2nd Person – SkibidySigma

Posted on November 24, 2024 by SkibidySigma
  1. Taxpayers wonder whether the amount spent on students makes a difference. Upon closer consideration, it certainly does. Ask any parent whose child attends an expensive school.
  2. There are different types of injuries that happen in each sport. Would anyone object if it were known that a surgery performed before any injury occurs could make an athlete stronger?
  3. Imagine a body being consumed by a drug. The individual would do anything to obtain this drug and does not worry about the consequences that come with it.
  4. By inviting Syrians in, more problems are being caused than are being solved.
  5. Does the idea of not actually having money on-hand sound trivial?
  6. That little green piece of paper in the pocket holds no actual value other than the cost it took to produce it, and yet people will work their whole lives just to acquire more of those little green pieces of paper to deposit in a bank.
  7. So remember the next time a bank statement is read or a dollar bill is examined, what is being held is a made-up value that someone decided to create. Without it, trading might still involve goods like livestock and produce.
  8. I now understand that a dollar is only worth what can be received in exchange for it.
  9. Being able to walk around with money without holding it in hand brings back the idea of the stone because, just like stone currency, physical possession of Bitcoins is not necessary to own them.
  10. We hear people talk about the American Dream, which requires having enough of these pieces of paper to be financially stable. Upon deep reflection, it becomes clear that lives are based entirely on receiving these pieces of paper called money.
  11. Money is an adroit concept and its pursuit lasts a lifetime. The goal from the moment school starts is to join the game of making enough of these pieces of paper to make life more enjoyable and acceptable.
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Rebuttal Rewrite-phoenixxxx23

Posted on November 24, 2024 by phoenixxxx23

Your Smartphone Could Be Good for you

My phone makes me feel empty. Despite the endless stream of notifications and the illusion of connection, it’s like trying to warm your hands at a fire that’s already burned out: “It’s a hollow kind of dissatisfaction, one that lovers know all too well when separated by distance. They hear the sweet, comforting words of affection and might trust the sincerity behind them—but as sincere as those words may be, they can never replace the depth of a physical embrace, the warmth of touch that transcends what words can convey.” Similarly, I thought online therapy would offer the answer I had been searching for: a way to access help without the hurdles of time, scheduling, or proximity. The convenience of it all seemed perfect. No more waiting for an appointment or worrying about commute times—just a click, a conversation, an instant connection. What could be simpler? But over time, I realized that the very convenience that drew me in was also what left me feeling drained. The sessions, meant to offer solace, felt more like a distant analysis—detached, clinical, lacking the depth and humanity I had come to expect from real-world interactions. It was therapy without warmth, without the presence of another person in the room to help anchor the process. It was just words, and they never quite landed.

Joanna Rodriguez and Nadine Page argue in their article “Your Smartphone Could Be Good for Your Mental Health,” that technology has the potential to improve mental health through innovations like telemedicine, mental health apps, and even video games that reduce stress and help with conditions like anxiety and depression. They suggest that these tools, available at the touch of a button, offer new, more accessible ways to seek help. And while these developments are undeniably convenient, they miss a crucial point. Convenience doesn’t always lead to better outcomes.

As much as apps like SPARX, an app designed to gamify mental health treatment, or telemedicine platforms offer quick fixes for those seeking support, they don’t address the complexities of mental health issues. SPARX, for instance, uses role-playing games and interactive tasks to help users manage their feelings of depression, making it a useful tool for those seeking self-help. However, while it may offer some relief, it oversimplifies the emotional work required in therapy. These apps and platforms tend to provide surface-level relief rather than truly confronting deep-seated issues or navigating the complexities of mental health. The benefits they offer, though valuable in some contexts, are not enough to replace the long-term, transformative effects of in-person therapy.

Moreover, these tools often create a false sense of connection. In the article by American psychiatrist Alex Curmi “The Big Idea: Is Convenience Making Our Lives More Difficult?” a concept called evolutionary mismatch is introduced. This idea suggests that our natural instincts, honed over thousands of years of hunter-gatherer life, are out of sync with the modern world of convenience. We evolved to face challenges—both physical and emotional—that required effort, resilience, and social bonding. In contrast, technology offers ease and instant gratification, removing the need for effort or struggle. But this mismatch can have serious consequences. As we retreat into digital spaces to avoid discomfort—whether it’s the discomfort of a difficult conversation or the vulnerability of in-person therapy—we miss out on the growth that comes from confronting challenges head-on.

