Truth and Goodness in Immanuel Kant and St. Thomas Aquinas Essay

Immanuel Kant and St. Thomas Aquinas represent the presence of truth in pointedly differentiating manners. Kant finds all reality inside the psyche, as an unadulterated result of reason, working by methods for normal classes. In spite of the fact that Kant recognizes that all information begins in the instinct of the faculties, the coherence of sense experience he credits to natural types of apperception and to classes characteristic to the psyche. The natural classifications shape the â€Å"phenomena† of reasonable being, and Kant guarantees nothing can be known or demonstrated about the â€Å"noumena,† the assumed world outside to the mind.1 Aquinas concurs that all information gets through the faculties, yet can't help contradicting Kant in contending that all out characteristics don't start in the mind however inhere in the articles themselves, either basically (determinate of their method of being) or inadvertently (variable without loss of pith by the object).2 Aq uinas further concurs with Kant that all the information got from sense experience is information on the substance of things just to the extent that it is comprehended by reason, and along these lines sense experience is deficient to establish information by itself.3 But Aquinas characterizes information as congruity by the brain to things as they truly seem to be, and in this way accepts the outer world is comprehensible by the psyche, both in the forces of things (what they are) and in the demonstration of being (that they are).4 Moreover, for Aquinas, elements are identified with one another comparably as indicated by their methods of being, since being is a quality that every single existent thing share. Therefore, being as a rule is understandable methodicallly as indicated by a language of existential analogy.5 Kant, conversely, starts with the presumption that transcendentalism is invalid as information... ... 25 Immanuel Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Translated James W. Ellington, third ed. (Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing, 1993), 9. 26 Immanuel Kant, Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics, 842. 27 Immanuel Kant, Introduction to the Metaphysicsof Morals, IV, 24, cited in Heinrich A. Rommen, The Natural Law: A Study in Legal and Social History and Philosophy (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1998), 89. 28 Immanuel Kant, The Philosophy of Law. An Exposition of the Fundamental Principles of Jurisprudence as the Science of Right, cited in Rommen, 88. 29 Heinrich A. Rommen, The Natural Law: A Study in Legal and Social History and Philosophy (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1998), 119-121. 30 W. Norris Clarke, S.J., The One and the Many: A Contemporary Thomistic Metaphysics (Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 2001), 12.

Racial Targeting and Profiling in the United States Essay -- Race Raci

Racial Targeting and Profiling in the United States The act of focusing on people for police examination dependent on their race alone over the most recent couple of years has been an undeniably conspicuous issue in American culture. Various magazines, papers, and diaries have investigated the issue of race-propelled police activities. As of late, the ABA Journal did an investigation of New Jersey and Pennsylvania traffic prevents from 1998 to 2001, inferring that dark drivers were bound to be pulled over and captured than whites. The examination additionally digs into the lawful consequences of the 1996 United States Supreme Court managing in the Whren v. US case, which held that cops abstract inspiration for halting a driver on the parkway was immaterial up to a reasonable justification was available -, for example, a criminal traffic offense existed for making the stop. The Whren court choice approved the affection stop, which happens when cops apparently stop drivers for criminal traffic offenses yet are in reality roused by the c raving to get proof of different wrongdoings. Cops, be that as it may, contend that racial profiling is presence of mind and is reasonable, measurably based device that empowers them to center their energies effectively for giving insurance against wrongdoing to law an awaiting resident. In Taylor and Whitney, an examination exploring the presence of an exact reason for racial profiling and wrongdoing, they inferred that society must recognize the insights behind crime percentages so as to comprehend the idea of racial profiling; such data is accessible in yearly wrongdoing reports. Measurements are realities and numbers which can't be questioned and give the experiential premise to racial profiling. The FBI Bulletin additionally tended to the need to think about insights in tending to the issue of racial profiling. Be that as it may, dissimilar to Taylor and Whitney who contend for the utilization of insights to help racial profiling, the FBI Bulletin advances the use of measurements so as to decrease and ideally wipe out racial profiling. The FBI Bulletin expresses that if offices were commanded to keep steady measurable reports on the characteristics and nature of their traffic stops, at that point racial profiling won't be as uncontrolled. A set up account of all traffic stops would do as such by ascribing singular duty to the cops associated with such infringement. The ... ...they were not officials would the discipline have been progressively serious, or if there were white officials would the discipline additionally have been increasingly uncommon. On the off chance that the suspects in the two occurrences had been rural white guys would the officer?fs responses been so sensational. Considerably previous President Clinton perceived racial profiling inside our police divisions. ?gPresident Clinton called racial profiling by police, an ethically faulty profoundly destructive practice?h. (Clinton Associated Press) He additionally said that, ?gpeople of shading keep on having less certainty and less trust, and accept they are focused for action?h. (Clinton Associated Press) Clinton related that he once solicited a gathering from dark columnists if the police had ever halted them and they all lifted their hands. Racial profiling is an issue that should be tended to by the administration and the individuals of America. The subject of racial profiling isn't just an issue; it is a deep rooted ailment. This ailment that has tormented America for quite a while, and until we choose to grow up and move beyond cliché and predisposition perspectives on different races and ethnic foundations, this difficult will keep on existing with conceivable lethal outcomes.

Heres What Youre Missing on IndiesUnimited.com

Heres What Youre Missing on IndiesUnimited.com Indies Unlimited is a site full of amazing resources, and a space providing interaction for writers and readers. First, lets talk about exactly what Indies Unlimited is if you are unfamiliar with the site. In short, their focus is on promoting indie authors and the writing community as a whole. An indie author is an author who is not represented by a major publishing houseâ€"this means that they will be self-published, published with a small or regional press, or sometimes traditionally published on a smaller scale.First and foremost, Indies Unlimited is a blog. They are not a self-publisher, but rather, they help authors grow their audience, gain knowledge about the industry, connect with readers, and of course, forge a writing community between multitudes of authors. This is something that most authors find invaluableâ€"a group of people striving for the same goals who understand how difficult and confusing the industry is, while also being there for support and brainstorming.Autho rs benefit from a writing community to learn more about the writing process and industry. Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash.Sifting through the overwhelmAll the resources for independent authors on the web can feel overwhelming. There are a lot of conflicting ideas, and even simply too many resources on the web, that its difficult to know which ones to trust. Indies Unlimited has had a lot of success and rave reviews, and they provide tons of resources all in one place. Even if you dont browse around other sites, you will be able to find pretty much everything you could need on Indies Unlimited.Promotions for writersSome favorite aspects of Indies Unlimited are free promotional tools. They have set up numerous promotions to assist in engagement between authors and readers, and these promotions also form a semblance of consistency. One of the promotions they offer is Thrifty Thursday, where authors can list their free or 99 cent e-books and where readers will be directed to find them all in one place. As readers, we know that were always looking for a bargain or good deal, so with readers aware that Thrifty Thursday takes place each week, it is an opportunity for authors to get their books in front of a whole new audience. This is something that readers can stay tuned into and look forward to each week as they set out to find new authors.The next promotion Indies Unlimited offers is Print Book Party, which takes place on the first Sunday of each month. This is where authors can promote their print books listed at $15 or less, allowing readers to find a large selection of bargain paperbacks in one place. This is another deal that readers definitely wont want to miss out on when it comes to saving on books. Once again, this is a day of the week that readers can anticipate, ready to find their next great read in the comments section of the blog. They also offer, on the third Friday of each month, Kindle Unlimited Friday, where authors can post their books that are free within the Kindle Unlimited program.However, the Guest Post Feature may be the most effective of all the promotions offered on IU. This is where authors have the opportunity to write a guest post for the Indies Unlimited blog. Since they have such a vast following, your blog could have the potential to be featured for a whole new audience of writers, readers, reviewers, and publishers alike. The guest feature does not actually showcase any books, but rather lends to more exposure, which is ultimately beneficial to growing ones audience in the long run. You can reach out to Indies Unlimited with the topic youd like to write a blog about to be considered for a guest spot. We are always told that networking and creating more exposure to multiple audiences is the most effective way to market. Well, this guest opportunity does just that.Author advertisingIn addition to the many free promotion options given by Indies Unlimited, they also offer advertising options. There are several packages available to choose from for marketing a product, service, or event. This is another great tool to give authors, or anyone related to the writing field, more exposure given Indies Unlimiteds high-traffic site. You will have the opportunity to advertise as an author or a vendor with the different package options to choose from.According to the site, We do not actually accept paid advertising from authors because its our mantra to never take money from authors. Everything available to authors is free. We occasionally accept paid advertising from service providers, but only after theyve gone through a stringent vetting process to make sure they are on the up-and-up and will not take advantage of authors. Accepting paid advertising is rare, and maybe happens twice a year. Otherwise, the expenses to run the site fall solely on our admin/executive director K. S. Brooks (Kat).Author researchAside from promotion, marketing, and networking, Indies Unlimited is invested in helping au thors obtain as much knowledge as possible in this field. They have so many resources and articles available, covering any topic imaginable related to books, writing, and publishing. The best part is that they have all these resources in one place, so theres no need to search around the web aimlessly.The KnowledgeBase tab is definitely worth checking out for anyone, whether youre a novice or have years of experience. They cover topics within publishing like book covers, book trailers, reviews, beta readers, and the publishing process as a whole. If youre looking to improve your craft before reaching the publication stage, then they have resources for you, as well, like grammar, punctuation, characters and story building, and resources on the all-important editing process. They also talk about other tools for authors like social media, newsletters, press releases, giveaways, and so much more.No matter which stage of your writing career youre at, Indies Unlimited has resources for you that you will not want to pass by. As writers, we have to be our own teachers, editors, critics, and businesspeopleâ€"even if we have others in place for these positions already. So, there is no amount of knowledge within the field that could be too much. As mentioned in the beginning of this article, there are so many competing ideas out there, its tricky to know which methods, rules, and approaches are best for you as a writer. So, even if you dont look at any other databases of knowledgeâ€"the KnowledgeBase will have you well on your way to sorting out that confusion.Book promotionsA more specific tab when it comes to resources on the Indies Unlimited site is the Book Promo tab. This lists any and all sites that authors who are published or getting ready to publish will want to research and familiarize themselves with. Some of the sites listed are free and some must be paid for, but they all deserve attention in deciphering if they are right for you and your publication goals. W ith so many sites about book promotion out there, it is easy to get lost and confused, and especially frustrated. So, the fact that Indies Unlimited has compiled these sites in one place with descriptions about each can save an author a lot of time and headache.With so much information available on book publishing and promotion, its easy for authors to get overwhelmed and frustrated. Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash.Flash fictionNow, lets say you havent written a book, or arent ready to publish your book, and dont think any of these amazing resources are right for you. This is highly unlikely, but even so, you can still engage with Indies Unlimited. How? They host a flash fiction contest every Saturday. Thats right, not only do they offer free promotions, paid advertisements, links with a wealth of knowledge on every writing topic imaginable, and book promo resources, they even have a fun contest open to everyone, with no commitment.The flash fiction rules are simple: Write 250 words or less that incorporate the provided image and prompt. Its quick and fun! And the most fun part of this contest? The winners are chosen using polls that readers personally participate in, with a readers choice and editors choice poll. The polls and contest are open for a few days, so even if you cant get to the computer right at that moment, you have time to make sure you dont miss out. Indies Unlimited has ways for subscribers (and anyone) to interact with their site every day of the week. There are very few sites that can accomplish this.A final noteFinally, Indies Unlimited has gear and titles for purchase, as well as a full staff of very qualified individuals. They are definitely in the market of helping authors navigate this confusing business, as well as giving them outlets to engage with one another and have fun.If you think Indies Unlimited could be beneficial to you (which we assume you would after reading about all their amazing services and engagement) then we highly su ggest subscribing to their newsletter. If you are an author, reader, or have any sort of interest in the publishing world, then this is a letter you wont want to miss. They will send you a weekly email full of valuable resources and articles that they provide. Plus, the fact that its only a weekly newsletter means you wont get aggravated with countless spam emailsâ€"it will be an email you actually look forward to. It will assist you through your craft and writing goals each weekâ€"and dont forget, theyre always available for questions at Indies Unlimited.So, head to the site, sign up, start reading about and planning your promotion, and working on your flash fiction contest entry. Most importantly, keep on writing and sharing your work with the world. Indies Unlimited will support you at any stage and offer you the outlet to focus on your writing every day of the week, or as often as you need.

