I have special interest on the subject microplastic and opted to re quote portions of Mr. Boo Chanco’s article in his column “Demand and Supply” (PhilStar May 1, 2023). I owe this to my academic foundation and research in Science!
I refer to the results of the study commissioned by the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature published in the New York Times (NYT) “that the average person may be consuming as much as much as five grams of plastic every week – the equivalent, of an entire credit card.” quoted and published by NYT. It started by saying “there is plastic in our bodies, It’s in our lungs and in our bowels and in the blood that pulse3s through us,” …we can’t see it, and we can’t feel it, but it is there. It is there in the water we drink and the food we eat, and even in the air we breathe.
“We don’t know, yet, what it’s doing to us, because we have only quite recently become aware of its presence, but sincere have learned of it, it has become a source of profound and multifarious anxiety. “Maybe it’s nothing; may it’s fine. Maybe this jumble of fragments – bits of water bottles, tires, polystyrene packaging, microbeads from cosmetics – is washing through us and causing no particular harm. But even that was true, there would still remain the psychological impact of the knowledge that there is plastic in our flesh.”
This knowledge registers, in some vague way, as apocalyptic; it has the feel of a backhanded divine vengeance, sly and poetically appropriate. Maybe this has been our fate all along, tgo achieve final communion with our own garbage.”
MY COMMENT:
Nano-plastics particles are several times tinier than microplastics, the former needs a high-powered research electron microscope to examine, identify. Indeed, these (nano-plastics) “are capable of crossing the membranes between cells and have been observed to accumulate in the brains of fish.”
My closest encounter with the aforementioned case, was (while doing MS Fisheries at Kagoshima University, Japan) was the infamous “Minamata Disease” so-called after the coastal town of Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan, a neighboring Prefecture of Kagoshima. The case was Lead (Pb) wastes thrown to the sea from manufacturing companies, engulfed by shallow water-dwelling fish species; the same fish eaten by coastal inhabitants of Minamata, including nursing mothers, from which mother breastfed their babies (inakay), milk upon laboratory examinations and tests found strong traces of Lead. This made the end ‘user babies’ test positive to the toxic-lead element in the milk. I was able to visit and interviewed several victim mothers in Minamata and confirmed that their fish source came from the nearby Bay.
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Senseless blog contents
It is quite bewildering that despite the prevalence of senseless contents in the blogosphere, these blogs still manage to attract significant viewership. This can be attributed to several underlying factors, such as human curiosity, the need for escapism, viral trends, search engine optimization, the influence of social media, and the power of relatability. By delving into these factors, it becomes clear that senseless contents, though lacking intellectual depth, can still engage and captivate audiences.
One of the primary reasons why senseless contents continue to thrive is rooted in human curiosity. People often find themselves intrigued by bizarre or unorthodox topics that deviate from the conventional norm. This curiosity drives individuals to seek out and engage with unconventional blog posts, even if they lack intellectual substance.
In an increasingly fast-paced world, many individuals seek entertainment and relaxation through mindless activities. Senseless contents in blogs provide an escape from the pressures of everyday life by offering light-hearted and often absurd content. These blogs serve as a form of mental decompression, allowing readers to momentarily detach from their daily routines and indulge in the whimsical.
Senseless contents often capitalize on viral trends and sensationalized headlines to capture viewership. Bloggers strategically employ clickbait techniques, such as catchy titles or provocative thumbnail images, which trigger curiosity and encourage users to click on their article. This deceptive yet effective tactic plays a key role in driving traffic to these blogs.
Search engines play a crucial role in the success of senseless blogs. Many bloggers employ SEO techniques to optimize their content for search engine ranking, thereby increasing their visibility. This enables even the most inconsequential topics to gain traction and attract viewership, as they are strategically placed in front of the eyes of potential readers.
The widespread influence of social media platforms cannot be ignored in the context of attracting viewership to senseless blogs. These platforms serve as powerful distribution channels, allowing bloggers to share their content with a vast network of followers. As peculiar or nonsensical blogs often possess an element of novelty or amusement, they tend to be shared widely across platforms, thus generating higher viewership.
It is essential to acknowledge that senseless contents can also possess an element of relatability, allowing individuals to connect with like-minded readers. While the substance may be lacking, the sheer act of recognizing oneself in a blogger’s experiences or thoughts can be gratifying. This sense of belonging and shared experiences foster a loyal readership base, bolstering the popularity of otherwise senseless blogs.
As strange as it may seem, senseless contents have managed to carve out a significant niche in the blogosphere. Through understanding the underlying factors that contribute to their popularity, we gain valuable insights into the complexities of viewership dynamics. While critical analysis and intellectual depth may be lacking in these blogs, it is evident that there is a demand for lighter, more whimsical content that provides entertainment and escape from the mundane.