What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Phone ?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the mobile phone today ? It can be widely acknowledged that mobile phones have became a necesity nowadays being a fundamental part of technology’s evolution and progress. This magic device was first invented in the late 80’s being very special, rare and really expensive at that time. Using a mobile phone nowadays implays a lot of advantages and disadvantages. Talking about the positive side, a major benefit of using mobile phones nowadays is that there is a permanent connection between you and information’s updates thanking to the high-speed bandwidth internet.Another good advantage of the mobile phone is that it offers you mobility and accesability almost anywhere thanks to a large coverage area. Refering to accesability and network connections a great innovation of the last decade, according to mobile phones, is the 3G and 4G LTE bandwidth which is able to work as a normal connection but with a larger coverage area and less resources on a smaller device than a personal computer gving the possibility to control and administrate all the financial activities like shopping for example, or why not to control your bank accounts.Now, talking about the negative side, there are some important drawbacks which are pretty visible. A major disadvantage is the price, referring to the new models, these are quite expensive but the price is also influenced by the mobile operators who are practicing some high rates being a big obstacle in the front of the customer. Another drawback is linked to this option of a permanent connection.Well this function it is very usefull but it is also very vulnerable, being pretty easy to get infected with all kind of malicious attacks and viruses able to steal your passwords, mails etc. Taking everything into consideration I tend to believe that mobile phone is a very usefull gadget having more advantages of using it, than disadvantages.

Buyer Behavior

Consumer behaviour is commonly described as the study of the factors that determine purchase of consumer goods. The analysis of such factors attempts to find out why, when, where, how and what individual do or don’t to purchase certain goods. Generally it is very difficult to evaluate how people come to make certain decision though peripherally it appears to be obvious. For this reason, researchers have affirmed that there are several elements that play part in the overall buyer behaviour and cover a variety of subjects including sociology, psychology, anthropology, and economics among others.The customer needs and requirements are the central determinant of the purchase of goods, however with the current development in technology (communication and diversity of production), people have a variety of choices to pick from and for one to be able to win customers, he/she should produce the products that meet the specific customer demands, affordable and are convenient. Manipulatin g the customers psychology can be of great impact on the business as one can perceive what the customers want and design exactly that and therefore win a lot of customers.Buyer Decision Making The marketers are usually faced with great problem when designing the most appropriate promotion strategy to win customers to their businesses. This calls for research to find out the consumer behaviour so that market planning can be properly design (Klopper et al 2006), Unilever for instance, have constantly used its logo on all the goods because the reputation of the company is well known and intimately associated with the logo.The decision making process of the customers is the main focus because this is what determines whether the customer will purchase the product or not (Dibb & Simkin 2001). It also assists to design the marketing plan. Marketing is a very important aspect of business venture since the main aim of any business is to make profits. The process of planning and implementing the concept of price, promotion and supply of products and services is very complex and requires a plan; market planning.Marketers use a variety of means to describe how, when and where information on a product is presented to the customer. The purpose is to convince the customer to purchase the product and successful market plan creates the wish to buy hence the marketer needs to understand the likes, dislikes and expectations of consumers (Shaw & Semenik 1999). Market plan assess the customers in terms of demographic variables and behavioural changeable aspects.Research from previous has indicated that the consumer purchase behaviours are usually predisposed by the following factors; personal, psychological, cultural and social factors. It has been found that the interaction of these factors influence the customers to develop certain characteristic behaviour like brand preference or product loyalty. These factors are therefore very important for the marketers because they can use them to manipulate clients and end up with a lot of customers coming for their products or services.Though most of the factors cannot be directly manipulated by the marketers, understanding of the buyer decision process and the impact of these factors on the customers can be very beneficial in developing a marketing mix for their business and designed to appeal to the preferences of the target clients (Dibb & Simkin 2001). It has been established that before the purchase of a product or service, a customer goes through a process of making a decision.For easy understanding and analysis of the process of decision making, the process has been categorized into five stages; recognizing the problem, looking for other information, analysis of alternatives or substitutes, the actual buying decision and post buying behaviour (Shaw & Semenik 1999). The duration of the decision making process always very depending on personality and this range is described from the routinely buying practice to some degree of problem solving and more wide-ranging and far-reaching problem solving dealing.Due to interaction and the increase in communication technology, consumers get to exchange information and also get a variety of data from different sources which mean there is a lot of external influence on the decision one makes. For these reason, people do not act in seclusion in the buying process rather, their decision id influenced by several factors and people in the environment. The amount of influence gets complicated in the buying decision when a lot of people get involved and hence does the purchase decision by the customer (Howard & Sheth 1999).The decision to purchase and the actual purchase is powerfully controlled by the cultural, social, psychological and personal distinctiveness. These factors can be blended and used by a marketer to create the correct appeal for the customers. The decision making process can hence be interfered with at different levels and the outcome cou ld be that the customer gets to by the product without too much complexity (Shaw & Semenik 1999) Problem Identification: this is the difference between the perceived ideal desire for something and the actual situation of having to obtain the product.If the difference is greater enough, it is likely to evoke purchase of the product and this is described as the deficit in assortment of goods. For instance, a feeling of hunger is likely to inspire purchase of food because hunger can stimulate someone to eat. In this way, a company like Unilever can utilize this first step and stimulate purchase by an advert that create the idea that a customer is deficient, like the need to be beautiful using the Dove beauty products. This can inspire one to purchase dove as the ads usually uses model.Search of Information: this is a ways of obtaining information about the product about to be purchased and it is usually done in two ways i. e. internal search and external search. The internal search is when somebody relies on memory to remember past encounter with the product or the brand; this is usually used for regularly purchased goods and services. The external search is also a source of influence as one gets the information from friends and relatives, public sources like adverts, consumer reports, comparison during shopping etc.when a marketer clearly understands the importance of this stage in the purchase decision, he or she can present a lot of information (marketer dominated) in items like adverts, salesmen, website among other (Dibb & Simkin 2001). If Unilever uses several adverts that will capture the customer’s eye, it is likely to be remembered during this stage of decision making and leads to a positive response when one has to buy dove beauty products. Analysis of Substitutes (alternatives): this is the stage when the customer gets to set the criteria for buying.Under correct understanding of the decision making process, marketer can be able to establish bra nd name reputation and these brand name could easily fall in the clients criteria (Klopper et al 2006). Another important aspect here is to develop and win the customer worth notion. Unilever logo is very popular and since the reputation of the company is well established, it can form a very good basis for marketing against competitors like Lux, Lava and Ivory.The Buying Decision: a purchase decision is very critical to both the marketer and the client especially where to buy and is usually based on term of sale, previous knowledge of the product from the seller and return policy. When to purchase can be determined by appropriateness of the shop, store atmosphere and the time factor (Howard & Sheth 1999). Other factors in consideration when marketing include the product type, mode of packaging, and the means of purchase (online or physical etc).The Actual Buying: this can be altered by product availability and therefore, for a company to win customers over there competitors, they sh ould ensure that the products are always in the stores (Klopper et al 2006). Post Purchase Analysis: after acquiring the product, customers usually make comparisons of the actual effects and the expected outcome. From these, the product can be concluded as being satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Many companies are working very hard to ensure positive post purchase impact which will result in repeat purchase (Howard & Sheth 1999).Unilever can use follow up calls and sales people to convince the clients that they made the correct decision. This will help to manage the cognitive dissonance that is usually experienced and is characterized by tense moments and feeling of anxiety. Consumer Behaviour Theories Consumer behaviour theories are attempts to give explanations as to why customers usually behave in a certain way and not the other and is basically the basis used by marketers to make their marketing mix in what is called marketing theory.The basic buyer behaviour theory was postulated by Abraham Maslow, and this was based on the priority or the necessity of products and services and it mainly applies to the consumer goods. The second theory applies to merchandise or the industrial goods. This theory addresses the typical behaviour of buyers of organisational products or merchandise for business (Howard 1993). Essentially, there are four characteristic types of buyer behaviour as explained by the buyer behaviour theories and the categorization is determined by the kind good or services intended for purchase.The aim of the theories is to give answers to the following questions about customers; who? How? When? Where? And why do they buy? The buying behaviours are (Howard 1993); 1. Complex behaviour- this is the situation where a customer buys very expensive brand and inquires for more information prior to real purchasing. 2. Habitual buyer – this is when a client gets used to buying certain goods and regularly purchases them as a habit like newspapers etc. 3 . Variety seeking behaviour- this is when the customer develops the habit of shopping around for purposes of making comparisons and experimenting new products.This kind of client can shop different brands of the product say bread, cosmetics etc. 4. Dissonance reducing behaviour- these are buyers who get to do shopping because it is tasking or occasional. There is not greater influence by characteristics like branding, for instance the purchase of a gold chain. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory This theory explains what motivates people to purchase goods and the analysis is based on the priority or rather the necessity of the products or services to be purchased.In his theory, Abraham Maslow suggests that people will target to meet their primary needs first which include hunger and thirst (this is psychological classification) (Howard 1993). When these necessities are adequately satisfied, then the individuals can move to the next step of the hierarchy, i. e. the safety requi rements where main concern is the job security and the assurance that they will have regular income. The social needs come next and they are the need to be loved, this is a general human yearning and individuals will work hard to attain this sense of belonging.Self esteem comes next and this is the need to be recognised in terms of status quo and social class in the society, e. g. wearing branded shirts. Self actualization is the top most level of human needs and it is when an individual has achieved the most out of life, a point of life fulfilment (Howard & Sheth 1999). One can wonder that how can this concept help Unilever to market its products? Generally, marketing is meant to ensure that goods are sold and that they meet customers’ demands. The Maslow theory suggests that the individuals need keep on changing as they strive along hierarchy of needs to achieve self actualization.Unilever stores can store products that meet the esteem needs (particularly Dove beauty produc ts). This concept is therefore very important to marketers (Dibb & Simkin 2001). The theory of buying merchandise is more like the Maslow’s theory only that it does not include so much of the behavioural aspects. The theory works at macro-level and does not take into consideration how the retailers manage their business, the profits and hence it is of no big use to Unilever Company. Recommendations and Conclusions The two important marketing strategies are developing a marketing plan and carrying a market research.Developing the format of a marketing plan is the first step in making a marketing strategy. The plan should include; the objective and business mission; situation Analysis; the aims of the marketing strategy; strategic and tactical procedures; the budget and means of analyzing performance; and contingencies. The first step is to describe the challenge i. e. product to be marketed; in this case, the products are sandwiches, cold and hot drinks. Situation analyses inc lude several aspects, competitor analysis, SWOT analysis, company analysis and customer analysis (consumer behaviour).Customers are a very critical element of any business venture and during market planning it is very important to carry out a market research about customer information including purchasing habits, type of customers, number of customer, and concentration of customers centre for certain products etc. Competition can be overcome by optimizing on the opportunities, maximizing the strengths and eliminating the weaknesses. All these are obtained through market research analysis of market segmentation and position.Unilever can greatly influence customers to purchase Dove beauty products by the process known as market concepts which can be derived from buyer behaviour. References Dibb. S & Simkin L. (2001). Marketing Briefs. A Revision and Study Guide. Butterworth-Heinemann Howard J. A (1993). Marketing: Executive and Buyer Behaviour. Columbia University Press Howard J. A & Sheth J. N (1999). The Theory of Buyer Behaviour. Wiley Klopper H. B et al (2006). Marketing. Fresh Perspectives. Pearson South Africa. Shaw R. T & Semenik R. J (1999). Marketing. South Western Publishing Company.

