Game of Words: View Vs. Counter View 1.19

Should we return to the Barter

System?

(By : Shahul Yunus V, Robin Jacob, 1 BBA B)

Could we resolve the problems brought by the currency system by going back

to the barter system? Will the modern society accept the old -age system of bartering

goods and services. Read more to find out!

YES / VIEW (INFAVOUR OF BARTER SYSTEM) :

- Robin Jacob, 1 BBA B.

In June 2015, Zimbabwe began offering 5 US Dollars for 175 Quadrillion

Zimbabwe dollars. In 2008, the rate of inflation hit 500 billion percent, soon after

Zimbabwe abandoned their currency. In simple terms, inflation is too much money

chasing very few goods. The very crucial idea which stops inflation is the Confidence

in One’s currency. The guarantee that a 100 dollar bill is not just a piece of paper.

People in those days traded their goods for other products to satisfy their needs. In

Initial days, there was no concept of money. People got their desired goods and

services through Barter system. The system of bartering has been noticed recently

during riots, wars and famines. The same barter system was used by men to lead their

daily life in early times. Everyone can satisfy their needs by exchanging what they

have got.

We currently use the currency system for trading the products and for goods

and services. The value of money keeps fluctuating according to the exchange rates.

The fluctuation in the currency system is the main reason for inflation.

The Barter system involves much risk.

NO / COUNTER VIEW(AGAINST BARTER SYSTEM) :

- Shahul Yunus V, 1 BBA B.

Absolutely Not. A man trades with someone else who has what you want and

wants what you have. For example if A produces soap and B produces rice, A would

have to wait till a month as most soaps last a month. But A has to consume rice daily.

He will be not able to get rice until B really needs a new soap. The Biggest drawback

of Barter system will be how much should be exchanged for services like teaching.

The main issue of this system is It was impossible to save things and use them in the

future. Exchanging things and storing them for a long time would be tedious process.

To sell my product, I will have to find someone who wants my product and I also

have to make sure that the product sold is genuine and is worth exchanging. There is

also a challenge of pricing in Barter system, How many apples should be exchanged

for a note book. The value of the product keeps changing in this system. I may

exchange an apple with an orange. But from the next day, I may demand 2 apples for a

single orange. So, the number of goods to be exchanged for a desired product keeps

changing. Another problem in today’s situation is “How the Employees will be paid in

barter system." What goods should they be paid with ? Will they demand the same

good as their salary every month? People tend to store things, to secure their future.

How these things will be stored for a very long time, as products have a very short

half-life.

Pricing Inefficiency is the major problem of the Barter system. There wont be

a fixed price for the goods and services. Another problem of the barter system is that

you cant buy things in various quantities. If 1 kg of rice if fixed for 1 Rabbit. How

much rabbit should be given for 1/2 kg of rice?

Then arise the concept of something to exchange.

* Should be a medium of exchange

*Should be a unit of measurement

* Should also be a store of value.

* The product must be universally accepted.

(I.e everyone must be willing to take it in for goods and services.

Gold and Silver was used in the early days as a medium to exchange goods.

Gold was universally accepted as the medium to exchange goods(whatever they want,

whenever they want). Gold satisfied all the criteria mentioned above. The monarchs

started issuing the gold coins. Gold and silver coins were used to exchange goods and

services till recent times. Then came the concept of issuing copper coins. Copper

coins were issued in the place of gold coins and was in use till the British era(in

India). Then came the vast concept of Currency. The currency bills were printed,

making a piece of paper, worth exchanging. Different nations named their currencies

differently(like dollars, pounds etc).

The value of the currency heavily rests in the economy of the nation. The market

value of the currency keeps changing due to exchange rates and inflation. The

changes are less noticeable and does not have very much impact on the nation. ( It may

in case of Boom or depression in the economy).

So, going back to Barter system wont be a intellectual solution to solve the

problems posed by the currency system.

Game of Words: View Vs. Counter View 1.18

Existence of Ethics in this Modern Generation

- Done By: Bibin Jose & Nithin O.P

I BBA ‘B’

View  :

" If future generations are to remember us to more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through it. "

- Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th American President

Human beings have a natural tendency to include future generations or modern generations in ethical considerations of the present day issues. Throughout history, for thousands of years, adults have bemoaned the ethics of the modern generations. I would say the values of the ethics of the modern generation are not deteriorating. The main problem with the young people is that, the ones that behave poorly are the ones that get all the attention. Once you witness that, you start to think all people of that age act like that, which is not true. There are more good people in this modern generation, but the media just focuses on the worst, not the good. Young people today are no different than the young people of any generation; they only have as much moral values and ethics as is taught to them by their parents.

