Blog Post #11: What I Learned, EOTO Presentation

After watching and engaging with all of my peer's presentations, I gained knowledge on various unique topics. I even learned more about my own topics, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and Media Consolidation. A few of the topics my peers discussed that stood out to me were cancel culture, confirmation bias, and the illusory truth effect. These topics stood out to me for two specific reasons: the uniqueness they provide and how they have evolved and changed our society.

The first topic I am going to be discussing is cancel culture. Cancel culture can be defined as a group of people whose goal is to remove a specific individual, organization, or platform's power. It is when a group of people come together to reject or stop supporting someone due to an offensive slur, act, or behavior toward another individual. An example would be if someone were to tweet something online that was typically seen as controversial to the moral or social norms of the society. A group of people online would then enter the platform and "cancel" that person or attack them to make them aware that what they are saying may be wrong or offensive to some people. The goal of this act is ultimately to hold people accountable for their actions. It is a way for people to voice their opinions while also protecting certain groups or classes of people.

An example of cancel culture in the real world would be when the Swedish YouTube star Felix Kjellberg was canceled for using the N-word in one of his videos in January 2017. Not only was he attracted by viewers on YouTube, but he also lost thousands of viewers, and Disney even announced that they were going to cut ties with him even though, at the time, he was the world's highest-paying YouTuber. Not long after, he was dropped from the Google Preferred advertising program, and his YouTube Red series was canceled. Although he later posted an apology for using the racial slur, the damage was done, he was canceled from all platforms, and his reputation has been affected ever since.

The next topic that piqued my interest was confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is defined as the tendency to make a decision unintentionally based on our previous existing notions, beliefs, knowledge, stereotypes, etc. Even though you may perceive this as a positive thing at first glance, it can eventually lead to poor decisions due to the possibility of one distorted reality. I learned that typically, we as humans are bombarded with new information every day making it very difficult to differentiate the difference between true and false information, then making one's confirmation bias skewed.

The last topic and the main topic that stood out to me during my peer's presentations was when the Illusory Truth Effect was discussed. This is the theory or tendency for someone to believe something is true after constantly being exposed to it; the more times that individual hears the same statement, as long as it's plausible, the truer it may seem. This effect is amazing to me because not only does it affect every single person, but also it can persuade the smartest people to believe false information without even questioning it.

In the presentation, the quote "repetition makes a lie sound so true" stood out to me for various reasons. One main reason it stood out to me was because of how true it is. Many of these can connect the Illusory Truth Effect to social media. Thousands of blogs, tweets, campaigns, and news media are shared daily; however, within those thousands of posts or news sources, you will also find fake news. Due to the Illusory Truth Effect, even if you see those posts and know they are not true, if you continue to view them for an extended period of time, eventually, you will start to believe them. Many companies and political figures share inaccurate information over and over again, convincing their viewers of inaccurate information.

For example, maybe you work at an events company and love your manager; however, after a few weeks on the job, you start hearing your coworkers complaining about how terrible she is and all their bad experiences with her. The following week, you then find yourself hating on and participating in the gossip about your manager, even though nothing directly has happened to you; once you start hearing these negative stories from other people, you begin twisting your own experiences, deciding she is a bad manager. 

In conclusion, I am astonished at how often and how easy it is to use the Illusory Truth Effect. Looking back on my life, I realize that not only is this happening on social media and in politics, but it also happens in schools, with friends, and even with family. Whether that is believing false information or buying something you really don't need, the illusory truth effect is all around us every single day. It is our responsibility as a society to make sure we educate ourselves and do our own research when learning or providing information, because as everyone always says, never believe the internet and never believe a rumor because 98% of the time, that's all it is, a rumor.

Blog Post #10: Living in the age of AI

Recently, it has been a major topic of debate on whether technology is good or bad. Some may argue that technology has improved their lives, making learning, communicating, and keeping up with the news more accessible. Others may argue that technology harms one's health or has taken away people's right to privacy. Both arguments are correct; however, many people are unaware of the gory details of what artificial intelligence really is.

