1. Check out the links I include in the post.
2. Make an intelligent comment on them.
3. Or respond in an intelligent way to someone else's comment.
4. Earn points!
Just a note, you don't need to read all of the links I post when there are multiple stories linked. You can always pick the ones that seem most interesting to you.
On to the links:
- What do Mothers Against Drunk Driving, America's Most Wanted, and Batman have in common? Post-traumatic growth of course.
- Newsweek says the web is "driving us mad." This guy (and most of the Twitterverse and Blogosphere) say Newsweek has no idea what science is.
- Someday I hope to make it up to Manhattan for "Manhattanhenge," if only because the odds of bumping into Neil deGrasse Tyson would be pretty good.
72 comments:
These post traumatic disorder affects seem to better the world, yet haunt the victims of these terrible crimes. I consider Batman's heroic deeds equal to any heroic person such as fire fighters or police men. In a way, fire fighters, who grow up wanted to help save innocent lives, are more heroic than Batman. Batman's actions are reactions to the horrific death of his parents. His valor is a means of revenge. Although Batman is a character that fights crime, the fact that he can be compared to Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the television show America's Most Wanted is somewhat amusing.
In response to "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?" I am in complete agreement of the idea the author is trying to get across. As our world advances with new social media, and technology, people have increasingly become more anti-social, along with not being able to focus on many things for too long. Teenagers especially, have made their computer,their phones, and other electronic devices a major part of their life. Spending too much time staring at their cellphone, television or computer screen, is starting to take negative effect on us. It's hard for us to get away from it, however,considering we are surrounded by this technology 24/7.
I think the "Manhattanhenge" is interesting because the sun just happens to be exactly aligned with the grid of the streets and buildings of Manhattan. I have lived in New York for three years and I never knew about this before. Neil deGrasse Tyson is a very intelligent man for noticing the suns position on the horizon. I would be very surprised if anyone in Manhattan does not know about "Manhattanhenge".
(Post Traumatic Growth): The way she analyzed Batman was interesting but I wouldn't think that he got post traumatic stress disorder because instead of stressing out about his life after his parents died, he decided to help innocent people. Post traumatic growth seems more reasonable because he became Batman because he prevents other people from getting hurt like his parents and sidekick did.
After reading "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?" I do not entirely agree with the article. It does has many great points to the accusation that constant use of the internet can cause psychosis but i don't believe that use of a computer is all to blame because the actual problem was that Russel had barely gotten any sleep, "two hours in the first four days", as stated and with that severe lack of sleep, which can occur from many other actions not just from overuse of a computer, anyone can suffer from major mental performance issues and even sound or act strange. He could have also been stressed about being famous and felt the need to keep on posting and staying connected out of fear of losing popularity in some way. This could've happened to anyone else in a multitude of other ways, computers alone are not the core cause and this was one incident out of very few.
I personally disagree with the issue brought up in the second topic. The author blamed the internet for psychosis related problems, using Russell's case as an example. However, there were many other factors in Russell's case that could have led to these symptoms. It was stated that he had only two hours of sleep in the first four days after the event. After conducting further research, I learned that sleep deprivation can also contribute to psychosis, so blaming it on the internet is not entirely accurate. The sudden shift to fame from nothing could have also been a contributing factor. It could have brought along a lot of stress and put a lot of pressure on Russell. The article written in response to it brings up many points that discredit the first article as well.
It's strange yet interesting to see my childhood hero, Batman, being analyzed to such an extent as to be called 'the poster boy of post-traumatic growth.' It makes perfect sense that he became traumatized after seeing his parents murdered at such a young age; however, I am amazed that like Bruce Wayne, John Walsh, the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and any other victim of a tragedy are able to not only overcome their traumatic experiences but also use them to make changes for the better. Rather than succumb to their tragedies, these people are able to learn from them and help others overcome them as well.
Through her psycho-analysis of Batman, was somewhat incorrect. I do not agree that his actions can be classified as signs that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Though he may have endured a troubled past, losing his parents and many loved ones throughout his life, it may have affected his decisions later in life and influenced his decision to work hard and use his time to help innocent people. Without the traumatic events in his life, he may not have taken it upon himself to become the "caped crusader" or a man of vengeance for the injustices he saw, but it is not necessarily classified as a symptom of PTSD. Instead of becoming "the poster boy of post-traumatic growth" he learned from his experiences and used them to help make the world better, just as any other person who suffers a traumatic experience has the ability to do. Each person has the choice to either fall into a depression after the event or to change and improve.
Growing up and even now I have always been a hug fan of batman. It was very interesting and amusing to read the connection made by clinical psychologist Robin Rosenberg between Batmans heroic actions and the traumatic events of his past. Although John Walsh, the host of "America's Most Wanted," had a traumatic event in his past, it is good to see that he was able to overcome it and make a difference. I definetly admire people like John Walsh,the Lewis family, and the founder of "Mothers against drunk driving," for their bravery and determination. I can see how the authour was able toconnet to batman too.
In response to the Batman article, I find it very interesting that someone is finally assessing Batman's mental health. Most times people discuss the psychological problems of his villains. However, I feel as if saying that Batman has post traumatic stress disorder is not accurate. As stating in the article, people in real life had suffered from a traumatic experience and thus did something to help keep it from happening again. For example, the mom who lost her child to drunk driving decided to help make an organization to help prevent it from happening to others. Batman lost his parents from a horrible crime and decided to try to stop crime. There could still be speculation as to whether a man who fights crime in a bat suit is considered "sane" but in the comics, among all the different heroes and villains, Batman is actually considered one of the most sane men in the universe. I feel as if while we may see Batman's behavior as odd, he could have a perfectly logical reason behind everything he does. I believe that like John Walsh or the founder of Mothers against Drunk driving, Batman is a hero who suffered a traumatic event but was able to overcome this tragedy and work towards a better tomorrow.
I completely agree with the idea that Batman began to fit crime in response to witnessing the murders of his parents. He definitely has some sort of post traumatic stress disorder which is resulting in a good thing for the world. I believe Batman does not want anyone to go through what he went through. And because of that, he will do anything to cause someone to go through that kind of pain.
"Is the Internet 'driving us mad'" is an article that I agree with. I do believe that many people today have their lives dependent on the internet and technology of today. The excellent example given was of Jason Russell who was diagnosis with "reactive psychosis" or temporary insanity. Yes the article did state that he got a lot most no sleep, but the reason he got no sleep, the thing that caused him to stay up was the internet, a thing which I think he became addicted to. The internet has allowed people different lives outside the real world and many people like the internet life better than their real lives, which later will addict them to the internet. I also think that people have become less social due to the internet. It is now easier to talk to someone through a computer screen than to them face to face in person. I think that our dependency on today's technology has started to take a negative impact on peoples' lives.
I also agree with the previous comments made towards the Batman article. I find it disheartening to see a psychologist undermine the heroic actions of people who have personally suffered from the issues that they are trying to correct. In my opinion, it is commendable that people like John Walsh and the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving are actually taking action; too many times in society people suffer in silence and tend to avoid their problems. Honestly, the idea that Batman’s good deeds and actions are signs of post traumatic growth is preposterous. It seems like another attempt by the media to overanalyze characters and link them to psychological disorders. This reminds me a lot of how psychologists have analyzed Winnie the Pooh, taking away from the fun, child-like innocence of the show.