This evolutionary mismatch is crucial in understanding why online therapy, despite its accessibility, can fail to meet our deeper emotional needs. Our brains are wired for face-to-face interactions, where we can read subtle cues like body language, tone of voice, and physical presence. These cues activate parts of the brain responsible for emotional empathy, creating a deeper sense of connection and trust. We keep forgetting that we are, at our core, human beings with instincts and biological needs that can’t be bypassed by convenience. We’ve become so accustomed to the idea that technology can fix any problem that we overlook the simplest, most fundamental aspects of human interaction—things like body language, tone, and physical presence. These cues aren’t just “nice to have”—they are essential for effective communication and emotional connection. This disconnect is evident in the growing challenge of maintaining long-distance relationships, where the absence of physical presence undermines the depth of the connection. No matter how many video calls we make or messages we exchange, we can’t fully replicate the nuances of being in the same room as someone, the subtle shifts in expression, the unspoken bond created by shared space. And the same is true for online therapy: without that real-time, face-to-face presence, something is always missing.

Minimizing my reliance on technology became a conscious decision to restore balance—focusing on real connections that nourish my well-being and encourage emotional growth. By stepping back from the constant stream of notifications and curated lives, I was able to remember what genuine presence felt like—something that apps and social media often cannot provide.

 I didn’t seek to disconnect entirely from the digital world, but to minimize its hold over my life. By doing so, I created space for relationships that heal and help us grow—relationships rooted in presence, vulnerability, and shared experience. True healing and emotional growth don’t come from algorithms or digital distractions—they come from real, unmediated moments with others, where we are fully seen, heard, and valued.

Through this process, I also became more aware of how digital technology was changing me—how it altered my brain’s ability to focus and heightened my feelings of anxiety. The constant pinging of notifications kept me in a perpetual state of alertness, stealing my time and attention away from what really mattered. I had been tricked into thinking that the convenience of technology was an enhancement, but it was in fact a subtle form of depletion. By minimizing my engagement with these tools, I not only began to reclaim my time but also reset my mind, allowing me to rewire the patterns of distraction and restore a sense of presence and peace in my life.

References

“Your Smartphone Could Be Good for Your Mental Health” The Conversation. 28 May 2015.

“The Big Idea: Is Convenience Making Our Lives More Difficult?” The Guardian. 4 Nov 2024.

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Rebuttal Argument-phoenixxxx23

Posted on November 24, 2024 by phoenixxxx23

My new chapter is called “Never Enough.” Smartphones allow us to access therapy from the comfort of our homes, connect with friends across the globe, and track our mental health in ways that were never possible before. As Joanna Rodriguez and Nadine Page highlight in their article Your Smartphone Could Be Good for Your Mental Health, technology has revolutionized the way we approach mental health. From telemedicine platforms offering greater access to therapy, to apps that help monitor our well-being, we’re more connected to support than ever before. These advancements seem to promise a more efficient and accessible way to tackle mental health struggles, offering convenience and instant access to resources we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago.

Yet something in this convenience doesn’t quite add up. I was initially drawn to online therapy for its practicality—no commute, no scheduling conflicts, just a simple click to begin a session. It seemed like the perfect solution, a way to receive help without the hassle of real-world barriers. But over time, I began to feel a growing disconnect. Something wasn’t right. The therapy I was receiving lacked the emotional depth I had come to expect. Rodriguez and Page suggest that telemedicine and digital platforms can indeed offer some benefits, but there’s a fundamental difference between a conversation on a screen and one held in person. Without the physical presence of a therapist—the eye contact, the subtle body language, the energy in the room—it felt more like an exchange of words than a therapeutic process. The connection was fleeting, and I realized the “help” I was receiving lacked the profound empathy and nuance that only face-to-face interaction can provide.

This disconnection isn’t just personal; it’s rooted in science. Our brains are biologically wired for in-person interaction. Research shows that face-to-face communication activates parts of the brain that digital interfaces can’t replicate. A study published in Psychological Science demonstrated that when we are physically present with someone, we experience a deeper emotional connection and trust—something that a screen, however convenient, cannot mimic. The human brain responds to physical cues like body language, facial expressions, and tone in ways that digital communication simply cannot. Without the ability to read these subtle cues or experience the physical presence of another person, therapy becomes transactional, not transformative.

Rodriguez and Page tout the benefits of apps like SPARX, which gamify mental health treatment, as a breakthrough in making therapy more engaging and accessible. But these apps oversimplify the emotional work therapy truly requires. Instead of confronting deep-seated issues or navigating the complexities of our emotions, these platforms provide quick fixes—surface-level relief without lasting growth. Studies show that obsessively tracking our health through these apps can actually increase anxiety. What was meant to be self-care becomes just another task on an already overwhelming to-do list. Every reminder to meditate, track moods, or count steps feels like an urgent obligation, further intensifying the pressure to be perfect. These apps don’t heal—they merely mask the problem, often making it worse.