Before I begin, what is artificial intelligence? Artificial intelligence is the ability of a machine to demonstrate intelligence that could be considered comparable to humans. In other words, it's an attempt for computer scientists to create machines that can think and act like humans. Some common examples of AI machinery are personal assistants, Siri, Alexia, robots, and self-driving cars.

From checking your phone when you wake up, to texting and checking social media throughout the day, to turning on a movie before bed, artificial intelligence has wiggled its way into being a part of each one of our everyday lives. Technology has undoubtedly made many of our lives easier and even saved lives. There have been features of AI that have and continue to help our society. For example, it is estimated that self-driving cars have the potential to decrease fatalities by about 90%. It can also do tasks that may be too dangerous or tedious for humans to perform. It has also reduced possible risk, injuries, or deaths in the workplace, increased efficiency, and productivity, helped doctors with medicine and finding diseases, and even assisted hospitals in getting their patients healthier faster.

Although the pros of artificial intelligence seem undoubtfully positive, there are even more intense negatives. Technology has undoubtedly made many of our lives safer, easier, and more efficient, but it has also harmed us in ways many of us are entirely oblivious to. In 2015, there was a controversy about people's invasion of privacy regarding Google; it was stated, "You'd be horrified if you knew how much we knew about you." As the "Age of AI" video states, "you may have thought you were searching Google, but Google was searching you." Hearing this statement from a professional and someone with first-hand experience is very unsettling. No matter what we do or how private we think we are being, we are being watched, every move, every step, every breath.

Not only has privacy been taken away in the states, but it has also begun to be taken away worldwide. In Japan, it is estimated that over 600 million cameras will be deployed by 2020 in the hopes of discouraging simple acts such as jaywalking, but even more daunting, as a reminder of who is really in charge and that they are always watching.

Not only has artificial intelligence also begun taking over thousands of human jobs, but it has raised the question of whether artificial intelligence or human workers is not only more efficient but more dependable. The impact of AI in the workplace, fast food restaurants, stores, factories, finance departments, law firms, and human resources has not only resulted in the loss of jobs worldwide, but it has also neglected how members of our society make money to support themselves and their families. Artificial intelligence has even separated the natural classes of our society even more. The rich have become more prosperous, and the poor have become poorer.

Technological surveillance has begun to pop up in places many wouldn't have imagined. Devices such as our camera doorbell or the Alexia sitting in our kitchen can spy on us daily and slowly gather information about who we are and our daily lives. These devices are powered by spoken interactions, and with each interaction, the device is learning how to recognize who you are and what you are like based on what you ask. They can ask you a simple question, and they will intensely listen to your response, listen to how you say it, and gain information. 

Identity theft also has never been easier for a hacker, thanks to the help of technology. These hackers can now access various people's accounts and almost every detail of information about them with just a few clicks on the internet. There have even been instances where hackers can watch their victims through things such as a baby monitor or the ring doorbell; that's terrifying! Overall, artificial intelligence has made it extremely hard for us to keep our information private and even for most of us to feel safe.

In conclusion, when it comes to artificial intelligence, there are many pros and cons to this growing technological advancement; however, we need to be careful. Although many of us enjoy using things such as our smartphones, Google, and Alexia, it is essential to use these types of devices sparingly. AI is just as smart, if not more intelligent, than most of us, and with it continuing to grow, it can take over the world. As silly as that may sound, it is unsettling how close we are to that being our reality. So next time you go to pick up your phone right when you wake up, ask yourself, how important is my privacy?

Blog Post #9: Sherman Anti-Trust Act & Media Consolidation

In 1890, the first Federal act that outlawed monopolistic business practices was established, known as the Sherman Antitrust Act. Before this act was implemented, there were only a few companies in each industry which caused them to dominate their industries. By putting the Sherman Antitrust Act into place, the government finally had a way to control the economy and avoid eliminating competition, which would eventually harm both American consumers and the American economy.

President Benjamin Harris was the president that signed this bill into law on July 2nd, 1890, with the goal of the Sherman Antitrust Act to protect consumers' rights, control the economy, and eliminate monopolistic business practices. Additionally, its purpose was to restore competition and end possible trade and commerce with unlawful restraints and monopolies. Before Benjamin Harris put this act into place, although monopolies were legal, they were highly frowned upon. This allowed both good and bad monopolies to be created. You might be thinking that no matter the law or the situation, there will be some good and some bad, but the continuous creation of monopolies was crushing our economy.

