Causal Rewrite—Queen Random

Posted on March 7, 2023 by queenrandom04

Rotten Foundations

America, Home of the free, land of the brave. This is the ideology we’ve been taught throughout history. Within our education, there have been unmistakable efforts to rewrite history with the United States always being the good guy. It’s forced us to never truly reconcile with the truth of our own history. In the article written by Khushbah Shu, 400 Years Since slavery Timeline, it’s revealed to us that, despite many people’s first recollection of the British colonizers’  migration to America being the Mayflower, “- a year earlier, 20 enslaved Africans were brought to the British colonies against their will.” This is the first of many instances where enslaved people’s history, what is simultaneously  American History, gets erased. 

A reason for this erasure is the belief that black people aren’t slaves so slavery shouldn’t continue to be acknowledged in the modern day. Slavery is over, that is a fact.  Slavery being over provides a nice cocoon of deniability. Deniability that has far too often been the excuse of minimizing the influence slavery has had on the United States as a whole. An argument we can all agree on is that slavery  is bad, but how can we reconcile the systems that have been created as a consequence of slavery, if we don’t fully accept how detrimental slavery was, in and of itself. People only find comfort in acknowledging slavery within the fact that it’s over. Its being over isn’t justice enough for the systemic issues that have resulted because of practices started while slavery was still on going. 

Saying slavery is inhumane isn’t enough to recognize the complete lack of humanity’s presence for actual centuries. To truly get the correct understanding of how inhumane slavery was we must first look at how we define what it is to be humane. The best way to do that is to look at what our county defines as the freedom to our quality of life. Humanness in the face of commodifying actual humans seems redundant. The rationalization is that enslaved people weren’t people. They were slaves, that the violence they faced was a byproduct of the time. But even within the time period slavery existed there were still people who saw the lack of humanness and knew it wasn’t moral. People like Samuel Wood.  Injured Humanity Graphic Arts is an article written by Julie Melby. Here we are able to find out that Samuel Wood was a Quaker and a New York Printer. In the midst of the political warfare that would eventually end in the criminalization of the Atlantic Slave trade; Wood, wrote Injured Humanity. 

It was his attempt to shine light on the injustices endured by enslaved people during their transportation from Africa to America. He wrote an article; its title which is an argument in itself is,  Injured Humanity; Being A Representation of What the Unhappy Children of Africa Endure from Those Who Call Themselves Christians. Here we can find first-hand accounts of the quality of life enslaved peoples were granted, “ to divide them into different classes: the first consisting of those bought for the use of the plantations: the second of the in and out-door slaves. The field slaves are called out by daylight to their work: if they are not out in time, they are flogged.”  There is nothing human about being forced to live outside, being reduced to a location and knowing that at any moment in time you can be beaten. From our very own government, the United States states on the OECD Better Life Index, “Housing is essential to meet basic needs, such as shelter, but it is not just a question of four walls and a roof. Housing should offer a place to sleep and rest where people feel safe and have privacy and personal space; somewhere they can raise a family.” They were deprived of housing. They were deprived of safety. From Injured Humanity, “ but husbands and wives, parents and children, are parted with as little concern as sheep and lambs by the butcher”. Enslaved people were denied the most basic of our principals of what we define as being human in this country. 

Samuel Wood in Injured Humanity wasn’t even advocating for the eradication of slavery as a whole, only the advocation to stop stealing people from across the world. This was the violence they faced before even stepping foot on American soil and truly experiencing chattel slavery. Which is its own beast. Jeniffer Hallem paints a gruesome look of the day to day lived experiences of enslaved people in her article, The Slave Experience, “ The female slave was, moreover, faced with the prospect of being forced into sexual relationships for the purposes of reproduction. Perhaps more harrowing, she might be witness to her daughters suffering the same fate.” The violence of chattel slavery is something that can’t be fully understood without being experienced. It’s a violence that has been passed down through generations and still affects us today. In the article, The Legacy of Trauma, written by Tori Deangelis, it’s stated that “The legacy of slavery continues to affect African Americans in a variety of ways. For example, research has shown that African Americans are more likely than other racial groups to experience poverty, unemployment, and incarceration.” This is a direct result of the lack of humanity given to enslaved people during their enslavement.  

With the evidence provided it is undeniable that slavery was inhumane, corrupt, and violent. Proceeding with this philosophy we can also come to the conclusion that anything that was created in response to, or because of, slavery is also inherently inhumane, violent and corrupt. Further into the course of slavery when the country was divided into the Northern free states and Southern Slave States it became more of a common occurrence for enslaved people to try to escape. In some cases they’d go free, in others they’d be caught by ‘patrollers.’ A definition of their duties from the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund, “ slave patrols served three main functions.’(1) to chase down, apprehend, and return to their owners, runaway slaves; (2) to provide a form of organized terror to deter slave revolts; and, (3) to maintain a form of discipline for slave-workers who were subject to summary justice, outside the law”’ this comes from Slave Patrols: An Early Form of American Policing. Slavery and having the mindset to be overtly violent is ingrained in the DNA of law enforcement in America. Therefore it should not exist. 

 References 

Deangelis, Tori, The Legacy Of Trauma, American Psychological Association, 2019 

Hallam, Jennifer, Slavery and the making of America. The Slave Experience Men, Women, and  Gender, Thirteen.org, 2004 

Melby, Julie Injured Humanity- Graphics, Princeton, 2009

NLEOMF- Slave Patrols: An Early Form of American Policing

Shu, Khushbah 400 Years Since Slavery- Timeline, The Guardian, modified 2021 

States, United Better Life Index- OECD, OECD, 2023 

Wood, Samuel Injured Humanity; Being A Representation of What the Unhappy Children of Africa Endure from Those Who Call Themselves Christians, Published by Samuel Wood., 1805

Posted in Causal Rewrite, Portfolio QueenRandom, QueenRandom | 6 Comments

Causal Essay-Queen Random

Posted on March 7, 2023 by queenrandom04

Rotten Foundations

America, Home of the free, land of the brave. This is the ideology we’ve been taught throughout history. Within our education, there have been unmistakable efforts to rewrite history with the United States always being the good guy. It’s forced us to never truly reconcile with the truth of our own history. In the article written by Khushbah Shu, 400 Years Since slavery Timeline, it’s revealed to us that, despite many people’s first recollection of the British colonizers’  migration to America being the Mayflower, “- a year earlier, 20 enslaved Africans were brought to the British colonies against their will.” This is the first of many instances where enslaved people’s history, what is simultaneously  American History, gets erased. 

