Robust Verbs – Softball1321

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Softball1321

Vancouver faces many problems with heroin addiction, one of which is a huge number of burglaries and muggings committed by addicts who can’t hold jobs or maintain relationships. Although the “free heroin for addicts” program keeps addicts off the streets, it does not end addiction, despite eliminating most street crime.

Posted in Robust Verbs, Softball1321 | Leave a comment

Research—RoboFrog

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Robofrog

All Fiction Based on Previous Fiction is Fanfiction

All around the world, people read news articles, watch television, read advertisements that are posted around them, and read funny sayings printed on t-shirts and their ideas and opinions are influenced by them as a result. Books as a result of being written by people are no different regarding being influenced by external sources. Expanding upon this concept we can argue that fiction books that use characters or settings from previous books written by different authors can be considered fanfiction.

The books that I am going to be analyzing as evidence of this idea is the “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” series. This series uses characters and settings from Greek mythology and puts them into a modern world setting. The series is from the perspective of Percy Jackson, a kid in the modern world who discovers that the Greek gods are real and that he is a demigod, before proceeding to go on a series of quests to save the world. During these quests he has run ins with the gods and other characters from Greek mythology who at times provide tools and information to aid him or threaten to kill him. In Greek mythology, characters such as Hercules and Medusa had similar run ins with the gods during their own lives, like Hera causing Hercules to temporary go insane and murder his own family or Medusa being cursed by Athena and later killed by Perseus who had been given tools by the gods to aid him in the task.

In the first book, The Lightning Thief, he is introduced to this world, the camp where the demigods are trained, and sets off on a quest to find the master bolt and return it to Zeus by the summer solstice. Before he sets off on this quest, he receives training and advice from Chiron who in the myths trained multiple heroes.

In the second book, The Sea of Monsters, he and his friends go on a quest to retrieve the golden fleece to save the camp. During this quest, he fights a hydra and defeats it with outside help just as Hercules did for his second labor.

In the third book, The Titan’s Curse, he and his friends go on a quest to save the goddess Artemis by the winter solstice, during which they slay the Nemean lion just as Hercules did for his first labor.

In the fourth book, The Battle of the Labyrinth, he and his friends discover a secret passage into the camp that bypasses its defenses, leading to them going on a quest to find Daedalus in an attempt prevent the Titans and their forces from using the Labyrinth to destroy the camp. During this quest, he washes up on Calypso’s Island and spends time there before leaving just as Odysseus did in The Odyssey.

In the final book, The Last Olympian, he leads his fellow demigods in a final battle to save Olympus from the Titans. During this quest, he went through a similar process to what Achilles had been put through as a baby to become almost completely invincible.

In this essay “fanfiction” will be defined as a work of literature that makes use of characters and settings from previous works of literature and changes them to fit a new story while keeping their essence of them as recognizable. This means that the specific character or setting must be recognizable as that specific one instead of being someone or something that just happens to share a name. For example, in chapter 14 on page 213 of the second book, the cave that Polyphemus the cyclops lives in, on the island where the golden fleece is located is described as:

I pushed through the crowd of sheep and goats toward the back of the cave.

Even though I’d dreamed about this place, I had a hard time finding my way through the maze. I ran down corridors littered with bones, past rooms full of sheepskin rugs and life-size cement sheep that I recognized as the work of Medusa. There were collections of sheep T-shirts; large tubs of lanolin cream; and wooly coats, socks, and hats with ram’s horns.

Whereas in book 9 of The Odyssey, the cave that Polyphemus lives in is described as:

His cheese-racks were loaded with cheeses, and he had more lambs and kids than his pens could hold. They were kept in separate flocks; first there were the hoggets, then the oldest of the younger lambs and lastly the very young ones[80] all kept apart from one another; as for his dairy, all the vessels, bowls, and milk pails into which he milked, were swimming with whey. When they saw all this, my men begged me to let them first steal some cheeses, and make off with them to the ship; they would then return, drive down the lambs and kids, put them on board and sail away with them.

Both passages describe the cave as being filled with sheep and sheep byproducts.

A difference between them is in the kind of sheep byproducts being described is probably due to the fact that Odysseus and his men are looking for things of value to them as shown in the part of the quote that comes after the description of what is inside the cave, so that’s all that is described for them, whereas Percy is looking in the cave for his imprisoned companions and is just describing the stuff that sticks out to him along the way. Another difference is that Percy used the sheep to get into the cave without Polyphemus seeing him while guiding the sheep in for the night by clinging to one of their underbellies, whereas Odysseus and his men didn’t have to sneak because Polyphemus did not seal the cave. A third difference is that Percy upon freeing his companions had left with them the cave as quickly as possible, whereas Odysseus and his men choose to wait in it for Polyphemus to show up.

These similarities and differences show that these settings in the books are in the same place while still telling a new story that is not just a retelling of the original one.

On the other hand, not all works that use the same characters and settings from the works that preceded them are fanfiction. Adaptations of previous works are an example of this. This is because they are basically the same story just changed for a different audience. For example, the version of The Odyssey that the quote above is from is an adaptation of the original version of it because the original is written in ancient Greek whereas the version the quote is from is in English and has had its grammar changed so that it makes sense in English. Also, the translation does not add new characters or circumstances into the story. Another example of this is sequels that are written by the author of the original work whose story they are continuing and adding additional lore to it. This is by virtue of being written by the same person means they cannot be fanfiction.

The series is not a simple retelling of ancient Greek mythology. An example of this is how the characters and settings have been relocated to North America where the series is happening when in the myths they were in Greece and the surrounding area. Another example is that while many characters in the series are from Greek mythology, the overarching story itself is focused on the original characters that were created for it.

Overall, the “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” series is an example of how fiction books that use characters or settings from previous books written by different authors can be considered fanfiction. This is through its reuse of characters, settings, and plot points from Greek mythology and putting them into a new story. This reuse of material also provides a degree of convenience for authors writing new stories.

There are many reasons to reuse characters, settings, and plot points from previous works of literature in new works of literature, but the greatest reason is that of convenience. This is because it is very difficult to come up with characters, settings, and plot points from scratch.

For characters the reason it is convenient to reuse them from previous works of literature in new ones is because it provides a basic outline of the characters’ beliefs, personality, background, strengths, and weaknesses that the author can then flesh out and expand upon to give the characters depth without having to come up with that basic outline themselves. In the case of Riordan takes the characters from the ancient Greek myths and portrays them in “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” as being the same characters with them being real and around since ancient Greece and have adapted to modern times.

An example of this is the god Dionysus. In the original myths he is portrayed as the god of wine, pleasure, and vegetation. Riordan has taken Dionysus and has him as the director of the camp and forbidden to drink wine as punishment by Zeus for doing something he was forbidden to do. Riordan uses his personality from the myths as a basis for how he interacts with Percy and the other demigods as a result of his discontentment with this punishment.

Another example of this is Medusa. In the original myths she is Poseidon’s lover who is cursed by Athena to turn everyone that sees her face to stone. This history is shown in Riordan’s The Lightning Thief during Percy and his friends’ encounter with her in the form of her living in an emporium that contains all her previous victims that she sells to others and her hatred of Annebeth, who is a daughter of Athena.

A third example of this is Tantalus. In the original myth he had cut up and cooked his own children, before feeding them to the gods, who upon discovering this sentenced him to the underworld where his punishment is described by Odysseus in book 11 of The Odyssey as follows:

“I saw also the dreadful fate of Tantalus, who stood in a lake that reached his chin; he was dying to quench his thirst, but could never reach the water, for whenever the poor creature stooped to drink, it dried up and vanished, so that there was nothing but dry ground—parched by the spite of heaven. There were tall trees, moreover, that shed their fruit over his head—pears, pomegranates, apples, sweet figs and juicy olives, but whenever the poor creature stretched out his hand to take some, the wind tossed the branches back again to the clouds.

Riordan takes Tantalus and incorporates him into The Sea of Monsters, as having been released from his sentence in the underworld to serve as a replacement for Chiron by the gods after they fire Chiron from his position as the trainer of the demigods. When this happens, Tantalus treats the children cruelly, such as handing out horrible punishments to Percy and his friends when they save the camp from the Stymphalian birds that try to eat everyone’s flesh. Tantalus’s punishment in the afterlife is used for comedic effect in the form of everything he tries to eat or drink moving away from him when he tries to grab it, despite having been released from his sentence. Riordan also has Tantalus tell his past to the demigods as a campfire story to frighten them into compliance.

A final example of this is Daedalus. In the original myths he is portrayed as a genius without equal. In The Battle of the Labyrinth Riordan uses this in his story when writing up the description of his wings in his personal lab as described by Percy in the quote below from pages 277-278:

The wings looked more advanced than the ones I’d seen in my dreams. The feathers were more tightly interwoven. Instead of wax seals, self-adhesive strips ran down the sides.

The wings shown in Daedalus’ lab are significantly more advanced than the ones he made for himself and his son to escape Minos in the original myths. The wings are clear evidence that Daedalus in the series is the same one from the myths. Another way Daedalus is characterized as a genius is in how he survived from the times of ancient Greece up to the modern era with the use of human like automaton bodies which he moved his soul from his original body into them.

In The Battle of the Labyrinth Riordan also uses the details of original myths that have Daedalus in them by incorporating them as visions that Percy sees when he sleeps. These myths include his murder of his nephew Perdix, his escape from Minos, and the manner in which he dies. In the case of the last myth Riordan alters it to show Daedalus escaping after killing Minos.

For settings the reason it is convenient to reuse them from previous works of literature in new ones is because it eliminates the need for the author to come up with them by themselves.

An example of this is Olympus. In the original myths Olympus is from where the gods rule over the world. As result of that when being described in the series it is made to look otherworldly and like an ancient Greek city.

Another example of this is the underworld. In the myths the entrance to it is guarded by Cerberus and contains places such as Tartarus and Elysium. Riordan takes this and adds additional details such as describing the entrance to it on page 291 of The Lightning Thief as follows:

I’m not sure what I was expecting – Pearly Gates, or a big black portcullis, or something. But the entrance to the Underworld looked like a cross between airport security and the Jersey Turnpike.

There were three separate entrances under one huge black archway that said: YOU ARE NOW ENTERING EREBUS. Each entrance had a pass-through metal detector mounted with security cameras. Beyond this were tollbooths manned by black-robed ghouls like Charon.

This shows how he blended the original myths with his own ideas to make it work for his story. He does the same for Tartarus and Elysium.

For plot points the reason it is convenient to reuse them from previous works of literature in new ones is because it provides a basic idea of how a fight is going to happen and from there it’s just changing it to fit the new circumstances it is occurring under.

For example, in The Titan’s Curse, Percy and his companions fight the Nemean lion. In the original myths it was defeated by Hercules by being strangled after his arrows failed to hurt it. Riordan takes this story and reuses and changes it in his story by having Percy’s companions’ shoot arrows at the lion, failing until Percy chucks astronaut food into its mouth causing it to gag and its eyes to bulge open enough for the archers to hit and pierce them killing it that way.

As shown convenience is the biggest cause of the reuse of characters, settings, and plot points from previous works of literature in new works of literature because without the reuse of them of them, it would take longer to come up with the foundation and world building.

I argue that the “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” series is not an appropriation of Greek culture. Darshini Gokli argues that the “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” series is an appropriation of Greek culture in her paper, “Americanization of the Greeks in Percy Jackson series.” The following essay will point out flaws in her arguments, therefore proving it is not appropriation.

An argument made by Gokli, in the introduction on page 3 is that:

the perspective that Riordan has used to narrate the whole story of Percy Jackson and his friends, is actually Americanization of the Greek ways, culture, traditions and thus its mythology as well.

