Three Critical Summaries 2/9/2016

Critical Summary 1 : The Flight From Conversation by Sherry Turkle

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/the-flight-from-conversation.html?_r=0

       In Sherry Turkle's April 21st 2012 article "The Flight From Conversation", she addresses the technological advancement of communication that she believes "sacrificed conversation for mere connection". Sherry provides a background of how over the past 15 years she has spent time talking to "hundreds of people of all ages and circumstances about their plugged-in lives". Turkle brings attention to the fact that in the modern age of communication, people choose what they desire to focus their attention on. Turkle suggests that human connections are depleting for a wider technological connection. This change is seen from the workplace environment to college campuses.
       One of the article's main points of emphasis is that with an increase in technological communication, we lose the ability "tend to one another". She expands on this by saying how face to face conversation "can attend to tone and nuance. In conversation, we are called upon to see things from another's point of view". In texting or email, conversations and messages tend to be direct and short. This does not allow one to truly self-reflect from conversation. She argues that one of the most important aspects of face to face conversation is the ability to self-reflect in order to gain a deeper meaning from conversation. When shortchanging each other through text messages or a Facebook message, the only thing gained is a connection not a true reflection.
         Finally, one of the last major points Sherry Turkle tries to make is that technology is becoming a replacement for companionship. With growing artificial intelligence that can produce conversation with realistic responses, humans are growing attached to this artificial comfort. She argues that eve with constant connection, humans will be lonely. She claims that "if we don't teach our children to be alone, they will know only how to be lonely". With children getting phones and iPads as early as middle school or below, this could be a growing problem in the future.

Critical Summary 2 : 21st Century Dating : Is Traditional Romance Dead?

http://www.collegemagazine.com/21st-century-dating-traditional-romance-dead/

       In Tamiera Vandegrift's November 12th 2015 article titled "21st Century Dating : Is Traditional Romance Dead?", she begins to explore the way dating and relationships have changed and evolved dramatically with the new generation of millennials. Recalling what dating was like back in the 1950's, she describes a typical date night that involved going out to a drive in movie and even introducing each other's parents. This idea is very foreign to young people, college students especially. She claims that "older generations says millennials are "lazy,entitled, confused, and addicted to instant gratification". I can see a lot of truth with this statement. With new technology advancing right before our eyes, it is easy to see why my generation is used to having things instantly. When you need to look something up, a simple google search will yield more than you likely needed to know. When it comes to dating or meeting new people, phone applications like tinder allow you to "swipe right" and potentially be available for an immediate match and conversation with the opposite sex. It seems that the majority of younger men and women have this idea of wanting to meet as many people as possible, quickly as possible. Another factor I believe that comes into play here is that many people at my age are coming out of long term relationships or are still trying to define themselves. These two factors would lead to people not wanting to set themselves up for a relationship when they feel it is not the right time in their life for one.
      However this is not the case for everyone. Many people still hold out for the right relationship and partner despite being pressured by friends or peers to "play the field" or see how there are "other fish in the sea". One student at Florida State University claimed that our generation is not actually against relationships, it is just rather that we are so exposed to different social media that we are very publicized. When she said this, I believe that she meant that due to social media and our constant connections through technology, we are more focused on individualistic advancement rather than a focus on partnership advancement. I found this article to be very true to the thoughts and ideas many of my peers have shared with me. The author did a good job at presenting both older generation's and today's youths opinions as well. One thing I would have liked to have seen more of was when this shift in dating and relationships began to change.

Critical Summary 3 : The Makeup Tax

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/08/the-makeup-tax/400478/?utm_source=SFFB

     In Olga Kazan's August 5th 2015 article titled "The Makeup Tax", she explores a very disturbing double standard in today's society. Beauty is a major factor in how women are perceived in the workplace and outside in society. The beauty industry is one that nets over 60 billion dollars annually. A personal finance site claimed that women will spend over $15,000 in their lifetime on beauty products. This made me think of the underlying factors beneath this spending. I know that some women enjoy doing makeup and the whole process of "beautifying" ones self. However, there has to be more to it than meets the eye. As a man, I am aware of my personal hygiene and grooming but I do not think it can be related to the extent that modern women have to endure. In a society that is fighting for equal rights, pay and opportunities that all women should be entitled to, beauty has almost become intertwined with a women worth. That should not be the case. A powerful quote from the article stated "Years of research has shown that attractive people earn more. Thus the Makeup Tax,: Good-looking men and good-looking women both get ahead, but men aren't expected to wear make up in order to look good".
    Unfortunately, beauty discrimination extends further than that. Typically, men tip better when women are wearing makeup and even prestigious jobs tend to go to women in makeup over women without any. I found this article to be very informative due to a different gender perspective. As a male, it is tough to be made aware of social issues many women face daily because I do not face the same ones. The author did a good job at describing many of the social problems and even offered a solution without pointing any fingers at who is to blame. I thought the author's use of statistics strengthened her enlargements and provided a good backdrop to future thoughts.