RA: “Computer Game Addiction.”

In this article, Joe Ahn and George Randal of Clemson University take a look at online gaming addictions to see if this is a real problem. The short article reports several statistics done on 8th and 9th graders showing that those who are addicted seem to get in more fights, argue more with teachers and allude that they do worse in school than non addicted students of the same age. The problem with this is that the researcher gives no indication that bias due to background has been accounted for—ie. their family stability, socioeconomic level, etc. This is one of the major problems in this article. It’s never really said how the research was collected or why it is supposed to be accounted for as true. It’s strange because the paper seems to be only interested in informing an unfamiliar audience (I’m not sure exactly what the target audience is). The paper states in the beginning that the authors will address ways to prevent or stop addiction. However, by the end of the article, the authors have merely stated both sides of the issue and end by saying “Let’s learn to use (online games) responsibly.” Development of every idea would be very helpful in this paper.

FW: Umlat's new found economy

It was a fascinating time for the Umlats as things began to pick up. Denmare started small, giving the younglings tasks to do, such as polishing the golden ware, washing plates after dinner and the sort. This eventually turned into more Umlats youth desiring to work and receiving silver pennies and bronze chipums. The parents, who at first regarded their children’s newfound wealth as a silly thing, soon found that they were brining the most extraordinary things back with them. Gifts of every kind, all bought under the careful scrutiny of Denmare who feared reprisal from the council, yet he could not deny letting the younglings purchase a small fancy here and there. To him it was nothing, common goods bought and sold everyday; but the younglings it was magic! Rich aromas and perfumes for the girls; exotic bunches of fur and fine linen; spices and savory meats; toys and trinkets and even small Yult brought home a tiny dagger. Not that the children were rich in any way, but their token chores brought them enough money to trade for something out of the ordinary. Such a secret was not to be kept as the council found out and severely reprimanded Denmare. Yet the whole village was a flare with wonder and soon the Umlats came asking if they could work for the Denoir. Seeing such a sight with hordes of eager men and women willing to work for next to nothing, and seeing they had been received with such hospitality, the council eventually gave clearance to hire out the Umlats for a fair wage. Denmare’s altruism was eventually forgiven and he was one of the finest Masters, as the Denoir began to call themselves.
The Umlats had never had such a thing as money to trade for goods. Instead, they operated on a tiny barter system with trading at times crops and other wares for the same, though most everything was home produced. Imagine the great joy upon receiving a wage and the fine things this could buy! Immediately the younglings were pushed aside for the older workers, though they could still find a ready story and an odd job or two from Denmare.

Notes to me-Class distinction always? Cheap labor always wins? Abuse of the poor man--social classes, divided by opportunity for learning and for wealth, crime and insentives to rob? Mixing cultures, buidling the Umlat city, organizing into councils in Umlatva, greed and pride to take over, settling of the Denoir as a viable force, inovative Denoir with wisdom and architecture etc. with hard working Umlats.

TA: WATCOs and audiences for the Media paper

What are the consequences of overplaying massively multi-player online role playing games on the social life of gamers?
The target audience are online gamers of MMORPGs. I would have to define overplaying MMORPGs, though with would probably mean just saying it depends on every person. It would be essential to illustrate what the consequences are of playing way too much. I’m sure that a lot of gamers who are addicted realize that they are addicted and so arguing that they should stop if addicted might not do anything as they know they should! Here I could do two different papers, one to casual gamers and those who are thinking about gaming, and those who are already addicted. For the already addicted, a better WATCO might be what are the consequences of continuing to play MMORPGs on the social life of addicted gamers?

What are the consequences of existing gold farms on the profits of World of Warcraft (ie. Blizzard)?
The audience would be the leaders of Blizzard and I would be arguing that secondary markets are a good thing as it helps create jobs and gives people a chance for a living, albeit a poor wage. I could also argue that Blizzard is losing money and should work on creating its own secondary market inside World of Warcraft.

RA: Online Gold Farming (WoW)

This rhetorical analysis deals with a video on MTV’s website which reports online mining in China. This is where companies (a lot of US) will hire out groups of low paid workers to play online games, harvesting money, which will then be sold to gamers who desire to simply purchase gold on the web (a big game for this is World of Warcraft).
The audience is mostly to views of the MTV website. However, I found other articles that linked to this site meaning that their audience is more expanded than just their own website. Primarily their purpose is to educate the masses on the “supposed” gold farms and the hundreds of thousands of Chinese who work there. The report goes through several different interviews, the most important being an interview with the head of one of the main virtual gold brokers (IGE), a manager of a gold farm and individual workers.
The rhetoric is very persuasive to the audience as it shows footage inside of the farms with tired and poor looking Chinese teenagers. The personal interviews have the greatest impact as the workers state that it’s a decent job but hard as they have to play every single day for long hours and it’s not good on the eyes. There is a really great juxtaposition where they ask the head of IGE if they exploit their workers in China to which he replies, “There is no exploitation.” The scene changes to the manager of one farm who states outright, “There is exploitation.” It makes the audience believe the poor Chinese manager and the personal interviews of low paid farmers against the belief of the rich, money making White President of IGE.
The clip has a lot of information but is done in short, rapid-fire segments which fits perfectly to their audience.

