For all our modern advances in medicine, government, technology, civil rights and the standard of everyday living there seems to be a certain something else, just below the surface that is sending the world spiralling toward the abyss. We may not all acknowledge it but I think deep down we all feel it. War, crime, poverty all grow worse every day. It’s not that these things never existed in the first place, as long as there has been man there have been wars. It's just that these things seem to be getting worse.
I have often thought of the reason for it and greed is often among my reasons. A new idea has struck me though, one that is not attributable to any individual but to us all as a whole. The book I am reading now is a fantasy story set around a close knit tribe. As with humanity in the past they all depend on each other for survival. Any disagreements between the members of such a tribe are weighted by their contributions to their society. As the saying goes do not bite the hand that feeds you.
This kind of mentality is all but gone from modern society. We all exist as independent members of society. Of course we are actually dependant on a lot more these days. It takes more to bring us food, power, clean water and such than in simpler times. It is just that now we are so far removed from those people on which we are dependant that we do not even notice them. These people have also become replaceable these days. If your baker dies, there are probably ten others in the same area. Actually you probably have never even seen the man who bakes your bread, which just proves my point.
With this new found independence our mentalities have changed. We no longer care for the circumstances driving other people’s actions. We see only their actions, the outcomes of their life and sometimes not even this much. If we see a mistake, it is no longer weighed against the effort taken to get that far or all the past good that that person has accomplished. We see only failure and we simply think to ourselves, there is someone out there who would have done this properly.
Of course the reverse is also true. We are often so far removed from those who depend on us that we do not often consider them. In the past a hunter was valued by his people and at the same time knew that if he did not have a successful day his people would go hungry. Now we tend to think, it can wait one more day. We are not motivated to help those people we do not know.
This kind of a shift toward independence serves to remove us from the motivation and responsibility our every action might warrant. We do not feel the impact of our actions because we do not know those people who are affected and they do not know us.
Of course in our modern era it is impossible to move back to this sense of community in that same way. Because of industrialization and the huge scale of life these days we can never be close to all those we depend on. I will never know the man who built my iPod. But maybe in some smaller way we can move back toward that mentality.
We all have groups to which we belong. We have work colleagues, teammates, friends, family, clubs, churches. These all have a community mentality to some degree. If we could only expand this to our everyday thought. I think it all boils down to one truth that we have all forgotten. “Love thy neighbour.” It doesn’t even have to be that hard. Just know your neighbour. Say hello. Ask him how his day was. Know how he contributes, and value his presence for it.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
The legacy of Evolution
I was reading today that researchers have built software that allows a robot to adjust to changes in its body structure and relearn certain tasks. The software uses neural networks, a technique which mimics the human brain, along with genetic algorithms which allows for learning to take place. These techniques have been used before but until now the task off adapting to changes in its own structure has proved infeasible.
With this new software the robot can detect changes to its own structure and then adds a new collection of neurons to its existing "brain" and uses these to learn its new task, building on what it already knows.
For instance, if the robot starts with two simple, un-jointed legs and six neurons it will use these to identify the best possible way to walk. Once it detects no more improvement in its learning process it will lock these neurons in place. It has learnt how to walk.
Now, if we add a joint to each leg the robot, using its previously learnt algorithm, will suddenly detect its walking is no longer as effective. Since it already knows the best way to walk it realises its body has changed. It now creates a few new neurons and begins to learn again. The key idea behind this is it does not start from the beginning. It still remembers how to walk, and simply learns what to do with its new bits. It builds on its knowledge.
This technique has also been used for sensors and several legs all with success. The key drawback mentioned by other researchers though is that this can result in an unnecessarily large number of neurons. The same tasks could be done with fewer, although relearning everything each time is too complex.
However, this talk of unnecessary neurons immediately made me think of our own brains and the supposed 10% we use. Maybe all that extra brain power is the relic of our evolution. The neurons that originally learnt to breathe in water and swim with fins. Now without purpose they sit idle, the legacy of our past.
With this new software the robot can detect changes to its own structure and then adds a new collection of neurons to its existing "brain" and uses these to learn its new task, building on what it already knows.
For instance, if the robot starts with two simple, un-jointed legs and six neurons it will use these to identify the best possible way to walk. Once it detects no more improvement in its learning process it will lock these neurons in place. It has learnt how to walk.