A reason for this erasure is the belief that black people aren’t slaves so slavery shouldn’t continue to be acknowledged in the modern day. Slavery is over, that is a fact.  Slavery being over provides a nice cocoon of deniability. Deniability that has far too often been the excuse of minimizing the influence slavery has had on the United States as a whole. An argument we can all agree on is that slavery  is bad, but how can we reconcile the systems that have been created as a consequence of slavery, if we don’t fully accept how detrimental slavery was, in and of itself. People only find comfort in acknowledging slavery within the fact that it’s over. Its being over isn’t justice enough for the systemic issues that have resulted because of practices started while slavery was still on going. 

Saying slavery is inhumane isn’t enough to recognize the complete lack of humanity’s presence for actual centuries. To truly get the correct understanding of how inhumane slavery was we must first look at how we define what it is to be humane. The best way to do that is to look at what our county defines as the freedom to our quality of life. Humanness in the face of commodifying actual humans seems redundant. The rationalization is that enslaved people weren’t people. They were slaves, that the violence they faced was a byproduct of the time. But even within the time period slavery existed there were still people who saw the lack of humanness and knew it wasn’t moral. People like Samuel Wood.  Injured Humanity Graphic Arts is an article written by Julie Melby. Here we are able to find out that Samuel Wood was a Quaker and a New York Printer. In the midst of the political warfare that would eventually end in the criminalization of the Atlantic Slave trade; Wood, wrote Injured Humanity. 

It was his attempt to shine light on the injustices endured by enslaved people during their transportation from Africa to America. He wrote an article; its title which is an argument in itself is,  Injured Humanity; Being A Representation of What the Unhappy Children of Africa Endure from Those Who Call Themselves Christians. Here we can find first-hand accounts of the quality of life enslaved peoples were granted, “ to divide them into different classes: the first consisting of those bought for the use of the plantations: the second of the in and out-door slaves. The field slaves are called out by daylight to their work: if they are not out in time, they are flogged.”  There is nothing human about being forced to live outside, being reduced to a location and knowing that at any moment in time you can be beaten. From our very own government, the United States states on the OECD Better Life Index, “Housing is essential to meet basic needs, such as shelter, but it is not just a question of four walls and a roof. Housing should offer a place to sleep and rest where people feel safe and have privacy and personal space; somewhere they can raise a family.” They were deprived of housing. They were deprived of safety. From Injured Humanity, “ but husbands and wives, parents and children, are parted with as little concern as sheep and lambs by the butcher”. Enslaved people were denied the most basic of our principals of what we define as being human in this country. 

Samuel Wood in Injured Humanity wasn’t even advocating for the eradication of slavery as a whole, only the advocation to stop stealing people from across the world. This was the violence they faced before even stepping foot on American soil and truly experiencing chattel slavery. Which is its own beast. Jeniffer Hallem paints a gruesome look of the day to day lived experiences of enslaved people in her article, The Slave Experience, “ The female slave was, moreover, faced with the prospect of being forced into sexual relationships for the purposes of reproduction. Perhaps more harrowing, she might be witness to her daughters suffering the same fate.” The violence of chattel slavery is something that can’t be fully understood without being experienced. It’s a violence that has been passed down through generations and still affects us today. In the article, The Legacy of Trauma, written by Tori Deangelis, it’s stated that “The legacy of slavery continues to affect African Americans in a variety of ways. For example, research has shown that African Americans are more likely than other racial groups to experience poverty, unemployment, and incarceration.” This is a direct result of the lack of humanity given to enslaved people during their enslavement.  

With the evidence provided it is undeniable that slavery was inhumane, corrupt, and violent. Proceeding with this philosophy we can also come to the conclusion that anything that was created in response to, or because of, slavery is also inherently inhumane, violent and corrupt. Further into the course of slavery when the country was divided into the Northern free states and Southern Slave States it became more of a common occurrence for enslaved people to try to escape. In some cases they’d go free, in others they’d be caught by ‘patrollers.’ A definition of their duties from the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund, “ slave patrols served three main functions.’(1) to chase down, apprehend, and return to their owners, runaway slaves; (2) to provide a form of organized terror to deter slave revolts; and, (3) to maintain a form of discipline for slave-workers who were subject to summary justice, outside the law”’ this comes from Slave Patrols: An Early Form of American Policing. Slavery and having the mindset to be overtly violent is ingrained in the DNA of law enforcement in America. Therefore it should not exist. 

 References 

Deangelis, Tori, The Legacy Of Trauma, American Psychological Association, 2019 

Hallam, Jennifer, Slavery and the making of America. The Slave Experience Men, Women, and  Gender, Thirteen.org, 2004 

Melby, Julie Injured Humanity- Graphics, Princeton, 2009

NLEOMF- Slave Patrols: An Early Form of American Policing

Shu, Khushbah 400 Years Since Slavery- Timeline, The Guardian, modified 2021 

States, United Better Life Index- OECD, OECD, 2023 

Wood, Samuel Injured Humanity; Being A Representation of What the Unhappy Children of Africa Endure from Those Who Call Themselves Christians, Published by Samuel Wood., 1805

Posted in Causal Argument, Portfolio QueenRandom, QueenRandom | Leave a comment

Definition Rewrite-FatJoe

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Matt Loesche

Doping in Sports

Performance enhancement drugs, oxycodone, codeine, Vicodin, painkillers, all drugs that athletes have and can become addicted to. Many athletes are often under tremendous pressure to perform at the highest level, and this pressure can lead to the use of PED’s and prescription drugs. While sports promote physical fitness, mental toughness and competition, and while all these things are good, it does not mean that they can always have good outcomes. The consequences of drug addiction can be devastating for athletes, including damage to their health, both mentally and physically, suspension from competition and even legal repercussions. The lure of instant gratification, and to meet the expectations to be able to achieve success will cause athletes to do whatever they feel is needed to achieve these things, no matter what the costs will be.

When it comes to drugs that athletes will turn to, PED’s, or performance-enhancement drugs, are the most common. The most common type of PED that athletes will use is steroids. There are many variations of steroids that athletes can get their hands on. The two main types are corticosteroids and anabolic steroids. The main difference between the two is corticosteroids are more of a type of medicine, that help asthma, allergies and hay fever. While Ana anabolic steroids are the ones that build muscle mass. Anabolic Steroids are the ones most commonly used in athletes and they have always been frowned upon in the sports world because it is seen as cheating, which of course it is. When an athlete, who already trains every day to try to become the best at their sport, uses anabolics, which strengthen muscles and reduces body fat, it impacts your image to the public and other players heavily. Now, there are different types of anabolic steroids and there are different type of ways to use these steroids. Some of the most common versions of anabolic steroids are topterone, oxymetholone and trenbolone, as stated in “Drug Fact Sheet,” which was released by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). This article also states the various ways steroids can be used, “Tablets and capsules, sublingual-tablets, liquid drops, gels, creams, transdermal patches, subdermal implant pellets, and water-based and oil based injectable solutions.”

