With the rise of internet technology of the twenty first century, people feel more connected than ever. Using mediums such as social media, people feel as if they can have access to people that they would have never come into contact with otherwise. This creates a feeling of unity among them. However, when used instead for people pitting themselves against others, this medium can drive them even further apart than before. Now, the technology that was intended to bring people together created even more of a distance between them. Instead of people facing their adversaries personally, they use technology as a buffer to detach themselves from their perceived opponent. This idea presents itself into a myriad of contemporary works, especially the …show more content…
The people from the front utilize technology to subvert and repress the people near the back. This technology comes in many forms: the train, physically separating the passengers, the guns that are meant to deter rebellion, and the engine that serves as the ultimate symbol of control; whoever controls the technology of the train controls the train itself. The train itself is used to physically separate the people into different sections and, therefore, separate them psychologically as well. When Curtis and company get to the school section, a little girl says to them “I heard all Tail Sectioners were lazy dogs and they all drink their own shit.” These people are taught from a young age that because some people live at the end of the train they are lower than the others. Living in the tail end of the train classifies one as lesser than or undesirable. And because of this, the people in the tail section get treated reprehensively compared to the people at the middle or the front of the train. The people without the technology, therefore, are the ones who experience dehumanization from the people with it. We see a heavily pregnant woman get knifed in the neck, and we're meant to applaud, because, well, she's an oppressor, so she had it coming. …show more content…
The drones dehumanize both the pilots and the people they are targeting. They cause the pilots to become detached and unfeeling: “Another day another dollar: hover and shift, twelve hours over strangers’ homes (McDonough 10-12).” The pilot says these words as if piloting the drones is no different than any other job; they just do the mindless work and then get paid; they do not seem to grasp the weight of their actions as they are carried out. “A drone pilot works a twelve-hour shift, then goes home to real life. Showers, eats supper, plays video games. Twelve hours later he comes back, high-fives, takes over the drone (McDonough 1-4).” The speaker refers to the time not piloting the drone as “real life”. They connect the drone piloting more with the video games they play; it does not feel as realistic; therefore, the targets they make do not seem like real people, just objectives in a game.
...s means the drone is capable of attacking anything and anywhere at any time. The drone is able to patrol areas in Afghanistan and when a threat is identified it can either send in a combat drone or if the combat drone is already on patrol it is able to eliminate the target. The drone is equipped with hellfire missiles that is an air to surface missile that can decimate any land target. (E-IR) Examples of the Strategic Stealth Tactical Striking is in February 7th, 2002, when the CIA used a Predator drone to attack a convoy of SUV’s full of al Qaeda terrorists. Another Example is November 3, 2002, The CIA used a predator Drone to fire a hellfire missile into a car killing an al Qaeda leader. Both these attacks aren’t capable of being carried out without risking many lives but thanks to the drone we are able to carry out such task without the potential of an injury.
In the article ‘’Confessions of a Drone Warrior’’, published in the GQ in October 22, 2013, by Matthew Power, the author talks about a drone pilot’s experience after working with military drones for 6 years. In this article, the main point the author is trying to prove is that flying military drones is not some kind of video game, it’s as real as it gets, even though the pilot doesn’t actually take part in combat. It can change people. During his service, the Airman First Class Brandon Bryant killed 1626 people. It’s terrifying, considering that the pilot had to watch every person die. His job was to monitor people(normally high-value targets in Afghanistan) from the sky and when he got the command to kill from the authorities, he fired a missile
Even in a society that claims complete equality, small segregation and discrimination will seep through the cracks. In Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron,” this exact thing is happening. In the book, the government claims that “they [are] equal in every which way” (Vonnegut 1). However, this is a lie because they are segregating by how they choose who gets handicapped and who doesn’t. It’s a grouping of the strong separated from the weak.
"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" is a philosophical question regarding observation and reality, which can be further applied to the use of war drones. War drones, are remote controlled aircrafts that humans control on land in remote locations. These unmanned aerial vehicles must be analyzed to determine their legitimacy and morality. Drones, although having the possibility of decreasing risks to civilian and U.S. militant lives, make no binding promise. Furthermore, due to the secrecy in which they are operated the kills the vehicles do execute tend to go unnoticed because U.S. militants aren’t physically harmed; therefore, the kills go unobserved and mostly unacknowledged by the public. Secondly, drone attacks are merely aimed at killing, as opposed to capturing enemies; consequently, there is no gain of intelligence into the terrorists’ cells. Lastly, these remote controlled aircrafts can be hacked by enemies and currently we lack the security necessary to halt the hacking. The promises drones offer are empty and lack supporting evidence, while the negatives are clear and demonstrably verified; accordingly the risks drones present outweigh their possible benefits.
The group dynamics on social media are a virtual experience of those in reality. Yet the group processes we carry out via the Internet have very real consequences. For instance, social media can trigger deindividuation, a phenomenon that can lead us to use the Internet in deviant ways. In addition, social media platforms encourage group polarization, which can further divide groups with contrasting views. Nevertheless, social media has greatly contributed to the self-esteem, social identity, and productivity of many individuals due to the ease and convenience of organizing and joining groups online.
