The ‘comment’ area found on most websites, blogs, facebook, any type of social media is a place where people can read something and immediately leave their opinion, critique, or …
Source: Should the ‘COMMENT’ section on websites be removed?
Month: April 2016
Should the ‘COMMENT’ section on websites be removed?
The ‘comment’ area found on most websites, blogs, facebook, any type of social media is a place where people can read something and immediately leave their opinion, critique, or support.
I have been reading and hearing on the t.v. that some writers and bloggers are saying that they personally don’t like or have the option of a comment section for their readers. The Toronto Star is debating whether to remove this area as well.
Personally I am divided on this issue.
Pros:
I enjoy reading an article than reading what other people thought about it. Do they think the same thing I did?
I get to read a different view point. Sometimes, in the comment section someone will write something that looks at the article in a different light than I had interrupted. I enjoy this as this allows me to expand my thinking and see things from different views.
People can connect with others, feel validated in their opinions and views.
Hopefully the comments can assist the writer of the article to reflect on their work.
Allows access into what the general publics’ view is on a topic.
Cons
Trolls. Not to sure why this term is used, I may have a stronger word for the people who use the comment section to launch a personal attack on others. Often someone will make a comment about an article and inevitably one person will change the course of the discussion to a personal attack. Why? Because they don’t agree with each other. Instead of sticking to the topic, they attack each other. Remember if you don’t have anything nice to say….
Political platform. I can read an article about an octopus escaping and scroll down to the comment area and more often than not someone will bring up the Liberals for or against them. Or whichever party is in power at the time. There is a time and a place for everything. Remember in the comment section it should be about the article, not your own personal agenda.
‘Haters gonna hate’. (Yes I quoted Taylor Swift.) Some people are just going to say mean things. About a person’s body, race, gender, ethnicity, politics, intelligence, etc. Why? Because they are sitting at home, behind their computer and write hateful things simply because they can. What are the repercussions to writing it? Not much. Our laws are just beginning to catch up with the internet. It does not make you smarter or better to put someone down, it just makes you a bully hiding behind your computer.
Overall
I am for Free speech. I think the ‘comment’ section should stay, however be closely monitored for abusive, inappropriate and hateful attacks. Defiantly a tall order to tackle the ‘troll’ issue that I am not sure will ever be resolved, some people are going to use their voices to express opinions in helpful or hurtful ways. It is up to us readers of the comment section to choose how to respond. Remember if you won’t say it to someone’s face than don’t write it. Also, use the comment section for what it is there for; to comment on the article not on each other.
What do you think? Keep the comment section even though it is very hard to regulate and monitor the ‘trolls’ or get rid of the comment section even though people’s voices are valuable and freedom of speech is for all.
Book Review: The Grown Up by Gillian Flynn
The Grown Up by Gillian Flynn (audio version) This book was first mentioned to me by my book club as an upcoming monthly read. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to read the book or attend t…
Book Review: The Grown Up by Gillian Flynn
The Grown Up by Gillian Flynn (audio version)
This book was first mentioned to me by my book club as an upcoming monthly read. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to read the book or attend the book club meet up. However, being curious by nature I still wanted to read the book everyone was talking about. Since this book is short and I found it online as an audio version I figured, perfect I can do what I need to at home, try an audio book for the first time and finally read (well listen to the book club book).
Thankfully, I was at home alone when I started the audio version (only over an hour long). I say thankfully because the first sentence is about giving Hand Jobs. And the entire chapter is about her describing hand jobs, why she is so good at her job but unfortunately as with any jobs there are risks, such as developing carpel tunnel syndrome.
Wait. What am I listening to?
The description of the book is that it is a ghost story, suspense, who done it, kind of novel well, short story. So was taken a little bit aback by the beginning but continued on.
The main character is very matter of fact about her job, how she judges everyone, has contempt for most people and is always looking for ways to con others. She sounds like she is very proud of this fact. Puts down her clients, brags about how she is the best at giving hand jobs, but due to the carpel tunnel, she had to become a fake physic. Poor woman.
Hard to like this character and feel anything but disgust for her.
The upside to her is that she does want to improve her life but for more of an altruistic reason, which is to become the book loving nerd she visions herself as and to be able to attend high class parties where she can say when asked what she does for a living that she is an entrepreneur.
The ghost story finally comes, as she is describing in detail how she is juggling giving hand job and conning people with her ‘physic abilities’.When a woman desperate for help with her weird teenage stepson and a younger child comes in to see her for a ‘reading’.
The book begins to get interesting, a haunted house, a creepy step son, an old historical article about a murder at the house. Is the step son really a vicious killer? Is the house actually haunted? Is the woman and the young son in danger?
Not to give away the ending by answering the questions above. I will say that the book does have some redeeming qualities. It does make the reader wonder who is the manipulator and who is being manipulated. Who is the real villain and what is their motive. The reader is left questioning who to believe by the end of the story.