Now, if we add a joint to each leg the robot, using its previously learnt algorithm, will suddenly detect its walking is no longer as effective. Since it already knows the best way to walk it realises its body has changed. It now creates a few new neurons and begins to learn again. The key idea behind this is it does not start from the beginning. It still remembers how to walk, and simply learns what to do with its new bits. It builds on its knowledge.
This technique has also been used for sensors and several legs all with success. The key drawback mentioned by other researchers though is that this can result in an unnecessarily large number of neurons. The same tasks could be done with fewer, although relearning everything each time is too complex.
However, this talk of unnecessary neurons immediately made me think of our own brains and the supposed 10% we use. Maybe all that extra brain power is the relic of our evolution. The neurons that originally learnt to breathe in water and swim with fins. Now without purpose they sit idle, the legacy of our past.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Special: Football
I would like to mention two main things today. The first is the current rules regarding penalties and cards. To me both seem ridiculously stupid in their current descriptions at times being simply way too harsh a punishment and at other times simply not being enough of a punishment to stop players making "professional" fouls.
Firstly, the current penalty law which gives a penalty kick for fouls in the box. Way too often the fouls that occur in the box are near the edge with the player being fouled not even in a position to make an attempt on goal. In these circumstances a penalty is not a fair punishment because one team is being given a free chance at scoring simply because a foul occurred within an arbitrary area of the field. In all likelihood for most of these fouls had it occurred just slightly further away it would not be a penalty and the free kick would be far fairer punishment.
Of course the opposite is also true. Often players in good positions lining up a shot or having gone past their man are taken out just outside the box. In these cases the free kick given outside the box seems a ludicrously light punishment since a clear chance to score has been denied to a player.
Surely a far simpler and better solution would be to simply forget about the box with regards to penalties and simply give a penalty whenever a player is denied a definite goal scoring opportunity as decided by the referee. I don't think this will by any means remove all controversy. We will all still argue over what situations are definite goal scoring opportunities. For instance Steven Gerard from 25 yards might be a scoring opportunity if he is lining up a shot, but the same might not be true for other players from the same distance.
What I do think this ruling will accomplish is to stop players going done in nothing positions looking for a penalty. Rather they will strive to create that opportunity to score because that is the only way they will be able to do it. It will also mean that defenders are far less paranoid about defending inside the box, even when a player has his back to goal and is going nowhere.
My second issue is with yellow and red cards. Being a Liverpool fan I am of course deeply upset over Lucas' red in the derby this week. I find it completely stupid that he is sent off for two nothing tackles one of which was never in a million years a yellow. The whole game Everton players had been in late, at least 15 or 20 times and yet only the occasional yellow card was shown. Steven Pienaar made at least three tackles worse than any that Lucas made, two of which were on Lucas himself.
That red card completely swung the match and I think it does so in a way that is just not good for the game. Teams should not win a match because one player made two niggley little fouls when their entire team has been doing it the entire game.
Of course I was not very upset to see Lampard sent off on the weekend for what on second viewing should not have been a red either. Off course in that game Liverpool were dominant anyway and if anything the red just made Chelsea hang back a little more making it harder for Liverpool.
I think an approach more like rugby would work better than the current system. If a player makes a few stupid fouls or maybe one that is a little dangerous give him ten minutes of the field. The aggrieved team is given an advantage, but not one that will often instantly decide the match as a red card often does. Of course bad fouls must still be punished with a red where tackles are particularly bad or a professional foul is committed.
Then linking back to the penalty idea, often we see a red and a penalty given for a last man tackle or the like. If a player was rather given ten minutes off the field when a penalty is also given it would be far less of a match ending moment.
These simple adjustments to the rules I think will make the game a lot more fair and also improve the way the players go about the game. It will reduce diving and remove the fear and nerves from some tackles. The impact of refereeing decisions will also be reduced to a degree which is what you want. You don't want the whistle deciding a match, you want the players doing it.
