Adventures with Ideas: Truth, Beauty and the Paradoxes of Life
Juliet Bennett's Blog
  • About
  • My Story
  • Research
  • Photography
  • Modeling
  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2011
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • About
  • My Story
  • Research
  • Photography
  • Modeling
  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2011
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • Home
  • Peace
  • Mastering Conflict: A Journal on Cyber Conflict & Celebrity

Mastering Conflict: A Journal on Cyber Conflict & Celebrity

29 Sep ’10 Leave a Comment Written by Juliet Bennett

11 March 2008 (Journal entry #2 – part of an assignment for “Key Issues in Peace and Conflict Studies”.)

Tonight when I arrived home my Opa was watching the channel 7 news. Two stories of conflict caught my attention.

The first was ‘cyber conflict’. Personal attacks, defamation, and gossip occurring on the Internet. The story featured a guy who had taken revenge on his ex-girlfriend, verbally abusing her and her friends on his MySpace website. She took it to the police/court, and yet even after that, he abused her with more text messages.

There are many new conflicts arising with technology developments. Children bullying no longer stops when a child leaves the playground, they can be tormented 24-7 via the Internet and mobile phones. Crime on “second life”, a popular web based life simulation, include rape, murder and other perversions. It seems that behind a computer screen, inhibitions disappear and repressed emotions are set free.

Where do these desires come from?

In class today we  looked at Situation vs. Personal causes of violence.

We discussed the Cain and Abel story from Ruberstein (2003) in our readings. Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve, tell a story of the “first murder”. While this story is allegedly symbolic of the movement from nomadic life (Abel) to agriculture (Cain) – with God’s preference for the nomad, and agricultural life destroying nomadic life – that is not the aspect I wish to discuss today.

As the story goes, Cain is the crop farmer, Abel the shepherd; and God is portrayed as a father-like character. Cain kills Abel out of jealousy, for God rejected his offerings and favoured Abel’s. Ruberstein makes the point that Cain’s “forbidden anger” is a taboo – one can not hate their parent, and thus the anger is repressed, that is, denied entry into consciousness. Freud (1915/1957) believed repressed emotions do not simply disappear, after time they return to consciousness detached from their original object. Cain, the rejected child, substitutes the Abel, favored sibling, for his anger against God, the parent. As a result, Cain kills Abel. Is Cain’s fault? Or is it God’s fault, for favouring one child over the other? … Is Cain inherently evil? Or was it the situation that provoked the violence?

I think that while a response may be conditioned, a personal choice must be made.

Is this what is happening on the Internet? Is cyber conflict a manifestation of repressed emotions? Scapegoats for other problems. It is the root cause of these forms of psychological violence that we must identify in order to help both the offenders, and the victims.

The model in this weeks readings presented by Fierie (1970/2000) applies to oppressors and oppressed. I think that these victims may then turn into attackers later on in life. The possibility of violence carrying through from cyber-world to the real-world, is a scary thought. These conflicts really need attention. NOW. Before they manifest into something even worse.

Looking into the future, I wonder what kind of cyber conflicts may occur, whether this trend will increase, the implications this will have on real life, and what can be done to prevent it?

The second news story that caught my eye was about Britney Spears and the Paparazzi. The story featured a photographer discussing the public’s obsession with celebrity, and the way interest in celebrity is replacing interest in world news.

I can’t help feel sorry for Britney Spears. In the spotlight since childhood, promoted as a 16 year old sex symbol, with “Christian morals” publicly declaring her virginity she was ‘saving for marriage’. Now look at her: a couple of husbands, a couple of kids, drug addiction and a mental breakdown or two. She seems to have completely lost her sense of identity.

In today’s class we looked at different forms of violence: psychological, physical and cultural.

It is my observation, gathered from gossip magazines and TV shows over the years, that Britney has suffered psychological violence, potentially coming from her mother; manifested into physical violence she brings onto herself. In applying Galtung’s dimensions of violence, I would say that this violence is not intentional. Yet it is violence all the same.

