12月21日27 28獨立寫作小范圍第一重點

Doyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement?Teachingisharderthanitwasinthepast.(121207NA)Iagreethatteachingishardernowthanitwasinthepast.Therearemultipleviewpointsandculturesthathavetobeconsidered,it’shardertokeeptheattentionofcontemporarystudents,andsomeschoolsdonothaveenoughmoneytoproperlyteachcertainthings.Topicsthatwerediscussedinschoolusedtobemorestraightforward.Whoeverwasdoingtheteachingwouldtakethepointofviewoftheirownculture(andthecultureofhisorherstudents).Forinstance,AmericanschoolsusedtoteachthattheexplorerswhodiscoveredAmerica,likeChristopherColumbus,werebraveandadmirable.Americanschoolchildrenweremadetofeelsimplygoodaboutthemselvesandtheircountry’shistory.Thatmusthavebeeneasytoteach!Butthesedays,wearesomuchmoresensitivetothestoriesofothercultures.Teachershavetoconsiderthefeelingsofthenativepeoplethattheexplorersmistreatedandkilled,tobeginwith.Withanyhistoricallesson,itisnownormalforteacherstosympathizewiththeoppressed,thewomen,andthepeoplethatforcenturieshadnovoice.Andthebeliefsofotherculturesandcountriesareexploredjustasmuchasthecustomsofone’sowncountry.Thisisagoodthing,certainly!Butitismorecomplicatedandtakesalotmoretimetoteach.Itisalsohardertokeeptheattentionofstudentsthesedays,withsomuchtechnologyeverywhere.Inclass,theycansneakpeeksattheircellphonesandtexttheirfriends.Iftheyarecollegestudentsinalecturehallwherelaptopsareallowed,theymightbeplayinggamesontheircomputerratherthantakingnotes.Studentsdoingtheirhomeworkontheircomputercanfindtheinternettobeadistraction.Buttechnologycanalsobeaproblemifthereisn’tenoughofit.Theworldhascomesofarintheworldofsciencethataschoolcangreatlysufferifitdoesn’thavetheproperequipment.Whatifabiologyclasscan’taffordmicroscopes?Whatifavideoeditingclasscan’taffordthelatesteditingprograms?Itcanbedifficulttokeepupandthatmustmaketeachingharder.Teachingismoredifficulttodaythanitwasinthepastbecausethingsaremorecomplicated.Manydifferentviewpointsmustbetaught,technologycandistractstudents,andyetalackofpropertechnologyintheclassroomcandisadvantagestudents.Doyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement?Inordertosucceedindoinganewjob,theabilitytoadaptoneselftothenewenvironmentismoreimportantthantheexcellentknowledgeofthisjob.（120923CNW2）Acompetentemployeralwaysmatchestheexpertiseoftheemployeeswiththeworktheywilldo.However,certainskillsemployerslookforhavenothingtodowithparticularjobcompetencies.Theseskillsindicatedevelopmentpotentialandarefavoredoverknowledgelevel.Oneoftheseskillsisadaptability.Anadaptableemployeethrivesonchangeandcanworkindependentlyorcollaboratively.Adaptabilityismoreusefulintheworkplacethanspecializedknowledge.Employeesmustbeabletomeettherapidlychangingprioritiesofthecompaniestheyworkfor.Employersarehiringfewerpeopletodothesameamountofwork.Workersrotateamongjobswithinthecompanyandtakeonadditionalprojects.Multi-tasking,workingflexiblehoursandchanginglocationsarecommonworkplacedemands.Employeescannotaffordtoclingtotasksspecifictotheirareaofexpertise,nomatterhowessential.Itdiminishestheirvaluewhencomparedwithsimilarlyskilled,butmoreadaptableworkers.Today’sworkersmustbecapableofworkingindependentlytoaccomplishgoalsassignedtothem.Employersarefocusedonoutcomes.Theydon’thavethetimeorthedesiretomicromanageemployees.Theyexpecttheiremployeestosolveproblems,toself-direct,andtoaccomplishtasksautonomously.Havingspecializedknowledgemakesemployeesvaluableonlyiftheycaninnovativelyapplyitinoriginalwaysthatbenefitthecompany.Employershirepeoplewhoarelikableandcanworkwithinagroup.Collaborationisessentialtoincreasedproductivity.Thosewhoareopentonewideasworkwellonprojectteamsoroncommittees.Theiradaptabilityfosterscreativity.Employeeswhocannoteffectivelycommunicatetheirspecializedknowledgeaddlittlevalue.Intheknowledge-basedeconomiesoftheworld,therearefarmoreavailableworkersthanpositions.Thebestjobcandidateswillhavemasteryovertheirareaofexpertise,butmoreimportantly,theywilleagerlydemonstratetheiradaptability.Theywillbeabletoworkindependentlyorcollaboratively;theywillembracechangeandenjoysuccess.Doyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement?Itismoreimportantforthegovernmenttospendmoneyonnewbuildingsthantopreservehistoricortraditionalbuildingsandhomes.Overtheyears,severalchangeshavebeenmadeinthearchitecturalfield.Inthiscase,architectshavebeenabletocomeupwithnewconstructionstyleswhicharemoresophisticatedthantheancientones.Modernarchitecturaldesignshaveledtotheconstructionofskyscraperswhicharepreferredtotheoldtraditionalbuildings.Thisleavesuswiththequestionofwhethergovernmentsshouldutilizemoreresourcesinmaintainingmodernbuildingsthantheancientones.Inmyview,governmentsshouldencouragethepreservationandrestorationoftraditionalbuildingsbecauseofthefollowingreasons.Ancientbuildingsdepictthehistory,culture,andtraditionsofacountry.Thisisbecausetraditionalbuildingsremindpeopleabouttheiroriginsandtheexperiencestheyhavehadovertheyears.Consequently,acountrycanloseitshistoryifitdoesnotpreserveancientbuildings,whichactashistoricalevidences.Bypreservingthetraditionalbuildings,itwillbeeasiertomaintainculturalvaluesinfuturegenerations.Traditionalbuildingsalsohelpforeignerstolearnmoreaboutthehistoricalbackgroundofagivencountry.Ancientstructuresenhancethenaturalbeautyofcities;hence,makingthemdistinctandattractive.Besidesthis,suchstructuresoftenserveaslandmarksespeciallyinbusyplaces.Moreover,theuniquefeaturesofancientstructuresspurtourismactivities,andthisbenefitsacountryeconomically.ThetraditionalbuildingscanalsoserveasmuseumswhichcancreateemploymentHowever,someindividualscontendthatancientbuildingsareextremelyprecariousowingtothekindofmaterialsthatwereusedinconstructingthem.Accordingtothecriticsofoldbuildings,modernbuildingsareproperlydesignedandwellconstructedusingdurablebuildingmaterials.Nevertheless,somemodernconstructionsarenotfriendlytotheenvironmentduetothenatureofthematerialsusedinconstructingthem.ModernbuildingsarealsoconsideredtobemorecomfortablesincetheyarefurnishedwithniceInconclusion,theurgentneedstopreserveancientstructuresinareasoftheworldwheretheyarepoorlymanagedcannotbeoverstated.Thegovernmentshouldnotneglecttheoldstructuresbecausetheyhelpinmaintainingacounty’sculturalheritage.Doyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement.Moviesandtelevisionhavemorenegativeeffectsthanpositiveeffectsonthewayyoungpeoplebehave.（120202CNW2）Moviesandtelevisionhavelongbeenapartofmodernlifeandculture.Whilethesetechnologieshavemadesomevaluablecontributionstosociety,muchconcernhasbeenexpressedaboutthenegativeeffectsthesemediaarehavingonthebehaviorofyoungpeople.Inpart,thisconcernarisesfromcertaintypesofprogrammingthathavebecomepopularinrecentyears.First,thereistheconcernthatcommercialadvertisementshavebecomemoreprevalent,andthattheytargetyoungpeoplemoreaggressively.Second,moviesandtelevisionprogramsoftendealwiththemesthatareofaviolentorexplicitnature,therebysuggestingideastoyouthsthattheywouldnotknowaboutotherwise.Finally,muchofthenewscoveragefeatureshighlynegativestoriesthatgiveyoungpeopleadistortedviewoftheworldandofhowadultsaresupposedtoCommercialadvertisinghasalwaysbeenapartoftelevisionprogramming,butrecentlymovietheatershavealsobegunshowingcommercialspriortoshows.Whileadvertisingdoesserveausefulpurpose,manycommercialspresentaviewoflifeandsuccessthatisundulymaterialistic.Youngpeopleareespeciallysusceptibletomarketingtechniques,andadvertisersoftenexploittheiradolescencebysuggestingthatthewaytobepopularorhavealotoffriendsistopossesscertainmaterialgoods.Youthssometimesendupbuyingthingsthattheyneitherneednorwantjustbecausetheyhavesuccumbedtotheeffectsofadvertising.Manymoviesandtelevisionshowsportraysituationsandadult-orientedthemesthatareoftenextremelygraphicorviolent.Whilesomeyoungpeopleareabletoprocesstheimagestheyseeinahealthyway,othersarenot.Someyouthscanbecomedeeplydisturbedbywhattheyseeand,becausetheyareyoung,lacksufficientmaturitytofullycomprehendtheimages.Smallerchildrenalsohavedifficultyseparatingwhattheyseeinmoviesandtelevisionfromreallifeandtheysometimesimitatecertaininappropriatebehaviors,thinkingtheyarenormaloracceptable.Additionally,televisionnewscoveragetendstofavorstoriesthatareofaviolentorgraphicnature.Thephrase--ifitbleeds,itleads,isacolloquialismusedbyeditorstodecidethetopstoriesfeaturedonnewsprograms.Itmeansthatstoriesthatareexplicitorsensational,suchasaccidentsorhomicides,weixin:mumutuofuwillbefeaturedfirstbecausetheyarepsychologicallymoreengagingthanotherstoriesand,therefore,morelikelytoholdtheviewingaudience’sattention.Anoveremphasisonsuchstories,however,candistortayoungperson’sviewoftheworld.Itcreateafalsesenseofreality,asthoughtheonlynewsworthyeventsarethosethataretragicorYoungpeoplearebynatureemotionallyvulnerable,andoverexposuretobadnewscancreatefeelingsofhopelessnessanddespair,whichcanleadtoanumberofbadorself-destructiveBythemselvesmoviesandtelevisioncanbebeneficialtechnologieswhenusedappropriately.Alltoooften,however,advertisersandproducersmakechoicesthateithermodelbadbehaviortoyoungpeople,orpresentthemwithadistortedviewoftheworld.Notallyoungpeoplebehavebadlyasaresult,butmanydo.Producersandadvertisersneedtobemorecarefulinchoosingwhattheypresenttoyoungpeople,andparentsmustbevigilantinwhattheyallowtheirchildrentowatch.Doyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement?Inordertoattractgoodstudents,auniversityshouldspendalotofmoneyfundingsocialactivities.（130223NAW2）sampleanswer：Idisagreewiththis.Thehighqualityofclasses,professors,andlessonsshouldbethefocusforattractinggoodstudentstouniversities.It’srarethatstudentschoosecollegesbasedonsocialactivities.Also,universityclubsandothersocialorganizationsusuallydotheirownseparatefundraisinganyway.Whengoodstudentsareresearchingcolleges,theycertainlywanttoknowthattheclassesarehighquality.Thesearekidswhohavestudiedhardandexcelledthroughouthighschool.Theylikelearning.Theywanttoknowthatforthenextfouryears,theywillcontinuetolearnandbeexcitedandchallengedbytheirteachers.Forthemajorityofcollege-boundstudents,thisistheirpriority.Therefore,assuringthemthattheywillgetanexcellenteducationisthebestwaytoattractthem.Also,Idon’tthinkmanystudentsarethinkingaboutacollege’ssocialactivitieswhentheyarechoosingwhichschooltoattend.Oncetheygettocollege,sure,theycandelveintoclubsandButstudentsaresostressedoutabouteverythingelsewhentheyarefirstapplying,likewhetherthey’llliveinthedormsorhowmuchtuitioncosts.Idon’tbelievecampussocialactivitiesareattheforefrontoftheirthoughts.IsitreallythatbigofadealifthedanceshavealivebandinsteadofalocalDJ?Oriftherearefivedifferentenvironmentalclubs?Thesethingsaresecondary.Throwingmoneyatthemwon’tnecessarilybringingoodFinally,itseemsirresponsibleforacollegetospendalotofmoneyfundingsocialactivitieswhentypicallycampusclubsandorganizationsdotheirownfundraising.Bakesalesandcarwashesandotherfundraisingactivitieshaveworkedwellenoughsofar!Theuniversityitselfshouldsticktoofficialbusiness,likepayingprofessorsandstaffmembers.Itwouldbeashameiftheirsalariesgotcutbecausesomeofthecollege’sfundswerere-routedtopayforsocialactivities.Itwouldjustharmtheschoolinsteadofhelpingit.That’swhyIdon’tthinkuniversitiesshouldstartspendingalotofmoneyonsocialactivities,inordertoattractgoodstudents.Hard-workingstudentscarethemostabouttheireducation,clubsandactivitiesarenottheirprioritywhenchoosingacollege,andsocialactivitiesworkfinefundingthemselvesanyway.Doyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement?Inthepastyoungpeopledependedontheirparentsformakingdecisions.Today,youngpeoplearebetterabletomakedecisionsontheirown.Iagreethatyoungpeopletodayarebetterabletomakedecisionsontheirown,becausetheyhavemoreknowledge,experiences,andresources.Therefore,whencomparedtoyoungpeopleinthepast,today’syoungpeopledonotdependasmuchontheirparentstohelpthemtomakedecisions.Theyknowhowtomakemanydifferenttypesofdecisions,theyhavehadexperienceingoingthroughdecisionmakingprocesses,andmanyresourcesareavailabletohelpthemmakeinformativedecisionsontheirown.Firstofall,youngpeoplehaveastrongbackgroundknowledgeonhowtomakemanydifferenttypesofdecisions,suchashowtochoosetheirownstyleofclothes,thekindoffoodstheylike,whatmoviestheyprefer,whoshouldtheytrusttobetheirfriends,andwhatbookstheyliketoread.Makingdaytodaydecisionsgivesyoungpeopleskillsandexperiencestouseinthedecisionmakingprocess.Thedecisionmakingprocessrequiresconsiderationsbeforemakingafinaldecision.Next,theexperiencesthatyoungpeoplehaveingoingthroughthedecisionmakingprocesseshelpsthemtodeterminetheprosandconsoftheirchoices.Aprocessisawayofthinkinganddoingsomethingtoachievethedesiredresults.Formanyyoungpeople,theyliketohaveinputintothepossiblechoicesavailabletothem.Participationinadecisionmakingprocessvalidatesyoungpeople’sabilitytomakedecisionsontheirown.Finally,whenexaminingtheresourcesthatyoungpeoplecanaccesstoday,comparedtoyearsago,youngpeopletodaycangetinformationandadvicewithacalloraclick.TheInternethasnumerouswebsitesthatprovidedetailsaboutdecisionsthatyoungpeoplearemostinterested.Forexample,theycanlearnhowtoapplyforcollege,howtogetscholarshipsandgrants,whatarethebestschoolsfortheirmajorinterest.Gettingthelatestup-to-dateinformationandfactsavailableensuresthatyoungpeoplecanmaketimelydecisionsontheirownveryquickly.Allinall,theevidencestronglysupportsmypositionthatyoungpeopleareinabetterpositiontomakedecisionsontheirown,becausetheyhavemoreknowledge,experiencewiththedecisionmakingprocess,andtonsofresourcesonlineandofflinethatcanassisttheminmakinginformeddecisionsalonewithoutdependingontheirparents.Whilesomedecisionsthatyoungpeoplemadeinthepastarestillleftuptothemtoday,theimportantthingisthatyoungpeoplearemoreempoweredtodecideforthemselves.8Doyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement?InthebusyandcrowdedworldweshouldnotexpectpeopletobepolitetoeachSampleessay(303words,5paragraphs)Asatraditionalvirtue