Defiantly not a ghost story as one woman in my book club worried about it being. She can rest assured there is nothing scary about this novel. Rather you are left at the end, wondering who to believe, and what in the world was the point of this book and mostly thank goodness it was a short story.
If you get a chance to read The Grown Up or listen to it on YouTube, let me know what you think about the ending. Who do you believe? What do you think is actually going on?
Definatly a one time, never to listen to again story for me. Very disturbing character and not to sure what the point of the story was. Hoping you guys can shed some light on your views of the story.
Look forward to reading your thoughts.
Happy Reading ♥
How the Brain Can Change Your Experience of Pain
How the Brain Can Change Your Experience of Pain New research using mindfulness meditation suggests we can ease pain by the way we pay attention to it. By Jennifer Wolkin | April 28, 2016 Imagine b…
How the Brain Can Change Your Experience of Pain
How the Brain Can Change Your Experience of Pain
New research using mindfulness meditation suggests we can ease pain by the way we pay attention to it.
By Jennifer Wolkin | April 28, 2016 
Imagine being poked by a thermal probe that heats a small area of your skin to 120.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Ouch.
Now imagine trying mindfulness meditation, and having that probe touch your skin again. Painful, you’d think. Not as much.
Researchers at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that the brains of meditators respond differently to pain—a huge finding, given the continued skepticism regarding the benefits of mindfulness meditation as an effective treatment for pain with unique mechanisms above and beyond providing a placebo effect.
The research is even more poignant given that pain is one of the most pervasive, debilitating, and expensive health problems faced by approximately 100 million Americans. Until recently, the go-to treatment has been opioid medications, which have a high side-effect profile, and are highly addictive. More and more, doctors and patients alike are looking toward non-pharmacological ways to supplement current treatment options to help reduce pain and the toll it takes on quality of life.
Mindfulness as a Treatment for Pain
As mindfulness meditation is being introduced into the mainstream to help combat pain, many questions are surfacing about whether it really helps, and the exact mechanisms by which it might provide some benefit.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, the pionner who brought mindfulness to the West as a possible psychological intervention, was the first to study the connection between mindfulness meditation and pain. In his 1985 study, 90 chronic pain patients were trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Results indicated statistically significant reductions in measures of present-moment pain, negative body image, inhibition of activity by pain, mood disturbance, and psychological symptomatology, including anxiety and depression. Additionally, pain-related drug utilization was reduced. Since that study, there have been many more with similar findings.
The mechanisms behind how mindfulness reduces pain proposed in these studies continue to include mindfulness meditation’s ability to provide pain relief by cultivating the ability to parse between the objective sensory dimension of pain, and the more subjective judgement that we attach to the pain that constructs the way we experience it.
Pain is a complex phenomenon, mainly due to it being a multi-dimensional and subjective experience that consists of sensory, affective, and cognitive elements. Meaning, when we first experience a sensation of pain, we begin to judge it as bad and as something we want to immediately eradicate. Then, we start to conspire ways to escape the pain, to find any solution we can come up with, all the while continuing to judge our pain as negative. The subjective judgement we add inflates the pain, making the experience of it far more noxious than the sensory experience alone.
Mindfulness meditation can be used as a tool to create more awareness of the sensation of pain itself, without the judgment or resistance, and the affective and cognitive evaluation that we often project upon it. When we impose a litany of negativity upon our pain, it only becomes worse, and potentially elicits other difficulties including depression and anxiety. When we become more aware of what we are actually experiencing, without the overlay of our judgment, the overall perception of pain is reduced.
Kabat-Zinn articulated this well in The Mindful Solution to Pain. He writes, “From the perspective of mindfulness, nothing needs fixing. Nothing needs to be forced to stop, or change, or go away.” Kabat-Zinn is making the case for awareness of a sensation, without the overlay of our thoughts, in order to elicit healing. He goes on to say “…It is only awareness itself that can balance out all of our various inflammations of thought and the emotional agitations and distortions that accompany the frequent storms that blow through the mind, especially in the face of a chronic pain condition.”
While focusing on the sensory experience of pain could sound counterproductive, it actually provides a pathway to pain relief that is different than the traditional pharmacologic interventions that aim to quell the sensation of pain immediately.
Mindfulness Meditation and Possible Mechanisms of Pain Relief
With the advent of modern imaging techniques such as the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), neuroscientists are finding changes in the brain that are in sync with Kabat-Zinn’s proposed mechanisms.
