1. AI Art is the downfall of artists

Description: AI art is viewed as a threat to artists because it undermines the value of human creativity by automating the artistic process. With AI producing art rapidly and inexpensively, traditional artists may struggle to earn a living or differentiate themselves in the industry. Additionally, concerns about copyright constantly come up, as many AI programs use images without artists’ consent, raising ethical questions about the source of the data they rely on.

Link:https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jan/23/its-the-opposite-of-art-why-illustrators-are-furious-about-ai

Article Summary: This article from The Guardian discusses the growing concern among illustrators and artists about AI-generated art. AI tools like MidJourney, Stable Diffusion, and Deep Dream Generator have made creating images more accessible, often at the cost of ethical and creative integrity. Many artists argue that AI art lacks the emotional and nuanced processes that define human-made art. Illustrators like Harry Woodgate and Anoosha Syed note that AI systems simply copy existing work, making the potential to mimic specific artists’ styles a major concern–small jobs like book illustrations, fan art, and logos, which help new artists build portfolios, could disappear as clients turn to cheaper AI-generated options.

2. Minimum wage workers deserve higher pay

Description: Minimum wage workers deserve higher pay because they often perform essential jobs that keep society running, yet their current wages frequently fall short of covering basic living expenses. As the cost of living continues to rise, many minimum wage earners struggle to afford necessities like housing, healthcare, and food. It’s not fair to give them the short end of the stick when they are relied on so heavily.

Link:https://www.epi.org/publication/webfeatures_viewpoints_michl/

Article Summary: The article from Economic Policy Institute argues that despite critics’ claims that a higher minimum wage would destroy jobs, evidence suggests otherwise. A study conducted by economists David Card and Alan Krueger found that New Jersey’s 1992 wage increase did not reduce employment in fast-food restaurants, and critics’ counterclaims, based on alternative data, still showed no significant job loss. Overall, the article suggests that higher wages reduce turnover and improve productivity, which can offset the costs of wage hikes for employers.

3. AI’s negatively affecting college learning

AI negatively affects college learning by encouraging dependency on automated tools, which can undermine critical thinking and problem-solving skills. With easy access to AI-generated answers, students are tempted by its efficiency, leading to a superficial understanding rather than deep engagement with class material. Additionally, the rise of AI tools has made it harder to ensure academic integrity.

1. Assisted Suicide

• Assisted Suicide should be legalized by all 50 states of the United States because it an individual right to die in a way one wanted it to be. Rather than dying painfully or prolongedly, they can have a choice to died peacefully.

• Link: https://apnews.com/article/medical-aid-dying-legal-physician-assisted-suicide-b67affd86c1d1ce99379ed34bdb2946b

• The article discussed varies story of individual wanted to end their lives with help of physician. Most happening in states that allowed these procedure or patient who flew to states like Vermont and Oregon; legalized assisted suicide to Americans. It argues that people who are near to death should have a freedom how they wanted to end their life and should not be controlled by the hands of government. Moreover, the roles of Physician is to help patients so understanding patient need with their knowledge is an essential job for them to evaluate whether an patient is qualify for this practice.

“Medical-aid in dying is not me choosing to die,” she says she told her 17-year-old grandson. “I am going to die. But it is my way of having a little bit more control over what it looks like in the end.”

By  JESSE BEDAYN

2. Low Birth Rates

• Low Birth Rates shouldn’t be an big concern in today’s societies because countries are overpopulated. In addition, younger generation are having difficulty of finding jobs and opportunities than before.

• Link: https://populationconnection.org/blog/world-population-day-five-reasons-to-stop-panicking-over-low-birth rates/#:~:text=Being%20able%20to%20allocate%20more,social%20services%20and%20public%20infrastructure.

• The article claims low birth rate can be beneficial to the world because woman have become more independent and education than ever before so they have been considering more on career paths. Furthermore, the article argues that they world doesn’t require many new population due to many reason like global warming, consumerism, and species extinction. To sum up the world will be better with a slower birth rate on account of that newborn can have more resources and have an healthier living environment.

“Being able to allocate more resources and attention per child generally means kids grow up happier, healthier, and better prepared for the future.”

