Today, many people use the Internet and smartphones to transfer money to friends, family, and businesses. Is this a positive or negative development?

In this era characterized by fast-paced technology advancements, it is common to see people use the Internet and their gadgets to make transactions online. While I acknowledge possible downsides of this method in the form of scams, I believe it is generally a change for the better.

Admittedly, online transactions increase the possibility of experiencing fraudulence and deceit. While transferring money, many people may fall victim to hackers, who can disrupt the systems and withdraw all the funds within seconds. However, the security risks can be minimized if the population is well-educated on how these monetary schemes work, ensuring their personal data remains undisclosed. In this regard, using the Internet to make payments proves a reliable way for both individuals and businesses alike on the condition that they consider privacy matters with caution.

Despite the potential drawbacks mentioned, e-banking offers countless opportunities such as speed and convenience. As it gives access to the personal accounts instantly, operations can be carried out effortlessly in the comfort of homes or offices. It removes the need to commute long distances to financial organizations, enabling users to send money to their family members or friends just with a few clicks. On an individual level, the process is so straightforward that even people with poor technical skills can take full advantage of this development, making digital payments with ease. This, in turn, contributes to financial inclusion, which will benefit households with different income levels.

Another upside of e-transactions is that it is cost-effective for businesses. With large corporations where billions of dollars are exchanged daily, e-banking brings a lot of gains to the table. For instance, it helps eliminate bureaucratic barriers in doing business, meaning that all the unnecessary paperwork and documentation are annulled, and enterprises can make transactions in large sums fast and efficiently. As a result, it saves time and resources, which can be invested in further developments.

In conclusion, this digital shift can be viewed in a positive light, as it enhances accessibility to different classes of society while simultaneously lowering the costs for businesses, exterminating operational hurdles.

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#task2

I know my poem doesn’t rhyme, for my sincerity is its rhyme.

Many people believe that young people should spend more of their free time with their family instead of other entertainment. Do you agree or disagree?
It has been increasingly common to believe that some quality time with family is important, so young individuals need to opt for spending their spare time around the close ones rather than pursuing other types of activities. While it might contribute to the greater cohesion in a family setting, I do not share this view due to the reasons related to a personal choice and social life of youth.

I contend that the time spent with family strengthens family ties and fosters a sense of belonging. If children and parents engage in shared activities, it gives them the opportunity to know each other better, stay updated on each other’s lives, and develop more meaningful connections. Not only does this bonding bring positive emotions, but it also provides each party with a support network to navigate in life. In other words, the younger generation will have the chance to benefit from the wisdom and experience of their seniors and receive guidance as well as emotional assistance in times of challenges and difficulties.

However, considering it an obligation is misguided because every individual has freedom of will. Hence, it is more reasonable to allow young people to make their own decisions about how and with whom to spend their free time. Having this choice, young adults might decide to explore their interests and expose themselves to diverse experiences like doing sports or other extracurricular activities. This way, they can feel more content and independent.

Another key argument is the importance of creating a social life outside the family that young individuals need to take into account. Socializing with friends and coworkers can be just as important as family gatherings. That is, young adults are not solely the children of their parents – they act as specialists, workers, fellows, and colleagues who should be available to the people who rely on their support and care. Thus, allocating time to improve their other spheres of life can be rewarding and fulfilling, enabling individuals to expand their circle and find joy in their interactions.

In conclusion, prioritizing family time might not always be deemed a favorable option for youth as long as personal freedom and social relationships are concerned.

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#task2

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I was going about my morning routine and called a taxi, as usual. Normally, I go outside to meet it, as I hate to wait and, equally, make other people wait. From the app, I saw that the driver had already pressed the waiting time button, which was ticking as he approached. When it showed that 1 minute remained, a Hyundai Santa Fe finally arrived. I am not a car enthusiast, but I appreciated the comfort.

The highlight of the story, however, was what happened after he had started the drive. The very first thing that I noted was the driver himself greeting me first – a rare occurrence, at least for me. Typically, drivers barely return the hello, which is fine, I guess. It is fundamentally wrong to expect everyone to share the same norms and etiquette as you do. Ironically, this driver proved my point all the way through.