nothing to do with English: Umlots #1

Many mighty and important things have happened in the village of the Umlats (pronounced Umlots). Since their great founding the Umlats have strived for industry and diligent working. The first village raised by noble Umlats searching for a new life was that of Umlata. It was a chilly day when the first folk finally settled in the hazed expanse. The landscape is green, though the soil is dry, rock hard and unforgiving of any settlers. Despite the harsh conditions and the bitter chill, Umlata was destined to be a safe haven for the Umlats.
That however all began to change three generations after the Umlats first settled. It was a sleepy village that welcomed the first Denoir traders, rich merchantmen from far off in the East, far enough away that old Umbler, the town sage, had never heard of such a place. Yet come they did, and with them a whole caravan of goods headed off to some other destination. Umlata appeared to be a quant village, with the people hospitable enough to share the winter with them. The Denoir were warned of the fearsome blizzards and so took refuge for the season on the outskirts of Umlata.
At first the tradesmen stayed to themselves mostly and remained somewhat an enigma to the villagers. Eventually curiosity got the best of the younger Umlats and they trudged through half frozen mud to reach the impressive array of wagons and exotic animals. Never before had the young Umlats seen such a sight! Impressive rugs woven in red silk and furs adorned each wagon. Rich spices soothed the senses filling the mind and mouth with wanton desire! Here was rich gold, ornaments and jewelry shaped like moons with round stones that put the dull sun to shame! Thick and beautiful robes were brought out to show the curious ones the grandeur of the tradesmen. Soon, stories were being told of far away city states where the buildings, tall and built of amber, stretched past the horizon. Palaces built in sun scorched deserts, crystal throne rooms with dances and merriment, lands filled with lakes and green fields dripping with harvest!
The poor parents of the younglings could barely understand what their children were shouting and screaming about when they returned. Finally it was understood that they had been to the Denoir much to the dissatisfaction of the elders who were somewhat suspicious of the outsiders.
This proved some grief as well on the part of the Denoir who were, for the most part, a noble people. Living among the Umlats was especially hard on Denmare a young merchant traveling alone with the company. Denmare was not a greedy man, though in comparison he was living in riotous lavish compared with these folks who didn’t even know what a regular bath was. He had told stories describing the various places he had been to. The children loved it, yet it pained him to see them in such conditions without much opportunity for progress.
Finally Denmare decided to try and help some of the Umlats with some money which he hoped might help some. This is generally opposed by the Caravan Council as the majority thought the Umlats would only ask for more. Yet Denmare decided he had to help in some way and so decided to secret some funding to the Umlats for work he needed to be done. This of course would be a dangerous plot, but Denmare thought himself clever enough to succeed.

Does money corrupt? What happens when we try to help people?

poems

Ode to Rho

When I first heard of thee,
I thought what splendid name!
What shape wilt thou take?
But I found my hope vain.
What great use could you be?
This treasure called rho.
Then I found out you were only a p
What great wo!

Poor sweet rho, still the name calls on.
The majestic, the powerful, the fearsome,
A worthy name to be found,
On some mighty warrior in some distant star,
But yet again you are only a p.



What are we coming to,
In worlds that fit on screens?
It is asleep, dead and gray,
Then alive, brave and bold!
Who is man that enters such a box?
He is whomever he desires
Whomever he wills,
Whomever he shall be.

Yet the life of flair dies with the plug,
Ending in a different life.
Can existence be perpetuated into the screen?
Many have tried and find life better on the web.
There is so much more to see.

But again remember, that when the computer goes out
Our life, our true life, is all that will be.

TA: Make up Introduction specific to audience (with note)

Hey Nicole! For some reason this blog got posted in a different version of my own blog. I'm not sure what's going on with that, but I might be able to find the other blog. I posted it Saturday night for a make up of a previous TA I missed.

Raising children and educating is probably on of the most important things to a parent. While I am not yet a parent (nor married), I have great hopes one day being one. This means that educating my future children and preparing for that is very important to me as I’m sure it is to you. One hears often, including myself, of some of the problems facing the current school system, one where myself like many of you, were educated. Problems such as drugs, early drinking and other vices are fairly apparent. It also seems that there are even more school shootings, with each shooter getting younger. What other option is there to parents to educate their children? While more expensive, private institutions can provide children with a great education in a safe environment. But again, this alternative is beyond the financial scope of many. One option that many are choosing is home schooling but with that come a host of questions that need to be addressed. All the issues regarding home schooling are important, but the one that seems to be brought up most is the effect home schooling has on a child’s social development. Does home schooling actually stagnate important social skills developed in the public system?