How Facebook has Destroyed Privacy Boundaries Essay

How Facebook has Destroyed Privacy Boundaries - Essay Example In recent years, a number of social networking websites have been able to take advantage of the teeming amount of users looking to register and use the social networking services. This in turn has provided these websites with unwanted levels of influence that has tended to create privacy debacles that were unheard of in conventional human interaction (Berkman and Shumway). Perhaps one of the most popular websites for social networking in recent years has been Facebook. The website has come under the limelight time and again. Previously it was under the limelight as a business model for innovation and hallmark breakthroughs but in recent times it has been scrutinized for breaches of privacy. The various forms of breach of privacy have been recognized and investigated and is confirmed phenomenon leaving little to doubt them anymore (Iachello and Hong). Some breaches of privacy are caused due to users overlooking fine print details while other breaches of privacy occur due to online sur veillance. In addition to everything else, certain forms of breach of privacy occur due to the inherent design of social networking platforms. This paper will focus on the various forms of breach of privacy that have resulted from the use of Facebook whether these breaches were intentional or otherwise. Furthermore, the consequences of these breaches will be looked into in detail to gauge their effects on ordinary people. It is natural for human beings to be wary of each other when conducting conversations in person. Another major factor that limits the amount of information carried by human beings is the limit on information delivered at any one point in time through conversations. It would be unrealistic to assume that a person could convey all kinds of personal and family information to another in one meeting alone. However, this situation is totally reversed when using computing platforms to interact. People who use social networking websites such as Facebook will realize that a large amount of information has to be divulged in order to sign up for such services. The typical information required for such sign ups consists of a person’s name, date of birth, email address, home address and the like. Other forms of personal information is exposed and brought to the forefront as a person tends to interact with their social circles (Pankoke-Babatz and Jeffrey). Social networks such as Facebook allow the user to search for and add new â€Å"friends† who are effectively anybody you might know including friends, family and acquaintances. The interaction between a typical Facebook user and his â€Å"friends† is carried out through the wall of each individual account holder. The idea is simple and seem revolutionary at first – each user has a wall that anybody can write upon if they are included in the individual’s friend list. Moreover, other users do not necessarily have to write things on the wall, instead, they can simply choos e to like things online and share it on their friend’s walls. This means that if I was browsing the internet for a pair of boxing gloves and I happened to find a pair I like, I could essentially share the link on my wall and on the wall of my friends. This would allow me to tell my friends that I recently might have made a purchase of boxing gloves and that they might be interested in the same boxing gloves. At first sight the idea seems just absolutely amazing. Imagine the power of being able to share

On the instruction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

On the instruction - Essay Example This problem can be solved through parental, guardian as well as educators’ intervention so as to be in a position to educate children about the constructive use of the internet. It should be everyone’s responsibility to provide internet safe education to the children so that they become aware of the risks they are likely to encounter through the use of the internet. The other solution that can be implemented in order to deal with this particular problem is related to empowerment of the children so that they can become masters of the destiny in as far as internet use is concerned. There are different ways of implementing these measures which are likely to provide a long solution to the problem that is related to adverse impacts of the internet on children. According to the Internet Society, â€Å"the most effective way to deal with perceived problems arising from Internet use is to empower children and young people so they know how to safeguard themselves against the a dverse effects of using the internet.† Whilst other strategies are used by different governments such as filtering or blocking websites that are thought to contain malicious information to children, it can be seen that these techniques have their own shortfalls. A holistic approach that is people centred should be implemented in order to address this problem. Empowerment of children with regards to the use of the internet is very effective since this strategy is designed to produce positive benefits of using the internet. There are different empowerment techniques that can be used such as teaching the children about appropriate language to use as well as imparting knowledge to them about their respective communities’ social, cultural and ethical norms that shape their behaviour. Every person belongs to a culture that has norms and values and these create the identity of the people living in that particular area. The culture of people also shapes their identity hence it is the role of the parents in particular to impart knowledge about their cultural values to the children. This can help the children to distinguish between something that is good from bad. Children who are aware of their cultural values are likely to maintain them throughout their lives. These values also help them to know the things they are allowed to do as well as things they are not allowed to do in their society. Morally upright children often display positive traits about their culture and this can redeem them from behaving badly when they are using the internet. It is also important for the parents as well as the educators to educate their children about the positive benefits that can be derived from using the internet. As stated by the Internet Society, it can be observed that the internet is not evil since it has significantly improved our lives in various ways. There are more benefits that are likely to be obtained from using the internet than the negative aspects such as the ones mentioned above. Essentially, parents and the educators should always strive to educate their children to be in a position to make a distinction between something that is bad from good. Whilst the parents and teachers spend most of the time with their children, it can be noted that they cannot control their behaviour all the

Marconi Jicks-Managing change in a company in severe crisis Essay

Marconi Jicks-Managing change in a company in severe crisis - Essay Example First, Managing Individual Emotions and Reactions to Change is the most complex and difficult due to the fact that nobody can please everybody and most especially nobody can satisfy the desire and need of everybody. Each person has needs that define their motivation which ultimately dictate their emotions and reactions. The Marconi stakeholders are no different. The mismanagement of the individual’s emotion and the resulting reaction to change is likened to a virus that can infect everybody making the company collectively resistant to any needed change. Second, Implementing the Change Agenda, Incorporating Hard and Soft Elements, after being threatened July 2001 to be put out of the job, each of Marconi’s remaining employees have their backs against the wall already. False application of the diplomatic or persuasive approach also known as the soft approach may not hold true to everybody the same is true to the opposite or hard approach. And Fifth, Leadership of Change is the least complex and difficult of all the issues since Mike Parton already has the imprimatur to effect change from the leadership of Marconi and is recognized by all stakeholders. Men are nonetheless resilient to change. Adversities or crisis in a culture normally makes the entire society more cohesive in achieving a common goal. However, a crisis that threatens the very livelihood of the employees tends to make each individual to prioritize providing for their family first instead of dwelling in abstract concepts such as the impetus to change. The measure of the conference’s impact can be effectively determined by the amount of change that happened thence and the actual support it garnered amongst the different stakeholders. The conference was able to show the presence of Mike Parton and the commitment of the leadership of Marconi which settled the percolating restiveness in the company amongst the stakeholders. The conference most

Immigration Reform and Workers Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Immigration Reform and Workers Rights - Essay Example Coupled with the ease of access, it has to be mentioned that the evolution of global connectivity has transformed the Earth into a large and single entity. This helps in a great way in the faster spreading of various kinds of globalized trends. With the emergence of markets in the developed as well as developing economies, the opportunities related to personal growth, development and chances of wealth maximization has become highly skewed to various cities around the world, which has become the hotbed of business activity. As a result, it has become a normal trend for the masses located in various regions around the world with low economic prospects to migrate to regions, cities or even nations which promotes a better opportunity for earning a decent living and a satisfactory lifestyle. II. Problems Talking in regards to the shift of population that is happening to the more developed regions all over the world, it can be said that there are significant challenges that are emerging in various cities in regards to managing the public system as well as overpopulation. Talking on this note, it can be said that the United States, which is a hotbed of economic growth and development is facing a tremendous problem in the recent times in regards to the issues of migration of masses from neighboring countries and regions. Discussing the matter in a more crisp manner, it can be said that the United States is facing a significant problem on the lines of Immigration Reform Issue. The Immigration Issue of US has widespread effects on the businesses, government as well as individuals living in the American society. A. The emergence of the problem: It can be said that the present crisis in regards to immigration problems in the US, has a significant association with the nation’s political past. Immigration reform was a major issue in the year 200 as the US economy was growing and the unemployment rate was low. The push coming from Immigration supporting group along wit h the existence of loopholes in the immigration law resulted in the process of emergence of a temporary solution. With the change of economic scenario of the nation in the recent times, the temporary solution has snowballed into a major crisis [1]. B. Problem Associated with Immigration Reform: It has to be said that there are critical problems that are associated with the root of immigration reforms. It has to be said that large majority of the immigrant population are illegal and poor immigrants with scanty education. If the reform is being passed on the favor of providing nationality, serious issues might be faced by the nation because of the inability of the migrant population to commute in English, as well as their ability to pay taxes [2]. C. Abuse by employers: Given the demographic background of the migrating population, it has to be said that the American employers provide random visa programs to generate their own benefits. This results in abuse of the migrant working popu lation which further triggers the need for an immigration reform [3]. III. Proposed Solution It has to be said that a solution to the immigration problem is very necessary. However, while designing the solution, the issues of visa abuse as well as the problems of migration reforms need to be addressed properly so as to prevent further bouncing of the same issues in the near future.  