I have read the articles for each topic and found that the second topic is most intriguing. I feel that it is silly and naive to believe that the internet is the sole reason for Jason Russel's change from a socially responsible patron to an infamous "con artist" who dealt with a mental breakdown. Just as a fellow student said, there could have been many other factors that provide a more cogent argument for his change. I also thought the underlying theme that the media can effortlessly manipulate the thoughts of its audience is unfortunate. It was astonishing to know that a well-reputated magazine like Newsweek can have one of its articles squashed as baseless information. And to know that so many read Newsweek and blindly believe what it says without knowing the true facts is scary. Although informative, the media can as easily be deceptive and dangerous to trust.
While reading the article about Batman and PTSD was strange, it shed a new light onto the story. Batman was always this epic crime-fighting machine that used skills and gadgets instead of actual super powers. I agree that the murder of his parents caused him to transform into the Dark Knight but I also think there might be some other things behind it. As a child before the murder of his parents, Bruce might of enjoyed watching police and other crime-fighters. After the murder those feelings of enjoyment and fun could have molded into reality and thus Bruce's training into Batman begun. Another example along with the "America's Most Wanted" is the law where you have to put two orange stickers on your license plate during your provisional license. If I am correct the law was Stacey's Law and the mother lost her daughter to a driving accident. These accidents hurt the families or people but make the world better in a way. That intrigues me because it is ironic how a tragedy makes the world a better place to live in.
I think the link about Batman and post traumatic disorders is the most interesting. Before reading that article, I would have never guessed that a childhood tragedy could motivate someone, such as Batman or a firefighter, to become involved in heroics by putting his/her life in danger. Usually I would expect someone who experienced this kind of horror to isolate themselves from the outside world because they are afraid of being hurt again. However, Batman along with many other heroes (such as Spiderman with his uncle's murder) are able to put that kind of fear behind them and have taken up the responsibility of ensuring that this kind of tragedy does not occur to other innocent people. Perhaps their bravery and ability to "fight through" the pain are the main reasons why these characters have been able to entertain and touch audiences for nearly the past century.
In regards to the article "No, the web is not driving us mad", I believe that Newsweek's original claim on the possibly psychologically detrimental effects of the internet on the minds of individuals has truth to it. With the emergence of social networking sites and detail-oriented blogging platforms, such as facebook and tumblr, the human mind is becoming increasingly introverted. People are becoming more dependent on virtual forms of expression and entertainment rather than actual human interaction.However, I do also agree with the author of this article that stating that the internet could lead to "psychosis" is too far of a stretch. Newsweek is right in its claim but pretentious in its conclusion.
In regards to the article "No, the web is not driving us mad", I believe that Newsweek's original claim on the possibly psychologically detrimental effects of the internet on the minds of individuals has truth to it. With the emergence of social networking sites and detail-oriented blogging platforms, such as facebook and tumblr, the human mind is becoming increasingly introverted. People are becoming more dependent on virtual forms of expression and entertainment rather than actual human interaction.However, I do also agree with the author of this article that stating that the internet could lead to "psychosis" is too far of a stretch. Newsweek is right in its claim but pretentious in its conclusion.
I completely agree with the message the second topic is trying to get across. As technology advances, people tend to spend more time on their phones or laptops. Whether they are on Facebook, Twitter, or just looking at videos, people tend to invest a large part of their day on the internet. As they spend their time texting or on the internet, people, especially teenagers, tend to pass more and more of their time devoting themselves to those tasks every day. People are so consumed by technology that they lose touch with reality. Pulling yourself away from it can be difficult because of the adaptation to spending time around technology. I understand how this could cause someone to lose their sanity because, as mentioned in the article, technology can be addicting. In the same way, spending too much time on the internet, texting, or watching TV can mentally corrupt a person.
Although the analysis of Batman's character and past leading to PTSD holds some truth to it, I don't agree with Rosenburg. For the other cases, such as John Walsh and the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, it is true that a traumatizing event led them to be social activists, but why question Batman's motives?These social activists are raising awareness to an issue that our society needs to alter whereas Batman is actually stopping villains from committing crimes. Batman has suffered from various traumatic experience, but it doesn't mean that he became a hero in order to cope with it. There could have been other outside influences that motivated him to perform heroic actions. I also agree with some of the other comments about overanalyzing a childhood character. Even though it is interesting to see someone's take on a character's action, it is taking away the fun and the reason as to why this character was created.
Batman Article: Even though Batman suffered during his childhood and overcame his obstacles, the psychologist is trying to give a reason for why he goes and performs vigilant justice. It may be disappointing or viewed as dehumanizing to those who have admired a character since childhood to consider Batman being diagnosed with PSTD. However, the traumatic experiences as a child caused him to become a vigilante. The psychologist compares him to founders of crime-fighting organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and America's Most Wanted to show that it's not uncommon after someone experiences something tragic to become active in a cause. Therefore, people who experience something traumatic often find comfort in becoming an advocate of a social activism cause. People are sometimes too quick to make decisions about what's right and wrong and to "pathologize" someone. We are drawn to feel sorry for his past trauma and be understanding of his acting out because he is a hero, saving lives. What if the past trauma caused him to act out as a villain? Would people feel the same? Would they even care what caused him to act in such a manner?
Is Technology Driving Us Mad? I believe that technology has the power to corrupt a person’s mind. New technology helps feed our impulses and obsessions eventually leading to insanity. It has the ability to consume hours and hours of time on something useless. Even though people realize it’s an addiction, they still give in and repeat the same behavior on a daily basis. It has become a part of everyday life for most teenagers, and it’s only going to get worse. These internet addictions are really detrimental because you can be so frenzied with the virtual world, that you lose a sense of reality. Time spent on the internet has the ability to affect a person’s mood, appetite, sleep patterns, behaviors and health. Even worse, it can lead to depression and psychosis.
After reading "Is The Web Driving Us Mad?" in addition to the follow-up blog post, I agree with the authors behind "Mind Hacks". The addictive use of technology has become mainstream and it now defines our generation. To some extent, constantly texting and tweeting and staying up until the early hours of the morning to be on the Internet is an issue but it would never reach the point of psychosis or any other mental disorder for that matter. If that was the case, a majority of the population would be diagnosed with psychosis. Also, the case of Jason Russell is an extreme, as well as the case studies used as examples. Addictions to cell phones, the Internet, and technology has become a problem but it is also our future. As a whole, we strive to further ease our lives and make living easier. Social media and technology provides that. Using technology excessively will not lead to psychosis or any other mental disorder unless it is an extreme case.
Regarding Batman's connection with Post-traumatic growth, I find it extremely interesting how Psychologist Robin Rosenberg captures the relationship between batman's actions and his past history. I agree with the analysis given because as we relate this type of disorder to the world today we see this relationship come true. For example, an individual that is born and raised under abuse is sometimes likely to experience post traumatic stress in the future as well as act on these feelings. Due to Batman's past with the murder of his parents, years later he decided that he would act upon his feelings and fight crime. All together this article analyzes the character and this disorder really well.
