Speeches to Move

Oh the inevitable act of taunting others!

In my opinion, these essays state the same thought, support the same opinion; that free speech should be allowed and it is a basic right of all Americans. The idea of trying to limit free speech makes anyone bristle. These people just spoke out against it.

I liked both essays, because they came towards the same idea, only using different approaches. The first essay tried to show all viewpoints; why the hoisting of the two flags could be seen as both an outcry and testament of free speech, as well as how it can be seen as offensive to others. This author gauged his audience and tried to make both sides of the view fair. He held to the view that free speech should be allowed, but that some people need to think of others before blatantly ‘speaking.’ The second essay was a critique of the first, going into detail about how the first essay could have been improved, but how it did a good job of sticking to its view.

In my opinions free speech should always be allowed. But, as stated, it is a hard topic to gage. Just how ‘free’ can speech be if one has to consider all possible reactions before speaking? And how ‘free’ can speech be if there are some topics one cannot broach? The First Amendment kind of contradicts itself here. Everyone has the right to free speech, but then everyone has to be treated equally. So if Person A wants to fly a confederate flag, but Person B finds that offensive and demeaning, Person A would have to take down that flag because it would go against Person B’s rights. How “free” is that?

Free speech is such a broad topic I believe it is limitless, so anything can fall under its protection. But the most publicized is with religion or sexual orientation. I have heard a lot about these topics, though have never experienced them myself. The closest I think I have come is watching the news about how “In God We Trust” may be taken off money, and how the Ten Commandments were going to be banned from display in Government buildings. Here, it never hit home so I never gave it attention.

With the issue of hate speech, my opinion rides to that of the essays. Just let people go and try to ignore it. Most times, people enact hate speech to get a response. There is no ‘fair’ way to draw a line here, no adequate way to say “this is hate speech and this is not” so people need to take it into their own hands. Also, hate speech is all relevant to the listener. I may find being called an Indian degrading and mean, while someone else may think it the regular term.

All in all, the idea of Free Speech is hard to define. No one can say exactly what it is, what it entails, or how to enact it. The terms are just to general for our increasingly specific culture. Someday maybe the terms will be set. But for now, everyone has to just accept them as general, try to live by the general rule of treating others with respect.

The Background Information

“Students With Cell Phones May Take More Risks, Study Finds.” Ascribe Newswire: Health. 3/3/2008. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Helmke Lib., Ft. Wayne, IN. 26 Mar. 2008.
<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hxh&AN=3117025 7&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site>

This is an interesting article that states that a lot of kids feel safer with phones. The article details why kids and adolescents feel safer carrying cell phones, even so much as saying that if the cell was not present, they would not venture outside after dark. I figured I would use this article to support the idea that many parents are wanting kids to carry cell phones, due to all the risks of today’s society.

Parenting. (2008): 22.1:24. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Helmke Lib., Ft. Wayne, IN. 26 Mar. 2008.
<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hxh&AN=2845613 7&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site>

This article is a very short one. It details a poll of mothers asking if they believe children under 12 should have phones and then why or why not. Of the 1,700 polled, 79% said no. This was a surprising fact, and the reasons were just as shocking. Most parents thought kids on cell phones was annoying, so did not want their kids to have them. I figured that parents would have better reasons for kids not using phones, but that did not seem to be the case here. This poll shows different reasons for cell phone use, both under the positive side, and the negative side. I hope to use it in referencing my facts.

“Cell Phones--Do They Put Kids At Risk For Harmful Health Effects?” Child Health Alert (2005): 23: 2. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Helmke Lib., Ft. Wayne, IN. 26 Mar. 2008.
<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=2354477 0&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site >

This article details studies done in the past about cell phone usage and tumors. It says that there is no connection in the study of adults and the cell phone use, but that may not hold true for kids. As of now, there is not enough research on how cell phones may affect children, because the technological generation is still so new. The study was done in Sweden as well, not the US, so there may be some huge differences. The studies were inconsistent concerning the adults, because each study got varying degrees of fact. But, through this, the article is a good basis because it shows the idea is out there, and that research is being done.

