I recently watched the movie, "The Ruins", and needless to say it was a waste of time, with very little dialogue and lots of gory and bloody scenes. After watching that movie several issues started spinning through my head about what we have become as a society.
Movies like the The Ruins', the "Saw' series, Silent Hill', Son of Sam', Urban Legend', Hannibal' and others all have an effect on society. When you see things like this happening on screen, it makes you wonder how many other people have also thought about them prior to this movie.
There are so many sick people in the world today, who all have weird fetishes and sick desires. Should we as a society really be encouraging this? It is frightening to think that people actually enjoy gore. We have become so used to so much gore and barbarity on television that we have numbed our selves down, and become insensitive to the real issues at hand.
Why is there a need for this kind of genre? This is not a question for producers and directors but rather a question for society. Whatever happened to the old westerns, love stories, clever thrillers, fantasy films etc? As far as I am aware some of these genres still have immense potential, not to mention the string of comedies that come out year after year. So why then, the need for this particular genre?
Shouldn't parents be concerned about the well being of children? There is so much exposure today to such harmful ideas, especially through the media. Shouldn't that worry us enough, rather than to deal with more and more exposure of our children?
Sure these movies have ratings, children are not meant to see them. However what people overlook is the fact that children are not the only ones that can fall victim to such ideas. Even grow up people can be the victims of such movies. Look at pedophiles, serial killers and mass murderers. When people who have potential to turn into those monsters, come across information like this in movies is it not likely that they could be encouraged to act upon their inner suppressed urges of violence?
We should put an end to these sorts of movies. A little violence is essential to a particular plot of a story, but gore to the extent that some movies project is inexcusable. It is time that we as a society started taking these little things seriously in order to protect not only ourselves but our children as well.
I remember reading an article many years ago about a child who jumped out of a window thinking he could fly like superman. If a movie like Superman can induce such behavior, shouldn't we be worried about what effect movies like these can have?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Should dogs be indoor or outdoor pets?
Although dogs are domesticated animals that fact cannot be perceived in literal terms. It can be done yes, a lot of dogs are kept indoors by their owners however that it not healthy for the animal.
Dogs have evolved from the wolf, and as we all know wolves live in packs. There is a certain hierarchy within the pack, ranging from the pack leader or the head hunter, to the most submissive and docile one in the pack. All these wolves have a function in the pack. And that function is predetermined by instinct and by nature.
Dogs are the same. Different breeds of dogs have different functions, or jobs. Labradors are water babies, bred to retrieve game from lakes and rivers. Their primary function is to be strong swimmers. Bloodhounds and other scent hounds are bred to track foxes other hunted animals. Pitt bulls are bred to be fighters, and breeds like the Mastiffs were bred for blood sports like bull-baiting, lion-baiting and bear-baiting.
These dogs have a function, however as pets, they do not always get the chance to tap into their instincts, which is why it is in best interest of the dog that it be an outdoor pet. Dogs were originally wild and were used to living in the wilderness. By keeping a dog copped up in a house, you are stripping that dog away of all its instincts and its very nature of being a dog.
Dogs are active animals; they need to run, to learn new things, to be able to hear new sounds, adapt to their environment, take charge of their territory and to be the protector in a home. A dog that is protected constantly in a house is not going to learn any of these things. The dog will start getting humanized and as it does so, lose its instinct.
When dogs are left outdoors, they keep themselves busy, they run around, play with other dogs in their pack, they stimulate their senses of sight, smell and taste and so are constantly given new challenges by nature. And dogs love challenges.
A dog lover who keeps his or her dog inside the house constantly is doing harm to their dog. The dog has nothing to do but to lie around all day, or follow their owner around the house. There is no stimulation to the sense, except maybe around dinner time or when someone is watching television. But is that really the kind of education we want to give out pets?
People under estimate the importance of stimulating an animals senses. I was watching a Ceasar Milan episode one day where he was trying to instill all the animal and dog qualities back into a sniffer dog which had been traumatized. And one of the ways he did this was by getting the dog to smell a litter of new born puppies. The smell of the placenta was supposed to tap into the dogs memories of when he was just a dog, and not a worker.
Things like that, just show us how important it is, as dog lovers and pet owners, to keep our pets busy, let them run around, chase a raccoon, track a scent or play fight with another dog. All these are ways to keep their inner dog alive, to allow them to harness their abilities as trackers and swimmers. Dog behavior is a fascinating subject. And by keeping a dog outdoors you are not only punishing your dog, but you are also meddling with the psychology of a dog. Let a dog be a dog. And the only place where it can be that way, it outdoors, among nature, its natural habitat.
Dogs have evolved from the wolf, and as we all know wolves live in packs. There is a certain hierarchy within the pack, ranging from the pack leader or the head hunter, to the most submissive and docile one in the pack. All these wolves have a function in the pack. And that function is predetermined by instinct and by nature.
Dogs are the same. Different breeds of dogs have different functions, or jobs. Labradors are water babies, bred to retrieve game from lakes and rivers. Their primary function is to be strong swimmers. Bloodhounds and other scent hounds are bred to track foxes other hunted animals. Pitt bulls are bred to be fighters, and breeds like the Mastiffs were bred for blood sports like bull-baiting, lion-baiting and bear-baiting.
