DEBATE

1. Is technology ruining people’s ability to communicate?

Advantages of technology in communication

• It has created an easier accessibility to the people. This is because people can communicate at any time despite the location (Pentland, 2016).
• It has reduced pressure for people as they can communicate from the comfort of their areas to give the relevant information needed (Ganju, Pavlou & Banker, 2016).
• It has saved time and resources. It has cut short long travels that were used to fetch information (Pentland, 2016).

 

Disadvantages of technology in communication

• There has been lost the art of conversation. Emails and text messages are short which makes them lack contextual information, body language and tone of the voice. This creates a misunderstanding as there is non-verbal cue and there is no face to face contact that cannot be altered, filtered or edited (Admin, 2012).
• There has been deteriorating language. Technology has made people deviate from proper language as it encourages slang language that can extremely confuse others. The language used is informal and this has been seen students essays and business messages (Sun-Mee & Munoz, 2014).
• Technology has enabled rudeness. Due to the barriers created people have found it easy to be aggressive and rude especially on social media platforms such as Facebook where people pick up arguments easily (Bowman, 2016).
• There has been a constant disruption. Technology creates a vicious cycle of anxiety and stress as people feel the pressure to answer text messages, emails, and incoming calls (Bowman, 2016).

Technology has changed how people communicate as it has continued to grow and advance by bounds and leaps which in return have continued to affect the life of the society. The impact of technology in communication can be considered to be largely and extensively positive as it has helped people to keep in touch despite the distance in a more effective and efficient manner. However, it is true to say that it has had a negative impact, especially to the teenagers as they are always glued to their cell phone worsening their ability to communicate with others.

 

SHOULD PEOPLE EAT INSECTS OVER MEAT?

 

Advantages

• Insects could be a solution to hunger. This is because they require less food to feed on compared to cows.
• Insects are naturally sustainable as they survive on waste wheat compared to meat sources that are mostly guzzling grains (Loo & Selibach, 2013).
• Insects are readily available as it is easy to farm in large scale without damaging the environment like the meat sources (Loo & Selibach, 2013).
• Insects are unique compared to meat as they provide unusual flavors and texture (Defoliart, 1999).
• Insects are highly nutritious compared to meat as they provide more iron and proteins (Defoliart, 1999).
• There are many insects variety compared to meat which can offer a wide range of vitamins and other health benefits (Defoliart, 1999).
• There is no emotional attachment to insects as compared to meat sources (Loo & Selibach, 2013).

Disadvantages

• Insects pose a threat of allergens (Isaksson, 2015).
• Some insects are toxic which is harmful to the human health (Isaksson, 2015).
• Most insects look weird and they can really have a disgusting taste (Isaksson, 2015).
• Insects are not very satisfying as they are small in size which requires larger intakes (Starks & Slabach, 2012).
• Insects are troublesome to prepare (Isaksson, 2015).

In the recent past, there have been many discoveries that educate people on the importance of eating insects as they are considered to be highly nutritious and because of their economies of scale compared to the meat sources. Despite the encouraging discoveries of the health benefits that can result with the association of insect eating many people have opted to remain with the traditional meat sources as it is what they have been used to. Cultural belief has also played a big part that has made many people be resistant of trying out on the new meals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Admin, S. (2012). Technology is destroying the quality of human interaction. Retrieved from https://thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu/2012/01/technology-is-destroying-the-quality-of-human-interaction

Bowman, D. D. (2016). Electronic Communication Application in Business and the Deterioration of Interpersonal Skills. Proceedings For The Northeast Region Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI), 1-12.

Brown, C. (2013). Are we becoming more socially awkward? An analysis of the relationship between technological communication use and social skills in college students. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1030&context=psychhp

Defoliart, G. R (1999). INSECT AS FOOD: why the western attitude is important. Retrieved from http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/insectsasfood/files/2012/09/20_WesternAttitude_savedReducedSetting.pdf

Ganju, K. K., Pavlou, P. A., & Banker, R. D. (2016). DOES INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY LEAD TO THE WELL-BEING OF NATIONS? A COUNTRY-LEVEL EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION. MIS Quarterly, 40(2), 417-A10.

Isaksson, C. (2015). Urbanization, Oxidative Stress And Inflammation: A Question Of Evolving, Acclimatizing Or Coping With Urban Environmental Stress. Functional Ecology, 29(7), 913-923. doi:10.1111/1365-2435.12477

Loo, S., & Selibach, U. (2013). Eating (with) Insects: Insect Gastronomies and Upside-Down Ethics. Parallax, 19(1), 12-28. doi:10.1080/13534645.2013.743290

Pentland, A. (2016). Betting on People Power. Scientific American Mind, 27(5), 32-37.

Starks, P. B., & Slabach, B. L. (2012). The Scoop on Eating Dirt. Scientific American, 306(6), 30-32.

Sun-Mee, K., & Munoz, M. J. (2014). Preference for Online Communication and Its Association with Perceived Social Skills. Individual Differences Research, 12(4-B), 198-208.