Owakare da (Time to part)

The irony of a Japanese phrase as blog title in an English class. Well if you read my previous blog then you should already know how I honestly felt about this class and the results that I felt that I got. But that just shows that not everyone likes doing an online class in opposed to a face to face class. As I said in my previous blog as well, I was more preoccupied with my other classes which were all face to face and was dealing with personal matters throughout the semester as well. But for the sake of this final blog assignment, I shall reiterate my thoughts about this class.

For the topics we studied, I honestly did not find any interest in the majority of them. But there were a few that I actually put most of my personal thoughts and beliefs in but all in all I only really did it because it was an assignment that counted as points toward the grade. Don't get me wrong, I am sure that just about everyone else enjoyed expressing their thoughts and emotions on here, but I am not that type of person who likes to express his emotions through writing.

As for the work, well let's just say I really appreciate the fact that I have a sense of temperance, otherwise I would have dropped this class on the first day in. Well the only type of work that actually bothered me really were just the essays because I detest writing essays and I always never meet any professor's standards for making a "good paper", I always get in between the 60 to 70% range at best no matter what topic is given, unless it is a freestyle paper then I can do much better than I would expect myself to do.

As for the community, I honestly thought: "What's the point of getting to know each other online? It's not like we are going to go meet each other to do our assignments, making the so-called online community pointless. Plus it is just really weird talking to other people you don't really know online." Well at least that is what I believe. I do not believe in the necessity of talking to other people, I prefer to go about my day by myself for many reasons, and that is how I have always been as well.

The path I walk is one that only I can walk on, the path I walk is the path I chose, the path I walk is one that will eventually lead me to my goals. I will always be the way I am no matter what any other person says because I am myself, not just another lifeless clone like the majority of the general population. I will always hold fast to what I believe in for it is what I truly believe is right. I am myself, I am an individual, I am my own person, I am Linden Davis.

My writing...well.....

To be honest, I do not feel that my writing has improved. I do not feel that I really gained anything from taking an online class. I honestly believe that a face to face class would have been more fruitful in regards to improving my writing, because in class the professor will usually show you examples and techniques, and usually I take notes in class either out of boredom to keep my brain active or if I find the lecture truly crucial. However in an online class, I just slide through, honestly.

Initially I took this course for two reasons, the first was that I actually needed an English 103 class which I discovered last semester, and the second reason was that this was the only English 103 class that was available when I was registering. I honestly thought: "Hmm, well it is only an online class and I need an English 103 class in order to transfer so it can't be that bad." Well I was wrong, I had trouble keeping up in this online class and I discovered that I really do function better in a face to face class in oppose to an online class.

Maybe if I only had just this class during a semester I would have surely applied myself a lot more, however that is not the case for I had taken this class as a full-time student, which was actually written in the advice document under the don'ts of this class. Also I am someone who is only driven by motivation and/or an absolute reason, and if neither one is present I will not put all my effort into it. The reason why is that I detest writing essays, hell I detest school period, I am actually in an English 103 class because of the transfer requirements screwed me over and made my road to transferring even more tedious than it already was.

I am also someone who does not like to listen to other people unless I feel what they have to say is worth my time and catches my interest. But if neither one of the latter is met then I will just tune out or focus on something else that is more immediate and holding more importance in my life. In other words, my other classes being the immediate for they were face to face classes, and my personal matters as the important. I am sure that this class has helped at least one or two students improve, however I am one of the students that got nothing out of this class.

As I said in the beginning in the blog, my writing has not improved, honestly. I had other classes and personal matters going on throughout the semester and their priorities went over this online class, I wish I could have either had only this class to worry about this semester so I could focus on just this class or that I had a face to face class to improve my writing in person. But that is not what happened.

Research paper!?

Well if you want what I honestly think about this research project. Son of a c*** f***ing c*** piss, why the f*** does this f***ing s*** always happen to me!? F*** my life!!! Pardon my vulgar language and censorship, but I really do not like doing research papers, I do not even like writing essays in general. I would rather take a test than write an essay, at least I can just get that over with rather having an essay hang over my head until it is due and I hate tests as well. If I can write three pages in an essay then I consider myself lucky, but a six page minimum!? No, I can't stand that, that makes me want to jump into a fire.

I cannot stress enough how much I absolutely detest writing essays let alone research papers, you would have to talk to me in person to be able to measure how much I detest essays. I will try to break down the reasons why I dislike writing essays or research papers. The first reason is that I am not good at writing essays, therefore I dislike it because I do not like doing things I am not good at. The second reason is the page requirements, if the minimum is 2 or 3 pages I can manage, but if it is 4 or higher I just lose it. The third reason and the reason nearly every single person has is "procrastination", nobody wants to do anything that they do not like, I most certainly don't. Especially essays and research papers. Therefore I neglect writing it until the last minute, however if I am motivated enough I can be creative and receive a passing grade on the assignment. But this only happens about 6 out of 10 times though.

