Saturday, April 25, 2020
The Consumerism Features
Table of Contents Introduction Consumerism in the 18th Century Consumerism before the World War 1 era Consumerism in the Post World War 1 era Consumerism in the twentieth century Conclusion References Introduction It has become a clichà © that the world we inhabit is a consumer centered world, otherwise known as a consumer society. The modern world has been taken over by a consumer culture that stemmed from the consumer revolution. The desire to have luxurious goods and services has come to be common in the modern society (Stearns, 2010).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Consumerism Features specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Consumerism in the 18th Century The features of consumerism that had prevailed in the pre modern society had a global inclination. Pre-modern consumerism had developed extensively in Asian nations like China and in the Middle East compared to Western Europe. Consumption relied heavily on international trade for instance Chinese silk. Consumerism in the western countries depended heavily on the global consumerism patterns then. It was stimulated by access to new goods from other countries sugar, silk and cotton from India. Also, the huge profits and goods they got from global trade and trade in slaves that benefited western European states and the northern America (Stearns, 2010). As the contacts of western Europeanââ¬â¢s contacts replicated through colonial acquisitions, businessmen and diplomats from the West modeled consumer centered aspects. They wanted to replicate consumer behavior back at their home. Tourism has also contributed to the spread of the European consumerism. Western people persuaded other people to open up to the new forms of consumerism with promises of big markets for western made products in exchange with allowing colonialism. Communities which already had some elements of consumerism merged these elements with those of the people from th e west. Finally consumerism became a norm and came to shape societal elements ââ¬âthe socio-economic changes (Stearns, 2007). Consumerism then did not spread in an even manner. Some form of resistance developed then due conservatism of old communities. Expansion of globalism at the global level had common elements the spreading of goods and methods of marketing used in Western Europe. Economic factors affected consumerism. Some communities had poor economies as compared to others. The spread of consumerism contained aspects of western civilization. Western consumerism patterns are considered to be the most successful (Stearns, 2007). Hilton (2003) observes that when the twentieth century is talked about, consumption, prices and a material culture are terms that cannot be evaded. These form a background of how the 20th century was understood. During this century, notions of producing goods, labor and wage among other forms of ideologies combined to bring about a Productivity Ment ality. This mentality was a big contributor of the growth in consumerism.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The sudden rise in production as a result of the early revolution in industry which was accompanied by massive production of goods and services encouraged consumption. The market rules and forces of supply and demand necessitated a rising in demand. Revolution in industry led to revolution in production. Later, the rise in production led to the rise in the problem of consumption. Need for consumers became the biggest problem. Consumption was raised to a high level such that it became impossible to sustain. However, this religion of consumerism was contrary to the real religion as religion taught a control of desire while consumerism encouraged the desire to consume. In the world of materialism, this culture has to be pulled into science. Business, as a subject was introd uced into American universities as an academic discipline (Stearns, 2010). Consumerism before the World War 1 era The world experienced a business boom in the early 1920s. The economy experienced a stable growth and expansion. The growth in the economy was fueled by three factors; availability of machines to be used in the production process, factories which dealt with processing and manufacturing of goods and a standardized process of mass production. These three factors brought about a certain cycle which was self perpetuating. Standardization in massive production of goods led to a build up of better and effective machinery in the factories. This in turn fuelled higher productivity of goods which was accompanied with higher salaries and wages. With improved production and good wages, a higher demand for goods to consume was inevitable. This demand in turn led to more standardization in production of goods. The business boom progressed until 1929 (Stearns, 2007). The boom in the 1 920s was triggered by a number of factors. One of them was the First World War. This war affected technology in a very big way. The consequences of the war stimulated old industries for instance the steel and petroleum industries thus helping create a ray of new industries like plastic and rayon. The expenditure