Would Prohibiting Cellphones Work?

Although BR enforces the "No cellphones except in the piazza or in the cafeteria on your lunch time" I don't believe it is possible to prohibit cellphone use at school. Approximately 99% of students have a cellphone, or electronic device carried on them almost at all times. To completely ban cellphones in the age of electronics even sounds absolutely Ludacris. The rule is put in place to set a guideline to follow instead of a rule, since everyone already disregards it. There would be outrage and chaos if the school were to put in metal detectors and other security screening in order to prevent them being brought into the school, from not just students, but parents as well.

However, in the classroom, I believe it should be the teachers discretion whether or not they want to allow cellphones. Essentially, students are supposed to be in school to learn, and by allowing them to have their phone you are providing a distraction to the lesson. If students absolutely need to make a call arrangements can be made to make a call in the office so cellphones are unnecessary. Cellphones also provide the opportunity for cheating, theft, or even cyber bullying at school.

On the other hand, with cellphones in class students have the internet as a resource, cutting down homework time. Even if a student wants to waste the time on their cellphone during class time it is there responsibility to complete the homework/assignment at home. It is their fault if they fall behind and start failing the course.

Is 1000 Words Always Enough?

 
 
In today's society, news is plastered all over social media, usually just a summary of the incident followed by a picture. From just a picture and a few simple words, creates reactions and feedback from everyone. But is that enough to describe what the picture, and the incident itself? No matter how many words we are presented with, we must consider the source we are receiving it from. We are usually being indoctrinated by the biases of the network/source, meaning we are only being presented with the way they want us to perceive the situation, also known as the dominant reading. We need to remember this, gather all the facts and opinions and then form an educated negotiated reading. For example, in the situation dating back to a few months ago where a female cop is being beaten by 2 Brampton girls was plastered all of every social media outlet. The video just featured the scene of the officer getting smacked in the face multiple times by two high school girls. In this incident, many were blaming the officer for not handling the situation correctly because she took the beating, however we weren't informed what happened before the incident or why. First off the whole ordeal was conveniently recorded by someone from a distance. Perhaps the female police officer saw that someone was recording this situation and did not want to act against them because of fear of losing her job, or facing charges and/or commotion against cops contributing to racism, which has been a growing issue in today's society. There are many possibilities that could explain the situation so we cannot believe the first view we hear, or else if we continue to do so, we will be a generation of ignorant robots.

2015's Version of Social Etiquette

 


 
Saying please and thank you, opening the door for strangers, discretion, arriving on time, and overall respect are aspects of social etiquette that is gradually disappearing in today's society. Maybe it's because of it's drive thru windows, big screen televisions, and cellphones constantly attached to us. It's too easy to block out the real world and become consumed into the virtual world. When it is so readily available at our fingertips, why would anyone want to look up when their walking, or when someone's speaking to them? Online and especially on social media is where everybody learns about and aspires to have that "Kanye" attitude of pure self-absorption. It's become "cool" to treat others with disrespect, and utter rudeness because of the idea that we are greater than them, based on nonsensical measures like the amount of followers, friends, likes, or money you have. I think it is essential to bring back social etiquette and what it means to be respectful. Through social media exposure about social etiquette people should be taught that cellphones do not have to follow us everywhere, and that there are times when you shouldn't be taking a phone call or answering a text, or have ear buds in when speaking with someone. Being on time has become a lost skill that many seem to not have anymore. Whether it is because we don't care enough, and think that people can run on our schedules, its utterly disrespectful. Dressing appropriately is another factor of social etiquette that is becoming less common. Many feel as if they don't have to make a good impression to others correlating to the self-absorbed attitude I mentioned earlier.

Although not every aspect of social etiquette is lost, it is becoming less common as time goes by. This scares me because I don't want to live in a society of ego-centric jerks, where opening doors, and saying please and thank you aren't a thing.

 

 

Canada Eh

Hey,

Yes I am Canadian,

and in being a Canadian doesn't mean I watch hockey,

or wear plaid,

or drink Timmies everyday,

being Canadians means
I am different.

Yes I'm Portuguese,

No, my mom isn't a cleaning lady,

nor is my dad a construction worker,

with a heavy moustache and accent, 

nor do I eat fish everyday,

or worship Christiano Ronaldo,

or yell all the time,

and no I don't know Miguel,

and my name is not Maria

and yes there is more than one Cordeiro.

I am Portuguese,

and I am educated, 

and will have a successful future.

I am Portuguese,
and I am proud.