World in Arguments

Any image can make an argument, as long as it is presented in the proper manner and to the right group. Take this one for example. An advertisement for buying a certain moisturizer cream. They type doesn’t mater, only the image: A pale blue background, chopsticks reaching across the middle with a naked blonde woman stretched along between them. The words “Skin good enough to eat” are placed floating in the blue background. This advertisement seeks to make a very strong argument. They portray the ultimatum of feminine beauty with the basic necessity of food (or do they mean soft skin is a necessity?) It is all about beauty. If you want to have skin good enough to eat and look like this woman, use our lotion. In using this image, the company is testifying to the idea that a sexy image sells and something that is normally taboo(eating another human being) can become a successful way to sell a message. The image works to. It implores women to buy the product on the “fact” that it will make them beautiful and soft, which, of course, all women strive to be.

Images for Claims...Emotion or Fact?

For almost a year, images such as this one circulated vastly. You couldn’t pass a telephone poll or a store front with out seeing the majestic eagle and the scroll of “United We Stand.” The argument is a simple one; The people of the U.S. need to become united. And the emotions of this collage of images stands behind the patriotic ideal - if you support the Red, White, and Blue, you will pay attention to this message. This images evokes a range of emotions, as it should with the range of images. Pride, sadness, fear, regret, all are present due to the flag, military planes, Twin Towers attack, and the crying eagle that are presented in the collage. It persuades people through its suggestions that all Americans should stand behind this message of United People because they are Americans. Not to do so would be to deny the emotions present and the symbols represented in this image. The verbal claim is the same, just unite.

Pictures are worth a Thousand Words

*Image: Wireless Raido towers and antennas across the US. Posted February 8, 2008. <<>>>

This image really struck a cord in me. It is a reading of all of the wireless radio and cellular towers in the U.S. I couldn't believe it when I saw it! I figured I could use this image to show how widespread the wireless world really is, and the risks that may come with it.


*Image: Two girls with new "Firefly" phone. "New York Times" article by Lisa Foderaro. March 9, 2007. << http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/fashion/29cell.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&oref=slogin >>

This image I plan on useing as an example of the new phones on the market for kids. This phone is the new "firefly" marketed towards children ages six to eight. Kind of sad that a market would target these young ones. They look so young, but phones are just a part of their lives now.

*Image: Three teens with cell phones. Textually.org sponcered site. November 20, 2007.
<<http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2007/11/018021.htm >>

Another example of the effects of cell phones on teenagers. This image shows them drinking a popular soft drink and hanging out... but none of them are talking to eachother. Instead, they talk on cell phones and this is the new "hanging out." I found it disturbing and sad that the kids no longer talk to each other. If you think about it, most times one can go to the mall and see this everyday. Kids hanging out with one another, but just talking on the phone while walking.

Polls for Thought

The problem with polls and the results from suck is thus: the questions can be biased toward one idea of another. The same question, just with a few words switched or added, can completely change the results obtained. Also, a question can be so loaded with extremes or information that the person polled does not really support either idea asked, but still answers because he or she feels obligated to do such. Here I have tried to shoe there is ideas using my topic and making various claims toward it.

1.) Are you for or against the idea of teens (kids ages 15-19) and preteens (ages 8-12) owning cell phones?

2.) In your opinion, is it beneficial for preteens or teens to own/use cell phones regularly?

3.) As technology increases, more and more kids are using cell phones or other communication methods to stay in touch with friends and family. Is this beneficial or detrimental to these children?

4.)Do you agree or disagree that in an increasingly technological world teens and preteens are becoming dependant upon communication tools such as cell phones?

5.) Would you agree or disagree with the statement “One of Three teens or preteens owns and uses a cellular phone.” Why? – The fact is true/false - The number is too high/too low

6.) What is the reason teen and preteens are spending so much money and time on cell phones? – Want to feel more ‘grown up’, popular, liked - Technology is easier to use -Phones are more affordable for most families -Parents ask children to carry the phones, as a precaution for safety

7.) Why is cellular communication so important in today’s society? -Ease of use Cheaper -more portable -stay in touch easier - want to be “up-to-date”

8.) Do you agree or disagree with the statement “cellular phones are the most used communication device.”?

Its Never Black and White

The bad thing about graphs is they can be interpreted in several different manners, all depending on who is looking at them and at what time in that individual’s life. Looking on the USA Today website made me see that, time and time again. It is a fact that I have always known; graphs and tables can be skewed to fit any perspective. But seeing such a wide variety of graphs and looking at them through the eyes of purposely wanting to see the various facts really brought the point home.

The graph I chose to analyze on the USA Today website is labeled “College students Taking Online Classes.” Unfortunately, I could not figure out how to copy the graph onto my blog. It did not have a save to computer option, and the graphs were all on a kind of slide show. This is the link to USA Today Snapshots, the graph I chose was under the news section, 8 out of 20.

