Sure, anyone probably could train a monkey to push a button, but is it really that simple, that easy?  There has to be more to it.

First of all, if pushing the button serves a purpose, such as the monkey performing a specific job that requires the button to be pushed, it’s pushing is related to a cause/effect situation.  Let’s say that the purpose of the button being pushed is to open a particular vent to air out a specific area, but this is not just a random purpose because there are definite times when the button needs to be pushed.  So for us to get the monkey to know when to push the button, we need to train the monkey to respond to a particular stimuli that it recognizes as indicating that the button NEEDS to be pushed (i.e. “When the green light comes on, push the button.”); I’m sure a monkey could handle that kind of training (any animal behavioural scientists out there please correct me if I am wrong).

Would that be all there is to it though? I don’t think so. What if our monkey gets distracted easily? What if he chooses to not push the button? It is here where I feel the importance of consequence or reward comes in; the monkey needs to be trained either through reprisal for not pushing the green button when the green light comes on, or reward for pushing the green button only when the green light comes on. Either way, the monkey needs to recognize the importance of fulfilling the task to its specifics, anything else is not acceptable.

And that is that, I never really went much farther in my thought process regarding this matter. Nothing groundbreaking, nothing revolutionary, but I do think there is more to training a monkey to push a button than there seems to be.

Just thinking out loud again.

No related posts.

The other day as I was going over one of these sites it got me thinking (I know I know, dangerous territory that thinking stuff), I have submitted to a few of them here and there but have yet to have any of my work showcased. The rejection comes hard at first, but as soon as I punch my ego in the throat and push it out the window I am able to deal with it in a more effective and pleasant manner. A reaction based on ego would be “oh my god, those jerks, why won’t they showcase my work, is it that bad, I thought it was good, would I have clients if my stuff wasn’t good, just because mine doesn’t look like everybody else’s should I be penalized and ostracized like that, this is horrible, maybe I shouldn’t be a web designer, what am I going to do, those jerks, geez” and so on and so on. Ego is wonderful isn’t it? Yikes.

However, with ego out of the picture the rejection allows me to contemplate and truly think about why am I submitting to these sites. Of course recogniziton for a job well done is important, but is it the be all and end all? I don’t think so. During a projects development it is the clients opinion that matters the most. You are designing a product for them based on their specifications and outlook. Creative freedom is peppered throughout the design process but ultimately, in the end, it is the client that is the driving force since they are the ones paying for the design. One then puts their work forward to one of these design gallery websites in the hopes of having their work recognized for its design beauty and brilliance, which in turn helps promote the designers work and hopefully bring in more clients; etc., etc., etc.

But if my work is never showcased does that mean my designs are bad? That my work is horrible and should be removed from the internet before it infects the entire “series of tubes” with its yucky bad-design cooties? Some may agrue “yes jonesy it does, and you should stop, stop right now.” Others may argue “stay the course jonesy, you’re doing super.” And Me? Well, I try to just keep on trucking. I love web design, and I love looking at well designed websites in the hopes that I can achieve even half the level of brilliance that a lot of designers out there have. But I don’t let the hope turn into obsession, or unrealisitic expectation. I am responsible for the level of effort that I put into my pursuits, and I am responsible for its results. I am a web designer because it is what I love to do, and that is one thing I truly believe we should all be striving for, doing something that we love doing, and if you are getting paid to do it….even better.

It’s kind of like another post I was contemplating putting together: If nobody is reading my blog, should I still be blogging?   For me, the short sharp answer is a whole-hearted YES!  The long profound answer I’ll leave for another post.

cheers,

Jonesy

Related posts:

1. Understanding the Web Design Process

While checking my email this morning I came across a news article that explained that someone had gone onto craigslist.org, placed a classified indicating that he had to quickly leave the country and that all of the stuff on his property was up for grabs; whoever wants it could go and get it. The classified went off like gang busters and everyone was out taking what they could, the only problem is that the classified wasn’t put out by the owner of the property. It was a hoax, and the true owner had no idea until he was coming home and seeing people driving down the road with his property, and then seeing even more people actually on his property taking stuff. Sounds too crazy to be true, eh?

Well, here is the actual news story to this tasty little nugget of moral putrefaction.

It is astounding the level of moral decay that humans can allow themselves to get to, and then to come up with twisted and ridiculous logic to convince themselves that it isn’t a bad thing either. In this situation the real owner of the property had started to stop people and tell them that what they are doing is wrong, that he never placed the classified, and therefore they are stealing his property. And what are the responses he gets: “They showed me the Craigslist printout and told me they had the right to do what they did…They honestly thought that because it appeared on the Internet it was true.”

Classic! As soon as I read that I automatically thought of a great Milhouse quote: “Jeez…if it’s in a book, it’s gotta be true!” (Episode 2F07).

It’s a perfect match because that is exactly how these troglodytes were thinking: “I don’t care if you are the actual owner of the property that I have in my hand, and I don’t care if you are telling me that I am not allowed to steal it from you, the fact that it was posted on the internet trumps every logically solid and firmly grounded proof of reality and existence staring right at me and speaking to me at this moment…..this piece of paper with the craigslist classified printed on it is all the proof that I need that you my friend are not the true owner of this property…..now please get out of the way as I have a weed whacker that I need to load into the back of my pickup truck. Actually, make yourself useful bud and grab the other end of this thing and help me lift into the back.” (Sorry, got a bit carried away there).

Now, I realize there may be a great deal more to this story than what is on the surface. Perhaps the owner really is a bad guy whose done horrible things to people which has brought on this whole sordid situation. Who knows? My concern is the simple fact that when people were confronted by the true owner of the property, explained of the situation, and yet still continued to engage in theft without any concerns or worries in the world. “I don’t care if you are telling me to stop, I’m going to keep doing it because I want to!” That to me is a problem.

