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Tyler Schnorf

Wired 11.09: PowerPoint Is Evil - 3 views

www.wired.com/...ppt2.html

shared by Tyler Schnorf on 22 Oct 11 - Cached
  • Visual reasoning usually works more effectively when relevant information is shown side by side.
    • nsamuelian
      nsamuelian on 22 Oct 11
       
      This made me think about the Chart Wars clip we watched. In that clip, we concluded that visuals are more effective to get your point across rather than words, but this article is saying that no matter how creative and appealing your visuals are, the audience will be bored if you haven't introduced an interesting topic for them. I think they both make sense, but personally I'm not too sure which one i agree with more.
    • Felecia Russell
      Felecia Russell on 23 Oct 11
       
      Well, yes because there is a connection. A graph with words makes more sense together than separate. Words by itself is considered boring. Picture by themselves are lacking content. So, images and words together would be better for listeners. This article does suggest that the importance of words will not be good enough without visuals, and vice versa, but I disagree. I think people gravitate more towards visuals by themselves. However, I do think that for information to make sense, visual reasoning is more effective when relevant information is presented as well.
    • Tavish Dunn
      Tavish Dunn on 24 Oct 11
       
      The Chart Wars clip does have some connection to this. Images can carry a powerful message, but without relevant words to explain the image, people can easily interpret the visual incorrectly. Words give context to an image, although the image itself is primarily what causes an emotional response. Relevant information can also give the sense that the issue expands beyond the single instance shown in one image. I think that visuals cause people to think about an issue while the relevant information gives a clearer understanding and focus.
    • Ryan Brown
      Ryan Brown on 24 Oct 11
       
      In today's society the ability to use images affects people every moment. That ad, the commerical on tv, the poster on the wall etc. How visually striking are those images for the unadopted pets with the sarah mclaughlin song or the starving children in africa. There are reasons they show you photos to things like that, to make an impact and emotional connection. Everyone has a weakness for imagery and it truly just depends on the depictions being made.
    • Valencia Hamilto
      Valencia Hamilto on 24 Oct 11
       
      I believe that powerpoint presentations are effective when visuals are present because it gives the audience a better undersanding of the information being presented.However some powerpoints can be boring like Tufte said in the article "Thus PowerPoint presentations too often resemble a school play -very loud, very slow, and very simple." For powerpoints it depends on the presenter because if the presenter is not engaging and very vague the presentationn will indeed feel like a school play and the audience wont truly benefit from it.
    • Kaitlyn Guilbeaux
      Kaitlyn Guilbeaux on 24 Oct 11
       
      I believe that PowerPoint presentations are for the most part effective and good. There are many instances when PowerPoints seem ineffective, and that is because the presenter utilizing the slideshow doesn't know how to create an effective presentation. That is why small children are being taught how to use the programs in elementary schools. If we all know how to make a good slideshow, they will always be effective learning tools. PowerPoints are beneficial, when they are done well, because many people thrive when they can look at a visual that represents what they are learning about. From this article, I have gotten a vibe that the author believes that slideshow presentations are made to stand alone. That is something I almost never see. A presenter uses a slideshow as an aid to accompany something that they are speaking about. If a presenter did not say anything and just made his/her audience look at slide after slide, of course it would be boring and ineffective! That is not how slideshows are meant to be used.
    • Matt Nolan
      Matt Nolan on 24 Oct 11
       
      I feel like a PowerPoint presentation is a thing of the past, there are so many new ways to get information across to people. When someone gives a presentation with just a bunch of info some people will understand it ,but others will not feel engaged. Instead of someone just trying to get a bunch of information across to people with 40 slides of info in a PowerPoint they are not going to feel engaged, they are not going to want to listen and they will not think any of the information is important to their lives. There are so many new ways data is presented and when people are learning they need to feel engaged to the material they are being presented.
    • John Buchanan
      John Buchanan on 26 Oct 11
       
      I feel like I should bring up an idea that I have seen used before called a Pecha Kucha. Its a twenty-slide PowerPoint presentation that is just made up of pictures, with NO text. Each slide is only allowed to be up on the screen for twenty seconds before the next one comes up. This sort of presentation is conducive to preventing "information overload" and makes it easier for the audience to follow along.
    • magen sanders
      magen sanders on 24 Oct 11
       
      especially in Dr. Marichal's class. the difference is that most poeple dont know how to use them. most people even teachers put too much infor on the powerpoint for a student to take note on or process. there is a technique to making a useful and productive powerpoint most dont know about
    • Jonathan Omokawa
      Jonathan Omokawa on 24 Oct 11
       
      I have to agree with Magen. In class we use the powerpoints but minimally. We know that taking notes on the slides presented would be less than useless. Its sad that the majority of Profs use the Powerpoint to teach everything. Every single subject that I have taken in college either at CLU, UCR or at Berkley (just the schools that I've either sat in class or taken classes) have all used Powerpoints and each one, I've fallen asleep at least once because its so boring. I think thats what Tufte is getting at. Its a boring way to teach therefore ineffective.
    • Taylor Rofinot
      Taylor Rofinot on 24 Oct 11
       
      Not sure that I can agree with this. although powerpoint doesn't help all the time it isn't a clear line of stupidity and can still help relay statistical information
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 24 Oct 11
       
      A table or graph can be very useful to have up as a point of reference and so people can see the data for themselves and if there are multiple tables or graphs it would be useful to use a powerpoint. I don't think powerpoint is what is stupid, it's the way people use it. Used properly it can be a useful tool.
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • At a minimum, a presentation format should do no harm. Yet the PowerPoint style routinely disrupts, dominates, and trivializes content.
    • Melissa Moreno
      Melissa Moreno on 24 Oct 11
       
      I feel as if whether we are making a power point or taking notes off one, more often than not a power point is overwhelming and chalk full of information for us to read and write down instead of listening to what is really being said. That isn't to say that I believe power points are bad and stupid, I simply mean to suggest that individuals do not use the power point in the most effective manner which I think is more accurate than just dismissing the program and its value all together.
  • Particularly disturbing is the adoption of the PowerPoint cognitive style in our schools. Rather than learning to write a report using sentences, children are being taught how to formulate client pitches and infomercials. Elementary school PowerPoint exercises (as seen in teacher guides and in student work posted on the Internet) typically consist of 10 to 20 words and a piece of clip art on each slide in a presentation of three to six slides -a total of perhaps 80 words (15 seconds of silent reading) for a week of work. Students would be better off if the schools simply closed down on those days and everyone went to the Exploratorium or wrote an illustrated essay explaining something.
    • Gaby Ramirez Castorena
      Gaby Ramirez Castorena on 24 Oct 11
       
      I agree with the last couple sentences of this paragraph in specific. I honestly think that the amount of information we retain from a powerpoint presentation is little to none. We seriously would be better off going to an educational place or such- we would be learning more in comparison.
    • Mark Drach-Meinel
      Mark Drach-Meinel on 24 Oct 11
       
      I fondly remember the days that we actually left the school building to go to places like museums to learn. What ever happened to those days? I feel that these are very important resources that a school can use but choose not to. The best we could get nowadays is to read a power-point about what we would see at the museum.
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 24 Oct 11
       
