. This is, of course, much easier to follow.Fletcherâ€⠄¢s Situation Ethics following the cause of Agape seems the best approach to issues surrounding homosexuality. It can be universalized easily- have sex only in a loving committed relationship and is easy to remember and maintain. It does not discriminate between sexual preferences and should end with as many people happy as possible. In conclusion, there are many ways in which ethical theory can be used to address issues surrounding homosexuality. It is perfectly possible to be ethically sound and homosexual simultaneously, main problems arrive when we consider rules about procreation and the continuation of the species

High School Life Essay

†¢ The outer core is in the range of 200 to 300 kilometers (125 to 188 miles) thick and represents about 4% of the mantle-crust mass. This layer is sometimes identified as part of the lower mantle due to its geographical nature. However, studies on seismic discontinuities suggest that this â€Å"D† layer might differ chemically rom the lower mantle lying above it. †¢ Looking at the lower mantle, its chemical omposition includes silicon, magnesium, and oxygen. Most likely, it probably also contains some iron, calcium, and aluminum. This layer is comprised of 72.9% of the antle-crust mass, making the Earth abundant in the chemical elements of silicon, magnesium and oxygen, the layer’s primary components. †¢ 3. Higher up, we encounter the upper mantle. Through excavations in volcanoes, scientists have found that this part of the crust composes of 15.3% of the total mantle-crust mass and is made of crystalline forms of Olivine (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 and pyroxene (Mg,Fe)SiO3. The upper mantle makes up 10.3% of the Earth’s mass, extending a depth of 6-250 miles (10-400 kilometers). A relatively large portion when compared to the other interior layers. This layer is not completely made of solid minerals for scientists speculate that the asthenosphere could be partly liquid molten. †¢ D: The D† layer of Earth is about 3% of Earth’s mass, is 125 to 188 miles (200 to 300 kilometers) thick and covers about 4% of the mantle-crust mass. This layer, in terms of whether it is part of the lower mantle or an independent layer is still somewhat unclear. Based on evidence collected from seismic discontinuities, the D† layer might differ in chemical composition from the lower mantle above it. †¢ The next layer, the Transition region comprises 7.5% of Earth’s mass with a depth of 250-406 miles (400-650 kilometers). This layer is also known as the mesosphere and is 11.1% of the mantle-crust. It is made of mainly basaltic magmas with amounts of calcium, aluminum and garnet (an aluminum-bearing silicate mineral). The layer becomes dense when the garnet mineral cools but is buoyant and light when subject to heat due to the low melting points. †¢ The outer most layer, the crust, is categorized into two parts, the Oceanic crust and the continental crust. The Oceanic crust is the smallest part of Earth, only 0.099% of its mass and reaching a small depth of 0-6 miles (0-10 kilometers). In the beginning of time, it was possible that this area did not exist for through frequent volcanic activity does only the crust form. Evidence of this is marked by the oceanic ridge system, which is a 25,000 mile (40,000-kilometer) array of many volcanoes which creates layer after layer of new crust at the rate of 17 km3 per year. The ocean floor is covered in basalt originating from volcanic activity and as a matter of fact, Iceland and Hawaii are two island systems that emerged from the accumulated basalt. †¢ Continental crust: The second smallest area of the Earth is the Continental crust, making up only 0.374% of the Earth’s mass and extending a short depth of 0 – 31 miles (0-50 kilometers). Looking at the percent by composition, the continental crust makes up only 0.554% of the mantle-crust mass. The layer is composed primarily of crystalline rocks made of low-density buoyant minerals dominated mostly by quartz (SiO2) and feldspars (metal-poor silicates). This is the outer part of the Earth composed essentially of crystalline rocks. The continental crust and the oceanic crust are also referred to as the lithosphere because of the cool and rocky conditions that exist in its

Mechanism of Black Holes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Mechanism of Black Holes - Research Paper Example the term â€Å"black hole† refers to a region of space-time from which the gravitational pull is so strong that it does not allow anything, including light, to escape (Begelman, 2003), which implies that black holes cannot be observed. This essay will explore the concept of black holes, that is, all that is currently known about this phenomenon, how they are formed, and what can be learnt from them; similarly, this essay will also highlight how black holes are detected and how they are made. The appearance of an event horizon, the boundary in space-time through which matter and light are attracted inwards towards the mass of the black hole becoming trapped permanently, is the most distinguishable feature of a black hole. As noted earlier, not even light can escape from a black hole since anything that draws nearer and crosses the event horizon boundary is trapped due to the strong gravitational pull that defines black holes (Kormendy, Bender & Cornell, 2011); an event horizon is thus called since if an event occurs within the boundary, this information is never known to an outside observer. Einstein’s theory of relativity argues that the presence of mass distorts spacetime thereby causing the paths taken by particles to bend towards the mass and given that this deformation is so strong at the event horizon, no paths can lead away from the black hole because all matter is trapped inside, including light (Hooft, 2009). Precisely, an object falling into a black hole appears to slow down as it draws nearer to the event horizon but never really reaches it, due to the gravitational time dilation effect (Nrumiano, n.d). Similarly, an outside observer will experience all processes on an object nearing the event horizon as slowed down, and the emitted light will appear dimmer and redder due to the gravitational redshift effect; as soon as the falling object reaches the event horizon, it becomes so dim that it can never be seen. Black holes often form at the ends of the

Applying Self-Directed Learning and Transformational Learning Article

Applying Self-Directed Learning and Transformational Learning - Article Example ch Nesbit, Leach and Foley (2004) described these non-traditional adult students are less likely to be easily satisfied and more opinionated than their younger counterparts, that demand for better quality university provision is seen vital (p. 90). Specifically, this paper focuses on the application of three concepts: self-directed learning, transformational learning, and experiential learning, that for years, have been consistently acknowledged relevant to adult education. Adult Learning in College In the past, adult learning usually takes place in informal and non-formal settings. An adult, which may not have been able to finish high school or which may have failed to enter or finish college, sees the need to augment this educational deficiency with non-formal vocational education in order to gain skills necessary for employment. However today, â€Å"the increasing demands for professional services of high quality† (Marsick 1998, p. 119) rendered earlier adult learning insuf ficient, causing an increasing number of adults going through formal college education. As Jarvis (1995) rightly observed: â€Å"Because change is so rapid, it is necessary for individuals to keep learning, so that they should not become alienated from the culture that engulfs them† (p. 3). To be more concrete, â€Å"Individuals in the workforce are expected to keep abreast with all the technological changes that occur in their place of work† (Jarvis, 2004, pp. 13-14). This increasing adult participation in colleges has dramatically altered higher education institutions in terms of organization, program offerings and curricula, that adult education today is taking much academic interest, particularly in terms of adult learning. As Slotnick, et al. (1993) suspected in their study, some college... This essay analyzes that according to Paul (1996) experiential learning takes its root from the traditional apprentice model in response to the wide demand in the 19th century to incorporate practical learning in formal education, which was dominated then by abstract learning. The importance of integrating experience in learning is greatly influenced by John Dewey in the US. This has practically gained its impetus after WWII, with the returning US war veterans’ desire to pursue their education which was interfered by the war.  This essay analyzes that according to Paul (1996) experiential learning takes its root from the traditional apprentice model in response to the wide demand in the 19th century to incorporate practical learning in formal education, which was dominated then by abstract learning. The importance of integrating experience in learning is greatly influenced by John Dewey in the US. This has practically gained its impetus after WWII, with the returning US war veterans’ desire to pursue their education which was interfered by the war.   The rich experiences of adult learners can be rich learning resources in adult learning in colleges, but experiential learning can be truly a defining feature of adult learning, if learning does not sole rely on this, but instead makes use of this in combination with the other two learning concepts. As such, adult learner’s experiences would be understood to be value laden that reflecting on it could bring the adult learner to a deeper understanding of his/her life experience.

Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Business Plan - Essay Example According to Wert (2009), â€Å"carnival’s generic strategy is best described as a blend of low-cost and differentiation.† This is like arguing that the company does not put all its eggs in one basket. Rather, it distributes the available generic strategies prudently to ensure that wider scopes of customer needs are met. By low cost strategy, the company masters in winning the hearts of as many clients with little economic standing as possible. For the high class who would prefer segregated forms of products and services, the company caters for this through the differentiation generic strategy. Scope of Generic Strategy Interestingly, the types of generic strategies identified earlier can be broken further down into whether they are implemented with a broad or narrow focus. Porter explains that the measure of either a broad or narrow focus constitutes the scope of the generic strategy. With reference to the generic strategies blended by Carnival Corporation (which are l ow cost and differentiation), the diagram below may give a representation of the different scopes available to Carnival Corporation. Source: Mind Tools (2012). ... It is not surprising that the current ratio, quick ratio and cash per share are all quoted as low with values of 0.215, 0.154 and 0 respectively (Covestor, 2012). The debt/equity, interest coverage ratio and book value per share are all quoted as average with values of 0.621, 1.17 and 0 respectively (Covestor, 2012). The second way by which the company implements cost leadership is by â€Å"increasing market share through charging lower prices, while still making a reasonable profit on each sale because you've reduced costs† Mind Tools, 2012). Differentiation involves making your products or services different from and more attractive those of your competitors. With reference to the product differentiation broad generic strategy, the company plays the game more to the implication of the name of strategy where by Carnival Corporation makes their products and services different from competitors in terms of the product quality, packaging appearance and attitude towards work. In t he bid to stand out tall in the industry, the company ensures that it trades not just product but quality service to its customers. This way, the company becomes the preferred destination for customers if the customers know they would even have to pay the same low price somewhere else for the same set of product delivery. Primary Competitors Indeed the Management Study Guide (2012) notes that one crutial area of competive analysis for any company is â€Å"identifying present as well as potential competitors. As far as the cruise ship operation industry is concerned, Carnival Corporation has a number of key competitors. These companies are described as key competitors because they trade in the same kind of business as

Business Ethics - Friends of Angelo Research Paper

Business Ethics - Friends of Angelo - Research Paper Example In this case, the judge needed funds to finance an expansion project he was undertaking for his house at Sherwood Country Club in Westlake Village. He got the loan from Countrywide Financial, but the terms raised eyebrows for any keen eye. The terms were too good as compared to that offered to other borrowers. This favour was extended to the judge so that the same favour may be shown to the company. This was because the firm was being charged in the appellate court by borrowers who felt dissatisfied by what the firm had paid as settlement fees. Aldrich was part of a three-man bench that sure enough rejected the appeal of the borrowers. The fact that the judge failed to mention his previous contact with the defendant company was unethical and against the codes of conduct of a judge. As a judge, he ought not to have received any favours or loan in the terms he did knowing that the company had a case pending in his court (Ferrell et al., 2013). This was replicated with all the leaders Angelo deemed fit to orchestrate the company’s progress. These leaders are called and appointed the servants of the people to have the interest of the ordinary populace at heart, but instead they have misused their powers to pursue personal gain. Leaders in this case acted in corrupt manners by conducting underhand deals that would otherwise not be permissible. They ignored and neglected their oaths of office by using the office powers not in service to their country or its people as intended by the law, but in service to themselves (Ferrell et al., 2013). The implications on society of such conduct are, for example, mistrust of those in power. For if a judge, a person who is given the power to condemn, cannot check himself to know when he is going wrong then how can he judge others? It is then the biblical case of the blind leading the blind into a ditch. Greed has obviously blinded many leaders to such an extent that the boundary of what is ethical and unethical

Entrepreneur Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Entrepreneur - Essay Example Similar examples exist in the society and include interests in political appointment to the federal government (Gimpel 28). The entrepreneurial experience of Theodore Judah offers many lessons that are still relevant today. Theodore’s experience explains the role of hardwork and determination in entrepreneurial success, qualities that have been coined to define successful entrepreneurs. Theodore’s efforts to seeks support from politicians and business men and the success that he achieved defines his hardwork while his continuous efforts, despite discouraging encounter, in seeking support for the railroad project explains his determination as well as perseverance that can help today’s entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and succeed in their entrepreneurial ventures (Gimpel 29- 34). Your essay on Gustavus Swift is explorative and informative. I however believe that it is not strong in captivating the audience and also in attracting the audience’s attention. Including a thesis statement in the introductory paragraph and using subheadings for major points would have improved the essay’s effectiveness. The audience however has to strain to grasp information. Your essay on Lewis Tappan identifies professionalism in writing. Organizing the work into subsections and using headings helps the audience to understand a essay’s main points and helps in attracting attention into the essay. The presentation is also simple and identifies critical information such as the period in which Tappan lives, his life in business, and his business

The Approach of Interpretive Anthropology Research Paper

The Approach of Interpretive Anthropology - Research Paper Example It is a viewpoint that was created by Clifford Geertz as a reaction to the traditional objectivize  ethnographic position that dominated anthropology at the time, as well as calls for epistemology and writing methodologies that enable anthropologists to interpret cultures through understanding the manner in which people in a culture interpret themselves and their personal experiences. Geertz proposed that culture is a complicated collection of texts that constitute various meanings, with the meanings being comprehended by the actors and are consequently construed by anthropologists in a manner in which sections of a text are understood by literacy detractors. This is done through integrating into the analysis the contexts of the attendant, which provide the possibility of meaning for all the people involved in the interpreting. Geertz was against the widespread ethnographic practices of observations and instead supported active integration of the anthropologists in an ethnographic context. In this manner, interpretive anthropology considered Malinowski’s claims of disconnected and impartial observation that had been the approach to anthropology up to the sixties and in a remarkable twist returned ethnographic practices to the German epistemological genealogy that had been recognized by Franz Boas. Therefore, in disapproval of the standpoint taken by Malinowski in the way he describes sexual activities among the savages, Geertz suggested Boasian deep involvement in the cultural activity. Even though it is intellectually connected to the anthropology of experience suggested by Victor Turner, cognitive anthropology that was established by Steven Tyler along with symbolic anthropology by David Schneider, interpretive anthropology addressed the intellectual developments outside the context of anthropology that took part in figurations through which local structures if meaning were analyzed anthropologically.

Special Populations (Health care) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Special Populations (Health care) - Essay Example In 2009, African American was accounted for half of all new HIV diagnoses (Avert International HIV and AIDS Charity, 2011). In 2009, the diagnosis of men with AIDS showed that 56 percent consisted of Black American men; 79 percent were consisted of white men; while 65 percent were Latino men. For females, the diagnosis of AIDS in 2009 showed that 78 percent of African American women were affected by this disease; 75 percent of Latino women were the victims and 68 percent were white women (LatinVoices, 2011). According to reports, the basic transmission route among men is from male-to-male sexual contact; 74 percent of the people become affected through it. It is followed by heterosexual contact which constitutes 14 percent; while 8 percent of the men become infected through injecting drug use. Whereas, the women are infected due to heterosexual contact and its percentage is 84.9 percent. The next leading source of AIDS in women is injecting drug use which constitutes around 14.8 percent (United State Statistic by Race and Age, 2011). In the USA more than half a million people have died due to AIDS. Approximately two-thirds of these people did not reach to the age of 45. The survey of 2009 shows that the most affect age group is comprised of 20 – 24 years (United State Statistic by Race and Age, 2011). In 2010, a study by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that in America poorest urban neighbourhood indulge in heterosexual activities by 2.1 percent (Avert International HIV and AIDS Charity, 2011). Although HIV and AIDS affect all the sectors of American society, however, the impact has been more serious among some groups than others. The most commonly identified groups are gays, bisexual men, and those people who are injecting drugs. However, it cannot be only because of the individual behaviour but rather due to the

Southwest Airlines' Cost Optimization to Create an Attractive Price Case Study

Southwest Airlines' Cost Optimization to Create an Attractive Price for Economy Class Travelers - Case Study Example There are many factors which have helped Southwest Airlines in its survival and success. This essay attempts to outline those factors and strategies on the basis of the following parameters: Financial Planning, Financial control, Costing, Decision making.Financial planning has played a vital role in growing its business. The correct timing of its decisions has made a huge difference in increasing market capitalization (Sims, 68). Southwest Airline has gained a further advantage by packing more seats into the aircraft which increase the seat kilometer revenue generated per block hour.Instead of buying more jets to deal with its growing business, Southwest planned and got better deals on the lease. Hence it paid substantially less per block hour for lease rental, than other carriers. Southwest has implemented its financial planning in such a way that low fares when combined with high frequencies and excellent punctuality have resulted in an increase in its revenues. Â  Southwest plans its finances very efficiently. Â  It hires new pilots with ten years contract and motivates them by offering a share in profits. This is an example of astute planning. It means that if Southwest was making losses at any particular time then the losses can be shared with the pilots. This strategy also makes the staff much more accountable. Another important aspect of financial planning was operating on low distance routes and targeting of road passengers.Southwest plans its expenditure very efficiently and effectively. The customer service strategy of providing a full meal was costly in two ways. One, it increases the per unit costs and secondly more staff is required to provide the service. Southwest’s plan of not following this trend has saved it the cost of food as well as the number of staff employed. In other airways, when six to eight employees per flight were required, southwest managed to function with only four. This kind of planning was crucial for decreasing the c osts and increasing the revenues.