"Is the Web Driving Us Mad?" has points within the article that I agree with. The article gives an interesting take on how something that we depend on for everyday life, with overuse and too much dependency, could easily turn against us. However, I slightly agree with the comments in reference to Russel's change, and eventual mental breakdown, since the use of technology was not the only factor of his temporary insanity. But, it's quite scary to think that addictions and even mental issues can be stem our daily devices such as cell phones, social media, and the Internet in general. The fact that people have even died due to overuse of the Internet, because they could not pull themselves away from the screen, is even more alarming. Technology is so prominent in our daily lives, and we all use it, we all depend on it. The Internet is our source for practically everything nowadays- entertainment, news, communication/social media, even school and work, etc., and it is easy to see how people could become addicts, without even knowing it. Technology is sort of a blessing and a curse; we use it for everything, but we can't get away from it.
Batman and PTG:
After reading the interesting article about post-traumatic growth and how this mental process apparently caused and fueled Batman's determination to fight crime with vigilante justice, I agree with Robin Rosenberg stating he is the prime candidate for PTG. Since Batman directed his anger into helping others and fighting criminals instead of not doing anything helpful and live a life full of mourning, I can say that the tragic event he went through definitely made him stronger and more helpful towards others albeit reckless with his own life. Although it is a fictional story, this is a perfect example of PTG. After learning about the basic information about PTG, I started to wonder if there were people in real life that went through this mental process as well and to my dismay, there were several activists such as founders of various awareness programs and a host of a well-known TV show and I'm sure there are many other types of activists that went through PTG. To say that preventing these experiences from occuring again to other people is a mental disorder is ridiculous, as these activists, especially Batman, are simply trying to help others that had to go through what they had to go through and to try to make the world a better place to live in.
Would you ever think to notice another perspective of the superhero that captured the hearts of millions of children? Batman, like to me and you, is a hero. Right now you might be thinking that it sounds ridiculous, but let's anlayze. First and foremost,this dark knight is a man with no superpowers. He has limits, although he may have a higher endurance of pain. Superman can stick on walls. Wolverine can heal himself. But Batman doesn’t have that luxury. It is very important to understand that Batman has the same emotional and physical feautures like us humans do.Take a look at his past, his traumatic expierences could considerably relate to the defensive and protective stand he had built. Like people who have psychological disorders, many of the times a vulgur past could lead to these kind of actions.Yes I do agree with psychoanlysis of Batman. It is crazy to look close into this hero's past and action and really understand this knocking passion of "saving people." For now Batman is a hero, a hero that saves that day. Although these heroic adventures could have been from a deeper, more serious mind disorder.
In response to the second article, "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?", it was interesting to read that the brains of Internet addicts look just like the brains of drug and alcohol addicts. I do feel like the sound of notifications that come from phones or computers could act in a way like drugs. This is because every single time a notification is heard, most people are compelled to check their messages immediately. It was also surprising to read that too much time on the internet could shrink the areas in the brain that are responsible for speech, memory, motor control, and other information. It was shocking to think that a little over ten years ago, most people did not have any technological devices and were able to live a substantial life without them. In fact, the idea of technology was so preliminary back then that the seven students in MIT were considered strange for carrying around high-tech equipment. However, now, almost every single person has acclimated themselves with the new technology that has been coming out. It is now considered strange if an individual does not have certain technological devices like cell phones or computers.
"Is the Web Driving Us Mad?"
Sorry for the late post. My addiction to my computer and lowered attention span due to my increased time spent online caused the delay in my response. <-- See how ridiculous that sounds?! This was what the Newsweek article proposed—People, especially teens, are drawn/addicted to their computers, handheld electronic devices, etc. and as a result are diminishing their "face-to-face" socializing skills, developing psychological disorders, increasing percentages of people being diagnosed with A.D.D. or A.D.H.D., etc. The list goes on with negative consequences for the increased amount of time people spend online; however, I believe that these allegations made towards internet/electronic device use are preposterous. Yes, Newsweek provided studies from various organizations showing "changes" in people due to this "problem," however these are only occurring because society demands it. More people are going to a desk job, sitting behind a computer, and facing a screen in their cubicle from 9-5 (maybe even more when they work overtime). Students' assignments are located online, with schools pushing for technological initiatives (some which haven't really gone that well), and many assignments having to be typed and submitted. This time forced by our world today to be spent on the computer is a major cause for this alarming problem, Newsweek failed to address adequately. The article simply mentioned this as a possibility and then brushed it off as though it were nothing, focusing social networking, online gaming, and online communicating as the main source to blame for these changes in people. The majority of the time I spend on the computer is when I'm working on an assignment. Most people, with the exception of the crazed few who actually do spend all their time on the computer for fun with no external force that causes it, spend maybe 2-3 hours maximum on facebook or twitter (not continuously, there are times where they remain online, but aren't actually in front of the computer), and 4-5 hours on school work or some kind of task which they must complete. Newsweek made a great argument based on the results from the tests that various organizations conducted, but they failed when it came to finding catalysts for the increased time people spend online. They blamed everyone's favorite scapegoats, the "big bad" social network, video game, and text messaging. If people really wanted to get of the computer and do something else, they can, it's just that society is standing behind them like a warden keeping them in the jail that is their computer desk.
In response to "Batman on the Couch: Psychologist Analyzes Comic Book Character", i believe that Robin Rosenberg was correct on her analysis on Batman. When i was younger i thought of Batman as a superhero who fought criminals because he had the strength and gadgets to do so. I never thought that his parents death would influence him that much. It makes perfect sense when you think about Batman and the description of post traumatic growth. However, the story of the Caped Crusader is fiction. The stories of John Walsh ,Candice Lightner, and the parents of Kyle Lewis however are true. It's great to see that people who have suffered losses in their lives decided to do something about it.
I find Robin Rosenberg's ideas very intriguing. I've always been a huge fan of Batman, yet I've never considered him to suffer from any disorders. It makes sense, however, that after experiencing his parents' death he fights against crime. That is a very brave and strong thing to do. However, when the author asks if extreme altruism is a disorder, I have to disagree. If someone is willing to put their life on the line and help others, categorizing them as a person with a disorder isn't accurate. All in all, people like John Walsh and the founders of "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" are really strong and I'm happy they are overcoming their tragedies by helping others.
After reading the article "Driving us Mad", i completely disagree with how technology is hurting our minds. In the article, i feel that the wife is unfairly blaming the internet for her husband's psychotic problems. It clearly seems to me that his psychological problems are due to other environmental and previous conditions. Such that he has gotten a total of two hours of sleep in four days. Another point is that he compares his life to the movie Inception, saying that his life is like "a dream inside a dream." All these facts prove that the problem is with himself and that the internet had no influence on his state of mind.