Social media compounds this sense of inadequacy. We’re constantly exposed to curated, idealized versions of life, and we’re led to believe that this is the standard we should measure ourselves against. But in reality, these platforms aren’t about connection—they’re about competition. The more we compare ourselves to others, the more we feel like we’re falling short. Social media use has been linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety, particularly among young people. The more we engage, the more we’re reminded that we’re never enough. We’re not just connecting with friends by looking at their posts on Instagram; we’re being subtly told to be more, do more, achieve more—and we’re left feeling like we’re always failing to measure up.

In the end, the technologies that promise to improve our mental health often do the opposite. They feed into a culture of perfectionism, amplifying our anxiety and reinforcing the belief that we are never enough. We’ve become slaves to an endless cycle of self-optimization, constantly chasing the next “better” version of ourselves under the guise of self-care. But in this relentless pursuit, we’ve lost sight of something essential: the simple truth that we are enough, just as we are. Technology may offer convenience, but it rarely provides the human connection, authenticity, or emotional depth we need to truly thrive. Instead of healing us, it feeds our insecurities, turning self-care into another metric to measure. As much as the authors of “Your Smartphone Could Be Good for Your Mental Health” want us to believe smartphones can be our saviors, the truth is they could be our friends, but they never truly are.

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Rebuttal Rewrite – student12121

Posted on November 24, 2024 by student12121

The Effects of Carbon-Plated Shoes on High Mileage Runners

As studies on super shoes come out, two different ideologies have formed. One group believes that super shoes increase injury risk over time, but my opponents believe the complete opposite. They point to the reduced stress and improved ability to handle training load, to show that shoes with a carbon plate reduce injury risk. 

An article in the MIT Technology Review considers this exact position. They interview David Kirui, a physical therapist that treats many of Kenya’s top marathon runners. He estimated that overuse injuries were down by around 25% due to the increased use of super shoes. His ideology was supported by Jonathan Maiyo, an experienced racer and elite road runner since 2007, who said that “in the old shoes, after 10 marathons you’d be completely exhausted.” He sees a huge change in this and now says that “10 marathons are like nothing.” The late Kelvin Kiptum who had a meteoric rise to prominence reportedly had a regular mileage of 280 kilometers or about 173 miles a week. That equates to 24 miles a day and is clearly high mileage. The group of Kenyans coach, Claudio Berardelli, estimated that his athletes do at least 60% of their mileage in super shoes. Kenyan distance runners subscribe to the high mileage strategy completely. If Kiptum did the same proportion of his training in carbon-plated shoes he would have run over 100 miles a week in carbon-plated shoes.

It would make sense if, because of the high volume, these athletes saw an increase in injuries over time. There are a few different reasons I think we don’t see this. First is the reduction of musculoskeletal stress Kenyan athletes see when they go pro. Because of the extremely limited resources available to people in Kenya, many Kenyan athletes, like the ones in Claudio Berardelli’s group, are often doing a huge training volume without proper equipment before they go pro. Kelvin Kiptum is a prime example of this. Before he became one of the most well known marathon runners in the world, he was doing his training barefoot. When he went from barefoot to professional running gear it can be reasonably assumed that there was a huge reduction in musculoskeletal stress for the same amount of training. A similar reduction should be found when super shoes are introduced. The difference is that over time the redistribution of load increases the risk. 

Another reason we don’t see this increase in that group in particular could be the other training they do. Their exact training is unknown because different teams hide their training to avoid copycats cropping up, but it should include strengthening outside of running. If their coach, who has a background in sports science, is smart he can adjust their strengthening regimen to strengthen the regions necessary before it becomes an issue. If the area the load is redistributed to is already strong then an injury is far less likely to occur. This wouldn’t show up in most studies because the average person doesn’t have a coach that does that. Even most coached athletes don’t have a coach that is able to do that. That kind of training needs to be backed by a coach that knows the athlete well. Super shoes are a mass market product that are marketed to everyone. The problem is still there even if careful training outside of running can mitigate the additional risks.

The third reason that the group doesn’t see the increase in injuries predicted by studies is the difference in the individual. While the study done by the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Salzburg and the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center in Austria, showed an example of an athlete responding poorly it’s possible that this group is an example of a group that responds well to the shoes. Stories like these are not hard to come by. Runners are a hugely diverse group and individual outcomes can vary greatly no matter the technology.