Battle of Trafalgar Essay Example for Free

Battle of Trafalgar Essay The Battle of Trafalgar was the most significant battle won by the British against the combined forces of the French and Spanish fleets during the Napoleonic Wars. This battle also had significant impact on the concept of navigation when it comes to the Naval Doctrine of War. This battle proved that tactical unorthodoxy could win battles; even though you might be outmanned and outgunned by your opponent you can still win battles by deviating from the old Naval Doctrine. This battle was part of a much larger campaign called the Trafalgar campaign which included several different battles that led up to the final battle at Trafalgar. This campaign was a long and complicated series of fleet maneuvers carried out by the combined French and Spanish fleets and the opposing moves of the British Royal Navy during much of 1805. These were the culmination of French plans to force a passage through the English Channel, and so achieve a successful invasion of the United Kingdom. The plans were extremely complicated and proved to be impractical. Much of the detail was due to the personal intervention of Napoleon, who was a soldier rather than a sailor. This was largely because Napoleon failed to consider the effects of weather, difficulties in communication, and the intervention of the Royal Navy. Despite limited successes in achieving some elements of the plan the French commanders were unable to follow the main objective through to execution. The campaign, which took place over thousands of miles of ocean, was marked by several naval engagements, most significantly at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. The naval doctrine at the time dictated that both sides should line up parallel to eachother in a straight line so that they could engage in battle and bring all their guns to bear against the enemy. One of the reasons for the development of the line of battle was to help the admiral control the fleet. If all the ships were in line, signaling in battle became possible. The line also had defensive properties, allowing either side to disengage by breaking away in formation. If the attacker chose to continue combat their line would be broken as well. This type of warfare allowed each side to fight a battle and then to disengage at any time to minimize the losses to their fleet. However with England under threat of invasion by Napoleon and his grand army, British Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson needed to ensure that the British were in control of the seas. In order to do this Nelson needed to fight and win a decisive battle that would clearly establish Britain’s naval supremacy. However in order to do this he would have to make sure that the combined French and Spanish fleets actually remained in the battle long enough to win a decisive victory. What Nelson planned on doing was instead of lining up parallel to the opposing fleet, Nelson would take his navy and charge at the enemy and deliberately cut the their battle line in two. This type of deviation from normal naval warfare in terms of navigation was unheard of at the time. Despite the risk to the British fleet, Nelson believed that this was the best way to engage the enemy fleet in the upcoming battle because it had numerous advantages. The primary advantage was that this would allow the British to cut half of the enemy fleet off, surround it, and force a fight to the end. This is unlike normal engagements where the battle was often inconclusive due to the fact that both fleets would withdraw before a clear winner could be seen. The plan had three principal advantages. First, it would allow the British fleet to close with the Franco-Spanish fleet as quickly as possible, reducing the chance that it would be able to escape without fighting. Second, it would quickly bring on close quarters battle by breaking the Franco-Spanish line and inducing a series of individual ship-to-ship fights, in which the British were likely to prevail. Nelson knew that the better seamanship, faster gunnery, and higher morale of his crews were great advantages. Third, it would bring a decisive concentration on the rear of the Franco-Spanish fleet. The ships in the front of the enemy fleet would have to turn back to support the rear, and this would take a long time. Additionally, once the Franco-Spanish line had been broken, their ships would be relatively defenseless to powerful broadsides from the British fleet and would take a long time to reposition and return fire. The main drawback of this strategy was that sailing the British fleet into the combined French and Spanish battle line, the British ships would be fully exposed to the enemy broadsides without the ability to return fire. In order to lessen the time the fleet was exposed to this danger Nelson would have to drive the fleet straight into the enemy battle line as fast as he could. This was yet another departure from navigation rules of naval warfare. Nelson was also well aware that French and Spanish gunners were ill-trained, nd would probably be supplemented with soldiers. These untrained men and would have difficulty firing accurately from a moving gun platform. This was in stark comparison to British gunners who were well drilled, and the Royal Marines who were expert marksmen. Another advantage that the British fleet had was that the enemy was sailing across a heavy swell, causing the ships to roll heavily and exacerbating these problems. Nelsons plan was indeed a gamble, but a carefully calculated one. The battle itself started exactly as Nelson wanted it to. The British fleet was able to successfully cut the French and Spanish battle line in half thus forcing a close quarter’s battle. Despite the huge risk that Nelson was taking his plan ended up working. Nelson scored a huge victory against the combined French and Spanish fleet. He managed to capture over twenty of the enemy ships and inflicted heavy casualties against while suffering few casualties himself. Unfortunately during the battle Nelson was pierced by a musket ball and died from his wounds before he could see the outcome of the victory. Some argue that his loss outweighed any gains made by the British Navy. Following the battle, the Royal Navy was never again seriously challenged by the French fleet in a large-scale engagement. Napoleon had already abandoned his plans of invasion before the battle and they were never revived. This battle firmly established Britain’s naval supremacy over France. In terms of navigation, this battle was very significant. The most important thing is that it proved that following standard navigational techniques during an engagement won’t always win a battle. The best tactic is to be unpredictable so that the enemy has to adapt to what you are doing thus giving you the tactical advantage. This is exactly what Nelson did in the Battle of Trafalgar and it paid off. He proved that sometimes in battle deviating from the norm of battle navigation is the best thing to do, and ever since navies around the world have looked to the strategies employed by Nelson. What is being done today is that naval commanders are being educated about naval history so that they can learn and even employ these types of strategies if they need to in battle. In conclusion, the Battle of Trafalgar was a turning point in which ships would fight naval battles in terms of navigation due to the tactical unorthodoxy employed by Nelson. This battle has had long term effects and even today commanders look back and employ some of the same strategies used. The importance of this battle cannot be underestimated because not only was it the turning point in the Napoleonic Wars for the British in terms of establishing naval supremacy at the time, it was a turning point in naval warfare. Navigation would never be the same thanks to one man and one decisive battle.