Firstly, the current penalty law which gives a penalty kick for fouls in the box. Way too often the fouls that occur in the box are near the edge with the player being fouled not even in a position to make an attempt on goal. In these circumstances a penalty is not a fair punishment because one team is being given a free chance at scoring simply because a foul occurred within an arbitrary area of the field. In all likelihood for most of these fouls had it occurred just slightly further away it would not be a penalty and the free kick would be far fairer punishment.
Of course the opposite is also true. Often players in good positions lining up a shot or having gone past their man are taken out just outside the box. In these cases the free kick given outside the box seems a ludicrously light punishment since a clear chance to score has been denied to a player.
Surely a far simpler and better solution would be to simply forget about the box with regards to penalties and simply give a penalty whenever a player is denied a definite goal scoring opportunity as decided by the referee. I don't think this will by any means remove all controversy. We will all still argue over what situations are definite goal scoring opportunities. For instance Steven Gerard from 25 yards might be a scoring opportunity if he is lining up a shot, but the same might not be true for other players from the same distance.
What I do think this ruling will accomplish is to stop players going done in nothing positions looking for a penalty. Rather they will strive to create that opportunity to score because that is the only way they will be able to do it. It will also mean that defenders are far less paranoid about defending inside the box, even when a player has his back to goal and is going nowhere.
My second issue is with yellow and red cards. Being a Liverpool fan I am of course deeply upset over Lucas' red in the derby this week. I find it completely stupid that he is sent off for two nothing tackles one of which was never in a million years a yellow. The whole game Everton players had been in late, at least 15 or 20 times and yet only the occasional yellow card was shown. Steven Pienaar made at least three tackles worse than any that Lucas made, two of which were on Lucas himself.
That red card completely swung the match and I think it does so in a way that is just not good for the game. Teams should not win a match because one player made two niggley little fouls when their entire team has been doing it the entire game.
Of course I was not very upset to see Lampard sent off on the weekend for what on second viewing should not have been a red either. Off course in that game Liverpool were dominant anyway and if anything the red just made Chelsea hang back a little more making it harder for Liverpool.
I think an approach more like rugby would work better than the current system. If a player makes a few stupid fouls or maybe one that is a little dangerous give him ten minutes of the field. The aggrieved team is given an advantage, but not one that will often instantly decide the match as a red card often does. Of course bad fouls must still be punished with a red where tackles are particularly bad or a professional foul is committed.
Then linking back to the penalty idea, often we see a red and a penalty given for a last man tackle or the like. If a player was rather given ten minutes off the field when a penalty is also given it would be far less of a match ending moment.
These simple adjustments to the rules I think will make the game a lot more fair and also improve the way the players go about the game. It will reduce diving and remove the fear and nerves from some tackles. The impact of refereeing decisions will also be reduced to a degree which is what you want. You don't want the whistle deciding a match, you want the players doing it.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Behind Already
Ok, its Febuary already and as with almost every year I'm already behind on my list of goals for the year. I set myself the task of blogging three times a week and since this is my first post of the year I'm already thirteen or fourteen behind.
Forgetting the past though, I'm going to try once more to step up to the challenges I have set for myself, starting with this blog. So this is how its going to be. One post monday, one post wednesday, one post friday, plus a few bonus ones thrown in to make up for a poor January. In terms of my themes for this year, I'm thinking along these lines:
Forgetting the past though, I'm going to try once more to step up to the challenges I have set for myself, starting with this blog. So this is how its going to be. One post monday, one post wednesday, one post friday, plus a few bonus ones thrown in to make up for a poor January. In terms of my themes for this year, I'm thinking along these lines:
- Monday - World Affairs/Views
- Wednesday - Philosophy
- Friday - Science/Technology/The Universe
Of course this may change over the year but for now thats my plan and I'm sticking to it. See you friday.
Monday, December 8, 2008
It Starts With You
My last post spoke of our ever dwindling individual effort. Today while searching for a good South African news feed I saw this tiny picture in the sidebar.
The picture is actually and advert for the movement for good. I haven't had a good look at their website yet, but I think you should check it out for yourself. http://www.itstartswithyou.co.za/The picture instantly sums up everything about my last post. We need to forget about all our petty rivalry, all our stupid jealousy. We need to stop pointing the finger and take a long hard look at ourselves. It's not what everyone else is doing that matters, it's what you do.