We hit a lot of bumps on the roads, and when he slowed down for one of them, I noticed him making “x- like” movements with his hands, which seemed odd. He did so three times: initially, on the steering wheel, then tracing a cross on the windshield, and on some part of the car. Turns out, a black cat had crossed his path. Frankly, I was bewildered watching a grown-up man - perhaps in his 40s – perform these gestures.

Then he started to sing along to a Turkish song “Ben seni cok sevdim” playing in the background, shaking his head sideways with obvious enjoyment. What’s more, he even tried to engage me in conversation, mentioning that it was his first day working. He explained how bored he felt at home and decided to give it a go. His words sounded like justification for owning a car of this model while working as a driver. I didn’t know how to respond, so I just mumbled “aha”. I mean, I am probably the last person to judge him for that. After all, I see no shame in earning a living, no matter how modest or unremarkable it might seem to others.

To cut a long story short, it genuinely surprised me to find that superstitions, once the preserve of ancient civilizations, continue to influence people’s behavior – even their lives in general. Despite our high intellect and groundbreaking discoveries, we humans remain bound to our natural instincts and are deeply shaped by our beliefs. If hypothetically it is true, I wonder whether it is so straightforward to consciously choose the beliefs that reinforce our growth and betterment?

#dailyobservations

Some say that reading newspapers and watching TV news is a waste of time, because it has no direct connection with people's lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

There is a belief that following news covered in media is futile due to its irrelevance to people’s lives. While I admit that frequent exaggeration persists in news coverage, I tend to disagree with this assertion because of a certain level of censorship news undergoes before being made public.

One reason why some individuals find news distant from reality is mass media efforts to overstate or understate current affairs in order to gain a larger audience. Describing people or events in a sensational light and adding fabricated elements allow those who deliver news to capture the attention of the public and get more clicks and views, thus, increasing their influence and dominance over crowds. The more surprising aspects they illustrate, the more interesting it becomes to people. As a result, it prevents the readers and followers from engaging in actual discourse of events, keeping them unaware of the real situations.

However, I believe newspapers and TV channels are more selective and rigorous in choosing what to broadcast than they seem these days. In other words, the quality and content of news are usually examined, edited, and changed multiple times by relevant experts before being aired. Due to the immense power the media has over a nation’s beliefs, behavior, and actions, governments try to ensure the reliability and transparency of their delivery, so that both politically and socially appropriate messages reach followers. Additionally, it is in the authorities’ interest to keep people informed about the factual conditions so as to avoid confusion and chaos among the population. If news is delivered with precision and accuracy, it helps individuals assess the worldwide events critically, understand the hardships and difficulties not only their counterparts but also fellow citizens of other countries face on a daily basis. So, it contributes to compassion and tolerance among people and strong faith in their government, which can be a positive development, by and large.

In conclusion, I am of the view that the idea of news broadcast by TV and newspapers being not directly connected with people’s lives is, for the most part, baseless, for mass media takes its coverage more seriously than it is typically thought. Describing real events as they are brings more benefits to society as a whole, meaning that reading newspapers or watching TV news can't be deemed a completely useless pursuit.

"One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself; you will never have a greater or lesser dominion than that over yourself; the height of your success is gauged by your self mastery, the depth of your failure by your self-abandonment. Those who cannot establish dominion over themselves will have no dominion over others"

Leonardo Da Vinci

#messageoftheday

The strangest thing happened today. I was taking the bus home. A seat freed and I decided to sit down. Behind me, there was a schoolboy, around 10-11, sitting with his sister. After a few minutes, he stood up, put his bags on the floor, and started searching for something in his backpack. I am pretty sure I wasn't staring at him. Suddenly he pulled out his half-full bottle of juice and, without a word, offered it to me. I was taken aback. ? I couldn't say anything either; I just smiled and shook my head saying no. He put his bottle back to his bag and moved on like nothing happened.

Now, the bigger question: What was that? ?

I have some theories:

A) I looked like a beggar or homeless to that boy ?
B) He just wanted to do something nice ?
C) I looked thirsty to him ?
D) Your version, because I've run out of ideas here ?