Nobody was born perfect in any generation, it is only by nurturing the basic ethics, moral values and manners one become a respectable human being in the society. By this I mean to say that it is the responsibility of the older generation, such as parents, teachers, well wishers, or any possible icons that probably catches the youth's attention to showcase some ethics, moral values and manners. Remember that today in this world of technology, if you blame the modern generation for the deterioration of values in them, then you also have to blame yourself for the same because we would not be present here if not for the older generations. If any generation were to be exposed to the vast variety of technology, science, media and possibly all the luxuries that we have today, would they also be doubted for the existence of ethics in their generation?

Moral values or ethics should not be mixed with modernisation. If you are modern, then it does not mean that you have lost your moral values. Moral values and ethics are subjective. I don't see why we think our generation lacks morals and ethics. This generation is fearless. We become entrepreneurs through social media, we empower our women and we don’t think that women are less than men. We are the most accepting generation by far, the LGBT community is growing. Take a look at how many youth organizations have been a great asset to the world.

If we concentrated on the goodness in young people, we would know that the modern generation is just fine.
 - Nithin

COUNTERVIEW:

Humans have been walking towards the path of advancement. We have been looking for means to get things done easier, quicker and more effectively. We adopted a lot of technologies and made all of them a part of our lives. Business and industry oriented minds keep growing. Men have become addicted to momentary pleasures. In this long run, people are slowly forgetting the importance of having ethics in them. Be it workplace or family, people have forgotten how to behave and be human. The time has come where we find 'being human' only on shirts and not actually in human beings. The time when people used to run to help when they see a road accidents no longer exists. People are very busy with their own lives. Nobody really has enough time for others.

A clear example of humans running out of ethics is the business world where selfish minds and narrow business techniques have replaced ideas of being human. Times when people used to think about love, care, concern are no more prevailing. Money minded lives have turned human beings into machines. Work ethics are being erased by some filthy practices and unfriendly thinking.

Each and every little part of our life is getting affected by the unhealthy lives we are living. Lives are getting unethical with the advancements day by day and as we move from generation to generation.

A clear vision about this generation having no ethics is occuring when we notice the number of teen pregnancies going high, rates of adultery rising and the lack of importance people give to marriage bindings’. The number of teens choosing the path of drugs, alcohols etc, is increasing. Workplaces have become factories where people are put to work beyond the limits. The times when bosses used to care for the health of his employees are all gone. All these throw lime light on how our generation is deteriorating in ethics.
- Bibin

Game Of Words : View Vs Counter View 1.17

Are single sex schools more effective than co-ed schools ?

View

Having been tutored in a single sex school for fourteen years, I believe that single sex schools are more effective than co-ed schools. During the teenage years hormonal changes are high and the result can be very obscuring for both boys and girls. Combining this with a co-ed learning environment can result in a loss of concentration on studies.

Furthermore, competition between the sexes can result in an ill-matched learning environment. Girls, for example, may not excel in science for fear of turning off male interest. Likewise, boys may not express their opinions in English classes for fear of not appearing robust to female classmates. Some parents prefer such schools as it gives their children a habitat free from diversion and hindrance. Instead of studying, girls divert their focus to the use of artificial embellishments and boys fritter away most of their time in trying to look buff by visiting the gym regularly. By separating the learning environments, these issues are eliminated.

Research shows that girls prefer a warm environment while studying whereas boys prefer a cooler environment. Therefore external conditions can be matched to the required conditions by arranging for different schools for the joven and jovencita. Students feel more congenial when placed in a gender-specific school. They are more forthright and outspoken. It becomes very easy for them to discuss their personal issues. Thereby, I conclude that girls and boys stay more confident and learn more in a gender-specific school.  

By Nishita V Sethiya - I BBA B

Counter View

The world we live in is one with both the genders working in communion with each other, so why not prepare school-going children by creating a more factual environment rather than a hypothetical one during their years of primary development. Although the students might find it easier to perform better in academics and other activities in a single sex institution, the real world is not single sex and hence they will find it difficult to cope once they start working.

Single sex schools lead to poor social skills among children. According to “Forbes,” when students are segregated by sex, they miss opportunities to work together and develop vital social skills. Moreover when students are segregated they often wonder why and this leads them to think that one gender is either inferior or superior than the other, therefore going against gender equality which has been a century long struggle.

When boys and girls are segregated they often draw up wrong conclusions about the other gender and in turn stereotypes like girls can't play sports, women are nurses not doctors, men are lazy/ messy, men do not cook, sew or do crafts etc.,  originate. These gender stereotypes tend to stick onto the child as he develops and this attitude is not appreciated in a workplace as many employers try to do away with such stereotypes.

Thereby, i conclude that in the real world, men and women work together and coeducational institutions train you for it.

By Tanya Paul - I BBA B

Game of Words : View Vs Counter View 1.16

Should comedians be allowed to make fun of personal issues?