Effect Of Growth Factors Fcs On Cell Proliferation Biology Essay

Effect Of Growth Factors Fcs On Cell Proliferation Biology Essay Introduction: The technique in which cells normally of one type, removed from animal tissue are grown in presence of supplements and growth factors under controlled conditions is called Cell Culturing. Different cells require different conditions of temperature and gas for their appropriate growth in a cell incubator moreover growth media plays a crucial role in cell culturing, which can vary in glucose concentration, pH, growth factors like fetal calf serum (FCS). The effect of one of the above mentioned variables, we are going to study in this experiment is growth factors. Growth factors as the name suggests enhancers the growth which supplements the media are obtained from animal blood such as calf serum. Cell proliferation is studied by various methods, mainly used methods involve measuring the colour intensity taken up by DNA of cell during cell proliferation in presence of staining dyes e.g. crystal violet and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide). The aim of this experiment is to study cell proliferation by using crystal violet and MTT methods while using mouse Y1 adrenocortical cells under the effect of growth factor FCS. Mouse Y1 adrenocortical cell are grown in Dulbeccos modification of Eagles medium as monolayer cultures. Crystal Violet: It is biological stain used in cell proliferation method which stains DNA of the cells after permeabilisation with methanol. The positive ammonium ions of crystal violet stain DNA of cells in blue colour. The colour intensity produced is directly proportional to number of cells, which is determined in stained cells by colorimeter. Staining with crystal violet and MTT are based on principal of absorbance. MTT: The MTT assay is a standard colorimetric assay in which activity of reductase enzymes are measured which convert MTT to blue insoluble formazan. The metabolic activity of viable cells is used as basic parameter in MTT assay. The tetrazolium salt, MTT is now widely used in quantitative measurement of cell proliferation. This method depends upon uptake of MTT by viable cells, which is a water soluble tetrazolium salt producing a yellowish solution. MTT is cleaved to insoluble blue formazan in the mitochondria of living cells by succinic dehydrogenases in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Material Used: Mouse Y1 adrenocortical cells, Dulbeccos medication of Eagles medium (DMEM) containing 10% Fetal calf serum, 2mM glutamine, 100u/ml penicillin and 100mg/ml streptomycin, crystal violet stain (0.1% solution in 200mM boric acid), MTT (5mg/ml MTT solution in PBS), PBS methanol, 10% glacial acetic acid, distilled water, acid-isopropanol. Apparatus used: Laminar flow cabinet sterilized two 96 well plates, multi well pipettes, pasture pipettes, sterilized T-flasks, sterilised empty reservoirs, gas incubator, fume cupboard, spectrophotometer etc. Method: Cells of mouse Y1 adrenocortical were separated from their substratum with tris in EDTA as they grow in monolayer cultures. Then added same volume of medium and centrifuged after that number of cells were counted on haemocytometer and diluted to concentration of 1.25 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚ © 105 cells/ml and made it up to 30 ml. Then cells were passaged into centre 60 wells of 96 well plate in duplicate with concentration of 0.25 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚ © 10à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ µ cells/ 200ÃŽÂ ¼l in each well while outside wells of 96 well plate were filled with same amount of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and allowed the cells to incubate overnight at 37  °C temperature in humidified gas incubator. After that cells were washed with PBS three times and different wells of each plate were treated with different concentrations of FCS which is shown in table 1. Hence 12 wells of each plate were treated with 0, 1, 5, 10 and 20% v/v concentration of FCS and both plates were incubated for 72 hours. One plate was used for crystal violet staining method and other for MTT assay. Table 1: Dilution of FCS % FCS Volume of Serum (ml) Volume of Medium (ml) 0 0 10 1 0.1 9.9 5 0.5 9.5 10 1 9 20 2 8 Crystal violet staining method: For this method cell media was removed first of all from incubated plate and then cells were washed with PBS. After that were fixed with 200ÃŽÂ ¼l of methanol for 15 minutes in fume cupboard. Then methanol were removed and cells were allowed to dry in fume cupboard for few minutes. Then cells were treated for 20 minutes with crystal violet stain 200ÃŽÂ ¼l/well. Later cells were washed three times with distilled water and stained cell layer was allowed to solubilised in the 50ÃŽÂ ¼l of 10% glacial acetic acid and plates were incubated for 30 minutes in gas incubator. After that absorbance of each well was read by plate reader spectrophotometer set at 540nm. MTT Method: To perform MTT assay, each of centre 60 wells of 96 well plate was treated with 20ÃŽÂ ¼l of MTT solution and plate was incubated for 4 hours at 37o C temperature in gas incubator. After 4 hours, the medium was removed from each well and 100ÃŽÂ ¼l of acid-isopropand was added to dissolve blue formazan crystal in the cell layer. Then plate was incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. When blue formazan crystal were solubilised, absorbance of each well was measured at 570nm using the plate reader. Calculations: Cells in five squares of Haemocytometer = 24 Volume of each square is =4ÃÆ'-10-3ÃŽÂ ¼l The no. of cells in five squares multiplied with 5ÃÆ'-104 gives no. of cells in 1ml. Hence no. of cell in 1ml = 1.2ÃÆ'-106 cells/ml Required cell suspension = 1.25ÃÆ'-105 cells/ml Dilution Factor = Concentration Required/Concentration got Dilution Factor = 0.104 Therefore, in order to make 30 ml of cell suspension 3.125 ml of cell suspension was mixed with 26.875 ml of medium. Similarly 30 ml of cell suspension was prepared having 1.25ÃÆ'-105 cells/ml. Results: Observation Table for crystal violet staining method %FCS Average Standard Deviation 0 0.205 0.0218 1 0.255 0.0307 5 0.309 0.0450 10 0.432 0.0614 20 0.581 0.0844 Table2: Data obtain from plate reader at 540nm Graph showing effect of FCS with Crystal Violet Method Above graph shows that with increase in serum concentration the absorbance increases, which is directly proportional to cell number. Observation Table of MTT staining method: % FCS Average Standard Deviation 0 0.094 0.0081 1 0.115 0.0138 5 0.152 0.0191 10 0.276 0.0724 20 0.400 0.0807 Table3: Data obtained from plate reader at 570nm. Graph showing effect of FCS with MTT staining Above graph shows that with increase in serum concentration the absorbance increases, which is directly proportional to cell number. Discussion: Crystal Violet Staining method and MTT Assay is based on principle of absorbance, more is colour intensity, more will be the absorbance value. The result of Crystal violet staining method clearly indicated that absorbance value was directly proportional to cell proliferation as it was increasing with concentration of FCS. FCS stimulated Cell Proliferation Result in more cells and DNA Methanol increased cell membrane permeability Result in more stained DNA More Colour intensity Hence More Absorbance Value Similar results were seen in MTT Assay but in this assay only viable cells were stained while in crystal violet method both viable and non viable cells were stained. So Crystal Violet method of staining is not specific staining technique because in this absorbance is not direct index of cell viability. The drawback of MTT Assay is that some reducing agent may reduce MTT also which could show slight increase in absorbance, moreover this method depends on some variable like pH, presence of D-glucose and pyridine nucleotides which can affect the specificity of Assay. In spite of above said limitations these methods are mostly followed because they are safe, simple, cheap and reproducible. Differentiation of K562 cells to megakaryocytes/platelets To study cell differentiation of K652 cells chronic myelogenous leukaemia, K652 cell line, indicates an early differentiation stage of granulocyte lineage. K652 cells are non-adherent, circular shaped with small microvilli. In the presence of tumour promoters like phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) these type of cell are differentiated to megakaryocytes. The induction of megakaryocytic differentiation of K652 cells is known to be initiated by two signalling pathways which are the nuclear factor kappa B(NF-ÃŽÂ ºB) -depends pathways and other is extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen activated kinase (MAPK) dependent pathways. Human chromic myelogenous leukemic cells, K652 cells have Philadelphia chromosome. Tumour promoter, PMA which is a potent mitogen for human peripheral blood lymphocyte also act as a protein kinase C (PKC) activator which differentiate K652 cells to megakaryocytes. The various changes that occurs during differentiation of K652 cells are: Changes in cell morphology Cell growth arrest Adhesive properties of cell change Expression of markers associatated with megakaryocytes Endomitosis NADPH oxidase complex which is known as a primary source of ROS (Radio active oxygen species), is initiated by PMA. PMA stimulates NADPH ROS (Signalling Molecule) Induction of gene expression is directly related with ROS. The Expression of CD61, a platelet cell marker helps in identifying differentiated cells. The expression of CD61 can be seen on platelets, osteoclasts, macrophages and on some tumour cells, involved in tumour metastasis and in adenovirus infections. Results and Discussion: It was observed that PMA treated slide was stained pink while cells devoid of PMA were stained blue as shown in Pic. 1 2. In PMA treated slide the K562 cells were clearly differentiated to megakaryocytes which suggested that tumour promoter, PMA induced differentiation in K562 cells by signal transduction and expressed by CD61 as shown in picture below. C:UsersmkkaushalPicturescell bio picsmail2.jpg Pic. 1 PMA Treated Cells clearly showing Differentiation to Megakaryocytes C:UsersmkkaushalPicturescell bio picsmail.jpg Pic. 2 Cells Devoid of PMA stained blue in Colour The expression of CD61 was recognised by addition of rabbit anti-mouse IgG antibodies that bind to CD61 antibodies when incubated in presence of alkaline phosphatise anti alkaline phosphatise (APAAP) complex. The cells were stained pink because fast red dye get attached to APAAP so this is how CD61 was expressed in cell treated with PMA. Moreover cells treated with PMA were larger, irregular, in shape and fewer in number as compare to untreated cells. On the contrary, Cells devoid of PMA were much smaller in size than treated cells. Diagramatic Representations of Immunocytochemical Reactions To Detect CD61 PMA Treated Cells PMA Untreated Cells CD61 bound to both treated and untreated cells Then Cells are washed to Remove CD61 unbound Treated with RAM Then RAM binds to APAAP and cells are stained pink in colour. : Mouse Antihuman CD 61 (Primary Antibody) : Rabbit Antimouse IgG (RAM- Secondary Antibody) : Mouse Alkaline Phosphate AntiAlkaline Phosphatase(APAAP Tertiary Antibody)