After reading the article "Driving us Mad", i completely disagree with how technology is hurting our minds. In the article, i feel that the wife is unfairly blaming the internet for her husband's psychotic problems. It clearly seems to me that his psychological problems are due to other environmental and previous conditions. Such that he has gotten a total of two hours of sleep in four days. Another point is that he compares his life to the movie Inception, saying that his life is like "a dream inside a dream." All these facts prove that the problem is with himself and that the internet had no influence on his state of mind.
In regards to the second article, “Is the Web Driving Us Mad?” I wholeheartedly agree with a majority of the comments above me, as well as some comments on the article itself. The author is trying to collaborate two, almost irrelevant ideas to explain an unusual phenomenon. Personally, it astounds me that the author deemed technology, or the Web, as the culprit behind Jason Russel’s eccentric actions. Hundreds of people around the world become famous, or at least known, everyday, yet very few seem to end up in the circumstances he did. Although it is true that reactive psychosis is a fairly common condition, it afflicted Russel at a time when several other factors in his life could have influenced his condition. For instance, he was sleep deprived, which could have led to a mental breakdown. Another plausible explanation is that the psychosis was a result of sudden Internet fame; however, it does not guarantee that psychosis occurs to everyone who experiences sudden Internet fame, nor does it justify blaming the Web for Russel’s madness. It is true that the Internet in excess can have deleterious effects, to name a few: cyber bulling, attention deficiency, and even a blurred line between the physical and virtual world, but if that is the question, then what in excess is truly beneficial to us?
For me, the article Batman on the Couch: Psychologist Analyzes Comic Book Character aroused many questions and new thoughts. For example, at one point in the article it stated that about 46.4% of Americans would experience a psychological disorder in their life time. This approximation astonished me because my entire life I have never personally known anyone with this kind of disorder, however this percentage forces me to think differently. If almost half the population will have this disorder at some point in their lives, it means that I must have met someone with a psychological disorder and not even realized it. After thinking about this for a while, I came to the conclusion that there is a very fine line between behaving reasonably and having a disorder. Something else I learned from this article is that there is a plethora of disorders. It was only when the article explained that each chapter of Rosenberg's book was dedicated to possible disorders that Batman might possibly suffer from,that I became conscious of the countless types of disorders.
In response to the article on Batman and post-traumatic growth; i find it interesting that the author of this article has gone so deeply into the psychoanalysis of a fictional character, however the disordered traits mentioned in this article seem both applicable and realistic. The death of Batman's parents at such a young age in his life predisposes him to post traumatic stress disorder, and symptoms seem prominent. Perhaps Batman's dedication towards crime fighting is directly related to the latent pain he has dealt with over his parents' death. Though according to the article it is not uncommon for those who lave lost loved ones to turn to social activism. Given Batman's extreme dedication to crime fighting, maybe it really could express disordered linkage. Rosenburg raises the question "is extreme altruism a disorder?" I suppose there are several ways to go about answering such a question.
I read the article "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?". I agree with many points in the article. The internet has become an addicting part of our everday lives, and it will only get worse as technology progresses. However, it surprised me that the brains of internet addicts are similar to the brains of drug/alcohol addicts. I had no idea that addiction to the internet could affect the brain in such a way terrible way. The internet has the power to psychologically corrupt our minds, but that is only because we let it. Technicians waste no time in looking for ways to produce the next best thing, or improve technology that is already out. Devices such as smart phones, tablets, etc., are no longer rare, they have become the standard norm. Technology is becoming dangerous to our minds, but that is only because we depend on it way more than we should. We must draw the line between the time we need to spend on the internet, and wasting countless hours on social networks. However I do not believe that the internet is bad. It can provide information, let us share ideas, and connect with people in other parts of the world. The internet is a powerful tool, that has the ability to be both useful, and harmful, so we must control how we use it.
In response to the article, “The Web is Driving Us Mad” and the blog response, although the blog successfully points out that the Newsweek article is one-sided on the issue the facts presented that the internet is detrimental to brain health are overwhelming and convincing. The article references several reliable case studies that show the negative effects of prolonged internet use; however I disagree with the assertion that the internet itself is the problem. In the case of Jason Russell his mental breakdown and depression seems to be a result of many factors, not only to his internet use, such as the severe criticism that he received in response to his Kony 2012 project. The issue seems to lie in the types of websites that people are using constantly, which are causing these mental illnesses to arise. As mentioned in the article, if people rely on social networking sites for fulfillment and happiness they are setting themselves up for depression and mental breakdowns. The internet has become a major part of our culture and like everything else in our society it has its advantages and disadvantages.
After reading the article about Batman and post-traumatic stress syndrome, it had occured to me that this disorder could have both positive and negative effects on people. For example, Batman, who was traumatized by the death of his parents used that trauma as a drive to help ime in his crime fighting. His trauma is what made him the man that he is. On the other hand, there are people like the army seargant who slaughtered an entire afghan village because he apparently had this disorder. It seems to me that different people respond differently to stress and it could either help or hurt a person
Although no one deserves to have traumatic experience in his/her life, it is evident that these incidents can mitigate the transgressions and wrongdoings in the world. For instance, Batman had to bear death of his parents. He also knew that he could have stopped the robber, the murderer of his father. He was in that building that day, he even allowed the robber to escape the guards chasing him. He was shocked. He wanted revenge. He wasn’t going to let evil win. Neither are the Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Neither is “America’s Most Wanted”. They have felt that stomach churning, disbelief in their lives, yet they help make a difference in the world.
Jay P. also stated that police officers are more heroic than Batman, for police officers do their work solely to help others. Although this is true, Batman has managed to do more than the police officers could do. Imagine the Green Goblin competing against mere police officers. Thus, it can be concluded that the level of change made by the victims of PTSD is greater than those with no great motivation to fight. This greatly relates to the Revolutionary War. Little, newly established, and supposedly weak America was fighting for its freedom, while the strong, mighty Britain was just fighting. The motivation for freedom was a key component in helping America gain its independence.
After reading "Batman on the Couch" It is simple to come to the conclusion that I have probably already met people who have a psychological disorder. This is based on the national representative survey stating that 46.4% of the population will have experienced a psychological disorder in their lifetime. That is about half of our population, this means that psychological disorder is becoming a norm to our society.
I have always been a fan of Batman since I was a little girl. When Batman was about 8 years old, he had witnessed his parents' horrific death at the hands of a criminal. The trauma of him witnessing the crime & the knowledge that he could have saved his parents’ lives must have haunted him for a long time, thus triggering his beliefs that he, could single-handedly make the world crime-free. Given this background, and as is most common in such circumstances, little Bruce Wayne (Batman’s real life name) must have suffered Post- traumatic stress disorder. The trauma and pain he had to live through as child was responsible for him becoming a post experience crime fighter as he could not bear the feeling of another person going through what he had to. Unlike any other superhero in the real world, like fire fighters, doctors, and police men/ women, who grow up devouring happily about the thought of themselves being life savers; Batman had become a life saver through the dreadful night he had witnessed his parents atrocious end. I find it interesting that Batman’s experience about his parents death is related with the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving who had lost her daughter to a drunk driver; John Walsh who had a son abducted and murdered; and the Lewis family who lost their son to an infection who then fought to raise awareness of the infection. One can see that the world is a hard place to live in, full of crime and pain, but there are always people who have experienced those pains and break through them, thus making the world a better place, like Batman, the Founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, John Walsh, and the Lewis family.
