The “Lucky Money” That Started It All—The Reinvention of the Ancient Tradition “Red Packet” in Digital Times

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 205630512110416
Author(s):  
Yusi (Aveva) Xu
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
Social Medium ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cultural Economic ◽  
Virtual Groups ◽  
Gift Economy ◽  
Active User ◽  
Economic Practices ◽  
The Way

In August 2020, President Trump attempted to ban WeChat, indicating the growing impact of the most widely used social medium in China. WeChat enjoys a monthly active user base of 1.2 billion, but the Internet giant’s story started with a humble function, “Red Packet.” The function of Red Packet paved the way for WeChat to intelligently integrate into the Chinese financial sphere. This study examines the cultural, economic, and relational implications of the digital reinvention of traditional red packet gifts, and monetary giving that represents good luck and well wishes in festive situations. Drawing upon Mauss’ conceptualization of gift economy within the context of contemporary China and the art of social relationships, “ guanxi,” the author closely examines Tencent’s annual report and conducts semi-structured interviews to study WeChat Red Packet (hereafter WCRP) gifting. This article concludes that (1) the obligatory feeling of guanxi management renders WCRP giving, receiving, and reciprocity compulsory practices; (2) WCRP facilitates “immediate reciprocity,” in which, instrumental guanxi may be produced and dissolved instantaneously; (3) the phenomena of social comparison and social hierarchy are mirrored in virtual groups; (4) with platformed sociality and monetizing connectivity, WCRP paved the way for alternative economic practices within Chinese authoritarian capitalism; and (5) WCRP contains characteristics of a personalized gift and materialist commodity.

Conceptualizing the impact of machines, science and technologies on the sociocultural environment that shapes the teacher's paradigm of values and views of life

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 2161-2179
Author(s):  
A.B. Lanchakov ◽  
S.A. Filin ◽  
A.Zh. Yakushev ◽  
E.E. Zhusipova
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Professional Activity ◽  
Sociocultural Environment ◽  
Sociocultural Development ◽  
Prediction And Forecasting ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Motivation ◽  
The Way

Subject. In this article we analyze how machinery, science and technologies influence the sociocultural environment that engenders the teacher's paradigm of values and views of life. Objectives. We herein outline guidance to predict the way teachers' views of life might evolve in corresponding sociocultural periods more precisely. The article analyzes making more precise forecasts of oncoming economic crises, which will cause some changes in teachers' mindset. Methods. The study involves learning methodologies, methods of prediction and forecasting, including foresight. Results. We propose and analyze the theory holding that the human civilization passes cycles during its sociocultural development in terms of a new set of values in contemporary teachers' views of life. The article sets forth our recommendations on innovation-driven views of life, mindset and thinking and, consequently, the development of intellectual qualities, knowledge, skills, cognitive activity, positive motivation to the professional activity of a teacher and alumni during more elevated periods, which requires to more precisely predict the way teachers’ mindset may change in certain sociocultural periods. Conclusions and Relevance. As the human civilization enters the innovation-driven sociocultural period, teachers and social relationships should demonstrate more innovative and environmentally-friendly attitudes and views of life.

Patients’ Perspective on the Psychological Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on Their Life

2021 ◽  
pp. 105413732110068
Author(s):  
Chrysoula Baka ◽  
Kalliopi Chatira ◽  
Evangelos C. Karademas ◽  
Konstantinos G. Kafetsios
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Autoimmune Disorder ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychosocial Wellbeing ◽  
Positive Meaning ◽  
Patients Perspective ◽  
The Way

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that greatly impacts on patients’ physical and psychosocial wellbeing. The purpose of this study is to investigate the experiences of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in Greece (N = 30), with regard to the way they coped with the diagnosis and the symptoms, the psychological implications of the disorder and the meaning they attributed to it. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and they were analyzed using grounded theory. The findings showed that despite the negative implications of the disorder and the difficulty in managing the diagnosis and the symptoms, half of the patients attributed positive meaning to the disorder. Taking care of oneself, re-evaluation of life and a sense of liberation were described as the positive outcomes of experiencing multiple sclerosis.

