HUNGRYCANNOTTHINK

Cycling for a Cause

2009-10-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

Media Determinism

this term, coined by Marshall Mcluhan tells us that the medium by which a message is send is more important than the content of the message itself. in other words, importance lies with the way a message is delivered.

the following ad is by Nike but the logo of the company is only flashed during the last two seconds of the ad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VfiXAaEQiY

this ad is about lance armstrong, a man who was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 25. it focuses on how he stared at adversity with determination and tenacity which eventually lead him to win the Tour De France (the world's most grulelling cycling competition) a staggering 7 times. by watching those patients undergo therapy, it gives the audience a sense of what he had to undergo to achieve what he has today. the ad also raises awareness that undergoing therapy (from cancer) is no easy feat and hopefully by returning on his bike again, he can once again give hope to those who need it.

i guess the ad's main intention is to evoke the emotions of hope and inspiration in its audience - and hopefully, draw reference to their products.

In addition, the media also has the power to influence the way its receivers' lives and the way they perceive the world.

this ad not only raises awareness on cancer it may also cause some people to donate more to worthy organizations (such as those involving cancer therapy) or even get some of its viewers to spend some time volunteering at such facilities.

A clash of cultures?

2009-10-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

i think the recent debate over Singapore PR zhang yuan yuan's return to her homeland reflects a clasic example of a collectivist culture vs an individualist culture.

lets take a look at some of the characteristics of each culture to understand the situation better.

Here are some characteristiccs of a collectivist culture:

1) high interdependence: today, this is mainly with respect to the government. an example would be the collapsing of a major investment firm last year which saw many people lose a significant portion of their life savings. instead of blaming their poor foresight and luck, many expected the government to help bail them out and recover their money.

2) interpersonal sensitivity is high in countries that comprises of many racial groups and this is paramount to maintaining racial harmony.

3) readiness to be influenced by others: this is true to large extent in many places as

technological advancement in the media field has made it a force to be reckoned with. the media has not only become a social shaping tool but a part of many people's lives.

4) mutual sympathy: in terms of collective rewards, there is the

usual expectation of a nice bonus at the end of every year - for the citizen's hard work of course.

conversely, an individualist culture is not quite the same:

1) low dependency: the people are very independent and prefer to find solutions to their own

problems rather than ask for help.

2) many ingroups: people tend to belong to more than one organisation/groups. this can include anything from the informal (drinking buddies) to the formal (jobs).

3) personal goals, values and beliefs: the individuals strive to succeed for personal reasons. they are also not easily influenced by others and choose what they want to believe in.

4) rewards based on individual meritocracy: recognition and praise should be measured on an individual basis. this is to say that each person should be responsible for his/her own actions - whether good or bad.

hence, one must understand why some netizens expressed their displeasure when they heard that a Singapore PR had returned to China to partake in a parade there. they saw her as someone who came to Singapore to make use of the opportunities afforded to her there and when she had fully enjoyed those benefits, she not only did not contribute to the host nation but practically renouced her citizenship upon returning to her motherland.

however, others view her as a global citizen who was simply taking the path that best benefited her career.

so, can a country like Singapore be labelled as an individualist or collectivist society? or both? what do you see?

Plastic Surgery for Everyone!!!

2009-10-11T00:26:00.000-07:00

This week's topic is on groups. According to William Schutz, the main reasons people aspire to be part of a group is to feed their need for inclusion, control and affection. Lets take a closer look at the example below.

Yes, this is a beauty pegeant but its different from your average pegeant in a very significant way. All the contestants have gone under the knife.

Welcome to the Miss Plastic Hungary 2009 beauty pageant. The group i will be touching on will be the contestants of this highly controversial competition. I will be exploring the reasons these women choose to associate themselves (as a group) with plastic surgery.

#1: Inclusion

I think it provides a sense of comfort and securiyt for these women to surround themselves with other women who are not only like them but more importantly, accept them for what they have undergone. They are able to engage in activities together and this creates a sense of belonging as well.

#2: Control

Being in a group gives them a sense of power to make decisions

that they would otherwise be unable to make as individuals. Such

examples include taking part in or organizing beauty pegeants (such as this one) and defending their rights to enhance their beauty by going under the knife.