These dogs have a function, however as pets, they do not always get the chance to tap into their instincts, which is why it is in best interest of the dog that it be an outdoor pet. Dogs were originally wild and were used to living in the wilderness. By keeping a dog copped up in a house, you are stripping that dog away of all its instincts and its very nature of being a dog.
Dogs are active animals; they need to run, to learn new things, to be able to hear new sounds, adapt to their environment, take charge of their territory and to be the protector in a home. A dog that is protected constantly in a house is not going to learn any of these things. The dog will start getting humanized and as it does so, lose its instinct.
When dogs are left outdoors, they keep themselves busy, they run around, play with other dogs in their pack, they stimulate their senses of sight, smell and taste and so are constantly given new challenges by nature. And dogs love challenges.
A dog lover who keeps his or her dog inside the house constantly is doing harm to their dog. The dog has nothing to do but to lie around all day, or follow their owner around the house. There is no stimulation to the sense, except maybe around dinner time or when someone is watching television. But is that really the kind of education we want to give out pets?
People under estimate the importance of stimulating an animals senses. I was watching a Ceasar Milan episode one day where he was trying to instill all the animal and dog qualities back into a sniffer dog which had been traumatized. And one of the ways he did this was by getting the dog to smell a litter of new born puppies. The smell of the placenta was supposed to tap into the dogs memories of when he was just a dog, and not a worker.
Things like that, just show us how important it is, as dog lovers and pet owners, to keep our pets busy, let them run around, chase a raccoon, track a scent or play fight with another dog. All these are ways to keep their inner dog alive, to allow them to harness their abilities as trackers and swimmers. Dog behavior is a fascinating subject. And by keeping a dog outdoors you are not only punishing your dog, but you are also meddling with the psychology of a dog. Let a dog be a dog. And the only place where it can be that way, it outdoors, among nature, its natural habitat.
Best dogs for kids
The one thing children will always want is a puppy. However what puppy they end up with isn't just based on the breed of dog but also on the characteristics of your children.
Most people assume that getting a puppy is easy. However, it is not the breed of dog that needs to be considered but the energy level of the dog. Dogs like labradors and spaniels make great companions for children as they are lovable and loyal dogs with very little aggression, however their activity level is extremmely high.
Children need to realize that a happy pup is a well exercised, disciplined and loved pup. In that very order. Playing with a puppy is not considered exercise, and even exercise like a walk needs to be scheduled. Like children, who have a certain time where they eat, bathe, play and sleep, dogs need the same discipline as well.
Taking that into account, an ideal breed of dog for children would be a smaller dog. However do not be fooler. Breeds like the jack russel terrier and the poodle are small dogs, but their energy levels are beyond what a child can handle. Breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier are small but are extremmely alert dogs, they tend to yap a lot and bark at almost anything. When considering smaller breeds as well you also have to take into account that these dogs are more delicate and if touched or held in a certain way will bit you as they get hurt easily.
I have had almost sixteen dogs till date and I always wanted the bigger breeds of dogs like boxers, german shepherds etc. However, it was only later that I realized that I couldnt handle such a dog till I was much older, organized and self diciplined.
Therefore, I think the qualities to look for in a breed when buying a dog for a child, is the tempermant, genetics, characteristics and aggression. With all these factors taken into account my advice would be to get a dog like the Pug. Pugs are small dogs, easily trained, always by their owners side, very low agression levels and are fun, loving dogs. They would make the ideal companion for children as their energy levels are relatively low.
They get along well with other dogs, are extremmely sociable pets and have charming personalities. They also happen to be one of the cutest breeds around
Does J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series pervert American values?
The first Harry Potter book was introduced to me when I was twelve years old, by a teacher in my school. After reading the first book I was hooked, I would anxiously wait for the next book to come out and in that time re-read the books I had over and over again.
When a new book would come out, I would read until my mother forced me to go to bed, and she would later, often find me with reading until the wee hours of the morning with torch light.
My mother never understood why I was so excited. At the dinner table, I would constantly ramble on and on about what was happening, sharing my theories as to what would happen next. My parents had no idea what I was talking about, yet they were very amused by my passion for Harry Potter.
Most parents, who have not read Harry Potter, assume that all the book is about is witchcraft, black magic and sorcery. Particularly parents who are religious; often come across newspaper articles where, the Harry Potter books are frowned upon by the church and other religious bodies.
Harry Potter however was an escape for me. As a child growing up I found the content refreshing, believable, the characters were alive in my head. Even before the movies came out, I would constantly picture the characters and Hogwarts castle and I would stay lost in those thoughts for hours on end.
So coming back to the question in hand, "Does J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series pervert American values?"
My answer is no. Perversion is probably the last thing that this book does to American, or any other kind of values.
The charm about the books is the fact that they are solely based on adventure, friendship and loyalty. There is nothing perverted in the books. The thought that anyone could think so is ridiculous.
The books hold an important message that is essential for the children of today to be aware of. That message is to be true to you, to trust yourself and your family and friends and to always choose the right path; no matter how hard it may be.