The MIT article mentions individualism when it comes to performance but it holds true for health too. They look to a study done by Wouter Hoogkamer that revealed a 4% range in performance improvement. Hoogkamer also commented on why he believes athletes respond so differently to super shoes. He thought there were around 20 variables affecting the response to the shoes including weight, calf strength, and the strike pattern of the runner. The strike pattern of an athlete is usually categorized into forefoot, midfoot, and rearfoot with the location being the first point of contact between the foot and the ground. While it can be broadly categorized into those three categories there are countless other subcategories including the natural level of eversion and inversion on impact. 

Abdi Nageeye, a Dutch marathon runner that finished second in the Tokyo Olympic marathon and won the 2024 New York City marathon earlier this month, is a heel striker. He struggled significantly with the first two versions of the Nike Alphafly because they forced his stride into a different pattern that felt unnatural. He described the change as a “skip” in his stride. In contrast to his struggles with the first two versions, the third version of the Alphafly worked well for him. He won his first ever major marathon in the shoes. As a Nike athlete the Alphafly was what he had to race in even when his stride was being changed unnaturally. Changes in form increase injury risk and could have caused injuries. 

Small case studies like these have huge variation. Just like the variation in the shoes performance the variation in the effect on the runner is large. Studies with large sample sizes help to even this out. There are more and more studies coming out with results that point towards increased injury risk. Alone there isn’t a study that proves the argument one way or the other. There are case studies going both ways. Put together, the scientific studies only point one way. They point towards increases in injury over time and the potential for long term problems. 

Supershoes are reshaping distance running. (n.d.). MIT Technology Review. https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/06/25/1093520/supershoes-running-kenya-carbon-plate-shoes/ 

‌Hobson, B. (2023, May 31). Meet the coach, Claudio Berardelli. Runner’s World. https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/a43781904/claudio-berardelli/ 

Moore, S., Martinez, A., Schwameder, H., & Stoggl, T. (2023, July 12). THE MEDIOLATERAL CENTER OF PRESSURE MOVEMENT DIFFERS BETWEEN TRAINING AND RACING SHOES: A CASE STUDY [Review of THE MEDIOLATERAL CENTER OF PRESSURE MOVEMENT DIFFERS BETWEEN TRAINING AND RACING SHOES: A CASE STUDY]. Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Salzburg, Austria Red Bull Athlete Performance Center, Thalgau, Austria. https://commons.nmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2665&context=isbs 

‌

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Rebuttal Argument – student12121

Posted on November 24, 2024 by student12121

Carbon Plates: Performance Enhancing or Injury Inducing

As studies on super shoes come out, two different ideologies have formed. One group believes that super shoes increase injury risk over time, but the other group believes the complete opposite. They point to the reduced stress and improved ability to handle training load, to show that shoes with a carbon plate reduce injury risk. 

An article in the MIT Technology Review considers this exact position. They interview David Kirui, a physical therapist that treats many of Kenya’s top marathon runners. He estimated that overuse injuries were down by around 25% due to the increased use of super shoes. His ideology was supported by Jonathan Maiyo, an experienced racer and elite road runner since 2007, who said that “in the old shoes, after 10 marathons you’d be completely exhausted.” He sees a huge change in this and now says that “10 marathons are like nothing.” The group of Kenyans coach Claudio Berardelli estimated that his athletes do at least 60% of their mileage in super shoes. 

Kenyan distance runners subscribe to the high mileage strategy completely. Weekly mileage for world class marathon runners like the group mentioned is often around 220 kilometers or about 137 miles. The late Kelvin Kiptum who had a meteoric rise to prominence reportedly had a regular mileage of 280 kilometers or about 173 miles a week. That equates to 24 miles a day and is clearly high mileage. If the group interviewed ran the estimate of 137 miles and we take the low estimate of 60% of mileage in super shoes, it would tell us that they run around 80 miles a week in carbon plated shoes. 

It would make sense if, because of the high volume, these athletes saw an increase in injuries over time. There are a few different reasons I think we don’t see this. First is the reduction of stress professional athletes see when they go pro. Especially in Kenya athletes are often doing a huge training volume without proper equipment before they go pro. Kelvin Kiptum is a prime example of this. Before he became one of the most well known marathon runners in the world, he was doing his training barefoot. While there have been some documented benefits to training barefoot, it is widely known that high mileage barefoot is unsustainable. When he went pro it can be reasonably assumed that there was a huge reduction in musculoskeletal stress for the same amount of training. A similar reduction should be found when super shoes are introduced. The difference is that over time the redistribution of load increases the risk. 