The claims I have laid are as followed. I am not sure if I have approached this the right way, but I will give it a stab.

Claim #1: Despite the advances in computer technology over the past five years, only 10% more college-goers chose online classes than in 2002.

Claim #2: In today’s rapidly changing world, about 20% of college-goers choose online classes verse the traditional campus college due to the requirements of jobs and families.

Claim #3: The percentage of attending online college classes verse the traditional campus college classes is going up year by year. In 2002 only 9.7% of students attending college took online classes; now the number is up to 19.8% in 2006. This number can only be expected to grow, as is proven by the approximate 3% increase yearly.

Support For the Cause

Looking through the Academic search Premier, I found that my topic does hold relevance and I will be able to research several different areas of cell phone effects on children. I was afraid, after searching through the OVRC last week that I would not be able to the topic I wanted about children and the affects of technology. All of these articles can be swayed to go for both how cell phones affect kids, and how the buying of technology affects families. I cited several sites, because many of them were very short and I wanted to be able to have more reference later for our paper.

“Cell-phone-savvy kids.” Knapstein, Karen, Scholastic Parent & Child; Apr2007, Vol. 14 Issue 6, p62-62, 1/2p.
This is a very short article, mainly going into statistics. I thought that this would be good for a back up article, sighting the statistics for cell phone ownership. This article proclaimed that 74 percent of 13-to 18-year-olds owned their own cellular phones, and 26 percent of the 6- to 12-year-olds were owners.

“Child Wants Cellphone: Reception Is Mixed.” By: Foderaro, Lisa W. The New York Times Date. 03/29/2007 Volume: 156 Issue: 53898.
This article goes into the pros and cons of giving kids cell phones; why teenagers want them and the reasons for or against giving in to the demands of cell phones. It has some examples on parents who have given cells and why, then the opposite view, why some parents refuse to give phones. Also, this article details the for profit reasons of selling phones and why companies target teens. What phones are being sold and for what reasons.

Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers; Nov/Dec2006, Vol. 81 Issue 8, p8-9, 2p
This article talks about cell phone usage in schools and the benefits or drawbacks to it. There are a lot of things to consider with phones, you cant just look at the bad. This one goes solely into usage in classrooms, but it does shed light on why kids DO have cells. A lot of parents want to be in constant contact, or at least have that idea available to them.

“Home-Based ‘Digital Divide.’” Trotter, Andrew. Education Week; 10/31/2007, Vol. 27 Issue 10, p5-5, 1/7p
This article details how housing income retaliates to the technology the household has. It is not a very long article, but does site a study and give little hints about why kids clamor for new technology and how technology may play a part in kids lives. Those whose parents cannot afford the latest gadgets will be shunned by peers, resulting in the degrading social life.

“Parents should restrict children's use of mobile phones.” Brettingham, Madeleine. BMJ: British Medical Journal; 1/15/2005, Vol. 330 Issue 7483, p109-109, 1/2p, 1c
This article details the potential risk to a child’s brain when using a cell phone for long periods of time. It states that research is being done to prove or disprove the idea that children using cell phones intensively can lead to damage of that child’s DNA, as well as an increased risk for cancer or brain tumors. Right now, data and experiments are still being preformed, but this article lays the basis for the idea.

Thinking on a New Idea

I knew right off the bat when I saw the article concerning cell phones and the psychological effects on children that I wanted to dig deeper into that subject. It is just a matter of finding the original article and then jumping in from there. I admit, I was not too thrilled about having to do a fourth post, one that to me seemed almost exactly like the previous one. But I guess humoring really does have its benefits. I found through exploring the OVRC that the topic I chose may not have enough solid evidence to do an entire paper on, as interesting as it may seem.

There is a vast amount of information on the OVRC website. At first, I was at a loss and did not know where to start clicking, even with the help of the document we were to read for class. There were just so many different ways to go! But after a few minutes, I got the hang of it and started searching. It was a matter of rephrasing what I wanted to search.

When I finally began searching, I found more than I figured, only not for the exact subject I
wanted. Most all of the articles on the OVRC have to do with kids and cell phones, but more on the business end. The articles talked about how cell phone companies are trying to target younger generations for the big profits, playing on the popularity theme every young teen and preteen adheres to. Most of the articles were very interesting, and helped me to narrow down my topic.