Rhetorical Analysis Assignment Description Essay - 2

Rhetorical Analysis Assignment Description - Essay Example Some people have argued that the events of the September 11 terrorist attack on the US soil had an effect on immigration laws in the country. Thus, the fears expressed by the author in the unchanging number of illegal immigrants in the US are justifiable, if one considers the intention of some of these illegal immigrants. The terrorist attack have made the United States of America to tighten immigration laws as the laws are now stricter than they used to be before the September 11 terrorist attack. Immigrants suspected of having any connection with terrorists would be jailed for about seven days without being charged in the court of law. Prior to the 9/11 terrorist attack, the immigration laws were lenient and the barrier set around immigration has made it difficult to obtain visas to screening process is now more intense than what it used to be before the 9/11 attacks. The fact that the author did not try relate the issue of illegal immigration to the terrorist attack is actually a flaw in his writing as the author did not provide her readers with a good background knowledge on the subject matter. Security officials have realized that they have to do more to combat the problems of terrorism due to the 9/11 attack. The police departments have now improved their services and are now better prepared in the event of another terrorist attack. The police have now been empowered to monitor people’s conversation and survey people’s electronic mails. This was not the case before the terrorist attack as people were left alone to guard their private lives without the fear of being watched. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was also established by the Bush Administration in 2002 to combat terrorism locally. The author’s reference to the Department of Homeland Security as she brings out data about the deportation of 400, 000 immigrants by Federal immigration authorities (Preston) shows the extent at which the author develops logos in the

The social and political structure of the Safavid Empire Essay

The social and political structure of the Safavid Empire - Essay Example The article analyses the differences and similarities between the two early empires. Among the most evident similarities included their cultures, the author portrays cultural similarities in the attire of the people from the two early societies. Firstly, both were empires thus had definite prides they wished to safeguard. The two societies built houses in similar structures and designs and even habited the same region, the expansive Middle East. The two societies thus often interacted through various means including warfare since they were neighbors. In one of such wars, the Ottoman won thus gaining greater influence over the Safavid. The victory earned the Ottoman Empire numerous commercial rights to trade with other neighboring communities as it quelled the volatility in the region for some time. Among other additional similarities in the two empires included the similarity in faith, both the empires ascribed to the Islamic faith thus had similar religious structures, which also in fluenced the leadership of both the societies as the religious leaders had influence in the governance of the Islamic societies. The history of the life and accomplishments of Mehed the second The royal history of Mehed the conqueror begins with the return of his father, Sultan Murad to the throne. By abducing the throne, Murad earned his son Mehed the throne through inheritance thus paving the way for the life and success of one of the greatest conquerors of the time. Mehed ascended into power with the death of his father on 18 February 1451. As a legitimate ruler, Mehed could now formulate and implement his own policies. Among his fundamental fantasies was conquering Istanbul. He therefore invested a lot of time and resources in planning his inversion and conquest of the region that would earn him exclusive commercial rights and influence. He therefore constructed the fortress of Bogaz-Kesen, which would facilitate the attack on Istanbul. He thereafter invaded and conquered Istanbul successfully thus earning the control of the commercial hub and ordered its reconstruction as part of his new territory. The s uccessful inversion of Istanbul motivated the empire into other successive inversions including the capture of Enoz, Tasoz and Serbia thus making Mehed one of the greatest conquerors. The poetry of Shah Ismali the first Shah Ismali possessed poetic talent, which he utilized in the composition of numerous verses most of which are stored in museums in Britain. As an early poet, the Shah wrote in the native divan language, a language spoken in the southern Turkey. He wrote poems exclusively on Turkey. He received great inspiration from his friend and colleague Sultan Selim who on the other wrote exclusively on Persia. His works just as any other contemporary poetry covered such features of the society as culture, politics and the

Big Time Sports Essay Example for Free

Big Time Sports Essay Big time sports in colleges are governed by guidelines and regulations. These sports are mostly in campuses and colleges. Big time sports can sometime lead to violent behaviour and undeserving behaviour, which are morally questionable. Most athletics can start using alcohol or drugs as incentives so that they can be able to practice for long hours without getting tired. These college athletes want to be the beat during tournament hence they will do everything possible to fulfill the goals, targets of the team. The players want to be selected because only the competitive and talented players make the team. In tournament you will find that violent behaviour is experienced in the field and university principles like discipline are undermined. Big time sports have its vices. Lack of discipline is one of them. Lack of discipline is constant practiced by the team players but the campus or colleges can avoid this and as a penalty to the players who misbehave they should not be allowed to play for the team until they are disciplined. Big time sports have been commercialized by the colleges and campus that participate in them because they compete with professional players. Many institutions end up using a lot of resources financially to build big stadiums. These can sometime lead to corruptions as sport grants and aid to these colleges and campus do not follow a procedure. Big time sports have programs, which govern the sports in the campuses and colleges. These programs do not receive a positive public exposure due to recruitment scandals, favourism based on gender issues, other students who participate in the sports end up performing badly academically, which is not good for the college. Colleges compete against each other between highly skilled teams of students halting scholarships. (Murray, 70) Big time sports can lead to conflict between academic performance and athletics. Colleges and campuses offering courses in liberal arts and sports have shown that the students who participate in college sports do not do well academically. This has led to college to tag the students in the graduation list who participate in college sports so as to compare them with the other students who don’t participate in sports. (Murray, 70) Big time sports cannot be successful if it wasn’t for the role the coaches play in these college sports. The coaches train the students with talent because they know the success of the team depends on the athletes’ talent. So if it is nurtured well, the more successful the team will be. If the team players are good that will reflect on how well the coach is because they learn from him as he guides them. Big time sports open opportunities. Most players are discovered while still in high school hence if recruitment is done properly the most talented players are got easily. Recruitment plays a major role in the success of a team taking into consideration that the team has competitive players hence stakes are set high for new players because if one is a good player possibility of being bought by a sport body to play for them are high. Other players are bought while still in high school, which can make them not finish high school, which is not right. High school athletes have to follow guidelines. Official visits are limited due to costs and if the player decides to have an official visit, it will be at his own expense. Big time sports have benefits to both colleges and campus and the players. These sports in terms of cost, consume a lot of resources in the campus budget. At the end, regardless of the high cost, when the colleges win in the college sport, there is usually an increase in application of students who want to join the college, donations also increase, teamwork is enhanced among the players, opposing teams are also united especially during the tournaments and lastly, it attracts athletes from diverse background. (Murray, 70) Big time sports are governed by guidelines and procedures. Due to technology, talented athletes are spotted even before they get to college and recruitment starts. They start the recruitment process by viewing the videotapes of applicants, dossiers, transcripts, which they sort. The ones short-listed are met in person. The final list is submitted to the admission office and also those who are academically qualified are admitted. The colleges also have committees to answer questions about college sports or any issue related to it. Issues to do with recruitment, complains and corruption, are also looked into by the committee. Works Cited Page Murray, S. College Sports, Inc. : The Athletic Department vs. the University. Henry Holt Company. 1990.