Another reason we don’t see this increase in that group in particular could be the other training they do. Their exact training is unknown because different teams hide their training to avoid copycats cropping up, but it should include strengthening outside of running. If their coach, who has a background in sports science, is smart he can adjust their strengthening regimen to strengthen the regions necessary before it becomes an issue. If the area the load is redistributed to is already strong then an injury is far less likely to occur. This wouldn’t show up in most studies because the average person doesn’t have a coach that does that. Even most coached athletes don’t have a coach that is able to do that. That kind of training needs to be backed by a coach that knows the athlete well. Super shoes are a mass market product that are marketed to everyone. The problem is still there even if careful training outside of running can mitigate the additional risks.

The third reason that the group doesn’t see the increase in injuries predicted by studies is the difference in the individual. While the study done by the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Salzburg and the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center in Austria, showed an example of an athlete responding poorly it’s possible that this group is an example of a group that responds well to the shoes. 

The MIT article mentions individualism when it comes to performance but it holds true for health too. They look to a study done by Wouter Hoogkamer that revealed a 4% range in performance improvement. Hoogkamer also commented on why he believes athletes respond so differently to super shoes. He thought there were around 20 variables affecting the response to the shoes including weight, calf strength, and the strike pattern of the runner. The strike pattern of an athlete is usually categorized into forefoot, midfoot, and rearfoot with the location being the first point of contact between the foot and the ground. While it can be broadly categorized into those three categories there are countless other subcategories including the natural level of eversion and inversion on impact. 

Abdi Nageeye, a Dutch marathon runner that finished second in the Tokyo Olympic marathon and won the 2024 New York City marathon earlier this month, is a heel striker. He struggled significantly with the first two versions of the Nike Alphafly because they forced his stride into a different pattern that felt unnatural. He described the change as a “skip” in his stride. In contrast to his struggles with the first two versions, the third version of the Alphafly worked well for him. He won his first ever major marathon in the shoes. As a Nike athlete the Alphafly was what he had to race in even when his stride was being changed unnaturally. Changes in form increase injury risk and could have caused injuries. 

Small case studies like these have huge variation. Just like the variation in the shoes performance the variation in the effect on the runner is large. Studies with large sample sizes help to even this out. There are more and more studies coming out with results that point towards increased injury risk. Alone there isn’t a study that proves the argument one way or the other. There are case studies going both ways. Put together the scientific studies only point one way. They point towards increases in injury over time and the potential for long term problems. 

References

Supershoes are reshaping distance running. (n.d.). MIT Technology Review. https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/06/25/1093520/supershoes-running-kenya-carbon-plate-shoes/ 

‌Hobson, B. (2023, May 31). Meet the coach, Claudio Berardelli. Runner’s World. https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/a43781904/claudio-berardelli/ 

Moore, S., Martinez, A., Schwameder, H., & Stoggl, T. (2023, July 12). THE MEDIOLATERAL CENTER OF PRESSURE MOVEMENT DIFFERS BETWEEN TRAINING AND RACING SHOES: A CASE STUDY [Review of THE MEDIOLATERAL CENTER OF PRESSURE MOVEMENT DIFFERS BETWEEN TRAINING AND RACING SHOES: A CASE STUDY]. Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Salzburg, Austria Red Bull Athlete Performance Center, Thalgau, Austria. https://commons.nmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2665&context=isbs 

‌

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Rebuttal Argument- imaginary.persona

Posted on November 24, 2024 by imaginary.persona

Needs a Title

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 were adopted during the pandemic lockdown they became used to having their owner around 24/7 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 they will. 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. “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.

References

Arhant, C., King, J. N., Lund, J. D., McCrave, E. A., Palestrini, C., Takeuchi, Y., Turner, D. C., Azrin, N. H., Borchelt, P. L., Bradshaw, J. W. S., Cooper, J. O., Cottman, N., Davison, G. C., & Diesel, G. (2010, December 18). The efficacy of systematic desensitization for treating the separation-related problem behaviour of domestic dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159110002923?casa_token=6Ym0GrfeV3cAAAAA%3A5lbpEuIheE6LPGof2sOPyhaP-Y2pehO9X8TcS4L-JGQuoQ9YndZfs0UsWDflujDg22HmKhIUnXg 