Effective Instructional Strategies For Adult Learners

Effective Instructional Strategies For Adult Learners College and universities across America are experience a change in student demographics from traditional to adult students. The adult student (those 25 and older) population in higher education continues to grows (Palazesci Bower, 2006; ODonnell Tobbell,2007; Giancola, Grawitch, Borchert, 2009; Vaccaro Lovell, 2010). The U.S. Department of Education reported an increase in nontraditional students from 28% in 1970 to 39% in 1999. Today, the U.S. Department of Education reported in its National Center for Educational Statistics(2006) reported that first-time full-time students are now in the minority in higher education. This growing population of adult learners bring unique characteristics to the learning environment. One might then expect to observe significant difference in instructional strategies of instructors of traditional and adult students. However, despite the unique characteristics of adult learners, the traditional approach to instructional strategies, in particular the lecture method, used in many traditional classrooms is utilized in the adult learning environment as well. While there are no inherent negative outcomes associated with the lecture method (Masikunis, Panayiotidis, Burke, 2009; Giers Kreiner, 2009; Revell, Wainwright, 2009), characteristics of adult learners may provoke the investigation of alternative instructional strategies. Adult Learning Malcom Knowles first introduced the idea that adult and children learning differently due to developmental and experiential differences in the 1970s (Knowles, Holton, Swanson, 2005). Prior to Knowles work, pedagogy was the focus of instructional strategies in higher education. The pedagogy model required the instructor to be in control of the learning and was the main focus of Knowles coined the term andragogy to describe a core set of principles of adult learning to build a more effective learning process for adults (p. 2). The six principles of andragogy are: The learners need to know; Self-concept of the learner; Prior experience of the learner; Readiness to learn; Orientation to learning; and Motivation to learn. (p. 3) Knowles stressed andragogy as a process model rather than the content model characteristic of pedagogy. The difference is not that one deals with content and the other does not; the difference is that the content model is concerned with transmitting information and skills whereas the process model is concerned with providing procedures and resources for helping learners acquire information and skills. (Knowles, Holton, Swanson, 2005, p. 115) Knowles maintained these principles, or assumptions, as foundational in designing meaningful learning experiences for adult learners (Merriam, Caffarella, Baumgartner, 2007). In addition to considering the characteristics of adult learners, Merriam, Caffarella, and Baumgartner (2005) emphasize the importance of recognizing learning in an adults life occurs in structured and informal learning environments. This recognition allows educators of adults to take into consideration the vast experience and knowledge adult students bring to the learning environment. Prior knowledge then becomes foundational to the learning experience. Also, the recognition that learning occurs in multiple arenas of life enables educators to assist adult learners in understanding they are lifelong learners. This may lessen the adults anxiety of entering a formal educational setting. The learning environment may be new, but the experience of learning new knowledge or skills is not. Lifelong learner is part of the adults life. Brookfield (1986) addressed the social aspect of adult learning. the acts of teaching and learning and the creation and alteration of our beliefs, values, actions, relationships, and social forms that result from this are ways in which we realize our humanity (p. 1). From this belief, Brookfield (1986) presented six principles for facilitating learning: Participation in learning is voluntary; adult engage in learning as a result of their own volition. Effective practice is characterized by a respect among participants for each others self-worth. Facilitation is collaborative. Facilitators and learners are in a cooperative enterprise in which, at different times and for different purposes, leadership and facilitation roles will be assumed by different group members. Praxis is placed at the heart of effective facilitation. Learners and facilitators are involved in a continual process of activity, reflection upon activity collaborative analysis of activity, new activity, further reflection, and collaborative analysis, and so on. Facilitation aims to foster in adults a spirit of critical reflection. The aim of facilitation is the nurturing of self=-directed, empowered adults. While Knowles advocated that adults learn differently than children, he understood the application of andragogy assumptions were dependent on the learning situation. In all learning situations, the needs of the learner are paramount in designing an effective learning experience. Knowles (as cited in Knowles, Holton, Swanson, 2005) stated: My intention, therefore, was to present an alternative set of assumptions to those that had been traditionally made by teachers of children, so that others would have another choice. I saw them as assumptions to be tested (not to be presumed), so that if a pedagogical assumption was the realistic condition given situation then pedagogical strategies would be appropriate. For example, if I were now, at age 66, to undertake to learn a body of totally strange content (for example, the higher mathematics of nuclear physics), I would be a totally dependent learner. I would have very little previous experience to build on, I probably would have a low degree of readiness to learn it, and I dont know what developmental task I would be preparing for. The assumptions of pedagogical assumptions would be appropriate. (p. 146) However, with that said, in many learning situations adult learners do bring a readiness to learn, do have experiential background, and XXXXXXXXXXXXX. In this context, learning strategies appropriate to the adult learner should be considered. Institutional Reaction to Adult Learners Despite the continual struggle of adult learners for voice and value in higher education (Sissel, Hansman, Kasworm, 2001), institutions appear to acknowledge the unique population of adult learners (Simpson, 2004). Institutions offer degree programs specifically addressing the need to provide alternative student services, multiple delivery modes (in-seat and online), and flexibility in scheduling (Durey, 2007). Matkin (2004) identifies two distinct markets in higher education: the residential student (traditional students) and the nonresidential (nontraditional student). The members of the two markets have different reasons for seeking education, different backgrounds, different service needs, and different pathways through which they are attracted (recruited) to education (p. 62). While, some in higher education academy may still harbor distrust in these nontraditional programs for adult learners, Tweedell (2007) contends many programs that target the adult population have been mor e deliberate in planning and implementing quality than other education programs whose theories and practices are rooted only in tradition (p. 5). In addition to addressing opportunities for adult students to pursue higher education opportunities, educators must investigate and implement instructional strategies that address the needs of adult learners. Instructional Strategies Several models of adult learning inform best practices in adult learning. Knowles (as cited in Brewer, 2005) provided guidelines for development and practice in adult learning programs. Central components of Knowles theory are self-directedness , a focus on experiential learning, learner reliance on past experiences, adult motivation to learn, and goal orientation associated with problem solving (p. 23). Effective instructional strategies for adult learners: Incorporates learners goals and objectives Provides opportunities for content to build on past experiences and knowledge Focus on problem oriented and practical strategies Require active learner participation Provides opportunities for application of new knowledge and skills Provide opportunities for both independent and collaborative learning Implications for Faculty Development Conclusion

Child Beauty Pageants Should Be Banned Essay -- Argumentative Essay, 2

Imagine you are at home, watching tv. Flipping through the channels, you see a preview for next week’s episode of Toddlers & Tiara’s. They show the girls dressed in frilly, sparkly attire, fake teeth, fake hair, fake tans, and makeup that could transform their faces into someone in their 20’s. These children are usually misbehaving, disobedient, overdramatic and they are between the ages of four and six. Any person could see that this lifestyle is incredibly harmful to these children not just because of what it does to their appearance, but what happens when these little girls’ minds become tainted with the thoughts of needing to be beautiful and talented in order for people to like them. They also learn that being beautiful means doing whatever it takes to make yourself look perfect, even if it means that everything about you is fake. At the same time, when these little girls are dressing up for these shows, they are being put in outfits that could b e worn by strippers. This draws attention to sex offenders and pedophiles, which could potentially end up in something tragic. Claude Knights, the director of child protection charity Kidscape, says, "We do know that predators or paedophiles continually tend to justify their interest in children by saying children are sexual beings. That children are now given a channel to become little Lolitas, to be portrayed as older, to almost become mini adults – these are all trends that give legitimacy to that kind of thinking." In the end, children’s beauty pageants are essentially harmful to both young girls safety and minds. It may not happen to some, but most of the young girls that compete in beauty pageants seem to have a bit of an attitude towards their parents and ... ...today.com/blog/food-thought/201108/child-beauty-pageants-what-are-we-teaching-our-girls>. "Child Beauty Pageant Statistics." OccupyTheory. N.p., 20 Dec. 2013. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. . Day, Elizabeth. "Living dolls: inside the world of child beauty pageants." The Observer. Guardian News and Media, 11 July 2010. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. . Image/Video Citations -http://susannemoore.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/childrens-beauty-pagents-eden-wood/ -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_7vsWF_Ox4 -http://www.soulfulspoon.com/2013/03/my-take-thursdays-how-to-recover-from.html#.U09T2yjrdSo -http://cynicalreview.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/child-beauty-pageants-harmless-fun-or-vomit-inducing-child-abuse/ -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRSUS4WZO5Q