I found, through exploring the OVRC site, that my topic will have to be tweaked a little bit in order for me to find the information I need. I believe I will have to go the route of how cell phones affect the lives of children and their parents by route of buying, instead of psychologically. There just was not enough information on the OVRC. I hope, in researching other sites, I may find more, but I’m not sure.

Searching on the OVRC kind of threw me for a loop. I had my heart set on doing how cell phones affect children in their development, but am no longer sure I can do that topic. Instead, I think I will have to go a secondary route on how cell phones affect people in general, how they have helped and hindered society. It is a similar topic, albeit not as interesting. I am glad we did have to do the extra post. Now I understand the limits of some ideas, and how extra research needs to be done at times to grasp ideas. Hopefully this topic will play out a little better!

Cell Phones and Kids

It is really funny that this paper comes in the semester when it does. I have an argumentation speech to do in Communications too, at the same time! Anyhow, I looked at all of the newspaper sections and could not find a topic I thought was interesting enough to warrant a paper. All of the articles seemed to be about politics, or news on third world countries. Then I stumbled upon an article about cell phones and how they act on the psychological state of today’s kids. I knew that this article was the one I wanted to do my topic on.

Unfortunately enough, I did not copy the link right away. I searched, found the link and wrote my paper, then did not have the opportunity to type it. When I went back to search for the link, I could not find it anywhere. I remember everything but the title though, and still want to do my paper on this topic. Teenagers and the usage of cell phones. How does it affect their psychological and social development?

Psychology is my passion. My major is child psychology, so when I came across the article about how technology may be interfering with today’s children’s development, I knew it was the right one for me. There are so many things affecting kids today. They have to grow up so fast, and the sad thing is they want it. Due to a lot of technological advances in a short time, kids are getting jobs so they can pay for new gadgets; they are talking on cell phones 24/7, and many of them have shaky relationships with parents or other friends because of it. I want to be able to help these children, and the first step is to understanding why they behave like this. Hence, why this topic is one I like and feel a passion towards.

In my opinion, everyone should want to know about his topic, or at least have a basic understanding of it. Anything concerning the future generations, the “youngsters” of today, should be important and on the foremost of everyone’s thoughts. Especially if the problem is with something as common as cell phones. Every person over the age of eleven usually has a phone in one hand, iPod or music player in the other. No one can know what this behavior could lead to, that is why the research needs to be done.

This is an up and coming field, so there should be plenty of research regarding children and the usage of cell phones. Especially now that every child over the age or probably ten or eleven owns one. Cell phones are becoming the panicle of communication. Because of this, the topic of cell phones and kids relates to everyday life in every possible manner. It is important to know if these common communication devices will harm our future generations. How cell phones usage relates to life and why people should care about this topic go hand in hand. There should be plenty of research, and plenty of people interested and concerned for this topic.

Of all of the topics presented on the three newspaper sites, this one is the one I believe I want to present. Cell phones are a major issue in today’s world, one that needs more research and one that people need to know about. Honestly, how many times do you see a kid, talking on a cell phone or texting while walking, hanging out with friends, while in a classroom, or even when talking in person to another? It is becoming a serious issue and a sad one at that. I can easily see that cell phones are harming the psychological development of kids, and interfering with fostering real life attachments. If this is proven true, then the topic needs to be presented, and soon.

The Good, The Bad, and the Beatings

Today’s society is changing in so many ways, most of them all due to technology. It is shocking how fast the world is evolving in these areas. Fifty years ago, cameras took several minutes of still exposure to gain a frame. They were big, bulky, and hard to move around. Same with cell phones. Just to get everything inside to enable cells to send and receive calls they had to be as “big as a brick” and weigh just as much. Today, however, things are completely opposite. Not only are cameras tiny, portable, and immediate, phones are slim as paper, technology friendly, and the two have been combined! One can take photographs, talk on the phone, anything he or she wants from a small piece of technology that everyone holds.

All in all, it is a hard decision to make on whether devices like cell phones, digital cameras, or other technology enhance society or hinder it. There are so many factors to consider regarding them. Technology is rampant in today’s society; anyone over the age of twelve has a cell phone, and those younger know everything top to bottom about things like computers. But to say no one has benefited is a lie. There is a little bit of a “happy medium” in which some are helped and others hindered.

One example is in the case of “police brutality.” Now, by putting this in quotations I am not trying to convey that this does not happen. It does. There are times when police officers get out of hand. But in my opinion, technology such as cell phones or police cams enhance the instances of so called police brutality. It is all a matter of perspective and by recording a video on a cell or some sort, the truth can be twisted.