A flaw in this argument is that the stories in Greek mythology had originally started their existence as being part of the main religion of the ancient Greeks, however according to Cultural Atlas, about 98% of modern Greeks considers themselves as part of the Greek Orthodox Christian faith. Christianity has only one God who controls everything. Whereas the main religion of the ancient Greeks was comprised of gods each with their own separate domain such Poseidon being the god of the sea and Zeus being the god of the sky. As such the series cannot be considered an Americanization of modern Greek ways, culture, traditions because the stuff it is using is from the time of ancient Greece.

A second argument made by Gokli, in the introduction is that:

There is no doubt that Riordan has taken the Greek mythology as the base of this series, but simultaneously, we can see that slowly and tactfully he Americanizes the whole Greek culture and he clearly brings forth the American culture as the culture that is more powerful, responsible, strong, moral, ethical and thus better than any other culture of the world.

The flaw in this argument is that the story takes place in America with the elements from Greek mythology. So, it does not make sense for characters to be attired in ancient Greek clothes when no one wears that in modern times daily. It also therefore makes sense for locations in the series to look more modern because the locations are visible to people and so must blend in the rest of the area to avoid attracting unwanted attention that would realistically occur if the locations were exclusively built in same way as buildings were in ancient times.

A third argument made by Gokli, which is throughout her paper is that Riordan is using Greek mythology to create his own mythology.

The flaw in this argument is that as mentioned earlier, Greek mythology originally started as being the main religion of the ancient Greeks. So Gokli is basically arguing that Riordan is creating his own religion. This is like saying any work of fiction whether it be literature, theater, or movies to name a few, that contains religious elements are automatically creating new religions. Which is not true, those religious elements in the works of fiction are just intended to add depth to the story, not spark a new religion. Likewise, Riordan is just writing stories that include elements from Greek mythology.

A fourth argument made by Gokli on page 8, is that:

Daedalus is shown not in his original form but a smart looking American man in
his forties, working and managing the Labyrinth through his high-tech computer technology.

The flaw in this argument is that Daedalus is supposed to be a genius to begin with so it would make sense for him to have a high-tech lab to work in since the series is set in modern times and not ancient times.

Another flaw is that in story Daedalus says that his current body is not his original one and he has switched bodies multiple times and is actively avoiding death. As such it makes sense that his current body does not look like his original one, especially since he would not want any immortals to be able to recognize him on sight.

A fifth argument made by Gokli, also on page 8 is that:

Also, Riordan brings up a very important point of Global warming and destruction of
nature because of the pollution created by humans, through the quest of Grover of finding
Pan. Yes, the battle is a major part of the book and shows how united are the campers of
Half-Blood camp, but the two main foci of the book are the above mentioned point, which are again very much contemporary rather than Greek.

The flaw in this argument is that the series takes place in modern times not the ancient past. Another flaw in this argument is the very fact that Gokli claims that Global warming and destruction of
nature are not Greek issues. Global warming affects the whole planet including Greece as implied in the global part of its name. The same can be said in regard to the destruction of nature that is occurring across the globe.

A sixth argument made by Gokli on page 12, is that:

these Gods are Greek who choose to follow their ancient customs and rituals, there is a touch of modernism in their ways as well. For example, we don’t see any of the Gods in their Greek attires, except during the last battle. In fact they wear quite modern clothes.

The flaw in this argument is that as mentioned previously the series takes place in modern times, so it is perfectly reasonable for them to wear modern clothes like Zeus wearing suits or Ares wearing a biker outfit. It is logical they would adjust their everyday attire to blend in with the mortals. Also, another issue with this argument is that the gods are gods and can change their appearance with a thought, so they are just going to look however they want, which considering that the gods are vain, they are probably going to make themselves look good while they are seducing mortals to have demigod children with or interacting with said demigods.

Overall, Gokli’s argument that the “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” series being appropriation is wrong. This is because her arguments are mostly centered around the changes made to make Greek mythology blend together with the modern time period that the series takes place.

References

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, August 16). Labours of Hercules. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Labours-of-Hercules

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, July 30). Achilles. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Achilles-Greek-mythology

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, June 21). Cerberus. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cerberus

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, June 27). Daedalus. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Daedalus-Greek-mythology

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, October 18). Chiron. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chiron-Greek-mythology

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, October 4). Tantalus. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tantalus

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, September 20). Tartarus. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tartarus

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, September 21). Hydra. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hydra-Greek-mythology

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, September 9). Hades. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hades-Greek-mythology

Evason, N. (2019). Greek – religion. Cultural Atlas. https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/greek-culture/greek-culture-religion

Gokli, D. (2015). Americanization of the Greeks in Percy Jackson series. Gujarat University. https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/62026080/Americanisation_of_the_Greeks20200207-80415-xf9178-libre.pdf?1581092394=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DAmericanization_of_the_Greeks_in_Percy_J.pdf&Expires=1732508095&Signature=UAolkdWsNEvTITNyTuoRKEUm-z1hNbRndDOCWRvFEnH~pS6~bJLEQg2ZbmtE~v-JUsmzsWqRZGqRdpt4~4R7r7l17PeyMxWMT61AWKuRDCV8bnOvJQk2omIow4GF8T5qKhoaS0vBcjm44g9ModAgP2bzupVavHRgqIIL4lesV4jbD-C8ROjP7fHb7PFY2x-plZbkELCTW07oXck~cVG~OEBt0XqYpwhtCYmCwZXqPeDmw17nDlVyzts2eu30-CuHLddeRkCrJOKdYN1Yoj-gyPmeUoDeU9G4tTUNLVdCQKHzSzSUw-NOfrLrhyhwvS2xTQf9085XnI9wzK8Rv40K0A__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA

Homer. (2024, October 1). The Odyssey rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Odyssey, by Homer. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1727/pg1727-images.html

“Medusa.” Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender: Culture Society History. . Retrieved November 16, 2024 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/medusa

“Nemean Lion.” Myths and Legends of the World. . Retrieved October 14, 2024 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/nemean-lion

Olympus. (1997, March 3). In Encyclopedia Mythica. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://pantheon.org/articles/o/olympus.html

Riordan, R. (2005). The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #1) (1st ed.). Disney/Hyperion.

Riordan, R. (2006). The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #2) (1st ed.). Disney /Hyperion.

Riordan, R. (2007). The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #3) (1st ed.). Hyperion Books for Children.

Riordan, R. (2008). The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #4) (1st ed.). Hyperion Books for Children.

Riordan, R. (2009). The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #5) (1st ed.). Disney/Hyperion Books.

World History Edu. (2022, April 12). Ancient Greek God Dionysus: Birth Story, Powers, Meaning & Symbols. https://worldhistoryedu.com/greek-god-dionysus/

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Research – imaginary.persona

Posted on December 2, 2024 by imaginary.persona

COVID Lockdown Dogs with Anxiety

Pets that were adopted or gotten during COVID have more anxiety and separation issues than most pets now that COVID lock down is over.

The COVID-19 lockdown was hard for many people in the year of 2020. Starting in March the government issued a nationwide (United States) lockdown due to the rapidly spreading disease, Coronavirus (COVID-19), due to increasing cases of death. What made the lockdown so hard for some people was having to stay at home from school, work, or regular activities such as grocery shopping, and going out into public meant to follow certain social distancing guidelines. During the pandemic it became a trend to adopt a pet for companionship, they were called pandemic pets or more specifically pandemic puppies. Christie Siettou says,  “[…] societal interest in puppies increased during […] The national Covid-19 pandemic response policies, including lockdowns, accelerated this trend significantly.”  The Journal of Surgical Research says, “Dogs have been one of the ways people and families have mitigated the emotional stresses of the pandemic.”

According to ScienceDirect, many pet owners reported an improved environment with their pet being there with them, “The majority of respondents indicated that their psychological tension was reduced due to the presence of the dog[…].” 

Pandemic puppies thus became used to their owners being home and never worried about them leaving for long periods of time. This created separation anxiety in pets, as stated by the AVMA Publications, “[…]is the second most com- mon behavioral problem in dogs […].” 

When the COVID-19 lockdown ended and things started to get back to normal, such as going to work or school, these pandemic puppies gained separation anxiety. Barbara L. Sherman at North Carolina State University wrote,  “Separation anxiety is a behavioral syndrome of dogs characterized by signs of distress when the affected dog is left alone or is separated from the person or people to whom it is attached.” Any type of dog can have it whether it is a chihuahua or a husky, “Dogs with separation anxiety may be of any breed or mix.” However not all dogs with separation anxiety also “express generalized anxiety or hyper attachment to the owner.” Some characteristics of separation anxiety in dogs as expressed in the Understanding Behavior article are, “destructiveness, housesoiling, hypersalivation, vocalization, and pacing. ” To diagnose separation anxiety these actions must be done when the dog is alone. The ScienceDirect Journal of Veterinary Behavior says, “The separation from only one of the owners could trigger a light expres-sion of distress for a short time, essentially crying next to the door then the dog would settle down.”

Separation anxiety though not set to just one breed it is often seen as unclear as to why some dogs get separation anxiety and others do not, according to Bonnie V. G. Beaver who wrote Canine Behavior Insights and Answers, “Why some dogs develop separation anxiety and others do not is unclear.” 

Though there were reports of benefits of having a dog during the COVID lockdown there were also reports of behavioral changes in the pets during the lockdown such as “[…] in particular negative behavioural changes such as increased vocalization, fear of loud or sudden noises, problems with being left alone at home, and aggression towards unfamiliar humans and dogs” (ScienceDirect). Vocalization in dogs comes from a deep rooted action of calling out for their mothers when in distress and not by their mothers side, a separation anxiety. “When young puppies are separated from their mother, they use distress vocalization as a technique to reunite them” (Bonnie V. G. Beaver). According to The Veterinary Record, Volume 187, Issue 8, “Our research shows some early warning signs that lockdown is having a negative impact on some dogs behavior.” Aggression in dogs is identified as “perhaps the most challenging canine behavioral problem presented to behavioral specialists and continues to be the most common reason for referral to veterinary behaviorists” according to Ilana R. Reisner in an article ten for Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice. 

Codependency between a pet and their owner can be a big problem. Codependency is “excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically one who requires support on account of an illness or addiction.” Codependency can include “[…] signs such as barking or crying; pacing; chewing or otherwise damaging furniture or the house; using the bathroom on the floor; and even running away.” (Petbucket).

Separation anxiety in dogs, like in humans, can be managed. The Understanding Behavior states the three ways separation anxiety can be managed is “[…]environmental control, behavior modification, and medication.” AVMA Publications released an issue about a study done to test anxiety medications on dogs, whether they improved in their behavior or not. Thirty-Two of the fifty-two dogs in the study showed improvement in separation anxiety behavior, “Thirty-two (62%) dogs had improved, whereas 20 were the same, were worse […].” Along with anxiety medication there are actions that can be done to fix the behavioral problem, such as music therapy, exercise, and creating a safe space according to Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin and Cathy Johnson. The Journal of Veterinary Behavior  says, “The importance of environmental influences, learning opportunities, and effects of underlying temperament on the outward expression of fear and anxiety should not be underestimated.”

In conclusion, the COVID-19 2020 lockdown affected dogs greatly in a sense that they gained separation anxiety for their owners when left alone for long periods of time. It is evident that dogs thrived on the continuous presence of their owners. The sudden return to a regular schedule is stressful on them. More time together strengthened the bond, making it harder for pets to adjust to being alone more often when the COVID Pandemic Lockdown ended.