Is there also a cultural violence being faced in this situation? The paparazzi stripping away her every bit of self and privacy. Why? To fill the gossip magazines with pictures, in order to satisfy the mass culture celebrity addiction. Something seems wrong here…

The concept of celebrity currently embedded in popular culture, is one to ponder. Many people constantly compare themselves to false ideals set by the media’s presentation of these people. The frustration being unable to buy a house as magnificent as Tom Cruise, or being unable to have the skin of models on magazine covers… is this causing depression, dissatisfaction, insatiable materialism, anorexia etc? I can’t imagine living in a poor countries and catching a glimpse of a Hollywood movie, imagining that this is how everyone in the Western world lives.

Relative deprivation refers to resentment caused by situations where one’s “perception of discrepancy between their value expectations (goods and conditions of life believed to be entitled to) and their value capabilities (goods and conditions they think they are capable of getting).” (Gurr 1970). Does Hollywood fill us with dissatisfaction because we will have the luxuries we perceive others to be enjoying?

But fame and celebrity are not without their positive points. Fame is something many people aspire to, and I believe aspirations are important. Celebrities can do a lot of good too, Angelina Jolie’s humanitarian work for example.

I happen to LOVE movies, reading magazines, and the odd bit of Hollywood gossip. Is there any harm in that? I don’t think so – not if we need to keep things in perspective. Celebrities are only human, admiring and aspiring to them is ok… but treating them like gods, encouraging an obsessive paparazzi, and wishing ourselves to achieve a photoshopped ideal – is not healthy for anyone. At the end of the day we all breath the same air and will finish up in the same place: resting in peace.

Photo:

Whether you are in South America, India or Japan – if you are 6 foot with ridiculously blonde hair you’re sure to get the celebrity treatment. This shot was taken in Lima. No autographs please.

Peace
Conflict Transformation
Similar posts
  • Business leadership in climate change — I am consistently surprised by the initiative and leadership taken by businesses to address the climate crisis. Not all businesses obviously (e.g. ExxonMobil, the Koch brothers and the other vested interest that have funded climate denial movement and created vast climate confusion), but MANY businesses and business analysts, scholars and consultants are doing a extraordinarily better job than many governments [...]
  • A story of (mis)fortune: the farmer a... — I have been trying to remember where I read or heard this story, perhaps Eckhart Tolle or Deepak Chopra. After a big of Googling (key words like “farmer”, “horse”, “neighbour”, “son”), I discovered this story is claimed by various sources as Zen Buddhist, Chinese Proverb, Taoist and Sufi. The story goes something like this: There once lived a farmer and [...]
  • Why the right (brain) is right… — Are you a right-brain or left-brain type of person? Is there such a thing? Are there differences between our left and right brain hemispheres? Does it matter? Research into the left and right brain hemispheres was popularised in the 1970s, it exaggerated and reified the two sides of the brain as if some people were “right-brain” dominant: creative, image-based, intuitive, emotional; and other people [...]
  • Alan Watts’ ‘dramatic model’ and the ... — My latest academic publication – on the work of my favourite philosopher of all time: Alan Watts, and how his “dramatic model of the universe” can contribute to peace 🙂 Abstract This article explores the contribution of Alan Watts’ ‘dramatic model of the universe’ to the pursuit of peace. It locates Watts’ critique of dominant Western worldviews alongside process philosophers, ecologists and [...]
  • “Seizing an Alternative: Toward... — After two years of anticipation, in June this year I attended a conference called “Seizing an Alternative: Toward an Ecological Civilization”, which brought together many of my favourite scholars. I was like a teenager anticipating a music festival with all their favourite bands. Such a geek! Around 2000 people attended the conference from around the world, splitting into 12 sections [...]
Mastering Conflict: A Journal on Peace & Obesity
Mastering Conflict: Ignorance is NOT Strength

