Thursday 2 August 2012

China and the US


China and the US

China and America are two massive world presences, both integral to the economic health of the world. This article discusses the complicated relationship the two countries have had over the years and foresees major tensions in the future. I think this is a valid prediction as while America has been the central country in the world for a long time, currently it is suffering extensive financial problems. On the other hand China is flourishing. The problem is that they are so different in their government. China may be benefiting from economic success but its people are oppressed and poverty reigns in many areas, many experts predict a massive uprising in the future and America is known for its interfering ways. China, a massively private country is not going to appreciate America’s ‘butting in’. Obviously this is but one aspect in an extremely complicated relationship, but i think it is one of the bigger ones.

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Digital America


Digital America
The invention of the internet has changed many things in the world; business, media, communications, even romance. One of the most recent impacts the internet has had is on personal identity. Nowadays nearly everyone has an online presence, whether it’s through Facebook, Twitter or even blog sites such as this one. People now almost have two identities, their real-life persona and the image they present online.

Is everyone the same online?

People are always different; this is a fact regardless of whether you are talking about real-life or the digital world. In both worlds there is the need to fit in, to be normal and therefore many people act similar. However I think what the internet offers is the opportunity to realise that no matter what you like, how you dress, who you find attractive, there are always people who feel the same. In a way this means that people have more freedom to be different through their digital identities, they will always be accepted. So no, not everyone is the same online, but there are common social groups.

Impact on identity in the future  

I think the shift into the digital universe is going to have massive ripple effects on identity in the future. Already you see stories about people who have met partners through virtual worlds, and the dating scene (which is all about who someone is) has flourished online. People put up profiles of themselves; what they like, their personalities etc, in short they sum up their identities online. In the future I can only see this gaining in popularity, the reason for this is that people live such busy lives these days that online dating becomes convenient and timesaving, it clearly takes less time to create an online profile that others can look at while you’re at work or walking the dog, then meeting someone by chance or being set-up. It also increases the chances of finding compatible partners, if of course, people are honest...
This whole concept of quick, easy communication is what makes having a digital identity so appealing and I feel this can only grow.

Class System and America


Class System and America

This website discusses how the class system has changed over the years and how people who live in America feel about class boundaries.

One of the most integral parts of what America stands for is the American dream. This is the ideal that no matter whom you are and where you start, with hard work and the right attitude, you can progress to a better life and become successful. The interesting thing is that while this article shows that it is still possible for individuals to better themselves, in actuality mobility has stagnated, with some experts even suggesting that it has started to decline. This is shown by this interactive table: http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/20050515_CLASS_GRAPHIC/index_03.html. Tellingly most Americans still believe that it is easier to improve their lives, showing the strength of the American dream.