No matter if its because of a worry of embarrassment, pain, or any other negative feeling, many tasks can be daunting. From something as simple as a job interview, to a life threatening journey such as Frodo's quest to destroy the One ring, any task labeled "daunting" places a certain amount of fear in a person. One might argue that if the task gives great angst to someone and it is failed, it has no value and would have been better if it had never been attempted. However, even if failed, daunting tasks possess great value.
When asked about his failure while creating the light bulb, Thomas Edison said "I have not failed. I've just found 10000 ways that won't work". Whether utilized or not, every failure presents to someone a lesson. This lesson can be used to correct the previous problem in order to be successful the next time. Even if there happens to be 10000 "next times". While it can be simple to see the value in a failed task, it can be much harder to see the value in a task which appears to have no end or final destination. Especially in today's world, these tasks have become more and more evident as the technical world, in particular, continues to improve. As Winston Churchill said, there is an "ever improving" society and world. This could be translated as an endless task as nobody will ever be content with the way society is no matter how much it improves. Does that mean a person should simply not attempt to do anything in the world because it is ever changing? Obviously not. While other examples may not be quite as obvious, the value in each task is still based on the same principle.
Though a final destination may never be reached, attempting to complete the endless task possesses value because through failures lessons are taught and through lessons improvements are made.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
The Value in Popular Entertainment
The argument has been made that popular entertainment is just a way to escape everyday life. Also, people have claimed that popular entertainment provides nothing of value. However, these arguments and claims could not be further from the truth. Popular entertainment offers value through its presentation of cultural ideas, its ability to train skills needed for the future, and the real experience it gives people even through an almost intangible world.
Popular entertainment, or technology, can provide users with cultural knowledge every time its used. It can provide knowledge and information that translate to reality. Watching television channels like the news provide current events and social networking can keep people up to date with the latest trends so they can then survive in the real world. Along with providing knowledge about cultural ideas, popular entertainment can train skills needed for the future. In today's world, "real world" experience can cut it anymore. Knowing how to do blue collar work isn't what will get a person far in life these days. Today's culture is rapidly switching to technology leaving anyone who does not, or cannot, make the switch behind. As people say, nerds run the world. This is why it is valuable to at least be familiar with technology in today's digital world. People have argued that technology and popular entertainment provides a way for people to evade important realities. However, what important realities cannot be gained through popular entertainment? If the argument is that it can be detrimental to relationships, technology and things like social networking prove to actually be helpful. How can someone expect to build a relationship with someone out of reasonable driving distance? Technology is the answer. People use Skype to communicate across the world, or other online social networks to talk to each other.
Whether it is used to gain knowledge of the culture and become more "in the loop" socially, acquire skills important for the future, or even build relationships, popular entertainment, or technology, is much more than just a useless way to waste time.
Popular entertainment, or technology, can provide users with cultural knowledge every time its used. It can provide knowledge and information that translate to reality. Watching television channels like the news provide current events and social networking can keep people up to date with the latest trends so they can then survive in the real world. Along with providing knowledge about cultural ideas, popular entertainment can train skills needed for the future. In today's world, "real world" experience can cut it anymore. Knowing how to do blue collar work isn't what will get a person far in life these days. Today's culture is rapidly switching to technology leaving anyone who does not, or cannot, make the switch behind. As people say, nerds run the world. This is why it is valuable to at least be familiar with technology in today's digital world. People have argued that technology and popular entertainment provides a way for people to evade important realities. However, what important realities cannot be gained through popular entertainment? If the argument is that it can be detrimental to relationships, technology and things like social networking prove to actually be helpful. How can someone expect to build a relationship with someone out of reasonable driving distance? Technology is the answer. People use Skype to communicate across the world, or other online social networks to talk to each other.
Whether it is used to gain knowledge of the culture and become more "in the loop" socially, acquire skills important for the future, or even build relationships, popular entertainment, or technology, is much more than just a useless way to waste time.
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