Navinder Sarao may have jeopardized billions of dollars in market value and the precious time of thousands of investigators and big time companies, but what is most shocking is how one man singlehandedly wrought so much damage to the lives of not only the latter employees, but also for thousands of company investors around the world. Now, no one has the drive or sanity to invest in any companies over the internet in the future. Oftentimes, new emerging companies rely solely on investors and not their own fortunes to keep their businesses afloat. Therefore, I'd say that the "Flash Crash" was perfectly named.
Since 2009, Sarao had been effecting the American economic system stealing an estimated 40 million dollars in profits through buying and trading stocks worth billions. In one instance recorded by NBC News, Sarao supposedly caused the Dow Jones company to drop 1,000 points in less than a second. Fortunately, "The drop erased hundreds of billions in market value before the Dow inexplicably recovered minutes later", according to USA Today. Saying that there are some flaws in the online stock trading arena would be a dangerous understatement.
On April 22, Sarao was finally arrested in his low/mid class U.K. neighborhood, however, he did not consent to extradition to America. And I believe, at least for the sake of those affected, that unless he receives some harsh punishment and a no-bail jail option inside of the directly affected country, no security will ever truly be felt by the "shell-shocked" investors. In addition, according to Albert Moeler, it's not that we need a stronger, better-enforced online trade market per se, it's that we need proper justice for the eaters of the forbidden fruit. He states, "It’s the Christian worldview that affirms that it’s morality that makes economics possible – it’s not the other way around." And to place the balance of morality back into place, we must not allow wrongdoing to escape and continue poisoning the system (a.k.a. the Holocaust syndrome). Right now, we need the essence of trust to remain unaltered by Sarao's selfish antics.
As a side note, perhaps what Sarao ought to be doing is provide counseling services to the online stock trading authorities by explaining possible scenarios on how people like him may cheat the system, so security and maintenance might improve and prevent a future scandal. Yes I definitely feel sorry for the Flash Crash victims, but Sarao's issue, when taken to the moral level of the heart, is really nothing more than another drop in the bucket- one out of many problems of the world. There's no use complaining, only improving.
Ever since America distributed its first portable computers and cellphones and saw the usefulness and productivity that stemmed from them, thousands of students have anxiously awaited the glorious day when they could be free to type out e-notes, search for quick information on the Internet, and store precious family photos and records etc. or...browse Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other miscellaneous junk that cause major distractions to the whole classroom learning experience.
Nearly every action has an ulterior motive. In this case, a student may have the desire to use a laptop or phone to take notes, but is always self-reminded of their other functions. It's not that hard to close out your Microsoft Word, move your mouse, and click your social media shortcut. Another problem an article off of the LA Times brings up is that "Students who type too often try to transcribe lectures verbatim, which is 'detrimental to learning,' while students re-frame and distill ideas when they write notes by hand, said the study, titled "The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard."" USC professor Geoffrey Cowan, the former dean of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, said that students "think they can multi-task but they are losing the train of thought and not engaging in the conversation going on." And a USC sophomore, Sarah Collins, applauded Cowan's efforts on banning technology in the classroom stating, "It was just nice to have everyone in the present, and it led to more participation."
Five hundred High School entrance exams received by Michigan State University were reviewed by an introductory psychology class which found, "regardless of intellectual ability", that, " the more they (students) used the Internet for nonacademic purposes such as reading Facebook during class, the lower their test scores in that course were."
We already have our regular enemies named "daydream" and "gossip." If not for the desire to learn, then perhaps you will use your technology to receive good grades. Your virtual, far-away buddies can wait. School is an environment for learning and engagement. Grandpa's old stories may appear boring and pointless, but they might just hold a few of the most important life lessons you will ever hear. Grandpa will not be around forever and you will not be in school forever. Get out of the bubble and realize what truly matters. There is a time and place for everything.
-Teachers are important.
Proverbs 11:14 "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."
-Self discernment is important.
Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice."