#3: Affection

It is human nature to want to be around people whom are willing to accept you when many others would not. I believe that each women here can easily relate to one another on a mountain of issues which include public outcries (against them) and the long, painful journey one undergoes to achieve perfection and restoring harmony to the human body.

To sum it all up, being in a group does have an array of benefits. However, each group has its own collective identity and so before joining a group, one must consider whether the goals of the group can fulfill one's individual needs.

'Rags & Bone' Man Gets His Girl

2009-10-03T21:56:00.000-07:00

Today, i will be touching on Knapp Model of relational Development. This model describes the progression and development of relationships in a series of ten stages. However, since the example i will be quoting has a 'happy ending', i will only be touching on the first five stages (of coming together).

Back in 2005, a street poll showed that women in Singapore avoided dating men with non-glamorous jobs. This included undertaking, cleaners and rag-and-bone men.

You might remember Mr Peter Khiew as the rag-and-bone man who publicly declared his affection and proposed to his girlfriend Ms Khoo via the Sunday Times. She did not speak to him for a week.

This is how their love story transpired.

Stage 1: Initiating

The couple met at a karaoke session organized by a matchmaking agency in 2003. The fact that the two of them hit of so well - and went on subsequent dates - showed that after the initial screening and filtering processes, both parties deemed each other 'safe' to be around.

Stage 2: Experimenting

At this stage, self disclosure occurred as both parties tried to 'feel each other out'. He told her of his job as a rags and bones man and the paltry salary he earned - which was half of what she earned as a nurse. Despite the what many would call a social barrier, she did not mind.

Stage 3: Intensifying

His increased commitment and awareness of her became evident. Once when she was home alone, he camped out all night at the car park below her so she would feel safe. Another time, she was stung in the toe by an insect and he did not think twice about sucking the stinger lodge under the skin of her toe. Such acts of kindness touched her heart.

Stage 4: Integrating

Initially there were concerns from her parents that this suitor could be using their daughter. But after meeting each other's families, all concerns vanished. Eventually, their social networks began to know them as a couple (social identity).

Stage 5: Bonding

After four long years of waiting, she finally said yes when he proposed to her on her birthday. A marriage ensued and they finally formalized their obligations and commitment to each other.

Who says nice guys finish last?

First Impressions can be deceiving.

2009-09-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

It is said that when we see someone for the first time, it takes approximately three to six seconds for them to form an opinion about us. Apparently after six seconds, they would have observed and processed a ton of features . My example would be with the man in the picture below. what conclusions can you draw about him?
hint: he is someone famous.

From his facial features, can you guess which country he's from? What about his clothes or his haircut? Here's another picture..

He is now wearing a military uniform (with his rank covered). how does this change his appearance? does the book he in his hands tell you anything about his interests? Next..

This picture now show him giving an interview to the media. Note how confident he smiles at the reporters. Could it be because he is someone of authority? Would you expect him to have soft or loud voice?
Also note his physique/body shape as well. What can you tell about his lifestyle?

A close up picture shows him as a four star general (senior colonel). Does his rank change his aura in any way?

Still have no idea who he is? Here's a final hint.

That's right, he is actually mr mao xinyu, one of the four grandsons of the great mao zhedong. In addition, he is a writer (of several books about his granfather. He was recently in the news after the local media pronouced that he was promoted to the rank of major general, fueling rumors that he might actually one day become the leader of china, much like his grandfather.
He has also been criticized for being unkempt and for his prodigious waistline.

I choose him as an example because it is only until people have found out who he is, do they start to notice certain similarities between him and his grandfather. This includes his physique, ears, eyes, nose, walking styles and laughter.

So how many points were you spot on? some were obvious while others weren't. As more clues are available to us, our interpretation of something/someone changes accordingly.

So perhaps there's some truth in the adage 'never judge a book by its cover.' But since people are known to access via nonverbal communication and do just that (in six seconds no less), perhaps we need to learn to carry ourselves in a good light if we are to create a presentable first impression.

The Art of Interpretation

2009-09-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, for those of you unfamiliar with the terminology used in the commercial , here's a quick introduction. The main characters here are Mike 'the mouth' Matusow, who is hot-headed player who has a habit of talking a lot and Alan Cunningham, who is a cool, calm and collected professional. Being on 'tilt' is a poker term for a state of mental confusion and frustration - which usually occurs right after a player loses a big pot of money. This results in a player over-betting (as in the case here) his subsequent hands in a bid to blow of some 'steam' and win some of his money back. Lastly, a 'donkey' refers to a player who makes bad decisions.