      I'm not fond of the author's false dichotomy that we are teaching power-point message based language in place of decent literary writing. Also, I hold the author's assertions that teaching children the boring methods of working in the business world as "pointless" as being misguided. True, school is much more than preparing children for the workplace - but it is a definitive pillar of education to prepare them for the tasks they will encounter outside of school in order to allow for a functioning society (a working polis). 
    • sahalfarah
      sahalfarah on 29 Oct 12
       
      Mike is exactly right. School is a lot more than just teaching kids reading, writing and arithmetic. They will learn the foundations of society by working hard. 
  • Audience boredom is usually a content failure, not a decoration failure.
    • Gaby Ramirez Castorena
      Gaby Ramirez Castorena on 24 Oct 11
       
      ...or lack of interest as well
    • Flavio Guzman
      Flavio Guzman on 30 Oct 12
       
      I think that no matter what the topic, if the presenter is able to present the information in a way that makes it interesting to the audience there is no problem. But the presenter must use his style of presentation to present the information instead of just relying on the powerpoint to do do the presentation for him/her.
  • The practical conclusions are clear. PowerPoint is a competent slide manager and projector. But rather than supplementing a presentation, it has become a substitute for it.
    • Nancy Camarillo
      Nancy Camarillo on 24 Oct 11
       
      More and more we see that some, if not most, classes make it a point to incorporate PowerPoint presentation into the requirements. As much as these presentations are painted in a position light (and this is not to say I am against PowerPoint) they lack the proper execution. When professors add all the information they are going to use in lecture, you see a good amount of students feel that there time is being wasted as all the information needed and being used in lecture is on this presentation, one that they can easily print. We become disengaged when all the information is given to us, yet we have to sit there and pretend we are interested. Can PowerPoints be useful, yes of course they can. But for the most part, they tend to contain too much information, and we tend to get lost in the sea of data.
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 24 Oct 11
       
      The author again assumes that everyone misuses power-point which is far from the case. 
  • Presentations largely stand or fall on the quality, relevance, and integrity of the content.
    • Eric Arbuckle
      Eric Arbuckle on 24 Oct 11
       
      Power points largely rely on these factors as well. To any successful presentation there is quality, relevance, and integrity; however, power point allows for creativity and a use of marketing skills to HELP capture the attention of the audience. As seen in the pictures above, Tufte shows a power point and attempts to use it as a "chaotic and incoherent" mess. I find it very interesting that Tufte actually uses a horrible power point and expects the readers of his article to believe it signifies ALL power points. I do agree with him on one issue though, power points being used for young children in grade school is a bit early because young children need to begin with the basic understanding of how to comprehend and truly absorb what they read rather than relying on pictures to create their own narrative.
    • Jacqueline Ramsay
      Jacqueline Ramsay on 24 Oct 11
       
      Power point presentations may cause a distraction from the actual content of a presentation, with all the obnoxious graphic and fonts that take over the screen. But students should be taught how to incorporate power point into their presentations because with today's technological advances, power points are very commonly required. The important thing is to continue teaching the importance of public speaking and essay writing, but also ensuring their knowledge of power point as an additional tool. Power points can also draw the audience in by using few words, making sure not to overwhelm but simply introduce the important information. Giving the audience something to look at other than the presenter also gives your eyes options, keeping you more focused. However, when teachers use power points for their class lectures and fill them with notes that we are expected to know, students spend too much time trying to copy the notes rather than focus on the actual thoughts and words of the professor. I think the more simple the better.
    • Tyler Coville
      Tyler Coville on 24 Oct 11
       
      Overall I agree that powerpoints are poorly implemented, yet I think they can be used properly to improve a presentation. I think the major problems with usage today is. -Too much content/Blocks of text -Distraction (especially in classes where everyone is so busy copying the slides down they mis important information) -Presenter relies on the information to remember what the presentation is on (basically being unprepared) -Related to last one losing track of the topic and jumping around to different slides to figure out what you wanted to talk about
  • Slideware may help speakers outline their talks, but convenience for the speaker can be punishing to both content and audience.
    • Eric Henderson
      Eric Henderson on 24 Oct 11
       
      This statement is very ture because i believe that powerpoints, while sometimes necessary, are really overused. They should be used for supplementary ideas rather than the centerpiece for the speaker's whole presentation, as that is detrimental to everyone.
    • Tyler Schnorf
      Tyler Schnorf on 31 Oct 12
       
      Powerpoints are definately too overused in todays society. They should be used as guides to help learning not to convey a specific message to an audience.
  • betraying an attitude of commercialism that turns everything into a sales pitch.
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 24 Oct 11
       
      I feel that while using imagery and data might in away betray the content of the talk - I believe it is the way in which the presentation is done that truly decides this. One could use the power point simply as a reference to statements made by the speaker, or an outline as the author mentioned. I feel that saying all "slideware" somehow is a problem is kind of hyperbolic.
  • The standard PowerPoint presentation elevates format over content, betraying an attitude of commercialism that turns everything into a sales pitch.
    • Joette Carini
      Joette Carini on 27 Oct 11
       
      (I just realized that I posted this as private... but I posted it on time I swear!) I definitely agree with this point. I remember when we used to start using Powerpoints in school back in the elementary days, and it was the plain black and white, and it focused more on information than format. However, starting in high school, it started to be more about whether or not the presentation was aesthetically pleasing. I never would have connected it to commercialism, but now that Tufte has brought it up, they do have striking similarities. 
  • Everything is wrong with these smarmy, incoherent graphs: the encoded legends, the meaningless color, the logo-type branding. They are uncomparative, indifferent to content and evidence, and so data-starved as to be almost pointless.
    • jeffrey hernandez
      jeffrey hernandez on 29 Oct 12
       
      These graphs aren't coherent nor meaningless, most people are visual learners and looking at these graphs with color and labels helps it to become very clear for someone to understand and remember. 
  • Graphics Press A traditional table: rich, informative, clear. BAD Graphics Press PowerPoint chartjunk: smarmy, chaotic, incoherent. Consider an important and intriguing table of survival rates for those with cancer relative to those without cancer for the same time period. Some 196 numbers and 57 words describe surviv
  • Imagine a widely used and expensive prescription drug that promised to make us beautiful but didn't. Instead the drug had frequent, serious side effects: It induced stupidity, turned everyone into bores, wasted time, and degraded the quality and credibility of communication.
    • Luke Gheta
      Luke Gheta on 31 Oct 12
       
      Edward Tufte is crazy. Edward states " Imagine a widely used and expensive prescription drug that promised to make us beautiful but didn't. Instead the drug had frequent, serious side effects: It induced stupidity, turned everyone into bores, wasted time, and degraded the quality and credibility of communication". What! First Edward, this is the 21st century which requires humans to use magic that can connect us to the internet. It's called a computer, and by the way, I have one. Within my computer, is a Voodoo based software called PowerPoint, which has significantly degraded my English capabilities and caused the education system to plummet. I will know connect the dots and complete my response. "Crazy" is a strong work, lets say "powerful", so I can keep up with the theme of "PowerPoint". I just called Edward Turte crazy, well is he. Probably not, but I can use derogatory words in hopes of publishing an article in Wired magazine. So Edward, you should restate your phrase, "PowerPoint is Evil". First, PowerPoint and slide presentations gain student attention through means of video, graphics, music and pictures. Second, Professors can share lectures and presentations by sharing flash drive. Third, the benefit of using power-point create creativity within students and is a useful tool in the job market, because the majority of business have used PowerPoint.
  • anonymous on 23 Oct 11
     