In response to the article, "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?" and the blog, "No, the web is not driving us mad." "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?" focuses on several case studies that relate the net to severe anxiety, psychosis and disorders of the like. However, the case studies do not incorporate the idea of the diathesis-stress model. This model suggests that certain people are predisposed to these disorders that whether or not individuals actually display them depends on the frequency, nature, and intensity of the stresses they encounter. There are certain people that work on computers all day, such as stock brokers and II Specialists. We don't see these individuals having a total break down running across the streets nude. There has to be another factor that plays into the theory. Factors that could play a role in the web making people mad are depression, burnout, ruminative thinking, and many others.
I do not think that the internet is the problem in any of these studies. The problem is what people take out from the information that they see or read. "No, the web is not driving us mad" states that people only become psychotic once they hear the fact that the internet makes people go mad, "The internet will apparently make you psychotic if you only listen to the three people who think so. Or Newsweek, that is." I feel this statement is very accurate because it is human nature to believe what he or she hears, reads or sees, even if it is not true. The internet cannot be the sole cause of individuals having a mental break down, there have to be other factors that are contributing to all these problems.
Is the web driving us mad? Many things in the article are shocking and others everyone can relate to in some way. Today people rely so much on the Web and the new technology just makes it worse. Many people are on the Web longer than they are actually sleeping and smartphones are just providing them an easier way to access the internet. It is shocking that the problem has escalated so much in countries like Korea where it is a national crisis and they have late night web shutdowns. Another aspect that was surprising was that the brains of those who are on the internet constantly and those barely on are so different. Furthermore, the fact that the brains of constant internet users resemble those of drug addicts should be a reality check to all of how much the Web has an effect on us. It has gone to the extent where the addiction has caused a new disorder called internet addiction disorder. The solution to the problem, however, is not completely stopping use of the Web because it does have its advantages. But, we need to set a limit and spend time using the internet for necessary things and not wasting time.
When I first learned that Batman and other individuals could be suffering from psychological disorders, I felt that the author of the article perfectly stated that horrific events in one's life can actually lead to resurgence and do not always lead to more problems. It was interesting to learn that a disorder, like PTG, can actually have a positive impact on a person. I found it inspiring that people, such as John Walsh, were able to make a difference and educate others in order to keep the tragic events from reoccurring. Batman showed great courage not to succumb to the misery of losing his parents and to actually fight crime. The possibility that Batman has PTG shows that even superheroes have issues and actually have problems that regular people do.
On the other hand, PTG can actually be a form of revenge which often has repercussions. Batman often seemed to take his crime fighting too far. He ruthlessly hunted down criminals and let his anger get the best of him. For example, in the recent movie, “The Dark Knight”, there were many scenes in which Batman fought with an unnecessary anger and ruthlessness. He directly caused damage in Gotham and endangered lives. He seemed to be unconsciously taking revenge on the death of his parents by attacking villains with rage. It is true that Batman did bring the villains to justice, but he could have accomplished that in a less destructive way. The lust for revenge did eventually come with a cost because Batman’s back was actually broken by the villainous Bane in the comic book series.
While reading “Batman on the Couch,” I found the article extremely interesting and enjoyed seeing a very new and distinct perspective on one of pop culture’s most inspirational superheroes. Looking at his caped bat costume, his emotional past, and his dark behaviors, Robin Rosenberg’s psychological analysis of Batman deemed him to suffer from a number of various disorders, mainly post traumatic stress disorder. I find her evaluation truly fascinating, and it makes me question one of my childhood heroes who seemed nothing but good and humanitarian. I agree with her diagnosis to an extent, as I believe that witnessing his parents get murdered when he was young factored in his role in social activism as Batman. Despite the negative effects of traumatic experiences, I think they actually give people’s lives meaning and purpose, as evidenced in the creations of “America’s Most Wanted” and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. However, I don’t think that the fact that he wears a masked disguise should classify Batman with psychological defects. I believe his costume is a uniform he puts on that allows him to assume an identity in which he can feel superhuman, and allow him to do good in ways he may not have been comfortable doing as a mere common individual. Furthermore, her analysis is slightly too critical, and I think it is a shame to accuse him of having something wrong with him simply because of his humanity and unrelenting fight for justice. Society is cynical and skeptical of people’s true motives, and Batman’s extreme amount of self-sacrifice and selflessness make them question what’s really in it for him. The idea of superheroes who dedicate their lives to vigilante justice seem too good to be true. As a result, people try to put them down, declaring there must be something off about them to have so much good and altruism in them.
In response to, "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?" I agree with what the author is saying. I do realize that society today is completely dependent on technology. There were many examples, citing how the web really is driving us mad. Such as Russell's diagnosis of psychosis, treatment centers in Asia for those addicted to technology, and a study in China that showed signs of atrophy in the brain. Although, in Russell's case, there may be other components that may influence this addiction or in this case psychosis, technology plays a huge part. Also I found it interesting that the more we spend time on the internet the smaller a certain area of your brain (responsible for processing speech, memory, motor control, emotion, sensory, and other information) shrinks. This makes me curious to why some people encourage using the computer. Although technology is useful to use, in a sense that we can get what we need faster, but it is slowly making our brains deteriorate.
Response to "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?": I one hundred percent agree with the message of this article. People of this generation are obsessed with the Internet, and every obsession has its consequences. One of the pieces that I can connect to is the part stating how students become unfocused and multitask. Personally, I usually have more than one tab open while doing my homework and switch back and forth. This creates a distraction, and I know most students do this as well. Maybe if Internet use was more time restricted, it wouldn't become such a problem. This constant use is preparing us for what many adults have to do--the twenty-four hour work day with a phone constantly in use.
"Batman on the Couch: Psychologist Analyzes Comic Book Character"
After suffering from any negative experience, it is only normal for people to use various self defense mechanisms to cope with the situation. For example, after failing a test a student goes home and studies harder to prevent a similar situation. As humans, we constantly remind ourselves of the wrongs that we have committed, and we try to correct them the next time we are put in similar positions. Bruce Wayne justifies himself becoming Batman, who operates outside of the law, because of the murder of his parents. Seeing the traumatic experience caused him to dawn the mask and vow to fight against crime. There are obviously healthy ways to deal with these situations and those that are harmful. One “mature defense mechanism” that is exhibited in both Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and Americas Most Wanted is sublimation. Instead of throwing themselves into depression over the loss of their loved ones, they resort to more acceptable activities such as spreading the word. An event that I found interesting was when Batman was confronted with Joe Chill (his parent’s murderer). In the end, he did not go for revenge and was relieved from the guilt of the death of his parents. However, he still continued to be the caped crusader, proving that his parent’s death no longer controlled his psyche. For one to say that Batman is insane is viable proposal, but the line between insanity and sanity is blurred. For me, Batman will be the always be the hero Gotham deserves (even if he’s a little insane).
