Commitment Phobia

The thing is that my girl friend told me that she was awakened by a vivid and terrifying nightmare, in which her boyfriend was kneeling down in front of her, showing the ring and asking her to marry him. (OS: What? How can she describe such a romantic and pink scenery as a nightmare!!)

“Was that because your boyfriend showed you an ugly ring in the dream?” I asked. This was the only reasonable explanation coming cross my mind.
“No, it’s nothing to do with the ring. I just...not ready for it and to tell the truth I am afraid of marriage even though we have been together more than 8 years.” she replied.

I thought the commitment phobia only occurs in men. Obviously, I am wrong. It does exist in modern relationships and spreads like a epidemic disease. Maybe it’s because we fear of lost options or fear of making poor decisions. Let’s discuss this phenomenon this week and share your experiences to us!

Relative Materials:
Why are men scared of commitment? Their 10 reasons.
http://www.ivillage.com/why-are-men-scared-commitment-their-10-reasons/4-a-283799

Black men fear commitment (film)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amc07-wfUcs

Discussion Questions:
1. Would you like to get married some day? If your answer is yes, why and when? Tons of people say “marriage is the tomb of love.” Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Why?

2. Except for Muslim, the most part of world adopt monogamy, which is a form of marriage that an individual has only one spouse, in consequence marriage becomes a ethic barrier which stops us to have another relationships. Do you think that the monogamy system results in commitment phobia?

3. Do you suffer from commitment phobia? Why? What are you afraid of? Give us your reasons.

4. In general cases, women tend to enter the marriage around 30 because of the biological limitations (the baby things); however, men have no age limitations. In this theory, women are suitable to married with older men, and men could be cradle robbers. Do you think what is the best age difference for husband and wife? Gentlemen, will you have a relationship with woman older than you or you prefer be a manther? Ladies, will you have a relationship with man younger than you or you prefer be a cougar?

Flood--No longer natural disaster

In the past, flood was considered one of the major natural disasters. Think again.

Natural disaster is defined as a disaster caused by the nature that human being cannot control or prevent. In this case, the government can just provide fund to relieve victims’ pain and loss. Unfortunately, it is usually trivial.

If the disaster is now defined as man-made, mainly due to the breach of duty from the government employees, the victims have right to claim state compensation to substantially relieve their pain and loss.

Follow the flow of the news events below, and read the law.

Don’t ignore your legal right.

Typhoon Kalmaegi, 2008:

Central weather bureau issued warnings on July 18 2008

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/07/18/2003417755

The heavy rainfall induced flood and caused loss of lives and property on July 19.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/07/19/2003417912

who’s responsibility?

http://www.nownews.com/2008/07/20/11490-2307131.htm

“JUSTICE in time” state compensation, Nov 13 2011.

http://news.chinatimes.com/domestic/11050610/112011111300232.html

http://n.yam.com/ebcnews/society/201111/20111113262518.html

Protect your right, claim your money.

國家賠償法 State Compensation Law

第 2 條

本法所稱公務員者，謂依法令從事於公務之人員。

公務員於執行職務行使公權力時，因故意或過失不法侵害人民自由或權利者，

國家應負損害賠償責任。公務員怠於執行職務，致人民自由或權利遭受損害者亦同。

前項情形，公務員有故意或重大過失時，賠償義務機關對之有求償權。

第3條

公有公共設施因設置或管理有欠缺，致人民生命、身體或財產受損害者，國家應負損害賠償責任。

第 8 條

賠償請求權，自請求權人知有損害時起，因二年間不行使而消滅；

自損害發生時起，逾五年者亦同。

Discussion:

1. Is the place you live vulnerable to flood? How well are you aware of message about the warnings of strong rainfall or flood?

2. If you were the policymaker, what is your plan to reduce the citizens’ damage from flood?

3. The defense of the Central Weather Bureau is that precise weather forecasting is difficult under current technology. Do you buy it?

4. Let’s try to propose as many cases as possible that the victims can claim state compensation.

Social Networking, Good or bad?

Just to remind you that today's discussion will start at 9:00pm. We will try to start and finish it on time.

Do you have facebook account or use twitter to post your real-time thinking to share with your friends? If you use some sort of social networking sites do you find yourself addicted to these social networking sites? This week we will discuss something about social networking. There are loads of articles or criticism about social networking both in Chinese and English. However, I found the following one is quite recent and may give you some fresh ideas about the use of social networking.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2011/11/11/penn-state-scandal-teaches-ashton-kutcher-a-google-before-you-tweet-lesson/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/ashton-kutchers-joe-paterno-tweet-should-celebs-manage-own-twitter-feeds/2011/11/10/gIQAOFJX9M_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/07/AR2009070701162.html

1. Do you use some sort of social networking sites? What is it or what are they? Are you a heavy user of social networking sites?

2. Do you feel liked being watched or followed? What are your opinions about posting every single thing you do or place you go on social networking? Do you do that?

(If you do not use social networking sites or apps, do you feel alien when you friends discuss something about social networking sites or apps)

3. Should celebrities or famous people be responsible for false messages (or misguided paid adverts) that they posted?

4. As some may know that in China you can not access Facebook (unless you know how to go through the big firewall). What are your opinions about this.

5. Can you think of any good or beneficial uses of social networking sites or apps?

Nobel Economic Laureate: For those who invent unpaid furlough

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/editorial/2011/10/31/321493/Calling-out.htm


http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/11/02/2003517274


http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/11/03/2003517358

1. As an empployee, what do you think about unpaid furlough? Do you think it is a wise measure when the business of your company gets worse?

2. Some high-tech company owners spoke to support the furlough. From their standpoints, taking furlough is better than laying off labors. What is your opinion?

3. If you were forced to take a long upaid furlough (maybe 2~3 weeks or longer), what will you do? How do you spend your time during this kind of unexpected "vacation?"

4. The President election will be held next year. Do you have any expectation on those candidates? Or if you were the President, what will you do to protect employee's right while keeping economy prosperous?