Hi all. I hope all is going well and everyone is maintaining an optimistic disposition.
For me, I am somewhat caught up on my academic assignments and have had time to sit back and reflect. Some of the reflections that came to mind are:
Do I know what I am doing when it comes to life? For the most part I can say that I do, afterall, this is my life we’re talking about.
Do I know what I am doing when it comes to relationship and marriage? No one is an expert in marriage and relationships and you have to be involved in one or the other to know what you are talking about. Relationships are not exonerated from having ups and downs. They are part of life where we need to figure out and carve out pathways that works for us. Relationships, just like life are things that you deal with one day at a time and one circumstance at a time.
Do I know what I am doing when it comes to my life satisfaction academically? I must say that I have never been so proud of myself for my academic accomplishments. To be the first person in your family time earn a bachelor’s degree is one thing, bit to be on the verge of earning a Ph.D. changes the academic paradigm. I knew that I wanted to be a doctor in my early 20s and was directed towards an anesthesiologist but after taking so many prerequisites feel in love with psychology. So, here I am. Only several months away from obtaining a PhD in psychology of which will transform into being a psychiatrist with additional training.
Do I know what I am doing when it comes to being a friend? Becky No. I don’t have any friends. I am not sure if I was a good one when I did some 10 years ago.
Do I know what I am doing when it comes to being a mom? I think I did a good job but could have engage in more quality family time as opposed to working many hours a day, 16 most days, i.e., being a workaholic. If anything could have been improved I’ll let my children be the ones to tell me.
Do I know what I am doing when it comes to being a BOSS? Hecky Yeah.
Do I know what I am doing when it comes to being a sister? For me this is a touch a feel situating. So, I’m gonna leave that question dismantled.
Do I know what I am doing when It comes to being a good neighbor? Look we are not talking about State Farm insurance. I’m talking about your residential next door neighbor. People don’t interact the way they use to. Just imagine asking your neighbor to borrow a cup of sugar. They are going to look at you like don’t you know Amazon and supermarket do same day or next day delivery. Or don’t you have the internet. Or with all the restaurants takeout and delivery services, why are you still cooking. But yeah, neighboring does not have the same meaning that it has in the 90s.
Stay tuned. There are other questionable aspects of my life.
Technologies and their influences on human behaviors and opportunities
What is a Digital Native?
Generation Differences: Generation X, Y, and Z and BabyBoomers, or should we say Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants
What is the in-between, the Generation Xers, or Xennials?
Image source: Google Images
I mean seriously, why is the in-between associated with an “X?” Is Robert Capa, the person that coined the term, according to Pew Research, saying that people like me don’t matter. Wait, but I do matter. This term seems to evolve with society, as it was first associated with young adults in the 1950s, now it is associated with individuals that are between digital natives, those born before the 1980s and digital immigrants, those born before 1964, so where does that leave me, somewhere in between and I am still not telling you my age. Its somewhere in-between.
What is a Digital Immigrant?
Hey, I was not born before 1964, but I have some close friends who were. Even my lifelong partner was born in this non-digital era. One who is not tech-savvy at all. He does what he needs to do to run a business, but when it comes to bells and whistles of technology, it is like running in slow motion in a sprinting relay race. The situation escalates and becomes argumentative, situations that I particularly try to void but when you have someone that constantly challenges your knowledge you cannot help but defend yourself. Yes, this may lead to outbursts and unreconcilable disputes that last for hours to days only for one to come and say that I literally don’t understand. Why in the world are you willing to challenge a person on something that you lack knowledge in? It begets me. It pierces my skins, drawing blood. Knowing my passion for technology and psychology, I ask myself why do I even bother, but it is necessary as the entire premise is to show how digital immigrants refuse to engage in emerging technologies even with they attribute to dignity, independence, and social enrichment. I ponder over and over in my head of why I even bothered. I have to develop a higher level of patience, particularly when it comes to teaching and when my technological skills are being challenged or at the forefront of the situation. Being in technology for over 20. years, I have learned to develop a level of patience. I have learned the ins and outs when it comes to client discernment.
The Digital Divide between Millennials and Premillennial Cohorts
Look, as people get older, they face various debilitating situations, those physically and mentally and in various cause they don’t want to use emerging technolgoes because of they age related degradations. Given that, these frailty conditions does not allow for certain interactions, even if it means maintaining dignity, social wealth, and independence. Even if it means sustaining a healthy well-being and optimistic attitude or disposition. Older adults fall at the lower end of the digital scale, while younger generations top the charts. Is this because younger generations were born into a digital era where technology is more sophisticated than ever? Probably so. It is also because technology has become all they know when it comes to communicating, socializing themselves, and just being part of society. Younger generations are much more tech-savvy than most older generations. They are able to navigate and maneuver different apparatuses with little to no effort. They are able to figure out things on the fit and have the patience to do so. They are the one that possess the latest and greatest tools, even if it comes from their dads wallet or their mothers pocketbook.