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TRUTH

BEAUTY

ADVENTURE

ART

PEACE

  • Popular
  • Recent
  • Comments
  • Is “God” a Fractal?
    15 Feb ’11
  • Is Lindt chocolate slave chocolate?
    11 Sep ’09
  • Creativism – a philosophy for life
    10 Sep ’09
  • Free Documentaries: The Truth Is Free
    17 Apr ’10
  • Coming to grips with the elephant in the room
    28 Jun ’10
  • Optimum Trajectory, swimming against the current, and man who stare at goats.
    4 Aug ’10
  • A short biography
    2 Sep ’09
  • Sex or chess? Peace, the world’s trump card
    13 Apr ’10
  • Alan Watts Fan Club
    3 Dec ’12
  • The Very Short Life and Times of Me and Kombi Xee
    23 Feb ’11
  • Business leadership in climate change
    1 May ’19
  • A story of (mis)fortune: the farmer and his son
    8 Oct ’18
  • What is life really about?
    1 Mar ’17
  • Why the right (brain) is right…
    22 Feb ’17
  • New life: reflections on being a new mum
    29 Dec ’16
  • Orwellian Australia: the “[Un]Fairer Parental Leave Bill 2015”
    1 May ’16
  • Alan Watts’ ‘dramatic model’ and the pursuit of peace
    18 Mar ’16
  • A new lens to view the world: the world as process
    14 Jan ’16
  • 2015 in review
    1 Jan ’16
  • “Seizing an Alternative: Toward an Ecological Civilization”
    18 Sep ’15
  • Rachel says
    A Sufi story I Loved reading this, hopeful and realistic at the sam..
  • Motewolonisq Art says
    I have had love for this post in 2012. Since then, my mind has expan..
  • Ricardo Eguia Valderrama says
    Cuando se tiene conciencia del espacio-tiempo (miles de millones de ..
  • Juliet Bennett says
    Hi Desmond, sadly, I did not get an answer to my last email :(
  • Juliet Bennett says
    Thanks Alexander! Very much Watts-inspired, but I believe I put them..
  • Juliet Bennett says
    Hi Molefe, I'm still on this journey of learning! You could start wi..
  • alexander Kesselaar says
    Accept your self, just as you are. Accept the world, just as it is...
  • molefe phillip seshabela says
    my name is Molefe phillip Seshabela,i am 34 year old , from Limpopo ..
  • Desmond Sequeira says
    From another lover of Lndt chocolate: Just read your blog on Lindt ..
  • Daftar Tembak Ikan says
    Hi there, yup this paragraph is genuinely nice and I have learned lo..

Adventures with Ideas... on Facebook

Archives

Categories

  • Academic (35)
  • Adventure (119)
  • Beauty (23)
  • Featured Posts (10)
  • Peace (124)
  • Random Life Stuff (101)
  • Truth (164)
Constitutional Recognition

Rights of Indigenous Peoples: A Personal Statement

As a "non-indigenous" Australian living on what was once the land of the Cadigal and Wangal Wangal communities, I wish to acknowledge the inter-generational responsibility that I feel toward the colonial past. As a beneficiary of "White Australia", to the Eora people of Sydney, I request your forgiveness. I stand in solidarity with your rightful demands to self determination and active participation in governmental decisions, and I hope I may learn from your eco-spiritual connection. May we, as Tom Trevorrow of the Ngarrindjeri puts it, learn to 'respect, care and share' the gifts that our planet offers us.

Tags

Alan Watts Atheism Big History Bridge Series Central America Chocolate climate change Conflict Transformation Creativism Ecology Europe God Health India India/Nepal inspiration Life in Oz Life philosophy Meaning of life Modeling My Brazilian My Christian Journey Narrative Narratology Occupy optimal trajectory Panentheism peace philosophy Photography Politics population Potentialism poverty religion slavery social construction South America The Pyramid Travel United States War What is God Wikileaks Yoga

Related posts

  • Conflict Transformation
    • Mastering Conflict: Ignorance is NOT Strength
    • Mastering Conflict: Journal on Peace & War
    • Mastering Conflict: A Journal on the Business World
    • Nice Guys Finish First
    • Mastering Conflict: A Journal on Peace & Obesity

Donation

evolve theme by Theme4Press  •  Powered by WordPress