An example of this is former MLB superstar Barry Bonds. Before he started using steroids, Bonds was already the best player in the MLB, he won two MVPs, which are awarded to the best player in all of the sport, and three Gold Glove awards, which go to the best fielder in all of baseball. Bonds stapled himself as one of the best to do it, but once it was revealed that he was using steroids it prohibited him from making it into the hall of fame. This shows that steroids, or just PED’s in general, can extremely hurt someone’s image. Being in the hall of fame is a massive achievement for athletes of all sports, and even though Bonds was already having a hall of fame career before the steroids, he has still not been able to have the achievement of getting into the hall of fame.

Moving on from PED’s, athletes can also turn to prescribed drugs. The use of prescribed drugs often comes after an injury, a very popular prescribed drug that athletes can become addicted to are painkillers, specifically Vicodin and OxyContin. Athletes will turn to these drugs as a way to help deal with the high level of competitiveness and the levels of intensity that they face. In the article Substance Abuse Concerns for Athletes After Injury, by “Michael’s House”, it states, “Erik Ainge, former backup quarterback for the New York Jets, sat out the entire 2010 football season as he recovered from a pain killer addiction that started after an injury.” Although Ainge was just a backup quarterback, he still fell victim to substance abuse. So it does not matter if you are a star athlete or just a backup, you can still become addicted to a substance all the same.

Athletes that are currently playing aren’t the only ones that can become addicted to prescribed drugs. “Michael’s House” states “In 2009, Sam Rayburn, former defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, was taken into police custody for committing fraud or forgery to illegally obtain a controlled substance. The arrest revealed that he had a painkiller addiction that at its height reached 100 Percocets per day.” Retired athletes can become addicted just as much as athletes currently playing, and in this case, even more. Sam Rayburn admitting that he had taken 100 percocets per day shows how heavily athletes can become addicted.

On the whole, the pressure to perform at the highest level can push athletes towards the misuse and abuse of performance-enhancement drugs and prescribed drugs, which can lead to addiction and severe consequences. While sports promote positive qualities like mental toughness and competition, it is important to recognize that these qualities must be balanced with a focus on health and safety. Also, injuries in both current and retired athletes can lead to substance abuse like painkillers. Overall addiction can have devastating effects on athletes, whether it’s physical damage, mental damage or both.

References

Carreathers, Brandon. Commons.emich.edu, 2020, “Athletes’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health”

House , Michael’s. Michael’s House Treatment Centers, 17 Nov. 2021, Subsrance Abuse Concerns for Athletes After Injury

Administration , D. E. (2020, April). Drug fact sheet: Steroids. Retrieved April 27, 2023,

Posted in Definition Rewrite, FatJoe | 3 Comments

Definition-Fatjoe

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Matt Loesche

Performance enhancement drugs, oxycodone, codeine, Vicodin, painkillers, all drugs that athletes have and can become addicted to. Many athletes are often under tremendous pressure to perform at the highest level, and this pressure can lead to the use of PED’s and prescription drugs. While sports promote physical fitness, mental toughness and competition, and while all these things are good, it does not mean that they can always have good outcomes. The consequences of drug addiction can be devastating for athletes, including damage to their health, both mentally and physically, suspension from competition and even legal repercussions. The lure of instant gratification, and to meet the expectations to be able to achieve success will cause athletes to do whatever they feel is needed to achieve these things, no matter what the costs will be.

When it comes to drugs that athletes will turn to, PED’s, or performance-enhancement drugs, are the most common. The most common type of PED that athletes will use is steroids. Steroids are a drug that gets injected into one’s body. Steroids have always been frowned upon in the sports world because it is seen as cheating, which of course it is. When an athlete, who already trains every day to try to become the best at their sport, uses steroids, which strengthen muscles and reduces body fat, it impacts your image to the public and other players heavily. An example of this is former MLB superstar Barry Bonds. Before he started using steroids, Bonds was already the best player in the MLB, he won two MVPs, which are awarded to the best player in all of the sport, and three Gold Glove awards, which go to the best fielder in all of baseball. Bonds stapled himself as one of the best to do it, but once it was revealed that he was using steroids it prohibited him from making it into the hall of fame. This shows that steroids, or just PED’s in general, can extremely hurt someone’s image. Being in the hall of fame is a massive achievement for athletes of all sports, and even though Bonds was already having a hall of fame career before the steroids, he has still not been able to have the achievement of getting into the hall of fame.

Now, it is not uncommon to think that athletes only use PED’s to gain an upper hand over their opponents, or maybe even to try to secure a place on their roster. It is also common to think that athletes that aren’t the face of their sport will be the only ones to use PED’s, to try to gain that spotlight, but this is not always the case. Yes PED’s can be used to just cheat, but they can also be used as a coping mechanism. Athletes of all sports face extremely high pressure, especially during the playoffs or a big tournament. The article Athletes’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health, by Brandon T. Carreathers, states “New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez admitted to the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) that he took steroids because of the amount of pressure he felt when he arrived in Texas in 2001 (ESPN, 2009). Rodriguez is one of many athletes who turned to PEDs due to the enormous amounts of pressure.” (Carreathers, 2020). Alex Rodriguez was a world-class athlete when he played, and he is one of the best MLB players of all time, who is loved by many fans. And if a very well-known, and already great player feels the need to turn to steroids just to help him deal with the pressure, what else will athletes do to cope?

Furthermore, the pressure athletes face can come from many outlets. Whether it is from the fans, the organization that an athlete plays for, or the actual family of the athlete, it can all lead to immense amount of pressure. The same article states, “This pressure to succeed at such a high level comes from the athlete’s organizations and their families. NCAA research revealed that many Division I athletes believe their parents expected them to play at the professional level.” (Carreathers, 2020). Feeling the need to please your parents is a feeling that all people feel, but student-athletes feel it at a higher level which results in them doing whatever it takes to please their parents. Along with their parents, athletes also face pressure from the organization and the fans. Both the fans and the organization expect the athletes to play at a super high level, which could result in PED use. Also, when it comes to professional athletes, their job is to play that sport, they get paid for it, and all people need money so they can support themselves and/or their families. So athletes wouldn’t want to jeopardize their livelihood, which could result in PED use.