Berstein, P. L. (2005). Mental health and well-being in animals. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=_SpBX5jqxyEC&oi=fnd&pg=PA167&dq=anxiety%2Bin%2Bdogs%2Bdue%2Bto%2Bneglect&ots=lmIUbGDgQA&sig=IzfWQLNj-RSI6obFkka_OTS5zxU#v=onepage&q=anxiety%20in%20dogs%20due%20to%20neglect&f=false 

Brigman, D. (2024, January 29). Don’t coddle the dog. The K9 Coach Carolinas. https://www.k9coach.dog/blog/coddling 

Dreschel, N. A., Konok, V., McGreevy, P. D., Siniscalchi, M., Takeuchi, Y., Temesi, A., & Vas, J. (2017, July 3). Dogs predisposed to anxiety disorders and related factors in Japan. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159117301958?casa_token=tjE-0u_CPc4AAAAA%3AQas6zx8YtClXYM5vxVAZwee42KXK3tf7_nxKhvC5RrVqcmoDcHgiIG2SfapAIeEkyjIo-_yFL_c 

Gross, C., & Hen, R. (2019, November 20). Genetic and environmental factors interact to influence anxiety – neurotoxicity research. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03033286 

M, H. P. (n.d.). Happy Pup Manor. Google. https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fhappypupmanor.com%2Fwhy-does-my-dog-follow-me-everywhere%2F%23%3A~%3Atext%3DSeparation%2520Anxiety%3A%2520A%2520Deeper%2520Issue.%2520In%2520some%2Cas%2520a%2520means%2520to%2520alleviate%2520their%2520anxiety&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1732399952692587&usg=AOvVaw1GAvP7S2II7C0nki3chvwF 

Meneses, T., Robinson, J., Rose, J., Vernick, J., & Overall, K. L. (2021, November 15). Review of epidemiological, pathological, genetic, and epigenetic factors that may contribute to the development of separation anxiety in dogs. AVMA. https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/259/10/javma.20.08.0462.xml 

Petroff, Dr. M. (2021, November 18). Anxious dog breeds: Dogs that are more prone to anxiety. Dutch. https://www.dutch.com/blogs/dogs/anxious-dog-breeds#:~:text=Key%20takeaway,heightened%20chances%20of%20anxious%20responses 

Posted in imaginary.persona, Portfolio imaginary.persona, Rebuttal Draft | 1 Comment

2nd Person – LoverofCatsandMatcha

Posted on November 24, 2024 by loverofcatsandmatcha
  1. As taxpayers, we often wonder whether or not the money that we pay towards education for youth truly makes a difference. If we were to ask any parent whose child goes to an expensive school, we would find that the answer is an astounding yes. 
  2. In athletics, there are many potential injuries that can occur; in turn, there are many potential surgeries that can become necessary and beneficial. These surgeries, though occasionally objected to, can make an athlete stronger. 
  3. With addiction, addicts’ minds and bodies become consumed by the drug: they would do anything to acquire the substance, without concern for consequence. 
  4. Inviting Syrians in will cause more problems than it will solve. 
  5. In a society reliant on technology and paperless transactions, the idea of not carrying any physical money is trivial; we rarely need it to make purchases, not when we have credit cards.  
  6. We have given value to various pieces of green paper that, in truth, have no value other than the cost it took to produce them. However, we spend our entire lives working to acquire as much of these worthless green pieces of paper as possible– just to take them and stick them in a bank. 
  7. When we check our bank statements, and when we spend cash, we should take the time to consider the fact that we have attributed value to something that was created by people, which has no actual value. Consider that, without that green piece of paper, we may be in a society based on trading livestock and produce. 
  8. I understand that a dollar is only worth what I can receive in exchange for it. 
  9. to our funds, reminds me of the concept of stone currency. With stone currency, there was no need to be in possession of these Bitcoins to own them. 
  10. The American Dream is based on our mutual understanding that we need to have as much of these little pieces of paper as possible. We have, inadvertently, based our entire life around the acquisition of these bills. 
  11. Money is an adroit concept and its pursuit lasts a lifetime. Our goal, from the beginning of our education, is to become successful enough at acquiring these pieces of paper to make our lives as enjoyable as possible. Our enjoyment of life hinges on having these little pieces of paper.
Posted in Banned 2nd Person, LoverOfCatsAndMatcha | 1 Comment

Visual Rewrites – CourageTheCowardlyDog

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Courage The Cowardly Dog

0:00-0:01

A man comes into the car, he is wearing a dark blue button-up with dark gold lines that form a plaid pattern with a white shirt underneath it. His hair is tucked behind his ears and it is assumingly a little bit longer than chin-length. He also has a mustache and a somewhat goatee. The car is outside which can be shown because of the trees in the background.