- The brains of meditators respond differently to pain: Grant et al. (2011) used functional and structural MRI to ascertain the brain mechanisms involved in mindfulness-related pain reduction. They found that during pain, meditators (albeit in a non-meditative state while being studied) had increased activation in areas associated with processing the actual sensory experience of pain (including primary and secondary somatosensory areas, insula, thalamus, and mid-cingulate cortex). They also found decreased activity in regions involved in emotion, memory, and appraisal (including medial pre-frontal cortex (mPFC), orbital frontal cortex (OFC), amygdala, caudate, and hippocampus).
- Activation of different neural pathway than a placebo: Zeidan et al.’s most recent (2015) study found mostly consistent results and went a step further and accomplished the feat of proving that mindfulness meditation has a different neural pathway than, and reduces pain intensity above and beyond, placebo. In this study, relative to other comparison groups, mindfulness meditation was associated with decreased activity in the brain area called the thalamus. This possibly reflects the inability of sensory information from reaching areas of the brain associated with thinking and evaluation.
Despite the increased elucidation of neural mechanism related to mindfulness-related pain reduction, and its viability as an additional tool doctor’s can “prescribe,” questions still remain. There are many conflicting studies that seem to indicate that mechanisms may vary based on a meditator’s expertise level, as well as a meditator’s engagement in Focused Attention (FA) vs. Receptive Attention (RA) also called Open Monitoring. Findings also differ by stimulus type (heat vs. laser), and diverse experimental directives. Additionally, more research is needed to parse between mindfulness’s ability to reduce both acute and chronic pain.
While mindfulness meditation is not the end all be all panacea for pain, there is enough evidence to indicate that mindfulness practice does in fact lead to reductions in pain intensity and unpleasantness, even more so than placebo. The proof is even in the brain circuitry. In this way, it can be a safe addition to treatment options that have heretofore mostly included highly addictive opioids.
Mindfulness Practice for Pain Relief: The Body Scan Meditation
So how can we put this theory and research into actionable guidance for our own lives? One of the most effective mindfulness practices with regards to pain reduction is the body scan technique, which provides us with the ability to identify physical discomfort in different parts of the body.
The body scan can allow us to use our bodies to experience present-centered, non-judgmental awareness. We can learn to be aware of whatever sensation arises in our bodies, particularly the painful ones, and then we learn to notice the difference between the direct experience of these sensations and the indirect perceptions that we add on to that experience.
The body scan allows us to non-judgmentally identify what we are feeling and where we are feeling it as we narrow our focus on each detailed part of our body. Yet, we also begin to train our minds to broaden our focus away from the intricate body parts to a broader and more spacious awareness of the body as it exists as a whole, with different co-existing parts and sensations. A greater understanding of what our body endures allows us the opportunity to see what it feels, accept it, and cultivate compassion for it, without immediately judging it or trying to escape it.
I invite you to take the time to try a guided body scan meditation. In this practice, I guide you through an 18-minute body scan. It is my hope that together we can work toward a more mindful approach to pain relief.
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Book Review: The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen
The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen. A suspense thriller that takes place in the 1800s medical world and in the present day. The novel is about a modern day woman’s struggle to rebuild h…
Book Review: The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen
The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen.
A suspense thriller that takes place in the 1800s medical world and in the present day. The novel is about a modern day woman’s struggle to rebuild her life after a divorce. She decides to purchase a home that is badly in need of repair. While out one day gardening, swearing off men and determined to grow something permanent in her life, she discovers a skeleton of a woman in her backyard.
The story begins from there. With the woman going on a journey to uncover the past, meet new people, and ultimately discover and rebuild her life along the way.
In the 1800s component of the plot it revolves around a medical school, young doctors, privilege society, a farmer boy and a young woman trying to do what is best to keep herself and her infant safe. Because there is a killer on the streets and they are coming after her and the baby. For what reason, the reader is left to wonder, guess and imagine. Who will help this woman? The men of high society or the farmer boy who wishes to be a doctor? Will they be able to save her and the baby in time?
This was an overall well written, fast paced novel with intriguing characters who you could relate to and connect with. The choices of life to fit in or do the right thing. To take a chance or stay the same. Risk it all for a moment of happiness or close your back to the truth and throw away the key. Were all themes running throughout the book.
You are left trying to determine who the killer is and what their motive is for killing so many and leaving a strange mark on their body.
With novels that delve between the past and the present, it can be a jarring experience for the reader and sometimes the plot is not connected well. This is not the case in this novel. It is wonderfully woven, great character development, an intriguing plot and the consistent theme throughout of what would you do if you were them.
The reader is left with the question: what choices do you make and why? Are you brave enough to take a chance or go with the crowd. Interesting concepts to think about. I like it when a book makes me reflect on myself. As well, of course, the simple pleasure of curling up with a good book is a reward in itself.
The downside of the book would have to be the medical component. The author enthusiastically went into great detail about autopsies that were performed, the pilfering of corpses from fresh graves and the gruesome medical procedures that were performed. In my opinion a lot of the blood and gore could have been left out. As so many pages did not need to be devoted to how you remove organs from corpses.
