Pandora's Mouth: The Power of Words

IGNORANCE isn't really BLISS

Remember that Greek story. When the first woman, Pandora, was handed a box (or a jar) and she wasn't allowed to open it, but she did not follow 'cause she think she bad, BUT SHE AIN'T. So she still opened that box and unleashed all the evils of the world. Thank you, Pandora. You just gave the world what it needed the mosit, sickness, debauchery, and just pure, cold, evilness.

WORDS, might be the reason of all the evils of the world.

So, what does this have to do with the power of words thing? Well, I was thinking of a good post because I really don't want to JUST make one. And I was thinking, what's a good representation for how opening your mouth and not thinking about what you're going to say? And then I remembered that Greek story.

I believe that words can be very powerful. Words can bring peace, or start a war. But what I came to realize is that, WORDS, might be the reason of all the evils of the world. Because sometimes some people just can't contain their opinion and just respect one's belief. People say a lot of offensive things without even knowing that it's offensive. And that's the saddest thing. People don't even think of what their going to say. People are basically clueless, like Pandora. They are not educated about things that they say.

With the use of those words, you are fueling something more harsh, something bigger, something that causes people to die.

I'm not gonna lie, I was one of those people before. I used to say words like, that word some call women that levels them to a dog. Or that one which -- weirdly, some just say it for no apparent reason -- was used to call people from Africa that were brought to the United States to be a white man's slave. But then I was educated about this (YOU SHOULD BE AS WELL) and now I whenever I see/hear people say those words, I cringe. Then I feel sorry for them because sometimes they just say it to seem "cool", or "hip" and all these things that they think they can achieve if they say these words. Little do they know that RACISM and SEXISM, exists, and STILL EXISTS because of these words. With the use of those words, you are fueling something more harsh, something bigger, something that causes people to die.

There is only one obvious reason for this to happen. IGNORANCE. If people would only think about what they're going to say, and people would value other people's belief, then we might finally find peace in this world. Because if Pandora only listened, gave things a thought, and applied, then the evils of the world might not have existed, or exists. Some people might say "Oh it's just words, it doesn't really matter" but I tell you it's not. If we use words that are offensive, then are just opening more doors for more evil. These things that we can't see, they are the ones who leave a deeper cut.

You are Pandora. You have destroyed the world. But remember that there's still one thing that is left to fix what you have done.

What is that thing you ask?

Hope.

and of course stop saying these words. Use 'yo head! Think before you speak.

What makes multimedia so fetch?

SO FETCH! Raise your hand if your into multimedia

As the time we spend on the internet or using any kind of new media becomes longer, our attention span becomes shorter. Because we are so soaked in to new media, we become this supernatural beings -- well, not really -- we became this "know-it-all"s. Yup, that's a more accurate description of what the new generation (in which I belong to. PROUDLY belong to. "No Ragrets") has become. Thus, we "know-it-all"s get bored easily. We don't pay attention to something extremely normal. We tend to neglect what we think is mundane. Suddenly, after being basked in the glory of the internet, and its instant knowledge giving power, we become thirsty for more. We keep on searching for something fresh, new, and something that would be worth wasting our time for -- or at least we think it is.

And this is why I think multimedia fascinates a lot of people nowadays. Because with multimedia, you are immersed in different kinds of medias spontaneously. Everything happening at once makes it seem like that the virtual world becomes reality. Multimedia stimulates all of our senses, all at once. With multimedia you can be very involved because of it is interactivity. Some would require the actual person/human using such media to physically interact, and devote their whole being (well, not really. But you get the point.) to really get the feeling of the virtual world.

ABOVE. MULTIMEDIA is defined as the combination of 2 or more of different elements (namely text, image, sound, animation, and video). One great is example is a lyric video. This allows the person, to not only listen to the song, but also read its lyrics which are made more visually appealing by modifying the text and also adding images and animation.

The use of multimedia is not only apparent in our homes but in different places as well, and they also come in different forms. At school, students would be more engaged and involved in a discussion if the instructor is speaking/discussing, while their visual sense are also stimulated, by say, visual aids such as PowerPoint presentation, Audio Visual Presentations or AVPs, Prezis and the like. In business, like advertising, people would prefer to buy a product with a catchy commercial (hearing).

Another thing that makes multimedia so click, is that, not only it is very pleasing to watch, it is very easy to make. Everybody who has a basic knowledge about producing and processing images, text, sound, animation, and videos can be a developer of multimedia.

Everything is now accessible. With multimedia, we became sort of a god that can control, well, basically, almost everything that is out there in the virtual world. We have our own "world" to rule over. And what's really cool is that we cannot just control things, but also, share, build, and ultimately, destroy.

The Future: "Is it real? Is it real?"

METAPHOR. An accurate GIF representing how I feel about new technologies.

If you think this is already the future . . . you're wrong.

Remember the good old days when you have your cellphone, the very bulky ones. Where you can only text and call people. Remember the big personal computers, the hunchback ones. And the only way you can access the net is by using a card (I actually don't quite remember how to use those things, but I do remember encountering them). Remember when the only social networking site you have is Friendster, where you can customize your profile, and put a bunch of things you like, and then if you want to send a message, you can post a testimonial in someones page.

