Don't Worry, Be Happy :)

To what extent does scientific reasoning and evidence influence ones behavior and lifestyle?

Subject: Laughter Linked to Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

New scientific evidence makes the claim that people suffering from cardiovascular disease are less prone to life threatening heart attacks if they laugh a lot in their lives. The reverse holds true for those who spend a lot of their day angry. The studies were based on 10 years of research and sample sizes of about 200 or so people with confirmed cardiovascular disease. But are these sample sizes large enough as statistical proof?  Does the same hold true for people who do not have the disease and act as a preventative measure and if all this is true exactly how much of our day are we expected to spend laughing?

For any individual, life’s’ stresses and tensions means that we encounter situations that do not make us happy. This could range from the trivial like being caught in a traffic jam or our football team not making it to the playoffs to the serious such as divorce, financial problems or the death of a loved one. Every person has mood swings and has their ups and downs making it a good or bad day. Much of life is not in our self control so while the studies give great advice, I wonder realistically how much we can adhere to the notion that we need to laugh through life? We understand, accept and believe the knowledge we acquire and we trust to be true that scientific studies must hold credibility, especially if these studies are published, but how do we react?

It would be ridiculous to assume any one will laugh their way through a funeral, just to safe guard their heart. Yes, self restraint and understanding can teach us that when we are caught in a traffic jam, instead of fuming and cursing, we can turn on the radio and hear calming music or better still find the time given as a gift to hear funny stories or jokes. But again how much we can exercise this self healing depends on our genetic disposition to stress induced anger.

Surely, there are question marks to the studies which based on this subject matter are subjective to say the least. Laughter can never be fake it has to be real. So the people in the study how did they really measure their laughter and anger management levels while conscious all the while that they were experimental guinea pigs. While being happy, is certainly a great mantra for all to live their life by how can we not prove that there are so many other factors involved in heart disease. For example what if a person loves to watch comedy movies and spends and therefore spends 2 hours a day forgetting all his woes while he laughs heartily through his daily dose of movie escapism. Great, you may say. But what if I now tell you that he consumes heavy dose of full fat cholesterol and triglyceride laden Haagen Daaz ice- cream during his movie sessions. Will the dilation of arteries caused by laughter as per the studies counteract the constriction of arteries caused by the ice-cream. Is this poor man being mislead by the knowledge he has acquired and has developed a false perception of the truth. Does his belief rely on his own interpretation and experience or certainty that the evidence shows justification to his behavioral changes?

Yes, we are all influenced by what we read, but often we cannot adjust our lifestyles greatly we can simply tweak them. After all studies can be taken with a pinch of salt as often new studies will tell another story. One day eggs are bad for you, the next they are good for you. So is laughter really the best medicine and can an apple a day keep the doctor away? Food for thought…

Sinha, Kounteya . "Thumbs up to don't worry-be-happy theory - The Times of India." The Times of India. N.p., 30 Aug. 2011. Web. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Thumbs-up-to-dont-worry-be-happy-theory/articleshow/9790526.cms>.

Hurricane Irene or Hurricane Hype?

How does media coverage based on scientific predictions influence our knowledge and perception of an upcoming event?

Subject: The media coverage preceding Hurricane Irene

When I turned on the CNN news channel early Friday evening I was shocked to see the coverage of the gloom associated with the impending hurricane Irene. I wondered why such nice normal names were given to personify a non human freak of nature. The reports were out, Irene was to be the largest and most destructive hurricane in over 50 years. A time frame that I and many other people would not have been born to remember. The scientific reports were out, data analysis had been conducted and the meteorologists had been working overtime with the statistics that could frighten the pants of even hardened soothsayers, the results were not for the faint hearted. Winds of over 100 miles were hour were to reach New York Sunday morning, with extensive flooding of the Hudson River into down town Manhattan. The windows of skyscrapers would be shattered, power would be down and there would be damage amounting to billions of dollars. A state of emergency was declared and hundred of thousands of people would be evacuated from their homes, businesses, schools and hospitals. All this in the time that the US is still reeling under the effects of the recession. My heart went into my mouth. This was not just another news report about the usual war in a distant land, this affected my life, physically and emotionally. I lived my formative years in down town, Battery Park which was next to the river and scheduled to be badly affected. My grandparents resided there and were at risk of bodily harm and my next trip to New York would be affected. As reporters continued the shocking coverage, as the shops started boarding up and the streets of New York became a ghost town, my mind filled with images fueled by the pictures on the news. I remember seeing movies on hurricanes and my imagination went into overdrive as I imagined the worst, a scene straight out of a Summer Blockbuster movie. I imagined the park I strolled in being turned into a river, the trees and landscape destroyed, benches and trees overturned, the koi fish in the pond floating out to sea and the lobby of my apartment building flooded knee deep. And as if unable to keep away from a car wreck, I continued to watch mesmerized both in awe and fear at the power of Nature.