Moving on from PED’s, athletes can also turn to prescribed drugs to help cope. The use of prescribed drugs often comes after an injury, a very popular prescribed drug that athletes can become addicted to are painkillers, specifically Vicodin and OxyContin. Athletes will turn to these drugs as a way to help deal with the high level of competitiveness and the levels of intensity that they face. In the article Substance Abuse Concerns for Athletes After Injury, by “Michael’s House”, it states, “Erik Ainge, former backup quarterback for the New York Jets, sat out the entire 2010 football season as he recovered from a pain killer addiction that started after an injury.” (Michael’s House, 2021). Although Ainge was just a backup quarterback, he still fell victim to substance abuse. So it does not matter if you are a star athlete or just a backup, you can still become addicted to a substance all the same.

Athletes that are currently playing aren’t the only ones that can become addicted to prescribed drugs. “Michael’s House” states “In 2009, Sam Rayburn, former defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, was taken into police custody for committing fraud or forgery to illegally obtain a controlled substance. The arrest revealed that he had a painkiller addiction that at its height reached 100 Percocets per day.” (Michael’s House, 2021). Retired athletes can become addicted just as much as athletes currently playing, and in this case, even more. Sam Rayburn admitting that he had taken 100 percocets per day shows how heavily athletes can become addicted.

On the whole, the pressure to perform at the highest level can push athletes towards the misuse and abuse of performance-enhancement drugs and prescribed drugs, which can lead to addiction and severe consequences. While sports promote positive qualities like mental toughness and competition, it is important to recognize that these qualities must be balanced with a focus on health and safety. Also, injuries in both current and retired athletes can lead to substance abuse like painkillers. Overall addiction can have devastating effects on athletes, whether it’s physical damage, mental damage or both.

References

Carreathers, Brandon. Commons.emich.edu, 2020, “Athletes’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health”

House , Michael’s. Michael’s House Treatment Centers, 17 Nov. 2021, Subsrance Abuse Concerns for Athletes After Injury

Posted in Definition, FatJoe | Leave a comment

Causal Argument Rewrite-rowanstudent6

Posted on March 7, 2023 by rowanstudent6

To the Sea

The Jersey Shore is home to the best surf break in the world because of the adversity that surfers face during each session and the elation that results from overcoming these setbacks to have an enjoyable experience. While some waves such as the Banzai Pipeline, Lower Trestles, or the Box may provide more satisfying rides or may provide the rider with better footage, the Jersey Shore provides an enjoyable experience because of the obstacles that are present each and every session. The true triumph of a New Jersey surfer is being able to manage less than stellar conditions, an ever-changing surf break, crowds in the water, and the varying temperatures throughout the year to have a year of pleasant memories while surfing as well as to see improvement in surfing technique. It is emerging victorious over obstacles that makes the Jersey Shore the best surf spot.

Adversity breeds improvement and the Jersey shore is full of adversity. New Jersey is in between three major US cities; Philadelphia, Washington DC, and New York City which draws hoards of tourists to the area. On top of the locations adjacent to these major metropolitan hubs, is the fact that New Jersey is a beautiful summer destination for many in the Northeast. This results in beaches and lineups becoming cramped and overcrowded during the summer. As Memorial Day approaches, beach towns prepare for the arrivals of thousands of tourists from the Northeast United States and beyond. An article from The Economist was written in 2015 which analyzed the effect of tourists on New Jersey. The article stated, ” Last year tourism accounted for $36.4 billion of its [New Jersey] GDP, or about 6.6% of the state’s entire economy…about 508,000 jobs, nearly 10% of New Jersey’s total, are in the tourism industry.”

With so much financial and economic gain being tied to tourism, New Jersey beaches are often cramped during the summer which leads to too many novice surfers in the water. Novice surfers can pose a danger to themselves and others in the water as surfers on a wave weave through bodies paddling out while on their ride. I can recall several instances in which I have bailed from a wave or narrowly missed someone due to the number of people in the lineup. However, this should not discourage surfers from visiting our shores. If anything it should motivate them.

The Jersey Shore provides the unique opportunity for surfers to better their awareness, anticipation, and knowledge of the wave by forcing them to avoid kooks on nearly every wave in order to have an enjoyable ride. Overcoming this challenge adds to the enjoyment of surfing by increasing the risk of surfing and while also allowing for a surfer to better their skills in the water.

However, tourism to New Jersey beaches does not occur year round as many visitors have departed by the time the leaves change color. As hurricane season, and some of the best surf approaches, so does colder water. According to a study by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Association, or NOAA, “In summer throughout New Jersey, water temperatures average 73.4 degrees fahrenheit, yet in winter the average water temperature is 40.2 degrees fahrenheit.” While summer surf normally requires only a pair of boardshorts; winter surf requires a five millimeter wetsuit. 

This added layer of clothing not only adds weight to the surfer which increases difficulty of paddling, but also represents another challenge that New Jersey’s surfers face. In winter, surfers are constantly at odds with nature as they struggle to stay warm and loose during a session. However, despite the bone chilling cold of nearly below freezing water temperatures, surfing in the winter is often rewarding as it allows for a surfer to overcome the mental adversity of the cold while also catching some of the best waves of the year. Surfing requires perseverance to improve as mistakes are common. This ability to endure the cold allows surfers to learn to endure hardships to improve in and out of the water. It also provides surfers with a sense of accomplishment as they have gone toe to toe with not only the ocean, but the cold as well and have emerged from the frigid waters, victorious.

Another challenge of New Jersey surfing is the constantly changing breaks. As a result of the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy, beaches along the shore replenish the sand by dredging from the sea. This creates a new break each year as sand is pulled from the ocean to the beach which results in a different location and different quality of the surf break. A study conducted in 2018 by the Coastal Education and Research Foundation Inc. found that dredging had significant impacts on surf breaks. The researchers, William R. Dally and Daniel A. Osiecki, stated, “Any rides that are obtained are therefore notably shorter and less enjoyable. Associated with this compression, the number of breaking waves in the surf zone is reduced from as many as three to as few as one.” This change after the nourishment results in surfers learning the new functions of their home break each year.

This allows for surfers to become more skilled at adapting to changing circumstances in the water which is crucial as a surfer. Dally and Osiecki also states that “As dredging occurs longshore along beaches, closeouts become more common which necessitates more improvisation from surfers in the water.” Surfers have to either improve their read of incoming sets or make a split second decision on whether or not they will take off on waves. If they decide to take off on waves, the ability to pump around a closed out section or a closing tube become integral for success. This furthers the need for surfers to become quick on their feet as New Jersey surfers become more accustomed to new breaks and closeouts, only for the break to change the following year. This keeps New Jersey in the mindset of change and adaptation as no aspect of their favorite break remains the same from the previous summer.

