I'm at a point now where so many things, especially the major concepts we're exploring seem interconnected I can hardly keep anything straight. The pinball comparison made several weeks ago is apt. It makes a case for compartmentalization, otherwise I'd never get anything done.
Imagine scheduling without language or writing. What I see is humans attempting to grasp a certainly and order when there is none. What is science if not an exploration of patterns? I'm beginning to see the necessity of categorization, however it is ignorance of its created nature that is dangerous. Basically, the Matrix is better to live in than the chaos outside, but being aware of it and ones ability to change it are powerful.
I'm moving closer to a solid idea of a project and the element of language is what has been rattling around in my head the most. I know many of the people in this class and have met many of you in person, but there was still something ever do startling about hearing Dr. Kings voice in the first video tutorial. We've met before yet it's not quite the voice I heard in my head when I first read our morning lecture. What's more interesting is the fact that I hear a voice at all. That is the consequence of having a phonetic language as opposed to one that is symbolic like Chinese. I've studied Chinese and know a lot about the language but I would not go so far as to say I speak it. When one who is fluent in Chinese reads characters, is the experience of that similar to you reading this, or is it closer to how you read a semi ambiguous emoji?
How does the way we communicate through media affect our ability to relate?
The rush of dopamine I get going on Facebook is very real. As is phantom vibrations. According to researcher Michelle Drouin, 9 out of 10 undergraduates have e perks fed phantoms m vibrations at one time. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_vibration_syndrome. We want that vibration, that connection. If be lying  get a little excited to see the red number of notifications I've gotten, or messages in my inbox. I'm wanted! Or is this a way we get a quick fix of interaction. Is it killing the way I interact with people.
I'm not sure I feel as cuff ilex as I used to since joining Facebook. There are a large number of things that ultimately factor in to this, one being people present a very limited view of themselves that shows less 'cracks' then the real person. You can present yourself the way you want. Look ugly in a photo? Untagged. You can present who you think you are. Because of some of the things mentioned in Reagan's post in the forum, we can become distracted keeping up with the filtered lives of our 'friends'.
On a side tangent on the topic of filters, what can Bessie about the aging of photos? The want to have photos taken on a cell phone look like they were taken with a shitty camera from 1969? I think it may have to do with imbuing the photo and ultimately that moment with nostalgia it has not even had time to decompose or was devoid of in the first place.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/275361.php
Above is a article I found non-biased examining the impact of social media on our mental and physical wellbeing. The most striking yet not surprising find is that people who use social media the most are people who are more likely to have regular social issues, or rather issues relating to real people. The gratification of likes fulfills our need for social interaction but in fact it is only a reflection. Im really using that word a lot. The reflection pales in comparison to the real thing. Rinn posted a video that depicted a man who's whole life seemed like a game, even wasting a cucumber because he didn't get the score he wanted. When good photos of us are judged by easily quantifiable things like LIKES, this is transforming how we quantify real appreciation when we revive it. Not even how, the fact that it is quantified at all is absurd. It also creates an almost overactive self awareness. It seems to me we are more obsessed than ever about how we look and how wonderful and exiting our lives our. Or at least communicating that to others.
For me, what I need the most when I'm depressed or in need of some social interaction I need empathy. I need someone to say "I've been like that too. Here's what I did. Or I still don't know what to do. I'm just as confused as you." But media seems to be making all aspects of our lives competitive in ways they haven't before. Im rambling. I'm tired.