By Olivia Nater

3. Should aquarium exist?

• Aquarium should not exist because fish are slaves to the economic investment where wild species have to live a thick glass tank for rest of their life. Human disregards feeling of animals, the mental, and physical heath of animal stuck in an unnatural habitat.

Ideas:

Data Collections of Privacy on apps

• Most of the apps that we own on our phones have our personal data collected. Such as debit/credit cards, location, etc. It’s a bit scary– no? 
• https://time.com/6209991/apps-collecting-personal-data/
• The article explains how most apps collect your data location. Some people can be really sensitive about apps knowing where they are. Even if people delete apps there’s always some kind of data being tracked. 
• “people have to make a decision about what kind of society we want to live in, and particularly what kind of protections we want for the most vulnerable members of that society.”

Is esports dying? 

• The esports industry isn’t having the best time and definitely not profitable. There are many cases which causes this, the games, players, organizations. Having the esports industry to shutdown in the near future.
• https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/26/business/video-game-e-sports-profit.html
• The article shows that there are many fans who enjoy watching esport entertainment. Watching a favorite game or team in a competitive field can get exciting. Though esports teams don’t receive a lot of money, there is still hope in investors making esports dominant.
• “We were trying to accomplish as an industry what took the N.B.A. 50 years, but we were trying to do it within a five-year time period,” he said, referring to the many N.B.A. teams that were not immediately lucrative businesses. “Turns out that it doesn’t happen.”

How is technology affecting children today? 

Today many children are given technology at a younger age. As technology advances this could either benefit or lead a downfall to our future generations. 

1. Pros and Cons of social media

In social media, you will easily find like- minded people to interact with to share your interests. However, social media can also make people feel inferior because people compare themselves to each other.

-“The use of social networks is strongly correlated with the development of anxiety and other psychological problems such as depression, insomnia, stress, decreased subjective happiness, and a sense of mental deprivation.”

This article is about the disadvantage of social media. With the promotion of the internet, more and more people are now being affected by social media in a bad way, such as causing mental illnesses and unhealthy thoughts.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10129173/#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20social%20networks,attention%20to%20mental%20health%20care.

2. Are first impressions important?

The initial impression plays a decisive role in a person’s perception; it is often the basis for subsequent interactions and attitudes towards others, and if the impression is bad, there may be no subsequent interaction.

-“If your first impression communicates positive traits to others, this can often lead them to make further positive assumptions about you. ”

This article describes how first impressions can affect how others see you. Examples include eye contacts, hands shaking, and the way you dress. First impressions can influence others to make hasty judgments about what you hold to be wrong, and others can fabricate an overall image of you, that is often difficult to change.

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/importance-of-first-impressions#:~:text=to%20remember%20you-,If%20you’re%20able%20to%20make%20a%20good%20first%20impression,many%20scenarios%2C%20such%20as%20sales.

3. “Ladies first” contribute to gender inequality

“Ladies First” has never been about giving women preferential treatment in all respects or according to their wishes. The logic is to see men as the natural caregivers and women as the cared for.

Idea: Sexual/domestic abuse in a family household

I want to bring awareness to this specific topic on a deeper level by showing some of its psychological effects. But also tell the story of these families which have been through so much during their lifetime, I want to find out if other than women, that men can also be put in that position. Searching for at least one case of this that may have been successfully caught and stopped or that wasn’t found out until one may have died. Also, speaking on statistics of it, certain groups/races that this may be affected to more.

– For further analyzes they make many studies on different concerns about how it would affect later in life for the mom, dad, and child. This would lead to many factors of pregnancy’s, stress, and intimacy, that would cause certain things to happen later in life to each of the subjects talked about. With certain sections of people dealing with the abuse in many ways or even have postpartum stresses from the moment there child in born.

” However, mothers who are sexual abuse survivors may also express disbelief in their children because they fear revisiting their victimization. Their child’s disclosure of sexual abuse can trigger traumatic maternal emotions: memories of their sexual abuse, anger, fear, shock, distress, guilt, and helplessness.”