Three New Experiences of mine Essay Example for Free

Three New Experiences of mine Essay Of late, I am passing through a rough phase of life. My mother has been detected with a deadly symptom of Chronic Renal Failure. Naturally, she is undergoing peritoneal dialysis which needs be done four times a day by me. I am a Reader in English in a Government College. The College I am presently working in is at a stone’s throw from my residence. My boss is also of a pleasant disposition. Hence, I can scoop a little time from my busy schedule to hop in my residence to do the necessary exchanges after every six hours. I am fortunate, no doubt, as my boss is sympathetic towards me. Yet, the boring monotonous job sometimes tells on my health as well as temperament. I do not curse my fate but try to accept the reality as it is. Reality too bites, it is true!!   I had fallen in love with a male colleague of mine in the workplace. Rather, he had shown amorous advances and I tried to dissuade him as any puritan would. It was only because he was married. But nowadays, these hardly matter. Yet, one day when I was typing an article I was supposed to send to a local newspaper in the library , he sneaked into my cubicle, came close to me, breathed on my neck and kept waiting for my response. I looked back, asked him to behave properly. He seemed to be hurt and after that he kept avoiding me, even my shadows. Another colleague of mine who knew about his crush on me commented that day, â€Å"Wife is old wine, a paramour is an expensive variety of Cognac.† I kept mum. How could I make him understand that I was more preoccupied with my mother’s poor health than such a trivial matter to ponder over?! I didn’t find any time to get married till date even! Who’d feel for me?    I was about to deliver a speech on Orhan Pamuk , last year’s Nobel laureate , in an International Seminar , being held at a place which lay at about 700 kms. From my work-place. I booked a ticket on a Super-fast train at least three weeks ahead and left it in one corner of my reticule. It was a First Class Reservation ticket as I had to stay in the train for one night. Last afternoon , my cell-phone beeped while I was busy reading Bakhtin’s Dialogism in the library.   A singsong voice from the other end cooed, â€Å"Have you reported your arrival Professor? Your accommodation is ready in the Diamond block. Your paper entitled â€Å"Orhan Pamuk: Intrepid Ventures in fiction† has been scheduled in the post-lunch session. Please report immediately.† I was perplexed at first. Then said â€Å"Sorry?† Then each detail became crystal clear to me.    Oh Gosh! I was to attend the Seminar by catching the Superfast Express the previous evening. I rummaged into my reticule and found the expensive ticket with the accommodation details. I went downstairs to reach the Station and get a full refund for the ticket, but to my utter dismay only 10% of the fabulous sum had been refunded! I talked to the Seminar Convener over the phone and apologized. The nurse I was about to appoint came in the evening for doing my mother’s dialysis and was crestfallen to find me !    The first experience is not planned. The second one is somewhat planned. Only the third one has a bit of both.   The aforesaid experiences taught me to take life as it is and breathe a little concentration and agility into it. As I have to render a life-saving service to my mother , I must learn to prioritize my schedule. I have to keep my duties at home and at my workplace on an even keel. Falling in love is fine. But, no unwanted escapades are welcome for me now. I must rectify my forgetful nature. The third experience has made me learn it . That’s it.

A Study Of Food And Culture

A Study Of Food And Culture INTRODUCTION This assignment is basically based on gastronomy. In this assignment we need to discuss about gastronomy and its influences such as cultural, science sustainability and how they are influences buy gastronomy. How gastronomy is related with culture, transportation religion and many more things. MAIN BODY DEFINITION Gastronomy is the study of food and culture, with a particular focus on gourmet cuisine. Modern gastronomy has its roots in several French texts published in the 1800s, but the idea of relating food, science, society, and the arts has been around much longer. True gastronomy is a demanding multidisciplinary art examining food itself along with its context, presentation, freshness, and history. While commonly associated with gourmets and gluttony, gastronomy is actually its own discipline, although some gourmets are certainly gastronomes, as are some gluttons. The principle of gastronomy is that food is a science, in addition to an art form. By understanding how all of the senses contribute to an experience, a gastronome can more completely understand what is happening when a consumer claims to dislike or enjoy a particular food item. Gastronomy also examines the sociological implications of food, along with integrating other social science disciplines such as anthropology, psychology, and philosophy. The role of food in the fine arts such as performance art, painting, and sculpture is also examined, as part of a closer look at the role of food in society in general. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-gastronomy.htm INFLUENCE ON NATIONAL FOOD CULTURE People mostly connect to their cultural or ethnic group through food patterns. For Immigrants food now become the means of retaining their cultural identity. Each and every individual have different cultural backgrounds and have different eating habits. The ingredients, methods of preparation, preservation techniques, and types of food eaten at different meals are different among cultures. The areas and the climate factors in which families live- and geographical location where their ancestors originated also influence food likes and dislikes. These food preferences result in varieties of food choices within a different cultural or regional group. Food items themselves have meaning and some cultural identity attached to them. For example in many Western countries a box of chocolates would be viewed as an appropriate gift while in other countries chocolates might be a less appropriate gift. Different nations or countries are frequently associated with certain foods. For example, many people associate Italy with pizza and pasta but Italians eat many other foods, and types of pasta dishes are popular throughout Italy. Methods of preparation and types of food also vary by regions and culture of a nation. Some families in the United States prefer to eat meat and potatoes, but in some families meat and potatoes are not eaten on a regular basis, nor even preferred, by many in the United States, so would not be labelled as a national cuisine. Grits, a coarsely ground corn that is boiled, is eaten in the southern United States. A package of grits is only available in the largest supermarkets in the upper Midwest and its difficult to find even in large Midwestern supermarkets a long time ago. This may be called as the geographical effect. Regional food habits also exist in nations and countries but they also change by time. As people travel from place to place food habits and preferences are imported and exported. Families move to other nations, countries or places bringing their food preferences with them. They follow their old recipes with new ingredients available at different places or experiment with new recipes, incorporating ingredients to match their own tastes. In addition, food itself is imported from other countries. Nevertheless, what is considered edible or even a delicacy in some parts of the world might be considered inedible in other parts. Although most of the times food is selected with some attention to physical need, the values or beliefs by which society attaches to potential food items and define what families within a cultural group will eat. For example, both plant and animal sources may contribute to meeting nutritional requirements for protein; soybeans, beef, horsemeat, and dog meat are all adequate protein sources. Yet, due to the some values and beliefs attached to these protein sources, they are not considered in all societies. Moreover, even when the foods perceived to be undesirable are available, they are not eaten by people who have a strong emotional reaction against those potential food item. CULTURE AND RELIGION Types and food associated to British culture: British cuisine encompasses the cooking traditions of the British Isles. It reflects the cultural influence of the colonial era as well as post-war immigrations. British cuisine boasts of a rich variety of sumptuous dishes from its different regions. Staple foods include chicken, beef, pork, lamb and fish, served with potatoes and other vegetables. The most popular dishes are fish and chips, sandwiches, trifles, pies and roast As the result of both globalization and global environmental change food systems face dramatic transformations. Change in global environment influence the physical and socioeconomic conditions that underpin terrestrial and marine food systems., Globalization is also responsible for transforming the production and storage of food, , access to and consumption of food, and the quality and safety measures associated with food and eating habits. Both processes also have direct effects on agricultural production, livelihoods, and the agricultural economies as well. More important, both processes can take place at the same time and interacting to create dynamic conditions that influence vulnerability to both rapid and gradual environmental changes. Global environmental change affects food systems by various means such as, the loss of productive farmland, loss of biodiversity, and changing climate conditions, including increase in number of extreme climatic events such as droughts and floods. Globalization-related changes also include liberalization of trade in agriculture products which also spreads the eating and buying habits from different culture, and supports for agricultural production, expansion of the role of multinational corporations and supermarkets in food production and distribution, it also results in shifts toward urban and industrial land uses. Food is also considered an important part of religious observance and spiritual ritual of many faiths including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. The role and importance of food in cultural practices and religious beliefs is complex and varies among different communities. Any introduction to such a diversified and complex topic will not be able to explain each and everything. Here are some examples of some ways in which various religious groups considered food a vital part of their faith. Understanding the role of food in cultural and religious practice is an important part of showing respect and responding to needs of people from a range of religious communities. This understanding towards different food culture also helps in increasing art of food, adding dishes from different menus and also helps in increasing revenues from tourist from different cultures and traditions. However, it is important to not to make any assumptions about persons culture and beliefs. T he various faiths of Christianity include Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY In this competitive and new era chefs (the main body of kitchen) are sometimes blamed of turning their kitchens very similar into scientific laboratories, theres no doubt that when they heat a piece of meat in the kitchen the reaction that takes place is a chemical reaction as in science labs. Science and cooking both are processes that have some rules and methods to follow and also go hand-in-hand, now more than ever before. The relation between science and cuisine is nothing new; we have several examples of this relation in past years as well. Studies such as chemistry, physics, biology and botany have always been closely related to cooking and also prove their existence in various terms. The terms molecular gastronomy and molecular cuisine become the topics of debates from a long time and the existence of science-based cuisine is also a controversial issue. To know about these terms in detail or to make the practical existence of such terms we need to consider or follow the approach adopted by chefs trained for such types of kitchens and other experts who want to know why things happen and have knowledge for their chemical reactions and which reaction is useful which is not. These types of kitchens and terms such as molecular gastronomy or cuisine will be no longer the topic of debates if they run under the guidance of their experts. Technology has dramatically improved and reshaped every part of our lives including kitchen standards as well. It doesnt left any aspect of our existence untouched. It also revolutionized the way we work, entertain ourselves and even change the concept of our eating and cooking patterns. The food industry has increasingly developed and modernized by adopting more advanced and latest technologies that can help us in bringing healthier, fresher and more varieties of food. In this modern era, the marketplace offers a vast variety of foods influenced by different people and cultures and we have a wide range to choose from, at a better quality and lower prices than in the past. With the introduction of new technologies and processes businesses can offer better products and services to the consumers in increasingly larger quantities and thus, satisfy a wider range of market. The same phenomenon works for the companies in the food industry. The expression nouvelle cuisine has been used several times in the course of the history of cooking, particularly in France in the middle of the eighteenth century. It was introduced to subordinate the practice of cooking to principles of chemistry that were to be established by Lavoisier later on. People had mixed feelings about it: for instance, Voltaire wrote I must say that my stomach does not at all agree with the nouvelle cuisine.' Today nouvelle cuisine refers to a trend of opinion that appeared in France in the 1960s. At the time, it caught on rapidly and was a great international success. Yet, as it got tangled up in its contradiction, it stopped being fashionable, and nowadays it has a negative connotation. In spite of that, it was an innovative and quite important movement, which brought about a revolution within the Grande cuisine whose lessons are still present in the grand chefs minds. http://www.enotes.com/nouvelle-cuisine-reference/nouvelle-cuisine LIFESTYLE, MEDIA AND INDIVIDUALS Today is the age of media; media is now become the backbone of every society and has a vital role in every field including kitchens as well. The universe of food-related blogs in particular is vast. It is estimated that there are at least 33,000 such blogs out there in cyberspace, but no one can give an exact or even approximate number of such blogs; this is one of the new and the widely using trend of the media. Some of the examples of Social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Stumble Upon and Blog Her provide valuable means for bloggers to connect with each other and share their content and views about different food ,ingredients ,recipes and methods , while food-specific communities such as Food Buzz (and countless others!) offer even more targeted networking. Add to these mix sites where users can post their reviews of restaurants, food shops and markets, such as Yelp, Chowhound and Trip Advisor and it becomes clear that the media space related to gastronomy is very wide and virtually endless. In addition means of television also plays a very vital role; there are many TV channels that telecast many cookery shows, travel guides and also provide information about different gastronomies. Media makes easy to travel with full information about the place to be visited. GEOGRAPHY AND TRANSPORTATION: As long as there has been food in existence, there has been gastronomy in some form or another. Questions regarding our eating habits have always been around: How can we add taste and make our food special? Which ingredients provide the best boost of energy? What types of foods have healing properties in them and how can we cultivate them to get more of it? Later on, cuisine became more specialized, and cooking books and apprenticeships are also developed to provide instruction on the preparation of different kinds of food. However, it wasnt until the 1800s that gastronomy started to develop as an actual field of study. Instead of simply learning how to make food, people began to focus on how dining could be an experience-how the senses interacted in order to create a whole meal to be enjoyed. Gastronomy is such a wide concept that no country can be away from its influence. There are many countries in which the influence of gastronomy and its related terms such as molecular gastronomy can be clearly seen. The main countries influenced by gastronomy are Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium and many other European countries. The history and popularity of Indian food in Britain is now almost four hundred years old and it has not only affected the cuisine but also a great change in the United Kingdom but also in its native land. In this field of food the reports of occasional explorers play a great role but the story really starts with the arrival in Surat of the English merchants of the East India Company in 1608 and then again and more successfully in 1612. As with the explorers or merchants the influence of the British in India grew, so did the popularity of Indian food back in Britain, leading to the publishing of recipes and Indian ingredients and the creation of curry powder at commercial level in 1780? The introduction of curry on a menu was at the Coffee House in Norris Street, Haymarket, London in 1773 but the first establishment dedicated to Indian cuisine was the Hindostanee Coffee House at 34 George Street, Portman Square, London in 1809 as recorded in The Epicures Almanack. It was opened by Dean Mahomet (or Mohamed/Mahomed) (See article) from Patna, Bihar, India, via Cork in Ireland. He appreciated the all Indian things and also offered a house for the Nobility and Gentry where they might enjoy the Hookha with real Chilm tobacco and Indian dishes of the highest perfection with real Indian taste. He also considered the Indian chefs for the real Indian taste. http://www.menumagazine.co.uk/book/restauranthistory.html As per UK gastronomy the growth of fast food is increasing day by day like people like fish and chips, burgers, KFC and many other fast food brands rather than having the proper meal. In which the quantity of vegetarian people is very less. As per the data and research people prefer organic food rather than other normal food. They are more conscious about healthy eating. The objective of food garnishing is, usually, to portray or to show the inherent beauty of food. And, just as when you are preparing food for eating, garnishing is one of the easiest and the important way of enhancing a dish for the camera. A garnish should be chosen very carefully, so that garnish can add just the right splash of colour in the dish, textural detail and/or height which really lifts the final image of the food. Some foods, such as mousses and soups can sometimes be difficult to capture their effect because of their flat and monotone surfaces. Adding a right and appropriate garnish makes it more attractive and also captures the eye of the customers. Sustainable agriculture as a means of the local farming is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their local environment. It has been defined as an integrated process of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will remain over the long term: in other words it is farming with natural resources. Conservation of natural resources is the main aim of this practice. This practice helps in satisfying human food and fibre needs of the people by natural way. Also helps in enhancing the environmental quality by understanding ecology system. It also proves beneficial in making the most efficient and appropriate use of non-renewable resources and integrate, natural biological cycles and controls. Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole by providing various agriculture related benefits and also helps in minimising the farming related expenses. CONCLUSION At the end of the assignment author would like to conclude gastronomy plays a vital role in the hospitality industry. Art and science of food is appreciated all over the world and is also considered as value added equipment for the hotel industry. Gastronomy is influence by many factors such as culture, beliefs science, media and many more. It is one of the emerging trends of each and every country. It is also used as a tool to attract tourist from different parts of the world. Gastronomy proves itself as a revenue generating tool for hospitality industry.