    I think PowerPoint slides are really useful for getting some ideas in school to stick into the students' heads. If the teachers always had to draw diagrams in their explanations, that eats up some valuable class time and they might not be as clear as one which is made on a computer (and very few people have handwriting as neat as a computer's). If the presentations are actually good, they don't look like advertisements, but also have important content, whether it is explained verbally or visually.
  • ...3 more comments...
  • Lauren Frenkel on 24 Oct 11
     
    I would definitely have to say that power points are very useful, but as a second addition. Power points are a great way to guide a lecture or discussion, however not all the infomation can be provided on it. Lecture is important so that you are forced to listen and think about what is being said rather than just reading it. Power points become problematic because at times they are relied on to heavily and they can cause some one to be distracted from the main point that is trying to be made.
  • Kiera Murphy on 24 Oct 11
     
    I believe PowerPoint is a very effective tool in the classroom! As a visual learner I benefit from relating facts and information with a slide or picture. For example in Dr.Marichal's class I may remember the image of the young and old lady picture when I'm having to answer a question about perception. Also, a PowerPoint helps the professor stay on track and gives them a great tool to keep organized and prepared. Some professors do rely on PowerPoints too much, but if you use them as a source of an outline for lecture of discussion it serves as a very useful and technologically savvy resource!
  • cj_woldanski on 24 Oct 11
     
    Personally, I think power points are a great way to help get someone's point across. Some power points are boring because of the way they are formatted or simply because the person presenting is boring. When information that is relevant to the subject is put up on the big screen and it is outlined in bullet points it gets right to the point and tells you this is what you need to know. But I'll admit when someone does have a weird chart like the example that looked just like a Picasso painting it does get confusing and does not have a lot of valuable information.
  • Andrew Rothans on 24 Oct 11
     
    I feel visual reasoning really is more effective because I can see what I am being told. The information means alot more wen it is presented to me visually. I enjoy classes where the teachers use powerpoints because I can actually take notes and process what I am being told. In my opinion powerpoints really help present information in a different way and make information more interesting.
  • Mitchell Burris on 24 Oct 11
     
    I do think that the author makes a good point. I find that most often when I am confronted with a power point presentation that I am in for a boring presentation. It is hard to say definitively if this is because of the presenter and it would have been a boring presentation anyway or if it is the way it was presented through power point. My first impulse is to surmise that the real problem is with the people giving presentation and not power point itself because I can think of a number of classes specifically *cough*Dr Marichell*cough* that I find engaging, helpful, and entertaining. Maybe this is related to what the author is getting at. Perhaps power point is becoming a crutch and helping people learn a short cut method to an "assignment completing" presentation. Over all I think that if the speaker is engaging and simply uses the power point to add to their presentation and does not simply read the slides to the listener that it can be a valuable tool.
Mangala Kanayson

Transcript of Pausch's "Last Lecture" - 0 views

www.cs.cmu.edu/...auschlastlecturetranscript.pdf

randy pausch last lecture

shared by Mangala Kanayson on 02 Sep 11 - No Cached
  • Mangala Kanayson on 02 Sep 11
     
    PDF file of lecture transcript
Amanda Garcia

The Road to Serfdom - Readers Digest, April 1945 Condensation - 7 views

www.barefootsworld.net/serfdom.html

shared by Amanda Garcia on 24 Sep 12 - No Cached
  • in the democracies the majority of people still believe that socialism and freedom can be combined.
    • Finn Sukkestad
      Finn Sukkestad on 24 Sep 12
       
      I understand the connection he is trying to make between slavery and socialism but which is better or easier and less expensive for a government to run? I think that our "free democracy" is just a cheaper version of slavery which according the the article is one and the same as socialism.  I feel like our government has found that efficiency point where people here are paid just enough to do what we want them to without having to actually care about the well being of the workers.  Think about what it took for an american slave owner to keep his or her slave working.  They had to make sure that the slave had a place to sleep, cloths, enough food to make sure they could do all the work they were asked to to.  Today nobody worries about how their gardner or house cleaning is living, they pay them just enought to do teh work you asked and then they go back to wherever they can afford to live and eat what they can with the small amount of money they made from cleaning or mowing as many houses and lawns as the time in one day would let them.  I am not saying that I am pro slavery I am just asking the question, which one provides more for the work?
  • we should in fact unwittingly produce the very opposite of what we have been striving for?
    • Kayla Sawoski
      Kayla Sawoski on 25 Sep 12
       
      Why would we want to produce the very opposite of what we have been striving for? Wouldn't we want what we have been working each and everyday for? Wouldn't we want what's best for us and not the complete opposite?
    • Dana Sacca
      Dana Sacca on 26 Sep 12
       
      This also relates to "history repeats itself". I agree with the above. We are striving so hard to get to the oposite that we end up doing precisely what we didn't want to do.
    • Dana Sacca
      Dana Sacca on 26 Sep 12
       
      Basically like Oedipus Rex
    • khampton44
      khampton44 on 28 Sep 12
       
      I think the "history repeats itself"  idea is spot on for what he was trying to say. And above that as well why would we producing the very opposite of what we have been striving for it does not fit in the grand scheme of things.
    • Luke Gheta
      Luke Gheta on 28 Sep 12
       
      I agree that " history repeats itself". However, Kayla sawoski has a point about production, why would we go backwards.The problem was not the economy. It was fear. Fear was the main factor that lead to the production of this book(article). I simply do not find Friedrich's logic plausible. Clearly he has underestimated the United States ideology views towards a free economy. The United States is unifted as a nation based on princles of "Free Marktet based economy". He has underestimated the secular purpose of America and market exchange.
  • Our generation has forgotten that the system of private property is the most important guarantee of freedom. It is only because the control of the means of production is divided among many people acting independently that we as individuals can decide what to do with ourselves.
    • Kayla Sawoski
      Kayla Sawoski on 25 Sep 12
       
      Having our own private area where we can go and express ourselves is very important. Humans need a place where we can be free to do as we please in the privacy of our own homes without society watching our every move. A means of privacy is very important to have generated in our government. 
    • Alexis Schomer
      Alexis Schomer on 26 Sep 12
       
      we sort of contradict this idea of private property because we invite people to come onto our property a lot of the time. For example, if you have a party you are inviting people you don't even know onto your property. There is no such thing as absolute privacy as the police have the ability to come into your home with a court order. There are ways around and reasons for everything.
    • Devon Meredith
      Devon Meredith on 28 Sep 12
       
      I think this is true. I believe our generation is to worried about the means of freedom that we don't have that we forget the majority things that we do have. Private property is definitely one of the most important guarantees considering we are able to have our own home and everything we want belong in it without government interfering. 
    • Justina Cooney
      Justina Cooney on 28 Sep 12
       
      I agree with this statement. I think that our generation has forgotten the guarantee of freedom through private property because we live in a time where government tells us where we can build, what we can build and when we can build. The government also has the power to take away our property. When I was growing up I saw this first hand when many of my neighbors were forced out of their homes so that government buildings could be put up. Yes, they were compensated but they freedom of private property was taken from them.
    • Tori Mayeda
      Tori Mayeda on 28 Sep 12
       
      i agree with both of these statements. I believe that it is important to have privacy generated in our government, but i also agree that it's not entirely true. 
    • Karina DaSilva
      Karina DaSilva on 28 Sep 12
       