Hornor, Gail. “Child Sexual Abuse Victimization and Parenting.” Journal of Pediatric Health Care, vol. 38, no. 3, 30 Apr. 2024, pp. 438–449, www.jpedhc.org/article/S0891-5245(23)00277-8/fulltext, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2023.09.008.

– For a story so short many details were expressed about the truth of a relationship with can affect the person so much. In a way Abi was obsessed about her husband enough that she would never charge him with anything and would leave it like nothing happened. Even to the point where she had never experienced what true abuse was until her mom said she may die one of these day with everything that he does. Later she would find out that it was true and she may have died if it was not for the neighbors which stopped him, then after recovering she had stopped the farce and left him for good.

“I ran up the stairs and the next morning he apologized and said he didn’t mean to do it, he’d never do it again and how sorry he was for it. He said it was because of me, because I was screaming and shouting, and it was just to keep me quiet so that the neighbors wouldn’t hear. That was the first hit.”

““I Didn’t Know It Was Abuse until I Nearly Died.”” BBC News, 4 Feb. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/stories-51360772.

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1. The Incorporation of Minecraft Education in Classrooms
   • Minecraft, a popular sandbox game, has been increasingly popular to help students learn hands-on in classrooms. As the incorporation of this game grows popularity, some debate has been sparked on whether or not it’s beneficial for students to use in classrooms.
     • https://www.wired.com/story/government-education-advisor-condemns-minecraft-in-schools/#:~:text=We%20need%20to%20drain%20the%20swamp%20of%20gimmicks.%22&text=%22I%20would%20say%20to%20teachers,focusing%20on%20the%20wrong%20thing.%22
       • This article follows and argues with Tom Bennett’s comments about the addition of Minecraft to education. Tom Bennett is a director of researchED and Chair of the Department of Education’s behavior group. The article explains how many kids enjoy playing games often, and Minecraft provides a more hands-on learning experience of “doing” rather than memorization. It argues that Bennett’s comments are ignorant of the value Minecraft brings to classrooms, and in general, the value of gaming to education.
         • “I would say to teachers: ‘Do you need to use this game or is there something that is cheaper and better – like books?’,” Bennett continued. “By offering a game and a gimmicky way of learning a subject, you run a real risk of children focusing on the wrong thing.”
2. Matcha vs. Coffee
   • Matcha, a powdered green tea originating from Japan, has been growing popularity in the west. Some people have replaced matcha teas over coffee for their go-to drinks to start the morning. However, which one is the healthier choice?
     • https://www.outsideonline.com/food/drinks/i-swapped-coffee-for-matcha/
       • This article follows a girl who usually drinks coffee, but wants to see if she can switch to matcha tea, after seeing her dad drink it. She documents every week from the process of quitting coffee to making and trying different types of matcha. In the end, she found herself drinking matcha and she didn’t have an itch to go back to coffee.
         • The number one thing Ravella warned me about was the side effects of drastically lowering my daily caffeine consumption. On average, one cup of matcha contains 70mg of caffeine, compared to coffee’s 95-100mg.
3. Should menstrual products be free?
   • Menstruating is something all or most women go through in their lives, but many agree that these products are growing increasingly overpriced, especially since its a necessity for women’s health and wellbeing. This also raises a question to healthcare, and why it is so expensive in today’s society, when the government should be more efficient and helpful in basic necessities. Part of the reason could be that many people are not educated on menstruation and the pain/complications it could bring to many women.

Ideas:

1. The History of MMA

Mixed Martial Arts is now one of the most popular combat sports in the world, with prominent promotions like the UFC reaching all over the world, with fighters being in a plethora of media, expanding their brand. Like all arts, MMA has an origin, a beginning, that was slowly shaped throughout history. How has this art evolved, and what can it’s journey teach us about life?

“Hand to hand combat has roots in prehistoric times, influencing every culture since the dawn of mankind. Ancient inscriptions reveal that some type of fighting has always existed, seemingly embedded in our DNA.”- MMA History

2. Punisher vs. Daredevil: Who is Right?

In Season 2 of Netflix’s Daredevil, the titular hero, Daredevil, and the anti-hero Punisher get into a rooftop battle, eventually leading to Daredevil getting caught. Punisher and Daredevil then proceed to have a philosophical debate about the concept of vigilantism and whether we can trust the law to uphold justice, or are things better left in our hands?