Nichomachean Ethics’ Book Was Written By Aristotle Between

Nichomachean ethics’ book was written by Aristotle between the periods of 384 BC to the time when he passed away in 322 BC. Aristotle is an ancient Greek philosopher. During his period of writing, not many things had been discovered and the only other known philosophers were the Plato and Socrates. My view on the book can be derived from the title itself â€Å"Nichomachean† which means victory for example in battle and from the term â€Å"ethics† which means virtue or a code of conduct. From the two words, one can derive that the book entails virtues of being a winner, or how one should conduct themselves to be victorious. One of my best books written by Aristotle is politics from book III. In this book Aristotle talks citizens†¦show more content†¦Aristotle’s ethical views in the book are mostly Athenian associated in philosophical garb. Coming out from a period that culture was adored his writings adopted from his culture, although sometimes in his discussion and emphasis in the book expresses established thinking that can also be addressed to the rest of the world. The author’s aspect of Aristotle’s biography, is that he compares his works with Plato and Socrates. Aristotle being a student of Plato, he only took a few perceptive of Plato’s work and made them more advanced, updated and broad. From the author’s biography of Aristotle we understand that, Aristotle followed Socrates footsteps on the agenda of moral virtue. Aristotle’s saying, moral virtue consist of knowledge, so that one who acts wrongly or viciously acts from arrogance, Aristotle uses the same outline in his philosophical apparatus to develop other areas of his thoughts. We can also see different aspects of Aristotle’s ethics that differ from his predecessors Plato and Socrates; an emphasis on virtuous activity, whereas Aristotle’s is possessing of the virtue, from the other candidates, happiness is a pleasure whereas Aristotle’s description is happiness only consist of virtuous activity. After the death of Plato in 341 BC, Aristotle left Athens for 13 years during which he was a tutor to Alexander. He founded LyceumShow MoreRelatedEssay on Changing Conceptions About What Emotion is939 Words   |  4 Pageseastern philosophy. 1) Aristotelian European philosophers’s opinion Before 20th century, people tend to have more qualitative and intuitive opinions about emotion; their social, culture and historical enviroments strongly influenced their theories. Aristotle, who lived in the 4th century BC (384ï ½Å¾322), might be called the first cognitive theorist of emotion in western culture. 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Krishna Iyer and Expansive Interpretation of Fundamental Rights8404 Words   |  34 Pagesefforts to the service of society and widening the horizon of social-justice and his endless contribution as a judge and jurist; intellectual, for he was praised as a ‘great intellectual and a great gentleman’, a man who opened the court’s doors wider to the poor, the needy and the indigent, ‘helped humanize our legal system’3; a pro-poor, for he was quoted being unabashedly pro-poor, pro-do wntrodden, pro-weaker sections and the Supreme Court’s first 1 Justice Krishna Iyer at 90, UniversalRead Moreethical decision making16006 Words   |  65 PagesCHAPTER 11 Ethics and Health Pat Kurtz and Ronald L. Burr Authors Go Here Authors Go Here Authors Go Here Visit http://nursing.jbpub.com/communityhealth for Visit http://nursing.jbpub.com/communityhealth interactive exercises, review questions, WebLinks for interactive exercises, review questions, and more. 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Jack Horner Profile of the Famous Paleontologist

Name: Jack HornerBorn: 1946Nationality: AmericanDinosaurs Named: Maiasaura, Orodromeus About Jack Horner Along with Robert Bakker, Jack Horner is one of the most prominent paleontologists in the United States (the two men served as advisers for the Jurassic Park movies, and Sam Neills character in the original was inspired by Horner). Horners main claim to fame was his discovery, in the 1970s, of the extensive nesting grounds of a North American hadrosaur, which he named Maiasaura (good mother lizard). These fossilized eggs and burrows gave paleontologists an unusually detailed glimpse of the family life of duck-billed dinosaurs. The author of numerous popular books, Horner has remained at the forefront of paleontological research. In 2005, he discovered a chunk of T. Rex with soft tissue still attached, which was recently analyzed to determine its protein content. And in 2006, he led a team that discovered dozens of nearly intact Psittacosaurus skeletons in the Gobi Desert, shedding some valuable light on the lifestyles of these small, beaked herbivores. Lately, Horner and colleagues have been examining the growth stages of various dinosaurs; one of their more stunning finds is that Triceratops and Torosaurus may well have been the same dinosaur. By the turn of the 21st century, Horner had obtained a reputation as being a bit of an eccentric, always eager (and perhaps a tad over-eager) to overthrow accepted dinosaur theories and hog the limelight. Hes not afraid to challenge his critics head-on, however, and lately has caused even more of a stir with his plan to clone a dinosaur by manipulating the DNA of a living chicken.

The End, Everyone Dies - 977 Words

In the end, everyone dies. Imagery of the grim reaper and death echo throughout all of human culture. Death is taught as something to be feared and avoided. However in the end, everyone will still die. Anatole Broyard analyzes his confrontation with his own mortality and how he came to accept it in his essay â€Å"Intoxication with My Illness†. By confronting his own mortality, Broyard learns more about life and gains a greater appreciation for it. Is it only possible to learn to appreciate our lives through a confrontation of our own mortality and suffering? Broyard’s confrontation with death begins in the traditional panic and despair. He feels like â€Å"a real deadline had been imposed on him† and that he would â€Å"never be able to finish his book†. However over time, he gains a more serene view of his mortality. Broyard recounts a time when he was trying to convince a suicidal friend of his from commiting suicide with a rather dispassionate speech. Rather than going into the vividness of life, Broyard just list off objects with no real importance placed between them. In contrast, now that he is intoxicated with his own illness, and is prepared to accept his own death, Broyard begins to describe things in terms of actions like a â€Å"rush of consciousness† or a â€Å"splash of perspective† (Broyard, 345). Even describing his dreams takes on a very active tone, presenting the imagery of a lawyer defending himself from a crime. Broyard’s activeness presents a thirst for life now that he hasShow MoreRelatedSymbolism In Lord Of The Flies Essay1278 Words   |  6 Pages William Golding kills off everything important to survival and by this he means that the world is doomed. So many significant objects are broken by the end of the book, The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, which is a novel about a bunch of inexperienced boys being trapped together on an island and are forced to find means of survival. 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How Far Was the February Revolution Caused by the Length of World War One Essay Sample free essay sample