View-

In a society which promotes freedom of speech, comedians have a right, and often, an expectation to be controversial. Audiences are as entitled to be offended by a joke as they are to find it funny. The offense, when taken from a joke's lack of sensitivity, is perfectly understandable. However, one person being offended may not necessarily mean someone else will be offended too. This is the subjective nature of comedy, and debating on whether it should be censored is a debate which will rage on in a continuous storm of competing ideologies. But tragic events since the start of the year have made the debate on comedy’s relationship with societal norms debateable.

Joking at the expense of something is disempowering, at all levels of society, and is more likely to cause offense. Even the most clever, well-written jokes will be interpreted differently. If you are offended by something which you are not willing to try and understand from a different perspective then perhaps the best reaction is to ignore it and change the channel.   But comedy exists within a bubble, with the freedom to say things on a public platform which politicians, journalists, and other public figures cannot. That is something worth celebrating, not censoring.

Thoughtful comedy on any subject can be a powerful tool, with a purpose to educate as well as entertain. However, comedians should be cautious, on where to draw the line.

                                                   

                                                                                             -  Vedanth Bharpilania

                                                                          1 BBA B

Counterview-

A few months ago, a video was put up on YouTube by comedian Nicole Arbour that caused a massive outcry on social media. The video, which was highly offensive talked about how she does not believe that "fat shaming" is even a "thing" anymore. The video caused such an outcry that YouTube was forced to ban it. The repercussions were so bad that she even lost a few movie roles.  This whole controversy raised an even bigger question of where to draw the line in rules pertaining to comedy.

The conversation about offensive comedy has been having been brought up by many comedians. In today's world where everything has to be politically correct one has to wonder about what can be talked about and what can't be. This, however, doesn't make what Nicole Arbour said acceptable. What Arbour talked about in her video was mean and cruel to a group of people who already face societal pressure. There is a massive stigma against people who are overweight and to make a video that denies this truth is in very poor taste. Even if she is joking, the way she delivered her video was just downright mean.

The thing about comedy is that it give a few people the right to poke fun at our society. To find humor in the most trivial things in our society. I do not believe that comedy should be censored so heavily because we do live in a country where freedom of speech is one of our God given rights, but we have to remember that there is a line for what is acceptable to joke about and what is not.

As our country grows more politically correct and censorship finds its way into more light-hearted issues, you have to wonder where the line will be drawn.

                    

                                                         Pranav Kinger

                                   I BBA B

Game Of Words : View Vs Counter View 1.15

Should gay marriage be legalized?

VIEW:

The most common argument against allowing gays to marry seems to be that we need to protect the institution of marriage. This argument is ridiculous for many reasons. While the main reason people in the India seem to get married is out of love, it is by no means the only reason.

There are people who marry for money, non-sexual companionship, even health insurance, do these reasons also threaten the institution of marriage? Furthermore, we have to look at marriage historically. For many years a wife was considered the property of her husband. For generations, royal families would marry their children off for diplomatic reasons, even "lower class" families would marry their daughters off to wealthy and/or powerful families so that they may reap the benefits. Many countries still have arranged marriages. To me, it appears that marriage is not exactly as "sacred" an institution as some would like to think.

Another argument against same-sex marriage is that we need to "protect" our children. Are we worried that letting homosexual people get married will, in turn, convert their children? If we are talking about the children of a gay couple whether through adoption (that is a whole other issue), artificial insemination, surrogacy, or the old-fashioned way; then would it not be more beneficial for these children to have a married couple as parents, particularly for legal reasons? Some may say that the "ideal" situation for children to be raised in is a loving mother and father. While this may not be wrong, it is not reality. It would be great if everyone had a loving mother and father, but how many children are being raised by single parents because one parent took off, or have a mother and father but are neglected or abused? It seems absurd to even suggest that it would be more beneficial for a child to be raised in an abusive home over that of a loving same-sex couple.

Practically all of the arguments against gay marriage come back to the issue of religion. Many extremely religious conservatives like to remind us that there is freedom of religion in this country, but some do not seem to understand that freedom of religion does not mean everybody conforming to your own personal religious beliefs. Some will say that since gay marriage is against their religious beliefs it is a violation of their freedom of religion.

The same argument can be made for homosexuals, though. We are all entitled to our own beliefs, but we should not expect everybody else to conform to them. Same sex marriage has no logical impact on the everyday lives of religious conservatives, but religious conservatives denying same-sex couples the right to marry does have a direct impact on the everyday lives of homosexuals.

The whole argument really comes down to letting consenting adults do as they wish, provided they are not hurting anybody, and keeping our beliefs out of the lives of others, just as we expect for ourselves. Homosexuals getting married really has no effect on anybody but themselves. 