      I think the line between privacy and public property has become very blurred in today's age. Not only that but I also agree with Alexis in that there no such thing as absolute privacy, except maybe in our own minds. Especially with the emergence of technology such as the internet and computers; whatever we do on there, there are people who could probably access it, no matter how cryptic or private we make it.
    • Carissa Faulk
      Carissa Faulk on 28 Sep 12
       
      The private property issue is a tough one, especially when it comes to whether or not the government has the right to tell someone they have to sell their house/business for the sake of city planning. On one end, there is something incredibly unjust about telling someone they MUST sell their property for whatever you are going to offer them, and they can take the compensation or leave it, but either way they loose their property. This seems like a flagrant violation of their right to property. But at the same time, the government has an obligation to do what is best for the city, and if something needs to be built for the good of all, then I understand why they would feel like they have a right to make someone leave their home. But does the fact that it is for the "common good" make it ok to violate someone's constitutional rights? In this case, I would say no, but it is an interesting dilemma.
    • chelseaedgerley
      chelseaedgerley on 29 Sep 12
       
      strong statement and so relevant. freedom is questioned all together not only with private property
  • ...18 more annotations...
  • When all the means of production are vested in a single hand, whether it be nominally that of "society" as a whole or that of a dictator, whoever exercises this control has complete power over us.
    • Lauren Dudley
      Lauren Dudley on 27 Sep 12
       
      This statement after the private property statement above is important as people need private property in order to make decisions that are best for themselves, individually. If all the power is put into society as a whole, then some poeple will not be happy as the power rests with "society" or a single person. Individuals need to have the chance to conduct their own business and to be free, so that society as individuals have power over themselves and not be forced into something that they do not want. They might have to go along though as they are dependent on the powerful for their economic wellness in society.
    • Dana Sacca
      Dana Sacca on 28 Sep 12
       
      Also when power is put into the hands of society there seems to be a chaos factor that grows. Yes, we need our privacy, but we also need governemnt regulation to keep complete chaos from happening.
    • Ashley Mehrens
      Ashley Mehrens on 28 Sep 12
       
      Going off what Lauren said, that society needs a chance to have power. This sounds a lot like what we talked about last class in that the powerful people are powerful because they can manipulate society into believing they have a chance but really the fate is already planned out. But as long as society believes they have an option chaos will not break out. 
  • Yet socialism was early recognized by many thinkers as the gravest threat to freedom
    • Lauren Dudley
      Lauren Dudley on 27 Sep 12
       
      I find this to be true as socialism puts the power of individuals into the hands of "society" or one individual, which takes away each individual's freedom to decide what they want to do personally and that means each individual loses their freedom to advance in the world (as they choose what they want for themselves and not society as a whole), instead of being at the same level as everyone else of that society.
    • Courtney Sabile
      Courtney Sabile on 28 Sep 12
       
      I agree, socialism would be a grave threat to freedom. It gives away an individual's right to be free and weaken the power of the people.
    • Kim H
      Kim H on 28 Sep 12
       
      A lot of the people around me who are against Obama like to claim that he is a socialist, and they say it like its a bad word. What they are really saying is that they feel as though he is threatening their freedoms.  After reading this article, I can see what they mean, but that doesn't mean that I agree with them.
  • Now it was made to mean freedom from necessity, the old demand for a redistribution of wealth.
    • Lauren Dudley
      Lauren Dudley on 27 Sep 12
       
      So basically socialism is aiming at taking away the freedom of the people to act as individuals by trying to get to them by taking care of their financial needs. The socialism idea may seem nice right then and there because it provides a sense of security, but the freedom taken away by not being able to decide how to deal with your private property in the long run, in my opinion, is a bigger deal than that sense of security for now.
  • They do not realize that to strive for socialism produces something utterly different - the very destruction of freedom itself.
    • Cameron Schroeck
      Cameron Schroeck on 27 Sep 12
       
      This is interesting how the very society you try to improve is actually harmed when societies advance toward socialism. This can relate to the everlasting desire to improve and/or change our societies. However, when an advancement to socialism is made, society is harmed by the increasing lack of liberty. You think people would realize the harm that they are bringing to themselves. Perhaps they are too blinded by their negative connotations of other societies that socialism seems appealing since it differs from most other governments. 
    • Kelsey Fratello
      Kelsey Fratello on 28 Sep 12
       
      I think that most people are unaware of this fact and it should be made know. Most people want to have the most freedom that they can, however, they think they can have socialism as well. If people were to be shown the effects that socialism has and how it indeed destroys freedom, then people would start to have different views of the subject. 
  • "Friedrich Hayek has written one of the most important books of our generation."
    • Caitlin Fransen
      Caitlin Fransen on 28 Sep 12
       
      its funny how the two quotes about the book differ so greatly. at first it is called "sad and angry little book" but then 4 days later by the same newspaper, but different writers said "Friedrich Hayek has written one of the most important books of our generation" its amazing how the second review cause the book to sell so many more copies 
    • Sarah Marroquin
      Sarah Marroquin on 28 Sep 12
       
      I agree, public media usually changes it's mind and once it does, the general public agrees too.
    • Kevin Olive
      Kevin Olive on 28 Sep 12
       
      I wonder if anyone noticed the sudden change of opinion from the New York Times? Isn't there some kind of editor to prevent stuff like that from happening?  
    • Shannon Wirawan
      Shannon Wirawan on 28 Sep 12
       
      I agree with Sarah and Caitlin. The general public are like lemmings. They can't really think on their own until someone says otherwise. And I think that is one of the problems we have today in society as well. No one really knows what is going on because they follow what they hear over and over again, as each opinion changes. 
  • "One of the Most Important Books of Our Generation."
  • while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude."
    • jeffrey hernandez
      jeffrey hernandez on 28 Sep 12
       
      Its interesting to me that people could find socialism a good idea when in comparison with democracy. Just this line makes me nervous to be in a socialist country.  
    • Meghann Ellis
      Meghann Ellis on 28 Sep 12
       
      This sentence strikes me as odd because they consider both democracy and socialism to be seeking equality just in different ways. Democracy is clearly seeking freedom and socialism seeking power and control. It is interesting to think that they both seek equality among there people where in reality is socialism really producing equality?
  • the book eventually sold at least 230,000 copies in the U.S. Hayek went on a U.S. lecture tour, including prestigious places like Harvard University, and he decided he rather liked being a lightning rod for freedom.
    • Tatiana McCuaig
      Tatiana McCuaig on 28 Sep 12
       
      This goes back to what Caitlin said about how the book changed from being widely unknown, to doing a complete 180 and becoming highly popular and getting such high attention from places such as Harvard University. Hayek also decided that he would use his publicity to not only his advantage, but the advantage of others.
  • Democratic assemblies cannot function as planning agencies. They cannot produce agreement on everything - the whole direction of the resources of the nation. The number of possible courses of action will be legion. Even if a congress could, by proceeding step by step and compromising at each point, agree on some scheme, it would certainly in the end satisfy nobody.
    • Brandon White
      Brandon White on 28 Sep 12
       