Windows Xp :: Information Technology Operating Systems

Windows XP In 2001, Microsoft introduced Windows XP (codenamed "Whistler"). The merging of the Windows NT/2000 and Windows 95/98/Me lines was achieved with Windows XP. Windows XP uses the Windows NT 5.1 kernel, marking the entrance of the Windows NT core to the consumer market, to replace the aging 16/32-bit branch. Windows XP is the longest version of Windows ever released between upgrades, from 2001 all the way to 2007 when Windows Vista was released to consumers. The Windows XP line of operating systems were surpassed by Windows Vista on January 30, 2007. Windows XP is available in a number of versions: †¢ "Windows XP Home Edition", for home desktops and laptops (notebooks) †¢ "Windows XP Home Edition N", as above, but without a default installation of Windows Media Player, as mandated by a European Union ruling †¢ "Windows XP Professional", for business and power users †¢ "Windows XP Professional N", as above, but without a default installation of Windows Media Player, as mandated by a European Union ruling †¢ Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE), released in November 2002 for desktops and notebooks with an emphasis on home entertainment o Windows XP Media Center Edition 2003 o Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 o Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, released on October 12, 2004. †¢ "Windows XP Tablet PC Edition", for tablet PCs (PCs with touch screens) o Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 †¢ Windows XP Embedded, for embedded systems †¢ "Windows XP Starter Edition", for new computer users in developing countries †¢ Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, released on April 25, 2005 for home and workstation systems utilizing 64-bit processors based on the x86-64 instruction set (AMD calls this AMD64, Intel calls it Intel 64) †¢ Windows XP 64-bit Edition, is a version for Intel's Itanium line of processors; maintains 32-bit compatibility solely through a software emulator. It is roughly analogous to Windows XP Professional in features. It was discontinued in September 2005 when the last vendor of Itanium workstations stopped shipping Itanium systems marketed as "Workstations". o Windows XP 64-bit Edition 2003, based on the Windows NT 5.2 codebase. Windows XP has many features not found in previous versions of Windows. Windows XP provides new and/or improved drivers and user interfaces for devices compared to Windows Me and 98. On old versions of Windows, when users upgrade a device driver, there is a chance the new driver is less efficient or functional than the original. Reinstalling the old driver can be a major hassle and to avoid this quandary, Windows XP keeps a copy of an old driver when a new version is installed.

A-Bomb yes? :: essays research papers

The relevance of the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was that it ended World War II, which is the main goal of the any war so yes, it was necessary. The two bombs dropped mightconvince the Japanese any further resistance was futile, which worked. After the bombings, there were rumors of Japanese ready to surrender the next few day which claimed to make the two bombings â€Å"unnecessary†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The generally accepted view that the Japanese would fight to the very end put that rumor at a very small percentage. The Japanese also wanted their current emperor to remain on throne and they were afraid that the surrendering terms would cause the Japanese to choose a new Emperor.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The atomic bomb lead America to the atomic age, causing it to build many thousands of nuclear bombs. Having the many nuclear bombs was a great defense, not for shooting, but to generally let countries know that â€Å"hey we have more nuclear weapons than you all combined† so that they would think twice, even three times before attacking America. The dropping of the first atomic bomb proved that by ending the war. The second dropping of the bomb was just as important to causing the Japanese to surrender as much as the first. Just two days after Hiroshima, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. Dropping the second bomb on Nagasaki would make the surrender of Japan inevitable. What would have happened had the A-bomb not been used? Of course, thewar would have continued. US forces; therefore, would have had to invade the home island of Japan. Doing so, would end in many casualties. American forces would not only have to fight Japanese forces, but Japanese civilians as well. The Japanese civilians may not seem like a lot compared to the U.S. forces, but the Japanese government had been giving the civilians weapons from guns to spears. With the overwhelming number of civilians compared to American Forces, it would prove to be a hard battle which could lead to many casualties. The number of Japanese civilian casualties could have been greater than that of the atomic bomb and it would have taken a longer period.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Chief of Staff predicted that the Japanese would have surrendered on September 1944, but they were still fighting. So there was no way of knowing if the Japanese were going to surrender or not.