COVID dogs (dogs gotten during the COVID Pandemic Lockdown) gained separation anxiety because owners started to go back to work once the COVID pandemic ended. According to the Canine Health Foundation, Separation anxiety in dogs is a fairly common condition in dogs in which they experience behaviors that are destructive when separated from their owners. It is important to know the causes of separation anxiety since “…10-20% (sometimes 30%)” (American Kennel Club) of dogs experience separation anxiety in their lifetime. According to ScienceDirect,“The main problematic behaviors reported for 345 dogs were … fearfulness (27.9%) …”

One of the causes of separation anxiety in dogs is negative experiences of socialization during the puppy stage. According to the authors of the article, Critical Period in the Social Development of Dogs,  dogs’ critical period of development is between five to fourteen weeks. “The socialization period is also the period when puppies learn how to handle stressful situations, such as meeting new dogs, going to novel environments and thunderstorms.” (Kimberly Brown). In the research article Early Life Experiences and Exercise Associate with Canine Anxieties on Plos One, puppies that are not exposed to different environments, people, or other animals may become more fearful and anxious in situations, especially when left alone.   ScienceDirect states, “Canine separation anxiety is a behavioral disorder of dogs when left alone or separated from a significant person or persons.”

Experiences during the puppy stage that involve trauma or neglect can significantly contribute to the development of separation anxiety. Dogs that have been abandoned, surrendered to shelters, or rehomed multiple times often struggle with attachment issues and tend to become overly dependent on their new caregiver. According to the author of an AVMA Publication, in the article Review of epidemiological, pathological, genetic, and epigenetic factors that may contribute to the development of separation anxiety in dogs, it is stated that  “Dogs that were relinquished through shelters or rescues or abandoned at veterinary hospitals are more commonly reported with SA in some studies.”

Another factor in separation anxiety is a change in the dog’s environment or routine. Dogs form strong associations with the people in their lives, and anything that is to disrupt this can trigger separation anxiety in the dogs. “Since a dog can attach quickly to a person, they can also have anxiety when that person leaves, which can explain why dogs that have recently been adopted may exhibit separation anxiety when their new owner leaves.” Being separated from members that dogs are attached to can lead to separation anxiety,  “…severe distress experienced when an individual is distanced from other group members.” Common environmental changes that may cause separation anxiety include moving to a new home, “…due to the stress of a new environment or being taken away from its original owners,” or a change in the household composition, such as a new work routine that leads to more extended periods of time away from home. For instance, a dog may have been accustomed to a caregiver being home for long periods, but if that person suddenly starts working longer hours, the dog might feel abandoned or neglected. 

Training is a key factor in preventing separation anxiety. Dogs that have not been taught how to be left alone might develop a behavior of separation anxiety when faced with separation. Inadequate training can occur when a dog is not taught how to be independent. For example, if a dog is always allowed to follow their owner around the house, it may unintentionally reinforce the dog’s dependence, “In some cases, dogs may follow their owners due to separation anxiety. This can manifest as distress when separated from their owners, leading to constant following as a means to alleviate their anxiety.” This can make the dog more likely to become anxious when left alone, as they have never learned how to handle being alone in a calm and healthy manner.

Socialization also plays an important role in helping dogs become prepared in different situations. Dogs that are not socialized can become fearful of unfamiliar experiences, which can increase anxiety when faced with separation. Sara Swanson, author of the report The effects of socialization on dogs states, “These fear-based behaviors, such as aggression and anxiety, have an ontological aspect where the potential for development for these behaviors can be linked to distress or lack of desensitization during primary social development.”  Dogs that have not been exposed to being left alone may feel more stressed when left alone without their owners presence, as they have not learned to cope with the unfamiliar feeling. 

According to ScienceDirect, “Dogs may also have a genetic predisposition to develop anxiety.” Genetics is another factor to be considered when trying to deduce the causes of separation anxiety in dogs. Linn Mari Storegen wrote Genetic Studies of Canine Anxiety, which expressed, “The fear response is a normal and self-protecting behavior which can enable the dog to escape potential dangerous situations, but may, in some cases become inappropriate and negatively impact the dog’s welfare.” On a scientific note, certain glands can be stimulated which cause a bodily response to a perceived threat and therefore cause separation anxiety. “The sympathetic system releases adrenal steroids (noradrenaline and adrenaline) from the subcortical areas of the brain and adrenal gland, resulting in an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and vasoconstriction in internal organs.” Gender comes into play with separation anxiety in dogs as ScienceDirect, “… found that male dogs outnumbered female dogs and that male dogs had higher probability of elevated levels of separation-related distress.”

In conclusion, separation anxiety in dogs is a condition with multiple factors, including early life experiences, genetics, environmental changes, and not enough training or socialization. Understanding the causes of separation anxiety is important for dealing with the condition since about 30% of dogs can face separation anxiety. 

While it’s known that genetics can play a role in the development of anxiety in dogs, it is important to recognize that anxiety is complex and genetics is just one piece of the puzzle. Things such as environmental/social factors and traumatic experiences play a big role in anxiety separation development for dogs. When COVID dogs (dogs that were gotten during the COVID pandemic lockdown) were adopted during the pandemic lockdown they became used to having their owner around all the time as the owner most likely did their work or school or both from home, remotely. The dogs being so used to their owners being home got attached to the point of any separation between the two would cause distress in the dog. Stefanie Schwartz wrote in an article titled Separation anxiety syndrome in dogs and cats, “In dogs, the degree of distress is likely dependent, in part, on the degree of attachment to an absent figure.”

Separation anxiety symptoms that are common do not include genetics, “Common risk factors associated with SAS in dogs include a history of traumatic separation, inexperience with being left alone, excessive greetings and pro- longed departures by owners, changes in the owner’s routine (dogs susceptible to SAS may develop clinical signs in response to even slight changes in routine), relocation to a new home, addition of a new pet sitter, and a death in the family (conspecific or other family member).” (Schwartz). While genetics can play a part in anxiety, “Dogs may also have a genetic predisposition to develop anxiety,” it is not the most common reason behind separation anxiety in dogs. According to the authors of a ScienceDirect article, “[…] previous studies reported that the development of anxiety disorders could be associated with many factors including breed, sex, age, the dog’s age when owners obtained it, and the source from which the owner obtained the dog.”

One argument in the idea that separation anxiety in dogs is genetic, is that certain breeds are more prone to anxiety. While it’s true that mixed breed dogs may have higher chances of anxiety, that does not mean that every mixed breed will have anxiety. Anxiety, as a disorder, is seen as an interaction between environmental and developmental factors. According to the Genetic and environmental factors interact to influence anxiety journal, “Both genetic and environmental factors influence normal anxiety traits as well as anxiety disorders.” It is important to know that while genetics can play a role in behaviors of dogs, these traits are not set.

One of the biggest factors in the development of anxiety for dogs is their environment. Dogs who are raised in environments where they experience neglect or trauma are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. According to Peter L. Berstein, “[…] neglect if it was forgotten or if […] dogs have a significantly higher risk for separation anxiety.” Early experiences with situations, people, and other animals are important to how dogs handle stress. Puppies who do not receive correct socialization during the age window of five to fourteen weeks, may develop fears that later turn into anxiety. According to the authors of the article, Critical Period in the Social Development of Dogs,  dogs’ critical period of development is between five to fourteen weeks. “The socialization period is also the period when puppies learn how to handle stressful situations, such as meeting new dogs, going to novel environments and thunderstorms.” (Kimberly Brown).

It’s also important to know the role of training and socialization in preventing anxiety in dogs. Well-trained or well-socialized dogs are usually more confident, which can reduce their  anxiety. A lack of training or socialization can contribute to behavior problems, including separation anxiety. Inadequate training can occur when a dog is not taught how to be independent thus causing them to develop separation anxiety. According to HPM,  “In some cases, dogs may follow their owners due to separation anxiety. This can manifest as distress when separated from their owners, leading to constant following as a means to alleviate their anxiety.” Many dogs that are initially fine with being alone may develop anxiety when their owners return from a long absence, like if an owner who was at home for a long period of time left to go back to work. This development is not due to genetic factors, but instead due to a lack of training and desensitization.  According to the authors of a ScienceDirect article titled The efficacy of systematic desensitization for treating the separation-related problem behaviour of domestic dogs, “Systematic desensitization is a technique widely used in human behaviour modification for the treatment of phobias or fear/anxiety responses to a particular stimulus (Cooper et al., 1987, Wolpe, 1962). It involves the gradual and progressive introduction of the stimulus eliciting the phobia (in this case, the absence of the dog’s owner).” 

Additionally, the way a dog’s owner interacts with them can also have an impact on its emotional state. Dogs who are constantly coddled may develop anxiety due to a lack of exposure to the outside world. According to the K9 coach, “Giving too much attention to an animal creates a need in the animal for constant attention and they are less likely to become independent thinking dogs, explore on their own, or make judgments”

In conclusion, while certain breeds may have temperaments that make them more prone to nervousness or reactivity, the claim that anxiety in dogs is primarily due to genetic factors is not true. Anxiety in dogs is likely to be from environmental stressors, poor socialization, and past traumatic experiences than from genetics. By focusing on the environmental, social, and experiential causes of anxiety, rather than genetic determinism, we can ensure that dogs receive the care and support they need to thrive.

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Posted on December 2, 2024 by taco491

Encouragement or Enabling: The Dangers of Chasing Unrealistic Dreams

We all want to encourage the people we love to pursue their goals, but we must also be careful not to enable them to waste their lives chasing impossible dreams. Whether it’s supporting a friend who aspires to become “the next Mariah Carey” or cheering on a child with hopes of becoming a professional athlete, we walk a fine line between encouragement and enabling unrealistic expectations. Hugh McCutcheon, in Championship Behaviors: A Model for Competitive Excellence in Sports, highlights a crucial truth: “a dream can cause real emotional, physical, and mental damages” when it is unrealistic. While we often celebrate determination and perseverance, we must also consider the harmful consequences of pushing loved ones toward unattainable dreams.  

Youth sports are a perfect example of this dilemma. According to Project Play by the Aspen Institute, over half (50.7%) of children aged 6–17 participate in some type of sports team. This statistic highlights the popularity of youth sports, yet it does not delve into the deeper reasons why so many children persist in these activities. For some, it is a genuine passion or love for the sport; for others, it is the result of encouragement from parents, peers, or even coaches. While encouragement can be a powerful motivator, it often backfires, setting children up for failure and disappointment. Over-encouragement can create immense pressure, especially when the odds of success are slim, leading to anxiety, depression, and even self-destructive behavior. The pressure to succeed in an environment that might not be conducive to their goals can have lasting consequences. This essay will explore how pursuing unattainable dreams, particularly in competitive fields, can have damaging effects on mental health, emotional stability, and overall fulfillment.

Mental disorders, especially anxiety and depression, have become more prevalent throughout this age in time. These issues do not just affect adults, but they affect younger children too, particularly those who pursue high pressure dreams. In a study called An Examination of Depression, Anxiety, and Self-Esteem in Collegiate Student-Athletes, Samantha R Weber mentions that “Student-athletes (22.3%) were at risk for depression, anxiety (12.5%), and low self-esteem (8%).” Some of these students may be anxiety ridden because of the things going on in their game, the idea of trying to go professional, or because a parent is constantly encouraging them to continue when they do not want to. Being good at a sport is one thing, but being able to go professional is another; very few do. According to The National Collegiate Athletic Association, only about 2% of student-athletes actually go on to become professional. With these slim odds of actually going professional in sports, we can see why trying to go professional can create anxiety; they are trying to do their best, but are still failing in the end.

