Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Effects of Free Speech on Children

Effects of Free Speech on Children The development of media for the last 50 years has allowed people to explore and discuss lots of concerned problems in the society but they are not always having the chance to freely speak up whatever they want to say or search for a particular topic due to censorship from the government. Since then, freedom of expression has been a controversial issue in many countries all over the world. While in Western nations, citizens have more access to freedom of expression, people in communist countries such as Vietnam and China are limited to express their ideas to certain extend. Some commentators have argued that free speech can bring upon detrimental effects on children, facilitate hate crimes, and anti-government groups to spread. It is the contention of this essay that It is a human right for people to have freedom of speech through the media without having any fear or being interfered by any forces. This essay will discuss the following aspects of free speech on media, the Internet in particular, as effects on childrens awareness, humans minds and democracy. It is a point of dispute between free speech through media and effects caused on children. It is often the case that children are exposed to adverse influences on the media through what they believe as freedom of expression. Reinhard (2004, p.170) contends that a person can still legally express his beliefs, ideas through films or music despite their viciousness and degradation, which brings up the moral issue on the media especially when children start to commit flagitious crimes. According to Bushman and Huesmann (2005, p. 351), violence on the media is most likely to increase aggressive behaviour in children, as well as, create long-term effects on children. Nevertheless, these arguments are not convincing enough. Freedom of expression through the use of media can hardly bring detrimental results such as violent behavior to children and it is, in fact, a positive influence for the development of children. A research conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital led Dr. Cheryl Olson (Beresin Schlozman 2012) proves there is no definite relationship between media violence and aggressive behaviour in children. Samenow (2012) asserts that it is the personality that leads to violence not the media. Moreover, freedom of expression is able to enhance their confidence and awareness of their right. An article on Safely Connect (Magid 2014) demonstrates that despite the risks of social media, some teachers embolden students to use it to express themselves freely and widen their horizons by exchanging learning resources with others. Having access to freedom of expression allows them to speak up their mind and, thus, address important issues and unfairness in society despite their age. In brief, practicing freedom of speech on social media beneficially affects children as it raises their confidence and awareness that their voice matters. There have been several debates on whether or not freedom of speech broadens peoples minds. It has been argued that free speech makes them more small-minded and hateful. It could be asserted that the fact that cyber-libertarians object to censorship online can help extremists to spread hate on the media (Banks 2010, p. 2). Furthermore, in the 2012 Digital Terror and Hate Report by Simon Wiesenthal Center (cited in Ring 2013, pp.1-2) about 15,000 hate sites based on race, ethnicity and sexual preference are currently active. Even though some believe that these hateful speeches are parts of freedom of expression, there has been a stronger argument by Leets (2001, p. 312) that depend on certain rules and standards, hate sites such as white supremacist websites may not be protected by the First Amendment. In addition, freedom of expression can significantly help to widen humans minds. It is undeniable that without freedom of speech human would never have been able to acquire knowledge to create a more civilized and intellectually developed world. Pinker (2015) demonstrates that by practicing free speech, human beings start to question the nature of reality and test their ideas to come up with the truth. The power of media supports this idea by allowing its users to exchange ideas and knowledge on a global scale. There is evidence that at least 4.66 billion web pages existed in mid-March 2016 while this figure is only approximately 1 billion in 2014 (Pappas 2016). This indicates how frequently people are interacting with the Internet everyday practicing free speech to broaden their horizons. Overall, social media opens up peoples knowledge and perspective by allowing them to have free speech to exchange ideas or question the reality. It is also a matter of debate between free speech on media and political movements. One argument is that freedom of expression is a tool for political reactionaries to spread and develop against the government. According to VOV (2016), a group of Vietnamese people living in exile attempt to promote sinister activities to get rid of the current Communist leadership in Vietnam. They spread false rumours about the government to bring out the anger and frustration of the local, which results in potential protests against the government based on false information. Besides, there are also evidences about ISIS recruiting its new members with the aid of the Internet (Koerner 2016). On the other hand, this argument is tenuous at best because there is strong evidence from Menn and Volz (2016) showing that in reality these types of contents are often removed on social media such as Facebook. One supporting argument for this contention is that free speech mainly results in support for democracy and fight against dictatorship (Pinker 2015). The common oil of great and resilient democracies is the free flow of debate, the proposition and contest of ideas, both good and bad, from all and by all (The Age 2015). It is further explained by Thierer (2011) that the Internet creates more opportunities for people in the Digital Age to be heard. A further contributing proof from Brooke (2012) is that the Internet users in Russia challenge their government for democracy by starting an information war and eventually, they won. Parker (2014) advocates that in the protest for democracy in Hong Kong, social media did