An Accusation of Sexual Harassment in Pro Sports Essay

Over the years sexual harassment has been revered on a higher level of unacceptability than ever before. Companies are setting high standards for employees concerning sexual harassment. Usually, they implement a code of ethics to encourage an ethical decision making process in the minds of their employees. People inside an organization need to know what is considered to be illicit behavior. With sexual harassment, the scale is very narrow. It can range from petitioning sexual favors, vulgar language, or any type of inappropriate touching. In the case study, â€Å"An accusation of Sexual harassment in Pro Sports,† the employers were dealing with being accused of verbally abusing and sexually harassing Ms. Brown Sanders over a two year period and once she blew the whistle to top management, she was fired a month later. In my opinion, what is known as sexual harassment was not as popular a decade ago. Today, I feel that the line of intended hospitality and sexual harassment is extremely thin. People must filter what they say, how they say things, and how they may innocently touch the shoulder of their fellow employees, rather male or female. Based on the facts in the Sander’s verses Madison Square Garden (MSG) case, I believe that MSG could not have prevented themselves from liability, according to the Employers Liability for Employee’s Act which states, â€Å"employers are liable for the criminal conduct of their employee’s† (smallbusiness.findlaw.com). According to Principles of Management, the author insists, â€Å"top managers are responsible for monitoring their business environment† (Williams 8). It does not even matter if top management does not know what is going on, they will still be held responsible for their employee’s conduct. If I was a part of Madison Square Garden’s top management, I would make sure that I had a well established code of ethics and I would let it be known that anyone who violates the discretionary measures will be reprimanded to the highest degree, plus fined. I say this because of the environmental changes occurring in the sports world, women are a huge part of the fan base; therefore, to uphold our image, to continue to maximize our profit momentum, to stop unfavorable publicity by the media, and to let women know that we value their opinion, would help us to remain a profitable establishment. In addition, I would do my best to deal with problematic issues with temporal  immediacy. Often victims of sexual harassment have long term effects that can have a tendency to hurt them psychologically, mentally, and emotionally. The allegation against Madison Square Garden in this case does raise an ethical question with regard to the employee’s actions. In my opinion, the company became aware of Ms Brown’s complaint and instead of helping her; they allowed her to be fired. Even when she won her case for 11 million dollars; MSG neglected their social responsibility and threatened that they will appeal the decision, rather than givi ng a formal apology to her and their commentators. One clichà © my grandmother use to say is, â€Å"the apple does not fall far from the tree.† To me, this means that many of the characteristics displayed by the employee’s are simultaneously stemmed from the top. To conclude, nowadays, it is more common for people to report to a higher authority or a supervisor that they have been sexual harassed or assaulted. Once these issues have been acknowledged and report to top management, they should not turn away with blind eyes. Certain actions must take place if a report has been made and the company must figure out what kind of harassment took place, so they can determine what the next step of discipline will be. I believe that companies who have adopted clauses for sexual harassment on men and women were long overdue; especially, with women, who have usually kept silent, but have dealt with solidified objectification for years. Works Cited An Employers Liability for Employee’s Act. Find Law. 27 September, 2014. http://www.smallbusiness.findlaw.com Dessler, Gary. Human Resource Management. An Accusation of Sexual Harassment in Pro Sports. Williams, Chuck. Principles of Management. Top Management Responsibilities. South Western: Madison, OH. 2015. pp. 8.