The “understudy effect” highlights how rare it is to achieve greatness by chance. This phenomenon occurs when someone in a secondary role steps into the spotlight unexpectedly, such as an understudy replacing a lead actor or an assistant conductor filling in for a maestro. While it occasionally leads to success stories like Leonard Bernstein and Esa-Pekka Salonen, which according to Jane Piirto, in The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development, “were assistant conductors who got their big chance when the maestros under whom they worked had to miss a concert,” these moments are exceptions, not the rule. In most cases, the understudy remains in the shadows, tirelessly working without recognition or opportunity. For individuals stuck as perpetual second choices—whether as the second chair in an orchestra or a backup player in professional sports—this reality can be crushing. Dreams require immense hard work, but when that effort only secures a backup role, it may be time to confront the truth. Family and loved ones who care deeply should offer a wake-up call, urging them to reevaluate their goals. Wasting a lifetime waiting for a one-in-a-million chance at success only prolongs frustration and emotional pain. Recognizing when to move on from an impossible dream is often the best path toward fulfillment. 

George Gmelch, in his book Playing with Tigers: A Minor League Chronicle of the Sixties, reflects on his pursuit of a childhood dream to become a major league baseball player. He reveals that “only 8 percent of Minor League players starting out in rookie ball ever make it to the big leagues.” Despite years of support from loved ones, Gmelch never achieved his dream. After playing in the minor leagues for a few years, he ultimately left baseball and redirected his efforts into writing, eventually becoming a successful author. Those years chasing an unattainable dream, however, were marked by frustration and lost potential. Like Gmelch, many children grow up aspiring to become professional athletes in sports such as baseball, basketball, football, or hockey. Encouraging these impossible dreams often creates a false sense of security and self-worth, fostering the belief that success is within reach when the odds are overwhelmingly against it. Parental support, though well-meaning, can inflate a child’s ego and reinforce unrealistic expectations. When these dreams inevitably collide with reality, the emotional fallout can be devastating. Rejection at the professional level often triggers anxiety, self-doubt, and feelings of inadequacy. Many struggle with questions about their identity and worth, wondering if their abilities were ever enough or if their loved ones misled them.

The pursuit of unattainable dreams often leads to prolonged stress, as individuals face constant pressure to improve and meet impossible standards. This anxiety compounds over time, leaving them emotionally exhausted, frustrated, and uncertain about their future. Few athletes, performers, or musicians ever make it to the professional stage, and the pursuit of such unlikely outcomes can come at the cost of their mental health, personal fulfillment, and long-term well-being. Instead of encouraging an impossible dream, parents and loved ones should tell the person they are encouraging the truth, however difficult it may be. With this truth, it will help a person trying to attain an impossible dream recognize reality, adjust their goals, and pursue a path that aligns with their true potential, offering healthier opportunities for growth.

By helping someone confront the improbability of their goal, we give them the opportunity to let go and channel their energy into aspirations that offer tangible possibilities for growth, fulfillment, and success. Encouragement, when rooted in honesty and care, shifts from fueling unrealistic expectations to guiding loved ones toward goals that align with their strengths and true potential. This is especially important when it comes to the dreams children develop in youth sports, which often start as innocent interests or fun activities. Many children begin participating in sports at a young age either because they have a natural interest in them or because their parents encourage them to get involved. The data provided by the Project Play Aspen Institute reveals that 50.7% of children aged 6-17 have participated in some form of sports team, showing how prevalent sports involvement is. While the popularity of sports participation is clear, there remains a lack of understanding about why children continue in these activities. The answer lies in the “why” behind their participation—whether it stems from personal enjoyment or from the encouragement they receive from parents or caregivers. Stuart Biddle and Marios Goudas, who published a study on children’s physical activity and its association with adult encouragement, explain that this encouragement is a powerful tool for growth, boosting confidence, and fostering motivation.

However, while encouragement is typically seen as a positive force, it can also be harmful if it becomes excessive. For many children, encouragement from parents creates unrealistic expectations or puts undue pressure on them to achieve goals that may not be feasible or sustainable. When success becomes the only measure of worth, children can experience anxiety, self-doubt, or a fear of failure, particularly if they feel they are unable to live up to their parents’ or their own lofty aspirations. The pressure to meet these expectations, combined with the unrealistic hope of achieving success, can have long-term emotional consequences and affect their overall well-being. The following sections will delve deeper into how these pressures can lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which arise as a result of encouragement that focuses more on unattainable goals than on healthy, realistic growth.

As teenagers grow older, they begin deciding whether they want to continue their sport at the collegiate level or pursue it professionally. At this stage, parents often encourage them to follow their talents, even when their children may not be the best. This encouragement can lead to increased anxiety for two reasons. First, athletes may worry they are not good enough for the professional level. According to Rudolf Dreikurs and Don Sr. Dinkmeyer in Encouraging Children to Learn, “studies indicate that one of the causes of anxiety is the fear of not belonging.” When athletes don’t feel they measure up, but are still encouraged to chase the dream, it intensifies their anxiety. The second source of anxiety comes from talented athletes who don’t make the final cut. Despite their skills, the odds of becoming a professional are slim, like previously stated—only about 2% of student-athletes make it to that level. This overwhelming statistic shows that parental encouragement can turn into pressure, pushing youth athletes to pursue an impossible dream while they face inevitable disappointment. As a result, the pressure from both themselves and their parents can elevate their anxiety, knowing that success is unlikely.

Anxiety is just the start; below the surface, depression and self-hatred can develop, leading to self-harm. Encouragement, instead of fostering hope, can become a destructive force. According to the article Reasons for Adolescent Suicide Attempts: Associations With Psychological Functioning, the most frequent reasons for self-harm were to die, escape, and seek relief. This applies to athletes who endure the pain of failure, resorting to self-harm as a means of coping with the relentless pressure to succeed. While most athletes understand how difficult it is to make it professionally, the weight of years of encouragement to follow that dream can make it hard to give up. This is where loved ones should intervene and help them face the reality of their goals. As stated before by Hugh McCutcheon, “a dream can cause real emotional, physical, and mental damages.” The pursuit of an impossible dream, like becoming a professional athlete, often leads to mental, emotional, and physical harm. If parents or coaches help athletes understand the improbability of their dreams early on, they can spare them from unnecessary suffering and the toll it takes on their mental health

Encouragement, though often seen as beneficial for children, can have unintended consequences when it pushes them toward unrealistic goals. While parents and others may believe they are fostering growth by offering constant support, they may unknowingly contribute to mental health challenges. Encouraging a child to pursue a dream with slim chances of success, especially in highly competitive fields, can foster anxiety, stress, and self-doubt rather than resilience. Studies have often linked encouragement to improved confidence, performance, and mental health, but this view fails to account for the long-term effects of excessive pressure. Instead of promoting well-being, encouragement that reinforces unattainable goals can lead to burnout, emotional strain, and feelings of inadequacy, particularly when it encourages children to chase dreams that may never materialize.

The source Improving Children’s Mental Health through Healthy Encouragement claims that children who feel encouraged are likely to perform better in school and sports, have healthier relationships, and enjoy better overall well-being. While this may be true in terms of immediate performance, it overlooks the emotional toll such encouragement can take. Encouragement that focuses solely on success does not always lead to better mental health. When children are pushed to exceed their limits or meet unattainable expectations, they can experience pressure, anxiety, and self-doubt. This pressure often undermines their intrinsic motivation, leading to stress and burnout. Encouragement can create a cycle where children feel they must constantly perform at high levels to earn approval, which can take a serious toll on their emotional state, leading to long-lasting effects on their overall well-being.

One of the most significant areas where encouragement becomes problematic is in youth athletics. Sam Dekin, author of The Good and Bad of Youth Athletics On Your Child’s Mental Health, outlines several factors that contribute to poor mental health in young athletes, including high pressure to perform, burnout, perfectionism, coach abuse, and injuries. Sports are typically a place for children to relieve stress and develop social skills, but when encouragement becomes excessive, it can have the opposite effect. The constant pressure to excel in sports can lead to increased anxiety, particularly when children are encouraged to pursue goals that are beyond their abilities. The expectation to perform perfectly, to win, or to meet others’ standards can overshadow the joy of the activity, creating emotional strain. This pressure results in children experiencing stress and feelings of inadequacy, and in some cases, can cause long-term issues like anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. Instead of providing an outlet for stress, sports may become another source of it. Encouragement aimed at achieving unrealistic goals, such as becoming a professional athlete, may lead to a focus on external validation instead of developing a genuine passion for the sport. This shift in focus often leads to feelings of frustration and anxiety, especially if the child is nott meeting the high expectations set by their parents, coaches, or themselves.

Positive reinforcement, like rewards or praise, is commonly used to encourage children to participate in activities like sports. According to Why Children Need Positive Reinforcement, “Positive reinforcement not only increases the likelihood that kids will behave, but it also increases their self-esteem and builds confidence.” While this can be beneficial in some contexts, it can also push children toward goals they do not genuinely want to pursue. This is especially true when positive reinforcement is used to encourage children to pursue their parents’ dreams, rather than their own. Children often find themselves pursuing goals that reflect their parents’ desires, not their own. For instance, a child may excel in sports or academics, not because they are passionate about it, but because they want to earn praise or rewards. While this may keep children motivated in the short term, it can lead to long-term issues, including stress and a lack of fulfillment. Positive reinforcement encourages children to focus more on earning rewards than on developing a true love for the activity, which can eventually diminish their sense of autonomy and lead to burnout. In many cases, children may feel pressured to meet their parents’ expectations, even when those expectations are unrealistic. This can result in feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, especially when the child struggles to meet those standards. Over time, this cycle can erode their self-esteem, leading to depression or other mental health problems.

Another argument often made in favor of encouragement is that failure should be seen as part of the learning process. Gould, in The Psychology of Optimal Performance: The Mindset of Successful Athletes, suggests that failure should not be viewed as defeat but as a stepping stone toward improvement. While this perspective can be empowering for some athletes, it fails to acknowledge the emotional damage that repeated failure can cause, especially when the goals being pursued are unrealistic. When children repeatedly fail to meet the expectations placed upon them, it can lead to feelings of frustration and self-doubt. Instead of learning from their mistakes, they may begin to view failure as a reflection of their inadequacy. Constant failure, combined with excessive encouragement to keep pushing forward, can lead to a decline in mental health, exacerbating feelings of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. Rather than fostering resilience, this cycle may only reinforce negative emotions and stress. Failure, in this context, doesn’t always lead to growth. For many children, repeated failure without appropriate emotional support can result in discouragement and withdrawal from the activity altogether. Encouraging children to keep pursuing unrealistic dreams despite consistent failure only adds to their emotional burden and can create long-term mental health challenges.

When a child repeatedly fails in an area, whether it’s sports, school, or any other endeavor, it should serve as a signal for parents to reconsider pushing them toward an unattainable goal. The idea that failure is simply part of the process is misleading if the child is emotionally unprepared for the setbacks they’re facing. Failure shouldn’t be a reason to push harder, but an opportunity to reassess the child’s true interests and abilities. Parents should pay attention to signs of stress and anxiety in their children. If a child is constantly failing in pursuit of a goal that doesn’t align with their passions or abilities, it may be time to shift their focus toward something more achievable and meaningful. Encouraging children to pursue realistic goals that match their interests will help them build self-confidence, resilience, and a healthier relationship with failure. This approach prevents the development of anxiety, depression, and burnout.