Hudson River Laps Over in Battery Park City, New York City

Or was it more the power of the media. Sunday morning came and the hurricane which on hitting the city immediately became downgraded to a storm passed without a whimper. People walked their dogs along the beach a few hours after the storm passed despite the prediction that the aftermath of flooding could go on for days. Yes, I understand that we have to err on the side of precaution. But honestly the non stop coverage seemed to be more hype than fact. Did the media relish the thought of this breaking news story and milk it for all it was worth. Did not the ratings go sky high and did they along with hardware and grocery stores not benefit from this. Science can after all predict the weather to a certain amount of accuracy along with its outcome. But we believe science and the news and react with an emotional response. We make the event real in our mind and in doing so with media encouragement we blow the event out of proportion. We think we have a pre-determined knowledge of the future based on science and media coverage and be have blind faith and belief. Along with herd mentality, we follow what others are doing such as boarding up as fear breeds fear and we reason they must have the knowledge and must be right. We follow rather than reason.

I was relieved that on the whole all ended well in my home town, but I almost wanted to shout out to the media channel; hey I was promised a hurricane and I want my money back!

Samenow, Jason. "Hurricane Irene hype: over the top media coverage or justified? - Capital Weather Gang - The Washington Post." The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - The Washington Post. N.p., 29 Aug. 2011. Web. 29 Aug. 2011. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/hurricane-irene-hype-over-the-top-media-coverage-or-justified/2011/08/29/gIQA77denJ_blog.html>.

Anna Hazare is India

How does the romanticizing of truth and values of a protest against an unethical government influence the youths’ perception and reaction?

Subject: Anna Hazare’s 3 Fold Protest against Indian Government

We all have grown up with the romantic images of Gandhi with his peaceful protests and hunger strikes against injustice and oppression, whether it be, through historical studies, movies or the media at large. Though we were not old enough to witness how he inspired a nation first hand these images stay in our minds and hearts. Today, with the onslaught of the Indian media coverage of the elderly activist dressed in wholesome white, protesting against the corruption in the Indian government we are reminded of these images, and feel we have a second chance to witness the Gandhi phenomenon first hand.

The Youth of India Protests for Anna's Campaign at India Gate, New Delhi

Newton Law’s state that for every action there is a reaction. So in that spirit when we see someone our grandfathers age fasting in peaceful protest we react. But as the youth of today, set up all night candle light vigils, and inundate facebook and twitter to garner support and wear the outdated and not fashion trendy hat as a symbolic gesture of our support, I wonder how much is based on factual knowledge and deductive reasoning, or how much is an emotive response.? The youth tend to love a herd mentality. They will gladly support the latest fashion trend to be cool and be part of the hot and happening crowd. So facebook gladly lends itself by its nature to likes and signing of petitions by way of the domino effect. Everyone jumps on to the bandwagon of support to show unity and groupism. In fact the youth will support any cause whether it be save the tiger, or decrease the legal age of drinking without any real claim or association, to prove they are citizens with a social conscience. Often though, they appear to enjoy rebelling against authority, as they are suppressed by parents, laws, teachers and alike and therefore indulge in the freedom that these protests allow them. In pursuit of removing their shackles they become rebels without a cause.

While the issues that Hazare holds and his values and belief system are very real, I wonder at the depth of knowledge of his young supporters who spend more time watching MTV than politics. Perhaps the youth without experience, or concrete evidence are showing an emotional response to the facts presented to them. This may be based on their trivial experiences such as having to bribe a policeman who caught them speeding. Are they protesting indirectly that they were forced to bribe themselves out of a stick situation, not realizing that revenge is unjustified as they were breaking the law? I am sure a college poll would show that not many protestors have a real grasp or handle of the political issues at hand and at best have amassed a general gist through the media whether it be print or electronic. This romanticizing by the media is further exasperated when popular cine stars suddenly come out of wood work in support little belying the fact their movie is up for release and they could do with the free publicity.

Another aspect is cultural response and ethical values. In India the youth are taught to respect their elders and Hazare, represents everyone’s Uncle or grandfather who should be revered and whose word is god.

In actual fact the youth need to research and study the facts acquire knowledge and see the pros and cons and then offer support based on real knowledge, explanation and interpretation. Any protest against real injustice and oppression is justified and a single voice needs to set an example. But there are lessons to be learnt and one of these important lessons is: love may be blind but support should never be.

Joseph , Bijoy . "The Hindu : Opinion / Open Page : Anna Hazare: the role model for the youth." The Hindu . N.p., 28 Aug. 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2011. <http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/article2403860.ece>.