However, I did like how the author at the end of the story includes a brief history of one of the character, Dr. Oliver Wendall Homes. The factual historical tie to the story of the doctor, Oliver Wendall Homes, who in 1843 presented a paper at the Boston Medical Society that forever changed the medical practise and helped to save lives. The simple act of washing hands and wearing gloves. Before him doctors would move from the autopsy room to examine a patient without washing their hands. Many people died from this and the notion of washing hands was seen as absorb. Until investigated, studied and proven by Oliver Wendall Homes. In the story we are only introduced to the young Dr. Homes who does not have a lead character role.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a suspenseful thriller with a historical component. Will be lending or donating it on, so someone else can enjoy it as well. Am interested in reading some of her other novels.
For me if I love a book I keep it, enjoy the book I recommend to someone else and lend to them or donate, don’t like a book at all, simply donate somewhere and hope someone else finds it interesting.
Have you read any of her books before?
Happy Reading ♥
Improve your Memory:Tip of the week
Improve your memory and improve Task Management skills We have all been there, our brains are running around like a hamster on a wheel, thinking of ten things to do at once. During the day the task…
Improve your Memory:Tip of the week
Improve your memory and improve Task Management skills
We have all been there, our brains are running around like a hamster on a wheel, thinking of ten things to do at once. During the day the tasks pile up, you know that you have worked hard all day, yet your to do list is not completed and you are not sure exactly what you have done.
Just this morning, I had finished my coffee, had some extra time so decide to start the kettle to make some tea, realized while waiting for the tea to boil, I could do the dishes. Started doing the dishes, when I remembered that I had some veggies in the fridge that needed to be used. So took those out, began chopping them, turned to fill up the pot to steam the veggies, realized the dishes weren’t done. Got veggies in pot and steaming, started doing dishes (by now kettle has been boiled for a long time), while thinking about my day and…sliced my thumb on the carrot peeler. Go to bathroom clean the cut, press an alcohol swab against it and than look down. See that my sink and toilet could use a scrub. With one hand I begin to clean, while my index finger is holding the alcohol swab against my thumb. Reach for a band aid and you guessed it….saw that my cabinet was messy, start to throw out and clean the cabinet. Finally made it back to the kitchen was about to resume dishes and everything when I stopped in my tracks and said out loud, ‘stop. wait. what are you doing now?’
Right the tea. Cold by now lol.
I have heard similar stories from many times and have experienced it myself over and over.
New skill that I am practising is to be mindful of when I get distracted by the first task. Helping me to remember and complete the first task before moving onto the next one. Which will than improve my task management skills as I will be completing a task, stay mindful and increase my self-confidence because, pat on the back, I stayed focussed and got the job done.
Task Management Steps:
STOP ⇒
CLARIFY ⇒
SIMPLIFY ⇒
MONITOR
These four steps help you to stay on task, stay in the present and accomplish your goals.
STOP
Before beginning a new task, ie. cleaning the bathroom. Stop, breath and think about what you are doing. Use a catch phrase to bring you to the present. Could be, ‘Stop. Focus. First thing First’. What ever works for you. Saying it out loud helps you to just focus on what you are saying.
CLARIFY
Ask yourself, ‘What am I doing?’ What was your original purpose/task? You were going to write an email to someone, but got distracted by another email which lead you to a website and so on. STOP. CLARIFY. ‘What am I doing?’ Right, I am sending an important email.
SIMPLIFY
First thing first. Complete the first task before you move onto another. Afraid you may forget the great idea that just popped into your head, write it down, say out loud, I will do that later or after I do….. By doing one thing at a time, you remain focussed, present and are setting yourself up for success.
MONITOR
Suddenly find yourself with a bleeding thumb, water running in the kitchen and you are cleaning your sink. STOP. CLARIFY. SIMPLIFY. MONITOR.
Monitor is when you check in. Stop, breath, are you still on task? Did you get distracted and forget what you originally meant to do? That’s o.k., just stop, ask yourself what you are doing (out loud helps) and begin again.
These steps are repeated throughout our busy day. As distractions are every where and there is always things to complete. So when you find yourself, spinning, off task, don’t remember why you are in the bathroom with the items scattered around you, try using the 4 steps to bring you back to the present.
Try it out.
Remember to set yourself up for success. So maybe try at home first. When getting up to grab something from another room, something else catches your eye and you begin to move towards it….
STOP. CLARIFY. SIMPLIFY.MONITOR. Complete first task first.
Hope this helps add to your daily life in a positive way. As I found out this morning, it is defiantly an ongoing skill to practise daily. So be kind to yourself and practise.
Let me know how you do after trying it for a week. Does it work for you? Help bring some calmness, task management increased and raise your self-esteem as you complete your goals? I hope so. ♥
Mindfulness Living 