In conclusion, encouraging someone to pursue an impossible dream may seem kind or like great parenting, but it often leads to emotional and mental harm. Anxiety, depression, and self-doubt are common outcomes for individuals who struggle to achieve unattainable goals, whether in sports, the arts, or other fields. Success stories like those of Leonard Bernstein or professional athletes are rare exceptions, not norms, and should not be used as benchmarks for determining the viability of a dream  

Honest conversations about the reality of these pursuits allow individuals to adjust their goals and focus on paths that align with their true potential. By guiding loved ones toward realistic aspirations, it can promote their well-being and long-term success. Encouragement should not be about fueling false hopes but about empowering individuals to discover their true potential and pursue paths that offer genuine opportunities for success. Helping someone move on from a dream that causes more harm than good is not an act of cruelty—it is an act of care, understanding, and honesty that ultimately leads to a more fulfilling, healthier, and balanced life, helping personal growth.

References

Aspen Institute. (2022). Youth Sports Facts: Participation Rates. Project Play. https://projectplay.org/youth-sports/facts/participation-rates

Biddle, S., & Goudas, M. (1996). Analysis of Children’s Physical Activity and its Association with Adult Encouragement and Social Cognitive Variables. Journal of School Health, 66(2), 75–78. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1746-1561.1996.tb07914.x

‌BOERGERS, J., SPIRITO, A., & DONALDSON, D. (1998). Reasons for Adolescent Suicide Attempts: Associations With Psychological Functioning. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 37(12), 1287–1293. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890856709666594

Dekin, S. (2020). The Good and Bad of Youth Athletics On Your Child’s Mental Health. Sports Psychology Review. the-good-and-bad-of-youth-athletics-on-your-childs-mental-health

Encouraging Children to Learn. (2024). Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=qL-65yykPMYC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=encouraging+children+to+learn&ots=ivz-QfJhAt&sig=MdC1pAmblCZR0Gp2OUhyyVeN3ZY#v=onepage&q=encouraging%20children%20to%20learn&f=false

Ford, H. (2021, March 25). Why Children Need Positive Reinforcement. Www.henryford.com. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2021/03/positive-reinforcement#:~:text=Positive%20reinforcement%20not%20only%20increases,self%2Desteem%20and%20builds%20confidence.

Gmelch, G. (2016). Playing with Tigers. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=reIsCwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT10&dq=%22minor+league+baseball%22+%22chasing+the+dream%22&ots=Dd8jgsIW-i&sig=xF_nuDvgFs_80J5cEQ6o08IU3Gs#v=onepage&q=%22minor%20league%20baseball%22%20%22chasing%20the%20dream%22&f=false

Gould, D. (2016). The Psychology of Optimal Performance: The Mindset of Successful Athletes. Journal of Sports Psychology. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=NsixEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR3&dq=%C2%A0Gould,+D.+(2016).+The+Psychology+of+Optimal+Performance:+The+Mindset+of+Successful+Athletes.+Journal+of+Sports+Psychology.&ots=7zd2A7OhQg&sig=1VgrEHBdPMf2E7JOlyEFFssa3V8#v=onepage&q=setbacks&f=false

Improving Children’s Mental Health through Healthy Encouragement – Centerstone. (2022,September 2). Centerstone. https://centerstone.org/our-resources/health-wellness/improving-childrens-mental-health-through-healthy-encouragement/#:~:text=Encouragement%20can%20go%20a%20long,peers%20and%20be%20healthier%20overall.

McCutcheon, H. (2022). Championship behaviors. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=pONgEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT3&dq=%22motivation%22+%22achievement%22+%22chasing+the+dream%22+%2Bathlete+%22psychological%22&ots=y8udN-f1N3&sig=TW3sKZKZdjYHWd-CajV0TQeZ1MI#v=onepage&q&f=false

NCAA. (2014). NCAA RECRUITING FACTS. NCAA. https://www.nfhs.org/media/886012/recruiting-fact-sheet-web.pdf

Piirto, J. (2011). The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development:. Jane Piirto PhD. https://janepiirto.com/?page_id=626

Weber, S. R., Winkelmann, Z. K., Monsma, E. V., Arent, S. M., & Torres-McGehee, T. M. (2023). An Examination of Depression, Anxiety, and Self-Esteem in Collegiate Student-Athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1211. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9858692/

Posted in Portfolio Taco, Research Position Paper, Taco491 | 2 Comments

Research – KFury

Posted on December 2, 2024 by KFury205

Finding out how Baseball bats are tampered with for more Profit

Baseball is often hailed as America’s pastime and has evolved over the decades, not only in terms of strategy and performance but also in the equipment used. The equipment involved, especially the baseball bat, holds both cultural and functional significance within the sport. While various types of sports equipment have seen drastic innovations, baseball bats have remained relatively unchanged, with wood being the material of choice for professional leagues like Major League Baseball. In this paper, we will explore the rules and standards surrounding baseball bats in the MLB, the materials used in their construction, and the reasons behind these choices. We will also investigate the potential for tampering or sabotage within the construction of such equipment, the risks it poses, and its implications for the integrity of the sport.

Baseball as a whole is rooted in tradition, and the equipment used reflects this deep connection to the sport’s history. For instance, the regulation surrounding the materials, size, and shape of a baseball bat is an essential part of maintaining fair play. The Official Rules of Major League Baseball are detailed and specific in outlining the standards for the bats used in professional games. According to a related article, MLB’s equipment regulations ensure a consistent experience for players and a level playing field. The rules regarding the dimensions of a baseball bat are strict. A bat must not exceed 2.61 inches in diameter at its thickest point and cannot be longer than 42 inches in length. These dimensions are designed to prevent any player from gaining an unfair advantage by using oversized or specially designed bats. In particular, the diameter of the bat is crucial because a wider bat allows more surface area to strike the ball, which would theoretically increase the chances of making contact with the ball and improve a player’s performance. The length limit is similarly designed to control the bat’s weight and overall maneuverability, with longer bats requiring more force to swing and thus slowing down a player’s bat speed.

One of the primary aspects of MLB’s equipment standards is the material of the bat. While baseball bats used to be crafted from a variety of materials, such as bamboo or metal the MLB is strictly a wooden bat zone. The reason stems from wanting to preserve tradition and the fairness of the game. In particular, metal bats, which were once allowed in certain amateur leagues, offer a distinct advantage due to their lighter weight and the fact that they tend to last longer without breaking. This makes metal bats a potential advantage for players, allowing them to hit balls farther and more consistently compared to wooden bats. By maintaining this standard for wooden bats, MLB ensures that every player faces the same conditions, as the performance of a wooden bat can be influenced by factors like the type of wood used, the construction quality, and the grain pattern of the wood. Thus, not only do the specifications of the bats matter, but the quality of the material used also plays an integral role in their overall performance.

The most common woods used in MLB bats are maple, ash, and birch, each of which brings unique benefits and challenges. A paper I read discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each of these materials in great detail, noting that maple has become the most popular choice due to its density and hardness. The hardness of maple allows for a larger sweet spot on the bat, providing players with an easier time making solid contact with the ball. However, because of its high density, maple bats are also more prone to splintering upon impact, which can pose a significant risk to both players and spectators. Ash is another wood commonly used in the construction of bats. It is lighter than maple and more flexible, allowing for more bat speed, which can be a major advantage for players who rely on quick reflexes and fast swings. However, the author of my source points out that ash is more susceptible to warping and cracking, which can reduce the overall lifespan of the bat. This is one of the key challenges that players face when choosing between ash and maple, as both woods come with inherent trade-offs. Birch, the third major wood used in bat construction, offers a balance between the durability of maple and the flexibility of ash. While not as widely used as the other two materials, birch provides a lightweight alternative that can still deliver good performance. It also suggests that the combination of lightweight flexibility and strength in birch bats makes them appealing for players seeking optimal swing speed without compromising durability.

The type of wood used has a significant impact on the performance and durability of a bat. Maple’s denser and harder qualities result in a bat that can withstand powerful hits but at the cost of being more prone to breaking upon contact with the ball, especially if the wood is improperly cured or has grain misalignment. In contrast, ash bats are often favored for their more forgiving nature when striking the ball, but their susceptibility to wear and tear makes them less durable than maple or birch. Unlike metals, which are lighter and more durable, wood creates a higher level of unpredictability in terms of how the ball responds to the bat. For instance, the “trampoline effect,” where a bat’s material compresses slightly upon contact with the ball and then recoils, is more pronounced in metal bats, providing them with a higher coefficient of restitution than wood. This results in faster exit velocities for metal-bat games compared to wooden bat leagues.

Although, The performance of a baseball bat goes beyond the material it is made from—it is also deeply influenced by the physics of how it is swung and the forces acting upon it when the bat makes contact with the ball. The sweet spot of a bat, the area where contact is made with the most efficiency, plays a significant role in determining the bat’s durability and performance. As explained by an interesting case study I read, talking about the physics of a baseball bat involves considerations of elasticity, impact force, and the distribution of mass. When a bat strikes a baseball, the energy transfer between the two objects is a key factor in determining the ball’s exit velocity and the risk of bat failure. The sweet spot is the point on the bat where the force of impact results in the least amount of vibration and energy loss. When the ball is hit outside of the sweet spot, the bat experiences higher amounts of stress and deformation, which can lead to cracks or breakages. The grain of the wood and the quality of the bat’s construction influence how well it performs under stress.

In particular, they emphasize how the bat’s moment of inertia, or the distribution of mass along the length of the bat, affects its speed and power during a swing. A bat with a higher moment of inertia requires more force to swing but provides greater stability and control. Conversely, a bat with a lower moment of inertia offers quicker swing speeds but may sacrifice power. These physical principles are fundamental in understanding why the choice of material and construction is so crucial to the bat’s performance.

The construction of the bat is where things can get dicey, as it could be tampered with in ways that undermine its performance and safety. From its handle to its barrel, the bat must be optimized for both durability and performance. The paper I mentioned suggests that the grain pattern of the wood significantly impacts a bat’s strength. For example, bats made from wood with a straight grain pattern tend to perform better and last longer than those made from wood with irregular or curved grain patterns, which are more likely to crack under pressure. This is especially important in the context of tampering, as altering the grain alignment or using flawed wood can make the bat more prone to breaking. A tampered bat with deliberately misaligned grain could fracture upon contact with the ball, leading to frequent breakage and forcing players to purchase replacements.

One method of tampering could involve deliberately weakening the bat’s barrel by shaving down the wood or introducing air pockets. A weakened barrel might give the bat the appearance of being lightweight and easy to swing, but it would be far more likely to crack under the stresses of a game. This type of tampering could lead to immediate failure when the bat makes contact with a fast pitch, putting the player at risk of injury from flying wood shards. Such alterations would not only compromise player safety but also deceive the consumer into purchasing a bat that performs poorly over time. Additionally, tampering with the bat’s handle by using lower-quality wood or strategically thinning the wood in certain areas could create a weak point where the bat is most likely to break. A tampered handle would break more easily during high-impact moments, such as when the player swings with full force. This would again force the player to purchase more bats and could result in the bat splintering dangerously, risking injury.

An article I found from 2022 also found that certain impact locations on the bat are more likely to cause catastrophic failures. The barrel of the bat, where contact with the ball is most often made, is subjected to the most force. If the bat has weak spots, particularly near the barrel or the handle, it is more likely to crack or splinter during use. The study showed that these weak points can be exacerbated if the bat’s profile is not optimized for the specific type of wood used. For instance, bats with a larger barrel, while providing a larger sweet spot, are more vulnerable to cracking because the weight distribution can make the bat less resilient at the point of contact. From a tampering perspective, understanding these weak points provides insight into how certain parties could intentionally manipulate bats during their manufacturing process. By altering the slope of the grain or selecting pieces of wood that are more likely to crack, manufacturers or players might create bats that perform better under specific conditions but are more likely to break during gameplay. Such tampering, which could be subtle and difficult to detect, raises significant concerns not only about the integrity of the equipment but also about the safety of the players involved.

