The knol ellaborates 5 of the most important aspects of Japanese culture, customs and etiquette that you should be aware of:

1. Meeting and greeting
   Bowing is one of the most simple yet important forms of etiquette, representing many purposes: A form of greeting, a sign of respect, to accompany an apology, and various other situations.
2. Visiting a Japanese house
   First and foremost, remember to take off your shoes, whether you are visiting a home, business, hotels and many other establishments. If you are visiting a home, also try to bring a simple gift for the hostess.
3. Eating and drinking
   At a restaurant, you will be presented with moist rolled towel before you started to eat – Use it to clean your hands, not your face. Before you start eating, try to use the phrase “itadakimasu”, an expression of gratitude.
4. Bathing
   You will typically be given an honour to bathe first, usually before dinner time. Before you start to bathe, wash yourself in a shower first.
5. Other things you should know
   If you are “out of the ordinary” – e.g. very tall, be ready to be stared at. Also, avoid kissing in public.

For more detailed explanation on each of the 5 customs, please visit the knol.

A knol written by Ginny Deerin, an Educator, explore about the basics of social and emotional intelligence, and why they are very important.

In essence, a child who is well-taught in how to behave well, make good decision and build healthy relationship is having an enormous chance to succeed in his/her life. An exceptional social and emotional intelligence also help a child to overcome life problems the right way. Combined with academical intelligence, this child will have a great chance to life his/her life to the fullest, reaching success and happiness every parent dreamed of.

There are 5 core competencies that constitute social and emotional intelligence:

1. Self awareness.
2. The ability to regulate emotions.
3. Social awareness.
4. Good relationship skills.
5. Responsible decision making.

For more detailed explanation, please visit the social and emotional intelligence knol.

Euthanasia issues always evolving around a fine line of “mercy killing” – usually motivated due to a person suffering from incurable illness and disease.

What is euthanasia? According to a knol written by Sam Vaknin on euthanasia:

Euthanasia is the intentional premature termination of another person’s life either by direct intervention (active euthanasia) or by withholding life-prolonging measures and resources (passive euthanasia), either at the express or implied request of that person (voluntary euthanasia), or in the absence of such approval (non-voluntary euthanasia). Involuntary euthanasia – where the individual wishes to go on living – is an euphemism for murder.

In my opinion, passive euthanasia is immoral – I agree with Sam on this. The withholding of medical treatments will result in a slow and potentially torturous death.

The issues on euthanasia has always been related to the right to live and the right to life. Questions, such as, “killing or letting die?” “morally acceptable or rightfully acceptable?” are always the debate topic among society members. The more issues raised, the more unanswered questions uncovered and the more moral dilemma issues raised.

To explore Sam Vaknin’s arguments on euthanasia, please visit his thoughtful knol.

Not trying to raise an issue here by explaining the details, but basically I was called by someone as a second class citizen.

Ouch.

Robert Fuller wrote a knol about rankism, and how it is used to keep you ‘competing’ with those that consider themselves as of higher ranks.

Robert describes rankism as follow:

Rankism is abuse of the power inherent in rank… Rankism occurs when those with authority use the power of their position to secure unwarranted advantages or benefits for themselves at the expense of others. It is the illegitimate use of rank and, equally, the use of rank illegitimately acquired or held.

Robert further explains rankism with examples:

Examples of rankism from everyday life include a boss harassing an employee, a doctor demeaning a nurse, a professor exploiting a graduate student, and students bullying each other. On a societal scale are headline-making stories of political and corporate corruption, sexual abuse by members of the clergy, and the maltreatment of elders in nursing homes.

Robert warned that in we have to differ rankism from rank.

As we love authorities who hold a form or rank and use the power that comes with it in an exemplary way, rank is certainly not rankism. However, if those authorities abuse people’s trust and misuse their power to disadvantage those that ‘rank’ below them, rankism is definitely present and can cause further social problems, such as vengeance of the victim of rankism.

To learn more, please visit the knol written by Robert Fuller.

Spaulding’s article goes back to the time argued question, “are we born violent or is it partially due to the way we’ve been raised and the things we expose ourselves to.” In answering this question, Mr. Spaulding introduces some interesting insights into the “nature vs. nurture” scenario, including physiological, the media, and innate issues that could be present.

Spaulding states,

Frustration stemming from social situations is a common cause of aggression. Imagine someone is talking negatively about someone you love very much, or that you are stuck in traffic and it is your first day to a new job. Both of these situations bring with them high levels of frustration and anger. The natural response is to try and verbally or physically attack something, even if deep down you know that it isn’t going to help the situation. This is summed up in the frustration-aggression theory, which states that frustration, or the perception of being prevented from attaining a goal, increases the probability of an aggressive response.

The question may never be solved, but Spaulding may help us better understand a growing phenomenon in our society.

Kevin Spaulding on Violence and Aggression.
Image by base2wave.

According to a knol written by Keith Kamisugi:

Affirmative action consists of public policies and initiatives designed to help eliminate past and present discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

What is the benefit of affirmative action?