Positive Psychology Essay

Positive psychology is defined as a â€Å"science of positive subjective experiences, positive traits, and positive institutions† and it focuses on such topics as â€Å"hope, wisdom, creativity †¦ courage, spirituality† (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Although this definition seems to be broad enough, the current research on positive psychology consists of primarily quantitative studies of cognitive and affective variables within a particular experimental paradigm. It has not paid much attention to topics of humanistic concerns; such as meaning, values, courage, and spirituality. Research is beginning to accumulate around the concept of positive psychology, or moving away from a focus on psychopathology to one of building positive qualities. The popular song â€Å"Don’t Worry, Be Happy, † expressed in a nutshell a key concept in positive psychology, to develop a sense of optimism. Optimism and other human strengths, such as courage, interpersonal skill, future mindedness, faith, hope, work ethic, perseverance, honesty, and the capacity to achieve flow and insight, can act as buffers against malaise, dysfunction, and mental illness. Human strengths such as optimism are not enough, of course. A positive psychology seems to depend also on cultivating positive experiences that are associated with happiness and subjective well-being, on the capacity to adapt and organize to successfully meet changing conditions, and to interactions that occur within positive social contexts (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000).Positive psychology is understood as â€Å"the scientific study of ordinary human strengths and virtues† (Sheldon & King, 2001, p. 216). Resilience, a very important skill, illustrates (among other things) the importance of the ordinary. For instance, Masten (2001), in discussing resilience in children, emphasized â€Å"the power of the ordinary† (p. 235). Based on a review of resilience studies involving children, Masten observed: â€Å"Resilience does not come from rare and special qualities, but from the everyday magic of ordinary, normative human resources in the minds, brains, and bodies of children, in their families and relationships, and in their communities.† (Masten, 2001, p. 235) In another look at resilience in terms of its ordinary nature, the American Psychological Association’s Practice Directorate developed a public education campaign following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Called the Road to Resilience, the campaign set out the following principles: (a) resilience is a set of learned behaviors that are not automatic, (b) it is a personal journey that is involved with others, (c) it is an ordinary, not an extraordinary, experience, and (d) it demands that improvement be accomplished through small, persistent steps (Murray, 2003). This perspective of positive psychology that focuses on ordinary and everyday circumstances leads us to think in terms of a kind of â€Å"everyday prevention† that is within the reach of people and that counselors and other practitioners can intentionally bring to their work with clients and client systems. Everyday prevention should infuse and guide the work of all preventionists. The American population has moved beyond being passive recipients of expert-provided care to assume a much more personal responsibility for their own health and mental healthcare needs. People, including children, are viewed as active decision makers, selecting from available choices and preferences and shaping their environment, with the possibility of masterful and efficacious living. Many have begun to assume greater initiative and responsibility for the direction of education and schools; the rise in home schooling, the spread of e-educational programs, and the charter school movement are just three examples. This active involvement in health care and education will become a dominant theme for the twentyfirst century. Professionals and professional training programs are beginning to respond to this significant change in personal orientation and responsibility. For instance, training programs in integrative medicine are developing (e.g., at Duke University and University of Arizona), where the primary goal is to assist people to experience optimal vitality and wellness, integrating mind, body, and spirit as well as allopathic, alternative, and complementary medical approaches. Counseling and counseling psychology programs are beginning to address prevention more directly through coursework and training experiences. Healthcare plans are being created that are comprehensive and dynamic, geared to promoting optimal well-being. But, of course, millions of Americans are not waiting for the healthcare and education establishments to alter themselves in the direction of increased integration and variety. Instead, many are experimenting with their own choices. They research, read, surf the Internet, learn from one another, and test out various combinations of exercise, diet, herbs and vitamins, spiritual practice, social support, and alternative treatments to find what works for them. Much of this experimentation is proceeding without external expert monitoring and may be risky to health, in some degree. Conversely, countless millions are organizing for themselves what they view as healthy practices that seem to be yielding improved vitality and more satisfying lifestyles. All of this activity is a virtual wellspring of prevention, occurring at all ecological levels in our society. Our â€Å"cultural blueprint† is being rewritten at the macro level and is being put into practice by individuals and groups to say, in effect: â€Å"We are empowered.† Organizations are slower to adapt because they have traditions, regulations, policies, revenue streams, and other forces and elements that require longer to turn around-sort of like turning around the Titanic. But organizations are beginning to revise and reinvent themselves, too; witness the increasing number of programs and initiatives that take a health-promoting orientation. Where does the professional practice of prevention by counselors and other helpers fit with this paradigm shift toward a more autonomous and experiencing style of health care and education? Right now a gap exists, as prevention is still tied closely to disorder-reduction, population-based models under the control of â€Å"preventionists† who work conscientiously, and often effectively, to help avert dysfunction. Within the context of positive psychology, Seligman (1999) and others wonder about the following question: â€Å"What is the ‘good life’?† He is quick to indicate that what he means by the good life is not a â€Å"Porsche, champagne, and a suntan.† Seligman suggests that what positive psychology needs is a taxonomy for the good life, the main purpose of which would be to guide the formulation and building of the â€Å"good life.† He observes that psychological science has been able to produce an exhaustive (and exhausting) compendium to describe and diagnose human dysfunction and psychopathology (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) and its editions), but that there is no companion product to describe and prescribe human health and positive functioning. There is a concerted effort under way to develop a taxonomy of the â€Å"good life.† The positive psychology perspective is based on a particular assumption of what is the best way to promote mental health, a way that is 180 degrees different from that which has been in effect within psychology and psychiatry (Maddux, Snyder, & Feldman, 2003). This previous way is to correct dysfunction and to prevent any of the hundreds of clinical syndromes contained in the DSM. Instead, positive psychology alters the focus from the reduction and prevention of human psychological disabilities and disturbances to the enhancement of human strengths and abilities. This focus centers on authentic happiness (Seligman, 2002) from the eudaemonic approach-that is, happiness that is centered on meaning and self-realization (Ryan & Deci, 2001), as well as the choices people make about their lives and how they construe what occurs (Maddux et al. 2003). For example, authentic happiness (Seligman, 2002) is an area within positive psychology that is being intensely studied and that is addressing issues surrounding the â€Å"good life.† Interestingly, with regard to the concept of â€Å"everyday prevention, † the work related to positive psychology-and authentic happiness-appears frequently in the popular press as well as in professional/scientific outlets; â€Å"The Happiest Guy† (McCafferty, 2003), an article on Seligman’s authentic happiness, in the USA Weekend Sunday newspaper insert, is a case in point. This work is becoming part of mainstream America, increasingly available to people on an everyday basis. Of course, authentic happiness is not the same as â€Å"A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants†, although it could be said that both glee and fun are relevant. In his book on authentic happiness (Seligman, 2002), Seligman presents a â€Å"happiness formula:† H = S + C + V. That is, an enduring level of Happiness (H) is a function of one’s biological Set (S) range, plus Circumstances (C) to which people are subjected (both generally positive in relation to enduring happiness, such as marriage and sociability, and those that are generally negatively related, such as money and race), plus Voluntary control (V), the choices one makes in life, such as a range of positive emotions like optimism, hope, faith, trust, and confidence. Although a large component of authentic, enduring happiness seems to be set by biology, it is the voluntary choices over which people can exert control that serves as the bellwether test of positive psychology. People can learn how to enhance their capacity to make positive choices on a daily basis. The VIA (Values in Action) Signature Strengths seeks to assess twenty-four â€Å"signature strengths† that are associated with authentic happiness. The VIA Questionnaire was developed by the Values-In-Action (VIA) Institute, which is directed by Peterson and Seligman, and funded by the Mayerson Foundation (http://www.authentichappiness.org/)The twenty-four signature strengths are organized within the broader categories of: Wisdom and Knowledge-five cognitive strengths involving the acquisition and use of knowledge. These strengths include creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, and perspective taking. Courage-four emotional strengths involving the will toward goal accomplishment even when there is internal or external opposition. These strengths include bravery, industry/perseverance, authenticity, and zest. Love-three interpersonal strengths that include supporting and caring for others. These strengths include intimacy, kindness, and social intelligence Justice-three strengths that undergird healthy communities. These strengths include citizenship/teamwork, fairness, and leadership. Temperance-four strengths that moderate and protect against excessiveness. These strengths include forgiveness/mercy, modesty/ humility, prudence, and self-control/self-regulation. Transcendence-five strengths that help to connect with the universe and provide meaning. These strengths include awe/appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, playfulness, and spirituality. Seligman (2002) indicates that everyone possesses many signature strengths. He suggests that individuals complete and score the VIA, examine their top strengths, and apply a set of nine criteria to each one of the top strengths. As examples, three of these nine criteria are as follows: a strength engenders a sense of ownership and authenticity, a feeling of excitement while displaying it, and a rapid learning curve as it is first practiced. If a strength is matched by one or more of these criteria, he suggests that it is a signature strength and should be used frequently and across many settings and situations. Seligman provides examples in the areas of work, love, raising children, and finding general meaning and purpose in life. In sum, he (2002) holds the following with regard to the good life: Use your signature strengths every day in the main realms of your life to bring about abundant gratification and authentic happiness. (p. 161) Long before work began in positive psychology to examine the good life, Socrates (born 470 B.C.E.) had given it some thought! Gross (2002) reviewed Socrates’ seven principles, which are often thought to be associated with the good life, and how they can be used on a daily basis. These are: Know Thyself. This one, we hear most frequently. To know thyself means to be self-aware, to review and reflect on actions, and to develop and revise plans to fit personal values within the community context. Ask Great Questions. Be inquisitive. Seek to actively learn all the time, everywhere, from everyone. Think for Yourself. Monitor what you say and what you do. Ask if these actions are reflective of you and your values and thoughts. Make up your own mind after weighing evidence. Challenge Conventional Wisdom. Resist getting caught up in the currents running around you. Don’t blindly do what everyone else does. Develop the capacity to act consistent with personal conviction. Grow with Friends. Connect with others and seek appropriately to interact at genuine and deep levels. Speak the Truth. Avoid lying, shading the truth, or faking it. Spot these behaviors around you, and those where truthful behaviors occur, and allow both to guide you. Strengthen Your Soul. Build into each day opportunities and experiences that are restful, bring joy, and are kind. Socrates provided a good start on defining the good life. Subjective Well-Being (SWB) is a condition that reflects a â€Å"preponderance of positive thoughts and feelings about one’s life† (Myers & Diener, 1995, p. 11). It is defined by three distinct factors that are also correlated: (a) relative presence of positive affect, (b) absence of negative affect, and (c) life satisfaction. Associating happiness with SWB, Myers and Diener have pondered the question:Who is happy? They and others (e.g., Little, 2000; Willi, 1999) have found that happy and effective people (i.e., those with high SWB) tend to: Possess particular inner fixed or natural traits: self-esteem and acceptance, personal control/autonomy, optimism, and extraversion Exhibit free, or adaptive, traits that are culturally scripted patterns enacted within one’s goals and projects, and are independent of fixed traits Have warm, positive, trusting, and satisfying interpersonal relationships Find â€Å"flow† in work and in leisure (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990), where engagement in mindful challenge, with adequate support, is realizable Possess a religious or spiritual faith Adapt positively to change and show environmental mastery Find or create personal niches that enrich their lives Live within a cultural worldview that is generally positive Have a purpose and find meaning in life Have personal goals that guide personal growth Thus, happiness can be thought of as a side effect of other main effects and their interaction. Happiness can also be viewed as the dessert and not the main course. Positive Youth Development (PYD) is an approach to prevention that emphasizes the development of youth in context rather than attempting to prevent separate problems faced by youths (Pittman & Fleming, 1991). Many youth outcomes are affected by the same protective and risk factors, making interventions that address several personal-social and setting domains important. A set of PYD constructs has been developed in an effort to operationally define positive youth development. These constructs are relevant to our discussion of everyday prevention. Positive Youth Development programs and strategies seek generally to achieve one or more of the following objectives (Catalano, Berglund, Ryan, Lonczak, & Hawkins, 2002): Promote bonding: developing a child’s relationship with a healthy adult, positive peers, school, community, or culture Foster resilience: developing adaptive coping strategies to stress and change, and enhancing flexibility and overall capacity Promote social competence: developing appropriate interpersonal skills in such areas as communication and conflict resolution Promote emotional competence: developing skills in identifying and managing feelings and emotional reactions, such as in empathy and frustration tolerance Promote cognitive competence: developing ability to use logic, analytic thinking, abstract reasoning, problem solving, goal setting, and related skills Promote behavioral competence: developing skills in nonverbal and verbal communication and in taking prosocial action Promote moral competence: developing empathy, a sense of right and wrong, what is moral and just, and a respect for rules and standards Foster self-determination: developing the ability to think for oneself, to take action that matches the thought, to be autonomous, and to be able to chart one’s own course Foster spirituality: developing a belief in a higher power, a belief system, or a sense of spiritual identity/meaning/practice Foster self-efficacy: developing a sense that one can accomplish goals through one’s own action, involving personal goal setting, mastery skills, and ways to reverse self-defeating thoughts Foster clear and positive identity: developing a coherent sense of self, including positive identification with a supportive social or cultural subgroup Foster belief in the future: developing a belief about the future that is based on optimism about possibilities Provide recognition for positive behavior: developing ways to reward positive behaviors Provide opportunities for pro-social involvement: developing strategies for becoming actively involved in pro-social activities, making a contribution, and experiencing healthy interactions with others Foster pro-social norms: developing understanding of accurate normative behavior (e.g., the number of contemporaries who actually use drugs), mentoring to assist others (and oneself) with forward movement, creating clear expectations for minimizing health risks, and enhancing social support (pp. 15-22) These 15 PYD objectives provide a robust direction not only for professionals to pursue but also for everyday prevention efforts. Relatedly, Lopez and McKnight (2002) discussed what they termed â€Å"light-handed interventions† in PYD. Light-handed interventions are everyday occurrences that can make a difference in peoples’ lives (also known as experiences that enhance competency). These authors proposed that an efficient approach to PYD might be facilitated by what they termed â€Å"everyday luxuries† in which all youth do not have opportunities to indulge, such as attending a sporting event or a musical, relaxing, playing, and writing about life events.