In addition to the physical properties and durability of baseball bats, the dynamics of bat-ball contact itself play a crucial role in player performance and safety. According to an article, the forces involved in the bat-ball collision are influenced by the temporal coordination of the hitter’s movements and the nature of the ball’s trajectory. The study explores the pressures exerted on both the bat and the player at the moment of impact, distinguishing between stationary and oncoming balls. Hitting a stationary ball, while seemingly easier, still requires precise timing and force application. The challenge is compounded when the ball is coming at high velocity, forcing the batter to adjust its swing mechanics to counteract the increasing stress at the point of impact. This dual pressure created by the ball’s speed and the forces transmitted through the bat forms the main pressure point in the batter’s swing. The ability to alleviate or manage this pressure is essential for successful batting. Furthermore, it highlights that players develop various strategies to coordinate their swing to maximize power while minimizing stress. For instance, players may adjust the angle of the bat or modify their grip to optimize the collision and reduce the risk of injury or bat failure. The force generated from the collision between the bat and the ball, when poorly managed, can lead to excessive vibration, player discomfort, or even bat damage, especially if the bat is not designed to handle such pressures. This concept ties directly into the design of baseball bats, where an understanding of how these forces interact can lead to improved materials and structural enhancements that better absorb and distribute stress during contact.

A Case study I also found provides a detailed case study on the design and physics of reinforced baseball bats, which are engineered specifically to handle these high-impact forces more effectively. The study focuses on how the design of the bat, including materials and structural reinforcements, can influence player comfort, performance, and safety. One key feature of reinforced bats is their ability to disperse the forces from the ball’s impact, thereby reducing the strain on both the bat and the batter. The inclusion of composite materials or structural reinforcements can help manage the stresses of bat-ball contact by providing more flexibility and elasticity, which are particularly important when a batter is facing high-speed pitches or attempting to hit with greater force. By reinforcing the barrel or handle, manufacturers can mitigate the potential for breakage or excessive vibration, creating a more durable and comfortable bat. For instance, reinforcing the barrel with stronger materials can help absorb some of the shock from a fast-moving pitch, which would otherwise travel up the handle and cause discomfort or even injury to the player’s hands. Ravindra et al. (2012) also emphasize that reinforcing the handle region can prevent it from snapping under pressure, an essential consideration when designing for player safety. These design considerations directly address the issues raised by the article earlier about how players adapt their swing mechanics to the forces exerted by the ball, and they ensure that the bat is built to withstand such adjustments without compromising performance. 

Moreover, this case study demonstrates how the reinforcement of the bat is not just about making the bat stronger, but also about creating a balance between flexibility and rigidity. A bat that is too rigid may increase the risk of injury by transmitting too much shock to the hands, while an overly flexible bat may not provide enough power or control. Manufacturers must strike a delicate balance between durability and performance, a goal that can be achieved through careful material selection and design innovation. The Case study also discusses how the use of composite materials or other advanced techniques can enhance this balance, offering players a more reliable and efficient tool for managing the complex forces of bat-ball contact.

These insights underscore the broader implications of tampering in baseball bat design. The physical and material properties that are so crucial to the bat’s functionality can easily be manipulated, either intentionally or through substandard manufacturing processes, leading to compromised safety or performance. For example, a bat that has been reinforced improperly either with too much or too little reinforcement could result in the bat breaking during high-pressure situations, risking player injury. As players and manufacturers work to optimize the bat for performance, any tampering or deviation from the standard design could undermine the intricate balance of force absorption and power transfer that makes the bat effective and safe to use.

Given the crucial role that bats play in a player’s performance, the possibility of tampering with bats, whether during manufacturing or post-production, presents significant ethical and safety concerns. For instance, manufacturers could intentionally misalign the grain to make the bat more likely to break upon impact. They might even go as far as injecting water or chemicals into the wood to weaken it further, making it more flexible and prone to shattering. This not only compromises player safety but also undermines the competitive fairness of the game, as tampered bats could provide a perceived advantage for the user at the cost of reliability.

The ethical implications of tampering with bats are serious. Altering the wood’s integrity during the curing process or misaligning the grain creates a dangerous product that could fail at critical moments, injuring the player or others in the vicinity. For instance, intentional manipulation of the bat’s design to create an exaggerated sweet spot or higher coefficient of restitution could give players an unfair advantage, skewing the balance of competition. Additionally, tampering with a bat could have significant legal consequences for both the players and the manufacturers involved, including fines, suspensions, and even legal action. Manufacturers or players who engage in such practices could face lawsuits for negligence or product liability, especially if a bat causes injury during play. Violating the standards of how it not only tarnishes the integrity of the sport but places the safety of players at significant risk.

In conclusion, the construction and durability of wooden baseball bats, while subject to strict regulations in Major League Baseball, remain vulnerable to both natural wear and potential tampering. The materials used, including maple, ash, and birch, offer different benefits and drawbacks that affect bat performance, durability, and safety. Understanding the physics of bat impact, the risks associated with tampering, and the legal implications of defective equipment is critical to ensuring that players can continue to compete safely and fairly.

References

  • Campshure, B., Drane, P., & Sherwood, J. A. (2022). An investigation of wood baseball bat durability as a function of bat profile and slope of grain using finite element modeling and statistical analysis. Electronics, 12(7), 3494. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/7/3494
Posted in GRADED, KFury, Portfolio KFury, Research Position Paper | 1 Comment

Rebuttal Rewrite – Mongoose449

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Mongoose449

Humans are good squirrels that bury nuts

Humans do not have the mental foresight to prepare a long-term future. Squirrels, like many mammals, prepare for the winter by stashing food in dugouts, and fattening themselves up for the cold season ahead. Unfortunately for the Squirrels, they often forget where they stash much of their food and could lead to starvation when their food is right below them.

Humanity as a whole is no different than the average squirrel, burying information and ideas rather than acorns and nuts. They spend much of their time preparing for the future, but can often forget why they prepared something, or where that thing may be. A library may hold books, but if that library goes up in flame those preserved books are now lost to time.

Humans have terrible memory, which is not only notorious for being unable to rapidly recall information just learned, but also skewing the facts due to gaps in memory. While able to procure memories from long spans of time ago, the memories have deteriorated to falsehood, or complete nonsense.

In the very short span of written history, we have lost over 90% of all text even written down. The Smithsonian believes that the only surviving texts we have are estimated to be mere single digit percentages, with many examples of literature completely gone from certain cultures. Most surviving copies being, just that. Copies of the original, often having various changes made to them like.

The meanings of words and literature will change as the people who read them change. Overtime, the moral of a story will twist with whoever is acting it, to fit a narrative or idea that the storyteller wishes it to say. A change in the protagonist, or a change in the villain. Maybe even a change in the setting or the food.

But unlike acorns, books, or stories, nuclear waste doesn’t just decompose or disappear. It remains, taking hundreds of thousands of years to slowly decay into less volatile material. There is no way to fully lose nuclear waste, no way to change the way it functions, no way to change it’s meaning. There is truly only one way to see it, and what it does. It exists, it decays by itself, mattering not what is around it or how people see it.

There is no way for humanity to change nuclear waste like they do with everything else they touch. It cannot be made into a new tool to use, a path to follow. It has no sentimental value, no hidden worth, only harms, never helps. How are we to bury our most dangerous acorn?

The fact humans have terrible memory, and lose knowledge often, is a positive when dealing with nuclear waste. Does denial not breed curiosity? When will the adventurer turn back on their quest, when faced with ultimate danger? Or when they reach an empty cave, devoid of all signs, symbols, and regalia. Is it not ironic that warning against something only inspires trill seekers to do it?

Hiding nuclear waste is the only way we can proceed in the future. The facilities that hold waste are deep underground, surrounded by thousands of tons of concrete and dirt, practically immune to the elements and any excavation from above. Would it not be practical for any suspected end of the world result in this extremely safe, impenetrable bunker, to be forgotten? To disappear from the minds of the people, to be lost beneath the dirt and never dug up?

Knowing it is there is one thing, finding it is another. Squirrels obviously know they have buried nuts somewhere around their forest, but could as easily starve before they uncover their stash. Then what? Those buried nuts now end up forgotten about by any living being, even when only mere inches from the surface. Just like any nuclear storage site, it will be buried in dirt, maybe not even that deep below the surface, but nobody will be any the wiser of the complex beneath their feet. A featureless canvas only inspires creativity to make something new, yet when introduced to something already existing, the viewer look deeper in. They investigate, find the meaning of the art, the purpose of the exposition.

If there is no written record, who is there to share of pandora’s box. Like the bottom of the ocean, we are curious, there are things down there, but why are we to investigate besides the sheer curiosity to do so? There is no reason for someone to explore below the forest, the empty field. Humans love to see the face value of things. The tree’s in the forest, the animals that inhibit it, the flora and fauna. They don’t investigate what’s residing below, the worms and the roots. Why would they? They already know what is down there, there couldn’t be anything else. With nuclear waste, there is something else. But how are they to know that it is down there.

Keeping our incomprehensible danger away from the future requires forgetting it’s existence. As stewards of now apocalyptic power, we have to insure that the future generations after us are either informed, or denied the information we carry. Who are we to deny the inevitability of time, when time brings safety from the danger we posses. With enough time, any danger and wasteland will return back to it’s natural state.

The damage we cause to ourselves and the earth are only remembered because we choose to. From the river Somme to the streets of Berlin. From the sands of Trinity to the forests of Pripyat, without knowledge we are none the wiser of the danger they posed our past selves. Maybe we are better without knowing the horror’s we’ve inflicted upon ourselves.

References:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8113705/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-much-medieval-literature-has-been-lost-over-the-centuries-180979696/

https://www.nycitycenter.org/education/study-guides/once-upon-a-mattress-behind-the-curtain-guide/how-stories-change-over-time/

Posted in Mongoose, Rebuttal Rewrite | 1 Comment

Rebuttal Argument – Mongoose449

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Mongoose449

Humans are good little squirrels that bury their nuts then forget about them.

Humans do not have the mental foresight to prepare a long-term future. Squirrels, like many mammals, prepare for the winter by stashing food in dugouts, and fattening themselves up for the cold season ahead. Unfortunately for the Squirrels, they often forget where they stash much of their food and could lead to starvation when their food is right below them.

Humanity as a whole is no different than the average squirrel, burying information and ideas rather than acorns and nuts. They spend much of their time preparing for the future, but can often forget why they prepared something, or where that thing may be. A library may hold books, but if that library goes up in flame those preserved books are now lost to time.

Humans have terrible memory, which is not only notorious for being unable to rapidly recall information just learned, but also skewing the facts due to gaps in memory. While able to procure memories from long spans of time ago, the memories have deteriorated to falsehood, or complete nonsense.

In the very short span of written history, we have lost over 90% of all text even written down. The Smithsonian believes that the only surviving texts we have are estimated to be mere single digit percentages, with many examples of literature completely gone from certain cultures. Most surviving copies being, just that. Copies of the original, often having various changes made to them like.

The meanings of words and literature will change as the people who read them change. Overtime, the moral of a story will twist with whoever is acting it, to fit a narrative or idea that the storyteller wishes it to say. A change in the protagonist, or a change in the villain. Maybe even a change in the setting or the food.