The February revolution was caused by the length of World War One to a big extent. if the war wasn’t so long. the revolution wouldn’t have happened. However the revolution was besides caused by Nicholas’ hapless political determinations. which didn’t have anything to make with the length of the war. Russia decided to travel to war in 1914 because Nicholas II and his curates felt they had a good ground to travel to war. Russia had at least two chances to win the war nevertheless their slow modernization in industrialization meant they were at a disadvantage because they couldn’t maintain up with the societal and economic alterations caused by the war. Between August and September 1914 Russia’s opportunities of triumph over Germany and Austria-Hungary were ruined at the conflicts of Tannenburg and Masurin lakes. There failure was wholly down to bad administration and bad co-ordination between the ground forcess of Alexader Samsonov and Pavel Re nnenkampf. Samsonov finally shot himself after his ground forces were surrounded but Rennenkampf executed a adept retreat at the Masurin lakes so that his first ground forces could avoid the destiny of Samsonov’s 2nd ground forces. The Tannenburg and Masurin lakes killed over 230. 000 Russians. about twice every bit many as the Germans. and the conflicts helped to equalize the forces contending the First World War. which meant there was an addition in the war being an even longer battle. In November 1914 General Nikolai Ivanov said that â€Å"it is impossible to observe Stavka’s instructions either an exact undertaking or fixed nonsubjective. † Stavka was the name given to the bid of the first Russian ground forces. He didn’t set up an heavy weapon subdivision until early 1916. so until this was set up. Stavka had no thought how many shells the Russian ground forces possessed. This explains why in May to June 1915 Stavka blamed Russia’s ‘problems’ on a shell deficit. However the shell deficit gave Stavka an alibi to avoid a reappraisal of its planning and control. This made the revolution probably because it meant that the ground forces were truly embarrassed. the shell deficits besides proved the disorganization that the Russian ground forces had and so the Tsar The military failures had an consequence on the length of the war because the more Russia lost. the more they had to contend to seek and contend back the humiliation. The socio-economic impact of the war was slow to take consequence because the authorities had to trust on imports. Plans were implemented to pitch the industrial end products to the demands of the war. Artillery production rose by 400 per centum in the first two old ages of the war and mills were converted to armaments production. Fuel deficits increased and so did the monetary values so the rising prices shortly led to an addition in the printing of money. This made people truly angry. and as the length of the war began to increase. the choler people had began to increase. Railways were blocked by the transit of military personnels and their equipment significance that the transit of nutrient was slowed down massively. this was besides bad because most of the nutrient that so was produced was sent to the ground forces and so the people of Russia were shortly left starvation. increasing their choler degrees even more. The monetary values of meat rose by 30 per centum and the monetary value of flour increased by 200 per centum. This was likely to do a revolution because all of these alterations to the Russian people’s society and economic system meant that protests and work stoppages occurred and more radical groups were made. and so the authorities found it hard to maintain control over the distant parts of the Empire. The socio-economic impact was to make with the length of the war because as the war grew longer. more money was spent on funding things like nutrient for the ground forces. which made more people hungry. angry. and increased the sum of protests. Nicholas’ married woman Alexandra was an Anglo-German princess ; this was bad for Nicholas straight off because a batch of Russian people believed she was a German undercover agent. Over the old ages 1915-1916 Alexandra built a strong friendly relationship with a faith therapist. Rasputin. Rasputin’s power and friendly relationship with the czarina meant that he could act upon her in pick of many things including her pick of curates and assignments. Nicholas was pressured by the czarina and so he left to contend in the ground forces. this left Alexandra and Rasputin in charge. The bond between Rasputin and Alexandra so became unbreakable and people had intuitions that they were holding an matter. Rasputin so used his influence t o derive both church and authorities places for his friends. They frequently sacked a batch of minsters. Alexandra had control over largely everything else and Nicholas was cut off from information about the state of affairs in Petrograd. This made a revolution probably because people were angry with Alexandra’s determinations and this made them angry at the czar. This links to the length of the war because whilst the czar was off contending. it left Alexandra and Rasputin in leading for a longer clip period. During the summer of 1915 the Sukhomlinov matter illustrated Nicholas’ failings and marked the beginning of a crisp political crisis. Within the Duma. a new broad alliance of Kadets. Octoberists and Progressists emerged ; it had a bulk and called itself the Progressive Bloc. The purpose of the Bloc was to promote the czar to organize a Ministry of Public assurance which would include some of its leaders. The Bloc had a demand to give the tsarist regime the broader base if public support it needed to contend a hard. dearly-won war. From the czars point of position it looked like another effort to cut down the autocracy’s power. or an extension of the duma’s against curates it didn’t like. like Sukhomlinov. Nicholas decided to take two classs of action ; foremost he compromised with the Bloc by naming a clasp of broad curates. Then he dismissed them and appointed himself figurehead commander-in-chief. The Duma was so closed down temporarily and forced to witness the civilian authorities falling under the influence of the czarina and Rasputin. This was likely to do a revolution because the czar didn’t listen to the people. he did what he wanted and what he thought was best. which made the people of Russia and members of the Progressive Bloc even more angry. nevertheless this is non linked to the length of the war. it is strictly down to Nicholas’ hapless political determinations. The winter of 1916 was cold and difficult for the people of Russia. Workers in the metropolis were angry because of the cold conditions. and the fact that the fuel and nutrient deficits caused by the war. was hungering them. On Thursday 23rd February. on the forenoon International Women’s Day. ladies from within the society- largely provincials. went into the streets and protested due to anti-government feelings in Petrograd. By the afternoon adult females had gone into mills and taunted work forces. naming them cowards if they wouldn’t back up them. Women ropeway drivers went on work stoppage and blocked off the street s and shortly plenty a immense crowd gathered in the chief street of Petrograd as the dissenters started to garner impulse. On the 24-25th February demands for staff of life were accompanied by demands for an terminal to the war and an terminal to the czar. By the 26th February the Tsar had had plenty. He demanded that soldiers joined the demonstrators. he told them to fire at the dissenters. Some regiments opened fire on the crowds but some refused. They thought that if they went out to war. they were traveling to decease anyhow. so traveling against the czar and non opening fire was a hazard they were willing to take because they felt that it was unjust on the people. On the twenty-seventh February the Duma formed a particular commission made up of reps from chief political parties. prisons were opened and the captives released. By the 2nd March the czar abdicated himself and his ill boy in favor of his brother Michael. but Michael refused and the Romanov dynasty came to an terminal. The duma commission so set about organizing a new authorities. This was the trigger of the revolution because the czar eventually listened to the people and accomplished things had to alter. This is linked to the length of the war because. if the war wasn’t so long. the people of Russia wouldn’t have been angry because of the supplies being so low. their hours being increased and being paid lupus erythematosus. so at that place would hold been nil to protest approximately. Overall many of the factors did reasoning backward because of the length of the war doing the revolution ; nevertheless Nicholas’ determination to open fire on the crowds was besides a cause of the revolution. To reason. the February revolution was caused by the length of the war to a big extent. but the length of the war was non wholly re sponsible for the revolution.

Best banking choices for students

Best banking choices for students Important facts for students to select a bank Nowadays it is so great that we have such diverse choice of banks. The banking system and variety of options offer students a lot of possibilities that provide financial freedom. But the questions of that sort should be treated very carefully, since only one wrong step can result in big debts or higher interests. While making choice, one should work out his/her own strategy and think over what bank and what exactly options required. Of course, there are a lot of bank institutions, but you should identify those, which have the most favorable offers for you as a student. They have different options for various targeted groups, filtrate carefully those, which can be of your concern. Short term overdrafts to pay for your custom essays or long term cooperation with setting up a deposit account: decide what you need. We provide for you some other factors you should take into account, before getting involved into financial cooperation. Consider suggestions and free options carefully Attracted by favorable free options of some banks? Of course, they know what they are doing. But do not get trapped! Free short lasting suggestions soon end and you can be faced with less profitable variants of financial service. Thus, having made certain sum of money, you can be looking for the suitable circumstances of saving account opening. Do not forget to monitor the interest rate you will earn within certain period at several banking houses and select that one, which will bring you the biggest profit. Do not fall for free MP3 downloads or few-days free Wi-Fi options if you lose in the interest rate. That is not worth it. Overdraft: amount, limit and interest. Most likely reason people partner with bank is for sure overdraft. Find out what is the maximally possible amount of overdraft, which you can receive as a student. Also ask about the necessity of exceeding limit and the interest it results in. Discover all details and consider all facts. Thus, there are a lot of banks, which offer interest-free overdrafts for students for couple of years and it is really great opportunity for you. One more thing you should bear in mind is that banks will not certainly provide you with the maximal announced sum of the overdraft. Most often it is available only for students of the final year, who have eligible credit rating. So if they say that the maximal possible overdraft is up to  £2,000, there is no guarantee that you will obtain this sum. The repayment procedure It is great if you manage to return the overdraft in time within the interest-free period. But the time spins away and one day you can discover that you are obliged to pay interest charges. That is why before taking overdraft consider all details of the repayment procedure. You should know the exact date when you should return the money and confirm if it should be during the university studies or is supposed to be after graduation. Find out all the details for all the possible scenarios of this financial situation, so that you can be sure that you will be in an advantageous position in any case. Gain the credit rating Starting with small overdrafts, step by step you develop and elaborate your relationships with bank. Such kinds of relationships and partnering result in credit rating. Credit rating is an estimate of your income, borrowed amount and spending history. It is a score, which you receive from bank from the point of view of risk and your financial eligibility. Having trustworthy credit rating you can receive the bigger overdraft amount or gain other favorable options. Think, learn and make your choice being very attentive or even pedantic. We know that this is not much likely for students to give much attention to such boring questions, but the financial concerns are those which definitely should not be neglected.