All and all, I hate research papers, I really do. Did I mention that I hate research papers? (I am only kidding, I know I have said it enough times to get my point across). Sometimes I wish there were an alternative to writing research papers, like taking a test in relation to the research subject. But unfortunately being wishy-washy will not grant me such an alternative. But I do honestly wish that there was one, but there is not. Maybe if I did like writing essays and did not procrastinate then this would not be an issue at all, then again if I did like writing research papers then I would not be able to write this blog tonight. But this is a given opportunity that we are allowed to vent upon a specific assignment, do take note that most professors would never openly allow this, and so, I shall end this yet another rant/vent blog with something that I know that will stick with those who read this blog: I hate writing research papers!!! (How many times have I said that, or something that related to that phrase? If you know please keep count in the comments below, thank you)

0N71N3 C0MMUN1C810N (Online Communication, pardon the 1337/LEET Speak)

To me there are two types of online communication styles: proper online etiquette and short-handed online/texting speech. Personally, I do not care for short-handed online speech because of its crude function, and to me it shows the intelligence level of whom is using it which is usually not very high. Call me judgmental or whatever you find fitting for my condescending manner but this is the awful truth when it comes to that type of online etiquette, and to save face in regards to this blog's title I wrote it like that to serve as somewhat of online humor. In other words it is supposed to be a joke.

About my online communication style, I type how I would speak in the real world; properly and with class. For example, "In the real world, I would talk like this" and, "While I am online, I would communicate like this". I type in that type of manner in order to get my point across with efficiency and I do not say too many words to throw off my audience, because if I did type to much for them, then would most likely feel that they were reading an essay or an article. However that is not an issue for I am a person who likes to get straight to the point, usually.

What do I think my online communication style says about me? I believe that it says that I have a sense of discipline/class needed in order to get my point across properly, without resorting to use short-handed online/texting speech. However I do prefer my speech to be "short and sweet" because over-extended comments and messages tend to lose the reader's(s') interest after the first two or three sentences, depending on the receiver's attention span. Is this turning into yet another rant blog? Well, yeah it is about to be in a few sentences, so brace yourself or stop reading. Fair warning.

What does my style communicate to others? To be honest, I actually do not know for two reasons: 1. I do not talk to people a lot whether it be in the real world or online. 2. Even when I do talk to someone, they usually either do not have anything interesting or intelligent to say or they just do not give me the time of the day. But I have gotten past that, I make better choices of whom to talk to and whom to ignore, and I ignore a lot of people on top of that.

Do I have different styles for different situations? Yes I do as a matter of fact, when I am giving out instructions or directions I am precise and detailed as I can possibly be, regardless of the receiver's communication style or how long the message is. But when it comes to drama or plain old BS whether that person is berating me with proper online communication etiquette or with short-handed speech, I just ignore them, cut off all contact if it becomes a problem.

Political Cartoons make me laugh...kind of.

Political cartoons are funny, political cartoons make somewhat of an indirect point, political cartoons can be plain stupid, political cartoons can be just downright offensive. I usually find most political cartoons either funny or stupid but having some substance of what the editorialist is trying to depict. However there are those offensive cartoons that would make anyone angry by viewing the nature of the depicted issue, and I have seen some pretty offensive political cartoons throughout the years. However one of the most offensive political cartoons that I have seen was a cartoon of an amputated man with a doctor saying "I'm listing your condition as 'battle hardened'." Battle hardened!? More like the guy can even live his life anymore because of the traumatic events during the war he returned from and the grave battle-wounds he received.

War is no joke, however the editorialist whom depicted that issue as a joke which may have initially may have been intended to be just that, a joke, turns out to be a highly offensive editorial cartoon. Why I say so is because the cartoon half-heartedly presents an amputated soldier with a doctor saying that he is now "battle hardened". Battle hardened from what? Getting his limbs blown off? That is what being battle hardened is? No, it is not. Callously depicting such a cartoon should not have been published for this insults those whom serve the United States and those who lost loved ones because of war.

I do not know who would find any kind of editorial cartoon depicting that specific type of issue funny, but to me if someone does find that funny, then that person(s) does not know the damaging effects that wars always leave behind in its wake. I do not know how this cartoon was allowed to be published but I know there are individuals whom seek to its censoring/removal due to its callous depicting of battle-wounded soldiers. I also believe even if the role of the hospital bed patient was changed, I would not find this editorial cartoon to be funny.