Why have the younger generation adopted and adapted to emerging technologies, when the older generations were the first generation to gain accessibility
Digital Divide Among Personification and Life Selectives and Preferences
Why does my life choices or my personal choice deem me inaccessible to various technologies or opportunities. Just because I have not taken advantage of the educational opportunities that I was afforded does not mean that you have to slam the doors in my face, tell me no, leave me out in the dark, or throw me to the wolves. I did not take advantage of the academic upcoming because I did not want to have student debt hanging over my head for the rest of my life, knowing good as well, that even if I got a degree, my opportunities would still be limited or scarcity.
When I made the necessary choices, in some cases, those that may go against what society consider “illegal” then you wan to send your goons to through me in jail. Look, I did nothing to no one and only did what I needed to do to keep my lights on and food on the table. MY life choices have not caused harm to anyone, as I am a person that keeps to myself. I didn’t say anything when you were running around committing perjury or skimming funds off the top of what was supposed to be money to assist people like me. No one said anything when you took bribes, but lets not get off topic. I wish to focus on the situation at hand and be a voice for the persons that are voiceless and choiceless.
Digital inequities and disparities are not preferential, as they have been selectives by persons living outside of rural and impoverished communities. People in poor neighborhoods want the same technological advantages of these persons living in the inner cities. Just as they want justice and equality when it comes to treatment and police brutality, they also want equality when technology is concerned. They don’t want to be the overlooked group that continues to have life sucked out of them or be denied opportunities that most of them deserve. Some are highly educated, but because we live in a shifty and unequal society, their desire to be better is not acknowledged and continued to be shutdown, even by the least experiences or biased hiring managers. We need to do better. Everyone. We all need to join hands and sing a kumbaya song even if it means doing so with our eyes closed. Maybe hiring managers should conduct interviews with blindfolds, maybe it will change the dynamics of hiring. May Internet Service Providers, and Technology manufacturers and designers, should incorporate a diverse audience into their methodology, that was certain groups are not let out, regardless of their ability to purchase and sustain the equipment.
Why does being poor cause digitalization designers and companies to turn their backs persons facing impecunious situations?
Just because you are not economically or financially stable, does not mean that you should be subjected to ridicule and isolation, especially where technological accessibility and usability are concerned. Being poor in various cases, mean that a person has not been given the same opportunities as others. These being academically, professionally, socioeconomically, or what have you. They may not have a certain level of education to be considered what society terms “educated.” They may not have the same financial worth of what society considers “financially stable.” Most people in this world are living from paycheck to paycheck and with millions of layoffs and furloughs handing over our heads, most of us are living from pillar to post. Not knowing where out next meals is going to come from or how we are going to pay the bills that we do have. In 2020, most people have started to realize that living and breathing is not free, as all things come with a price tag. A high price tag. A price that that may result in death.
Helping Our Children Means Helping Their Future
Again, being from a the lower end of the economic spectrum does not means that a person have to be at the lower end of the digital or opportunities for betterment of self. We live in a technologically-driven world where all societies conform to technology use norms and behaviors. People who live in urban and suburban communities are provided with robust technology accessibility where broadband connections are stable and trustworthy, while those persons in impoverished and poor communities fall short and continue to be underserved and underrepresented in all facets of life. Things have to get better, especially given that we live in a society where our who nation is technology driven. We heavily rely on technology for education, social engagement, professional affiliations, and so forth. Live is already a struggle for most, and those who feel as though they are privileged may beg the differ. People in destitute and impecunious situations want better for themselves and their children, but it is society that continues to hold them back, thus denying them access to life changing chances. The digital divide among younger generations are not that that wide by it exists academically for sure. The same goes for those persons who have home broadband connections. almost all young adults own or use smartphones or cell phones but there are still some that do not, irrespective to their country. The digital divide is hurting older generations in these rural communal spaces and places solely because of their potential lack of support and their untrustworthiness or uncomfortableness in using digital apparatuses. Other nonuse are related to age related frailties and metal and physical debilitations. Again, inaccessibility to physical material and resources are an ultimate cause.
Google Images
If one was to make changes and do what IS necessary then we all can live among smart streets and in smartphone home. This does not mean that all of our household appliances should be based on smart technology. This means that placing dependable broadband and WiFi connections in all rural areas, will increase their chances to partake in various life changing opportunities for the betterment of themselves, academically, professional, and economically. Children will acquire quality education and teachers will be provided with some of the necessary tools needed to keep students engaged and academically present. Lives can change where technology is concerned. The digital gap should not be this wide and steadily increasing, when technology have become all the we know and all that most people depend on when it comes to getting an education, for financial wealth and health, for employment and healthcare opportunities. It would suffice to say that we challenge the internet services providers, but if they are not making a profit, then they want no parts. Our children and elderly deserve better. Our digital divides needed to be bridged and it all starts with equitable internet access and broadband connectivities, not only for urbaner and suburbaners, but for ruralers as well.