scholarly journals Optimism despite profound uncertainty: school and social relationships in adolescents with single ventricle heart disease

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jennifer K. Peterson ◽  
Ellen F. Olshansky ◽  
Yuqing Guo ◽  
Lorraine S. Evangelista ◽  
Nancy A. Pike
Keyword(s):  
Heart Disease ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Single Ventricle ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychosocial Sequelae ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Face ◽  
Phenomenological Methodology ◽  
Physical Limitations ◽  
Uncertain Future

Abstract Background: Survivors of single ventricle heart disease must cope with the physical, neurodevelopmental, and psychosocial sequelae of their cardiac disease, which may also affect academic achievement and social relationships. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the experiences of school and social relationships in adolescents with single ventricle heart disease. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological methodology was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained via chart review. Results: Fourteen adolescents (aged 14 to 19 years) with single ventricle heart disease participated. Interviews ranged from 25 to 80 minutes in duration. Four themes emerged from the interviews, including “Don’t assume”: Pervasive ableism; “The elephant in the room”: Uncertain future; “Everyone finds something to pick on”: Bullying at school; “They know what I have been through”: Social support. The overall essence generated from the data was “optimism despite profound uncertainty.” Conclusions: Adolescents with single ventricle heart disease identified physical limitations and school challenges in the face of an uncertain health-related future. Despite physical and psychosocial limitations, most remained optimistic for the future and found activities that were congruent with their abilities. These experiences reflect “optimism despite profound uncertainty.”

scholarly journals Which triggers could support timely identification of primary antibody deficiency? A qualitative study using the patient perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisanne M. A. Janssen ◽  
Kim van den Akker ◽  
Mohamed A. Boussihmad ◽  
Esther de Vries
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Diagnostic Delay ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Primary Antibody ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Timely Treatment ◽  
The Way

Abstract Background Patients with predominantly (primary) antibody deficiencies (PADs) commonly develop recurrent respiratory infections which can lead to bronchiectasis, long-term morbidity and increased mortality. Recognizing symptoms and making a diagnosis is vital to enable timely treatment. Studies on disease presentation have mainly been conducted using medical files rather than direct contact with PAD patients. Our study aims to analyze how patients appraised their symptoms and which factors were involved in a decision to seek medical care. Methods 14 PAD-patients (11 women; median 44, range 16-68 years) were analyzed using semi-structured interviews until saturation of key emergent themes was achieved. Results Being always ill featured in all participant stories. Often from childhood onwards periods of illness were felt to be too numerous, too bad, too long-lasting, or antibiotics were always needed to get better. Recurrent or persistent respiratory infections were the main triggers for patients to seek care. All participants developed an extreme fatigue, described as a feeling of physical and mental exhaustion and thus an extreme burden on daily life that was not solved by taking rest. Despite this, participants tended to normalize their symptoms and carry on with usual activities. Non-immunologists, as well as patients, misattributed the presenting signs and symptoms to common, self-limiting illnesses or other ‘innocent’ explanations. Participants in a way understood the long diagnostic delay. They know that the disease is rare and that doctors have to cover a broad medical area. But they were more critical about the way the doctors communicate with them. They feel that doctors often don’t listen very well to their patients. The participants’ symptoms as well as the interpretation of these symptoms by their social environment and doctors had a major emotional impact on the participants and a negative influence on their future perspectives. Conclusions To timely identify PAD, ‘pattern recognition’ should not only focus on the medical ‘red flags’, but also on less differentiating symptoms, such as ‘being always ill’ and ‘worn out’ and the way patients cope with these problems. And, most important, making time to really listen to the patient remains the key.

scholarly journals Framing of visual content shown on popular social media may affect viewers’ attitudes to threatened species

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Ballejo ◽  
Pablo Ignacio Plaza ◽  
Sergio Agustín Lambertucci
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Social Medium ◽  
Visual Content ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
Negative Comments ◽  
Over Time ◽  
The Way

