Comments on: What is an American? http://kipthinks.com/2008/12/what-is-an-american/ a place of reflection and inquiry during my doctoral studies Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:25:43 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kip http://kipthinks.com/2008/12/what-is-an-american/comment-page-1/#comment-219 Kip Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:01:04 +0000 http://kipthinks.com/?p=185#comment-219 Interesting comment, Ash. We actually have one of my wife's friends over with us. She's an exchange student from Korea studying currently in Utah. She said that she didn't realize that discrimination still exists in the US. I didn't probe her about what she meant, but my guess is that in certain areas, people might feel certain things regarding race more than others. The other thing you bring up is also interesting. I've been thinking a lot nowadays about what "human needs" or "user needs" are. It's a tricky word, "needs." Especially when you think about how things that we consider needs weren't really needs over a hundred years ago. For example, I consider toothpaste a need. However, people didn't consider that a need 1-200 years ago. It ties in with what we do as designers. I don't know if you saw my post on Febreze and changing habits in Africa. Through marketing and creation of ads, we're able to shape people's daily behaviors. Scary and yet wonderful. So, are these basic rights you mention human needs? There's, no doubt, ethical implications in this discussion. For example, we're able to create things (artifacts as well as habits) very easily now. But should we make certain things just because we can? Going back to what you said. Freedom/rights. Some people think it's the right to enjoy certain products, all about the distribution of resources. Then, there are those who believe it's more about the right to produce and be proportionally rewarded for one's efforts. Both deal with the question, "What is a human right?" Interesting comment, Ash. We actually have one of my wife’s friends over with us. She’s an exchange student from Korea studying currently in Utah. She said that she didn’t realize that discrimination still exists in the US. I didn’t probe her about what she meant, but my guess is that in certain areas, people might feel certain things regarding race more than others.

The other thing you bring up is also interesting. I’ve been thinking a lot nowadays about what “human needs” or “user needs” are. It’s a tricky word, “needs.” Especially when you think about how things that we consider needs weren’t really needs over a hundred years ago.

For example, I consider toothpaste a need. However, people didn’t consider that a need 1-200 years ago. It ties in with what we do as designers. I don’t know if you saw my post on Febreze and changing habits in Africa. Through marketing and creation of ads, we’re able to shape people’s daily behaviors. Scary and yet wonderful.

So, are these basic rights you mention human needs? There’s, no doubt, ethical implications in this discussion. For example, we’re able to create things (artifacts as well as habits) very easily now. But should we make certain things just because we can?

Going back to what you said. Freedom/rights. Some people think it’s the right to enjoy certain products, all about the distribution of resources. Then, there are those who believe it’s more about the right to produce and be proportionally rewarded for one’s efforts. Both deal with the question, “What is a human right?”

]]> By: Ash http://kipthinks.com/2008/12/what-is-an-american/comment-page-1/#comment-212 Ash Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:12:19 +0000 http://kipthinks.com/?p=185#comment-212 It's also really interesting to think of what it means to be an American in a place like NYC vs. Dallas or even San Francisco. I think one of the huge schisms in America right now is the idea of what is "deserved". Tying into your thoughts about energy and action, it's all about having the industrial chudzpah to get what you want. But, questions arise when considering what is basic human right (food? shelter? education? medical care? housing?) and what is to be "earned". It’s also really interesting to think of what it means to be an American in a place like NYC vs. Dallas or even San Francisco.

I think one of the huge schisms in America right now is the idea of what is “deserved”. Tying into your thoughts about energy and action, it’s all about having the industrial chudzpah to get what you want. But, questions arise when considering what is basic human right (food? shelter? education? medical care? housing?) and what is to be “earned”.

]]>