Say, for instance, you are walking down the street and see an officer arresting an African American man. It looks cool, so you pull out your phone and start recording. But then you hear yelling and the officer appears to be hitting the man, so you move in closer, a crowd coming in behind you. That night you see the clip on the news, similar to the one you shot, under a heading of police brutality, how cops get out of hand. But is that really what was seen? In recording a video, the person recording the video only sees from his or her perspective. That individual has no idea if the man being arrested was fighting, or being vulgar trying to escape. Then there is the idea that the man had seen several people recording him, so decided to “milk” the situation for what it was worth. If he pretended to be getting the worst of the deal, he will probably get off on whatever was originally being charged.

Now please, do not get me wrong. I understand that police brutality does occur, that people are hurt and attacked unwarranted. All I am asking is that people try to see this from every view. If there were not people recording the video, would the same things happen as a result? I also understand that technology is good in many ways. I have seen it. Technology fights death, poverty, cancer, betters money and communication, everything imaginable. In this sense, technology is no where near bad or damaging. But one has to remember the coasts of this.

Technology is a tricky matter. It can be limiting as well as broadening. Technology enhances communication across the world, but limits it within a home or community. Technology may fight cancer, but it may also kill people in the hunt of one cure. Using technology like cell phone videos may prove police are too harsh, but is also may let people get away with crimes, due to a sympathetic public. It is all relevant, and one must keep several aspects in mind when trying to determine the benefits or limitations of technology.

Who concerns what?

If spun the right way, any topic can be suitable for any audience. It does depend on interest, demographical, and situational analysis of audiences for some aspects, but spinning a topic the right way can reach anyone. The topics presented for this question prove that. All of them can be argued to a college audience, and only one or two really need to be targeted to a specific audience.

1. This topic could effect where a college student goes to school, lives, works, or vacations. It can also persuade student into action; either studying hurricanes or raising money to help set up precautions.

2. Cancer is a huge topic. I seriously do not know one person who has not faced its horrors, at least second hand. This topic could easily goad students into perspective lines of study, as well as inform them on how to deal with those horrors.

3. In today’s world, everyone deals with weight loss, from those who are obese to those who just want to “fit in.” This topic can help people understand just what heart disease is, all of its risks and how weight loss and dieting can affect that.

4. This topic is one of the not so much ones. It is hard to argue history to a college student unless they are a history major. Most of us students do not care about the past; its over and done and no longer concerns us. If argued from the stance that everyone must learn from past mistakes to prevent future ones and then expand on that, using Japan as an example, the argument may work. But just talking about Japanese history probably would not be that interesting.

5. This topic is a little iffy. Some people my repel the topic right away due to the subject matter and classification roles. In today’s world there are many male teachers, so the problem is not as prominent. Current education students or undecided majors would be the best subjects here.

6. Though not completely true, this topic is worth arguing. College students are more open to ideas of change and if persuaded that others do not hold as much prejudice, may believe it. The topic may offend some minorities though, who do not believe that they are fairly represented.

7. Very much a Yes to arguing this topic!! If college graduates will not be able to get high paying jobs, what is the point of spending so much on a higher education? The options and choices need to be presented and I think that many will go to an argumentation lecture on this topic.

8. This topic is another that would not be so good to argue. As stated before, college students usually do not care about the past or the distant future. Most of us are living in the moment and find it hard think that far in the future. Unfortunately, it is a topic that we should hear about; just most of us would not pay attention. Fossil fuels are confusing and can be hard to understand.

9. I do not believe that anyone really cares about the religions of past presidents. Unless the topic would have some tie into WHY that one presidents religion made such a difference, I do not think it would be relevant. Religion is a controversial topic as is.

10. This topic you would have to spin the right way. People usually want to know about Free Speech and how it pertains to them, but I do not know if many college students care about the political activists. Unless of course they are part of the movement. College is the chance to explore oneself, so I guess a Political Activists speech would go over well, but one that is solely informative would be hard to pass over.

As I stated before, Any topic can be argued to any audience if spun the right way. From how to fight heart disease, to histories of foreign countries, all the way down to fossil fuels, a college audience would probably be the most open to anything. But it would have to be directed to a certain audience. The great thing about college is anyone can CHOOSE to attend, which makes all the difference. The presenter has the guaranteed attention because those people want to be there. It all depends on audience.