When reading "Is the Internet Making Us Mad?", I agreed whole heartedly with Russell and my first thought was "Yes, unfortunately, the internet does and is making the world mad". But soon after, I was second guessing myself a little because a point was made about Joseph Kony. In this case, the internet was utilized to make him and his crimes famous so that he could be stopped. So it really depends in the end what the internet is used for. I like the quote in the article that said "It's important to turn off our computers and do things in the real world" because people are often in front of their computers, playing games and whatnot. Sometimes, people have a tendency to bring the cyber world into the real world. Instead of making good use of our time, we take it for granted and waste away the day (speaking to myself as well). Because of this, the internet draws people to spend large amounts of time on it which strains the eyes and worsens them as a result. The internet (and the computer as a whole) can have positive and negative effects on us. We just need to be wise about the amount of time we use going on the internet and for what purposes we use it for. In Russell's circumstance, he went through a phase of temporary insanity and was diagnosed with reactive psychosis most likely because of his lack of sleep and because he was spending so much time on the internet. Yes, internet gives us something to do when we're bored or when we need to do research, but excessive amounts of time on it are not necessary. Just like most things, the internet can become an addiction and obviously, too much of anything is never good for anyone. Another point I agree with is that technology these days is making people lonely and depressed because they only have there phones or computers and music devices instead of people. People seem to draw themselves away from people when these devices are in use sometimes, and honestly, it's so sad. Technology was created for means of communication and gaining access to other parts of the world- not isolating oneself. *Posted by Bethany Chan*
When reading "Is the Internet Making Us Mad?", I agreed with Russell and my first response was "Yes, unfortunately, the internet is making the world mad". But then I started to second guess a bit because the Joseph Kony point was brought up. People used the social media to make his crimes known so that he could be stopped. However, when Russell was diagnosed with reactive psychosis, a form of temporary insanity, it was most likely from his major lack of sleep and excessive time on the internet on this Kony case. This is when it becomes a problem. Nowadays (especially now that summer's here), people spend many many hours on the the computer when they can be spending their time much more productively. I find that the internet takes up more than a lot of my day when I could be doing more beneficial activities. Technology, which was created for means of better communication and access to the parts of the world we cannot get to, has become a large distraction and addiction that many people cannot control. In addition, the devices we use everyday are probably a big part of why people are getting lonely and depressed. People tend to use their portable technology instead of talking to their friends in person and this makes a social life harder I feel like. People these days are definitely excessively using the internet when it's unnecessary in the first place. I also agree that the internet does contribute to what people feel and think because of the influence that other people on the internet give. If a certain person (role model of some sort?) is angry in some kind of situation, then another person might be angry in the same situation just because of that one person. *Posted by Bethany Chan*
In the Is the Web Driving Us Mad? article the victim, Jason Russell, is diagnosed with a form of temporary insanity. This could be a response to the instantaneous viral videos. Russell was affected by the internet in such a way that is ineffable. The consequences were so horrifying that I'm kind of scared of the Internet. It's full of so many secrets and information, so who knows what is really happening to us as we handle our computers and log on the internet daily? It's frightening to know the possibilities that can happen to us from using such a common piece of technology.
After reading the article, "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?", it made me realize something I had never even thought of before. The internet, social networking and all, has become a major part of the average American's everyday routine. I agree with this article that there is a possibility of the internet driving us mad (however, not severely). Jason Russell, for example, was diagnosed with "reactive psychosis" or temporary insanity. He released a viral video about the terrors of Joseph Kony, a Ugandan military leader. The constant attention from the world caused Mr. Russell to have lack of sleep which, ultimately, drove him to insanity. People, especially young adults, have been dependent on technology for communication, educational purposes, etc. I remember when kids would knock on the front door to announce that they had arrived. Nowadays, all one has to do is send a text saying he/she is here and someone would open the door. It is easier, however, it encourages laziness. Instead of going outside and enjoying the weather, people would rather sit in front of a computer screen and talk to people they've never met in person. What if there was no internet for one day? Teenagers cannot even go an hour without complaining because Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or Youtube is down.
In response to "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?": Even though "[the internet] may even create more extreme forms of mental illness" is an overstatement of the problem, the still are issues being caused by the internet. The internet connects us news, other people, ideas, it gives us a medium to share whatever one wants with the world. The information on the internet is immense and ever changing. Especially with social networks, the information changes so often that there is a constant draw to it. Smart phones have internet and app that allow one to be constantly connected no matter where they are. It is not hard to see that people are addicted to being connect via the internet. Our phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, video game consoles, sometime even cars and televisions access to internet feed our addiction. Free wi-fi access signs appear in in widows of coffee shops, fast food places, rest stops, hotels, and other businesses. Phone service companies advertise having the fastest internet access for smart phone. Having this constant access allows us to be addicted.
I found the Article:
"Batman on the Couch: Psychologist Analyzes Comic Book Character" extremely interesting. It was a view point that I had never taken into consideration. Some of the points that Rosenburg made in her article really intrigued me. I completly agree with the fact that when people go through something that has been rough on their family, they try to get the word out against it. I thought the Mothers Against Drunk Driving was a great example. Those mothers have felt the pain of losing a son or a daughter, and want to make other people aware of the dangers it poses. As far as the presumable psycological problems with Batman, I understand where Mrs. Rosenburg is coming from. The fact that he does wear a batman uniform and has basically lived life with two different identities could pose some psycological questions. All in all i feel like the article was extremely interesting and I would be interested in reading the book she is writing due to the comparison of Batman's reasons for psychological problems, and real life examples seems quite unique and interesting.
After reading the article,"Is the Internet Driving Us Mad," I am rethinking the time I spend on the computer.
Is modern society truly getting more crazier by each minute they are on the computer?
The answer depends on how you use the computer and for how long. I personally limit my computer time as it is not only bad for your eyes, but also that if I am on it for too long. I become more agitated and much more cranky. Is this a sign of insanity?
According to the article, the guy responsible for Kony 2012 was truly attached to his computer.
But before his Kony 2012 campaign, he was struggling to get off his computer and was even "half- hearted on the internet as well with no fans on Facebook or on YouTube." After his successful campaign which got over 70 million hits in one week, he later was diagnosed with "reactive psychosis," or temporary insanity from all this attention.
He did not sleep for days and had to be hospitalized.
In addition, after reading a few more articles from Health-News, I realized that people who constantly use the internet with no goal tend to be much more hot-tempered, angry, and lonely.
They also lose their integrity and "manly-ness." What I mean by manly-ness is that that they do not have to meet with someone face to face to tell them something.
They can curse or insult someone while feeling more secure since the person whom you are insulting cannot tell who is doing this to them or meet them face to face. This is an advantage which predators and people in general capitalize on and this can be very dangerous.
Using the computer a lot also can short-circuit your brain making it incapable of any new memories which can help society.
After its constant use, you become "like a computer" meaning that you cannot make new ideas and you need to be feed with these ideas instead of coming up with them on your own. This is it is SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU LIMIT YOUR TIME ON THE INTERNET! I cannot stress this enough. Consistency in internet use can make you feel more lonely and "MAD." This is what we all have to be careful of.
I'm sorry I’m late to the party!