• Avish Crasta

            1BBA ‘A’

COUNTER VIEW:

As the world's oldest democracy legalizes gay marriage nationwide, it is time for the world's largest democracy to perform some much-needed introspection - are we, as a people, society, and country ready to legalize gay marriage?

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

The problem isn't the Indian judiciary. I personally believe that, barring a few decisions (including Section 377), the Indian judiciary is, by far, India's most forward-looking institution, easily beating even Narendra Modi in terms of progressiveness and liberalism

There are several points to prove my thoughts right.

It is a well-known fact that the same – sex couples will not be able to reproduce their own kids and this would bring down their family generation. Having a kid of your own is an integral part of the marriage systems and the society.

A child needs both a mother as well as a father. Children who are raised without a mother are deprived of the emotional safety. Children who are raised by same – sex parents face more difficulties rather than the normal kids.

According to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom, marriage is not a right but a privilege. The society should oppose the people marrying from the same sex. Marriage is a traditional concept which takes place between a man and a woman.

The same – sex marriages weaken the institution of marriage. India is a country where the traditions are followed since time immemorial. In India, the institution of marriage is defined as a process which takes place between a man and woman.

The same-sex marriages are considered to be immoral in most parts of the world including India. Around 50% of the people who have undertaken the activity of homosexuality, know that what they are doing is immoral and unnatural. Marriage is considered to be pure and homosexual people tend to break that concept. The majority of the people in North America consider same – sex marriages as a sin.

Few religious texts like Quran also go against the concept of same – sex marriage. Quran has a saying that when a man mounts another man, the throne of the God shakes. The scriptures also consider the lesbian intercourse as an unlawful intercourse. No ideologies have been created which deletes the concept of a man marrying a woman.

With Ireland legalizing the concept of same – sex marriage, we hope that few other countries would also join this ideology. There are still many orthodox countries which shut their door to the idea of same – sex relations. Apart from legal, there are many moral and social aspects of same-sex relationships. In the near future, India might support the concept of same – sex marriages.

• Anto Sajosh Poovelikunnel

1 BBA ‘A’

Game Of Words : View Vs Counter View 1.14

Once bad at math, a person will always be bad at math.

View-            

Modern sciences challenge our basic assumptions about various subjects, some of which have discouraged a lot of students from sticking with it.

The most popular and damaging of these assumptions has been that some people can do math and others just can’t. Advances in neuroscience are revolutionizing our approach to education, and they have various implications for the way we teach math. Parents believe it, most teachers believe it, and soon enough, the students believe it too. There has been a recent study which stated that if a student did not have a good math teacher during the fifth and sixth grade, there is a high possibility that the student would not be able to cope up with the difficulty of the subject in higher grades. Math is a subject in which a person can’t do well if he/she is not well-versed with the basics and therefore a student must have good guidance right from the elementary level.

Every child can’t do well in math .

The simple answer is that we don’t approach the subject in the right way, conceptually or philosophically. Schools continue to single out who is good at math — and who is not — at a very young age. That has to change.

Another myth I think is important to confront is this notion of a “wall” in math. According to this popular idea, you can take all the math classes you like until you hit your personal wall, and then you can’t go any further. Approximately half the people in the U.S. have a fixed mindset, and the other half have a growth mindset. More people have a fixed mindset about math than any other subject. It has been found that kids with growth mindsets achieve more. They do so because a growth mindset goes along with certain behaviors — they are more persistent and more willing to learn from mistakes.

• Gurleen Singh  1BBA-B

Counter-view:

Math uses made-up rules to create models and relationships. Textbooks rarely focus on understanding; it's mostly solving problems with fixed formulas. It saddens me that beautiful ideas get such a rote treatment. Research proves that Math is a way of thinking, and it's important to see how that thinking developed rather than only showing the result. Psychological studies point out that mindset is key to learning. Factual learning is not understanding, we must keep an open mind and delve deep into the true meaning of things and not just look at the superficial coating applied unintentionally by our mind. It's often seen that applying theories to real world phenomena helps understand the theories much better. We must realize we are capable of learning a lot more than we think we can. We must not give up easily, a characteristic quite common in humans. Therefore, a person can get better at math if he/she wants to because at the end of the day it's the mindset of the person that sets his/her limitations. Math skills are increasingly important for getting good jobs these days, so believing you can’t learn math is especially self-destructive. But, I also believe that math is a great mental monster for an unconfident individual. If we can convince you that anyone can learn math, it should be a short step to convincing you that you can learn just about anything, if you work hard enough.

While schools tend to focus on math problems around third grade, and math learning disabilities often are diagnosed by fifth 
A study found the ability to work with numbers may be something that is entirely choice-based. If you want to, you can.

• Anuj Talera

            1BBA-B