According to an article in Forbes, “Taxing Virtual Worlds,” Congress has begun holding hearings about taxing commercial activity in virtual worlds. Discussions included the taxability of “buying” weapons in World of Warcraft, and commercial exchanges in the virtual world of Second Life. If it weren’t so scary, it’d be funny. ... read more →
Apr
17
Mar
27
Mass media helps make a nation real and tangible through depictions of images, symbols, and events. Information from within China, which had been cut off during the Mao regime from 1949-1976, is more open but still subject to government censorship. Without adequate or accurate sources, western media creates and disperses... read more →
Mar
26
Peter Stearns makes some interesting arguments about the level of fear in American society in his 2006 book American Fear. His main thesis is how America has become fixated on controlling fear which makes them vulnerable to the manipulation of fear and anxiety by politicians, media, and terrorists. This reiterates... read more →
Mar
25
A recent report says that while cardiovascular strength adds up, lifting weights that are too light doesn't do much to build muscle. It is important to tax the muscles to get them to respond. The same is true in learning. If you don't have to try, you won't get much... read more →
Mar
24
It is important for those of us interested in the field of Media Psychology to consider first and foremost what this discipline of Psychology is. Traditionally, it has been seen as the psychologist in the media (such as Dr. Phil or Dr. Ruth). This is an outdated notion to me. ... read more →