By looking at the cards dealt and the way your opponent is playing, a good poker player can easily second guess what his opponent is holding, which gives him a huge advantage in the game. The interpretation of nonverbal cues is also a useful asset although good poker players are known to hide their emotions exceptionally well, hence the term 'poker face'.

In the ad, despite the gloating and laughter of Mike, Alan must have picked up a sign which indicated to him that Mike was bluffing. As a result, he probably decided it was well worth the risk to call Mike's potential bluff with a marginal hand.

Novice players can be categorized using a group stimuli. This is because members of this group portray similar patterns when they are nervous. These patterns include the stammering of speech, chattering of teeth, fidgeting, trembling hands, sweating and the shaking of one's foot.

Another form of interpretation is by the individual's characteristics and the situation. This is especially useful when your opponent does not display the usual telltale signs. For example, Alan might have deduced that Mike was employing reverse psychology – which he normally does - when he gloated him into calling his bluff. He could also have known that Mike was on tilt after losing a few big pots and was desperate to win some of his money back. Finally, he could also have inferred that Mike talks and laughs more than usual when he has nothing good in his hand.

Poker is about making the right decision based on a player's interpretation of the cards, opponents and situation. By knowing when to fold, call or push all one's money in, a good player can bluff his opponents with the worse of hands and lure them into calling when they have the best of hands.

Unfortunately, the act interpretation is not something that can be learned from a fix set of rules. It is constantly changing as it becomes shaped by our everyday experiences. Consequently, it is extremely subjective and this explains why everyone has their own views and explanations of any given scenario.

Last but not least, take a look at the picture below. What do you see?

You proably saw a couple in an itimate position right? Interestingly, research has shown that when this picture was shown to young children, all they could interpret visually were nine dolphins. They were also unable to identify the couple as they had no prior memory associated with such a scenario - which you proably did.

Feel free to share your thoughts here..

Obama's School Speech Results in Mixed Reactions

2009-09-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

President Obama's speech was intended to inspire children of America to get a good education. His speech, which coincided with the start of the new academic year was one of self reponsibility and ethics. He said: 'Every single one of you has something to offer and you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.' For inspiration, the Harvard graduate even cited himself as an example about how he was brought up by his mum - who was a single parent - and how felt he did not fit in at school. It was until he realized how important an education was did he then had a complete different perspective of things.

The problem with president Obama's method in communication is similar to that of the psychological model, successful communication involves the meeting of the minds completely. In other words, people have to agree with the ideas of his message whole heartedly. Unfortunately, even the best of intentions can sometimes be construed by others as something bad.

Perhaps one controversial point was when the White House originally suggested that after the speech, students should write a letter as to how they could 'help' the president. This of course resulted in enraged parents objecting to the broadcast. One parent even went as far as to say he was appalled that taxpayers money were being spend to spread President Obama's personal socialist ideology. Even thought this portion was later amended to 'write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short term and long term educational goals', the damage had already been done.

While his speech was received warmly and gave hope to many, it was widely criticized by the media and parents alike. A senator even likened the speech to one with a cult personality – which one could expect to find in North Korea or Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Some parents were so enraged by the comments in his speech that they threatened to keep their children from schools if they schooled broadcasted the speech there. Schools found themselves in an awkward position on whether they should broadcast the speech in their premises. As a result, many schools have even requested for advanced copies of the transcript and letting parents judge for themselves the content before making a decision.

The results were mixed. Some parents felt that as the president, Mr Obama had to play the role of an objective leader and keep his personal convictions to himself. Others felt that the president's role should not be educating the public on civics education. While his topic on education was one for people to lead better lives, perhaps using himself as an example had not been a good idea. He was after all from a well off family background which allowed him access to one of the best education systems in the world.

In light of all that has happened, some parents after having read the prepared text, admitted that it was a fine speech with good intentions after all.

How would you feel if you were a parent and the school your child attended broadcasted president Obama's speech. Were the objections by the angry parents justified? Was the speech a good form of communication?

Your comments would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

COM 101 Blog is finally up!

2009-09-07T07:59:00.000-07:00

ok, this is a test entry so please ignore it.