play an extremely important role as a tool for people in Mainland China and all over the world to show their support for Hong Kong citizens. In general, freedom of speech on the media has made significant impacts on the advancement of democracy in the twenty-first century. In conclusion, taking into consideration the advantages of free speech, freedom of expression improves childrens progress in confidence and social awareness, facilitates humans to broaden their minds and knowledge, as well as, supports democracy movement in society. Thus, it is crucial for people to express whatever opinions they have without being interfered or threatened. Free speech should be applied on an appropriate scale that is pointing out the faults in the society without involving any crimes. Bibliography Banks, J 2010, Regulating hate speech online, International Review of Law, Computers Technology, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 233-239. Beresin, E Schlozman, S 2012, Violent Video Games and Movies Causing Violent Behavior, Psychology Today, viewed March 7, 2017, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/inside-out-outside-in/201212/violent-video-games-and-movies-causing-violent-behavior>. Brooke, J 2014, Internet Opens Russia for Democracy Movement, VOA, viewed March 7, 2017, http://www.voanews.com/a/internet-opens-russia-for-democracy-movement-138042478/151111.html>. Bushman, B Huesmann, L 2006, Short-term and Long-term Effects of Violent Media on Aggression in Children and Adults, Archives of Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine, vol. 160, no. 4, pp. 348-352, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/10.1001/archpedi.160.4.348>. Democracy thrives on free speech, The Age, viewed March 7, 2017, http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-editorial/democracy-thrives-on-free-speech-20150113-12nfpj.html>. Koerner, B 2016, Why ISIS Is Winning the Social Media War-And How to Fight Back, WIRED, viewed March 7, 2017, https://www.wired.com/2016/03/isis-winning-social-media-war-heres-beat/>. Leets, L 2001, Responses to Internet Hate Sites: Is Speech Too Free in Cyberspace?, Communication Law and Policy, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 287-317. Magid, L 2014, Protecting children online needs to allow for their right to free speech, ConnectSafely, viewed March 7, 2017, http://www.connectsafely.org/protecting-children-online-needs-to-allow-for-their-right-to-free-speech/>. Menn, J Volz, D 2016, Facebook And Google Have New Weapons In Place To Block Extremist Videos, The Huffington Post, viewed March 7, 2017, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/facebook-isis-videos_us_577128a2e4b017b379f66ed6>. Parker, E 2014, Social Media and the Hong Kong Protests, The New Yorker, viewed March 7, 2017, http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/social-media-hong-kong-protests>. Pinker, S 2015, Why free speech is fundamental The Boston Globe, BostonGlobe.com, viewed March 7, 2017, https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/01/26/why-free-speech-fundamental/aaAWVYFscrhFCC4ye9FVjN/story.html>. Reinhard, C 2004, The Ethics of Censorship: Should Governments Cover Our Childrens Eyes?, in At the Edge of Information Changing Ethical Dilemmas, Ethica Publishing, Leeds, pp. 164-172. http://www.ethicapublishing.com/6CH11.htm>. Ring, CE, 2013. Hate Speech in Social Media: An Exploration of the Problem and Its Proposed Solutions. PhD. Boulder: University of Colorado. Samenow, SE 2012, Watching Violence in the Media Does Not Cause Crime, Psychology Today, viewed March 7, 2017, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/inside-the-criminal-mind/201202/watching-violence-in-the-media-does-not-cause-crime>. Thierer, A 2011, The Internet Isnt Killing Our Culture Or Democracy, Forbes.com, viewed March 7, 2017, https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamthierer/2011/06/05/the-internet-isnt-killing-our-culture-of-democracy>. Viet Tan: terrorist and reactionary nature 2016, VOV VOV Online Newspaper, viewed March 7, 2017, http://english.vov.vn/politics/viet-tan-terrorist-and-reactionary-nature-320205.vov>.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Abbey, And His Fear Of Progress Essay examples -- essays research pape

Abbey, and His Fear of Progress Edward Abbey The day that the gray jeep with the U.S. Government decal and "Bureau of Public Roads" on it, Edward Abbey knew that progress had arrived. He had foreseen it, watching other parks like his, fall in the face of progress. He knew that hordes of people and their "machines" would come (Abbey 50-51). Most people see progress as a good thing. Abbey proclaims. "I would rather take my chances in a thermonuclear war than live in such a world (Abbey 60)." "Prog-ress n. forward motion or advance to a higher goal; an advance; steady improvement (Webster's)." Is progress really all of that? How can you improve on mother nature? Progress actually detracts from the parks natural beauty. Cars, litter, and vandalism can all be attributed to "progress." In this frame of thinking "progress" kind of contradicts it's self. The most detrimental aspect of progress is the automobile. "'Parks are for people' is the public-relations slogan, which decoded means that the parks are for people-in -automobiles." People come streaming in, driving their cars. They are in a hurry because they are trying to see as many parks as possible in their short vacation time. They have to deal with things such as: car troubles, traffic, hotel rooms, other visitors pushing them onward, their bored children, and the long trip home in a flood of cars. Many of them take tons of pictures, possibly so that they can actually enjoy the park without all of the hassles (Abbey 58). Without leaving their cars they will never actually experience the beauty and wonderment of the parks. They will only find the stress and chaos that they sought to leave at home (Abbey 59). There is a minority though, that prefers to be able to get away from the modern world completely, and travel throughout the parks on foot, bicycle, or horse. With these vehicles they can travel on quiet trails that are impassable by automobiles. These trails will lead them to places where progress has yet to hit. They can sleep in the open, breath the fresh air, and hear nothing but mother nature herself. They will never get pushed out of the way buy the