Group work assignments just suck (by anon)

Group assignments should not be required. Everyone has been in a group where one person absolutely does nothing but shows up at the last day to present. Why should we all share the same grade but all did not put in the same amount of work? I understand that group work supposed to help us get along well with others but it’s actually doing the opposite.  I dread working with others because college students schedule are busy dealing with work, classes, organizations, or even kids in some cases. Trying to find a time to meet up with other busy college students is a hassle. I was once in a group where we all had great ideas but no one wanted to compromise and let go of their idea. It was a battle because we did come to a conclusion about one topic but the other group members seemed to be uninterested. You cannot put students in a group and force them to work together because they might all have different backgrounds of education. You cannot assume that they will be on the same level. Group work is not for everyone. There’s other ways to show that you work well with others. I just believe that group work is not one of them.

I want the truth and nothing but the truth! (by anon)

For reasons beyond my comprehension, I am interested in the truth, no matter how depressing, brutal, chaotic, disgusting, or infuriating it may be. I will not carelessly subscribe to some prescription of truth, nor close my mind to all but one possible truth, out of pure faith in a text that is centuries old and filled with undeniable logical contradictions and factual errors. To let a single, select series of written words be that which solely influences all understanding of life and the universe, things good and just, pure and sacred, all that is real of the past, present, and future, despite anything else in the world, is to be blinded not by the light of God, but by the light of indoctrination and propaganda.

While this light may bring comfort and joy to many, it is like a psychological injection, a drug for the human spirit, and it is in the process of becoming obsolete, no longer serving its original purpose (whatever it was), for there is a higher morality and intellect emerging among us. It's time to focus on the well-being of all individuals, physically and psychologically. It's time for everyone, especially those who are in power, to make decisions that enhance life, protect individuals from being harmed unwillingly and unwittingly, generate peace among people, and sustain a suitable environment. I believe our intellect can culminate these generally desired outcomes efficiently and peaceably.

We are not animals anymore. We have grown capable of overcoming our fear, suffering, and resentment, through means of higher order reflection, admittance, and graceful acceptance of the looming and compelling possibilities of the nature of reality and human existence. We do not need lies, tricks of faith, or protection from the mere thought or entertainment of undesired possibilties. We must stop fooling ourselves in hopes of living forever, exacting revenge upon evil doers, and meeting our loved ones in eternity. We must let our ultimate gift of Reason guide us towards realizing the serious possibilities we face, and release us from the grip of traditional views derived long ago regarding the true origin, fate, and overall nature of humankind.

I am not pointing to the truth, and I do not claim to know it. I am pointing to today’s blatant denial of the honest quest for truth. I am pointing to the obvious flaw in the unwavering conviction that our lives must continue beyond death, that we are saved despite our sinful ways, that if we do not hold certain beliefs, we will burn violently in a place called hell, rather than live blissfully and eternally in a place called heaven.

Clutching these beliefs stubbornly and undoubtedly ignores the possibility of, and possible consequences associated with, there being no life after death, no hell or heaven, no morality/justice delivered from the heavens, etc. Unwillingness to accept this possibility and its consequences stunts our intellectual growth as a species. It numbs us and disables us from acknowledging the possibility that life on Earth is the one and only reality we will ever experience. By properly recognizing this possibility, we could, perhaps, fix this world, once and for all.

Clean yourself up! (by anon)

One of the most exciting yet stressful things about going to college is living in dorms. Dorms are a good way to create new friendships that will last for a lifetime. While dorms have a lot of positives, there is one dark side…BATHROOMS.

Dorm bathrooms are terrible, no matter what college. After living in the privacy of my own home for the first 18 years of my life, transitioning to a dorm bathroom was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. While janitors at the school do their best to keep it to a minimum, the worst thing about dorm bathrooms is the smell. The smell is unimaginable. It’s like something out of a terror movie and I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy. I don’t understand why people can’t bring air freshener after they finish their business, or why the school doesn’t put an automatic scent releaser in the bathroom. It would be greatly appreciated by every student in the dorm who utilizes the bathrooms.

Another bad thing about dorm bathrooms is the fact that people don’t like to flush the toilets when they are finished using it. There is nothing worse than to walk into a stall and see someone else’s feces or urine still in the toilet, not flushed. I mean really, how hard is it to flush the damn toilet after you use the bathroom? That’s common sense! Seeing things like that make me question other residents of Bigelow Halls home training.

The last and probably the worst problem I have with dorms bathrooms is the fact that the toilets often over flow. There has been a couple times where I’ve walked into the bathroom this semester and the stall has been overflowing. Some of this comes from people not flushing, and some of it comes from the pipes being backed up. No matter what is to blame for toilets overflowing, it’s still DISGUSTING.

In closing, I need to make a public service announcement to all students at UW-Whitewater: CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE IN THE BATHROOM, IT REALLY IS NOT THAT HARD. IF YOU CAN GRADAUTE HIGH SCHOOL...I’M PRETTY SURE YOU CAN FLUSH A DAMN TOILET.

Sincerely,

Your annoyed floor mate J

"Avatar" (by anon)

You know what really grinds my gears?

There’s this amazing show called Avatar: The Last Airbender. It is an animated series genuinely directed at the interests and focus of kids, but it is such an extensive and powerful series that it has reached into the interests of teens and adults as well. Many people have grown to respect and love this show.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this show, it is loosely based on some religious ideas that follow a young “Avatar” on his quest to master the four natural elements of the world – water, earth, fire, and air. On this journey he faces hardships and trepidations, but also encounters many friends and happy times; eventually even love. The show follows a group of friends, each with a specific skill or ability to manipulate a certain element, as they travel across the world in hopes of training Aang (The Avatar) till he becomes ready to face his destiny to save the world.