Licensed Casino Gambling Essay

Individual effects: Is gambling generally harmful to the individual gambler?| Yes * Gambling is irrational and reckless and should, therefore, be regulated by the government. There may be the possibility of winning a big prize, but the overwhelming likelihood is that a gambler will lose money. This is ensured by the fact that Casinos are profit-minded organizations, and calculate their odds so that they will always make a profit. Because gamblers are always likely to lose and suffer as a result, the activity can be seen in many ways as an irrational engagement.Gambling attracts people with little money who are desperate for a windfall. These are the people who can least afford to lose money. They should be protected from the temptation to gamble.| NoContention that the general individual losses from gambling are justified by it being a fun and leisurely activity worth â€Å"paying† for: Gamblers know that, overall, they are likely to lose money. They gamble because it is a lei sure pursuit that they enjoy. There is nothing irrational about this. Some people get an enjoyable thrill from the remote possibility that they might win a huge prize – even if they lose, they enjoy the experience. Some forms of gambling are highly sociable. For example, many people go to bingo halls to spend time with friends. Society accepts people spending (â€Å"wasting†?) money on other leisure pursuits with no material benefits (e.g. cinema tickets, watching sport) – gambling should not be any different. It is patronizing to suggest that people, including those on low incomes, should not be able to choose how they spend their money. * Psychological benefits of gambling: Some argue that gambling offers psychological benefits. The psychological benefits may include: 1. A feeling of control (which some describe as God-like). 2. Confidence that extends from feelings of executive control in decision-making. 3. Benefits in the ability to psycho-analyze other peoples thoughts, and placing mone yed interests and incentives behind the results of such psycho-analysis.[1] 4. Total engagement and â€Å"peak experience†. â€Å"It provides the gambler with ‘peak experience,’ that godlike feeling when all of one’s physical and emotional senses are ‘go.'†[2] 5. The release from daily tension. 6. Feelings of exercising â€Å"‘the adventurer within us’ – that part of ourselves which lusts for change, the wooing of the unknown, change, danger, all that is new†¦It is part of what makes us human.†[3] 7. Feelings of engaging in a ubiquitous, historical human tradition. 8. Emotions of non-conformity and freedom. One source quoted a gambler who said, â€Å"All day long you do what them dumb bastard supervisors tell you. Don’t make no difference whether it makes sense or not. Sometimes you just gotta get out of line.†[4] * Gambling increases individual efficiency: Studies show that, contrary to popular belief, gambling is by and large beneficial to the gambler and increases rather than decreases his efficiency. It is beneficial in that it stimulates, offers hope, allows decision making, and, in many cases,| Crime effects: Does gambling cause an increase in various kinds of related criminal activities?| [][Edit]Yes * Casinos are often a ssociated with criminal activity. Drug dealers and prostitutes operate near casinos – they know that there are a large number of potential clients in the area. Casinos can therefore be devastating to neighborhoods.| [][Edit]No * People committing crimes should be prosecuted. The existence of criminals does not make nearby businesses (including casinos) immoral. It is perverse to punish people who just want to gamble (and not take drugs or use prostitutes) by taking away their chance to do so.| Bad industry? Are casinos an industry with bad merit? Is nothing of value produced by casinos?| Yes * Casinos don’t produce any â€Å"product†: Many contend that gambling is inappropriate because it does not generate any tangible product. One commentators says that gambling â€Å"is an ethereal substance–â€Å"a biological substance†Ã¢â‚¬â€œthat produces â€Å"highs†¦generated usually by anticipation.†[5]| No * Contention that casinos are involved in the entertainment business, and need not produce a tangible product: Gambling is a form of entertainment that is similar to many other forms of entertainment; the objective is merely to foster a desired emotional response from the audience. Movies, theater, fair-grounds, concerts, sporting-events, and casinos are all similar in that their primary function is to foster an environment of entertainment. That is their â€Å"product†, which need not be physical in order to be viewed as valuable.| Addiction: Is gambling commonly addictive, and would this be a reason for regulating it?| Yes * Gambling is addictive. Many people end up gambling to try to recover money they have already lost. This is known as ‘chasing losses’. It results in people staking more and more money, most of which they will lose. Gambling addicts often turn to crime to feed their addiction. Addiction is highly damaging to families, since gamblers will spend whatever money they can on gambling. People start to gamble without thinking that they will become addicted. Once they become addicted, it is too late. As with drugs, it is better to ban gambling to stop people getting started in the first place. * Analogy that gambling truly is like a drug, and should be treated as a controlled substance: * It is â€Å"drug-like† in the way that it dramatically utilizes human chemicals: William M. Th ompson, â€Å"Gambling: A Controlled Substance†, PBS Interview, 1994 – â€Å"Is the comparison of drugs and gambling unfair? Consider the words of Thomas R. O’Brien, formerly Director of Gaming Enforcement for the state of New Jersey. In 1984 he told a conference on gambling that the success of Atlantic City was tied to how well it sold its ‘only products.’ He then said: ‘That product is not entertainment or recreation or leisure. It’s really adrenaline: a biological substance capable of producing excitement–highs and generated usually by anticipation or expectation of a future event, especially when the outcome of that event is in doubt.’ According to chief regulator of the industry, gambling was not only a drug, but a mind-altering drug.† * The addictive and destructive nature of gambling is also drug-like:William M. Thompson, â€Å"Gambling: A Controlled Substance†, PBS Interview, 1994 – â€Å"Where governments do not prohibit, the majority can exercise self-control. Seventy-five percent gamble responsibly. They find it an entertaining diversion. But another 20 percent overindulge. They incur debts that impair abilities to support their families, unless they stop. Usually they can. Four percent cannot stop without intervention of others. Then there are the one-half to one percent (and these are conservative estimates) who fall into destructive behaviors when exposed to gambling. Families are destroyed, friendships broken, employment disrupted. Cycles of deception and crime lead to ruined lives–and in many cases, suicide.†| No * Contention that gambling is not physically addictive: Unlike drugs, gambling is not physically addictive. It is only psychologically addictive in some people. Only a small percentage of gamblers have an addiction. Many more get enjoyment from gambling without problems – why should these people suffer because a few others get addicted? The risks of gambling addiction are well known. People can make a conscious choice to start gambling, and are aware of the risks of addiction. Treatment programmes can address the problems of those who are addicted.| Economic harm? Do casinos casinos cause economic harm or provide very few economic benefits?| Yes * The long-term economic negatives outweigh the short-term economic gains: John Warren Kind, â€Å"The Business-Economic Impacts of Licensed Casino Gambling in West Virginia: Short-Term Gain but Long-Term Pain†, PBS, 1994 – â€Å"While the dollars invested in various legalized gambling projects and the jobs initially created are evident, the industry has been criticized for inflating the positive economic impacts and trivializing or ignoring the negative impacts (Goodman 1994). The industry’s tendency to focus on specialized factors provides a distorted view of the localized economic positives, while ignoring the strategic business-economic costs to the state as a whole (such as West Virginia) and to different regions of the United States (California Governor’s Office 1992, Kindt 1995). In 1994, all of the various experts who testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business criticized the impacts that casino-style gambling activities inflict upon the criminal justice system, the social welfare, system, small businesses, and the economy (Congressional Hearing 1994). Utilizing legalized gambling activities as a strategy for economic development was thoroughly discredited during the hearing.† * The actual economic benefits of casinos are exaggerated. They generally only create low-paid jobs for local people; the casino companies usually bring in managers from elsewhere. * There are too many economic â€Å"exte rnalities† surrounding gambling, which nullify the benefits: * Crime – * Risky behavior – Compulsive gambling may foster poor, sometimes risky money-management habits. These habits may transfer over to other areas of the economy, where risky behaviors translate into a higher likelihood of loss in various markets. * Time consumption – Compulsive gambling often entails significant time consumption, which detracts from more productive ends. * Jobs could be created through many other industries that cause fewer moral and practical problems (e.g. theme parks). * Any economic benefits would not matter, if the industry is deemed immoral: * Estimated losses from compulsive gambling: William M. Thompson, â€Å"Gambling: A Controlled Substance†, PBS Interview, 1994 – â€Å"Conservative numbers suggest it costs society $13,000 per year for each compulsive gambler. The losses include treatment costs, lost productivity, criminal activity and judicial costs. Estimating that widespread gambling across America would create one million compulsive gamblers, the resulting annual economic loss would exceed $13 billion.†| No * Casinos cause money to be spent on transport infrastructure, which is very beneficial to economies: * Casinos help the tourism industry of a place: The jobs are not just in the casino itself. More jobs are created in hotels and other parts of the tourism industry. * Examples in which casinos have helped to regenerate many places that previously had considerable poverty and social problems: * Atlantic City. * New Jersey. * Legalized gambling on reservations is very important to Native American tribes: Anthony Pico, Chairman of the Viejas Indians, explains the benefits to his tribe of legalized gambling on his tribe’s reservation in a PBS interview.[6]| Social welfare effects: Are the charitable generations from gambling substantial, and can this go toward justifying their existence?| Yes * It is immoral for the state or charities to raise money by exploiting people’s stupidity and greed. * Gambling is regressive (this means that the poor pay a greater proportion of their income in tax than the rich). This is because poor people are more likely to gamble. Regressive taxation is deeply unfair. * â€Å"Legalized gambling activities act as a regressive tax on the poor† (Clotfelter and Cook 1989). Specifically, the legalization of various forms of gambling activities makes â€Å"poor people poorer† and can dramatically intensify many pre-existing social-welfare problems. Demographic analyses reveal that certain disadvantaged socioeconomic groups tend to gamble proportionately greater amounts of their overall income and marketing efforts, particularly by state lotteries, have allegedly been directed at these target groups.† – John Warren Kind, â€Å"The Business-Economic Impacts of Licensed Casino Gambling in West Virginia: Short-Term Gain but Long-Term Pain†, PBS, 1994 * Contention that education is harmed by gambling practices: Kind, PBS, 1994 – â€Å"Legalized gambling activities also negatively affect education– both philosophically and fiscally (Better Government Association 1992; Clotfelter and Cook 1989). Adherence to a philosophy of making a living via gambling activities not only abrogates the perceived need for an education, but also reinforces economically unproductive activities (and is statistically impossible since the ‘house’ always wins eventually). In states with legalized gambling activities which were initiated allegedly to bolster tax revenues to ‘education,’ the funding in ‘real dollars’ has almost uniformly decreased.†| No * Gambling is often used to raise money for the state or good causes. Charities use prize draws to raise funds:| Should online gambling be banned?| Yes * Internet gambling is especially dangerous. Someone can become addicted very easily – they don’t even need to leave their home. This also means that they are gambling in private. They may therefore be less reluctant to wager very large sums they cannot afford. It is very hard to know the identity of an online gambler – there have been several cases of people (including children) using stolen credit cards to gamble online. Online gambling may be hard to control but that is not a reason to try – making an activity more difficult to pursue will still reduce the number of those who take it up. It is not impossible to put effective deterrent steps in place, such as the recent US ban on American banks processing credit card payments to internet ].| No * It is impossible to stop online gambling. When it has been banned, people have just used sites based in other countries. It is better to legalize and regulate online gambling than to drive gamblers to poorly-regulated foreign operators. Regulation can reduce the problems identified by the proposition. For example, online gamblers can be required to give personal details when registering (e.g. occupation, income). If this information suggests they are spending more than they can afford, the company can block their credit card. In any case, most online gamblers do not get addicted. Why should they be denied an activity that they enjoy?|