I read both the Newsweek article and the Mindhacks rebuttal, and I agree with many people that the accusation that “the Internet is making us mad” is faulty and cannot be supported when people’s actions are to be blamed. For example, Jason Russell purposefully and wholeheartedly thrust himself into the Kony 2012 project. The power of the Internet is a well known fact to many activists, and in creating and promoting his project, Russell took on the responsibility of dealing with the viewers, critics and supporters alike, who would reach out to him and others with questions and commentary. Because the video became widespread, the amount of publicity he received exponentially increased. Contrary to what many others have said though, I do not believe that Russell’s wife has blamed the Internet for her husband’s public displays of psychosis. She said, “…doctors say this is a common experience,” given Russell’s “sudden transition from relative anonymity to worldwide attention—both raves and ridicules.” I see this as the Internet being the tool that spread his name, but the constant connection to the people behind the media and what they were saying were the bigger factors contributing to his mental breakdown. The Newsweek article went on to say that both Mr. and Mrs. Russell took a break from social media. If this is the case, does it not seem possible to have taken a break before? If the calls and emails were influential enough to cause a mental breakdown, would it not be possible to turn off the computer, turn off the phone, log out of Twitter? Russell has an organization working under him; while he seemed to be the sole star of his documentary, he has people working with and for him, and surely they have dealt with the quick rise to fame much better than he did. He was not alone in his work, but he made the choice to handle the situation the way he did. The Internet is not a person; it is controlled by millions of people. It wasn’t a bully who forced him over the edge; he made his choices. The Internet cannot fully take the blame.
In a shorter response to Manhattanhenge: At first, I really did not see what was so special about the Sun setting between buildings, but now I understand that it sets at an angle that leaves it in a perfect position for photographs on only four days out of the year. I thought that if you just move yourself over a couple feet, you could see a better sunset on any other day, but the aesthetics of a perfect half sun or full sun in the canyons of Manhattan buildings isn’t appreciated as much as it should be. That must be a beautiful site to see in person, and I’d be interested in seeing it next year! (Class field trip?)
In terms of whether or not the internet leads to mental health issues, I believe that, like many other things, there is a balance. Today, the internet has proven to be a resourceful source for information as well as a source of personal recreation. However, people can certainly become obsessed with using it, and I’ve seen it before. The Batman article mentions that there is a distinction between when someone was inspired or likes to do something as opposed to when it’s a psychiatric problem. Generally, from what I understand, when it begins to negatively impact your life, it is a problem. Conclusively, I believe that the use of technology can certainly be a bad thing, but it’s only a bad thing for some individuals.
Additionally, I find the Manhattan thing interesting. In the article it presents the question, “What will future civilizations think of Manhattan Island when they dig it up and find a carefully laid out network of streets and avenues?” Unless humanity suffers a catastrophic event of enormous proportions, I believe that the records will be preserved for future generations. As far as the positions of the sun relative to the street, I believe that they would believe that it’s a coincidence, especially due to the fact that the dates that the sun aligns varies from year to year.
All in all, I found the articles interesting, and I like how both sides of the debate were represented as to whether or not the internet ‘drives people mad.’
I read the article "Batman on the Couch: Psychologist Analyzes Comic Book Character." It is highly likely, like Rosenberg said, Batman is diagnosed with PTSD from when his parents are killed right in front of his eyes. It is an interesting way to connect a comic book character to a disease that about 8 percent of US population have at least once in their life time. I strongly agree that Batman may have suffered from PTSD but look how it has affected his personality. Clearly, he is a vigilante and a kind person too. He is somewhat of a loner, a symptom of PTSD, but if many people were like him, crimes would automatically diminish. I am not suggesting that everyone should be brainwashed into hating criminals through a sad event like Batman, but I wonder if a more positive way of brainwashing a large amount of people could make a similar version of Batman and result in world peace.
Although Russell did go insane, he did spend a lot more time on the internet that a lot of people may have considered comfortable. That in itself may have been a sign to his addiction and therefore his condition of insanity. The amount of things that he was doing on the internet in 4 days, along with his lack of sleep showed how important it is to take a break from the computer.
After reading "Batman on the Couch: Psychologist Analyzes Comic Book Character," I have further understood how people respond to trauma in their lives. They can either respond positively or negatively. A positive response to trauma would be characterized as post-traumatic growth while a negative response could be characterized as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Through his stories, Batman has been shown to respond with Post-Traumatic Growth and PTSD. As the article states, a trauma in his life-his parents' murder- resulted in him wanting to fight crime and fight for justice. This shows the post-traumatic growth. On the other hand, his guilt over the death of his parents, sidekick, and the girl he loved in the "The Dark Knight" (Rachel Dawes) causes him to largely seclude himself from the outside world. This seclusion is largely/especially shown in the beginning of "The Dark Knight Rises." As the article states, in this case Batman shows signs of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). So like his "double-life" as Bruce Wayne and Batman, his response to trauma is in away, "double" too!
After reading the article "Is the Web Driving Us Mad?" I realized how much our generation depends on and uses the Internet. We are always connected to it, whether it is on a phone, a laptop, an iPod, etc. This quick and easy connection to such a large amount of people can make us want to be heard by others. We have come to the point where many of us are obsessed with the Internet. This obsession can easily turn negative like it did for Russell, where this lack of real, in person communication can drive one insane. This can easily be avoided, however, if we simply remember the importance of shutting down the electronics and to go do some real world things, whether it is to read a book, go outside, etc. Even when we do need to use it, we have to maintain a balance and participate in real life activities too.
I also read the article "Batman on the Couch: Psychologist Analyzes Comic Book Character". The article amazes me by showing how well we can apply real world things to fictional characters. It is not uncommon for someone who has suffered in the past to vow not to let the same thing happen to others, which seems to be what Batman's goal is. He refuses to allow innocent people to get hurt the same way his loved ones did. This makes me wonder if the creator of Batman made this an intentional trait. If it wasn't, that just further proves how well we can apply science to the fictional, comic-book world.
Repost: @http://www.livescience.com/21265-batman-psychology-analysis.html
Batman is my favorite superhero! I never would have thought to analyze him psychologically. I was complacent with his mystery; however, his diagnosis makes sense. I feel that post traumatic growth fuels many of our heroes in society today. Often there are stories of athletes, firefighters, policemen even spies who say that a certain event drives them to complete their role in society to the best of their abilities in order to feel satisfaction from their traumatic experience. For example, from the USA orginal series, Burn Notice, Micheal Weston explains that some of the best spies are one who had a difficult childhood and have less to lose. I feel that that due to whatever happened in their past allows these spies to "grow" as people and find a new purpose.
As demonstrated by batman, PTSD can have a positive effect on society. A great example of this effect on a globalized scale was the 9/11 attack. It seems the country itself went into a state of PTSD, and is now waging a war on terror to protect others. Both revenge and empathy can also be factors in this. As seen in the movie Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne almost turns to a life of crime when he almost kills his parents murderer. But his empathy for others won over his desire for revenge, and a hero was born. PTSD can actually create heroes, because of the motivation to protect others from the same fate. On the other hand, it could turn you into a physcopath, simply depending on how you handle the situation. Adding this new angle to batman signifincantly changed what I think of the movies, and it will stick to me when I watch the 3rd one.