grew in this period with more being spent on purchasing and establishing new machines for industrial production. Growth in scientific management also came to be at this period. In 1920s, the government of the United States implemented management in science at a very large scale. It invested a lot of money into scientific research. Then, there was a sharp rise in productivity by workers. Earnings of workers swell making them to become regular consumers. There was also the psychology of consumption that had germinated in Americans. It is also referred to as conspicuous consumption; and the culture seemed to dominate the mindset of Americans at the aftermath period of the First World War. Examples of this culture included radio establishment, motion pictures, invention of electronic appliances and a revolution in automobile goods.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Consumerism Features specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The psychology that was inclined to consumption was more visible in the automobile industry. The last factor was the relationship that existed between the government and business. During this period, big businessmen in America enjoyed more than they did enjoy in progressivism. The federal government supported big businesses in an enormous way (Stearns, 2007). Consumerism in the Post World War 1 era After the period of the great depression of the 1930s, more countries began to focus more on Science and Technology. This was seen as a solution to the many problems that were taunting humanity then. There were a lot of innovations and inventions which led to an upsurge of ne w products in the market. Desire to test the newer products that were being produced became the order of the day. Consumption became more of a way of living with people consuming without even considering the dangers posed by some of the products. Concerns about the environment cropped up with people who cared about the environment advocating fro safer consumption patterns. Conservatism arose from these concerns. The conservatives were against the use of products which had detrimental effects to the consumers and the environment. An example is the debate that arose about the effects of using a chemical called dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane ââ¬â DDT that was used for making pest control chemicals (Stearns, 2010). At the second half of the twentieth century, there was a massive growth of the world population more so in Western European Nations. The growth in the world population can be attributed to the revolution in agriculture. The growth in population due to bettered lives from agricultural production encouraged people to settle and reproduce thus a swell in population that called for increased production of goods to meet the growing population therefore encouraging a culture of consumption (Caldwell, Caldwell, Caldwell, McDonald, Schindlmayr, 2006). Consumerism in the twentieth century Globalization is a strong factor that has promoted the culture of consumerism. In the countries are actively involved in the globalization process like Brazil and the Asian tigers for instance Singapore, South Korea and China, there has been an increase in consumption because of the rapid growth in industry. China has become the second consumer of crude oil in the world because of the high rate at which it is developing to match the pace of the developed world (Agarwal Dubey, 2003).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Massive production of goods and services has cultivated the culture to consume. As nations continue to compete, newer and more diverse goods and services continue to emerge. Therefore, all these are adding up to this culture of consumerism. Production of goods and services has grown to a surplus level. These goods have had to be dumped in the developing world. For instance, The African market has been flooded with Chinese electronic products (Stearns, 2007). Conclusion The modern world is characterized with the culture of consumerism. This culture began in the early years of civilization. However, consumerism gained momentum during the end of 18th century through the early period of the twentieth century. Consumerism has grown due to a number of reasons which include industrial revolution, population growth, and scientific and technological revolution. Though, with adverse effects to the environment, this culture is unlikely to be reversed. References Agarwal, S. K., Dubey, P. S. ( 2003). Environmental scenario for 21st century. NewDelhi: A.P.H. Pub. Corp. Caldwell, J. C., Caldwell, B. K., Caldwell, P., McDonald, P. F., Schindlmayr, T. (2006). Demographic Transition Theory. Berlin: Springer. Stearns, P. N. (2010). World history in brief: Major patterns of change and continuity. Boston: Longman. Stearns, P. N. (2007). World history in documents: A comparative reader. New York: New York University Press. This essay on The Consumerism Features was written and submitted by user Alex Henry to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Free Essays on Great Expectations Essay