But unlike acorns, books, or stories, nuclear waste doesn’t just decompose or disappear. It remains, taking hundreds of thousands of years to slowly decay into less volatile material. There is no way to fully lose nuclear waste, no way to change the way it functions, no way to change it’s meaning. There is truly only one way to see it, and what it does. It exists, it decays by itself, mattering not what is around it or how people see it.

There is no way for humanity to change nuclear waste like they do with everything else they touch. It cannot be made into a new tool to use, a path to follow. It has no sentimental value, no hidden worth, only harms, never helps. How are we to bury our most dangerous acorn?

The fact humans have terrible memory, and lose knowledge often, is a positive when dealing with nuclear waste. Does denial not breed curiosity? When will the adventurer turn back on their quest, when faced with ultimate danger? Or when they reach an empty cave, devoid of all signs, symbols, and regalia. Is it not ironic that warning against something only inspires trill seekers to do it?

Hiding nuclear waste is the only way we can proceed in the future. The facilities that hold waste are deep underground, surrounded by thousands of tons of concrete and dirt, practically immune to the elements and any excavation from above. Would it not be practical for any suspected end of the world result in this extremely safe, impenetrable bunker, to be forgotten? To disappear from the minds of the people, to be lost beneath the dirt and never dug up?

Knowing it is there is one thing, finding it is another. Squirrels obviously know they have buried nuts somewhere around their forest, but could as easily starve before they uncover their stash. Then what? Those buried nuts now end up forgotten about by any living being, even when only mere inches from the surface. Just like any nuclear storage site, it will be buried in dirt, maybe not even that deep below the surface, but nobody will be any the wiser of the complex beneath their feet. A featureless canvas only inspires creativity to make something new, yet when introduced to something already existing, the viewer look deeper in. They investigate, find the meaning of the art, the purpose of the exposition.

If there is no written record, who is there to share of pandora’s box. Like the bottom of the ocean, we are curious, there are things down there, but why are we to investigate besides the sheer curiosity to do so? There is no reason for someone to explore below the forest, the empty field. Humans love to see the face value of things. The tree’s in the forest, the animals that inhibit it, the flora and fauna. They don’t investigate what’s residing below, the worms and the roots. Why would they? They already know what is down there, there couldn’t be anything else. With nuclear waste, there is something else. But how are they to know that it is down there.

Keeping our incomprehensible danger away from the future requires forgetting it’s existence. As stewards of now apocalyptic power, we have to insure that the future generations after us are either informed, or denied the information we carry. Who are we to deny the inevitability of time, when time brings safety from the danger we posses. With enough time, any danger and wasteland will return back to it’s natural state.

The damage we cause to ourselves and the earth are only remembered because we choose to. From the river Somme to the streets of Berlin. From the sands of Trinity to the forests of Pripyat, without knowledge we are none the wiser of the danger they posed our past selves. Maybe we are better without knowing the horror’s we’ve inflicted upon ourselves.

References:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8113705/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-much-medieval-literature-has-been-lost-over-the-centuries-180979696/

https://www.nycitycenter.org/education/study-guides/once-upon-a-mattress-behind-the-curtain-guide/how-stories-change-over-time/

Posted in GRADED, Mongoose, Rebuttal Draft | 2 Comments

Causal Rewrite – KFury

Posted on December 2, 2024 by KFury205

Are Baseball bats being tampered with for Profit? 

In Major League Baseball, the durability of baseball bats plays an important part in player safety, equipment performance, and the integrity of the sport. With improvements in technology and materials, baseball bats have evolved significantly over time. However, this evolution has led to ongoing debates about whether bat manufacturers might intentionally compromise durability to increase sales through more frequent replacements. While weakening bats might offer short-term financial gains, such a move could lead to far-reaching negative consequences, from safety risks to undermining trust in the sport’s equipment. By examining the forces at play during bat-ball contact, the engineering principles behind bat construction, and the potential outcomes of reduced durability, it becomes clear that intentionally compromising bat durability would have detrimental effects on MLB, its players, and its manufacturers.

The actual science involved when a baseball bat strikes a ball is immense, often exceeding 100 mph. This creates significant stress on the bat, particularly at the “sweet spot,” where maximum energy transfer occurs. The force transferred during impact can deform, crack, or even break a bat, especially if it is not engineered to withstand such pressures. In a research paper on temporal coordination strategies in baseball hitting, it was highlighted how players use specific strategies such as adjusting handle stiffness and weight distribution to manage these extreme forces. These strategies help players optimize performance and reduce the risk of bat failure. If manufacturers were to design bats with inferior materials or structural flaws that intentionally weaken them, this would not only increase the risk of breakage but also make it harder for players to manage these forces, leading to higher injury risks and potential declines in performance.

To help clarify, MLB’s regulations on bat materials and construction are strict, prioritizing both performance and player safety. Historically, MLB has required the use of wooden bats made from materials such as maple, ash, and birch. Although metal bats, such as those made from aluminum or alloys, are more durable and feature larger sweet spots, the league has chosen to preserve tradition by using wood, which offers a more “natural” experience for players. However, wood is also more brittle under high-stress conditions, which makes it more likely to break or splinter during bat-ball contact.

According to a study in 2019, while metal and composite bats offer enhanced durability, the choice to use wood reflects MLB’s commitment to maintaining the sport’s history and skill development. Metal bats and composites can absorb more impact without breaking, but they are not allowed in professional baseball, as their enhanced performance could alter the dynamics of the game. Despite these advantages, wooden bats remain the standard in MLB because of the tradition they represent. If manufacturers were to weaken wooden bats intentionally, either by using inferior materials or faulty construction, it would increase the risk of breakage and undermine both the integrity of the game and player safety.

The design of baseball bats is fundamentally about balancing performance with durability. Successful bat designs distribute the stresses of bat-ball contact evenly across the bat’s surface, reducing the likelihood of breakage. Research back in 2012 demonstrated how modern engineering practices reinforce bat durability by using composite materials to prevent stress concentrations, thus avoiding cracks or breakage under repeated impacts. These innovations ensure that bats last throughout a season without sacrificing performance.

However, if manufacturers deliberately compromised the durability of bats—whether by using low-quality materials or incorporating structural flaws—the result would be a higher likelihood of breakage, which could disrupt player performance and lead to safety hazards. As shown by this study, the physics of bat construction demands that materials be selected for their ability to withstand the immense pressures of bat-ball collisions. A poorly designed bat with inferior materials would fail more easily, compromising both player safety and performance.

I recently read an article from 2022, the authors used statistical analysis to test four different types of wood bats, simulating real-game conditions to identify how variations in bat profile and grain slope impact their performance under stress. One of the key findings of the study is that specific areas on the bat, such as the sweet spot and sections near the barrel, are especially vulnerable to damage from high-impact forces. These areas are more likely to crack or break, depending on the wood’s density and how the grain is aligned. This research highlights how subtle design decisions like the type of wood used or the alignment of the grain can greatly influence a bat’s durability. If manufacturers intentionally weakened these features, for example, by using inferior wood or manipulating grain alignment, it would increase the risk of breakage, which would not only jeopardize player safety but also compromise the integrity of the game.

The trust players place in their equipment is also at stake. MLB players depend on their bats to perform reliably under high-stress conditions. If a bat is prone to frequent breakage, players’ confidence in their equipment would be eroded, affecting their gameplay and potentially leading to frustration and injuries. A case I found emphasized that a well-engineered bat not only improves performance but also builds trust in the equipment, which is essential for players to perform at their best. Intentionally designing bats to fail would undermine this trust and diminish the integrity of the sport.

Now, financially While manufacturers may see short-term profits from bats that break more easily due to increased sales from replacements the long-term financial consequences are far more damaging. As breakage rates increase, players, teams, and fans would become frustrated with the need for frequent replacements. An article on Rawlings Sporting Goods underlined how the reputation of a sports equipment company is tightly linked to the quality and durability of its products. Deliberately producing faulty bats would risk damaging the manufacturer’s brand, resulting in a loss of customer loyalty and eventual financial decline. Additionally, the potential for legal action resulting from injuries caused by defective bats could further harm manufacturers financially. Lawsuits, product recalls, and regulatory fines would quickly outweigh any profits made from increasing bat replacement sales. Therefore, weakening bat durability for financial gain would be both unethical and poor business practice in the long run.

In conclusion, the durability of baseball bats is integral to player safety, the fairness of competition, and the overall integrity of MLB. Studies on bat materials, engineering, and performance testing demonstrate that a well-designed bat should be durable enough to withstand the intense forces of bat-ball contact while still providing optimal performance. Intentionally weakening bat durability would increase injury risks, reduce player trust in their equipment, and lead to long-term financial damage for manufacturers. The ethical and financial implications of such a decision are clear: compromising bat durability would harm players, the sport, and manufacturers alike. Instead of prioritizing short-term financial gain, manufacturers should focus on advancing bat technology to improve both performance and safety. By investing in research and innovation, manufacturers can help ensure that MLB remains a safe, fair, and competitive sport while preserving its rich traditions.

References

  • “Design Implementation of Baseball Bats: Reinforced Bats—A Case Study” N.M. Ravindra, Ivan Padron, Priyanka Singh, Bhumi Bhatt, Vishal Singh, and Kevin Fritz. JOM, 2012

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11837-012-0288-2

  • “Performance assessment of wood, metal and composite baseball bats” MM Shenoy, LV Smith, JT Axtell. Composite Structures, 2001

https://ssl.wsu.edu/documents/2015/10/performance-assessment-of-wood-metal-composite-baseball-bats.pdf/

  • “Temporal Coordination Strategies in Baseball Hitting: Insights from  Stationary vs. Oncoming Ball Analysis” T Ino, H Katsumata. Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science, 2024

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382058117_Temporal_Coordination_Strategies_in_Baseball_Hitting_Insights_from_Stationary_vs_Oncoming_Ball_Analysis

  • RAWLINGS SPORTING GOODS COMPANY, INC.: STRATEGIC CHALLENGES

Nickerson, Inge; Rarick, Charles.Jordan Whitney Enterprises, Inc., 2000

https://www.proquest.com/docview/192412308?accountid=13605&parentSessionId=NNXAPjMRygdC6G8T9oMb2JCWAS7co8mVuD0r5hILdVw%3D&pq-origsite=primo&sourcetype=Conference%20Papers%20&%20Proceedings
  • Campshure, B., Drane, P., & Sherwood, J. A. (2022). An investigation of wood baseball bat durability as a function of bat profile and slope of grain using finite element modeling and statistical analysis. Electronics, 12(7), 3494. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/7/3494

Sherwood, J., & Drane, P. (2019). Design and materials in baseball. In Materials in sports equipment (pp. [235 – 279]). Elsevier. https://app-knovel-com.ezproxy.rowan.edu/web/view/khtml/show.v/rcid:kpMSEE0002/cid:kt0121XT45/viewerType:khtml/?page=1&view=collapsed&zoom=1

Posted in Causal Rewrite, GRADED, KFury, Portfolio KFury | 1 Comment

Rebuttal rewrite – KFury

Posted on December 2, 2024 by KFury205

An Argument of Integrity

In the sports equipment industry, companies often prioritize profit over material quality, using cheaper materials to cut costs. Critics may argue that this happens in MLB bat manufacturing, suggesting that profit-driven decisions lead to the use of subpar materials, weakening the bat’s durability. However, this narrative overlooks the rigorous standards set by Major League Baseball to ensure both the safety of players and the integrity of the sport. Let’s address this issue from three key perspectives: MLB’s strict testing, the physics of bat design, and the materials used in construction.