Empathy: Identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives. (Dictionary.com)

Empathy was clearly something lacking in this entire fiasco. Sad, sad, sad.

No related posts.

Simply put, the movie is much like any other sports themed film: A group overcome adversity to achieve their ultimate goal of becoming a team, united, strong, and determined. Hard times always arise, set backs occur, but in the end all is well. If you are into these types of films then give this one a perusal.

That’s it for my review, what I really want to do now is discuss a particular theme found in this movie: Purpose. Gridiron Gang never really directly alludes to this concept, it focuses more on the kids being “losers” in their crime filled lives. What the football team gives these kids is the opportunity to become winners. And that is about the depth that this concept is explored. What I would like to point out is that there is way more to this concept, or theme, than just ‘being a loser looking to be a winner’. What the football team truly gave these kids was an ultimate sense of Purpose.

One of the main characters explains to the coach of the team (The Rock), that he wants to join the team so that his son can be proud of him. What he is saying on a deeper level is that he has always regarded himself as a criminal, something he knew his son would not be proud of, and so, in the football team, he sees a better purpose for his life; something, that if he worked towards, his son would be proud of.

As a species we need Purpose. If we do not feel we have a purpose in our lives then we feel incomplete; that underlying sense of “Why Am I Here?”. For some of us this doesn’t feel too good, and without taking time to explore those feelines we simply accept them, writing ourselves off as useless, weak, insignificant, and so mask those feelings with drugs, alchohol, etc.

But by examining those feelings you are able to see past the hurt and look directly into that void of uncertainty; staring back at you will be the answer to the question “Why Am I Here?”, and by answering that question you will discover your purpose. For some, such as the group in the movie, the purpose is placed right in front of them, some choose to accept it, others do not. Some realise that although the physical aspects of the football team may not be for them, they still want to be a part of it; this way they have something to work towards, a purpose.

In the movie The Matrix: Reloaded, in one of Agent Smith’s many encounters with Neo, he says: “There is no escaping reason; no denying purpose. Because as we both know, without purpose, we would not exist…It is purpose that created us…Purpose that connects us…Purpose that pulls us…That guides us…That drives us…It is purpose that defines us…Purpose that binds us.”

Now, Agent Smith is a computer program, but he is still correct when he says that without purpose “we would not exist”. Not only is he talking about Neo as a human being, from a religious perspective about God’s purpose for creating life, but he is also talking about himself and all the other non-human, non-living elements of the matrix (the machines and other computer programs), all of which were also created by someone, or something, because of a specific purpose.

And so, in closing, returning to the movie that sparked this blog entry, the Gridiron Gang has more to it than just football and The Rock, it has a great underlying theme of why having Purpose is such a quintessential part of our lives. Sure you could argue that for those boys, in their lives of crime, they did have purpose, the crime was their purpose, their driving force, and yes, you would be right, but I truly believe that when one’s purpose is to bring benefit to not only their own lives, but to the lives of others, then that is when one is truly living their life’s purpose.

No related posts.

My thoughts are simply aimed at the media, and the role they are playing in this whole thing. Does the media actually care that they are giving this sicko exactly what he wanted? Do they not realize that by posting his photos, his video, his “manifesto”, they are reinforcing exactly what he wanted to achieve, to become more than he ever was in life. If the media took a global and united stand to not give in, to not post anything put together by this POS, then and only then would they have done something admirable, something that would have help the world and given it a chance to properly take in the tragedy that unfolded that day. Then and only then would the victims have actually died for something important, instead of what they have become now; a footnote in this sickos useless existence. All of the worlds physical, emotional, and mental energy is being directed at someone who doesn’t deserve it. This energy should be directed at the family and friends of the people of Virgina Tech. I am not saying turn the media storm on them. I am saying let people grieve in private for once, give them some time, and when everything has calmed down and people are ready to deal with the issues this event has raised, then things can start being looked at again.

Leave the psycho out of this (I am avoiding saying his name on purpose), his cowardice at taking his own life speaks volumes about his personality. To not be around to take claim and own up for what you have done is a true sign of a weak person. It is so much easier to leave photos and videos and writings for everyone else to dissect and interpret, instead of being able to defend yourself (because you know that what you stand for is hollow, useless, and weak). This was something in the making for a long time, and the media has played right along with it. And they know it to, and disgustingly, they go along with it, and unfortunately the world eats it up as well, never questioning the sick feeling that sits in the bottom of their stomachs. It will only be a matter of time before some newspaper actually publishes his “manifesto”, and at that point he will have truly reached his desired goal.

The only way for the people of Virgina, and the students of Virgina Tech, to gain any sort of retribution against this sicko is to get the media to back off, to not post any pictures or videos, to not mention his views or quote from his writing, to direct their attention somewhere else (perhaps gun control?) so that he will fall into the background, fading away into obscurity, keeping his life after his death, the same as his life while he was alive…..nothing.

It take’s a strong person to stand up and lay claim to their current situation in their life, instead of trying to find reasons and excuses outside of oneself. This psycho was blaming every body and any body that he could for the reasons why he did what he did. Nobody else did what he did, nobody else was walking through that school that day, nobody else was taking 32 peoples lives…it was him and only him. Blaming others for our problems will not, and does not, solve them, because they are not us. Only we can save ourselves, only we can change ourselves, only we can choose and put into motion our own thoughts, words, and actions. I think the sooner people realize this the better the world will become.

No related posts.