One of the most prominent themes in Great Expectations was that a personââ¬â¢s worth lies in the goodness of his heart or the, content of his character, rather than in his wealth or social status. Dickens clearly makes this true throughout each of Pipââ¬â¢s expectations. In Pipââ¬â¢s first great expectation, Dickens makes it evident that the young ignorant Pip was truly happy and was a great person. During Pipââ¬â¢s second expectation, it is easily deduced that even when Pip had money he was still a kind and caring person. Lastly, in Pipââ¬â¢s third expectation, he encounters a truly humbling experience and learns that others too can be kind or cruel regardless of social status. Henry David Thoreau once said, ââ¬Å"Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul.â⬠This statement is very true in Great Expectations. In the beginning of the story, Pip was not wealthy. However, this young boy was happy (as well as naà ¯ve). He had a good heat and was caring. Being naà ¯ve was probably the source of his happiness and kindness though. Before Estella and wealth ââ¬Å"brainwashedâ⬠Pip, he was a happy, carefree boy. Afterwards, he was miserable and cruel to his real ââ¬Å"familyâ⬠, Biddy and Joe. An allusion corresponding to this instance would be ââ¬Å"Adam and Eveâ⬠. Before they partook of the fruit of knowledge, they were happy living in the Garden of Eden. After they lost their ignorance they became miserable and had to leave their paradise. Pip was truly happy and wealthy (in friends and family) before he had ever considered becoming a gentleman. Once Pip started to receive money and was considered wealthy, he was still a good person. However, Estellaââ¬â¢s influence and his want to ââ¬Å"fit-inâ⬠with the upper-class made him treat Joe and Biddy as Estella had treated him (like an incoherent moron who didnââ¬â¢t deserve respect). Pip was still sensitive though. He had remorse for how he treated Joe and often wanted to go visit him. Pip also was a very ... Free Essays on Great Expectations Essay Free Essays on Great Expectations Essay One of the most prominent themes in Great Expectations was that a personââ¬â¢s worth lies in the goodness of his heart or the, content of his character, rather than in his wealth or social status. Dickens clearly makes this true throughout each of Pipââ¬â¢s expectations. In Pipââ¬â¢s first great expectation, Dickens makes it evident that the young ignorant Pip was truly happy and was a great person. During Pipââ¬â¢s second expectation, it is easily deduced that even when Pip had money he was still a kind and caring person. Lastly, in Pipââ¬â¢s third expectation, he encounters a truly humbling experience and learns that others too can be kind or cruel regardless of social status. Henry David Thoreau once said, ââ¬Å"Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul.â⬠This statement is very true in Great Expectations. In the beginning of the story, Pip was not wealthy. However, this young boy was happy (as well as naà ¯ve). He had a good heat and was caring. Being naà ¯ve was probably the source of his happiness and kindness though. Before Estella and wealth ââ¬Å"brainwashedâ⬠Pip, he was a happy, carefree boy. Afterwards, he was miserable and cruel to his real ââ¬Å"familyâ⬠, Biddy and Joe. An allusion corresponding to this instance would be ââ¬Å"Adam and Eveâ⬠. Before they partook of the fruit of knowledge, they were happy living in the Garden of Eden. After they lost their ignorance they became miserable and had to leave their paradise. Pip was truly happy and wealthy (in friends and family) before he had ever considered becoming a gentleman. Once Pip started to receive money and was considered wealthy, he was still a good person. However, Estellaââ¬â¢s influence and his want to ââ¬Å"fit-inâ⬠with the upper-class made him treat Joe and Biddy as Estella had treated him (like an incoherent moron who didnââ¬â¢t deserve respect). Pip was still sensitive though. He had remorse for how he treated Joe and often wanted to go visit him. Pip also was a very ...
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Your Complete Guide to Acing Your Next Job Interview
Your Complete Guide to Acing Your Next Job Interview While the debate is still going on as to whether or not you need a cover letter, and the switch to electronic resumes is pretty much a done deal, thereââ¬â¢s one aspect of the job search process that remains pretty much unchanged- youââ¬â¢re going to have to interview. Itââ¬â¢s pretty much a given. Your prospective employer needs to see you in person to make sure you are sane, ready, willing, and able to take on all the tasks required by the open position. Itââ¬â¢s hard not knowing what to expect. Will your interviewer be chill and jokey? Stern and formal? Will you hit it off and not be able to stop talking, or will there be awkward silences where you donââ¬â¢t know what to say?Here, weââ¬â¢ve compiled our best advice about the interview process, so you know what to expect every step of the way.First, Do Your HomeworkIt should go without saying (but weââ¬â¢ll say it anyway, again and again)- you must research the company before your interview. Know the basics: co mpany size, various locations, its main products or services- basically, if it can be found online, you should know it already before you walk in the doors. Your next bit of pre-interview prep should be to come up with a list of questions youââ¬â¢ll ask your interviewer about the company and position. Thereââ¬â¢s almost 100% chance he or she will end the interview with, ââ¬Å"Any questions?