On this note I will relate my recent epiphany. I play action soccer and will not deny that in the heat of the moment, when the frustration is building that my anger can boil over. I often release this in action soccer and will occasionally kick out a little at the opposition. Nothing malicious or spiteful or dangerous, just a little kick to let them know I'm there.
Anyway during one particularly heated match, I kicked out at a middle-aged coloured man. Despite the fact that he himself had been doing this the entire match he took it upon himself to swear at me and shove me in the face. Naturally I did raise my own voice a little as well. The incident passed and the game ended after ever rising tensions. After the game he approached me and said something along the lines of sorry. I barely held myself in check and accepted his apology with little grace.
Now a few days after this match I realised something. My frustration at the world and the general uselessness of people was making me less of a person. Rather than trying harder to be a better person I was simply beginning to hate everything and everyone. Those who know me can testify to my ability to hate the enemy sometimes. When I realised this I decided that I would strive everyday to hate less and love more.
This is a challenge for me. Long held grudges are hard to forget but I try and that is all that matters. Everyday I try to be a better person and do my bit to improve the world. If everyone does this the world will only improve. Maybe we can still halt the downward spiral and heal the decay of our world.
Just remember, it starts with you.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
My Christmas Wish
Fisrt let me say that I do not see myself as a cynic. I admit that often I may seem that way from the outside and at times I am but for the most part I am an optimist. I see the potential in everything and spend most of my life wishing that things could be just that little bit better. Maybe it is this ever failing hope that brings me to my outward cynicism.
Moving on though from my general world view to my current topic. Decemeber has arrived and this means that once again Christmas is approaching. I guess like most things my view appears cynical with regards to this day and in truth it mostly is. Almost all I see of Christmas these days is a rotting carcass of a once important holiday picked at by the vultures of advertising and materialism.
I remember my youth and the uninhibited excitment every year in the time approaching Christmas. I cannot deny that most of this excitement was created by the allure of presents but this was not all Christmas meant to me. I remember the family all coming together for a huge dinner every Christmas eve and a breakfast every boxing day. I loved these days where all my cousins would be around and the whole family simply enjoyed themselves for a day.
As I have grown older my family has grown apart, and I can remember the first days where the complaints began to grow about the effort that such a dinner required. The grumblings from my mom about how it always fell to her to put in the effort. I do not blame her for her growing contempt of the rest of my families lack of effort, but rather it makes me think of the world in general. So often now people seem to think often incorrectly that it seems to be them who does all the hard work. That they alone endure all the hardships.
When people begin to feel this way these days they seem to simply stop caring and so their own effort however big or small wanes. It is all this that together means we have all stopped caring. And when we all stop making that effort everything simply spirals down.
My wish for this Christmas is no longer that our greed and commercialistic desires will end, I simply wish that everyone will when faced with that tiny feeling that maybe this time someone else can do it, will think again for just a moment and put in that little bit of effort.
Moving on though from my general world view to my current topic. Decemeber has arrived and this means that once again Christmas is approaching. I guess like most things my view appears cynical with regards to this day and in truth it mostly is. Almost all I see of Christmas these days is a rotting carcass of a once important holiday picked at by the vultures of advertising and materialism.
I remember my youth and the uninhibited excitment every year in the time approaching Christmas. I cannot deny that most of this excitement was created by the allure of presents but this was not all Christmas meant to me. I remember the family all coming together for a huge dinner every Christmas eve and a breakfast every boxing day. I loved these days where all my cousins would be around and the whole family simply enjoyed themselves for a day.
As I have grown older my family has grown apart, and I can remember the first days where the complaints began to grow about the effort that such a dinner required. The grumblings from my mom about how it always fell to her to put in the effort. I do not blame her for her growing contempt of the rest of my families lack of effort, but rather it makes me think of the world in general. So often now people seem to think often incorrectly that it seems to be them who does all the hard work. That they alone endure all the hardships.
When people begin to feel this way these days they seem to simply stop caring and so their own effort however big or small wanes. It is all this that together means we have all stopped caring. And when we all stop making that effort everything simply spirals down.
My wish for this Christmas is no longer that our greed and commercialistic desires will end, I simply wish that everyone will when faced with that tiny feeling that maybe this time someone else can do it, will think again for just a moment and put in that little bit of effort.
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