Now, this show has always been known to me and an innumerable amount of people as simple “Avatar,” as the previously mentioned title is rather long. Whenever I heard this word, my brain would instantly avert to this epic television series that has become known and appreciated worldwide. The show was created by Bryan Konietzko and Michal Dante DiMartino in 2005 and spanned until 2008. Some of you, however, may be familiar with the movie “Avatar” with strange blue-looking people and the like. This movie actually aired in 2009, a good four years after the real “Avatar” was released and had fully developed its name and stature.

However, James Cameron, creator of the blue-people “Avatar” decided that even after this four year run by Bryan and Mike, that he was entitled to copyright the name “Avatar.” Even though it had already been several years since the name had already been adapted to this particular series in a distinctive way. Or, if you wanna play by kindergartener rules, Bryan and Mike “said” the name “Avatar” first and thus had “dibs.” Then Cameron decides to come in, shit all over the most basic and obvious unwritten rules by lying claim to the name. He actually copyrighted the name “Avatar” so no one else could use it.

Where’s the justice in that?

Avatar: The Last Airbender had been around for years longer the Cameron’s shitty excuse for an “Avatar” rendition, yet after Cameron decides to be an ass about it they can no longer use the name as their own, essentially. The live action movie that was created soon after the animated series ended was originally destined to be called just the same: “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” But, due to Cameron being a filthy rich and cocky director made it so they could no longer use this name. It had to be changed to just “The Last Airbender.” The sequel to the Avatar series, was also origination meant to be called “Avatar: The Legend of Korra,” but again, due to this copyright law, this name could not be so. Cameron made it so this great, inspiring, and original series could not even use the name that had come to define it.

This is something that pisses me off a lot, not just that he “stole a name” or something simple as that. It’s that just because James Cameron had the name and the money to do so, he was allowed to label a name as solely his. How is that even humanly possible? So can someone take their first name and say, “This is mine, no one else can use it!” Every single word was already in existence; created and universal and extensive. He didn’t “create” the name, why does he have the right to lay claim to it?

No word belongs to any one person, and yet people with the name or money think they can do something as simple as this just to prove their dominance or power.  To those of you who think this is insignificant, just remember it only takes a small spark like this (something seemingly irrelevant), but eventually a flame will grow and spread like a wildfire until it cannot be handled or contained.

Should a black student attend a black university or a white university? (by anon)

College is a place for many students to come and discover who they really are as people. It is a chance for a person to gain some real life experience before taking their place amongst society in the real world. So with this being the case, which college is better for a black student to attend a HBCU (historically black college or university) or a predominately white institution? I feel that in order to gain experience in how to socialize with the rest of society a black student is able to best gain this experience a white institution.

Being a black student coming from a predominately black college prep high school and attending a predominantly white institution I feel that it is best if a black student attends a white college. Like everything in life there are pros and cons with both of these situations. When going to a predominantly white college we notice that some pros are that we are able to reap some of the benefits of the white students that HBCUs do not offer. A big con is that when attending a white institution as opposed to a black one we lack a sense of understanding. Many African American students are more likely to have bigger support system from their own people that white.   Even though this is the case we see that there is a lack of a support system at white universities there is still a better experience here because ultimately in the real world you have to fend for yourself and you won’t always have someone there to pick you up when you fall. This is a skill you must learn to do on your own.

Are we doomed? (by anon)

If all of the soldiers
In all the armies
In all the world
Put down their weapons
And picked up tools
And started building sustainable/carbon zero housing
For all the people of the world
Our problems would be over
And real life for all people would begin.

Is this a feasible idea? Is it possible that this could ever happen in our day and age? Or is global cooperation past our time? Would it even work?

I would argue that this would be a good idea, but it would never actually happen in our current time period. There is too much political and religious ideology out in the media to cloud the judgment of the citizens. Why is it that we can hardly cooperate with much of the globe? As a country, we seem to turn to war in times of need, but why can’t we just work out our problems through cooperation, compassion, and interdependence? We have become so detached from the tremendous pain of violence, war, disease and hunger. Do we even care for the rest of humanity? Or are people so wrapped up in themselves that change and cooperation on a global level is no longer attainable? 

Are we doomed?

~Anon

Roommates suck! (by anon)

Most people will understand this rant – roommates suck!  No one ever cleans up after themselves, trash heaps pile up, and if dirty dishes were valued like gold I would be the richest person in the world. Seriously I get fed up with the entire kitchen stacked with dirty rotting dishes that have been sitting there for weeks, so I spend over an hour washing them all only to find the sink get piled back up in one day!  What the hell people!  Everyone says they wash their dishes but that’s obviously not true unless multiple homeless people are coming into our house midday to make a quick meal.  

And what's worse is the trash problem, it’s called a “trash can” so use it.  Don't throw your shit on the floor and expect it to magically disappear.  Maybe pick up the vacuum up every once and awhile and clean up the dirt you dragged in when you were blacked out drunk the night before.  

Another thing is I don’t care if you drink my milk and eat my frozen pizzas, but at least buy a gallon the next time you're at the store!  For this reason people should live alone or with one or two roommates maximum. Living in the a house with over 4 roommates is just too much to handle.  It is impossible to delegate chores between college roommates at this level.  Even if you live with friends this can be a very difficult task.  Living on your own you will be able to concentrate more on school too.