      It's quite crazy how relevant this passage is to our modern congress in the United States. I think it is quite apparent that our current congress has not been working towards maximum efficiency. Congress has reached a point where one own's political party has become far too polarizing.  But can congress truly work as a planning agency? Not all congressional histories have been wrought with inefficiency. As the Civil Rights Bill of the 1960s and the surplus of the 1990s demonstrate, congress does have the distinct power to work in way that can produce a common good for all Americans. I still believe in the democratic system. I still feel that, given the right circumstance, our congressional system can produce a level of good for the American people. Its not the system that's broken. Its the politicians that refuse to compromise that is harming us. 
  • it would certainly in the end satisfy nobody
    • Benjamin Chavez II
      Benjamin Chavez II on 28 Sep 12
       
      Not only would it not satisfy anybody but it would also require a lot of transaction costs.  It would simply be a waste of time.
  • by concentrating power so that it can be used in the service of a single plan, it is not merely transformed but infinitely heightened. An amount of power is created infinitely greater than any that existed before, so much more far-reaching as almost to be different in kind
    • Hayley Jensen
      Hayley Jensen on 28 Sep 12
       
      This statement is completely true and speaks to the importance of the dispersion of power. Centralized power blinds the holders to the needs of whom they have power over and taken power from. No single unit can possess the knowledge what is best for a society. Partly because the needs of the people within that society have variations among themselves and the greater power has no insight to those needs. The socialistic approach denies the people to which the power is held over their right to their personal liberties. Denying a group of people the right to autonomy creates resentment and distaste which steers away from allowing opportunity to peoples' "good life".
    • Sean McCarthy
      Sean McCarthy on 28 Sep 12
       
      I agree with Miss Jensen, the socialistic leader might be attempting to 'plan' what's best for society, but often doesn't have an unhindered view of what's actually happening/what's best for the people.
    • Luke Gheta
      Luke Gheta on 28 Sep 12
       
      Hahahah. Churchill loses at everything.
    • jackmcfarland12
      jackmcfarland12 on 28 Sep 12
       
      Fascinating that in a country of free speech where all most forms of protest and talk can be tolerated people were so against publishing a book that thought differently. Perhaps they were afraid to endorse a dangerous idea like this because they were still so afraid of a "Red Scare" like reaction?
    • chelseaedgerley
      chelseaedgerley on 29 Sep 12
       
      yeah I agree. I think people were afraid of controversy. crazy though how this book ends up being a huge hit. like it says some friends worked wonders for the book, and now rather than being controversial it is considered one of the most important books written. 
    • Devin Milligan
      Devin Milligan on 28 Sep 12
       
      This does not make any sense to me. Why should we produce the opposite of what we have been wanting to achieve. I believe that we should work towards our goals in life.
    • Sean McCarthy
      Sean McCarthy on 28 Sep 12
       
      Hayek appears to be saying that with the "economic planning" the hope is that everyone will be happier and more production will be realized, but that the opposite is what happens..
    • mgarciag
      mgarciag on 28 Sep 12
       
      I dont think that democracy and planning are two clashing ideas.  I think that they can coexist peacefully without the idea that either one can be an obstacle for the other.  
  • planners must create power
    • Sean McCarthy
      Sean McCarthy on 28 Sep 12
       
      but appear powerless..
  • It was not the Fascists but the socialists who began to collect children at the tenderest age into political organizations to direct their thinking
  • In the hands of private individuals, what is called economic power can be an instrument of coercion, but it is never control over the whole life of a person. But when economic power is centralized as an instrument of political power it creates a degree of dependence scarcely distinguishable from slavery.
    • Amanda Garcia
      Amanda Garcia on 07 Oct 12
       
      I think the argument he is making is a strong and interesting one. I've never quite heard it put like this but I can't say that I disagree with him at all. The former may be nothing but the better of two evils, which is not particularly desired, but the latter in this instance would be an envelopment of something much worse. 
  • gina Hogrefe on 26 Sep 12
     
    This article is a lot to digest because of the socialism analysis. The author suggests that going to a socialistic system would insinuate getting rid of freedom. Essentially socialism is a dictator party for the people that would abolish the monopolies that control the economy. The authors solution to socialism/ fascism is to re-embrace and exercise our constitutional rights.
  • madison taylor on 28 Sep 12
     
    I would agree with the part where he said that private property is our most important guarantee of freedom. By being able to own our own property and do with it as we please and there is really noone that can take it away from us once we own it we have the ultimate right to freedom right there.
Jason van Rijn

Dr. Marichal's Course Portals (2170) - 32 views

www.netvibes.com/pols208

shared by Jason van Rijn on 01 Sep 11 - No Cached
    • Felecia Russell
      Felecia Russell on 01 Sep 11
       
      I agree with this statement. Because this generation is exposed to the internet they have more conversations with each other, which complements the simply writing as well as writing being easier. With internet conversations being without emotions and physical connection, words can easily be interpreted in a wrong way. Which is why this generation writing may be simplier than previous generations. However, because of the informality of the internet they adapt to the misuse of words, which adds to the lack of proper grammer.
    • nsamuelian
      nsamuelian on 02 Sep 11
       
      With all due respect to Felecia, grammar is spelled incorrectly above. Nothing personal, just thought it was a pun and went along with the point you were making. I do agree, though, in a sense that it can force students to adapt to the misuse, but it also depends on the students themselves.
    • steve santos
      steve santos on 19 Sep 11
       
      taking informalities one step further I feel the generation now and those younger turning in those that when it comes to social interactions, many are inept in something as simple as a personal conversation initiative. The times being crippling in the personal stake of matters in having face on conversations. rather than talk it out; its turned to text it out. speaking in generalities of course. not saying they aren't exceptions, but its an increasing trend of shutting out and believing what one reads rather than thinking it out with someone there of what they genuinely think.
    • Matt Nolan
      Matt Nolan on 20 Sep 11
       
      I agree with Steve, I feel the younger generation has a harder time interacting with people and making conversation because everything is done electronically. You see more young people in society being shy or awkward around big crowds it is because of technology, nothing is personal anymore and I feel more people need to be willing to have a conversation and open up to people and engage in something they might not have much knowledge about because in the long run it will be better for your future and give you more opportunities to meet new people.
    • jose marichal
      jose marichal on 19 Sep 12
       
      I don't agree with any of you ---- JK
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 08 Sep 11
       
      It amazes me that 21st century medicine has yet to reach places such as Niger. In American and other 1st world countries death during childbirth is unheard of. I would think that with all of the volunteers and global programs these hospitals would at least have basic medicine. I am disgusted that this is still going on in such a developed world. These kinds of problems are being overlooked. Instead, the world is fighting over petty issues. I plan to have a career in healthcare and this article really has me thinking.
    • Felecia Russell
      Felecia Russell on 10 Sep 11
       
      This is obviously true for mothers around the world. Not every woman that goes into birth have proper care, some women are faced with dire consequences and results. A pregnant woman walking an hour to deliver a baby seems crucial in today's society. However, it is not hard for me to believe or envision this because this is the way of the world. The poor are really poor and the rich are extremely rich. Where is the middle ground?
    • steve santos
      steve santos on 16 Sep 11
       
      it is racking for how a person feels about these circumstances especially thinking about it in the sense of how people feel about karma and would want themselves treated if in difficult circumstances themselves. gilt of western civilization and privilege. that middle ground is especially hard to break into with the polis, market relationship being differing in changes in one will often go into an effect with the other that will become a problematic notion itself later to others who question the notion of THAT particular policy.
  • ...59 more annotations...
    • Sabryna Aylard
      Sabryna Aylard on 12 Sep 11
       