This article discusses how people are becoming dehumanized by tools that they used in their everyday life. The author points out that these tools include the ever advancing technology, business, and the use of authoritarianism by institutions. The use of technology has many positive aspects. Unfortunately, in regards to communication, there are more negative aspects to it than positive. When using texting or social networking places, communication becomes less personal, while feelings and emotions are filtered out, because people do not face each other to see their non verbal reactions. The overuse of technology has a negative impact on education as well. Business is built on competition, and when it comes to profit, business will dictate
Social media has changed the way people communicate with each other and in turn, has affected our ability to empathize in both negative and positive ways. One of the most harmful consequences is the rise of cyber-bullying. Another negative issue has been the trend of trolling in comments sections of websites, chat rooms, and other online venues of communication. In spite of this, there have been constructive consequences due to social media such as the ability for family and friends to keep in touch on a regular basis. Because of social media, many people are finding support and resources to help them when they fall on hard times or experience tragedies like death and illness. Overall, social media is an exciting new world that changes as it grows and it will be up to society to utilize it for good.
The use of drones as weapons of war and delivery and surveillance systems should not be dismissed because many people do not realize the real capabilities of drones and how they can be used to better the world through efficient air strikes, faster delivery times, and useful surveillance. Some of the most common misconceptions about drones arise due to the lack of knowledge about what drones are. A drone is a remote controlled, pilotless aircraft that can be used to survey an area, conduct stealth missions, and deliver supplies into difficult to reach areas (Drone). Unmanned aircraft are also, contrary to popular belief, not solely machines that kill without even a thought to who is being fired upon. They have proved to be effective surveillance units in areas that may be dangerous for manned aircraft to fly, along with the potential to be reliable delivery units (Drones).
Another name for drones are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVS). These are “aircraft either controlled by ‘pilots’ from the ground or increasingly, autonomously following a pre-programmed mission” (Cole 4). Even though there are many unique types of drones, but they usually fall under two main categories: ones that are armed and equipped with missiles and bombs and others that are used for surveillance. In the past couple of years the use of drones has increased dramatically. The reason being because “unlike manned aircraft they can stay aloft for many hours and are flown remotely so there is no danger to the flight crew” (Cole 13). There are drones that can actually fly over more than fifty hours. In countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, the Predator and U.S Reaper are physically there. Cause of the power of technology th...
“Social media, a web-based and mobile technology, has turned communication into a social dialogue, and dominates the younger generation and their culture. As of 2010, Generation Y now outnumbers Baby Boomers, and 96% of Gen Y has joined a social network” (Qualman 1). Social media now accounts for the number one use of the Internet, and this percentage is rising bigger every day (Qualman). As a consequence, people are becoming more reliant on social media, which has a led to a number of advantageous as well as unfavorable effects. The world is more connected today than it has ever been in the past, and this is all because of growth in technology. What has yet to be determined though
One great defining cultural aspect of drone technology in America, is its magnificent history. According to Newcome (2004), Radioplane Company in Hollywood, was owned by a British Actor and WWII pilot and built over 15,000 small drones for the military. A young President Ronald Reagan, when he was in the Airforce, directed an Army journalist to do a story on the Radioplane Company, where he took the first photographs of Norma Jean assembling radio-controlled airplanes. The young Army photographer told Norma she could be a model and only a few years later Marilyn Monroe emerged.
Social media has caused a substantial decrease in face-to-face time, stopped people from working effectively, and has caused an increase in bullying. Social media as defined by dictionary.com is “websites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts”. People use social media for networking, education, and entertainment. Some of today’s most popular social media sites include Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Vine, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Facebook is used as a basic social media site.
Social media is a controversy topic in today’s society. Some people think that social media destroys human interaction and real life human relationships. While others think that social media is a bless to humanity. Social media makes human interaction much more convenient and much faster than real life human interaction, it makes globalization a reality, it gives a chance for introverted people to express themselves, and it also benefit develop international relationships whether its business or social.
Social media is used by many people, young and old around the world as a way to communicate. Our lives have become so busy that it is difficult to maintain family and social relationships. “They use social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. On these sites users create profiles, communicate with friends and strangers, do research and share thoughts, photos, music, links and more” (Social Networking). With the use of social media you can be friends with all sorts of people without actually seeing or knowing them. “In many ways, social communities are the virtual equivalent of meeting at the general store or at church socials to exchange news and get updated on friends and families” (Cosmato).
The social media is one of the most common means of communication and pretty much of knowing anything and everything around the world these days, and it is growing very rapidly. It changes and affects each person in a different way, or ways. Some may argue that social media has a bad influence on children and young adults, while most people see that the social media has a more positive effect on them than a negative one. Social media is basically the new way of keeping in touch with everything and everyone, and of even strengthening bonds between each other. This essay will argue that social media has improved communication between people, and has also improved the means of communication between them.