â⬠You better be prepared with some, or it will look like you donââ¬â¢t care. Here are some tips to get you started.Ask These 10 Interview Questions to Impress Your Hiring ManagerThe Most Important Question You Need to Ask in an Interview5 Unique Questions to Ask in a Job InterviewPrepare for Specific Question TypesOf course you donââ¬â¢t know for certain what questions your interviewer has prepared,à we have been though and combed through thousands of interviews. Weââ¬â¢re familiar with the questions that come up again and again, and have insight into what hiring managers w ant to hear.First, the specifics. Thereââ¬â¢s no excuse for being unprepared when, letââ¬â¢s face it, hiring mangers can be pretty unoriginal. Thereââ¬â¢s a good chance one of the following questions will come up, so why not prep beforehand exactly what you want to say?How to Answer the ââ¬Å"What Motivates Youâ⬠Job Interview QuestionHow To Answer the Interview Question, ââ¬Å"Why Are You Looking For a New Job?â⬠How to Answer the Interview Question ââ¬Å"What Makes You Unique?â⬠How to Answer the ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s Your Biggest Weakness?â⬠Question in InterviewsHow to Answer the ââ¬Å"How Would You Fire Someone?â⬠Interview QuestionHow to Answer the Most-Asked Customer Service Interview QuestionNext, common interview question categories. Salary, behavioral, and situational interview questions also follow typical patterns. Check out the following to familiarize yourself with exactly what these questions entail and what interviewers want to hear .How to Answer the Salary Question in an InterviewHow to Answer Behavioral Interview QuestionsHow to Answer Situational Interview QuestionsWhat You Do Matters As Much As What You SaySo your questions are in hand, you know about the company, and youââ¬â¢re ready for the big day. But even if you have the most brilliant answers to all the questions lobbed your way, if you look like a mess and donââ¬â¢t master the art of professional body language, you wonââ¬â¢t come across and qualified as you could. Check out the following advice about how to match your physical self with the smarts and ability you possess.What to Do With Your Hands During a Job Interview7 Common Body Language Mistakes People Make During Interviews7 Worst Things to Wear to a Job Interview11 Body Language Mistakes Youââ¬â¢re Making in Your InterviewKnow the Bad So You Can Avoid It!You can study and study about what the best things are to say, but it also helps to know the worst, so you can avoid them. Maybe you donââ¬â¢t know what is and is not appropriate interview-speak. Maybe youââ¬â¢re used to an informal work environment and think that carries over to other workplaces. Maybe youââ¬â¢ve only seen interviews in movies and want to emulate some questionable habits. Before you do that, read the following so you donââ¬â¢t do or say something you regret.10 Personal Things Not to Say in an Interview10 Things You Should Not Say in an Interview7 Real Life Interview Mistakes That You Can Learn From5 Reasons You Just Had a Really Bad InterviewYour Guide to Unorthodox InterviewsItââ¬â¢s hard enough prepping for a one-on-one situation- what if youââ¬â¢re facing a group of interviewers, or being questioned at the same time as a bunch of other people vying for the job? What if youââ¬â¢re applying for out-of-state or out-of country gigs and Skype or the phone are your only options?How to Survive Your Upcoming Panel InterviewHow to Survive Your Group InterviewHow to Prepare fo r a Remote Job InterviewKnow When Youà Donââ¬â¢t Have to AnswerSure you want to aim to please during the interview- youââ¬â¢ll say what it takes to get the job, right? Not necessarily. There are some red flags you should be aware of before you start your interview; some are even illegal. No matter how badly you want your interviewee to like you, or how much you want the job, be on the lookout for illegal or unethical questions, and know what to say if they do come up.11 Unethical Interview Questions You Donââ¬â¢t Need to AnswerHow to Combat Illegal Interview QuestionsAfter Your InterviewSo, you did it. You researched, knew exactly what to say, had a polished outfit, elegant body language, and smart questions to ask. Whatââ¬â¢s next? Maybe theyââ¬â¢ll call the next day with an proposal for a second interview- whoo hoo! Maybe youââ¬â¢ll hearâ⬠¦ nothing. Who knew silence could be so deafening? Or maybe youââ¬â¢ll get a polite but firm ââ¬Å"no,â⬠which, after all that work, is a colossal bummer. Read on for tips on what to do in these situations.Your Guide to a Successful Second InterviewHow to Handle Post Interview Silence5 Ways to Handle Rejection Like a ProInterviewing is a game. And once you know how to play it, it almost can become second nature. Know the tricks of the trade, work hard, and go into every interview with passion and grit. We promise, youââ¬â¢re sure to find success soon!