,politenessgetslittleattentionnowadays.Aspeoplearebecomingoccupiedbyotherconcerns,manyseepolitegreetingsasmoredispensablethaneverbefore.However,Imaintainthatpolitenessisnotoutdatedandthatweshouldalwaysbepolitetoothers.Peoplearepayinglessattentiontopolitegreetingsthaninthepastforvariousreasons.Alongwithchangingsocialandpoliticalattitudes,peoplearebecomingbusier;inthesecircumstances,goodmannerssometimesseemlikeawasteoftime.Traditionally,Chinesepeopleconsidereditfriendlytotalkwhileeatingandtokeepshakinghandsforalongtimewhengreeting.Althoughthesebehaviorsstillmakeindividualsappearmorehospitable,recentlytheseconventionshavebeenignoredbecausetheytakealongtimetoobserve.Inordertosavetimeandenergy,peoplehavedispensedwithseveralgoodbuttime-consumingmanners.Althoughonecouldarguethatcertainboringandintricategreetingsshouldbeabandoned,basicpolitenessisnotoutdated.Forinstance,whenwemeetstrangersatworkorschool,shakinghandsforalongtimewastesprecioustime;however,asimpleandcheeryhelloisnecessarytoexpressfriendship.Similarly,talkingwhileeatingsometimesprohibitspeoplefromconcentrating;asimplegiftmaybeequallyeffectiveatcommunicatingthesamemessage.Furthermore,politenessisbeneficialinmanyways.Beingpoliteisconducivetodevelopingintimatefriendships.Awarmgreetinguponmeetingafriend,aheartfeltapologyupondoingsomethingwrong,andanexpressionofthankswhenothersofferhelpareallgesturesthatpromotefriendship.Conversely,receivingpolitetreatmentfromothersbringsamerryheart.Animportantaspectofthemodernworldiscooperation;politenessandcooperationareinseparable.Insummary,althoughcertainboringandcomplicatedgreetingshavebecomeoutdatedandshouldbeabandoned,politenesshasnotbecomeirrelevantandoffersnumerousadvantages.Doyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement?Peoplecaremoreaboutpublicrecognitionthanaboutmoney.Evenifnomoremoneyisgiven,publicrecognitioncanstillmakepeopleworkharder.J2的表述略有不同，但其實是同一題，其表述為：Companyshouldusepublicrecognition,notmoneytorewardhardworking.Inoursociety,weworktoearnmoneytomakeourlifehappierandmakeourgoalsaccomplished.Eitherwetrytomakeourlifewealthyortrytoseekforthepublicrecognition;weallknowthatweneedtoworkhardtoearnthem.Forsure,manyfactorsinthisprocessaffectourthoughtsandbehaviorstowardthisissueplayedinourlife.Willwestillworkharderifweonlyreceivepublicrecognitionwithoutmoneybeingpaid?Tome,Iamforthestatement.Tobeginwith,itisarealizationofone'sself-actualization.Withoutadoubt,weallworktomakemoneyandthisneedmakesusworkharder.However,forsomepeople,moneyisnoteverythingnomatteriftheyhavealotordonothavemuch.Forinstance,anaffluentbusinesspersoncandonatemoneytotheneedy,suchasorphans,medicalresearchoreducation.Dotheywantsomething,especiallymonetarygainsinreturn?No,theydothiseventhoughtheyarenotpaid;theyreceiveappreciationfromthosebeinghelped,theyaredelightfulwhentheyseepatientsreceivingbettertreatmentorstudentsobtainingbettereducation.Theyhelppeopletopossessabetterlifeastheyare.Thisisnotevaluatedbymoneyandtheywillstillworkhardertomakeotherpeoplefeellearnedandhopedagainduringtheprocess.Secondly,somepeopletargetonmakingourworldabetterplacetoliveforgeneration.Forexample,paperrecyclingvolunteers,theyworkforthewholesomenessofourearth,whichismuchrecognizedbythepublic.Theyknowiftheycontributewhatindividualscandofortheconceptofsustainablemanagement,theycanhelpourearth,natureaswellasourenvironmentforabetterlivingplace,notjustforthemselves,butforallthepeopleonthisplanet.Suchpublicrecognitioniswaymorepivotalthanthevaluemoneycanbring.Thepublicrespectthosepeoplewhodoitmerelyforourenvironment,notfortheirprivatemeans.Thus,theywillstillworkhardertokeepthepublicrecognitionbecauseitismeaningfulpublicacknowledgementthatishighlightedmerited.Undeniably,wecannotlivewithoutmoneyandmaterialthingstosupportourlife.Somepeoplemaythinkthatmoneyistheluretomakepeopleworkharder,ratherthanpublicrecognition.Inpsychology,humanbeingsdosomethingforapurpose.Customarily,wedoitforreceivingmoremoneyinthesecurityofourownlifesowecanbuyluxuriouscars,garmentsorbigmansions.Tosomepeople,thedemandofsuchdesireisthewaytomakethemworkharder.Earningpublicrecognitionisjustaninvisibleorintangiblethingthatexistsonlyinone'sdreams.However,foragreatnumberofpeople,theystillcaremoreaboutpublicrecognitionoverwhethermoneyisgivenandthosepeoplestillworkhardtomakethemfeelrespected,wantedandvaluedbythesociety.Theysimplydonotdoitformoney,butforthehappinessofallthepeoplelivinginthesamecommunity.Theworld,afterall,stillneedssomedreamerstomakeitabetterplace.Thus,Iagreewiththestatementforsure.Doyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement:Thecar(automobile)hashadgreatereffecttosocietythantheairplanehasto.Opinionsvaryastowhethercarorairplanehasexertedagreaterimpactonoursociety.Somepeoplebelievethatthecarexertsgreatereffect,forwithoutacarmanyofuscannotgotoschoolandoffice.Othersbelievethatitisairplanethatmakeslongdistancetravelavailable,thusimpactingthewholeworldinunthinkableways.Althoughthereissomeelementoftruthinbotharguments,Ibelievethattheautomobileismoreusefulandnecessarythantheairplane.Admittedly,theadventofairplanerealizedtheflyingdreamofhumanbeings,whichindeedservesasaninspirationandmotivation.Inotherwords,thinkingthatmencanflyintheskygivespeoplecourageandconfidencewhendoingotherdemandinganddifficultthings.Besides,Airplanehassignificantlyfacilitatedinternationaltravelandglobalbusiness,thusacceleratingtheprocessofglobalization.However,afterfurtherconsideration,Istillbelievethattheautomobilehashadmoreeffectonthesocietybecauseofthefollowingreasons.(weixin:mumutuofu)First,generallyspeaking,carsareaffordable.Wecanbuyacarforthousandsofdollars,butwehavetopaymillionstogetaplaneandevenanairplaneticketcancostthousandsofdollars.LastsummerIwenttoNewYorkwithmyfamiliesandwespent40000RMBonticketsalone.Evenpeoplefromdevelopedcountriesfinditdifficulttoaffordairplanetickets,nottomentionthosepoorpeoplefromdevelopingcountries.Soalargenumberofpeopleactuallydonothavetheflyingexperience.Buttheautomobileisinexpensiveanditisnoteasytofindapersonwhohasneverrideonabus.Thesecondpointtonoteisthattheuseofcarscanbemoreintimatelyconnectedwithourdailylife.Truckstransportvegetablesandmeattoplaceswheretherearenotenoughfoodtomeetthedemandofthelocalpeople.What’smorefireenginesareindispensableforacitytoo.Schoolbusesandcommuterbusesarealsonecessaryinorderforamodernsocietytorunsmoothly.Thelistgoesonandon.Inshortwecanaffordtolivewithoutairplane,butwecannotimaginewhataworldwouldbelikewherethereisdevoidofcars.WithoutplaneswecansearchontheInternetforinformation,useskypetomeetourfriendsandfamilies,takeshiptotraveltoanothercountry.Butwithoutacar,manypeoplecanonlystaynearourofficesandschools,eatlocalandmonotonousfood.Lifewouldbedullanddifficult.Consideringtheaboveanalysis,wecandrawtheconclusionthatalthoughtheplanehasitsownmeritsandinfluences,thesemeritsandinfluencesarelessthanthoseofcars.Carsareinexpensiveandcanbettermeetoureverydaydemands.Aworldwithoutplanesisaworldwithoutluxuries,butaworldwithoutcarsisaworlddeprivedofpeople'slivesmorecomplicated.I,insomeways,agreewiththisstatement.Technologycertainlymakesinformationeasiertoaccessandresearch.Yet,astechnologygetsmoreandmorecomprehensiveinwhatitcanaccomplish,webecomemoreandmoredependentuponit.Tasksbecomelessstraightforwardandyes,inmanycases,morecomplicatedthantheywouldhavebeen.Take,forinstance,theactofgettingdirectionstoanewplace.Fifteenyearsago,wewouldtakeoutamapofourtownorthesurroundingareas,examineit,andthenwritedownstep-by-stepdirectionsforhowtodrivetoourdestination.Sometimesitwasevenassimpleasmemorizingtheroute.Itwouldtakeafewminutes,butonceitwasdone,itwasquiteeasytocarryout.Today,manypeopleimmediatelylooktotheirGPSsystemintheircarinstead.Thistechnologicalinnovationismeanttomakethewholenavigationprocesssmoother,butcanberiddledwithdistracteddrivingandglitchymachinerythatcan’tfindspecificaddressesorsuggestsroutesthatdon’tmakesense.AfterhearingthegratingGPSvoicetellyouaboutanupcomingturnthreeorfourtimesinarow,youstarttowonderifthehassleisworthit.Similarissuesarisewhenpeoplehaveinternetaccessontheircellphones.Ifoutandaboutwithafriendandwantingtograbsomelunch,insteadofjustheadingintoanearbyrestaurantandseeingwhattheyhavetooffer,therecanbeinternetsearchesforrestaurantreviewsandminutesofscrollingthroughpricesandmenuofferings,slowingeverythingdownanddisruptingthespontaneityofthemoment.Ofcourse,GPSsystemsandsmartphonesandothersuchtechnologicaldevicesaren’thorrible.Theycanbeveryuseful.Butwhentheystarttobecomeoverused,reachedforconstantlywithoutevenconsciouslythinkingaboutit,itcanbeproblematic.Wecomplicateourdayswithtypingthingsin,pushingbuttons,staringattinylittlescreensalittletoomuch.Whynottrustourinstinctsandourenvironmentalittlemore?Whynotjustwalkordrivedownthestreetwithconfidence,readroadsigns,headintoarestaurantwithnopreconceivednotions?Wemightbepleasantlysurprisedatwhatwefind!Ithinkoncethetechnologyissetasideuntilitistrulyneeded,we’reabletothinkandactwithmuchclearerminds.Agreeordisagree?Thereisnoreasontobeimpolite(rude)toanotherperson.Usespecificexamplesandreasonstosportyourstatement.InJapan,peoplebowtheirheadsasasignofbeingpolite.InGermany,menkisseachother’scheeksindemonstrationofthesame.Nomatterhowbigorsmall,actsofpolitenessformahugepartofourlives.Asmuchaspossibleeveryonewantstobealwayspolite.Butshouldthisalwaysbethecase?Thegoldenrulestatesthatweshouldtreatothersthewaywewantthemtotreatus.Thus,mostpeople,throughthecourseoftheirday-to-dayinteractionswithotherpersons,strivetobepolite.However,Ibelievetherearealwaysexceptionstotherule.Wouldyoustillbepolitetosomeonewhoistryingtorobyou?Wouldyoustillbepolitetoyourbosswhoalwayshumiliatesyouintheofficeevenifthere’snoreasonto?Respectbegetsrespect.Thesamecanbesaidaswellforpoliteness.Inoureffortsofshowingtotheworldthatweareindeedgoodindividuals,wesometimestendtoforgetthatbeingpoliteshouldnotbeeasilydispensed.Thereissuchathingaspersonalrespect.Howcanotherpeoplerealizethatyouareapersonwhoshouldberespectedifyoureadilyaccommodatethemevenifthey’renottreatingyouthesameway?Ifthishappenstome,Iwouldcertainlyshowalimitedbutdefinitelevelofimpoliteness,notbecauseIamreallylikethatbutbecauseIdeservetobeshownpolitenesstoo.Let’slookatthebigpicture.1984,anovelbyGeorgeOrwell,depictsanabusive,certainlyimpolite,governmentcomposedofwell,impoliteofficials.Thereasontheycametopowerisquitesimple.Thecitizenswereverygullibletotheformer’spropagandaandadvances.Cutthelongstorys