Batman is proof how there is always a silver lineing in every situation. I couldn't even imagine how horrible it would be to witness your own parents death. But instead of suffering from PTSD and only feeling self pity for himself, he turned it into help others and like Rikab said to protect them from his fate.
I think the true trait of a hero is not just being able to help people but being able to help people while protecting them from the pain they must have gone through. From the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving who lost her daughter or John Walsh who had his son abducted and killed to Batman, they each lost a loved one. But instead of dwelling in self pity, grief and probably some version of PTSD, they pushed through to help others and ultimately helped save lives. Maybe PTSD is a good thing in a way. It gives some people a jump start into creating something amazing to help others.
I found the article about Batman's mental health quite intriguing. It emphasized the fact that people who have experienced hurt and loss tend to try to lessen problems for others. Batman aka Bruce Wayne had so much grief in his life, yet he went out of his way to help others from facing the troubles that he did as a child. Not only did the caped crusader lose both his parents at a young age, after he turned superhero, but also he lost his true love and found that she had chosen Harvey Dent over him. Batman definitely had enough trauma to say that it caused an illness. Post traumatic stress can create stronger better people. But it can also create twisted people with harmful ideas, for example various villains in Marvel and DC comics are result of childhood trauma and terrible events in their lives. The Green Goblin or Norman Osborn from the many Spiderman comics and movies, was a troubled child and his goblin persona was a result of the trauma caused by his father's abuse towards him. His father, Ambrose Osborn, was an alcoholic who lost his wealth as a result of losing control of his company. Norman's father locked him into one of their family's large estates in order to toughen him up. The lonely, dark mansion caused Norman to feel haunted by a goblin-like creature who felt threatening to the boy. Because of this traumatic experience Norman slowly turned into the monster he saw in his head. What I'm saying is that yes, PTSD can make one a more compassionate person, but it can also go the other direction too.
In response to “Is the Web Driving Us Mad” article I feel as though disagreeing to the ideas pointed out. The article is directed at a certain individual pointing at their mistake or stimulus to the web to show what can happen, even if it’s still just one person it’s enough of an influence to spread the desired awareness Tony Dokoupil wanted to present. Jason Russell, the one who was diagnosed with reactive psychosis, was not influenced by drugs or alcohol that much I believe, but interesting enough reacted in a way I thought was very similar from what I have experienced with others. Reactive psychosis is affected by severe stress and symptoms which can include strange speech, disorganized behavior, and yes hallucinations. If anything Russell’s condition was just a phase triggered by an overwhelming audience and loaded shoulder. Many factors could have also catalyzed his reactions such as any family history of psychosis. Personally I think we all suffered stress it’s a part of life in general that we can’t escape. It was just one incident that made the news; Russell has done the world a favor by promoting Kony’s existence so why not blow off some steam. I’m not saying it’s the proper way, like when do you see strangers out in the street naked and ranting about the devil. It never happens but it’s enough of a story to teach the necessary ways of spending time on the web.
In the end everybody’s different, and I don’t think the internet is driving us mad. We are all individuals with our own conscious, some are what we consider normal and others are more or less considered “unstable” in the case of Jason Russell and his parade in the intersection. Evolution has gone a long way but we can still hold the seeds to our own destruction. We’re not the most perfect species and who knows if the web is downgrading our minds. Some make their living off of it and in today’s world it’s a tool that we use to put our voice in the media in an easier way. That’s what we all what, to be noticed and to learn.
After reading the article about Batman, I can see how he does have some signs of mental disorders like PTSD. Looking back, he has gone through some traumatic things such as losing his parents. However, although he does appear to be detached from others, this behavior can be expected from anyone who has gone through what he has and the criminals he faces constantly. He definitely has changed from when he was a child because of the death of his parents, but he can still interact normally with people and successfully run a large business. This shows that he can still cognitively think and function. In fact he can even take this a step further and risk his own safety for the safety of others. I've heard that the more intelligent a species is the more susceptible it is to mental illness, so I understand how Batman is at risk of certain disorders. However, the traumatic events have clearly made him stronger in his state of mind, which is known to happen as it was stated in the article. Really when looking at the big picture, I think that Batman has changed for the better, rather than simply acquiring mental disease.
After reading the batman i wasn't surprised, this is a topic i have heard about before. at first i was like there is no way he has issues, batman is just a good guy trying to help people out but then it got me thinking what makes The Batman such a good character other than the fact he is a superhero. As the article suggests he has a very dark background and even during the stories he goes through a lot. He is a good character because the events he goes through are what triggers his actions. So i guess in a way he does have PTSD even though it is hard to admit it. His good actions are driven by something dark. Even though his goal of revenge was the beginning later on he saves poeple because it is the right thing.
I concluded after thinking about batman's development in the story that the writers of Batman wanted us to believe that batman was going through something like PTSD. They are obviously masters of their art, and they showed it by making this amazing character that is fueled by rage and revenge at first by trying to kill his parents murderer but then like john Walsh and the mothers of the drunk driver victims he became a symbol of good so that all evil would leave, so that no one else would have to face what he had to face. I agree with the diagnosis of PTSD only because the proof is in the writers they wanted to make a rich, dark, and twisted character that is good. Ultimately the only way this was possible was witha side effect of PTSD. I have always seen batman as this dark hero that protects to protect, so basically with selflessness.
My god, the article "Is the Web Driving us Mad?" was absolutely eye-opening and horrifying. After evaluating the amount of time I spend on the internet I easily fall into addiction levels and so do many of my close friends. I should be insane right now according to Tony Dokoupil, and so should my entire family. I think he has some good points but some of his claims such as the internet is causing mass psychosis are a little over the top. The internet has taken over many facets of our lives including TV, movies, communication, gaming, and even reading. Qualifying "internet" as one thing makes it seem ominous and all encompassing but when one looks at all of things one does on the internet, it's not too scary anymore. Consolidation isn't something we need to be scared of, and the documentary maker of KONY 2012 sounds like a pretty isolated case that Dokoupil played up to prove his point.
After reading the Batman article, I think this form of PTSD is very minor. Also, this form is not bad and does not harm anyone. This form of PTSD is good for the public. Batman helped Gotham because of the death of his parents. The founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving has helped many people and probably saved lives because of the loss of her daughter. John Walsh made people aware of criminals by hosting a show. The Lewis family raised awareness of a rare disease after the loss of their son. In my opinion, PTSD is not a disorder and should not be looked down on. This type of behavior should be encouraged, without having a murdered relative.
While reading the article "Is the web driving us mad?", I agree completely with the fact that we are losing touch with socialization and becoming less focused on stuff that matter more. With social media being a big part of every teenager's life, its impacting us negatively. We spend too much time updating our lives online that we tend to push reality to the side. Although I do not concur with the author blaming the internet for psychological problems, I do agree with most of the article. We do become more attached to the internet because it has less limitations than real life. This article really made me want to spend less time online and more time doing more productive things.
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