Friday, February 14, 2020
Case study 3 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
3 - Case Study Example However, the private firm failed to deliver what the state expected in a number of ways. For example, the handling of clientââ¬â¢s applications was inefficient both in answering the clientââ¬â¢s calls and maintaining of clients documents. The contracted firms hired incompetent workers who failed to perform according to stateââ¬â¢s expectations. ACS focused on making money hence their service was poor and uncoordinated. American civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenged the performance of FSSA for misplacing the documents of the patients hence leading to denial of essential services to the applicants. Critics blamed the inefficiency of the private firms as caused by waiver of caseworkers that was present in the state (Alb?k, Eliason & Herman 17). Before privatization, each household had a caseworker who confirmed the qualification of individuals before making an application and also ensured that the applications were submitted in the right procedure. Question 1 Privatization wa s implemented as a cost saving strategy. For example, Governor Mitch Daniels stated that by privatizing the welfare and food programs would enable the state to save up to one billion dollars in a decade (Ricky 619). The state signed a 1.3 billion dollar contract with the private firm. However, one and a half years later the both IBM and Affiliated Computer Services (subcontracted) by to deal with calls of the clients failed to achieve the mission. To improve performance of welfare and food programs delivery. The intention of the state was to delegate functions of welfare and food delivery to private firms because this would reduce the processes of handling applications and attending to the needs of the people (Chu et al.19) This would ensure smooth operations because private firms have appropriate facilities and specialized staff to handle the needs of the people effectively. Question 2 The new system was intended to improve communication between the clients and the service provider s. ACS was hired to manage telephone calls from the clients (Bursi & David 164). This was meant to increase speed of gathering, processing, and storing clientsââ¬â¢ data with greater efficiency. Therefore, the new system was meant to
Saturday, February 1, 2020
The Scramble for Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
The Scramble for Africa - Essay Example 5). The impact of globalization on Africa has illustrated its dangers. Just as capitalism needed to be regulated in the United States and other market economies in the industrial age to protect people from the abuse of companies in the name of profit, a worldwide effort arguably needs to be made to protect the most vulnerable people in the world from corporate abuse when their own governments will not do so. According to Simon Taylor, director of Global Witness, a globalization watchdog, G8 countries need to take the lead in preventing this kind of abuse, as their companies are the most likely to be benefiting from it. He asserts, "Western companies and banks have colluded in stripping Africa's resources. We need to track revenues from oil, mining and logging into national budgets to make sure that the money isn't siphoned off by corrupt officials" (par. 4). The potential for Africa to produce huge profits for foreign investors is undeniable. The continent is shaping up to be the highest potential investment area in the world. "Sub-Saharan Africa may be the poorest region in the world but it is also its most profitable investment destination. According to the World Bank's 2003 global development finance report, the continent offers 'the highest returns on foreign direct investment of any region in the world'" (Wright 2005, par. 7). It is only a matter of time before this fact will influence the behavior of foreign companies. "At the moment only around 1% of the private capital that is sloshing around the globe finds its way into sub-Saharan Africa. But there is an increasing band of intrepid international companies that are initiating a new scramble for Africa. Like the colonial pioneers before them, they have found that the strategy can be risky but the potential rewards are enormous" (par. 8). The African continent's wealth of oil and diamonds is the primary target of this latest "scramble." Oil in particular has led developed nations to eye Africa, particularly given the recent escalation of prices. "Spurred by rising global oil prices and depleting reservoirs nearer home, the world's biggest energy-consuming countries have re-discovered Africa. Oil production across that least-developed continent is set to double by the end of the decade, with the US alone importing more than a quarter of its requirements from there. Africa is expected to supply one-fifth of global output by 2010" ("Oil exploration" 2005, par. 2). Competition for this African resource is fierce, and threatens to inflict serious injury on local populations. "As the world's oil becomes depleted, the energy-intensive developed countries face each other in mounting competition for the remaining resources. This trend could have major economic, political, social and environmental implications for regions such as Africa" (par. 1). Unfettered by the kind of government regulation constraining huge multinational oil companies in developed countries, there is a grave risk that they could fail to implement environmental and other safeguards, thereby risking the health and safety of the local populations. Further, an environmental disaster such as an oil spill or refinery explosion could have tremendous economic