      When reading this article, it was really unbelieveable about the conditions of the hospitals and how horrible healthcare is in third world countries. It showed how large a spectrum is from a thriving economic society to a undeveloped country.
    • Valencia Hamilto
      Valencia Hamilto on 13 Sep 11
       
      Reading this article about the conditions in Niger makes me realize how blessed and fortunate we are here in the U.S. to have so many medical facilities and assistants to help and take of us in times of need. Just like it was mentioned in the article it seems like Niger was back in the middle ages where none of the resources we have today were available.
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 15 Sep 11
       
      John Smith's books were all written around free market ideals. His book the wealth of nations describes that if people pursue their own interests, society will also benefit. I can agree with this statement in several ways. As seen in some fallen communist countries, if people do not have a private, personal good to work for, people are not generally willing to work as hard. Whereas if someone will receive self benefits/advancement they will be wiling to work harder to benefit society because of it. Once could also look at this from the standpoint that although the richest of people make more money than most could ever imagine, they are pumping millions of those dollars into the economy through job and good creation. So here, people are receiving self-benefits, but their companies are also benefiting the US economy. 
    • Sabryna Aylard
      Sabryna Aylard on 16 Sep 11
       
      I remember the day care experiment from another class. I always found it interesting that when you are given a fee of something, your morality goes unharmed since your paying it off.
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 20 Sep 11
       
      I found this article to be very interesting. In my global issues class we had discussed specialization, and how specialization is more "efficient" (we also discussed efficiency). In this article they talked about how people are breaking down things like health into small,specialized aspects instead of looking at health as a whole- with many different contributing components. Was this done because it was more "efficient" in the world of study and research? It seems like there could be some sort of a connection, maybe the connection lies within the researchers themselves who are "specialists" in a particular study, so when doing research they do not take into account the later picture....
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 20 Sep 11
       
      Larger*
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 26 Sep 11
       
      In this article it says "...that if individual liberty is an ultimate end for human beings..." I found this to be very interesting because freedom is often looked so highly upon that it seems to be the very thing everyone strives for. It is true, freedom is a great thing, but can individual freedom be an ultimate end? We can't let people going around doing whatever they want. That is why we have laws- to create and maintain order within the polis. It is interesting to think though just how much individual freedom we can allow without ending overall peace and well-being within a society.
    • Joshua Gray
      Joshua Gray on 26 Sep 11
       
      For myself at least, I found that freedom was a means to an end and my personal favorite. I think people use freedom as a tool to find happiness and meaning within their own life. I agree that we have laws to attempt to solve the issues that arise between the differences and disagreements that we have within our society.
    • Valencia Hamilto
      Valencia Hamilto on 26 Sep 11
       
      Freedom is every man's dream..For the longest freedom has praised by everyone who became a heroic figure . But the definition of freedom changes from person to person. Freedom can be happiness to one and it can mean to have the freedom of expression to another . Freedom is a word that portrays to a broad topic. In the article Isaiah Berlin says that…" it is a term whose meaning is so porous that there is little interpretation that it seems able to resist."
    • shane paulson
      shane paulson on 26 Sep 11
       
      I agree in a way that there is no clear definition of freedom.  It is not something that is universal to everyone, but it is based off the individual's standards.  For example, some who may have just moved to the United states from a foreign country may consider freedom as being able to speak their opinion, while a U.S. born citizen may consider freedom as something along the lines of choosing whether or not to wear their seatbelt.
    • John Buchanan
      John Buchanan on 26 Sep 11
       
      This is the problem in washington: people can't find the "middle ground" or much less compromise.  The constant push and pull between positive and negative liberties will have scary consequences for the future of our nation.
    • shane paulson
      shane paulson on 10 Oct 11
       
      I agree and feel that the reason for this is because everybody naturally has different views and perspectives.  The right way to categorize in one's mind may vary to another individual.  This is why when we vote it is not unanimous but it is of the majority vote.
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 19 Sep 12
       
      There is never going to be a "middle ground" anywhere, considering that every individual grows up with a different background, views, economic stance, etc.  
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 30 Sep 11
       
      I thought it was interesting that Simon Lovell studied so deeply into what makes a con man so successful. He explains that a con man is a good salesman, which seems pretty logical. I never thought deep into it though. He says that being a con man requires study of psychology and body language. I could see this helping, but does anyone really think con men go to such great lengths?? I feel like they just make good conversations and play into the wants of society
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 03 Oct 11
       
      This article is very bias. It talks about how republicans exploit information and use freaking techniques to trick americans. Don't ALL politicians do this? I just found it to be very interesting how the article began by putting blame on one side to make its ideas appear unreasonable. We discussed last week how "framing" is used across the board.
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 05 Oct 11
       
      I kind of agree with this article. It is ridiculous that we have to use celebrities and crazy adds to grab people's attention and make them want to help. It's a "trend". If it's made cool and popular by celebrities and famous politicians people will jump on board. I guess though, these things are raising awareness. Before the ICU club appeared, most college and high school kids had no idea about what was going on in Darfur and other African countries. I feel like people should hold some kind of social responsibility to know major things that are happening in the world. But like we said in class the other day, people don't take this responsibility as a citizen of the world seriously, so I guess crazy adds and celebs have to be used to spread awarness.
    • Melissa Moreno
      Melissa Moreno on 21 Oct 11
       
      Taking caution with "the rustle in the grass" is important because all to often we accept stories and patterns as true because of the titles associated with them and those who are giving us the information. 
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 24 Oct 11
       
      Personally, I agree with the whole "slidware" stunt. I think that by using Microsoft Powerpoint, Keynote, etc. people can hide the fact that their discussion lacks content. Sometimes pictures and phrases can be useful in guiding the discussion or providing examples. This is not always the case though. In high school one of my teachers pointed out in another student's powerpoint that he/she had no true analysis about the topic, but was attempting to cover that up with fancy fonts, catchy slogans, and lots of pictures. When I listen to a speaker I want to be sure that I am being given as much DATA as possible, and even more important RELEVANT DATA! I've even caught teachers using their power points to cover the truth that they were not prepared to present the lecture. 
    • shane paulson
      shane paulson on 24 Oct 11
       
      The author makes a good point in the fact that visual reasoning usually works more effectively when relevant information is shown side by side.  It is easier for a reader to understand the significance of something if they have something else to compare it to.  I think that is how policy is either passed or not passed, based on whether that significance is strong enough.
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 28 Oct 11
       
      I thought the whole idea of the command and control functions was very interesting. I think, especially in public policy, they're both used together. When a piece of legislation is passed we don't really have much control over it (granted, we could protest, sign petitions, etc.), so we have to do as "they" say. That's the command function. The control function is also in use though. I think that in order to make something seem more appealing and in order to gain support politicians definitely re order the environment to fit their argument. We're kind of tricked by this....
    • Joshua Gray
      Joshua Gray on 30 Oct 11
       
      I thought that the dangerous memes talk was a interesting talk that gave a unique look into humanity and our ideas or memes. It seemed to me that a major point in his talk was to attempt in certain cases to approach ideas in a morally objective manner to determine if such an ideea is a good or bad thing for humanity. Overall I believe that he did a very fine job giving his talk while staying as objective as possible.
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 03 Nov 11
       
