Questions and Answers From Van Houtryve:

1. As you reread, consider closely the relationship between van Houtryve’s text and his photographs. How do these images support his argument? In what ways is van Houtryve making a visual argument? His argument is that people will use drones in a positive way to help humanity instead of the drones causing havoc on society. His pictures and the captions are all showing cameras and drones in helping ways, for example the drones being used for the jail in Maricopa County Arizona will help monitor and help keep surveillance on inmates. 

2. What problems does van Houtryve see with the military use of drones? As you review the essay, make a list of these issues. Are van Houtryve’s concerns justified? Van Houtryve’s views are that drones could be a little dangerous and unpredictable when they just use algorithms and calculations instead of a human touch. Weapons systems could decide when to fire or not based on algorithms and lighting fast calculations, eliminating human will – and not judgment – from the battlefield. His views are justified because no one knows if the drones could malfunction and do something terrible. The drones could also be hacked and that would cause major issues everywhere. 

3. Technology has played very important roles in war. Ever since the first wars technology has helped with winning wars and putting others ahead of each other. Technology has also helped end many wars in the past. The roles technology plays in war should be positive, it should help propel opponents ahead of each other. It does play a bad part in war as in fact advances in technology could mean more deaths in war. It could make it easier as in having drones and other pieces of technology in the field instead of actual human beings. I think technology has a lot of positive roles and effects in war, but it also has a few negatives to it. Overall it helps win wars and it changes many people’s lives. 

Konnikova Reading Response:

“What do you think makes a good friend? List the qualities of close friendship. As you review the essay, consider the effect of social media on friendship.”

I think what makes a good friend is someone who is always there for you no matter what the circumstance. Say you are stuck on the side of the highway very far away from home. Your car is broken and won’t start, there is no pickup truck coming and it is getting late. You decide to call your friend who is pretty far away to ask them to come pick you up. Once they answer and hear the situation, they say they are coming to help right away. That to me is a good solid friend. Someone who is willing to stop whatever they are doing to come help you when you need it most. I have a friend who is exactly like this and we have been friends since we were kids. The definition of a good friend for me, is someone who is always willing to drop whatever they are doing and will do anything you ask of them when you need it most. 

“After you’ve examined your list of friends from Question 1 of Exploring Context, compare that list to the numbers you keep in your phone. Does the number of people you call relate to the Dunbar number? Does your phone reflect closer friendships than your social media presence?”

My phone and social media definitely show who are my close friends and who I do not really talk to. My social media/instagram is full of random people mixed in with a lot of my close friends. When it comes to the people who I have as contacts in my phone, it is all close and family-related people. I do not have any random people in my contacts because I only use it to reach out to my friends and family. I feel like the Dunbar number really says a lot. When it comes to me personally it makes sense and has the same outcome as the Dunbar Number. I definitely have certain people in my contacts that I personally reach out to and it makes sense with the whole definition of Dunbar. You can only have healthy relationships with certain people and I think I have reached that max with the people I talk to now.