The Lost Chinatown

The Lost Chinatown Free Online Research Papers â€Å"Welcome! Please come in!† piped the recorded voice as we went in a store. Those were the first few words I heard when I went to Chinatown, (Manila) a few days ago with my friends. As we strolled along the streets of the bustling little Chinese town, I was filled with mixed emotions. On one hand, I was feeling a bit nostalgic. The sight of the old buildings and restaurants, the distinct smell of incense and Chinese medicine, the old and revered Binondo church, the noisy street vendors and the colorful calesas, brought back memories of my first home. On the other hand, I was feeling uneasy seeing all the changes that had taken place in the past ten years. I felt that the addition of foreign shops, construction of new and modern buildings, the commercialization of restaurants and stores have changed more than just the appearance of Chinatown. Something was missing in today’s Chinatown. In the past, Chinatown was the core of the Chinese business enterprises. It used to be a landmark, the main source of China’s best goods. Anyone strolling around the streets of Chinatown would undoubtedly have a genuine Chinese experience. Everything was practically Chinese- the people, the food, the traditions, the architecture, the music, and the festivities. The Chinese have long strove to keep the richness of their culture intact. Since then, Chinatown has constantly changed. Through the years, it has continually kept pace with the waves of technology. In fact, the Chinatown I lived in was already a far cry from what it used to be. Yet, visiting my hometown ten years later, well- indeed a lot has changed. Perhaps if you would compare a sketch of Chinatown ten years ago and one of today, you would notice that the main difference would be the addition of electronic stores, beauty shops, spas, foreign restaurants and cafes. In fact, my friends and I agreed to meet in Starbucks for this trip! I tell you, years before; there was little chance of finding a restaurant serving a different cuisine other than Chinese in Chinatown, much less a foreign cafà ©! The additions of the foreign stores are not the only things that have changed the solely Chinese territory at Chinatown, but also several structural and technological improvements. A day’s activities in Chinatown ten years ago would be characterized by a ride in a calesa, a trip to the wet Aranque Market, a visit to the Chinese medicine stores and a taste of their exotic medicines, lunch in a quaint Chinese restaurant with the owner’s family themselves serving you, a stroll along the bridges across the dirty Pasig River, a stop to buy fruits from the street vendors, a sip of the yummy sugarcane juice, a friendly chat with familiar faces you would meet along the road, and perhaps for a young lass like me, a day full of games that would include the jump rope and the jackstones with my neighbors in the wide hallways of our buildings. A day in today’s Chinatown could start with coffee at Starbucks, a stroll along the newly renovated Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz, a stop at the Eng Bee Tin store which sells the uniquely flavored hopias in nice, printed packages for pasalubong (gifts) for your workmates, perhaps lunch with your friends at a well-known, commercialized restaurant with Filipino waitresses dressed with traditional Chinese outfits serving you, a sip of one of those modern Chinese energy drinks, a ride in your BMW to the nearby supermarket to buy fruits and food for your family who live in a fancy new condominium with narrow hallways and unknown neighbors, a stop in the Globe Business Center, and perhaps, for the youth of today, a day full of computer games in the internet stations scattered throughout Chinatown. I have also noticed that because of modernization movement, some things are becoming obsolete- or should I say, â€Å"antique†. Such as, the calesa. I vividly remember my childhood years when my only means of transportation to school was the calesa: thewooden, colorful and sometimes rickety, carriage-pulled-by-the-horse. My yaya (Nanny)would bargain with the kutsero (driver)for the fare to be lowered. She would shout, â€Å"Bente nalang po (Could we pay twenty pesos instead?)† Some kutseros would stubbornly refuse the twenty peso fare. My yaya would persist. He would refuse. My yaya would persist. He would refuse. And the cycle would go on and on, every day of my school life. And I just smiled when I saw my friend Sheena persisting for a ride in a calesa. Today, only the wowed tourists ride them. With fares set at a very high price, and designated roads where the calesas cannot pass, people have opted to use cars and other â€Å"practical† means of transportation . Even so, calesas have contributed to the unique identity of Chinatown and therefore should not be simply put aside. Globalization has also brought a revolution in this part of the Manila. I remember years ago people from all over Metro Manila and perhaps other parts of the country would go and visit Chinatown to buy Chinese goods. Chinatown used to be the best source for Chinese goods - the best hopia, the best dimsum, the best congee- you name it, they have it, and they have the best in town. Also, Chinatown was the only source for authentic Chinese paraphernalia: costumes, luck charms, medicine, etc. But today, due to the increase in demand for Chinese goods, shops had to open branches in different parts of the city and the country. In short, there was. But, as a result of this expansion, Chinese shops are no longer unique to Chinatown. Those delectable goods can be bought anywhere now, and sometimes, even at a cheaper price. I recall the â€Å"dragonfruit expedition† that my friends and I had in our visit to Chinatown. It was the first time for some of my friends to see that fruit, and everybody wanted to taste something â€Å"unique† to Chinatown. But after bargaining with several fruit vendors, we still found it expensive, and concluded that it can be bought nowadays in supermarkets, so why bother? My friend Sheena asked me a while later, â€Å"So what else is here? What’s the specialty of Chinatown? Something that’s really different that we could experience?† I found that question difficult to answer. Practically nothing is completely unique to Chinatown anymore, including food. Chinese restaurants are scattered all around the city and I cannot deny that I have appreciated a lot of them. Authentic Chinese furniture, clothes and other imported products can be found everywhere. I could point out some distinct characteristics that Chinatown possess, but I cannot really name a unique quality anymore. I cannot deny that the commercialization, modernization and globalization of Chinatown have brought good. The improvements have been and are serving their purposes. In fact, the enhancements in this town have increased its charm to lure more tourists, and perhaps, have made the lives of the people living there easier. Chinese goods are now easily accessed by people living outside Chinatown. However, I sincerely regret that, for the sake of keeping up with the times, the changes have led to the dilution of the authenticity and the uniqueness of Chinatown. The essence of Chinatown, that special C-factor which keeps Chinatown authentic and unique, is now lost. What has kept the Chinatown authentic and unique throughout the years is its constant and strict following of its traditions. In today’s Chinatown, a great deal of these traditions have either been disregarded or compromised to give way to modern technology. It has long been the practice of the Chinese to keep themselves exclusively Chinese. With the influx of foreign restaurants and cafà ©s, the essence of keeping Chinatown solely Chinese as its name suggests, is slowly diminished. The commercialization of buildings and other structures in Chinatown has changed the atmosphere in the relationships of the people living there. The narrow hallways and stiff, condo-type designs give an air of professionalism and discourage familiarity among neighbors. Thus the Chinese ideology of close ties has been disregarded. Chinese businessmen nowadays have adopted Western ways of doing business; thus, losing the traditional, personal way of the Chinese. It has long been a tradition among th e Chinese that the whole family would contribute in the family business. In a restaurant, the father cooks, the mother serves the customers, the children wash the dishes, etc. Nowadays, children are exposed to several Western ideas and do not see the significance of this anymore. And, in the age of expansion and commercialization, hired help replace the family in service. â€Å"Thank you! Please come again!† piped the electronic recorded voice as we left Eng Bee Tin store, after buying some pasalubongs (gifts)for our families. Again, these technological improvements are not wrong. They serve their purpose and make people’s lives easier. But, let us not disregard the values of the past generations because they are essential in keeping the identity of Chinatown unique from any other place in the country. Instead, let us use technology to our advantage. That way, we could have both, technology and the preservation of the culture. Let’s keep that special C-Factor, so Chinatown would stay authentic and unique, the way it was before, the way it was known to be. So that anyone in the future, strolling along the streets of the little Chinese town, would have the benefit of a true Chinese experience. Research Papers on The Lost ChinatownWhere Wild and West MeetTwilight of the UAWThe Spring and Autumn19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationDefinition of Export QuotasMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyBringing Democracy to AfricaHip-Hop is Art

Research Methodology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Research Methodology - Assignment Example By factoring the previous occurrences regarding related questions, the research would meet the basic threshold. In additions, the question need to factor aspects of improving on the management approaches of nursing practicum and offering alternatives into future related activities. The issues need documentation majorly those affecting the students, the support staff and supervisors. All the parties within the system need to factor to ensure that there are minimal exaggerations from the students. The questions need an appraisal to obtain data on all stakeholders within the sector, hence providing broad based data with conclusive impact. The approach of factoring all stakeholders would also facilitate and improve reliability and reliability of the research in related environments. Previous studies showing the positive attributes of the nursing practice needed to have informed the study, ensuring better conceptualization of the entire research. Moreover, anxiety and stress does not affe ct all the nursing students as people have varying components and the ability to absorb psychosocial pressures. Therefore, the study should have had informed outcomes with basis on these other relevant documentations of other factors apart from anxiety only. The author has identified the knowledge gap by indicating that the clinical practice plays a significant practical learning process of the nursing students. Therefore, there is a need to document and evaluate the issues affecting this learning process. The gap is that there is little documentation of researches specifically targeting learners in the nursing sector during their placement with an aim of ensuring that issues affecting them are addressed and solutions offered substantively (Maxton, 2008). Previous studies have been on senior level nursing students, but few research reports are based on the findings of the junior level-nursing students. The gap of knowledge should also factor,

Applicable Laws on Bill of Lading Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Applicable Laws on Bill of Lading - Dissertation Example This writer proposes to examine the current status of the liability of the carrier pursuant to the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992, including relevant laws which may affect its application and for this purpose, the draft Table of Contents is reproduced: Chapter I. Introduction Scope Statement of the Problem Chapter II. Review of Literatures Applicable Lawson Bill of Lading The Bill of Lading Act 1855 Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971 and 1992 Relevant United Nations Conventions Case Laws Chapter III. Impact of Other Lawson UK’s Carriage of Goods by Sea Act Sales of Goods Act 1893 and 1979 E-Commerce Law Chapter IV. Historical Background Evolution of the Bill of Lading Infirmities of the Bill of Lading Act 1855 Relevance of the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992 on E-commerce and Sales of Goods Chapter V. ... Judicial, Arbitration, and other Remedial Processes Court Jurisdiction Forum Selection Choice of Law Conflict of Laws Arbitration Chapter VII. Conclusion II. The central issue for resolution is—may a carrier’s liability be expanded or limited considering that the contract of carriage is characterized as a contract of adhesion as the shipper has no other recourse but to accede to the terms and conditions contained in the contract? This dissertation aims to determine whether a waiver executed by a shipper shall absolve a carrier from liability. Stated differently, if the shipper executes a waiver, any violation which accrues thereafter is likewise deemed waived. If not, what remedies are available to the consignee or transferee, if any? It shall likewise be determined if the aggrieved party may be able to recover the actual cost of damage or loss incurred from the carrier. This dissertation will answer if the bill of lading automatically confers an absolute right to the h older, endorsee or consignee over the goods covered by the contract including the right to dispose of, sell or transfer and more importantly, the right to sue and indemnity in case of damage or loss. It equally aspires to resolve which courts shall have jurisdiction over disputes arising from the possession, title or right over the consigned goods and parenthetically, may it be subject to arbitration proceedings? It is aimed to ascertain whether arbitration is a justifiable alternative to judicial adjudication.  