      I think that political scientists are beginning to realize more and more than almost everything is significant when it comes to "social construction". We are all, to some extent, influenced by both internal and external factors. I find the idea behind specific groups to be very interesting. I have always noticed that there are many politically-based groups that strictly abide by one set of ideals. I always wonder why they refuse to wander outside of their established "zone" and who are what factors led them to believe those were the best ideals. Gender is especially interesting. I guess women tend to be more soft/gentle/emotional characters, so this is why their ideals lean a certain way. However, I wonder if things may be changing. It seems as though a long time ago women had an established place and role in society, so this could have influenced their thinking. Now though, women can and do do all of the same things that men partake in. I wonder if this influences them politically at all. I, for one, am not soft and probably not as emotional or sympathetic as some people think I should be. 
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 07 Nov 11
       
      This article is very interesting. I think it's weird how they were actually able to transform an educational institution by first changing the name. I think that people embrace names and that they can be somewhat empowering. If the name of something is relatable or refers to something grand then people tend to be more responsive. I think this is a kind of framing in which a name can shape an institution, how it works, and how it's members participate. 
    • magen sanders
      magen sanders on 11 Nov 11
       
      this line about power growing as well as the enemies list got me to thinking, when your power and influence get stronger and expand does that automatically cause you to gain a longer list of enemies and "haters" and do the enemies have reason other than jealousy for this animosity. is it really Jay-Z's fault that he is a powerful respected man?
    • shane paulson
      shane paulson on 18 Nov 11
       
      I agree in a way that power influences the audience and how well known you are.  It is only natural that amongst a large group there are going to be haters.
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 18 Nov 11
       
      I can see both the pros and cons of this situation and always apply it to the legalization of marijuana in California. While I worry that legalization makes illicit drug use acceptable, we do see cases where drug use actually declines in the period after legalization. I don't really understand why this is, though, ...if something is legal it's not fun anymore?? I just think that, although it would be a good source of tax money, If marijuana is legalized people will still use it but I also think they will turn to other kinds of drug use which are much more serious. Whether we like it or not we know that a great amount of illicit drug use comes from marijuana use.  Tax Revenue or Possibility of more illicit drug use? I'm not sure which is better, or what would happen if drugs were legalized in America. In a variety of things, laws and regulations do not work in America as they do in foreign countries because we are so different, diverse, and seem to have overall different views on morals. 
    • Lauren Petta
      Lauren Petta on 05 Dec 11
       
      I think that, while it would be RIDICULOUS, if the administration had no idea what was going on in Rwanda, the third point is correct in some sense. It said "regardless of what it knew, there was nothing useful to be done. We see in a lot of unfortunate situations like this the only thing that is moderately useful that outsiders can do is to capture the leader- it times of chaos, it's not easy. This reminds me very much of the deal with Joseph Kony. Even though many countries have made a commitment to catch him if possible, it still hasn't happened and people are still being murdered.  I guess it comes with the power, but it still always surprises me that other countries judge us if we don't jump in to help EVERY situation in EVERY country at that VERY second....not to say that we shouldn't help people, but I think that too much is expected of the United States. We can't solve everyone's problems-- we can't even solve our own........
    • Cameron Schroeck
      Cameron Schroeck on 08 Sep 12
       
      Very interesting study. Evolution in the making causes us to have more mental battles within us when faced with difficult decisions, especially when associated with life, death, and murder. I would be like most in the trolley situation and pull the lever but not push the large man. However, in the second situation I would say that I would smother the baby to save the village. Now what I might do in reality could be the exact opposite, but as for hypothetical thought, those would be my conclusions. 
    • Cameron Schroeck
      Cameron Schroeck on 09 Sep 12
       
      Exactly! How would people simply know if something is wrong and fail to give a valid reason. If you know something is wrong or right, there should be a reason to support it.
    • Lauren Dudley
      Lauren Dudley on 09 Sep 12
       
      "Moral dumbfounding" is a really interesting point in this article to me as it is true how people react to certain issues based on instincts. They react based on how they grew up with society, their background, and their upbringing. I think people should be discussing why they really think certain "social issues" are wrong, even if they do not hurt other people.
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 19 Sep 12
       
      I agree completely, there are so many critical factors brought in that make bias towards one side.  There needs to be much more support and concrete evidence as to why a certain issue is morally wrong, not just a gut feeling.
    • Lauren Dudley
      Lauren Dudley on 09 Sep 12
       
      After listening to this podcast, I would probably agree with most people about pulling the lever and not pushing the man, as it is more personal in some way. Then as for the baby, I do not think I could do that even if it did save more people. As for deriving from apes in that morality form, I am just not sure about that yet, as I believe the world around your upbringing plays a big role.
    • Kristi Kniest
      Kristi Kniest on 10 Sep 12
       
      Taking snapshots of a brain would really help scientists better understand the way a brain works which can eventually lead to advances in society.
    • Devon Meredith
      Devon Meredith on 10 Sep 12
       
      When reading what could be known as a controversial issue, we constantly ask ourselves "do we agree with that?". The scenarios explained in paragraph three of Hot Morality are the same. Yes, while the man purchasing a chicken and performing activities is odd, it isn't wrong and it is harmless. Topics like these are what causes discussions and also tests the morality of an issue. 
    • mgarciag
      mgarciag on 10 Sep 12
       
      Moal dumbfounding.   I think it's interesting that people that live today think that so many things are bad but do not know why.  When asked the question "why is it wrong?" many, after a deep thought, will say I don't know...  It just is.  We live in a society that knows that things are wrong but not why
    • Kristi Kniest
      Kristi Kniest on 14 Sep 12
       
      After reading this, you see how different countries around the world are and how difficult life is for people. It is extremely sad that the women have to go through so much when they have a baby. It isnt fair to them. They have a million more things that they have to be worried about and have to take care of themselves, unlike the women in Sweden. Hopefully one day, the way of living and surviving will be more equal all around the world.
    • laurenneiger
      laurenneiger on 19 Sep 12
       
      I believe that it is very true that even if humans give the same amount it feels more rewarding to give out of the goodness of our hearts than to be forced to.  People feel better about themselves if they are not forced, they make a compromise in their heads where if they give it will suddenly absolve them from all the other times they chose not to give. 
    • mgarciag
      mgarciag on 14 Sep 12
       
      I think that it's ignorant of the way that modern day Americans think about how people give birth all around  the world.  It's crazy how different the medical care is in a country such as Niger as compared to America let alone Sweden.
    • madison taylor
      madison taylor on 14 Sep 12
       
      It is crazy to see how simple medical and comfort needs cannot be met for the women in Niger. These women have to go through this painful childbirth and on top of it there babies have such a slim rate of survival. We take so much for granted.
    • Kristi Kniest
      Kristi Kniest on 19 Sep 12
       
      Paying taxes is essential to the survival of our economy and the well-being of our society. When it comes to paying taxes, most people aren't happy about having to do so. However, people don't always realize that by paying taxes now, they are helping the country be better off later. The amount of taxes that have to be paid can be painful, but it is rewarding for the whole country.
    • Kevin Olive
      Kevin Olive on 21 Sep 12
       
      I do not think that letting Clint Eastwood speak on Mitt Romney's behalf was such a bad idea. Maybe if Clint Eastwood were to support Romney maybe Romney can get the support of Clint Eastwood's fan base. However attacking another candidate's supporters is not the smartest idea. No matter who you support we are all Americans and should not be attacked in a presidential fundraiser. Furthermore I have heard of plenty of rich people avoiding taxes who are not Obama supporters. You can look at the election polls all you want all that really matters is the end result.  
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 24 Sep 12
       
