TED Community » Alain Blanchard

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• A comment on Conversation: A UFO lands in your home's garden with all it's lights on and the ramp descends. No one exits . Would you enter ? Why - Why Not

  Sep 4 2012: Jump on board!! And take a nice gift for my new friends to show I come in peace. What do you think aliens would like? A fruit basket? Milk and cookies?

• A reply on Conversation: Is it possible for an individual to be without ethnocentrism?

  Sep 4 2012: Extreme ethnocentrism could be avoided through proper education among students. Nobody can be truly indifferent to their ethnic origins.However, extreme prejudice over other cultures and the assumption that one's own culture is dominant can be redirected into a positive output through education and compassion.
  The internet can only provide so much information, but if you actually visit different countries and experience the culture and its shocks, then you will truly understand the differences. The education about being respectable about other cultures will assist on your journeys.
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  A comment on Conversation: Can China really become a super power, or will it remain a great power among other great powers?

  Aug 16 2012: China, Super Power or not, has a daunting task ahead of itself. Its population, manufacturing capacity, investment opportunities, and Olympic Gold Medals all show that it has what it takes to become a global super power. However, the role the government plays is crucial in it's path to maintain its current level of global power. The Chinese Communist Party continues to lash out against anti-government sentiments, cover up political and business scandals in order to "keep and promote social harmony" within the People's Republic.
  
  The world continues to globalize and social media and technology are closing the gap between the world and China. If the government believes that it can adapt to changing social conditions than China might have a chance at becoming an even greater super power. Some politicians believe that expelling any negative notions toward the Chinese nation threatens the credibility of the government and will likely lead to an uprising.
  
  Thus the two paths, the rise or fall of China depends on how the government can adapt to the rapidly changing global environment while still maintaining harmony throughout the kingdom.

• A comment on Conversation: The teachers' salary is the key of increasing the education quality?

  Jul 25 2012: A higher salary is definitely an incentive for more people to become teachers. Moreover, it would give teachers more reason to perform at a higher efficiency to hold this position or achieve a higher salary (very similar to the private sector).
  
  However, just because there are more teachers and perhaps an improved quality of the childrens' education, does that necessarily mean that the students are absorbing said education properly? Are simple teaching methods enough? Or does technology need to step in for those students who are struggling with basic learning?
  Many students these days have very short attention span and each develop certain needs to retain information. In this case, an increased salary would suck up resources from school budgets which provide computers and enhanced learning environments for the children of the 21st century.
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  A reply on Conversation: Is there a practical way to get large scale collaboration between the many different online learning services?

  Jul 23 2012: I agree with you Noah. Basic economics shows that if they would merge, creating a monopoly in the online education market, the price of learning would increase. Also, innovation would slowly deteriorate. The competition between these companies promotes creativity and innovation to create new ways of learning. It also provides a cheaper way of accessing online education.
  Unless their is an incentive for them to merge, then it would not likely happen.

• A reply on Conversation: Strange questions that humans have not yet found an answer for!

  Jul 20 2012: I completely agree with both queenie and Frans. Arguing with others is not a constructive way to further one's personal life and the global evolution. Self-acceptance and happiness seem to have a correlation with this. Which raises another question, if someone is not pleased with them-self, why do they lash out that anger on others?
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  A reply on Conversation: Strange questions that humans have not yet found an answer for!

  Jul 20 2012: Those are fundamental and challenging questions. I think that everyone on this planet might have contemplated question 3 at some point in their life.
  
  Why can't we stop fighting and just get along with each other We are both similar and different at the same time. We are all humans and share this planet, why can't we learn to accept other people's differences and become good neighbors and friends? Fighting is unnecessary and an act of violence that doesn't result in anything positive.
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  A comment on Conversation: What advice would you give a younger you?

  Jul 20 2012: If you want to do something, do it. If you have an idea, show it. Don't be afraid to try new things and let yourself be swallowed into the unknown. That's where you learn more about yourself.
  
  I wish I could tell my younger self to take control of things more. All the ideals, dreams, and visions of my future life seem altruistic and almost utopian. I would tell myself to don't stop believing in what I can achieve in the world.
  
  Finally, know that every should be a day worth living; accomplish something and perform a task that will benefit the world in some way.
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  A reply on Conversation: What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

  Jul 18 2012: I support your effort to combat fear. Courage is a waining trait these days...
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  A comment on Conversation: What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

  Jul 18 2012: I would attempt to construct a time machine, travel through space and time and learn about all the great, wonderful, and magnificent accomplishments mankind will have made in the next 500 years.
  Additionally, I would advise and warn global leaders of future catastrophes and/or unpredictable events that take place in the future in order to prevent said terrifying occurrences.
  If only I could find a companion like Dr. Who to assist me on my quest!