If it were up to me I would just axe that specific editorial cartoon so it would not see the light of day in order to prevent the publishing of offensive content. However even that type of content is protected by the First Amendment and does not depict excessively obscene material, it is just callous. I have seen offensive editorial cartoons throughout the years and this one stood out because of its callous nature of the depicting of the issue, and the fact that something that disrespectful to those affected by war is allowed to be published. To be honest if I found out why editorialists publish offensive material such as that other than to get money I would probably go over to that editorialist's office/station/whatever it is called and throw a stone or a chair through their window and say, "you like to publish crap, well publish how your damn window got a hole in it" then run like hell.

Major Event Impact

I categorize events into two categories; important and hype. I personally do not pay attention to news because I will usually not like yet I know that is does not surprise me that it occured in that manner. The reason why I feel that way is because I prefer to focus on my own immediate issues and do what needs to be done for me. However if something important did happen it will have my utmost attention, and the last event that occurred that grabbed my attention was the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11th 2011. For the first time in many years, I actually cared about something that occurred somewhere else.

There are two reasons why this disaster grabbed my attention, the first is that the country which is the source of my Japanese pride faced an apocalyptic disaster and the damage whiched looked like it was a movie was actually REAL. I actually asked myself, "Is this really happening? Is this some horrible joke? Is this a nightmare?" Unfortunately only one of those questions was answered, that it was really happening and the apocalypse was unfolding upon Japan. I almost wanted to cry because how could such a disaster happen to a country like Japan? I felt like I died inside that day.

Aside from dumping my emotions out upon that I will tell you what I think about news which is simply hype. Well, it is just as I say it is: hype. Therefore I just turn my head away from it and just continue on my life without being disturbed by that type of news. Why do other people get all worked up about news like that is beyond me, well it may just be the difference of interest between me and most people. But that is just how it is, I guess.

When I learn about information and wish to learn more about a specific event, I either look on certain websites, my e-mail news page, or ask one of my relatives whom always have updates about the news. Every time they always tell me about a specific event their information is always concrete and detailed. As for considering what type of news is just hype, well I usually dismiss something that does not involve any deaths or damages as hype because to me that is not important because I have better things to do with my life instead of being preoccupied about trivial matters.

Some people would tell me to watch the news and I would respond, "I do, and there is not anything that concerns me". Ignorant as that my sound I feel that way because I do not like being preoccupied with other people's issue, especially with people whom I do not know or will ever meet. As selfish as that sounds I hold that type of perspective for specific reasons (which I will not state in this blog) and will remain to holding on to those reasons until I go to the grave.

The Sting of Hate Speech

What is hate speech? How can one define it? Hate speech is, outside the law, any communication that disparages a person or a group on the basis of some characteristic such as race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristic. In law, hate speech is any speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display which is forbidden because it may incite violence or prejudicial action against or by a protected individual or group, or because it disparages or intimidates a protected individual or group. This is a formal way to define hate speech, but if one were take a survey about what makes speech become hate speech, the results would differ within each person's given answer.

How do I define hate speech? To me hate speech is an offensive type of speech that includes racial, gender, social slurs that are purposely used to degrade the unwilling receiver of this type of speech. People often express hate speech either consciously or just out of ignorance and is done constantly (almost every 2.7 seconds) without any end. Despite this being a worldly issue, there are individuals that have never heard hate speech in their entire life and are oblivious to the sting that hate speech delivers. Usually it is those type of people whom have never been a target of hate speech are the ones that either say it haphazardly or are just oblivious to this issue.

Unfortunately I was not spared from hate speech, as a matter of fact I was a target for an endless barrage of insults and implied racism due to my mixed ethnic heritages and characteristic traits. Also the ones who kept on firing these forms of hate speech were from a specific ethnic group (I will not say which one it is, but the answer is obvious), and peaked at it's worst when I was in high school. As the years passed my disdain for that specific ethnic group began to grow to the point if someone were to fire a racial slur at me, I would fire one back that was ten times more offensive. This also showed me that most people who express hate speech love to insult other races, however they will not tolerate being insulted. But to me that is just a typical reaction.

As a predominantly African-American and Japanese mixed individual, I am a target for multiple racial slurs and that is something that will never change as long as people still shoot off hate speech with ignorance, and unfortunately ignorance is not something that will not disappear anytime in this life cycle. But I learned how to tolerate stupidity/ignorance of such magnitude and how to counter their racial slurs because if you insult me, I will insult you back and make sure that you feel the sting of my words ten times more than what you fired at me. I will end this rant blog with a piece of wisdom; give what you can take, if you fail to simply do that then shut your damn mouth.