Impact of the Internet on Relationships of 20-25 Year Olds

Impact of the Internet on Relationships of 20-25 Year Olds An electronic space for meeting new people, staying connected with friends and sharing ideas: Virtual reality or social reality in the age of narcissism? A study of hi5 network as an online community; its connection to offline relationships and motivations and expectations of people that become members. CHAPTER ONE Abstract The internet has changed the lives of many individuals and, with millions of people online it arguably represents the single most influential technological advancement of the Twenty First century (Aitchison, J. and Lewis, D. (2003) 1) (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) 3). Therefore the world of the internet is one which becomes more and more relevant in the lives of individuals across the world (Aitchison, J. and Lewis, D. (2003) 1) (Gauntlett, D., Gottlieb, N. and Mclelland, M. (2003) 19). The internet has touched the lives of most people within the 20-25 age groups, and this it perhaps even more relevant within Greek society, where internet dating and socialising has proven exceptionally popular. It is therefore not surprising that the internet is used effectively as a medium for the formation of relationships. The internet has given us electronic mail; internet blogs; pop-up message advertising; video messaging; smiley faces; on-line dating and friendship services; instant messages and internet threads and all of these have changed the way that individuals communicate with one another (Aitchison, J. and Lewis, D. (2003) 1) (Jordan, T. (1999) Ch.1). These more contemporary methods of communicating have impacted society at many levels (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) 3) (Gauntlett, D., Gottlieb, N. and Mclelland, M. (2003) 19) and this may be seen through an analysis of contemporary communication discourses and methods of socialisation. Specifically, the website www.hi5.com has provided a nexus where all of these technological and communication techniques have recognition and importance. Hi5 is an online community where communication is uniquely confined to electronic means and discourses. Introduction This thesis will explore the relevance of the internet to the formation of key social relationships within the 20-25 age group of Greek society. The fact that the formation of relationships online influences and shapes the nature of relationships offline is an interesting one to approach and it will be focused on throughout the thesis. The nature of the internet and specifically websites such as Hi5 as an electronic space which facilities human interaction and the maintenance of relationships will be considered. The dichotomy between social and virtual reality will be broached within this context and the writer will attempt to comment on which description of the internet is most appropriate. The question of whether the internet is a social reality in an age of narcissism or a virtual reality will also be addressed within the research. The subject matter of the thesis will also involve a consideration of the ways that the internet has indirectly and directly affected offline relationships and the motivations and expectations of people that become members. This is an important perspective; however it is one that could easily be neglected. Therefore one of the most important points which the thesis will seek to express is the pervasiveness of the internet, and specifically the pervasiveness of the online community which engages Greeks in the 20-25 age group, and its ability to influence their offline as well as online lives, self representations, motivations and expectations. The thesis will attempt to argue that the internet is an important mechanism of social interaction, which should not be pigeon-holed to simply make what is anyway a facile critique of the internet (i.e. that the internet simply promotes narcissism), more convenient to articulate. This chapter will provide the skeleton framework through which this argument will be made. The chapter will provide definitions of the internet, communication, language, computer mediated discourse, and semiotics and these definitions will be used as a springboard to discuss how the internet has changed the lives of Greeks within the 20-25 year age category. Wider issues such as globalisation, self representation, creativity and technological advancement (Smith, M. and Kollock, P. (1998) 4) will also be considered in this chapter since these are intrinsic to the ultimate argument of the thesis that internet friendship databases such as Hi5 are crucially important and representative of developments in human socialisation patterns. The effects of these processes will be extrapolated within the context of the research question and they will assist the writer to achieve a more in depth understanding of the significance of the internet within the social circles of Greeks within the 20-25 age group. The models of analysis that will be used will be discourse analysis and semiotic analysis of text and images. The profiles of Greek members of Hi5 will be widely consulted and primary research in the form of interviews and a questionnaire-based study will be consulted and evaluated qualitatively in the analysis of all of the above mentioned issues. Therefore there will be a lexicographical and semiotic extrapolation of both text and imagery to assist the writer in answering the question of whether the internet as a social medium/social hub is a positive development and to comment upon the question title. Computer mediated electronic discourse is the label given to describe electronic discourses (Holt, R. (2004) 129) and the effects which they produce at the level of social interaction between humans. Lexicographical sequences, syntax, the length and structure of sentences, the use of colloquial words and phrases and elaborate uses for punctuation devices may all be considered to be a part of this newly developing discourse which specifically facilitates communication over the internet (Holt, R. (2004) 129-130). These aspects of language and how language is represented have changed to reflect and to facilitate online communication and the development of new relationships through the medium of the internet (Holt, R. (2004) 129-132). Images and self-representations will be looked at in minute detail; these images and representations will be deconstructed and looked at in their most basic terms. It is hoped that this focus will allow the writer to consider the research question in a comprehensive and minutely detailed manner. It is anticipated that such a focus will impart an original and innovative insight into the subject of computer mediated discourses and the increasing importance of the internet in the lives of young people (20-25) in Greece and Greeks abroad in the Twenty First century. CHAPTER TWO Research Question and Theory The Hi5 Website: What is it? This website is an internet community where friendships and romantic attachments are solicited by members. The site enables members to represent themselves and to enable others to view what they have to say about themselves, remotely through the internet. The site itself involves the use of a database of individuals all over the world who have added internet pages describing themselves; their characteristics and interests. These descriptions are referred to as profiles and are added to the database which may be searched by prospective members and member of the Hi5 website alike. Members generally add photographs of themselves, and their friends and sometimes the members can add links and descriptions of the music that they like to listen to. Primarily the website is aimed at individuals from all ethnicities who are in their twenties, and who would like to make friends, stay in touch with friends or form romantic attachments to new people over the internet. The site allows companies and other advertisers to advertise their services on the website, which allows the website to disseminate products and services which may be of interest to young people within the 20-25 age group. The website is also different from online dating services as the romantic connections which may be formed through the internet are not the principal selling point of the website. The ideas of friendship, self representation and companionship are instead emphasised. Certainly, the idea of romantic attachments is something which the website may facilitate, but its capacity to do so is understated and not focused upon. Therefore the website describes and sells itself as primarily designed to enable people to form platonic relationships through using its facilities. What is Communication? Communication, at its most basic level may be understood as a way to convey messages and emotions between human beings (Duranti, A. (1997) 23-25) (Jennings, B. and Heath, R. (2000) 91). This is done mainly (although not exclusively as we will see explained below) through the use of language (Kaplan, R. (2002) Ch. 1), which is a complex collection of symbols which have specific meanings and when used collectively may be understood to represent codifications of human emotions and messages. The system of symbols which may be understood as the building blocks of a language do not have meaning in themselves; rather they represent meaning when they are arranged within certain patterns which are objectively recognisable by others who wish to interpret them. Therefore the signals which are relied upon in the context of language are constructed; they are not generic or pre-existing. This complex system of symbols allows humans to make others understand messages which have a generic codified meaning, which may be understood objectively, and cognitively. It is important to understand communication in these terms within the context of this thesis enquiry as it is an understanding of this particular property of communication which will allow the writer to comment upon the language used on Hi5 in an abstracted and theoretical manner. This will facilitate the methodology of discourse analysis and semiotics which underpins the thesis. Communication is therefore a cognitive process (Ellis, D. (1999) 1) (Giora, R. (2003) 13). It is essentially a manipulation of the senses of humans through systematic representations of meaning and images (Ellis, D. (1999) 1). Communication does not just involve language; one can communicate at many levels (Ellis, D. (1999) 1-3) (Giora, R. (2003) 13) (Turkle, S. (1997) Ch.1). Facial expressions; sign language; body language; intonation; voice pitch and just a few mechanisms which may be used to communicate without the use of language. Language may employ these techniques in an integrated manner, as communication rarely adopts a singular mode. Therefore the clothes we wear (their colours and texture); the facial and bodily expressions we adopt; the mannerisms we adopt; various postures and the signals which we give out are all complex and systematic methods of communicating (Duranti, A. (1997) 23-25). The underlying system (culture) is what allows one to describe these processes as both communicative and connected with language (Duranti, A. (1997) 23-25) (Fairclough, N. (2003) 124). Language may be described through the idea of a discourse (Fairclough, N. (2003) 124) (Chimombo, M. and Roseberry, R. (1998) 5). Discourses are particular amalgams of how language has come to be used within particular spheres for specific purposes (Chimombo, M. and Roseberry, R. (1998) 5). These purposes may be political, sociological and even ideological in nature (Duranti, A. (1997) 23-25) (Fairclough, N. (2003) 124). What makes a discourse a discourse is the style in which the language and communication techniques are manifested. These may be identified objectively and regarded as belonging within one given discourse. It is often the case that a discourse will be uniquely identifiable. Discourse may be understood at the level of lexicographical constructions and syntax (Fairclough, N. (2003) 123-124) (Chimombo, M. and Roseberry, R. (1998) 6). In this sense the discourse which is understood is viewed in a more mechanical and objective manner. Discourses of this modality will mainly occupy the methodological framework of the thesis, since this type of discourse analysis allows one to approach the understanding of the subject of electronic communication and socialisation techniques in an effective and simple way. Language also becomes a communication discourse when it is used as a system of communication within a particular community or culture (Fairclough, N. (2003) 124). This was Bourdieus viewpoint (Danaher, G., Fensham, R., Schirato, T., Threadgold, T. and Webb , J. (2002) 1). Pierre Bourdieu (1990) was one of the most influential communication theorists (Danaher, G., Fensham, R., Schirato, T., Threadgold, T. and Webb , J. (2002) 1). Pierre Bourdieu (1990) has attempted to deconstruct the idea of communication (Danaher, G., Fensham, R., Schirato, T., Threadgold, T. and Webb , J. (2002) 1) and to assist him he used the analogy of a map and a journey (Schirato and Yell (2000) p1). He argued that communication involved rules, conventions which map a language and that actual acts of communication were akin to the taking of journeys(Schirato and Yell (2000) p1). This broadly fits the writers earlier definition of communication which has been explained above as it explains how language symbols takes on a level of significance when they are arranged within a given structure or amalgam. Semiotics Communication may also be understood through the idea of signs and meanings (Giora, R. (2003) 13). Semiotics is perhaps a more abstract and theoretical way to understand the way that language is used to engender meaning. Saussure (1989) argued that the meaning of language is a subjective exercise whereby individuals read meanings into what he referred to as signs, which do not have any intrinsic meaning of themselves, but have meaning imputed into them by virtue of the meaning which is attached to them by people (Schirato and Yell (2000) p19). Therefore, for Saussure, language was not as important as what he regarded as its most basic constituent part; the sign. The sign is what is represented in relational terms and not in substantive terms through the medium of language and images (Schirato and Yell (2000) p19). Saussure split the idea of communication and meaning into three parts; the sign, the signifier and the signified, with the signifier meaning the actual physical manifestation or form of the sign (an example being a road sign or the written form of a word), and the signified meaning being what this physical form evokes and the sign itself being a combination of both the signified and the signifier (Schirato and Yell (2000) p20). Saussure believed that a sign was a link between a concept and a pattern of sound (Schirato and Yell (2000) p20), and that these linkages came together to comprise a semiotic system which disseminated meaning. What is Culture? Culture may be described in the following functional terms: In any society, culture, in its most general sense, is concerned with individuals in a group. It has four main functions: It determines the various ways open to the individual within the group to develop the self, and hence the group as well. It specifies means for self-preservation. It determines the individuals place within the group. And, it determines the individuals and the groups perception of the world. (Chimombo, M. and Roseberry, R. (1998) 6). Culture also constrains the perceptions which an individual may be exposed to and given that this exposure is generally delivered through discourses, it is important to understand the connections between culture and individual perceptions. Chimombo and Roseberry (1998) give us an account of this connection: The specific culture of the group restricts each of these cultural attributes to a range of values or possibilities deemed acceptable to the members of that culture. Thus, the ways in which an individual can achieve self-fulfilment or perceive the world within a given society are limited by that societys cultural norms and practices (Chimombo, M. and Roseberry, R. (1998) 6). What is the Internet? The internet is a complex network of technological communication mechanisms (Crystal, D. (2001) 24) (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56). These enable people to communicate through the use of computers (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56). The internet itself is both a communication mechanism and a source of information (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56) as it also allows the user to search vast databases of information using key word searches (Crystal, D. (2001) 24). It has changed the way that business, politics, government, education, communication and commercial affairs are conducted (Gauntlett, D., Gottlieb, N. and Mclelland, M. (2003) 19) (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56), and has enabled individuals both to access and to disseminate information more quickly and effectively (Crystal, D. (2001) 24) (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56). In this sense therefore the internet represents a mode of communication which is electronic in nature (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56), and the world is connected through this mode. This electronic characteri stic of the internet means that various modes of media may be enabled through the internet and these media connect people on another level (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56). How has the Internet Changed the Lives of Greek 20-25 Year Olds? Greek individuals in the 20-25 categories have been particularly susceptible to the changes which the internet has both precipitated and facilitated. It is often the case that a primary concern of those belonging to this age category will be romantically unattached and seeking to form relationships, both in the form of friendships and sexual partnerships. Therefore, it is important for one to understand that the internet is integrated within the lives of Greeks between 20-25, given the role it plays in allowing for relationships to be instigated and explored. The internet is a forum for these relationships to be instigated and played out (Kendall, L. (2002) 139-141). In the globalised world where technological advancement features strongly in the lives of most individuals this is not a surprising that the internet would be integrated in this way into such a fundamental sphere of the lives of these individuals (Gauntlett, D., Gottlieb, N. and Mclelland, M. (2003) 19) (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) 3). It is impossible to integrate the internet to this extent within a persons life, without the integration producing noticeable effects in both the offline and online settings. It is possible to infer from this, that offline relationships as well as the motivations and expectations of people that become members will be moulded and shaped through this process of integration. This rationalisation will be borne out in the next section. The offline relationships of individuals who also have access to online channels of communication will be affected in a number of ways. For example, it is often the case that the internet simply removes the inhibitions which are often experienced at the outset of a relationship (friendship or sexual). In a sense, the approach which may be employed between two people who are interested in one another is made easier and the fact that the feelings of rejection which may be experienced by a person after a spurned advance can be compensated for by that person, through withdrawing communication effectively and efficiently. The person in question can make their profile invisible and can also choose to which members their profiles can be made visible to. In a sense therefore traditional methods of engaging the opposite sex (or the same sex in the case of non heterosexual encounters) in conversation have been redefined through electronic discourse. Crews and Thierer (2003) give us a springboard upon which to elaborate on this point by explaining the system of rules and conventions which underpin the use of the internet: There are rules. Some of them are mechanical in the sense that the architecture of the Internet and the protocols that define its function determine the way in which it operates and the way in which applications like e-mail are or can be supported. Others are a consequence of policies set in a variety of venues and jurisdictions and informed or motivated by a variety of constituencies. (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) vii). Electronic discourse have facilitated the adoption of these rules and protocols to allow for easier and more relaxed connections to be established through the use of friendship databases such as Hi 5. This point will be backed up more thoroughly using primary research in the next section, in which syntax and the formations of language will be deconstructed and extrapolated to show how the language itself is a vehicle for these particular functionalities. For the moment it is enough to point out that these electronic discourses are driven by individual preferences of internet users. Crews and Thierer (2003) reinforce the point: Some rules may even be said to be set by the personal preferences and behaviours of Internet users, almost independent of outside forces. The ensemble of rule sets does not form a consistent or even coherent whole and there are notable conflicts, especially as local jurisdictions seek to enforce local rules on a system that is patently global (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) vii). Another point to be made about how useful the internet has proven in the lives of young Greeks is that fact that in purely logistical terms, traditional forums which are used to meet members of the opposite sex are not very effectual for the person who seeks to meet new people. Nightclubs for example could be a classic example. These venues are often very noisy and crowded. Interaction in such environments may be stressful and cumbersome. Therefore people tend to stick within the groups of people that they are familiar with and it is often difficult, for individuals to penetrate these niches, and thus strike up relationships with new people. The internet, and in particular websites such as Hi5 remove this logistical difficulty. It provides a safe and comfortable venue where relationships may be initiated on neutral terms, and the conventions which have evolved allow for interaction to flow smoothly within this environment. In terms of online and offline relationships, the sphere of socialisation which websites such as Hi5 provides often brings these two settings together, and it is perhaps unusual for a person within the age group to led an online life which is entirely separate from their offline lives. It is perhaps true that there are rules and conventions which govern the behaviour of actors within the two spheres in different ways; however this does not mean that in practical, physical terms the two spheres are separated. In actuality the two spheres have become more integrated than ever, as the internet grows in influence and importance. The impact of globalisation, also has made the internet very important in the lives of people within the age category 20-25 (Aitchison, J. and Lewis, D. (2003) 1) (Johnson, D. and Turner, C. (2003) Ch.1). The world is more technologically interconnected and cultures and foreign countries are more accessible than ever before (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) 3), making them more relevant in the lives of Greeks within this age group. This globalisation of culture is of particular relevance in this context, for Greeks within the 20-25 age groups. Given that Greece has become part of the European Union, free movement between European countries has heightened the changes that have taken place on a cultural level to an even greater extent, and this has allowed for greater integration between cultures online. This has changed socialisation processes. In this sense the internet may be understood as a virtual space in which people can meet and exchange ideas. However, the ways in which these outcomes are achieved may not be understood without looking more closely as the way that human relationships are formed through the internet, through electronic means and how this spills over into conventional human interplays. To identify the age of narcissism in the question title is arguably a meaningless endeavour. It is facile to tie narcissism just with contemporary society. The reality is that this is a universal concept which has many applications within both the traditional and the contemporary. We find narcissism everywhere; it is not just a generic feature of the internet, or generically manifested through internet discourses. Therefore the proposition in the thesis title that puts forward the view that the internet represents social reality in an age of narcissism is an over simplification of a process (narcissism) which pervades so ciety at many levels; not just specifically through the internet. Certainly one cannot deny that the internet and the Hi5 site can be a vehicle for narcissism in terms of individual modalities of self-representations. The images of the body, images of self which are communicated through text and image convey narcissistic tendencies. Indeed, this however is perhaps not just a cultural construct, but a more basic survival mechanism. The title proposition which insinuates that narcissism is a purely self indulgent process therefore fails to understand the various applications which narcissism may have within the context of human development (which must be set apart from mere social reality). Let us look for example at human reproduction. This is a natural instinct within most humans, and narcissism assists the human in attracting a mate; the presentation of self within particular terms is therefore not self indulgent, per se (it may be this of course, but the point here is that this is not the only function of narcissism); it is also a tool which is u sed by humans to present and project themselves as attractive potential mates. Therefore narcissism facilitates human socialisation at the most basic of levels. It is not a superfluous mechanism in which social reality is defined as the title implies. It has a base function which assists humans to find and attract partners through the internet and electronic discourses. However, since the title proposition that the Hi5 website is social reality in an age of narcissism has been critiqued here, let us turn to the alternative proposition which is presented in the question title; is the site just virtual reality? This too is far too narrow a definition of what the site may be to be a credible description of the site. The fact is that the site cannot be simply virtual reality, given its function within both online and offline relationships. This has been argued above. The internet site involves a degree of integration between online and offline expectations and motivations which prove that it is therefore not just virtual; it cant be simply this. It is a complex interconnected network which cannot be pigeonholed into either the category of virtual reality or social reality in an age of narcissism. Both of these representations misunderstand the use and importance of the internet site to society. They force the concept of the internet site into a narrow b olthole which cannot accommodate the complexities of a mechanism such as the Hi5. To present this question as if a choice must be made between the two implies that one of the other is an accurate representation of what the internet site is. The argument of this thesis is that this is a false premise to begin from. The internet site and the mode of its dissemination, the internet has become so integrated; so important and so pervasive that to define it in such narrow terms is both to do it a disservice and to misunderstand its function, and use. The next chapter will turn to the methodology of the thesis enquiry. It will discuss the different paradigms of research and it will explain how the research methodology of this thesis has been chosen and the reasons why. An argument will be made that qualitative research is more compatible with the overall aim of the thesis enquiry and therefore it has been the most appropriate means through which the research is the be carried out. CHAPTER THREE Methodology This chapter will firstly ask some questions about the nature, structure and applicability of certain methodologies within the framework of this research project. It will then go on to outline which methodology will be used as the foundation for the thesis and will explain why. In this way the advantages and disadvantages of each methodological framework will be evaluated and explained and the suitability of particular methodological frameworks will for this linguistic and discourse orientated project will be outlined. Firstly, what is methodology? Methodology involves two separate paradigms; qualitative (phenomenological) and quantitative (positivist) (Darlington, Y. and Scott, D. (2002) 1-6). The main difference which may be identified between the two paradigms of research is that qualitative method involves a socially constructed matrix of understanding (Darlington, Y. and Scott, D. (2002) 1-6). Conversely the quantitative seeks to understand phenomena through objective observation and hypothesising (Darlington, Y. and Scott, D. (2002) 1-6). Characteristics of qualitative research therefore are that it tends to be specific, confirmatory, scientific and outcome orientated (Jensen, K. (2002) 230). Characteristics of qualitative research involve explanatory aims and the method involved tends to be more situational than outcome oriented (Bauer, M. (2000) 4). The aim of qualitative research is to understand and interpret viewpoints subjectively whereas qualitative research involves more concrete and deductive foundations of research (Darlington, Y. and Scott, D. (2002) 1-6). The methodology which will be used will primarily be qualitative in nature. There will be interviews conducted with interested parties in the field of friendship databases, there will be a semiotic and discourse analysis of the Hi5 website and there will be a questionnaire; the results of which will be interpreted qualitatively. Therefore the research design will be both constructed and interpreted qualitatively. The sampling of data will involve random internet searches of the Hi5 website and the writer will use themselves as a device to take in views and imagery which will be presented in the results chapter and assessed through qualitative means. The targets of the writer in terms of samples for the research will take the form of firstly, the Hi5 website itself, and then profiles will be consulted. The writer will try to focus specifically upon an analysis of just Greek profiles, since the website allows one to narrow ones search on the basis of ethnicity. It must be emphasised that while this does narrow down the pool of profiles, the writer has no control over which profiles are presented, other than to specify that they should be from persons who classify themselves as Greeks. Therefore the integrity of the research in terms of using random data is preserved. Sampling techniques are very important to preserve the qualitative integrity of the research and therefore its credibility. The writer has been careful to attempt to examine profiles from both genders and to examine representations of both the male and female forms, since the factor which the writer would like to control is ethnicity (therefore just Greek profiles will be focused on primarily). The writer has attempted to guarantee that random material has been generated and has relied upon the mechanism on the Hi5 website itself which allows one to generate random searches. Representativeness too was considered throughout the research. As the topics which were under consideration were imagery, self representation and the concept of the self and body, it was important to have sufficient diversity within the constraints of the research variables which were to be controlled (i.e. age (20-25) and ethnicity Greekne Impact of the Internet on Relationships of 20-25 Year Olds Impact of the Internet on Relationships of 20-25 Year Olds An electronic space for meeting new people, staying connected with friends and sharing ideas: Virtual reality or social reality in the age of narcissism? A study of hi5 network as an online community; its connection to offline relationships and motivations and expectations of people that become members. CHAPTER ONE Abstract The internet has changed the lives of many individuals and, with millions of people online it arguably represents the single most influential technological advancement of the Twenty First century (Aitchison, J. and Lewis, D. (2003) 1) (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) 3). Therefore the world of the internet is one which becomes more and more relevant in the lives of individuals across the world (Aitchison, J. and Lewis, D. (2003) 1) (Gauntlett, D., Gottlieb, N. and Mclelland, M. (2003) 19). The internet has touched the lives of most people within the 20-25 age groups, and this it perhaps even more relevant within Greek society, where internet dating and socialising has proven exceptionally popular. It is therefore not surprising that the internet is used effectively as a medium for the formation of relationships. The internet has given us electronic mail; internet blogs; pop-up message advertising; video messaging; smiley faces; on-line dating and friendship services; instant messages and internet threads and all of these have changed the way that individuals communicate with one another (Aitchison, J. and Lewis, D. (2003) 1) (Jordan, T. (1999) Ch.1). These more contemporary methods of communicating have impacted society at many levels (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) 3) (Gauntlett, D., Gottlieb, N. and Mclelland, M. (2003) 19) and this may be seen through an analysis of contemporary communication discourses and methods of socialisation. Specifically, the website www.hi5.com has provided a nexus where all of these technological and communication techniques have recognition and importance. Hi5 is an online community where communication is uniquely confined to electronic means and discourses. Introduction This thesis will explore the relevance of the internet to the formation of key social relationships within the 20-25 age group of Greek society. The fact that the formation of relationships online influences and shapes the nature of relationships offline is an interesting one to approach and it will be focused on throughout the thesis. The nature of the internet and specifically websites such as Hi5 as an electronic space which facilities human interaction and the maintenance of relationships will be considered. The dichotomy between social and virtual reality will be broached within this context and the writer will attempt to comment on which description of the internet is most appropriate. The question of whether the internet is a social reality in an age of narcissism or a virtual reality will also be addressed within the research. The subject matter of the thesis will also involve a consideration of the ways that the internet has indirectly and directly affected offline relationships and the motivations and expectations of people that become members. This is an important perspective; however it is one that could easily be neglected. Therefore one of the most important points which the thesis will seek to express is the pervasiveness of the internet, and specifically the pervasiveness of the online community which engages Greeks in the 20-25 age group, and its ability to influence their offline as well as online lives, self representations, motivations and expectations. The thesis will attempt to argue that the internet is an important mechanism of social interaction, which should not be pigeon-holed to simply make what is anyway a facile critique of the internet (i.e. that the internet simply promotes narcissism), more convenient to articulate. This chapter will provide the skeleton framework through which this argument will be made. The chapter will provide definitions of the internet, communication, language, computer mediated discourse, and semiotics and these definitions will be used as a springboard to discuss how the internet has changed the lives of Greeks within the 20-25 year age category. Wider issues such as globalisation, self representation, creativity and technological advancement (Smith, M. and Kollock, P. (1998) 4) will also be considered in this chapter since these are intrinsic to the ultimate argument of the thesis that internet friendship databases such as Hi5 are crucially important and representative of developments in human socialisation patterns. The effects of these processes will be extrapolated within the context of the research question and they will assist the writer to achieve a more in depth understanding of the significance of the internet within the social circles of Greeks within the 20-25 age group. The models of analysis that will be used will be discourse analysis and semiotic analysis of text and images. The profiles of Greek members of Hi5 will be widely consulted and primary research in the form of interviews and a questionnaire-based study will be consulted and evaluated qualitatively in the analysis of all of the above mentioned issues. Therefore there will be a lexicographical and semiotic extrapolation of both text and imagery to assist the writer in answering the question of whether the internet as a social medium/social hub is a positive development and to comment upon the question title. Computer mediated electronic discourse is the label given to describe electronic discourses (Holt, R. (2004) 129) and the effects which they produce at the level of social interaction between humans. Lexicographical sequences, syntax, the length and structure of sentences, the use of colloquial words and phrases and elaborate uses for punctuation devices may all be considered to be a part of this newly developing discourse which specifically facilitates communication over the internet (Holt, R. (2004) 129-130). These aspects of language and how language is represented have changed to reflect and to facilitate online communication and the development of new relationships through the medium of the internet (Holt, R. (2004) 129-132). Images and self-representations will be looked at in minute detail; these images and representations will be deconstructed and looked at in their most basic terms. It is hoped that this focus will allow the writer to consider the research question in a comprehensive and minutely detailed manner. It is anticipated that such a focus will impart an original and innovative insight into the subject of computer mediated discourses and the increasing importance of the internet in the lives of young people (20-25) in Greece and Greeks abroad in the Twenty First century. CHAPTER TWO Research Question and Theory The Hi5 Website: What is it? This website is an internet community where friendships and romantic attachments are solicited by members. The site enables members to represent themselves and to enable others to view what they have to say about themselves, remotely through the internet. The site itself involves the use of a database of individuals all over the world who have added internet pages describing themselves; their characteristics and interests. These descriptions are referred to as profiles and are added to the database which may be searched by prospective members and member of the Hi5 website alike. Members generally add photographs of themselves, and their friends and sometimes the members can add links and descriptions of the music that they like to listen to. Primarily the website is aimed at individuals from all ethnicities who are in their twenties, and who would like to make friends, stay in touch with friends or form romantic attachments to new people over the internet. The site allows companies and other advertisers to advertise their services on the website, which allows the website to disseminate products and services which may be of interest to young people within the 20-25 age group. The website is also different from online dating services as the romantic connections which may be formed through the internet are not the principal selling point of the website. The ideas of friendship, self representation and companionship are instead emphasised. Certainly, the idea of romantic attachments is something which the website may facilitate, but its capacity to do so is understated and not focused upon. Therefore the website describes and sells itself as primarily designed to enable people to form platonic relationships through using its facilities. What is Communication? Communication, at its most basic level may be understood as a way to convey messages and emotions between human beings (Duranti, A. (1997) 23-25) (Jennings, B. and Heath, R. (2000) 91). This is done mainly (although not exclusively as we will see explained below) through the use of language (Kaplan, R. (2002) Ch. 1), which is a complex collection of symbols which have specific meanings and when used collectively may be understood to represent codifications of human emotions and messages. The system of symbols which may be understood as the building blocks of a language do not have meaning in themselves; rather they represent meaning when they are arranged within certain patterns which are objectively recognisable by others who wish to interpret them. Therefore the signals which are relied upon in the context of language are constructed; they are not generic or pre-existing. This complex system of symbols allows humans to make others understand messages which have a generic codified meaning, which may be understood objectively, and cognitively. It is important to understand communication in these terms within the context of this thesis enquiry as it is an understanding of this particular property of communication which will allow the writer to comment upon the language used on Hi5 in an abstracted and theoretical manner. This will facilitate the methodology of discourse analysis and semiotics which underpins the thesis. Communication is therefore a cognitive process (Ellis, D. (1999) 1) (Giora, R. (2003) 13). It is essentially a manipulation of the senses of humans through systematic representations of meaning and images (Ellis, D. (1999) 1). Communication does not just involve language; one can communicate at many levels (Ellis, D. (1999) 1-3) (Giora, R. (2003) 13) (Turkle, S. (1997) Ch.1). Facial expressions; sign language; body language; intonation; voice pitch and just a few mechanisms which may be used to communicate without the use of language. Language may employ these techniques in an integrated manner, as communication rarely adopts a singular mode. Therefore the clothes we wear (their colours and texture); the facial and bodily expressions we adopt; the mannerisms we adopt; various postures and the signals which we give out are all complex and systematic methods of communicating (Duranti, A. (1997) 23-25). The underlying system (culture) is what allows one to describe these processes as both communicative and connected with language (Duranti, A. (1997) 23-25) (Fairclough, N. (2003) 124). Language may be described through the idea of a discourse (Fairclough, N. (2003) 124) (Chimombo, M. and Roseberry, R. (1998) 5). Discourses are particular amalgams of how language has come to be used within particular spheres for specific purposes (Chimombo, M. and Roseberry, R. (1998) 5). These purposes may be political, sociological and even ideological in nature (Duranti, A. (1997) 23-25) (Fairclough, N. (2003) 124). What makes a discourse a discourse is the style in which the language and communication techniques are manifested. These may be identified objectively and regarded as belonging within one given discourse. It is often the case that a discourse will be uniquely identifiable. Discourse may be understood at the level of lexicographical constructions and syntax (Fairclough, N. (2003) 123-124) (Chimombo, M. and Roseberry, R. (1998) 6). In this sense the discourse which is understood is viewed in a more mechanical and objective manner. Discourses of this modality will mainly occupy the methodological framework of the thesis, since this type of discourse analysis allows one to approach the understanding of the subject of electronic communication and socialisation techniques in an effective and simple way. Language also becomes a communication discourse when it is used as a system of communication within a particular community or culture (Fairclough, N. (2003) 124). This was Bourdieus viewpoint (Danaher, G., Fensham, R., Schirato, T., Threadgold, T. and Webb , J. (2002) 1). Pierre Bourdieu (1990) was one of the most influential communication theorists (Danaher, G., Fensham, R., Schirato, T., Threadgold, T. and Webb , J. (2002) 1). Pierre Bourdieu (1990) has attempted to deconstruct the idea of communication (Danaher, G., Fensham, R., Schirato, T., Threadgold, T. and Webb , J. (2002) 1) and to assist him he used the analogy of a map and a journey (Schirato and Yell (2000) p1). He argued that communication involved rules, conventions which map a language and that actual acts of communication were akin to the taking of journeys(Schirato and Yell (2000) p1). This broadly fits the writers earlier definition of communication which has been explained above as it explains how language symbols takes on a level of significance when they are arranged within a given structure or amalgam. Semiotics Communication may also be understood through the idea of signs and meanings (Giora, R. (2003) 13). Semiotics is perhaps a more abstract and theoretical way to understand the way that language is used to engender meaning. Saussure (1989) argued that the meaning of language is a subjective exercise whereby individuals read meanings into what he referred to as signs, which do not have any intrinsic meaning of themselves, but have meaning imputed into them by virtue of the meaning which is attached to them by people (Schirato and Yell (2000) p19). Therefore, for Saussure, language was not as important as what he regarded as its most basic constituent part; the sign. The sign is what is represented in relational terms and not in substantive terms through the medium of language and images (Schirato and Yell (2000) p19). Saussure split the idea of communication and meaning into three parts; the sign, the signifier and the signified, with the signifier meaning the actual physical manifestation or form of the sign (an example being a road sign or the written form of a word), and the signified meaning being what this physical form evokes and the sign itself being a combination of both the signified and the signifier (Schirato and Yell (2000) p20). Saussure believed that a sign was a link between a concept and a pattern of sound (Schirato and Yell (2000) p20), and that these linkages came together to comprise a semiotic system which disseminated meaning. What is Culture? Culture may be described in the following functional terms: In any society, culture, in its most general sense, is concerned with individuals in a group. It has four main functions: It determines the various ways open to the individual within the group to develop the self, and hence the group as well. It specifies means for self-preservation. It determines the individuals place within the group. And, it determines the individuals and the groups perception of the world. (Chimombo, M. and Roseberry, R. (1998) 6). Culture also constrains the perceptions which an individual may be exposed to and given that this exposure is generally delivered through discourses, it is important to understand the connections between culture and individual perceptions. Chimombo and Roseberry (1998) give us an account of this connection: The specific culture of the group restricts each of these cultural attributes to a range of values or possibilities deemed acceptable to the members of that culture. Thus, the ways in which an individual can achieve self-fulfilment or perceive the world within a given society are limited by that societys