Tag: society

Four medieval villagers whispering and reacting to rumors swirling as sticks and stones in the town square

Sticks & Stones: Is gossip all bad?

Growing up in the Protestant Christian Church, gossip was routinely criticized for its harm and divisiveness. Pastors regularly debunked the adage “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. Words can and do hurt people. But is gossip sometimes helpful?

Cartoon character dancing energetically at a street dance battle surrounded by cheering crowd and colorful lights

Naive, Defensive, & Uncultured: Being Square in a Shapeshifting World

I briefly discuss the challenges of distinguishing between AI-generated content and genuine articles, societal pressures to integrate marketing and entertainment into content creation, and the balance between being yourself and changing yourself in a rapidly-evolving world.

Opinion: Renee Good’s Tragic Death Demonstrates Systemic Societal Failures of Both Uniformed & Civilian Training, Preparedness, and Response

Renee Good’s tragic death demonstrates systemic societal failures of both uniformed and civilian training, preparedness, and response. I am hoping for a just verdict in this case and more insightful context to be revealed before a jury in a court of law. What is clear to me is that many quick (fast-thinking) decisions were foolishly made in this incident, and it should be used as a training video for (1) how not to approach and endeavor to stop a vehicle and (2) how not to respond to a law enforcement officer.

Murder, Prejudice, & Profiling: Our Constitutional Rights Under Threat

Murder-suicides increased slightly from 2016-2022, the mystery surrounding Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s death is not new, and bills like MO SB58 and MO SB72 threaten immigrant populations without proper documentation.

Understanding Vertigo: Medical, Cinematic, and Socio-Cultural Perspectives

Vertigo is (1) dizziness characterized by spinning sensations and (2) the title of a 1958 film by Alfred Hitchcock. But, is it also a fair way to describe (3) the 2025 cultural zeitgeist?