American Dream in Song of Solomon, Narrative Frederick Douglass, Life o

American Dream in Song of Solomon, Narrative of Frederick Douglass, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, and Push   Ã‚   In an era where "knowledge is power," the emphasis on literacy in African American texts is undeniable. Beginning with the first African American literary works, the slave narratives, through the canon's more recent successes such as Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon and Sapphire's Push, the topic of literacy is almost inextricably connected to freedom and power. A closer investigation, however, leads the reader to another, less direct, message indicating that perhaps this belief in literacy as a pathway to the "American Dream" of freedom and social and financial success is contradictory or, at least, insufficient in social and cultural terms. In this way, African American literature reconstructs the "American Dream" into an even more complex "dream deferred."    In his introduction to The Classic Slave Narratives, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. states: "In literacy lay true freedom for the black slave," (ix). Such is the case for Frederick Douglass whose initial tutelage by his mistress, Mrs. Auld, and the subsequent denial of such tutelage by Mr. Auld enlightens Douglass to "an entirely new train of thought," which allows him to understand "the pathway from slavery to freedom," (275). Understanding that maintaining the illiteracy of the slave population was "the white man's power to enslave the black man" (275), Douglass realizes that learning to read is a potential pathway for freedom from the chains of slavery. It is here, however, that the distinction between freedom from slavery and the freedom inherent in the ideology of the "American Dream" begin to breakdown what Harvey Graff terms "the literacy myth."... ...n the successful negotiation of not just illiteracy, but of a history of social and cultural denial. Such is the nature of the dream deferred.    WORKS CITED Brent, Linda. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. The Classic Slave Narratives. Ed. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. New York: Penguin Group, 1987. Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The Classic Slave Narratives. Ed. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. New York: Penguin Group, 1987. Gates, Henry Louis, Jr. Introduction. The Classic Slave Narratives. Ed. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. New York: Penguin Group, 1987. ix-xviii. Graff, Harvey J. The Literacy Myth: Literacy and Social Structure in the Nineteenth-Century City. New York: Academic Press, 1979. Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. New York: The Penguin Group, 1977. Sapphire. Push. New York: Vintage Contemporaries, 1996.   

venonous snakes :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It all started about five years ago when my brother had gotten me a job at the zoo. My whole life I had never really been interested in snakes, I had always thought that they were useless and served no interest to me what so ever. My entire life I had always had a love for animals and wanted to go to vet nary school so I could always be around animals, so Harold had given me a chance to become a zoo keeper.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I worked at the Scotch Plains Zoo for three and a half years before it was closed down do to lack of money. While I had worked there I had become to love snakes and thought that were amazing creatures. This love grew to where I started taking in snakes that people didn’t want as pets anymore so I would care for them. I started out with two constrictors one blood python and one red tailed boa. I still have both of these snake today the python is 7ft and ninety pounds and the boa is 5 feet and about fifty pounds. At first my parents were going to have a heart attack but they accept it now.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While I was working at the zoo I applied to take the test for caring for exotic and endangered animals. It had taken forever to get my permits and even with them it is still hard to purchase a lot of animals. When I moved out of my house and got my own place I wanted to start a breeding program for venomous snakes for other zoos in the country. I don’t sell my snakes to them I just donate them so other people can see and learn from them that they are not Satan’s creatures and are quite docile.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first snake that I had purchased was a horned pit viper (which had taken me about 5 months to get. I had to hand build all my enclosures due to the fact that each snake needs different humidity, light and enclosure space. As time gone by I had gotten two more breeding pairs one russels viper and one death adder. The two vipers have a high potency of venom but nothing like the death adder, plus the death adder has one nasty attitude problem. The death adder is the third most venous snake in the world and if it did bite me I would only have 10 minutes to inject myself wit the anti-venom or I would be dead, and even with the anti serum I would still be hospitalized for some time.