“The characters of the Punisher and Daredevil can serve as examples of how flawed perception of justice can lead to different approaches to seeking justice.”

https://impresario-global.com/blog/the-battle-of-law-and-justice-daredevil-and-punisher

https://toktopics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/15-punisher-vs-daredevil-handout.pdf

3. Why Colleges are on the Decline

For years, people have slowly come to the realization that college as an institution appears to be slowly declining. Many colleges have begun to shut down for a number of reasons, people have begun looking for other alternative paths in order to find a career, and the colleges that haven’t closed down are getting more and more expensive. What is going wrong with higher education, and how can this be fixed?

1. Banning harmful chemicals in the U.S
   1. Banning harmful chemicals is essential for protecting public health. Other countries ban a lot of junk that is allowed in our country. Those countries come out healthier while the US has the highest obesity rate.
      1. https://earthjustice.org/brief/2023/its-time-to-ban-these-toxic-chemicals-from-our-food 
   2. This article discusses reasons on why we should ban certain chemicals, and why the FDA isn’t doing enough.
   3. “For years, the FDA has illegally ignored Earthjustice’s petition to ban these chemicals. In 2021, we sued to force the FDA to decide on banning phthalates. Last year it declined to do so, so we need your help in telling the FDA to get these hormone-disrupting chemicals out of our food.”
2. AI taking over jobs, inevitable, and beneficial?
   1. Increased Efficiency, Job Evolution, Economic Growth, Addressing Labor Shortages. 
   2. but on the other side, Mass Unemployment, Widening Inequality, Loss of Human Connection, Ethical Concerns: 
3. The pros and cons of daytrading
   1. Beneficial: Potential for High Profits, Independence and Flexibility, Market Liquidity, Education and Skill Development: 
   2. Con Argument: Day Trading is Risky and Unstable, High Risk of Loss, Stress and Mental Health Issues, Inefficiency Compared to Long-Term Investing, Regulatory and Tax Challenges
      1. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/active-trading/053115/average-rate-return-day-traders.asp#:~:text=While%20day%20 trading%20offers%20an,time%20commitment%2C%20and%20regulatory%20requirements.
         1. This article outlines the benefits of day trading, including the potential for high profits, independence, and flexibility. It highlights the success stories of skilled traders who have made significant earnings through careful strategy and risk management.
         2.  “Day trading isn’t a hobby or an occasional activity if you are serious about making money. While there is no guarantee that you will make money or be able to predict your average rate of return over any period, there are strategies that you can master to help you lock in gains while minimizing losses.”

1. early access to technology
   1. The negative impacts on how early access to technology at a young age can do. It blinds the space between tweens and teenagers and maturing way too fast.
   2. https://thevermilion.net/2024/01/25/why-are-there-no-more-preteens/?amp=1
      1. The article shows how tweens mimic what they see on social media. They follow trends and styles marketed towards teens and use them. There is no longer a concept of childhood because everyone is looking at social media, and they appear older than they actually are.
   3. “They were forced out of hangout spaces and were sort of forced to spend most of their formative years online. It only makes sense that they learned how to be teenagers ahead of time from teenage influencers.”

2. school omny cards
   1. Omny cards should be more widely distributed not just for high school students but teachers and college commuters. 

3. federal government minimum wage
   1. The minimum wage of the federal government doesn’t reflect today’s economy. Talk about how it should be changed.
   2. https://drexel.edu/hunger-free-center/research/briefs-and-reports/minimum-wage-is-not-enough/
      1. The article discusses the logistics of minimum wage. It goes into depth about the background and differentiates living and minimum wage. They argue that minimum wage doesn’t represent that of inflation as we know it.
   3. “The federal minimum wage has remained stagnant at $7.25 per hour for the past 12 years. While the U.S. minimum wage was never truly a living wage, over time it has done less to reflect the true value of workers and no longer supports families in a way that promotes health and keeps them out of poverty.”