1. Affirmative action enhances learning environment.
2. Affirmative action enhances business and society.
3. Affirmative action does not single racial minorities out.
4. Affirmative action helps, not ‘stigmatizes’ minorities.

Affirmative action is supported by major organizations, nationwide, ensuring equal opportunity among all social groups, especially on race matters.

One notable example: Affirmative action on higher education is explicitly endorsed by big companies, such as Microsoft, as well as professional groups, such as American Medical Association.

If you would like to learn more about affirmative action, please make sure you visit Keith’s knol.

Image by dbking.

Have you ever imagine what would happen to mankind if the oil is not there anymore?

A knol by Byron W. King of Contrarian Profits explore about peak oil and its impact to the society and mankind.

What is peak oil? From the knol, the following is the concept of peak oil.

…the concept of ‘Peak Oil’ …is a shorthand way of expressing the geological concept that mankind has reached a ‘peak’ in its ability to produce this depleting resource from the crust of the Earth.

The fact from the knol explains that the world’s total level of production of about 84 million barrels of conventional oil per day will not last much longer. What would society do about it?

I found an interesting take on going green movement’s role in peak oil – the knol indicates that being green and environmentally friendly have next to nothing to do with it. I assume that Byron considers green energy will not take over mankind’s need for oil.

He closes his knol with the following statement:

Peak Oil is nature’s way of rebalancing the equation… Peak Oil will control your destiny. You should start learning about it, thinking about it, and planning for it.

A sense of urgency for societies to find a way to stop relying on the already overpriced oil, and start seeking alternative, renewable, energy sources.

Images by azrainman.

According to the knol by Michael McGovern, the answer’s in the question. Rationalism is from the Latin word ratio meaning reason. So, Rationalists believe that reason is the primary source of knowledge, providing justification for beliefs.

Some prominent rationalists include Plato and Descartes.

I think rationalism as the essence of what your logic allows you to reason with something.

Rationalsim is complex – For example, how do you rationalise Robin Hood’s stealing for the poor? It’s wrong, by law (and it still is today), but he is a hero among the poor.

My rationalisation of Robin Hood’s act is that man is not justified by his good deeds in the eye of the law, but in the eye of the people and God. But, rationalisation is widely different from one person to another.

How to rationalise things, such as the Robin Hood’s act? Michael explains that rationalists argue that either we have a rational intuition that allow us to grasp certain basic truths or we have knowledge of certain innate truths, which part of our rational nature. He states that those are how we get knowledge.

You can learn more about rationalism from the knol.

Image by Dee Q8.

The advent of the Internet and the three-dimentional technology advance has create a new society that no physical boundary can limit social interaction.

A knol by Yohan Launay and Nicolas Mas of ConceptSL, Paris, France titled Virtual Worlds: A New Kind of Sociability, explains the role of virtual technologies to born a virtual society.

Yohan and Nicolas explain that virtual worlds start as games – MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Games) – that combine both social and playful aspects, such as World of Warcraft. From there, virtual living visionaries create a universe that allow people to live virtually – chat with friends, ‘walk’ in cities, etc.

Virtual society thus was born. Virtual society is the group people within virtual communities that communicate, network and do other social activities in a virtual world. The early days of virtual societ

Considered as the most popular virtual world is Second Life. Virtual commerce and virtual learning were made possible by the virtual technology applied.

The dynamic in virtual world, such as Second Life, is ‘real life’ that people can befriend or make enemy others. People can also trades and make money in their virtual life. In fact, in virtual worlds, you can do almost anything in real life.

Virtual society is definitely a trend to watch, as it has everything a society need – social interactions, social leaders, commercial activities and… a life.

Image by Daniel Voyager from TSL.

You always want to be more creative and productive in what you do – However, your mindsets and habits are often holding you back.

I stumble on a knol that may help you to be a more creative person. Shalu Wasu, a Singapore-based Creativity Consultant and Trainer, wrote an insightful knol – 16 Habits of Highly Creative People.

Here is the outline of 16 habits of highly creative people:

1. Creative people are full of curiosity.
2. Creative people are problem-friendly.
3. Creative people value their ideas.
4. Creative people embrace challenges.
5. Creative people are full of enthusiasm.
6. Creative people are persistent.
7. Creative people are perennially dissatisfied.
8. Creative people are optimists.
9. Creative people make positive judgement.
10. Creative people go for the big kill.
11. Creative people are prepared to stick it out.
12. Creative people do not fall in love with an idea.
13. Creative people recognise the environment in which they are most creative.
14. Creative people are good at reframing any situation.
15. Creative people are friends with the unexpected.
16. Creative people are not afraid of failures.

From the 16 habits he explained in his knol, one of my favourite habits is the number 14 – Creative people are good at reframing any situation.

He explained that creative people needs to have the ability to look at situation from a different angle. By doing so, creative people are empowered to change perception and spot opportunities that will make a difference in whatever you do.

Be sure to visit his knol and practice the 16 habits, Shalu explained that practicing even some of them will increase your level of creativity.

Image by manannan_alias_fanch