AbstractContent published on social media may affect user’s attitudes toward wildlife species. We evaluated viewers’ responses to videos published on a popular social medium, focusing particularly on how the content was framed (i.e., the way an issue is conveyed to transmit a certain meaning). We analyzed videos posted on YouTube that showed vultures interacting with livestock. The videos were negatively or positively framed, and we evaluated viewers’ opinions of these birds through the comments posted. We also analyzed negatively framed videos of mammalian predators interacting with livestock, to evaluate whether comments on this content were similar to those on vultures. We found that the framing of the information influenced the tone of the comments. Videos showing farmers talking about their livestock losses were more likely to provoke negative comments than videos not including farmer testimonies. The probability of negative comments being posted on videos about vultures was higher than for mammalian predators. Finally, negatively framed videos on vultures had more views over time than positive ones. Our results call for caution in the presentation of wildlife species online, and highlight the need for regulations to prevent the spread of misinformed videos that could magnify existing human-wildlife conflicts.

scholarly journals The Role of Religious Fundamentalism in the Intersection of National and Religious Identities

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susilo Wibisono ◽  
Winnifred Louis ◽  
Jolanda Jetten
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
Religious Identity ◽  
National Identities ◽  
Religious Fundamentalism ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Religious Identification ◽  
National Identification ◽  
The Way

Indonesia has seen recent expansions of fundamentalist movements mobilising members in support a change to the current constitution. Against this background, two studies were conducted. In Study 1, we explored the intersection of religious and national identity among Indonesian Muslims quantitatively, and in Study 2, we qualitatively examined religious and national identification among members of moderate and fundamentalist religious organisations. Specifically, Study 1 (N= 178) assessed whether the association of religious and national identity was moderated by religious fundamentalism. Results showed that strength of religious identification was positively associated with strength of national identification for both those high and low in fundamentalism. Using structured interviews and focus group discussions, Study 2 (N =35) examined the way that self-alignment with religious and national groups develops among activists of religious movements in Indonesia. We found that while more fundamentalist activists attached greater importance to their religious identity than to any other identity (e.g., national and ethnic), more moderate activists represented their religious and national identities as more integrated and compatible. We conclude that for Indonesian Muslims higher in religious fundamentalism, religious and national identities appear to be less integrated and this is consequential for the way in which collective agendas are pursued.

The “Unspeakable Blessing”: Street Children, Reform Rhetoric, and Misery in Early Industrial Capitalism

1983 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Bellingham
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
Street Children ◽  
Industrial Capitalism ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Insurmountable Obstacle ◽  
The City ◽  
The Way

… surely there would be men enough, willing and glad to contribute to the regeneration of the poor outcasts of the city. It is no longer an experiment since the Children's Aid has removed of this class, in thirteen years, eleven thousand two hundred and seventy two! Who would not rejoice to aid in such an enterprise…? Money only is wanting. Shall that be an insurmountable obstacle in the way of accomplishing such an unspeakable blessing? New York Children's Aid Society, 1866 Annual Report

scholarly journals Understanding Pasifika Educational Aspirations and Conceptions of Development in Wainuiomata

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Holly McLeod
Keyword(s):  
Educational Aspirations ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Educational Experiences ◽  
Alternative Conceptions ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Academic Context ◽  
Education And Development ◽  
Time And Energy ◽  
The Way

<p>Education is good for development. This positive relationship between education and development is often stated without challenge, resulting in education being posited at the forefront of global development strategies. Yet, within the subject of Development Studies, postdevelopment theorists have questioned the very basis of ‘development’, not only its definition but also the inherent assumption that it is necessarily desirable and positive. Instead, they point to examples such as Buen Vivir and argue that we should explore different ways of conceptualising what is a good life.  The present research has sought to examine the way the Pasifika community in Wainuiomata, Aotearoa perceives and engages with education to fulfil its own vision of development. Some 30 research participants contributed their valuable time and energy to this project through semi-structured interviews, offering insight into their own educational experiences and aspirations. Through employing a methodological approach informed by the ethos of talanoa and participatory research, this research has privileged the narratives of participants, giving voice to their experiences within an academic context.  This research has identified that while the experiences of these families within Aotearoa’s education system have been frustrating and challenging, such adversity has not served to disenfranchise Pasifika families from engaging within this educational system. Rather, it has served as motivation to create better educational experiences for youth in this community today. Furthermore, the vision of development aspired toward by this community is one that draws both similarities and contrasts with mainstream conceptions of development. The existence of alternative conceptions of development supports post-development’s call for development practise to examine local context and community aspirations, and to value community knowledge and action. In examining the way this community has engaged with education to progress their own vision of development, it was found that Pasifika families in Wainuiomata are taking ownership of their own development, and are actively involved in creating better educational outcomes for their youth.</p>

scholarly journals Between Mainland and Island: Causes for Migration and the Way of Life of Chinese Mainland Migrant Workers in Bó’áo