Friday, January 24, 2020
Y2K Bug :: essays research papers
THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAND BUG à à à à à Is the world going to end at the year, two-thousand because of the Y2K computer virus? Absolutely not. The Y2K bug might cause a little bit of disorder with our digital-life when the clock strikes twelve because we might not have any stock market, electricity, or savings in the bank. à à à à à In every mainframe and super-computer, that most every large business owns, there is a little glitch when it tries to compute the year two-thousand. It simply is unable to do so because it has a two digit year entry. The computer is unable to set the first two numbers in the date because in computer does not need to because the computer code in the software says it is always the twentieth century or 19--. If it is not corrected by the time the year two-thousand rolls around, the computer will read: 01/01/1900. à à à à à So, what does all this mean to me? Well, when the monthly heating bill comes, the computer will think the heat was on for ninety-nine years because it cycles back to 1900. Let me put this way, if the normal bill is $75 for December, then it will be $89,175! The same goes for the electric bill and telephone but only if the phone is being used between 1999 and 2000. In my personal opinion, the Y2K bug will not have any effect because everything will be fixed up and ready to run properly by the deadline. Maybe Iââ¬â¢m just a little to dependent and taking these enterprises for granted. à à à à à On the other hand, there are numerous companies making a huge profit on this potential crisis. Software tycoons are making fortunes for selling software that makes peopleââ¬â¢s personal computers Y2K equipped. The thing is, that PCââ¬â¢s do not use dates as often and are not nearly as important to them as large to corporations because I have already stated in paragraph two and three. An even worse fact, is that most PCââ¬â¢s are already Y2K compliant so the software is totally non-essential for it to adjust! PCââ¬â¢s just need a few ââ¬Å"tweaksâ⬠in the settings to make them ready.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Aurora Shooting Response Paper
The article published in the New York Times July 22, 2012 by Jack Healy entitled ââ¬Å"Suspect Bought Large Stockpile of Rounds onlineâ⬠, addresses an absence of laws regulating the sale of ammunition. Jack Healy is a rocky mountain correspondent for the New York Times, and has reported on the war in Iraq from Baghdad. Healy's article elicits good emotional engagement with the reader, but it is fundamentally lacking sound logical arguments and ethical credibility. Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes purchased a 6,000 rounds of ammunition prior to the shooting in Aurora Colorado. Holmes purchased bulletà ¬Ã ¬proof vests and a high capacity 100 round drum magazine. Holmes was a college graduate with a clean criminal background. Holmes was legally able to purchase firearms and ammunition in Colorado and nationwide. States such as Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and several cities have laws regarding the sales of ammunition. These laws include licensing, permits and requiring gun stores to keep records of ammunition purchased. According to Healy, Holmes used a black commando style outfit as well as other tactical gear during shooting. Police apprehended him outside the theater still wearing the bulletproof vest, and carrying four handguns. Healy argued how Gun-control groups said the purchases of the ammunition demonstrated how easily anyone could build a veritable arsenal without attracting attention from law-enforcement officials. Healy quotes Tom Mauser, a gun-control advocate, to exemplify this point, ââ¬Å"itââ¬â¢s a wide open marketplaceâ⬠Healy states that ammunition and arms websites are prolific online, and buyers can purchase almost anything firearm related including ammunition. Healy quotes Gov. John W. Hickenlooper of Colorado, a Democrat, ââ¬Å"that the killer might have built a bomb or found some other lethal device if no assault weapons had been around. Healy concludes the article with a quote from Dudley Brown, the executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners saying ââ¬Å"I call 6,000 round of ammunition running low. â⬠I think that the article by Jack Healy was reasonably well written, and it was emotionally engaging for the reader. The logos of the article is fundamentally flawed due to the lack of logically sound and accurate conclusions. Finally the