rush of other tourists, cramming to catch a glimpse of the sights (Abbey 59). This is what I call anti-progress. Anti-progress is what progress seeks desperately to destroy. The ... ...y 68)," I tend to agree, people need to get away from the hustle and bustle of their lives. The national parks system is a great way to get away. If we continue to allow our parks to be desecrated by progress our parks system will be just as bad as what you are trying to leave. Abbey strongly believed in his cause. He would also get furious at the destruction of mother nature; he spoke out against this in his lectures and essays. James Bishop wrote in his book The Monkey Wrench Gang (Little 35). Because of Abbey's madcap but deadly serious novel, people of all ages can never again look the same way at massive freeway systems where desert and farmland used to be; at once-lush forests now clear-cut into lunar landscapes-or at huge dams on once-free rivers. Abbey loved the land so much that he wanted to be buried under a rock, in a sleeping bag, in the middle of the desert (Sandlin 11). Carved into the rock reads (Little 35): Works Cited Little, Charles E. "Books for the Wilderness." Wilderness. Summer 1994: 34-35. Sandlin, Tim. "Nightmare Abbey." The New York Times Book Review. 1994, December 11. Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus. 1993. Landoll, Inc.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Applied Research Technologies, Inc. Essay

The business case you have describes a situation in a company called Applied Research Technologies. As a team, you are expected to understand the situation and present your answers to the questions below: 1. As Peter Vyas, how would you handle the expenditure request for the re-launch of the mini water oxidation system? 2. As Cynthia Jackson, would you approve the expenditure request if Vyas sent it up to you? 3. How effective has Vyas been as a front-line manager at ART? How effective has Jackson been as an ART division vice president? All the information you need is contained within the business case you have. However, if you want to use additional information you are welcome to do so. You are expected to hand in a team report that answers the questions above. You are also expected to present your results to the class. Your grade will be assessed as follows: Grade Based on Percent of Total Grade Understanding of the case Team 30% Ability to answer the questions Individual 30% Clarity of the presentation Team 20% Neatness of work Team 20% You will be assessed based on the following: Clarity of answering the questions. Cohesiveness of answers and reports. Accuracy of details and conclusions.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Performing a Monologue How to Prepare

The monologue performance is one of the most important assignments in a drama class. This assignment involves much more than simply reciting lines in front of the class. Most drama teachers expect a student to research the play, to develop a unique character, and to perform with confidence and control. Choosing the Right Monologue If you are performing a monologue  for a drama class, make certain that you follow the specifications of the assignment. Get advice from your instructor about preferred monolog sources. Monologues can be found in many forms: Complete Play: Whether it’s a full-length or a one-act, most plays have at least one monolog worth performing.Movie Monologues: Some drama teachers won’t allow students to select a speech from a film. However, if the instructor doesn’t mind cinematic monologs, you can find some good movie monologs here.Monologue Books: There are hundreds of books filled with nothing but monologues. Some are marketed to professional actors, while others cater to high school and middle-grade performers. Some books are collections of original, â€Å"stand-alone† monologs. A stand-alone monologue is not part of a complete play. It tells its own brief story. Some drama teachers allow them, but some instructors prefer students to select monologs from published plays so that the performer can learn more about the character’s background. Research the Play Once you have selected a monolog, read the lines out loud. Make certain you are comfortable with the language, pronunciation, and definition of each word. Become familiar with the complete play. This can be accomplished by simply reading or watching the play. You can further enhance your understanding by reading a critical analysis and/or a review of the play. Also, learn about the life of the playwright and the historical era in which the play was written. Learning the context of the play will give you insight into your character. Create a Unique Character As tempting as it might be to mimic the performance of your favorite actor, you should strive for originality. Your drama teacher does not want to see a copy of Brian Dennehy’s portrayal of Willy Lowman in Death of a Salesman. Find your own voice, your own style. Great characters can be perceived and performed in countless ways. To create a unique interpretation of your subject, study the arc of your character. Before or after your monolog performance, your drama teacher might ask you questions about your character. Consider developing answers to some of these: What is your character’s background?How does your character change throughout the play?What is your character’s biggest disappointment?Happiest moment?Deepest fear? Sometimes drama instructors will expect students to answer these types of questions while in character. So, learn to think, speak, and react the way your character would in a variety of situations. Perform with Confidence Studying the literature and developing the character is only half the battle. You must be prepared to perform in front of your instructor and the rest of the class. Aside from the old adage of â€Å"practice, practice, practice,† here are some useful tips to consider: Memorize your lines to the point that they become second nature to you. Try a wide range of emotions to discover which style suits you best.Practice projection. When you â€Å"project† you speak loud enough for your audience to clearly hear you. As you rehearse your monolog, be as loud as you want. Eventually, you will find the ideal vocal level.Do enunciation exercises. This is like a work-out for your tongue. The more you practice enunciation, the better the audience will understand each word.