Today is Giving Tuesday. Today, more than ever we should give thanks and should also give back if situations allow. The COVID-19 pandemic has put great stress on individuals worldwide. More people than we have imaged are going without. They have gone without, and they will continue to go without. Resources are scarce. Small businesses are suffering. Children and family meals are sparse. People are or have lost their homes. Furthermore, most of this is a result of job losts, furloughs, or reduced hours of work.
If you have never given anything in your entire life, today and from here on out should be the day that you pay it forward. In previous cases we never knew what the situation were, but right now situations are exposed and out in the open. People are not afraid to ask for assistance today. They are not embarrassed, as everyone is on the verge of losing insurmountable income, irrespective to residuals and preserves.
For me, I try to do my part, for the most part. I try to give back when situations allow. I am a huge stickler for education so anyone trying to better themselves, I am for it. I will provide assistance to others just on the spare of the moment.
If you don’t do anything today, or tomorrow, GIVE. It should be a simple phone call, a huge, make someone laugh or what have you. You can give a person in need a meal for the day even if its a simple sandwich. GIVING does not have to cost you anything, but if you can afford to spare a dollar or two, give that. It will definitely bring a smile to someone’s face.
Today, December 1, 2020, is the day that we recognize the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS/HIV) and all the damage that it has done and all of the people that have lost their lives to this terminal disease. We acknowledge all of the people that continues to walk among us in this world that remains infected and who will be on immune balancing medications and treatments for probably the rest of their lives, as there is no cure. Even though, COVID-19 has taken precedent over out thinking, we cannot help but to things about the compounds and compilation of other ailments that people worldwide suffer from.
Image Source: Google Images
Tough science and technologies are evolving, and there has been treatments developed, such as Antiretroviral therapy (ART), to reduce the amounts of virus in the system and to prevent the spread from one person to the other, no cure has been formulated. Yes, people are able to live normal lives and engage sexually, but given that AIDS/HIV can be a terminal illness, there is still a great deal of stigma associated with the disease. For the most part, taking the various medications, i.e., NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs, and Integrase inhibitors, just to name a few, and going through treatments such as ART has seeming, can be mentally draining. I am not sure of the side effect that this treatments and medications ensue, but having to take medication for long periods of time can have wear and tear on your physical and mental being. What happens when your body becomes immune to such medication, or is this possible with this medication? Does the prescribing doctors increase the dosage, and if so, how can they determine when and how much.
If this is true, then it is definitely a breakthrough, as a cure has been a long time coming and it well deserved. AIDS/HIV has been known to be a sexually transmitted disease and can be contracted through blood or blood transfusion. That is still the case. If there is a cure on the horizon, or a cure have been found, tested, and proven, we must given kudos to our scientist, donors, supporters, and advocates who have been working around the clocks to make this happen. Speaking, of scientist, it seems that a cure to cancer is on the horizon.
It would be even more amazing if they found a cure for cancer, as some reports are suggesting that Dr. Haidiyah-Nicole Green, the first black woman to cure cancer in mice and have been given grants to expand her findings. Who knows where this could go, hopefully it will lead to a cure of cancer in humans. However, the research does not determine what type of cancer was cured. In any matter, any time of cancer that is cured is astronomical.
While most individual have become vigilant regarding the transmission of HIV/AIDS, there are some people who have been exposed to this disease by force. Men and women have been raped by others infected. People have transmitted the disease not know they were infected because their partners sexual proclivities and urges outweighed the risks or harms that they were subjecting others to. So, in most cases, the transmission was intention or unintentional. The sharing of needles by addicts are another form of transmission, as an addicts need to get high outweigh the risk of transmission by using the needles of others. Its a tragedy to be subjected to this disease, but given that they have found viable treatment and potential cure it sort of put some people more at ease, mainly those infected and can afford the medications and treatments. For those persons who cannot, they continue to walk the planet-a walking viral plague. But what can we do. Most of these persons are black/African American or Africans who most likely fall at the short end when it comes to medical treatments, healthcare, and healthcare insurance.
It has been suggested that the aids pandemic started from African American same-sex male partners. From being on the down-low, meaning embarrassed by your sexual preferability or desirability, or bi-sexual males, who have transmitted the disease to women partners through unprotected sex. And given that these women become pregnant, these morbidities are then transmitted to unborn children.
So, I leave you with, remain supportive and vigilant. We must all do our part to stay safe and protect ourselves when it comes to sexual engagements. People with AIDS/HIV do not look sickly and you make not witness any symptom, yet the continuance of have sexual encounters unprotected can not only lead to the infection of others but can also result in their death.
Au'Pearce 