Shy rights: Why not pretty soon?

Apologies to Garrison Keillor for the title.  What do you think about the distinction which this article makes between being shy and being introverted?  Are you an introvert or an extrovert?  What do you think are the advantages of each?  Do you agree that our modern society favors extroversion and has a tendency to discriminate against introverts?  If so, what can be done about it?

Is gambling a Superior way to go?

This is from an obscure newspaper of a small Canadian city, but I think the topic is an important one.  Should the government use gambling to raise revenue, or does this simply prey on those who have a gambling addiction?  Do you think gambling (in the form of either lottery tickets or casinos) is a good or bad thing in Slovakia?

Violence envisioned and violence viewed

What do you think about violence on television and in other entertainment media?  According to your own experience, would you also say that it is attractive and therefore easy to advertise, but does not really give us what we would hope for?  If so, what does this say about human psychology, and do the psychology experiments reported here seem convincing/valid?  Does it also show us one down side of capitalism?

When does multiculturalism work?

Do you think that the distinction made between multiculturalism in an immigrant country like America and non-immigrant countries like those in Europe is a valid one?  What do you think about these writers‘ claims about when multiculturalism works and when it doesn’t?  How would Slovakia fit into this schema?  Does the article help give some clues as to how the situation might be improved here?

The philosophy of anxiety

What do you think anxiety is and what role does it have in your life?  Can it be a positive force or is it mostly debilitating?  In the modern age, do we have a tendency prescribe medications for it too quickly, as this author claims, or is he just confusing anxiety and depression?

Roughing it vicariously (or virtually)

Have you ever wanted to escape from society and live independently out in the woods?  Or is escaping to a chata for a few weekends in a year enough for you?  Does an internet site about the virtues of primitive cabins seem like an oxymoron?  How does the picture of cabins in Norway compare to that in Slovakia? 

This is the last post you can comment on for the second half of March. 

The most important thing about Radicova is her hair

Have you ever noticed how news articles about important women often focus on unimportant aspects such as physical appearance, manner and voice, or on their private rather than public life (their home, children or husband)?  Why is this?  Should it be changed?

I’d like to keep your business, so I sincerely apologize

What has been your experience of complaining to companies, shop assistants, salespeople, or waiters?  Are they more or less likely to apologize here in Slovakia than in some other places, say New Zealand?  What do you think about what this article says are the advantages of apologizing and why sometimes people neglect to adequately apologize?  What can be done to encourage companies to apologize more?

Capting the sun (and some tax money) in Germany

Should government funds be used to help support sustainable energy alternatives?  Was this a success in Germany?  Is it a good idea to cut down on subsidies now that solar panels are becoming more popular?

Could a tablet tempt you away from Tatarka?

Is distraction a positive or negative aspect of living in the digital age?  How can you best fight it when you need to concentrate (on reading a novel, say)?  Do you prefer reading a book on paper or on an electronic device?  Does the invention of the latter mean the end of the former? Could it also mean that people will start reading less in general? 

Park now instead of prison later

How important is park and public space to you as a teenage resident of a (fairly) large city? Does Bratislava lack places like this?  Is it worth government money to invest in structures like this in poor neighborhoods?  Can it really help to lower crime rates and prevent other problems?

Competitive meditation

Should a spiritual discipline like yoga become an Olympic sport?  Is this just another sign that our society is too competitive and materialistic?  Or does it show that we are becoming more open-minded and culturally diverse?  Would you be interested in watching (or competing)? 

Feel free to follow the links in this article for more to talk about or reference.

This is the last entry you can comment on for the first half of March.