We can see the man’s face in this first second as it is the opening. We are looking at him at an angle where we can also see the side of the kids face. He is entering the car head first and reaching for the kid. In this clip it shows that it is just him and the kid.

0:01-0:02

The camera pans over to a child who is strapped into a car seat and shows the full body image of both the man and the child. The man is wearing caki-colored pants with his hair in a bun and wearing a watch on his wrist while the child is wearing a red shirt with jeans and tan colors velcro shoes. The child’s hair is also short. The man has his upper body inside the backseat of the car while holding onto the buckle of the car seat that the child is in. The car seat also has a cup holder on the right side of it.

When the camera zooms out we can see that there are other cars around him, leading us to believe he is in a parking lot. When the camera zooms out we can see the whole car from a side angle and we can confirm that he is just him and the kid. Based on the first two seconds it seems that we are being advertised or shown the car seat alot.

0:03-0:04

the camera pans from the man holding the buckle to the man covering his eyes. The camera then pans over to the child also closing his eyes.

0:05-0:06

The child has his eyes closed and then opens them while sticking out his tongue. It then pans over to the man fully buckling the child into the car seat. It then pans over to the concrete outside of the car while showing the shadows of people.

0:07-0:08

the camera shows that the shadows are of two girls playing basketball. One of the girls is in a purple tank top with grey sweatpants and her hair in a ponytail while the other girl is in a black tank top and black pants with a sweater wrapped around her waist. Her hair is also in a bun. It then shows that the girl in the purple tank top makes the shot into the net and pans back over to her smiling with her teeth showing and her eyes closed. It seems to be around midday maybe later from the way the shadows are out and the sun is a glowing gold color.

0:09-0:11

The girl in the purple tank top puts her arms up to simulate celebrating her making the shot and the girl in the black tank top then hands her a white water bottle while patting her shoulder. The girl in the purple tank top is taller than the girl in the black.

0:12-0:13

The next scene is a black girl with curly hair and blond ends with bangs opening the passenger side door of a car. She is wearing a light purple long-sleeved shirt with a green bookbag on. In the back seat of the car, there is a woman with short curly hair and a white button-up with black stripes and black pants buckling her son into a car seat. The boy is wearing an orange shirt with dark blue pants and black glasses with short straight hair.

0:14-0:15

The woman and the boy are both looking at the girl opening the front and then the woman points to a seat next to the boy signaling the girl to get into the back rather than the front. It then pans over to the girl closing the door while looking annoyed.

0:16-0:17

The girl in the purple shirt then moves to the back seat and buckles herself while rolling her eyes at the woman.

0:17-0:19

The next scene is a white man with light brown hair and a light-brown beard, wearing an orange short-sleeved shirt. The man is laughing and smiling while buckling in a baby who is wearing a teal-colored shirt.

0:20-0:21

The camera zooms out and shows the man having his upper body in the car to buckle in the baby and shows the baby wearing a teal-colored bodysuit with no socks or shoes. the car seat is also facing backward as opposed to the first child whose car seat was facing the front of the car.

0:22-0:23

The man finishes buckling the baby into the seat and the camera shows the baby drooling and asleep. The baby has blond hair.

0:24-0:25

It then pans back to the woman in the white striped shirt making sure that the seat belt is laying on the boy’s body flat.

0:26-0:27

Then pans back to the man with the bun talking to the boy in the car seat while slowly exiting the back seat of the car while holding onto the child’s leg.

0:28-0:30

The final scene is the baby in the teal body suit looking out the window of a moving car.

Posted in CourageTheCowardlyDog, Portfolio CourageTheCowardlyDog, REGRADED, Visual Rewrite | 2 Comments

Definition – CourageTheCowardlyDog

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Courage The Cowardly Dog

Needs a Flipping Title

It is important to understand why people keep and cherish things from their loved ones who have passed, as it is a common practice. It is important because it helps us connect with the people we cherish who are still with us as well. It helps us empathize with them and their connections with their loved ones. In this discussion, I will focus on one way that people connect with their loved ones through past memories and momentums. To me, it is important that people understand these connections while finding a way to connect with their loved ones in a way they maybe didn’t know how through other cultures. I will be exploring and defining ways that other cultures like to memorialize and stay connected with their passed loved ones.

LOOK BACK AT THE ROBUST VERBS EXERCISE TO SEE
HOW I FEEL ABOUT “THERE IS” AND “IT IS” OPENINGS.