A common rebuttal is that companies are compelled to adhere to established industry standards, prioritizing safety. Critics may claim that using cheaper materials compromises these standards and, by extension, player safety. However, MLB’s extensive testing protocols ensure that only bats that meet both performance and durability standards are allowed in official games. MLB’s regulations are clear and firm in this regard: any deviation from these standards results in the bat being banned from use but as this examination explains by examining the physics of baseball bats, demonstrating how different materials whether metal, wood, or composite perform under stress. The research confirms that MLB’s required performance thresholds and durability tests ensure that no bat can easily break or fail. If a manufacturer were to use inferior materials or tamper with a bat to save costs, it would fail these critical tests and be rejected by MLB. Thus, the idea that manufacturers intentionally weaken bats for profit doesn’t align with the oversight in place. Any tampering would be detected during these testing procedures, making it not only unlikely but practically impossible for manufacturers to compromise the bat’s integrity without being caught.

Another argument is that the physics of bat construction simply doesn’t allow for the widespread use of low-quality materials in MLB-approved bats. Critics of the current system might suggest that cheaper composites or metals could replace premium materials like high-grade wood or carbon fiber, offering equal performance at a lower cost. However, the physics of bat impact reveals why this approach is impractical. This investigation conducted a study on wood bat durability, investigating how various bat profiles and grain orientations impact a bat’s ability to withstand high-impact forces. They found that certain structural flaws, such as misaligned grain in wood, dramatically reduce a bat’s durability, leading to breakage. Their research highlights why MLB insists on using only carefully chosen, high-quality wood (e.g., maple or ash) and why these materials are carefully scrutinized for their integrity. If manufacturers were to use low-quality materials, especially in wood bats, the risk of breakage during play would increase significantly, putting players at greater risk. MLB’s regulations, which prioritize player safety, explicitly prevent such compromises. Simply put, if cheaper, inferior materials were used in bat construction, the bats would be more prone to failure and would violate the league’s standards for player protection.

Some critics argue that technological advancements have made cheaper materials just as effective as higher-end alternatives. They suggest that with improvements in materials science, even low-cost composites or metals could offer the same performance and durability as premium materials. While technological advancements have indeed enhanced the performance of certain materials, they cannot fully replicate the durability and performance offered by top-quality materials traditionally used in MLB-approved bats. The case study I found is that, despite technological advances, materials like low-grade composites often fail to meet the durability standards of wood bats. Even with advancements in composite bat design, these materials break more easily under high-impact conditions, especially in professional play. While technology has made cheaper materials more efficient in some cases, it has not eliminated the fundamental weaknesses that still make high-quality wood the superior choice in terms of both performance and durability. In short, even though technology improves the short-term performance of low-cost materials, it does not fully replace the inherent strength and resilience of premium materials like top-grade wood, which is why MLB continues to enforce strict standards that prioritize durability and player safety.

In conclusion, the claim that MLB bats are tampered with for profit is not supported by the facts. MLB’s stringent testing procedures, combined with the physical properties of bat materials, ensure that durability and safety are never sacrificed in favor of cost-saving measures. While technological advancements may improve performance in some materials, they cannot replicate the durability and resilience of premium materials like ash, maple, or carbon fiber. MLB’s commitment to player safety and fair competition guarantees that only the best-quality bats are allowed in professional play. Any attempt to compromise the quality of bats for financial gain would be detected through MLB’s rigorous testing protocols. Thus, while profit-driven practices may occur in other sectors of the sports equipment industry, the realities of bat design, physics, and MLB’s oversight make tampering with bat durability virtually impossible. MLB’s focus remains on maintaining the integrity of the sport and safeguarding the health of its players, making any tampering for profit not just unlikely, but essentially impossible.

References:

  • Campshure, B., Drane, P., & Sherwood, J. A. (2022). An investigation of wood baseball bat durability as a function of bat profile and slope of grain using finite element modeling and statistical analysis. Electronics, 12(7), 3494. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/7/3494
  • “Performance assessment of wood, metal and composite baseball bats” MM Shenoy, LV Smith, JT Axtell. Composite Structures, 2001

https://ssl.wsu.edu/documents/2015/10/performance-assessment-of-wood-metal-composite-baseball-bats.pdf/
Ravindra, N. M., Sushil, K., & Ivan, P. (2009). Physics of baseball bats—An analysis. International Journal of Sports Science and Engineering, 3(4), 161-172. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228677376

Posted in GRADED, KFury, Portfolio KFury, Rebuttal Rewrite | 2 Comments

Definition Rewrite – KFury

Posted on December 2, 2024 by KFury205

Professional Baseball Bats
Tampered with for a Profit? 

When you are in a professional baseball game the durability of baseball bats is more than just a technical consideration it’s a crucial aspect that impacts both player safety and the integrity of the game. As baseball continues to evolve, so too do the materials and technologies used to create bats. These advancements in bat construction have sparked ongoing debates about their performance, safety, and, perhaps most importantly, the ethical questions surrounding the potential to intentionally compromise bat durability. This concern is particularly pronounced in Major League Baseball, where the stakes are high and the expectations surrounding equipment are even higher. Could manufacturers intentionally design bats that are more prone to breaking under certain conditions? Such a question not only challenges player safety but also threatens the very essence of fair competition and the credibility of the sport. This paper will explore the factors that influence bat durability, the engineering behind bat design, and the ethical implications of tampering with the integrity of this essential piece of equipment in MLB.

In MLB, the bats players use are subject to rigorous material and performance regulations as seen in this informative article to ensure they are both safe and fair. The league has long favored wooden bats made primarily from maple, birch, and ash due to their traditional feel and the unique sound they create when they make contact with the ball. Maple, for example, is known for its density and strength, which makes it a popular choice, although it’s more susceptible to splintering under heavy impact. Ash, while more flexible and lightweight, often lacks the durability of maple. However, all these woods share one characteristic: they break more easily compared to other materials. This natural fragility is a key concern in professional play, where bats are subjected to high-velocity pitches and frequent use throughout a long season.

Regarding equipment requirements, Metal bats are typically not allowed in MLB for many reasons for one the superior durability and awfully large sweet spot, which give players an unfair advantage by increasing ball exit speeds. Composite bats, which combine materials like carbon fiber and resin, offer similar advantages but are also banned in MLB for the same reason. To ensure that all bats perform within a specific range and uphold the integrity of the game, MLB imposes performance standards like the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution, a standard that measures how much energy a baseball bat loses when it hits a ball. The league also enforces the “Wood Bat Rule,” which limits players to using only wooden bats, maintaining both traditions and sticking to the roots of how baseball was first made as well as the fairness to the game of all teams being on somewhat equal ground.

Understanding what makes a bat durable requires delving into the materials, design, and structural integrity of the bat. Bat durability is a complex combination of several factors, from the type of wood used to how the bat is constructed. Manufacturers test and refine bats through a series of simulations designed to replicate the pressures bats face during real-game situations, such as the high-speed impact of a pitched baseball. These tests help manufacturers identify which materials and designs are most likely to withstand the forces involved in professional play.

The type of wood used is perhaps the most critical factor in determining durability. Maple is favored for its strength and less frequent warping compared to other types of wood, but it can splinter easily under extreme stress. On the other hand, ash is lighter and more flexible, but it may lack the density needed to withstand repeated impacts. Another important factor is barrel thickness. A thicker barrel can distribute the force from a pitch more evenly across the surface, reducing the likelihood of cracks or breaks. A thinner barrel, however, can create weak points that are more prone to failure under impact. Weight distribution also plays a role in this as bats that are too light may not have the structural integrity to survive the high forces of professional play, while bats that are too heavy can be unwieldy and difficult for players to handle effectively.

Each of these elements needs to be carefully balanced to create a bat that can perform well throughout the season while maintaining the necessary durability to prevent frequent breakage. This balance is a delicate one, as changing one aspect of the bat’s design often impacts others, and any compromise in durability can have serious consequences, particularly in a high-stakes professional setting like MLB.

The ethical implications of intentionally compromising the durability of baseball bats are significant, especially in the context of MLB. If manufacturers were to design bats with weak spots that would cause them to break more easily, it could have catastrophic consequences for player safety as shown in this examination. A bat that unexpectedly shatters in the middle of a game presents a real risk not only to the batter but also to the players around them. Flying pieces of broken bats can easily become projectiles, injuring nearby players. The safety of the athletes should always be the highest priority, and deliberately creating a bat with compromised durability is a direct violation of that responsibility.

Beyond the safety concerns, tampering with bat durability challenges the integrity of the sport itself. As noted in this overview the MLB has built its reputation on a set of clear standards and regulations designed to maintain fairness, and intentionally weakening the durability of bats would undermine that foundation. By altering bats to break more easily, it could shift the dynamics of the game in an unfair direction. MLB players rely on their bats to perform consistently and reliably. Any attempt to manufacture bats that are prone to breakage could create an uneven playing field, where the unpredictability of bat failure introduces a new variable that players and teams should not have to contend with. Additionally, tampering with bat durability could result in increased financial costs for teams and manufacturers due to more frequent replacements, which would likely make such practices economically unsustainable in the long run.

MLB already enforces stringent quality control measures for bats, ensuring that every bat used in official games meets strict performance and durability standards. The league’s comprehensive performance testing guarantees that no bat provides an unfair advantage or poses a safety risk. Any tampering with bat durability would not only violate these established regulations but also result in severe consequences for manufacturers caught engaging in such practices.

Player safety is a critical consideration in the ongoing discussion of bat durability, as highlighted in this article. A broken bat presents a unique hazard, particularly when it shatters unexpectedly and sends pieces flying at high speeds. With players positioned close to the batter, the potential danger is significant. MLB regulations are specifically designed to mitigate these risks, and the durability of the bat is a key factor. Well-constructed bats, engineered to withstand the force of pitched balls and high swing speeds, are less likely to break and generate dangerous flying debris, as demonstrated in this case study.

The ongoing evolution of materials and technologies in bat construction aims not only to boost performance but also to enhance player safety. Recent advancements in shock-absorbing materials and energy-transfer mechanisms have made it possible to design bats that combine top-tier performance with improved durability, reducing the risk of breakage. These innovations represent a significant step forward in creating a safer playing environment, helping to prevent injuries that could arise from equipment failure during high-impact plays.

The durability of baseball bats is crucial for player safety, competitive fairness, and the integrity of the sport. MLB’s stringent standards for bat construction and performance ensure that players use reliable equipment that minimizes unnecessary risks. Intentionally compromising bat durability, whether for performance enhancement or other reasons, is both unethical and unnecessary. By prioritizing innovation, quality control, and responsible manufacturing practices, the baseball community can continue to provide players with the safest, most durable equipment, supporting the long-term health and success of the sport.

References

Diaz, J. (2012). Beware of deadly flying bats: An examination of the legal implications of maple bat injuries in Major League Baseball. Seton Hall Journal of Sports & Entertainment Law, 22(2), 227-258. https://scholarship.shu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1098&context=student_scholarship

Leahey, A. (2022, September 2). MLB official baseball rules, annotated: Equipment and uniforms (Part 3). Baseball Prospectus. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/77155/mlb-official-baseball-rules-annoted-equipment-and-uniforms-part-3

Ravindra, N.M., Padron, I., Singh, P., Bhatt, B., Singh, V., & Fritz, K. (2012). Design Implementation of Baseball Bats: Reinforced Bats—A Case Study. JOM. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11837-012-0288-2

Shenoy, M.M., Smith, L.V., & Axtell, J.T. (2001). Performance Assessment of Wood, Metal, and Composite Baseball Bats. Composite Structures. Retrieved from https://ssl.wsu.edu/documents/2015/10/performance-assessment-of-wood-metal-composite-baseball-bats.pdf

Posted in Definition Rewrite, GRADED, KFury | 1 Comment