cultural norms and practices (Chimombo, M. and Roseberry, R. (1998) 6). What is the Internet? The internet is a complex network of technological communication mechanisms (Crystal, D. (2001) 24) (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56). These enable people to communicate through the use of computers (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56). The internet itself is both a communication mechanism and a source of information (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56) as it also allows the user to search vast databases of information using key word searches (Crystal, D. (2001) 24). It has changed the way that business, politics, government, education, communication and commercial affairs are conducted (Gauntlett, D., Gottlieb, N. and Mclelland, M. (2003) 19) (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56), and has enabled individuals both to access and to disseminate information more quickly and effectively (Crystal, D. (2001) 24) (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56). In this sense therefore the internet represents a mode of communication which is electronic in nature (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56), and the world is connected through this mode. This electronic characteri stic of the internet means that various modes of media may be enabled through the internet and these media connect people on another level (Gattiker, U. (2001) 56). How has the Internet Changed the Lives of Greek 20-25 Year Olds? Greek individuals in the 20-25 categories have been particularly susceptible to the changes which the internet has both precipitated and facilitated. It is often the case that a primary concern of those belonging to this age category will be romantically unattached and seeking to form relationships, both in the form of friendships and sexual partnerships. Therefore, it is important for one to understand that the internet is integrated within the lives of Greeks between 20-25, given the role it plays in allowing for relationships to be instigated and explored. The internet is a forum for these relationships to be instigated and played out (Kendall, L. (2002) 139-141). In the globalised world where technological advancement features strongly in the lives of most individuals this is not a surprising that the internet would be integrated in this way into such a fundamental sphere of the lives of these individuals (Gauntlett, D., Gottlieb, N. and Mclelland, M. (2003) 19) (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) 3). It is impossible to integrate the internet to this extent within a persons life, without the integration producing noticeable effects in both the offline and online settings. It is possible to infer from this, that offline relationships as well as the motivations and expectations of people that become members will be moulded and shaped through this process of integration. This rationalisation will be borne out in the next section. The offline relationships of individuals who also have access to online channels of communication will be affected in a number of ways. For example, it is often the case that the internet simply removes the inhibitions which are often experienced at the outset of a relationship (friendship or sexual). In a sense, the approach which may be employed between two people who are interested in one another is made easier and the fact that the feelings of rejection which may be experienced by a person after a spurned advance can be compensated for by that person, through withdrawing communication effectively and efficiently. The person in question can make their profile invisible and can also choose to which members their profiles can be made visible to. In a sense therefore traditional methods of engaging the opposite sex (or the same sex in the case of non heterosexual encounters) in conversation have been redefined through electronic discourse. Crews and Thierer (2003) give us a springboard upon which to elaborate on this point by explaining the system of rules and conventions which underpin the use of the internet: There are rules. Some of them are mechanical in the sense that the architecture of the Internet and the protocols that define its function determine the way in which it operates and the way in which applications like e-mail are or can be supported. Others are a consequence of policies set in a variety of venues and jurisdictions and informed or motivated by a variety of constituencies. (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) vii). Electronic discourse have facilitated the adoption of these rules and protocols to allow for easier and more relaxed connections to be established through the use of friendship databases such as Hi 5. This point will be backed up more thoroughly using primary research in the next section, in which syntax and the formations of language will be deconstructed and extrapolated to show how the language itself is a vehicle for these particular functionalities. For the moment it is enough to point out that these electronic discourses are driven by individual preferences of internet users. Crews and Thierer (2003) reinforce the point: Some rules may even be said to be set by the personal preferences and behaviours of Internet users, almost independent of outside forces. The ensemble of rule sets does not form a consistent or even coherent whole and there are notable conflicts, especially as local jurisdictions seek to enforce local rules on a system that is patently global (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) vii). Another point to be made about how useful the internet has proven in the lives of young Greeks is that fact that in purely logistical terms, traditional forums which are used to meet members of the opposite sex are not very effectual for the person who seeks to meet new people. Nightclubs for example could be a classic example. These venues are often very noisy and crowded. Interaction in such environments may be stressful and cumbersome. Therefore people tend to stick within the groups of people that they are familiar with and it is often difficult, for individuals to penetrate these niches, and thus strike up relationships with new people. The internet, and in particular websites such as Hi5 remove this logistical difficulty. It provides a safe and comfortable venue where relationships may be initiated on neutral terms, and the conventions which have evolved allow for interaction to flow smoothly within this environment. In terms of online and offline relationships, the sphere of socialisation which websites such as Hi5 provides often brings these two settings together, and it is perhaps unusual for a person within the age group to led an online life which is entirely separate from their offline lives. It is perhaps true that there are rules and conventions which govern the behaviour of actors within the two spheres in different ways; however this does not mean that in practical, physical terms the two spheres are separated. In actuality the two spheres have become more integrated than ever, as the internet grows in influence and importance. The impact of globalisation, also has made the internet very important in the lives of people within the age category 20-25 (Aitchison, J. and Lewis, D. (2003) 1) (Johnson, D. and Turner, C. (2003) Ch.1). The world is more technologically interconnected and cultures and foreign countries are more accessible than ever before (Crews, C. and Thierer, A. (2003) 3), making them more relevant in the lives of Greeks within this age group. This globalisation of culture is of particular relevance in this context, for Greeks within the 20-25 age groups. Given that Greece has become part of the European Union, free movement between European countries has heightened the changes that have taken place on a cultural level to an even greater extent, and this has allowed for greater integration between cultures online. This has changed socialisation processes. In this sense the internet may be understood as a virtual space in which people can meet and exchange ideas. However, the ways in which these outcomes are achieved may not be understood without looking more closely as the way that human relationships are formed through the internet, through electronic means and how this spills over into conventional human interplays. To identify the age of narcissism in the question title is arguably a meaningless endeavour. It is facile to tie narcissism just with contemporary society. The reality is that this is a universal concept which has many applications within both the traditional and the contemporary. We find narcissism everywhere; it is not just a generic feature of the internet, or generically manifested through internet discourses. Therefore the proposition in the thesis title that puts forward the view that the internet represents social reality in an age of narcissism is an over simplification of a process (narcissism) which pervades so ciety at many levels; not just specifically through the internet. Certainly one cannot deny that the internet and the Hi5 site can be a vehicle for narcissism in terms of individual modalities of self-representations. The images of the body, images of self which are communicated through text and image convey narcissistic tendencies. Indeed, this however is perhaps not just a cultural construct, but a more basic survival mechanism. The title proposition which insinuates that narcissism is a purely self indulgent process therefore fails to understand the various applications which narcissism may have within the context of human development (which must be set apart from mere social reality). Let us look for example at human reproduction. This is a natural instinct within most humans, and narcissism assists the human in attracting a mate; the presentation of self within particular terms is therefore not self indulgent, per se (it may be this of course, but the point here is that this is not the only function of narcissism); it is also a tool which is u sed by humans to present and project themselves as attractive potential mates. Therefore narcissism facilitates human socialisation at the most basic of levels. It is not a superfluous mechanism in which social reality is defined as the title implies. It has a base function which assists humans to find and attract partners through the internet and electronic discourses. However, since the title proposition that the Hi5 website is social reality in an age of narcissism has been critiqued here, let us turn to the alternative proposition which is presented in the question title; is the site just virtual reality? This too is far too narrow a definition of what the site may be to be a credible description of the site. The fact is that the site cannot be simply virtual reality, given its function within both online and offline relationships. This has been argued above. The internet site involves a degree of integration between online and offline expectations and motivations which prove that it is therefore not just virtual; it cant be simply this. It is a complex interconnected network which cannot be pigeonholed into either the category of virtual reality or social reality in an age of narcissism. Both of these representations misunderstand the use and importance of the internet site to society. They force the concept of the internet site into a narrow b olthole which cannot accommodate the complexities of a mechanism such as the Hi5. To present this question as if a choice must be made between the two implies that one of the other is an accurate representation of what the internet site is. The argument of this thesis is that this is a false premise to begin from. The internet site and the mode of its dissemination, the internet has become so integrated; so important and so pervasive that to define it in such narrow terms is both to do it a disservice and to misunderstand its function, and use. The next chapter will turn to the methodology of the thesis enquiry. It will discuss the different paradigms of research and it will explain how the research methodology of this thesis has been chosen and the reasons why. An argument will be made that qualitative research is more compatible with the overall aim of the thesis enquiry and therefore it has been the most appropriate means through which the research is the be carried out. CHAPTER THREE Methodology This chapter will firstly ask some questions about the nature, structure and applicability of certain methodologies within the framework of this research project. It will then go on to outline which methodology will be used as the foundation for the thesis and will explain why. In this way the advantages and disadvantages of each methodological framework will be evaluated and explained and the suitability of particular methodological frameworks will for this linguistic and discourse orientated project will be outlined. Firstly, what is methodology? Methodology involves two separate paradigms; qualitative (phenomenological) and quantitative (positivist) (Darlington, Y. and Scott, D. (2002) 1-6). The main difference which may be identified between the two paradigms of research is that qualitative method involves a socially constructed matrix of understanding (Darlington, Y. and Scott, D. (2002) 1-6). Conversely the quantitative seeks to understand phenomena through objective observation and hypothesising (Darlington, Y. and Scott, D. (2002) 1-6). Characteristics of qualitative research therefore are that it tends to be specific, confirmatory, scientific and outcome orientated (Jensen, K. (2002) 230). Characteristics of qualitative research involve explanatory aims and the method involved tends to be more situational than outcome oriented (Bauer, M. (2000) 4). The aim of qualitative research is to understand and interpret viewpoints subjectively whereas qualitative research involves more concrete and deductive foundations of research (Darlington, Y. and Scott, D. (2002) 1-6). The methodology which will be used will primarily be qualitative in nature. There will be interviews conducted with interested parties in the field of friendship databases, there will be a semiotic and discourse analysis of the Hi5 website and there will be a questionnaire; the results of which will be interpreted qualitatively. Therefore the research design will be both constructed and interpreted qualitatively. The sampling of data will involve random internet searches of the Hi5 website and the writer will use themselves as a device to take in views and imagery which will be presented in the results chapter and assessed through qualitative means. The targets of the writer in terms of samples for the research will take the form of firstly, the Hi5 website itself, and then profiles will be consulted. The writer will try to focus specifically upon an analysis of just Greek profiles, since the website allows one to narrow ones search on the basis of ethnicity. It must be emphasised that while this does narrow down the pool of profiles, the writer has no control over which profiles are presented, other than to specify that they should be from persons who classify themselves as Greeks. Therefore the integrity of the research in terms of using random data is preserved. Sampling techniques are very important to preserve the qualitative integrity of the research and therefore its credibility. The writer has been careful to attempt to examine profiles from both genders and to examine representations of both the male and female forms, since the factor which the writer would like to control is ethnicity (therefore just Greek profiles will be focused on primarily). The writer has attempted to guarantee that random material has been generated and has relied upon the mechanism on the Hi5 website itself which allows one to generate random searches. Representativeness too was considered throughout the research. As the topics which were under consideration were imagery, self representation and the concept of the self and body, it was important to have sufficient diversity within the constraints of the research variables which were to be controlled (i.e. age (20-25) and ethnicity Greekne