Surfing in New Jersey is difficult. Whether it be the crowds in the summer, the cold winter paddle outs, or the annually changing break; New Jersey surfers must be tough mentally and physically in order to overcome the obstacles set before them. As New Jersey relied further on tourism for economic gain, these issues may only worse, but that will only invigorate New Jersey surfers as it is not an easy session that New Jersey surfers want, but one that pushes us to our limit. Whether it be mentally and physically overcoming the cold or staying mentally and physically loose enough to evade reckless novices and closeouts. The New Jersey surfer feels fulfilled by facing a season of obstacles in and out of the water, but emerging from each session better than the last.

References

“A Shore thing; Tourism in New Jersey” The Economist. 30 May 2015. 6 March 2023.

“Coastal Water Temperature Guide” National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. 6 March 2023.

“Evaluating the Impact of Beach Nourishment on Surfing: Surf City, Long Beach Island, New Jersey, U.S.A.” Coastal Education and Research Foundation Inc. July 2018. 6 March 2023

Posted in Causal Rewrite, Portfolio RowanStudent6, rowanstudent6 | 6 Comments

Causal-rowanstudent6

Posted on March 7, 2023 by rowanstudent6

To the Sea

The Jersey Shore is home to the best surf break in the world because of the adversity that surfers face during each session. The true triumph of a New Jersey surfer is being able to manage less than stellar conditions, crowds in the water, and the varying temperatures throughout the year to have a year of pleasant memories while surfing as well as to see improvement in surfing technique.

Adversity breeds improvement and the Jersey shore is full of adversity. In addition to being located in between three major cities, New Jersey is home to some the most populated beaches in the Northeast come summertime. As Memorial Day approaches, beach towns prepare for the arrivals of thousands of tourists from the Northeast United States and beyond. An article from The Economist was written in 2015 which analyzed the effect of tourists on New Jersey. The article stated, ” Last year tourism accounted for $36.4 billion of its [New Jersey] GDP, or about 6.6% of the state’s entire economy…about 508,000 jobs, nearly 10% of New Jersey’s total, are in the tourism industry” (The Economist). With so much financial and economic gain being tied to tourism, New Jersey beaches are often cramped during the summer which leads to too many novice surfers in the water. Novice surfers can pose a danger to themselves and others in the water as surfers on a wave weave through bodies paddling out while on their ride. I can recall several instances in which I have bailed from a wave or narrowly ran into someone who due to the number of people in the lineup. However, this should not discourage surfers from visiting our shores.

However, tourism to New Jersey beaches does not occur year round as many visitors have departed by the time the leaves change color. As hurricane season, and some of the best surf approaches, so does colder water. In summer throughout New Jersey, water temperatures average 73.4 degrees fahrenheit, yet in winter the average water temperature is 40.2 degrees fahrenheit (NOAA). While summer surf normally requires only a pair of boardshorts; winter surf requires a five millimeter wetsuit. 

This added layer of clothing not only adds weight to the surfer which increases difficulty of paddling, but also represents another challenge that New Jersey’s surfers face. In winter, surfers are constantly at odds with nature as they struggle to stay warm and loose during a session. However, despite the bone chilling cold of nearly below freezing water temperatures, surfing in the winter is often rewarding as it allows for a surfer to overcome the mental adversity of the cold. Surfing requires perseverance to improve as mistakes are common. This ability to endure the cold allows surfers to learn to endure hardships to improve in and out of the water.

Another challenge of New Jersey surfing is the constantly changing breaks. As a result of the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy, beaches along the shore replenish the sand by dredging from the sea (The Economist). This creates a new break each year as sand is pulled from the ocean to the beach which results in a different location and different quality of the surf break. A study conducted in 2018 by the Coastal Education and Research Foundation Inc. found that dredging had significant impacts on surf breaks. The researchers, William R. Dally and Daniel A. Osiecki, stated, “Any rides that are obtained are therefore notably shorter and less enjoyable. Associated with this compression, the number of breaking waves in the surf zone is reduced from as many as three to as few as one” (Dally/Osiecki). This change after the nourishment results in surfers learning the new functions of their home break each year.

This allows for surfers to become more skilled at adapting to changing circumstances in the water which is crucial as a surfer. As dredging occurs longshore along beaches, closeouts become more common which necessitates more improvisation from surfers in the water (Dally/Osiecki). Surfers have to either improve their read of incoming sets or make a split second decision on whether or not they will take off on waves. If they decide to take off on waves, the ability to pump around a closed out section or a closing tube become integral for success. This furthers the need for surfers to become quick on their feet as New Jersey surfers become more accustomed to new breaks and closeouts, only for the break to change the following year.

Surfing in New Jersey is difficult. Whether it be the crowds in the summer, the cold winter paddle outs, or the annually changing break; New Jersey surfers must be tough mentally and physically in order to overcome the obstacles set before them. As New Jersey relied further on tourism for economic gain, these issues may only worse, but that will only invigorate New Jersey surfers as it is not an easy session that New Jersey surfers want, but one that pushes us to our limit. Whether it be mentally and physically overcoming the cold or staying mentally and physically loose enough to evade reckless novices and closeouts. The New Jersey surfer feels fulfilled for overcoming a deck stacked against them.

References

“A Shore thing; Tourism in New Jersey” The Economist. 30 May 2015. 6 March 2023.

“Coastal Water Temperature Guide” National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. 6 March 2023.

“Evaluating the Impact of Beach Nourishment on Surfing: Surf City, Long Beach Island, New Jersey, U.S.A.” Coastal Education and Research Foundation Inc. July 2018. 6 March 2023

Posted in Causal Argument, Portfolio RowanStudent6, rowanstudent6 | Leave a comment

Definition Rewrite – PhilsFan

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Jacob Pasquale

The Dark Side of Sports Betting: Manipulation and Corruption

Sports betting has become increasingly accessible in recent years with the rise of online platforms, allowing people to place wagers on sporting events from the comfort of their own homes. While this has undoubtedly increased the excitement and entertainment value of sports, it has also led to concerns about the potential for match-fixing and the manipulation of sporting events for financial gain. Recent scandals involving referees and players conspiring to influence the outcome of games have highlighted the need for increased vigilance and regulation in the sports betting industry. The question of how to effectively address this problem has become a pressing issue for sports organizations and governments around the world.