Why an indigenous African psychology not develop? Essay

My recent learning experience was from one of my psychology modules. The prescribed book is Personology from individual to ecosystem, chapter 17 i.e. African perspective. The driving point of this chapter is â€Å"Why an indigenous African psychology not develop?† The chapter cited the importation of the mainstream psychology a predominately â€Å"Euro-American† science into Africa resulting in a lack of development of a purely African personology theory. Several recommendations are made in terms of how this can be changed or improved. Also covered in this chapter is the topic on â€Å"Views on psychopathology† Some of the sub-topics covered included: How do traditional Africans view illness and pathological behaviour? The role of ancestors in the lives of traditional Africans The difference between the African and western conceptions of stress Dreams, spirits and sorcerers The link between psychotherapy and traditional healing As an African it was not difficult to relate some of my experiences to what was explained in the terms of the African believes and practices. Recommendations were made to psychologist practicing in Africa on how to treat African patients in line with their beliefs. The aha-moment for me was when I acknowledged the African way of living which I myself and my immediate family do not practice. This brought me back to Freire’s â€Å"Culture of silence† from SCK 201-3 module guide. Freire defines the culture of silence as cultural invasion where invaders penetrate the cultural context of another group. Colonisation and militarisation dominance are said to be conducive to the development of the culture of silence. I found the insight into colonisation very interesting. Being a black African who stays in Africa I am personally not complaining that I refuse to believe in ancestors or traditional healers. I personally feel that colonisation did bring a lot of change to Africa; the question I asked myself is at what cost? Africa has natural resources, we have been â€Å"civilised† and educated but majority of  African countries are still dependant on European aid. Why? I enjoyed sharing and debating the â€Å"Views on psychopathology† and Freire’s theory with my work colleagues. We all conceded that even though we are liberated and gained â€Å"independence† we are still indirectly colonised. We also reached a consensus that corruption and lack of accountability are some of the reasons that are delaying progress in Africa. There are so many different perspectives to psychology that explain the different types of behaviour. No one perspective has explanatory powers over the rest. Some contradict one another, overlap with each other or build upon one another. Behaviourist perspective is different from most other approaches because people (and animals) are viewed as controlled by their environment and specifically that people are the result of what they have learned from their environment. Behaviourism is concerned with how environmental factors affect observable behaviour. The psychosexual perspective by Freud believes that events in people’s childhood can have a significant impact on behaviour as adults. Feud also believed that people have little free will to make choices in life and that human behaviour is determined by the unconscious mind and childhood experiences. Humanistic psychology emphasizes the study of the person as a whole (holistic approach). This perspective suggests that each perso n is responsible for their own happiness and well-being. It suggests that humans have innate capacity for self-actualization which is a unique desire to achieve one’s highest potential as a person. Because of this focus on the person and his or her personal experiences and subjective perception of the world, the humanists regarded scientific methods as inappropriate for studying behaviour. Cognitive psychology perspective focuses on the study of cognition which is ‘the mental act or process by which knowledge is acquired. It is an extremely scientific approach where lab experiments are used to study human behaviour. Biological psychologists explain behaviours in neurological terms, i.e. the physiology and structure of the brain and how this influences behaviour. Many biological psychologists have concentrated on abnormal behaviour and have tried to explain it. Critical psychology challenges mainstream psychology by looking towards social change as a means of preventing and treating psychopathology. One of critical  psychology’s main criticisms of conventional psychology is that it ignores the way power differences between social classes and groups can impact the mental and physical well-being of individuals or groups of people. It does this, in part, because it tends to explain behaviour at the level of the individual. I agree with the notion that conventional psychology’s choice of ignoring the impact the difference in social classes and groups has on mental health does not give a holistic view of human behaviour. It is known that poverty, illiteracy, alienation have some form of impact on one’s mental state. The different ways or choices that people make to better their lives and the fact that some people make it out of the deprivation cycle and some fail is a clear indication that these factors affect people differently. Doing more research in this regard should provide a clearer picture. Question 3 Personhood and becoming in African thought As stated in the prescribed text, in African thought and belief a person is not complete until certain rituals are performed to qualify them as complete. Starting from birth those that practice the African culture do the imbeleko to introduce the child to the ancestors. Those that choose to follow the Christian practice baptise the child and give thanks to God. As children grow into teenagers, boys are sent to the mountain as practiced as a transition to manhood by many cultural groups. For example, the Ndebele community that still practice this tradition do not have respect for a man that has not been circumcised. It is said that Ndebele man also prefer to marry their fellow Ndebele females who still practice female circumcision which is also used as a transition to womanhood. A woman from another culture who knows nothing about the Ndebele culture who marries a Ndebele man is often expected to undergo this process in order to be respected and be qualified to be a woman. These two A frican traditions are still widely practiced but there is a shift where some people decide to go the western route. In light of health concerns and young man dying because of botched circumcisions parents prefer to have their children circumcised in hospital. Vigilance regarding oppressive practices Male circumcision is encouraged especially in a country like South Africa where there are challenges with HIV and AIDS. It is public knowledge that the practice minimises the chance of contracting the disease. Questions are raised in relation to the process and procedures followed to see this through. It has been said that the boys undergo various tests and are given guidance and advice by elders to help prepare them for manhood. In light of this some parents send their kids to hospital for circumcision to avoid any medical complications and loss of life. They are then sent to the mountain to undergo the transition that will prepare them for manhood. In a community like the Ndebele’s, young men decide to undergo initiation as it is a root of their identity and to avoid the shame of being labelled a boy. Coming to the female circumcision, in South Africa especially in the Ndebele culture it is still clouded in secrecy. No one knows exactly what other rituals are performed durin g the initiation. I personally do not know the benefits of the practice. What I have read and seen on TV from other countries for example Kenya, the main reason behind this practice is purely for the enjoyment of the girls’ future husband. Young woman and girls are ruthlessly mutilated only because they are expected to sexually satisfy their husbands once they get married. Many African countries have criminalised the practice but it is still practiced because man shun woman that have not undergone the procedure or transition to â€Å"womanhood†. One practice that is close to home that I personally feel is discriminatory against woman just like female circumcision is the virginity testing (reed dance). It can be argued that it helps discourage girls from participating in sexual activities and that it helps reduce HIV infection. The fact that woman alone are expected to undergo such an invasive practice when it takes two people to engage in sex is tantamount to discrimination against woman. Initiation as a passage from exteriority to interiority I agree with the text that â€Å"initiation is a process by which people discover themselves through others and their community†. From having lived with the Ndebele community I support the notion that for many of the young man and woman that choose to undergo initiation they do it because it is the root of their identity. For example, anyone who has decided not to undergo  initiation is often not seen as a true Ndebele. The person is not only labelled and shunned by the community; it is also believed that his ancestors will not know him. Ubuntu as a process My understanding of Ubuntu is simply human kindness. â€Å"A person is a person through other people†. It is about recognising a fellow human being, treating them with respect and dignity for the person they are whether rich or poor. This saying is mostly associated with black communities because a human being is not seen as an individual but as a collective of family and the community. Ubuntu as a process serve as testimony when community members come together to assist a family when they have lost a love one. It is also evident when there is no shame in borrowing sugar from a neighbour. For example, to prove the concept that â€Å"a person is a person through other people†, families that choose not to attend funerals or assist other families when they are bereaved; no villager will bother to offer support or even attend a funeral should that family loose a love one. The human being as a community of selves I believe a human being is what they are because of where they come from. I’m referring to culture, beliefs of one’s parents and one’s community in general. When growing up all these beliefs are instilled in oneself. It is only when one is independent and out of the family unit when they can either decide to continue with what they were taught at home or decide on a new way to live their lives. For example: one’s parents may believe in ancestral worship and have their children who grew up experiencing the practice but decide on Christianity and deny of the existence of ancestors. Question 4 My community of is located in Ninapark suburb in Pretoria North. It is a middle class white dominant community. It is a clean, serene and quite community to live in. There is not much activity during week days especially during the day. There is mostly activity in the mornings when people go to work or take their children to school. The same activities occur in the evenings. Domestic workers and gardeners are also part of the community. The most enjoyable citing in the evenings is people taking walks or jogging. Domestic workers are also seen in the evenings in groups gambling. The  street where my family and I live is a small street and all our neighbours are retired. Many are family members who have been residing in the area for more than twenty years. There is a public park about a kilometre from the house which is where many use especially those with children. There is an orphanage, a church, a rehabilitation centre, a golf course, and a small shopping centre. All these are a w alking distance from home. The shopping centre is always busy in the evenings. There is a woollies food grocery shop which we all love, a spar grocery shop, a KFC, a pharmacy, a beauty shop, a travel centre, a pet shop and a handful of restaurants. I am mentioning all these shops because I feel that just as I love staying in Ninapark because the community has access to all these facilities or resources just a walking distance from our homes many community members share the same sentiment. We (the community) have found ourselves the target of crime just like many communities in South Africa. Because there is not much activity during the day thieves break in without being seen. Many in my small street are victims of crime including me. I have found that this invasion of our homes has brought the community together in trying to find ways to combat crime. This is one thing that we all have in common. Apart from that there isn’t much socialising. Every one minds their own business. One rarely sees kids playing in the street. The only time when one gets a chance to talk to neighbours is when by chance we meet outside our homes for a walk. Many of my neighbours do not even know my name. If anything happens for example a break i n all we do is to sympathise with the victim and it ends there. We are all locked behind our high walls and security gates. There is definitely no socialisation. Being a black African from a rural village, life in the city is completely different from where I was born. There is caring and compassion, for example when a family losses a love one. It is a norm for community members to go a share their grief and offer support. This is not only psychological but also in assisting the family to prepare for the funeral. Each household within the community contributes an amount agreed by the community and the money is given to the family. On the day of the funeral everyone from the community attends as a show of support. There is no culture of individuality but communalism. Life in the city is a stark contrast of communalism. I find it is more individually orientated. No one meddles in anyone’s business. Yes there is access to everything, basic  services, health facilities but no community based support. In terms of community justice, since it i s in our constitution by law we are all expected to acknowledge human rights. It is not only the responsibility of government but also of citizens and the government. Yes, there are cases where this is not the case. What I have observed in the city is that many people know their rights and if contravened they have options for recourse including using the law. This is not always the case with rural communities as many do not know what their human rights are. What I have also observed in the city are the rich exploiting the poor. As the saying goes the poor have no voice i.e. cheap labour. This is of course debatable. In –groups My nuclear family Extended family members My former university friends My husband’s friends and their wives Orphans Single parents People living with HIV and AIDS People with terminal illness People I go to church with The poor Elderly people Colleagues IT professionals People in the medical field Social volunteers beggars Out-group Gang members Paedophiles People that commit violent crimes People that commit any crime Traditional healers Invisible Paedophiles Gays Lesbians Transsexuals Bisexuals Atheists Gang members Having been born in a rural area with not much hope, where there was a lack of access to basic services, a lack of information and poverty; I personality feel content with my current situation and community. One only got to see and experience city life once or twice a year when coming to the city to buy Christmas clothes. It was the citing of such communities and life that gave one insight of how much more life had to offer outside one’s environment and circumstances. This was one motivating factor that led one to break the cycle of poverty. The community, the neighbourhood and the way of life led me to internalise self-determination and motivation. Having access to basic services, access to knowledge, access to primary health, education and sanitation left one with not much to worry about except to focus on improving one’s life, that of one’s children and those who are still trapped in the cycle of poverty back at home. Having come from a poor background and being in this community has also given me an insight on what it means to be poor, hence I relate and sympathise with those less fortunate. I give back and assist where possible. Even though the way of life in my neighbourhood has empowered me it has also taken away my African way of life. It is not community orientated but focuses more on individuality. That is why my family and I always look forward to a trip to the village and not feeling ashamed to borrow sugar or onion from a neighbour. Question 5 I would define racial identity as a background that one identifies with. Because of globalisation and movement to new communities people build lives in different communities and choose the identity they can relate to. Steve Biko was addressing the liberation of the oppressed mind of a black man.  His black consciousness movement was dealing with two forces. He first addressed the external oppression experienced by blacks through segregation laws. The second was self-alienation. In opposition to this he called for the blacks to identify with themselves hence reversing years of self-negativity. Post-colonial is the study of the effects of colonialism on culture and societies of the previously oppressed or colonised. It is concerned with how Europeans controlled third world cultures and how these groups responded and resisted their way to independence. It is about the relationship between the colonisers and the previously colonised. It is about the awareness of social, psychological and cultural inferiority enforced by being in a colonised state. It is the struggle for ethnic, cultural and political autonomy. Racial alienation can be defined as a loss of one’s root culture in the process of adopting the culture of the oppressor. Cultural dispossession is the adoption of the oppressor’s language with the aim of being accepted by the oppressor. Speaking one’s language is assuming a culture thereby giving up of one’s language. Racism has created the idea of inferiority of the black people resulting in black escaping to â€Å"whiteness â€Å"or â€Å"blackness†. Question 6 1. The most significant learning or insight you had while doing this module. The topic on African perspective on psychology versus the European perspective was the most significant insight. The link between the topic and colonisation left me thinking and with many unanswered questions. 2. The most significant experiences you had while doing this module I enjoyed the walk about in my community, the high walls, the security and generally how different races relate to each other. 3. What you most appreciate about this module I appreciated the interactive approach of the module. We are so busy with our lives and work that one doesn’t stop to look at personal relations, how we socialise with each other and the groups one does not relate to and the reasons why. 4. What you least appreciate about this module There nothing I least appreciated as everything I read I got a chance to disagree or agree as we are taught not to accept everything one is told. The fact that everything is debatable and that one is allowed to apply one’s mind is good enough for me.