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Gumpenberger
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Small Town ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Hainan Island ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Local Society ◽  
Rapid Transformation ◽  
The Way

Abstract This article presents the results of a case study conducted in Bó’áo, a small town on Hǎinán Island currently undergoing rapid transformation. Triggered by the founding of the Boao Forum for Asia, an unknown fishing village has turned into an important location for conferences and tourism. On the basis of Grounded Theory this case study focuses on migrant workers from mainland China, using qualitative semi-structured interviews in order to explore the causes behind this migration influx to Bó’áo. In addition, this paper investigates the way these migrants organise their lives in this small town by raising the question of social integration within the local society—a topic largely neglected in the general academic discourse in and on China. The results of this study show that the level of education determines both reasons for migration as well as the way the migrant workers organise their everyday lives and the way in which they interact with locals. This paper also scrutinises common concepts of integration, e.g. the need to acquire the language spoken by the majority.

scholarly journals Implementasi Budaya Sekolah Bernuansa Islami Dalam Pendidikan Karakter Di MIN I Malang

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahda Chaira ◽  
Agus Tinus
Keyword(s):  
Character Education ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Islamic Culture ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Before School ◽  
Friday Prayer ◽  
The Way

Abstract: The purpose of the research is to describe the implementation of Islamic culture in MIN I Malang, describe the Islamic character developed in MIN I Malang, identify the obstacles in the implementation of Islamic culture in MIN I Malang, and describe the efforts made by school institutions to overcome these obstacles. The research method was conducted using descriptive qualitative. Data is collected using structured interviews by taking the subject of teachers, school principals, and parents of students. The results show that the implementation of Islamic culture in schools begins with the construction of a system that directs the behavior of students with Islamic character through the habituation of Islamic behavior. Then supported by the implementation of the Koran, Kultum, and memorization of the Qur'an in the first fifteen minutes before school hours every day. Duha prayer, Dhuhr prayer, Friday prayer, and princess in school. The obstacle to developing Islamic culture in schools is the habit of parents who are sometimes not in line and the way to overcome them is by creating a Whatsapp group for students' parents.Keywords: Implementation, Islamic Culture, Character Education Abstrak: Tujuan dari penelitian adalah untuk mendeskripsikan implementasi budaya Islami di MIN I Malang, mendeskripsikan karakter Islami yang dikembangkan di MIN I Malang, mengetahui kendala dalam implementasi budaya Islami di MIN I Malang, dan memaparkan upaya yang dilakukan oleh lembaga sekolah untuk mengatasi kendala-kendala tersebut. Metode penelitian dilakukan dengan deskriptif kualitatif. Pengambilan data dilakukan menggunakan wawancara terstruktur dengan mengambil subjek guru, kepala sekolah, dan orang tua siswa. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa implementasi budaya Islami di sekolah diawali dengan dibangunnya sistem yang mengarahkan perilaku siswa yang berkarakter Islami melalui pembiasaan perilaku Islami. Kemudian ditunjang dengan pelaksanaan mengaji, kultum, dan hafalan Al-Qur’an pada lima belas menit pertama sebelum jam masuk sekolah setiap harinya. Pelaksanaan shalat dhuha, shalat dhuhur, shalat jumat, dan keputrian di sekolah. Kendala dari pembasaan budaya Islami di sekolah adalah pembiasaan orang tua yang kadang tidak sejalan dan cara mengatasinya adalah dengan membuat grup Whatsapp bagi orang tua murid.Kata kunci: Implementasi, Budaya Islami, Pendidikan Karakter

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