In an article titled “Sports Betting in the United States,” author John Wolohan SAYS that sports betting has a long history in the United States, with gambling on sporting events dating back to the early1900s. Sports betting has become more prevalent in recent years, particularly with the rise of online sportsbooks. Unfortunately, this increase in betting activity has also led to a rise in instances of players and referees manipulating game outcomes for financial gain, known as point-shaving.

However, the legality of sports betting in the United States has been a contentious issue. In 1992, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was passed, which prohibited sports betting in all states except for Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana. This law remained in effect until 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down PASPA, ruling that it violated the Tenth Amendment.

Since then, several states have legalized sports betting, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi, with many more states expected to follow suit. The legalization of sports betting has led to increased scrutiny of the industry, particularly with regard to potential match-fixing and corruption.

There have been numerous instances of match-fixing and corruption in US sports, particularly in college sports. In 1951, the infamous CCNY point-shaving scandal rocked college basketball, with several players and gamblers being arrested for conspiring to fix games. Since then, there have been numerous other instances of match-fixing in college sports, as well as in professional sports.

At the college level, sports betting is particularly problematic. Many college athletes are not paid for their participation in sports, and as a result, they may be more susceptible to the temptation of making money by manipulating game outcomes. Additionally, college referees may be more easily swayed by bribes or other incentives, as they are often not professional officials with established careers and salaries.

One of the most common forms of game manipulation in college sports is point shaving. Point shaving occurs when a player intentionally misses shots or commits turnovers in order to keep the score of the game closer than it would be otherwise. This allows bettors who have placed bets on the underdog to win their wagers, even if the underdog does not actually win the game. Referees can also engage in point-shaving by making calls that favor one team over the other, thus affecting the outcome of the game.

In recent years, there have been growing concerns about the integrity of professional sports, particularly in regard to sports officials and referees. It is believed that these individuals, who have the power to influence the outcomes of sporting events, maybe manipulate games for their own financial gain. This problem is not just limited to professional leagues, but also extends to college sports, as evidenced by a study conducted by Justin Wolfers in an article and study named A Test of the Widespread-Point-Shaving Theory.

In his study, Wolfers examined data to determine the prevalence of point shaving in NCAA basketball. Point shaving is a form of sports betting in which a player or players deliberately underperform in a game in order to affect the final score and ensure that the point spread is met. This allows bettors to win their bets even if the team they wagered on did not win the game outright. Wolfers found that strong favorites, who were previously believed to be the most likely candidates to engage in point shaving, may actually be the least likely. He proposed that a shift in coaching strategy late in blowout games explains the anomalous bet outcome distribution patterns. In other words, coaches may choose to pull their star players out of the game and give playing time to their bench players to avoid injury or fatigue, which can lead to lower point differentials and a failure to cover the spread.

Despite this explanation, Wolfers suggests that widespread point shaving still causes the phenomenon of favorites in NCAA basketball winning but failing to cover the spread at a rate significantly greater than expected. In fact, he found that players on the strongest favorites appear to be the least likely to have fixed prior games. This could be due to the fact that these players have less incentive to participate in point shaving since their teams are already heavily favored to win.

While Wolfers’ study focuses specifically on NCAA basketball, it highlights a broader issue within the world of sports – the potential for individuals to manipulate games for their own financial gain. Sports officials and referees hold a great deal of power and influence over the outcomes of games, and if they are found to be engaging in unethical behavior, it can have serious consequences for the integrity of the sport.

In conclusion, the issue of sports officials and referees manipulating the outcomes of professional sporting events for their own financial gain is a complex and multifaceted one. The prevalence of point-shaving in college basketball, as well as instances of match-fixing and corruption in professional sports, highlights the need for increased oversight and transparency in the sports industry. It is clear that the lure of financial gain can be too great for some officials and players to resist, leading to unfair outcomes and a loss of trust from fans. As sports betting continues to grow in popularity and legality, it is crucial that steps are taken to ensure the integrity of sporting events and prevent any unethical practices from taking place. Only then can we ensure that the sports we love remain a fair and honest competition.

References

Borghesi, R., & Dare, W. (2009). A test of the widespread-point-shaving theory. Finance Research Letters, 6(3), 115-121. 10.1016/j.frl.2009.04.004

Wolohan, J. T. (2009). Sports betting in the United States. The International Sports Law Journal, (3-4), 124+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A249138225/AONE?u=anon~a3394f08&sid=googleScholar&xid=b2bff82f

Posted in Definition Rewrite, PhilsFan, Portfolio PhilsFan | 3 Comments

Definition- PitandThePendulum

Posted on March 6, 2023 by pitandthependulum22

In a shocking twist of economic events, the resurrection of the independent bookshop from the dead has become far more prevalent. The online shopping industry, coupled with the evolution of electronics and societies’ growing dependency on them, created a war zone out of the field of book-selling business. After all, Amazon first began in 1995 as an online bookseller. It launched a brand-new business model, the sale of an enormous variety of books online, and eventually became so grossly popular that it grew into the all-encompassing online shopping community we know today (Chu, 2012). The small-town bookshop, that has been romanticized by bibliophiles since time immemorial, has reemerged from its almost-extinction by following clever marketing techniques and the wave of indie pop-culture that has been sweeping the nation. Social media has also served to benefit independent bookstores, as it allows consumers to interact with and get a feel of the shop and what it has to offer before venturing out. “Bookstagram” and “Booktok” (two terms to describe the literary subsections of social media, coined by the bibliophile communities of Instagram and TikTok, respectively), are just two examples of this growing craze (Raffaeli, 2020). These accounts dedicate themselves to showcasing the types of genres and titles, among other products, that their shops have to offer. Typically, the most popular type of media produced by said accounts to gain the most traction and attention on social media are posts that follow current trends in pop-culture.

One major factor that serves detrimental to the independent bookstore is pricing. Books and products sold at these small businesses are more than likely to priced higher than those sold from online sellers, as independent shops have more overhead and are lacking in endless amounts of funding to keep themselves afloat. In many instances, price increases are necessary in these establishments to ensure that not only does the business make the money they put out on the product, but to also gain profit from the sale. This, unfortunately, not only dissuades customers and makes them less likely to purchase from the establishment, but also leads them right into the ready and waiting arms of their online competitors, who offer the same literary products at lower prices. A common occurrence in these business comes when a customer enters, selects a title, and, upon seeing the price, takes a picture on their phone for the purpose of looking for it cheaper from an online seller.

