Website Project
Last Friday in my English class, we were asked to break into small groups of approximately three to four people to create a website documenting our attitudes toward technology. The title of the assignment is Hypertext. The project requires inclusion of different hypertext links to support our technological message. At first glance, the task seems interesting and fun, but after meeting with my group twice so far, I believe we have a lot of work to do.
We have found a solid connection among our technological opinions and writings; however, combining everyone's text will be the primary challenge. We begin by collaborating on the basic outline of our website. We all positively agree that technological improvements provide many advantages to our lifestyle, and this is clearly the foundation for our website. We have also discovered that as in any group project communication between participants is paramount.
This assignment can be done; it will simply require extra effort from the group members to compromise and agree on the various details. Unfortunately at the rate we are going, it may take a while. I realize that we are probably not as far as the rest of the class, but I do feel that we have an excellent understanding as to what needs to be accomplished, how each of us think, and how ideas for the project could be further developed. Since everyone on the team contributes, this project will be a success. I just cannot wait to see our completed website!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Simple Living vs. Consumerism
For my previous English writing assignment, I was asked to research organization in which I could implement the Rogerian argument to reach a potential compromise between two differing perspectives. The two groups that I selected were simple living and consumerism, represented by SimpleLiving.net and the Ayn Rand Institute respectively.
When I first viewed the SimpleLiving.net website, I immediately grasped their perspective. The philosophy encourages discovering true happiness by indulging in life's simple pleasures. Simple living followers do no promote poverty, but rather encourage fiscal accountability and perhaps to some extent frugality. I can relate to the simple living lifestyle because I easily find satisfaction in life by spending a day outside in the park without any monetary expenditure.
Consumerism, on the other hand, follows a completely opposing philosophy. Consumers spend money to delight in life. The Ayn Rand Institute advocates Objectivism and that the individual has a moral right to pursue happiness. A strong capitalistic economy is the cornerstone for this philosophy.
Somehow, I feel as if I belong to both mindsets. I enjoy the simple pleasures in life, yet I also enjoy purchasing items that are purely frivolous and unnecessary.
My writing task is clear; provide the audience a perspective from both sides, while not favoring one over the other. Can an individual live simply and at times be a voracious consumer? After extensive research and some necessary soul-searching, I have found common ground between the two different ideologies. The individual is the key component. Everyone should follow his or her own principles. A free capitalistic society can easily support both consumers and simple living advocates.
For my previous English writing assignment, I was asked to research organization in which I could implement the Rogerian argument to reach a potential compromise between two differing perspectives. The two groups that I selected were simple living and consumerism, represented by SimpleLiving.net and the Ayn Rand Institute respectively.
When I first viewed the SimpleLiving.net website, I immediately grasped their perspective. The philosophy encourages discovering true happiness by indulging in life's simple pleasures. Simple living followers do no promote poverty, but rather encourage fiscal accountability and perhaps to some extent frugality. I can relate to the simple living lifestyle because I easily find satisfaction in life by spending a day outside in the park without any monetary expenditure.
Consumerism, on the other hand, follows a completely opposing philosophy. Consumers spend money to delight in life. The Ayn Rand Institute advocates Objectivism and that the individual has a moral right to pursue happiness. A strong capitalistic economy is the cornerstone for this philosophy.
Somehow, I feel as if I belong to both mindsets. I enjoy the simple pleasures in life, yet I also enjoy purchasing items that are purely frivolous and unnecessary.
My writing task is clear; provide the audience a perspective from both sides, while not favoring one over the other. Can an individual live simply and at times be a voracious consumer? After extensive research and some necessary soul-searching, I have found common ground between the two different ideologies. The individual is the key component. Everyone should follow his or her own principles. A free capitalistic society can easily support both consumers and simple living advocates.
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