History of Brazil Essay

It is a matter of fact that Brazil is a country of contrasts. One can easily observe that the development of this nation is incredibly uneven. Taking into consideration their past experience, the Brazilians are seeing some very good times as a nation. Certainly, they have overcrowding problems. However, each country has its own difficulties and tries to overcome them. Thus, the diversity of this country and its amazing history has brought a â€Å"mixing bowl† of culture preparing a bright future for Brazil. It is widely known that four major groups make up the Brazilian population. They are the Portuguese, who colonized Brazil in the 16th century; Africans brought to the country as slaves; various European, Middle Eastern, and Asian immigrant peoples who have settled in Brazil since the mid-19th century; and indigenous people of Guarani and Tupi language. (Skidmore, 131) Brazil is the only Latin American nation that takes its language and culture mainly from Portugal. Intermarriage between indigenous people or slaves and the Portuguese was a common phenomenon. Despite the fact that the major European ethnic culture of Brazil was once Portuguese, waves of immigration have greatly contributed to a diverse ethnic and cultural heritage. Admiral Pedro Alvares Cabral claimed Brazilian territory for Portugal in 1500. The early explorers brought back a wood with them that produced a red dye, pau-brasil. This is where the land received its original name. Portugal began colonization in 1532 and made the area a royal colony in 1549. During the Napoleonic Wars, fearing the advancing French armies, King Joao VI left the country in 1808 and set up his court in Rio de Janeiro. He was brought home later in 1820 by a revolution, leaving his son as regent. When Portugal wanted to reduce Brazil to colonial status again, the prince declared Brazil’s independence on Sept. 7, 1822. Thus, he became Dom Pedro I, emperor of Brazil. Harassed by his Parliament, Pedro I resigned in 1831 in favor of his five-year-old son who became emperor Dom Pedro II in 1840. Emperor Pedro II ruled to 1889 when a federal republic was established as a result of a coup d’etat organized by Deodoro da Fonseca, marshal of the army. A year earlier, while Dom Pedro II was in Europe, the Regent Princess Isabel had abolished Slavery. Abreu, 311) Dom Pedro II was a popular monarch. Yet discontent grew up and, in 1889, he had to resign because of a military revolt. Although a republic was proclaimed at that time, Brazil was ruled by military dictatorships until a revolt allowed returning gradually to stability under civilian presidents. From 1889 to 1930, the government was a const itutional democracy. The presidency was alternating between the dominant states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais. This period ended with a coup d’etat that placed a civilian, Getulio Vargas, in the presidency. He remained as a dictator until 1945. From 1945 to 1961, presidents of Brazil became Eurico Dutra, Vargas, Juscelino Kubitschek, and Janio Quadros. When Quadros abdicated in 1961, he was succeeded by Vice President Joao Goulart. (Abreu, 329) Goulart’s years in office were marked by high inflation, total economic failure, and the increasing influence of radical political parties. The armed forces alarmed by these developments organized a coup d’etat on March 31, 1964. The coup leaders chose Humberto Castello Branco a president, followed by Arthur da Costa e Silva (1967-69), Emilio Garrastazu Medici (1968-74), and then Ernesto Geisel (1974-79). All of them were senior army officers. Geisel began a liberalization that was carried further by his successor, General Joao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo (1979-85). In the last of a long series of military coups, General Joao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo became president in 1979. He pledged a return to democracy in 1985. Figueiredo not only allowed the return of politicians exiled or banned from political activity during the 1960s and 1970s, yet also permitted them to run for state and federal offices in 1982. (Alden, 284) However, at the same time, the Electoral College consisting of all members of Congress and also six delegates chosen from each state continued its activities of choosing the president. The election of Tancredo Neves on January 15, 1985, the first civilian president since 1964, brought a nationwide wave of optimism and activity. He was elected from the opposition Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). (Alden, 287) However, when Neves died on April 21, Vice President Sarney became president. The latter was widely distrusted because he had previously been a devoted member of the military regime’s political party. Collor de Mello won the election of late 1989 with 53% of the vote in the first direct presidential election in his 29 years. (Abreu, 378) Mello promised to lower the persistent hyperinflation by following the path of free-market economics. Having faced impeachment by Congress because of a corruption scandal in December 1992, Mello finally resigned. Vice President Itamar Franco took his place and assumed the presidency. Fernando Cardoso, a former finance minister, won the presidency in the October 1994 election having 54% of the vote. He took office on January 1, 1995. (Skidmore, 232) Cardoso has organized the disposal of bad government-owned monopolies in the electrical power, telecommunication, port, railway, mining, and banking industries. His timely proposals to Congress included constitutional amendments in order to open the Brazilian economy to greater foreign participation and to implement such sweeping reforms as social security, government administration, and taxation so as to reduce excessive public sector spending and considerably improve government efficiency. Alden, 298) During his short time in the office, Cardoso’s economic wisdom has made a measurable progress in overcoming Brazil’s poverty level. It is remarkable to observe how the Brazilian government makes certain efforts in order to address basic needs of its people such as education, distribution of meals, health care, and the promotion of children’s rights. Co-signed by the President of Brazil and 24 state governors, the â€Å"Pact for the Children† is intended to fully implement the constitutional and legal obligations providing for protection of children and adolescents. Several federal agencies supervise the execution of government programs for children and adolescents aimed to give Brazilian youth opportunities for a better life, shelter, education, and love. Thus, if not forgetting about the past mistakes and taking care of its nation, the Brazilians will surely come to the brightest future.

Computer Games Essay

Computer games have been more popular in recent years, particularly with children. Some people think that video games only bring a great number of disadvantages to the users, while the others perceive them as a harmless form of enjoyment as well as a wonderful tool to educate their offspring. In this essay, I would advocate the view that the benefits of playing games outweigh its drawbacks. To begin with the detrimental effects, the most common reason to underrate computer simulation games is that it takes too much time of the users to sit in front of the screen rather than playing sports or doing some cultural activities with their beloved ones. On average, the people who play games too frequently tend to lead to a sedentary lifestyle and pose social problems. For instance, I have a boy friend in my class. He always want to talk about games, the way to win and how to pass one level in games. With me, I do not like that because I also play games enough to do the different social activities. He spends almost time to stay at home and play games. I tried to advise him to give up that habit but not effect. His healthy is bring down day by day and his parent must take him into reformatory. Additionally, this kind of game is dead easy for games to be addicted to since throughout the game process. They are given many scores, awards and continuously perform the new which can make them far more exciting and engaging than their everyday activities. Subsequently, a video game addict always gets entangled with the thoughts about the games and can not concentrate on doing something in a serious way. On the other hand, this type of game also provides numerous priceless advantages. While playing games, the brain of the users must brainstorm and train some significant skills such as imagination, predictability, even leadership in virtually strategy games, which we could not taught outside the gaming context though. Moreover, some cooperative games ( namely Defend of the Ancients, League of Legends,etc ) might be a novel way to bring people together as well as teaching us how to do a good teamwork. For this reason, a new sport named E-sport ( Electronic Sport ) which contains some competitions of the worldwide – renowned games mentioned above, appeared and has became famous all over the world. Your task is thinking about the best way to play games, choose one is suitable with your age, your mind. Everybody in all age can play game because we have a big variety system of game. Remember finding the usage in game is the most important fact when you play games. Please avoid the â€Å"black games† which do not have any benefit for you. In conclusion, I hold firmly to the notion that although playing video games has both pros cons, its potential dangers are outweighed by its profits. Eventually, you be a smart player who can stand to much benefits from games but still allocate your time effectively.