Yet another factor serving to the detriment of independent bookshops is lack of variety. In the case of the online bookselling-giant Amazon, they are essentially are virtual Library of Alexandria. Their literary stock covers titles ranging from academic texts to independently published works. Additionally, their stock is increased by E-books and audio editions, which can easily be purchased downloaded onto any device. In this digital age, online bookshops have found how to market their infinite variety to every type of reader. Independent bookstores suffer the consequences of this, as it is nearly impossible for them to keep up with the near-infinite stock of online sellers and near-infinite amount of published works. Many independent bookstores specialize in one subject, making it easier to obtain titles and create a decent amount of stock, but harder to obtain clients, as consumers in such stores must be interested in the specific niche that the store focuses on.

The third and arguably most important and detrimental factor that online services can provide is that of convenience. It was once argued that online booksellers were hindered by the fact that it took several days to ship out literary products that independent bookstores could provide immediately to customers (Chu, 2012). Much to the independent bookstore’s dismay, services such as Amazon Prime and Same-Day Shipping serve to give online booksellers a leg-up on their smaller competition. Shipping services like these, combined with the fact that consumers can purchase products from their devices from the comfort of their homes, has been incredibly effective. During more recent circumstances, such as the pandemic, online booksellers were able to continue business as usual, and further thrive by gaining additional customers who they may have lost to independent booksellers.

In order to create an independent bookshop that is able to thrive in a world that is dominated by online markets, business owners must sell an experience to their clientele that their online competitors cannot. Raffaeli in his examination, ‘Reinventing Retail: The Novel Resurgence of Independent Bookstores’, refers to this as ‘The Three C’s’. These ‘Three C’s’ (community, curation, and convening), have contributed greatly to the reemergence of the independent bookstore (Raffaeli, 2020). In a 2015 conference, ABA CEO Oren Teicher opened his address with the statement, “It is a great time for Indie bookstores. Bigger is not always better. We’ve shown its possible to change and adapt. We’ve redefined who we are”. By establishing themselves as a place to gather and a small, community-based business, Indie bookshops have begun to reinvent themselves as pillars of small-town economies. In many past instances, the location of these shops (which includes the town and area of said town) have been gathered as ample evidence of why these types of small businesses fail. Through the growing trend of ‘championing localism’ and supporting and promoting the core values of consumers in their areas, independent bookstores have been able to gain back customers that would have been otherwise lost to their competitors (Raffaeli, 2020). In addition to selling unique experiences, many booksellers engage in the art of ‘hand selling’, which is an experience that it confined to in-person bookselling. ‘Hand-selling’ occurs when a bookseller, who in considered an expert in the stock and topics of their store, ask a customer a certain amount of questions in order to obtain a profile on their preferred genre or topic. Once they’ve gathered enough information, the bookseller selects a number of books that fit the specific profile and preferences of the customer. For booksellers to serve as ‘matchmakers’ between customers and books, they must be in possible of intimate knowledge of their stock as well as its contents (Rafaelli, 2020)

Posted in PitAndThePendulum, Portfolio PitAndThePendulum | 1 Comment

Definition – PhilsFan

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Jacob Pasquale

The Dark Side of Sports Betting: Manipulation and Corruption

Sports betting has been around for centuries, with people placing wagers on the outcomes of sporting events since ancient times. In recent years, the rise of online sports betting has made it easier than ever for people to place bets on their favorite teams and athletes. However, with the increase in popularity of sports betting comes a darker side: the potential for referees and players to manipulate the outcomes of games for their own financial gain.

In an article named Sports betting in the United States, by John Wolohan, Sports betting has a long history in the United States, with gambling on sporting events dating back to the early 1900s. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that sports betting became more widespread and organized. In 1961, the federal government passed the Wire Act, which made it illegal to use wire communication facilities to transmit bets or gambling information across state lines. Despite this law, sports betting continued to grow, particularly with the rise of online sportsbooks in the 1990s.

However, the legality of sports betting in the United States has been a contentious issue. In 1992, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was passed, which prohibited sports betting in all states except for Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana. This law remained in effect until 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down PASPA, ruling that it violated the Tenth Amendment.

Since then, several states have legalized sports betting, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi, with many more states expected to follow suit. The legalization of sports betting has led to increased scrutiny of the industry, particularly with regard to potential match-fixing and corruption.

There have been numerous instances of match-fixing and corruption in US sports, particularly in college sports. In 1951, the infamous CCNY point-shaving scandal rocked college basketball, with several players and gamblers being arrested for conspiring to fix games. Since then, there have been numerous other instances of match-fixing in college sports, as well as in professional sports.

At the college level, sports betting is particularly problematic. Many college athletes are not paid for their participation in sports, and as a result, they may be more susceptible to the temptation of making money by manipulating game outcomes. Additionally, college referees may be more easily swayed by bribes or other incentives, as they are often not professional officials with established careers and salaries.

One of the most common forms of game manipulation in college sports is point shaving. Point shaving occurs when a player intentionally misses shots or commits turnovers in order to keep the score of the game closer than it would be otherwise. This allows bettors who have placed bets on the underdog to win their wagers, even if the underdog does not actually win the game. Referees can also engage in point-shaving by making calls that favor one team over the other, thus affecting the outcome of the game.

In recent years, there have been growing concerns about the integrity of professional sports, particularly in regard to sports officials and referees. It is believed that these individuals, who have the power to influence the outcomes of sporting events, maybe manipulate games for their own financial gain. This problem is not just limited to professional leagues, but also extends to college sports, as evidenced by a study conducted by Justin Wolfers in an article and study named A Test of the Widespread-Point-Shaving Theory.

In his study, Wolfers examined data to determine the prevalence of point shaving in NCAA basketball. Point shaving is a form of sports betting in which a player or players deliberately underperform in a game in order to affect the final score and ensure that the point spread is met. This allows bettors to win their bets even if the team they wagered on did not win the game outright. Wolfers found that strong favorites, who were previously believed to be the most likely candidates to engage in point shaving, may actually be the least likely. He proposed that a shift in coaching strategy late in blowout games explains the anomalous bet outcome distribution patterns. In other words, coaches may choose to pull their star players out of the game and give playing time to their bench players to avoid injury or fatigue, which can lead to lower point differentials and a failure to cover the spread.

Despite this explanation, Wolfers suggests that widespread point shaving still causes the phenomenon of favorites in NCAA basketball winning but failing to cover the spread at a rate significantly greater than expected. In fact, he found that players on the strongest favorites appear to be the least likely to have fixed prior games. This could be due to the fact that these players have less incentive to participate in point shaving since their teams are already heavily favored to win.

While Wolfers’ study focuses specifically on NCAA basketball, it highlights a broader issue within the world of sports – the potential for individuals to manipulate games for their own financial gain. Sports officials and referees hold a great deal of power and influence over the outcomes of games, and if they are found to be engaging in unethical behavior, it can have serious consequences for the integrity of the sport.