Slowly, these gadgets become human. And slowly, we become techno-zombies -- dazed, emotionless. Everything that makes us human is being taken away 

Now, we have the convenience that is smartphones. This magical gadget allows us to do all of this things in just one touch, using ONE DEVICE. Today, we have multiple social networking sites where you can share your opinion about almost everything. Everything is just slide and sweep. These devices we use today, were just available in science fiction films of yesterday. It's always funny to me when I watch these dystopic sci-fi movies that were made in the 60s-70s and they have this weird perception of future. The gadgets, the way we live, the fashion. They were probably thinking, "This is crazy!" "These things will never exist." Well, guess what?

What lies in the future of communicating is really something we should be curious and scared about. There are a lot of weird things going on with technology, and there are a lot of weird things about to happen with it. They say that in the future, it will be possible for us to store our memory into a chip (Like the pensieve Dumbledore uses to view his memories). We might be able to actually put ourselves inside an operating machine, a computer (see Transcendence, a movie starring Johnny Depp). In future, we can be anywhere, without actually going anywhere. The boundaries have really been broken. One second, you can only hear the voice of the person you're talking to over the phone, now, we are able to see their actual faces. Now that's hearing and seeing. What about touch? In the future, there might be some revolutionary gadget where you can reach out the screen and touch your friend's face. See how they're slowly putting our senses in to these gadgets? Slowly, these gadgets become human. And slowly, we become techno-zombies -- dazed, emotionless. Everything that makes us human is being taken away and used as a concept for a much more human-like communicating experience.

FUTURE IN THE PAST. From 1927 science-fiction film, Metropolis. Directed by Fritz Lang

If all of these does not creep you out, well, I'm happy for you. Maybe I'm not that techy enough to grasp the concept of these upcoming technologies. I don't get it actually. All of these things, technological advancements I'm hearing seems unreal. And I think that is the main goal of technology today, to blur the line separating what's real and what's fake. 

Let us just sit back and watch what will happen in the future of communicating. All I want to say is that, I love using all these technology to communicate but what I enjoy the most is talking personally. No matter how instant, or convenient this technologies we have now, nothing beats the presence of a human being. Not a even a cold glass screen.

photos are not mine.

"2014 na, Choppy Ka Pa Rin?"

The internet is now one of the major medium or platform of communication. It has become a tool of communicating in different aspects of our life, it plays a vital role in our social interaction and has made it easier and convenient to reach one another. But all of this will never be possible or easy with a slow connection, how are we supposed to send the message that we want to share to other people if we our connection is "choppy"?

"Huh?"
"What?"
"I-I can't hear you?"
"Speak louder, maybe?"
"I said . . ."

When it comes to internet connection, were probably at the last of the line. Our internet remains slow and expensive. For an ultra-fast internet connection, you'd have to pay twenty-thousand pesos for 100 Mbp/s connection (PLDT Fibr) or twenty-five thousand pesos for 150Mbp/s connection (Globe Tattoo Torque). THAT IS EXPENSIVE. And I doubt that will be really an ultra-fast internet that will be accessible at all times.

We have to improve our internet connection because, with the growing population of internet users, it is very important that our internet be fast and accessible.

Speaking of accessibility, believe it or not, some places in the Philippines still haven't had the chance to have a taste of electricity. So whenever you feel like complaining, you might as well keep it to yourself before everybody calls you insensitive. How are we supposed to reach them if they don't have electricity. In terms of being "connected", we are not yet wired to each other. And as stated in the first paragraph, communication through internet and other technologies is very important.

When it comes to technology, the Philippines have yet to prove its advancement. The things we find fast, is really nowhere the real definition of FAST. Compared to the other countries, the Philippines is the guy in the marathon that finishes last. That guy who everybody waits for in the finish line. The very last guy. The only guy left.We might as well be called cavemen for this "de-uling" internet connection. Let us just hope that one day, we'll reach that level where the internet connection will be very fast it will feel like surfing on air. 

Are you willing to wait? Are you patient enough? Or have you had it?

" 'Di talaga kita maintindihan. Choppy ka."

References/Read more on: (Wikipedia   Abs-Cbn News)
.gifs are not mine. courtesy of tumblr.com

Internet Usage Level: Asian

INTERNET IS POWER. And with great power, comes great responsibility.

Fifty percent (50%) of the world'd population lives in Asia, so it was no surprise that Asians are the world's most internet loving people. According to a research, as of 2012, forty-four percent (44%) of the world's internet users are in Asia. Europe comes second (22%), then followed by North America (11%). Asia houses a total of 1,076,681,059 internet users. Wow! That's a lot of wi-fi-using, Facebook-loving, YouTube-watching, and Google-searching humans.

Today, internet is considered as a necessity, especially for communicating with each other, no matter how far away. Asia is one of the fastest developing regions of the world. We use the internet as a medium of communication in every aspect of our life, and economy. It could mean that, since Asia houses most of the world's internet users, we are on our way to development. It could mean that more people are being oriented to the power of internet, therefore, creating a more educated, civilized, and smart community.

As of June 2012, China sits at the top of the list when it comes to the top internet users in Asia. Philippines comes in at number 6 next to countries such as South Korea and Japan, both of which are very advanced when it comes to technology.

But this news does not just leaves a positive mark. Since we use the internet more than any countries, it may also imply that cyber-crimes are rampant throughout Asia. Internet has also became a medium for different crimes such as human trafficking, and bullying. Which may imply that Asia is also at the top of the list when it comes to cyber-crime.

To conclude, we should use internet wisely and use this power (yes, it is a power, and as the movie Spider-man -- I believe -- has stated, "With great power, comes great responsibility") in nothing but good.

References: ( Tech In Asia  Internet World Stats )