article loses itsââ¬â¢ ethical integrity when the authors bias becomes apparent to the reader. Healy's article contains bias for the regulation of ammunition sales, as well as confusing terminology. The article contains contradictory and inaccurate facts, and quotes selected for emotional impact rather than relevance and purpose. First I will address some of the logical contradictions in the article. Healy said ââ¬Å"Unhindered by federal background checks or government oversight, the 24-year-old manâ⬠¦ was able to build â⬠¦ a 6,000-round arsenal legally and easily over the Internet, exploiting what critics call a virtual absence of any laws regulating ammunition salesâ⬠In this quote Healy leads the reader to believe that there are no laws, and no regulation regarding ammunition sales. Later in the article Healy admits there are laws restricting ammunition sales in Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey as well as cities like Los Angeles and Sacramento. Healy contradicts his earlier point by highlighting the states that do have laws regarding the sales of ammunition. This contradiction leaves the reader not knowing which conclusion is valid. The second flaw in the articles logic is the argument that the sale of ammunition is unregulated, and without government oversight. This main theme that is present throughout the article is technically inaccurate. According to smartgunlaws. org, a nonprofit gun law education website, thirty-two states have laws regulating unreasonably dangerous ammunition, this is over half of the states. Sixteen states have laws regarding age restrictions and the purchase of ammunition. According to Smartgunslaws. org the majority of states have laws concerning ammunition purchases, laws concerning purchase of dangerous ammunition, (such as armor piercing), laws concerning minimum age of purchase, or laws concerning the ability of convicted felons to purchase ammunition. One of the other major flaws of this article is Healy's illogical use of quotes. Here is one of instances where Healy uses a quote and does not acknowledge or clarify the quote: ââ¬Å"It is a war tool,â⬠Representative Carolyn McCarthy, Democrat of New York, said of the 100-round drum that the police say Mr. Holmes purchased online. ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re meant to kill. Theyââ¬â¢re meant to kill as many people in as short a period of time. â⬠Ms. McCarthyââ¬â¢s husband was among six people killed in 1993 by a gunman on a commuter train Before this quote Healy was talking about a failed 1999 gun control bill. After the quote Healy continued to talk about the legislation. Healy stated both republicans and democrats had doubts about the effectiveness of the proposed legislation. The technical execution of the quote interrupted the flow of the paragraph. The quote did not fit in the paragraph in a logical manor. Healyââ¬â¢s quote was deliberately spliced into the article to provide sensationalism needed to make it newsworthy. Healy used the quote to provide a more interesting article, and to appeal to the emotion of the reader. The ethical appeal of the article is compromised by Healy predominately presenting evidence supporting increased gun and ammunition regulation. The article is twenty-seven paragraphs long; twentyà ¬Ã ¬-five of them are either neutral or support increased regulation of guns and ammunition. Two of the paragraphs expressed opinions opposing an increase in gun and ammunition regulation. By not equally addressing both sides of the issue equally, Healy loses credibility with readers who oppose increasing the regulation of guns and ammunition. Healy does acknowledge the opinion of gun groups with a vague quote, ââ¬Å"To gun groups, such an unfettered marketplace stands as a bulwark of their Second Amendment rightsâ⬠This is the only place in the article that Healy acknowledges this viewpoint. This quote is not substantial enough to gain the ethical appeal lost earlier in the article. One of the positive attributes of Healyââ¬â¢s article is his emotional appeal to the reader. Healy uses graphic quotes and vivid imagery to provoke emotional response, and connection to the reader. Healy takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster throughout the article encompassing all types of emotions. Consider the following quote by Healy: Three weeks after the purchase, stunned and bleeding witnesses outside the century 16 multiplex in aurora would describe how a man dressed in a black commando-style outfit and a gas mask strode into the where they were watching a midnight screening of ââ¬Å"The Dark Knight rises,â⬠tossed some gas-spewing grenades into the packed auditorium and opened fire. In this sentence by Healy uses extremely graphic imagery to create an appeal to pathos in the article. Sentences like the one above are mixed in throughout the article along with facts about ammunition laws, and quotes. Healy uses emotion to keep the audience reading, throughout the article. Healyââ¬â¢s appeal to pathos is strong and well-constructed throughout the article.
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