While there are many different ways to keep loved ones close to us it is always important to remember them any way you can, even if you don’t have something of theirs that you can physically cherish. One way that is famous and well known is through a holiday and celebration also known as Day of the Dead. There are many routes to honoring your loved ones and one way is through the artistic route beginning with Sugar skulls. It is a very common practice to write the name of your loved ones on a personalized sugar skull of your choice, whether you made it/decorated it yourself or not, to show that they are still with you at least in memory.

Skeletons are also a big part of this celebration as it is used as the representation of the loved one. Although in more Western countries it is seen as scary or creepy, in Mexican culture it is seen as a beautiful way to represent them. typically some way of representing them is by dressing them up almost like your loved ones whether it be in a dress or some type of hat, or holding an instrument that they play or drink, and in some cases even their favorite toys or little things that you can remember about them. Those are just some examples of representing them on this special day. It is also important that they have their favorite foods or a meal to show that they are welcome to come back to you and even stay for a nice meal.

Although this is a Mexican-originated holiday, it does not restrict other people from celebrating it as we are all looking for a way to keep our loved ones close to us. In fact, many other cultures celebrate it too using different names but using the same form of celebration. This holiday is for everyone and it helps bring together many communities and many people who are just looking for that connection.

THESE ARE References, not Sources.
Center the word References. NOT BOLD. NOT CAPS. NO PUNCTUATION.

Brandes, S. (1997). Sugar, Colonialism, and Death: On the Origins of Mexico’s Day of the Dead. Comparative Studies in Society and History, 39(2), 270–299. http://www.jstor.org/stable/179316

Brandes, S. (1998). Iconography in Mexico’s Day of the Dead: Origins and Meaning. Ethnohistory, 45(2), 181–218. https://doi.org/10.2307/483058

YOU DIDN’T CITE EITHER OF THESE SOURCES,
SO THEY DON’T BELONG IN YOUR References list.

Posted in CourageTheCowardlyDog, Definition Argument, Portfolio CourageTheCowardlyDog | 1 Comment

Claims Task – CourageTheCowardlyDog

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Courage The Cowardly Dog

“So tonight, six years after Caleb’s service ended, Brannan is cautiously optimistic but ready for anything on Lasagna Night. Early in the morning, she talked to their dog, Shilo, about it while she browned meat for Caleb’s favorite dish. “Daddy will be really happy,” she told the German shepherd sitting on her kitchen floor. “Of course, he’s too cranky to be happy about anything, and he’ll be mad because Katie won’t eat it because I spent all day makin’ it and the only thing she wants to eat right now is pancakes.” Later, she reminds me that Lasagna Night can come apart in an instant, if Caleb has a “bad PTSD moment.” These are supposed to be her easy months, she sighs, April and May and June, before the anniversaries of his worst firefights—many of them in Ramadi; a lot of bad things happened in Ramadi—exacerbate his flashbacks and nightmares. That’s usually September through January, the “really bad” months, whereas in the spring, she gets a bit of “vacation,” time to clean up the house and catch up on work, rest.”

This is evaluative claims because she said that “These are supposed to be her easy months, she sighs, April and May and June, before the anniversaries of his worst firefights—many of them in Ramadi; a lot of bad things happened in Ramadi—exacerbate his flashbacks and nightmares.” This shows that it is also hard on his family because they are also going through a hard time with him.

The author says “That’s usually September through January, the “really bad” months, whereas in the spring, she gets a bit of “vacation,” time to clean up the house and catch up on work, rest.” this is an comparative claim. because its shows he gets really bad during this time.

“She used to ask Caleb what was wrong, why he was coiled so tight and poisonous, screaming and yelling at everybody. That just agitated him more. Now, she lets it go, until eventually, after a couple of days or weeks of refusing to leave the house, or refusing to stay home and just disappearing outside, he comes to her. Haven’t you noticed I’m having a bad time? he’ll ask. And then she’ll just sit and listen while he says he cannot get it out of his head, about how if he had caught that fucking sniper, that enemy sniper he’d been trying to get, that’d been following them around, terrorizing their unit, if he’d have managed to kill him like he was supposed to, then the sniper wouldn’t have gotten off the shot that killed his buddy.”

The author states ,”And then she’ll just sit and listen while he says he cannot get it out of his head, about how if he had caught that fucking sniper, that enemy sniper he’d been trying to get, that’d been following them around, terrorizing their unit, if he’d have managed to kill him like he was supposed to, then the sniper wouldn’t have gotten off the shot that killed his buddy,” making this Ethical or Moral Claim because its talking about the situation it puts the people in his life in because of his PTSD

Posted in CourageTheCowardlyDog, PTSD Claims | 1 Comment