In conclusion, the issue of sports officials and referees manipulating the outcomes of professional sporting events for their own financial gain is a complex and multifaceted one. The prevalence of point-shaving in college basketball, as well as instances of match-fixing and corruption in professional sports, highlights the need for increased oversight and transparency in the sports industry. It is clear that the lure of financial gain can be too great for some officials and players to resist, leading to unfair outcomes and a loss of trust from fans. As sports betting continues to grow in popularity and legality, it is crucial that steps are taken to ensure the integrity of sporting events and prevent any unethical practices from taking place. Only then can we ensure that the sports we love remain a fair and honest competition.

Borghesi, R., & Dare, W. (2009). A test of the widespread-point-shaving theory. Finance Research Letters, 6(3), 115-121. 10.1016/j.frl.2009.04.004

Wolohan, J. T. (2009). Sports betting in the United States. The International Sports Law Journal, (3-4), 124+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A249138225/AONE?u=anon~a3394f08&sid=googleScholar&xid=b2bff82f

Posted in Definition, PhilsFan, Portfolio PhilsFan | Leave a comment

Definition Rewrite- PitandThePendulum

Posted on March 6, 2023 by pitandthependulum22

The “Novel” Return of the Independent Bookstore

In a shocking twist of economic events, the resurrection of the independent bookshop from the dead has become far more prevalent. The online shopping industry, coupled with the evolution of electronics and societies’ growing dependency on them, created a war zone out of the field of book-selling business. After all, Amazon first began in 1995 as an online bookseller. It launched a brand-new business model, the sale of an enormous variety of books online, and eventually became so grossly popular that it grew into the all-encompassing online shopping community we know today. The small-town bookshop, that has been romanticized by bibliophiles since time immemorial, has reemerged from its almost-extinction by following clever marketing techniques and the wave of indie pop-culture that has been sweeping the nation. Social media has also served to benefit independent bookstores, as it allows consumers to interact with and get a feel of the shop and what it has to offer before venturing out. “Bookstagram” and “Booktok” (two terms to describe the literary subsections of social media, coined by the bibliophile communities of Instagram and TikTok, respectively), are just two examples of this growing craze. These accounts dedicate themselves to showcasing the types of genres and titles, among other products, that their shops have to offer. Typically, the most popular type of media produced by said accounts to gain the most traction and attention on social media are posts that follow current trends in pop-culture.

One major factor that serves detrimental to the independent bookstore is pricing. Books and products sold at these small businesses are more than likely to priced higher than those sold from online sellers, as independent shops have more overhead and are lacking in endless amounts of funding to keep themselves afloat. In many instances, price increases are necessary in these establishments to ensure that not only does the business make the money they put out on the product, but to also gain profit from the sale. This, unfortunately, not only dissuades customers and makes them less likely to purchase from the establishment, but also leads them right into the ready and waiting arms of their online competitors, who offer the same literary products at lower prices. A common occurrence in these business comes when a customer enters, selects a title, and, upon seeing the price, takes a picture on their phone for the purpose of looking for it cheaper from an online seller.

Yet another factor serving to the detriment of independent bookshops is lack of variety. In the case of the online bookselling-giant Amazon, they are essentially are virtual Library of Alexandria. Their literary stock covers titles ranging from academic texts to independently published works. Additionally, their stock is increased by E-books and audio editions, which can easily be purchased downloaded onto any device. In this digital age, online bookshops have found how to market their infinite variety to every type of reader. Independent bookstores suffer the consequences of this, as it is nearly impossible for them to keep up with the near-infinite stock of online sellers and near-infinite amount of published works. Many independent bookstores specialize in one subject, making it easier to obtain titles and create a decent amount of stock, but harder to obtain clients, as consumers in such stores must be interested in the specific niche that the store focuses on.

The third and arguably most important and detrimental factor that online services can provide is that of convenience. It was once argued that online booksellers were hindered by the fact that it took several days to ship out literary products that independent bookstores could provide immediately to customers (Chu, 2012). Much to the independent bookstore’s dismay, services such as Amazon Prime and Same-Day Shipping serve to give online booksellers a leg-up on their smaller competition. Shipping services like these, combined with the fact that consumers can purchase products from their devices from the comfort of their homes, has been incredibly effective. During more recent circumstances, such as the pandemic, online booksellers were able to continue business as usual, and further thrive by gaining additional customers who they may have lost to independent booksellers.

In order to create an independent bookshop that is able to thrive in a world that is dominated by online markets, business owners must sell an experience to their clientele that their online competitors cannot. Raffaeli in his examination, ‘Reinventing Retail: The Novel Resurgence of Independent Bookstores’, refers to this as ‘The Three C’s’. These ‘Three C’s’ (community, curation, and convening), have contributed greatly to the reemergence of the independent bookstore. In a 2015 conference, ABA CEO Oren Teicher opened his address with the statement, “It is a great time for Indie bookstores. Bigger is not always better. We’ve shown its possible to change and adapt. We’ve redefined who we are”. By establishing themselves as a place to gather and a small, community-based business, Indie bookshops have begun to reinvent themselves as pillars of small-town economies. In many past instances, the location of these shops (which includes the town and area of said town) have been gathered as ample evidence of why these types of small businesses fail. Through the growing trend of ‘championing localism’ and supporting and promoting the core values of consumers in their areas, independent bookstores have been able to gain back customers that would have been otherwise lost to their competitors. In addition to selling unique experiences, many booksellers engage in the art of ‘hand selling’, which is an experience that it confined to in-person bookselling. ‘Hand-selling’ occurs when a bookseller, who in considered an expert in the stock and topics of their store, ask a customer a certain amount of questions in order to obtain a profile on their preferred genre or topic. Once they’ve gathered enough information, the bookseller selects a number of books that fit the specific profile and preferences of the customer. For booksellers to serve as ‘matchmakers’ between customers and books, they must be in possible of intimate knowledge of their stock as well as its contents.

References

Chu, CP., Guo, WC. & Lai, FC. On the competition between an online bookstore and a physical bookstore. Netnomics 13, 141–154 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11066-012-9068-y

Raffaeli, R.L, Reinventing Retail: The Novel Resurgence of Independent Bookstores, Harvard School of Business, (January, 2020) https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/20-068_c19963e7-506c-479a-beb4-bb339cd293ee.pdf

Posted in Definition Rewrite, PitAndThePendulum, Portfolio PitAndThePendulum | 3 Comments