Content tagged with "society"
The top two contestants on American Idol, Danny Gokey, a widowed church music director from Milwaukee, and Adam Lambert, a gay singer from West Hollywood, are predicted to face off in the final. Despite their strong talent, the author suggests that the final vote may become more about their lifestyles and contemporary culture, with both conservative Christian America and LGBT America expected to support their respective contestants.
Not graduating from high school causes people to judge you, for all sorts of reasons.
If we had to re-make cities from scratch, would they have downtowns?
The article discusses the “10,000 Hour Rule,” which suggests that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master anything. The author questions the validity of this theory, arguing that some people are naturally smarter than others and that practice only amplify natural ability. The article also suggests that the focus should be on genuine effort, not results, and that societal inequality can be justified by blaming everyone for their situation.
The document discusses “Glitifying Narrative Syndrome,” a human tendency to confirm narratives that are emotionally or psychologically gratifying. It explains that confirmation bias, also known as “myside bias,” is the tendency to selectively gather or remember information in a way that confirms one’s beliefs or hypotheses. The document also suggests that these narratives may be spreading virally, similar to a meme, as they provide a satisfying “click” when new information fits into a larger framework.
The article discusses the lack of corporate morality, comparing the human connection of ownership in companies like IBM and Blend Interactive to the lack of moral responsibility in large corporations. It argues that corporations, due to their size and the financial market’s evolution, are designed to act in the interests of profit, with the only objective standard being profit. The author suggests that as the number of owners increases, the need for moral leadership and the desire to act for the good of others becomes more remote.
Thoughts on middle-age male friendship, or the lack thereof.
I’m not against nudity in media, so long as it has a point.
The article discusses the Ukrainian impeachment crisis, focusing on the allegations that Donald Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into Joe Biden’s son. The author criticizes the Trump Administration’s response, suggesting that political influence in foreign policy is common and that the absence of consequences encourages irresponsible behavior. The author argues that without consequences, politicians are free to engage in illegal behavior, and that this approach is indicative of a lack of objective standards in American politics.
Improving the plight of the working poor can be a trickier problem than you think.
The document discusses the concept of marriage as a contract, a romance, and a spiritual institution, and suggests that over the next 20 years, the government may decentralize its focus to the contractual, legal aspect of marriage, possibly replacing it with “civil unions” or “domestic partnerships.” This shift would strip away the romantic and spiritual aspects of marriage, leaving it more in the hands of individuals and their churches. The author acknowledges that this shift may disappoint some, but predicts that it will eventually lead to the legalization of gay marriage in all states.
The article argues that when considering environmental options, it’s important to consider the alternative or default. It cites a study that suggests replacing fossil fuels with nuclear power could prevent more deaths than it causes, and that the alternative, even if imperfect, might be worse. The author uses the example of corporate farming and organic farming, arguing that while both may be undesirable, they provide a significant amount of food and are not perfect.
The author expresses dissatisfaction with two aspects of marketing: overstating product value and creating unnecessary needs by making people feel inadequate. They argue that while some marketing practices are beneficial, they often lead to unnecessary purchases and contribute to societal problems.