Children of today hardly read. My sister and I have an age gap of eleven years and I know for a fact that she would rather spend time on a computer than pick up a good book to read. The Harry Potter books are probably the only books she doesn't have to be forced to read.
What Rowling did, was a favor to society through these books. She fashioned this idea of a young orphan boy and portrayed his story in a manner that made all of us laugh and cry with Harry. Rowling's readers did not just read the book, but they took part in the story. For those of us who have been reading Harry Potter for years now, we have grown up with Harry. We too have experienced parallels of the problems Harry is faced with. We too have bickered and fought with friends, had mood swings, had crushes and then had our hearts broken. Some of us have had to deal with a death in the family, and finally all of us had to grow up.
Harry's story could be seen as just an extreme version of what all children experience when growing up. Eventually we realize the more important things in life, friendship, family, loyalty and courage. Rowling brilliantly paints two sides, good and evil. Throughout the series, she shows how Harry resists the temptation to go to the dark side, how he would rather die than betray his friends. How he ill fight for what is right at no cost.
The story is beyond brilliant. It is exactly what children today need as a reminder of what is important, of the kind of person they should be. The magic in the book is just a blank canvas for these messages Rowling put across. The magic is essential, to draw children in, to excite their curiosities and to encourage them to imagine.
With the technological advances that we have today, and children growing up so fast, it is no wonder that they lose track of certain values. What the world was ten years ago, is not the same now.
I feel that Rowling has kindled a flame inside every child, pre-teen, teenager and adult. Through her stories she has kept our imaginations on a tight exercise schedule, she has warmed our hearts with Harry's relationship with Sirius Black, with Dumbledore and his friends. She has shown that love comes from different places, and although you may seem like you are alone, you never really are.
What better values could we want for our children than these messages? Those children who were fortunate enough to stumble upon Harry Potter when they were around twelve years old are lucky. They have not only had the ability to grow up with Harry, but they have also been educated on these values for the past seven years.
When a new book would come out, I would read until my mother forced me to go to bed, and she would later, often find me with reading until the wee hours of the morning with torch light.
My mother never understood why I was so excited. At the dinner table, I would constantly ramble on and on about what was happening, sharing my theories as to what would happen next. My parents had no idea what I was talking about, yet they were very amused by my passion for Harry Potter.
Most parents, who have not read Harry Potter, assume that all the book is about is witchcraft, black magic and sorcery. Particularly parents who are religious; often come across newspaper articles where, the Harry Potter books are frowned upon by the church and other religious bodies.
Harry Potter however was an escape for me. As a child growing up I found the content refreshing, believable, the characters were alive in my head. Even before the movies came out, I would constantly picture the characters and Hogwarts castle and I would stay lost in those thoughts for hours on end.
So coming back to the question in hand, "Does J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series pervert American values?"
My answer is no. Perversion is probably the last thing that this book does to American, or any other kind of values.
The charm about the books is the fact that they are solely based on adventure, friendship and loyalty. There is nothing perverted in the books. The thought that anyone could think so is ridiculous.
The books hold an important message that is essential for the children of today to be aware of. That message is to be true to you, to trust yourself and your family and friends and to always choose the right path; no matter how hard it may be.
Children of today hardly read. My sister and I have an age gap of eleven years and I know for a fact that she would rather spend time on a computer than pick up a good book to read. The Harry Potter books are probably the only books she doesn't have to be forced to read.
What Rowling did, was a favor to society through these books. She fashioned this idea of a young orphan boy and portrayed his story in a manner that made all of us laugh and cry with Harry. Rowling's readers did not just read the book, but they took part in the story. For those of us who have been reading Harry Potter for years now, we have grown up with Harry. We too have experienced parallels of the problems Harry is faced with. We too have bickered and fought with friends, had mood swings, had crushes and then had our hearts broken. Some of us have had to deal with a death in the family, and finally all of us had to grow up.
Harry's story could be seen as just an extreme version of what all children experience when growing up. Eventually we realize the more important things in life, friendship, family, loyalty and courage. Rowling brilliantly paints two sides, good and evil. Throughout the series, she shows how Harry resists the temptation to go to the dark side, how he would rather die than betray his friends. How he ill fight for what is right at no cost.
The story is beyond brilliant. It is exactly what children today need as a reminder of what is important, of the kind of person they should be. The magic in the book is just a blank canvas for these messages Rowling put across. The magic is essential, to draw children in, to excite their curiosities and to encourage them to imagine.
With the technological advances that we have today, and children growing up so fast, it is no wonder that they lose track of certain values. What the world was ten years ago, is not the same now.
I feel that Rowling has kindled a flame inside every child, pre-teen, teenager and adult. Through her stories she has kept our imaginations on a tight exercise schedule, she has warmed our hearts with Harry's relationship with Sirius Black, with Dumbledore and his friends. She has shown that love comes from different places, and although you may seem like you are alone, you never really are.
What better values could we want for our children than these messages? Those children who were fortunate enough to stumble upon Harry Potter when they were around twelve years old are lucky. They have not only had the ability to grow up with Harry, but they have also been educated on these values for the past seven years.
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