      This is interesting for this experiment not only uses one's personal background and experiences but also their biological background.  A lot of diseases such as depression and whatnot can be passed down through the generations of family and I feel like a lot of people forget to that into consideration. 
    • Kristi Kniest
      Kristi Kniest on 24 Sep 12
       
      Being rich and successful throughout your life will, in the end, make you happy, but it does take some work to get there and you will have to experience hard times. It takes some "pain" to get to what makes us happy. You may be happy with the way things turned out and glad that you experienced the hard times to get to the good times.
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 28 Sep 12
       
      It's interesting how he speaks of freedom as if it doesn't naturally come to us, but rather as something you earn.  He had to push the boundaries of the natural order to be able to successfully have the freedom he deserved and also wanted. 
    • Carissa Faulk
      Carissa Faulk on 08 Oct 12
       
      I would like to see some of this evidence he references (although I'm fairly certain it is included in his book), because I find this almost difficult to believe and, if it is true, quite frightening. I would not have been surprised if he said that it affects the politically informed some, but equally to the uninformed? That is a frightening thought. If being informed doesn't change how much it affects you, then what does? 
    • Kristi Kniest
      Kristi Kniest on 08 Oct 12
       
      If I understood this article correctly, I believe that Shanto Iyengar is right in every way.  Everything that society sees through media is framed to be viewed a particular way.  The media has the power to display information the way they want society to view the material.  This is how a lot of people form their opinions when it comes to government and policy issues.
    • Jason van Rijn
      Jason van Rijn on 08 Oct 12
       
      I think that framing is a real problem in relaying political information to the public and that if the populace had enough motivation and attention, it would be much more useful to require presidential candidates to put their ideas in an essay with graphs and supporting evidence. Debates just present a fraction of the information and  lead people to weakly supported opinions.
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 10 Oct 12
       
      It's interesting how throughout this article the main point is letting the audience hear what they want to.  No matter what, there is going to be a bias towards your own political party; leaving the opposite candidate to hopelessly fight when the bias will still be stronger than the information supported. 
    • Edmund Garrett
      Edmund Garrett on 10 Oct 12
       
      It makes sense that people who are more adept to understanding another person's emotions are able to do so with the characters in the story. Seems like a redundant explanation if you ask me.
    • Carissa Faulk
      Carissa Faulk on 12 Oct 12
       
      This is an excellent observation and is evinced by children's particular delight in and gravitation towards stories. Children lack very much personal experience in the world and in life, and so they are naturally drawn to stories to help the m make sense of and prepare for the real world. 
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 12 Oct 12
       
      I believe that the best classic stories are those orally told, for they tend to hold the most emotion and power beyond the person telling it.  They are passed down generation to generation and their stories never truly die. 
    • Kristi Kniest
      Kristi Kniest on 12 Oct 12
       
      This article is very eye-opening.  Most people do not think about the people that they are fighting for or trying to represent.  They do not think of the way they are presenting the people.  A lot of times, poorer countries are depicted as inferior and wealthier countries, such as the US, are depicted as superior.  When trying to help a poor country most people focus on the people that are "helping," like celebrities. Instead, the focus should be on the people that we are trying to help.
    • Jason van Rijn
      Jason van Rijn on 17 Oct 12
       
      I think it is unfair to cast political scientists as an impractical ivory tower elite. Theory is an important dynamic of any discipline, and political theory is still grounded in a potential application to improve society. There is a limited range of political ideas in practice and I think it is important to have highly specialized  people speculate on novel solutions to problems.
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 26 Oct 12
       
      This is very interesting for it takes an approach that has nothing to do with religion but rather with evolution.  Many can say that these suspicions are used in regards with God and his doings but it's nice to see the other side in a scientifically proven way.
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 29 Oct 12
       
      This is interesting for I am a very visual learner and it takes me a lot of different subjects to look at for me to be able to study and learn effectively.  Sometimes words aren't the most important but rather the way it sticks in your mind is what matters most.
    • Kristi Kniest
      Kristi Kniest on 29 Oct 12
       
      this article/guide is an extremely helpful tool to help someone make sure that a presentation they are giving gets their point across.  These points will ensure that the audience is captivated and stays engaged in the presentation. 
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 02 Nov 12
       
      Being on opposite sides of the spectrum must be so difficult when there are so many ideas clashing together one certain issue.  however, it is the duty of our politicians to be able to set aside these issues and further bring something to the table for the whole of America.  Backing out of a deal last minute is pugnacious and disrespectful to Obama and to the others who would have benefited from this act.
    • Kristi Kniest
      Kristi Kniest on 02 Nov 12
       
      In the past, political parties could be very diverse when major events occurred in the nation and would be more unified in the times without major events.  Being diverse is brought on because of decisions and policies that arise from the major events.  Being able to more unified makes things in the House and Senate run more smoothly.  As years have progressed, both the Republicans and Democrats, have become more unified through good and bad times in the nation.
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 12 Nov 12
       
      This cannot raise scores or change the outlook of the community, but I think that this will help raise the spirits of the students attending that school and will help raise school pride to everyone in the community.  This is just the first step to pursuing a bright future for the students and society that they live in.
    • Kristi Kniest
      Kristi Kniest on 12 Nov 12
       
      The people of Athens set an example for many countries centuries after their time.  The only way for a government to thrive and be successful is to use the resources given. These resources will allow the government to take opportunities that are given to them, as well as, learning from mistakes they made in certain decisions they made.
    • laurenneiger
      laurenneiger on 12 Nov 12
       
      I think this strategy was extremely interesting.  I personally would have never thought to take the action that they did.  I thought it was really interesting and a different way of going about a problem
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 16 Nov 12
       
      This is in conjunction to how corporations may have too much power.  Who should be the leader? Should there be one? A small group? A network? Who holds the ultimate power?
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 25 Nov 12
       
      Humans natural reaction when they are getting attacked is to form a bias.  There will always be a form of bias for most people have a hard time admitting that they are wrong and someone else is right.  Even in politics, one may agree with a democratic idea but won't admit it for they are republic.  We must all try our best to remain open-minded to all ideas to benefit everyone in our society.
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 26 Nov 12
       
      This is definitely an invasion of privacy, although it may be effective.  People do have a tendency by nature to ignore such situations that make them uncomfortable though, leaving it to not be successful with many Americans. 
    • Carissa Faulk
      Carissa Faulk on 03 Dec 12
       
      I never knew, and I find it quite intriguing, that there was no border patrol until 1924.
    • Chantelle Cichon
      Chantelle Cichon on 09 Dec 12
       
      I believe that standardization is easier said than done.  There is no such thing as a Utopian society for there are so many different views, believes, lifestyles, etc. that can affect a whole bigger picture in a much more complex manner.  Even if one does attempt to standardize, there will still be someone who disagrees and wants to cause, once again, another revolution.
    • Jason van Rijn
      Jason van Rijn on 10 Dec 12
       
      Unlike hard sciences, you cannot repeat an experiment many times with slight modifications to certain variables. Having some kind of model system to test theories is wishful thinking and impossible because of the infinite variables in social situations but it would just be nice to run simulations of certain welfare programs
  • Lauren Dudley on 09 Sep 12
     
    "moral dubfounding"
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