Although I am Canadian,
and Portuguese,
I am more than a label,
or stereotype,
I am a citizen,
and will always be proud of where I came from.

Bachelorettes

"We actually decided not to decide: For the first time in Bachelorette history, we're gonna have two Bachelorettes," Harrison said. "The 25 men on Night 1 are going to have the ultimate say about who they think would make the best wife."

Needless to say, the Internet is not especially thrilled with this decision, which is being viewed as a bit of slap in the face to feminism – and former Bachelorettes are leading the charge." - via http://www.people.com/article/former-bachelorettes-dont-like-twist

I was never really a fan of the Bachelor or the Bachelorette reality shows, but now I am beyond done. This show is already the most superficial, and degrading show, but  now with the new twist, that 25 guys will all vote from one night at a COCKTAIL PARTY which one of the two woman would make a better wife????? It shocks me that many people can still watch this show and even believe that it is not staged and these men and women and finding people they actually want to marry based on personality and their true self. I am also surprised since in today's society there is an enormous amount of pressure on females to be "sexy", and has caused the sudden rise in feminism awareness, ABC decided to go with the theme of competition between the two women which will be solely won by looks. And now this show brings back the gender representations of what it means to be "wife material". I feel ashamed to be a woman in today's society where this is deemed as acceptable because it's what's trending.

However, here I am, along with everyone else feeding into the drama and talk about it, instead of discussing real world issues like the Olympians that died in France, or ISIS's new plot, which is exactly what ABC wants. Their attempt at gaining viewers through a ridiculous plot is clearly successful.

Woman Officer Gets Beat by 2 Teen girls

"BRAMPTON, Ont. — A female police officer involved in a violent confrontation with two teenaged girls outside a Toronto-area school “did what she had to do” to deal with the threat, the police union said Wednesday as video of the incident went viral.
A video posted to social media shows the officer on her knees being repeatedly struck on the head by a girl, then attacked from behind by another as the first girl tries to get away.
Peel police Const. Fiona Thivierge confirmed the video, saying the incident happened around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday following a report that two female suspects were allegedly trespassing at a Brampton, Ont., high school.
When they refused to leave, they were placed under arrest, “at which time they engaged (the officer) in a physical confrontation that resulted in her using her pepper spray in an attempt to get control of the situation,” Thivierge said.
The girls were able to escape the officer and were subsequently arrested by another officer who had come on the scene." - via http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/02/18/video-appears-to-show-peel-police-officer-being-attacked-by-two-teenage-girls-outside-a-brampton-high-school/


This photo shows the officer on her knees, being slapped by one of the females.


But what could be the reason for the outbreak?

Situation #1: The female police officer saw that someone was recording this situation and did not want to act against them because of fear of losing her job, or facing charges and/or commotion against cops contributing to racism, which has been a growing issue in today's society.

Situation #2: The situation prior to this incident is unknown. The officer is seen holding one female in a headlock before she decides to attack.  The officer could have been provoking the two women, making racial statements, or unnecessary treatment, and the girls felt the need to retaliate.

Situation #3: The officer seems young, therefore this could be one of her first experiences dealing with a public disturbance. She may not of known how to act and therefore taken the attack and later tried to defend herself with pepper spray.

Situation #4:  This whole ordeal could have been staged since it was specifically recorded by a male.  This could have been  in order get retweets, favourites, likes, shares, and overall publicity for the two girls.

However, there are many possible situations that could explain this incident, even if the reason is not justified. But why is the media exploiting this incident but not releasing information as to why it happened? Chances are by the time any information is released, the issue will be old news.

Black-ish, Racist-ish

                   
       Black-ish is a very new show now premiering on ABC. It follows the story line of a family man that struggles to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising his kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood. However, this show brings back us way back into the 1950's, because it is very touchy dealing with racism. His children are a generation of completely unbiased and unracist outlooks, and he wants to influence them to not completely assimilate with "white" culture. For example,
when his son Andre Jr. announces that for his 13th birthday he's converting to Judaism in order to have a Bar Mitzvah like all his friends, Dre (the father) insists on throwing him a stereotypical "black" party, at a club featuring rap music, etc, (Typical 'black' stereotype).

Whether or not this show can be perceived as racist is debatable. I believe there is a heavy double standard associated with this show. What if there was a show labeled "White-ish"? Its likely that all hell would break loose. However, it is not intended to be discriminatory towards white people, but it is defiantly implied. Although, majority of people perceive it as a funny, enjoyable show, some are extremely offended by it, for valuable reasons.