This act was not only able to save our economy from going under, but overall, it prevented other industries from obtaining too much power in one place. Although this was a great idea, the Sherman Antitrust Act was less efficient than most would have liked. The vagueness and the lack of specificity in this document regarding words such as "trust," "combination," "conspiracy," and "monopoly" made it very easy for many companies to find easy and legal loopholes to create their monopolies.

Code #1 in the Sherman Antitrust Act:

"Every contract combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared illegal."

Code #2 in the Sherman Antitrust Act:

"Prohibits monopolization or attempts at monopolizing any aspect of interstate trade or commerce and makes the act a felony."

Five years later, in 1895, the Supreme Court dismantled the Sherman Antitrust Act in the United States V. E.C. Knight Company case due to the lack of success. Then, even later, in 1914, since many people still agreed the Sherman Antitrust Act was essential, they decided to try again and create a modified version. This was known as the Clayton Antitrust Act. This act specifically "defined it as illegal for certain business practices that were conducive to the formation of monopolies or that result from them." It also addressed specific topics that the Sherman Antitrust Act did not ban and closed possible loopholes.

Like most other laws, the Sherman Antitrust Act has pros and cons. Some of the pros of this act were it allowed its consumers or citizens to feel as if they were protected in the economy. This is because before this act was passed in 1890, many consumers struggled with unfair pricing, unsafe work environments, and a lack of available jobs. The antitrust act supporters believed this law was necessary because to have a thriving open marketplace, you need protection from the Sherman Antitrust Act and protection against monopolies. Many even believe you must have healthy competition to have a healthy economy. This is because it gives the possible consumers the option for lower priced products, higher priced and higher quality services, a wide variety of selections, and the opportunity for higher levels of innovation,

On the contrary, some believe that the opportunity for competition within businesses allows the consumer to get the best deal or price rather than regulating the competition. Some critics also pointed out, like I stated before, its lack of specificity with certain words made it unclear on both the goal and the purpose of the act. Another adverse effect that came about because of the clause was narrow judicial interpretations regarding what could be considered trade or commerce within the states.

There are also possible penalties for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. Although these cases would be considered civil cases, the Department of Justice would prosecute people who violated this act. Things. For example, anyone who monopolizes tries to monopolize, or even conspires with another person can be found guilty of a felony. This felony will consist of a fine between 1 million dollars and 100 million dollars or the possibility of being imprisoned for up to 10 years.

Media consolidation is not only linked to the Sherman Antitrust Act, but it is also related to it. Media consolidation, simply defined, is the concentration of ownership of our news sources into the hands of fewer corporations. The goal of the common cause is to help stop the spread of media monopolization by pressing for possible innovative reforms. The goal of these would be to put the people first and second to help ensure more diverse voices and perspectives in our society.

Media consolidation continues to happen frantically fast, causing a horrific impact on our local news sources. The purpose of the media is not only to keep its citizens informed but also to show its citizens essential issues going on around the world, such as healthcare, economic justice, immigration, and politics. This is why it is essential to have a diverse array of opinions and voices in our news and our everyday conversations. This becomes more difficult when our traditional media and social media platforms are owned by fewer, if not the same, corporations.

This narrowed the possible perspective and restricted the variety of journalism our democracy depends on. As this continues in our society today, places such as local newsrooms are shielded, and thousands of journalists get fired. Additionally, investigative reporting diminishes, and millions of Americans begin getting left out of the democratic process.

Blog Post #8: Diffusion of Innovations

New innovations are made every day, whether it is something as big as Netflix or the Internet or something as simple as Bluetooth or headphones, innovation is around us every day. Diffusion of innovation can be defined as a theory that follows a pattern and spreads new ideas, practices, or products spread through a population. The diffusion of Innovation theory was created by a man named E.M Rogers in 1962 and is known for being one of the oldest social science theories ever created. When creating an innovation, there are five different stages to focus on that are used to appeal to the different adopter categories. These are innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggers.

To explain this theory, I will use one of the older inventions, but one still highly prominent in our lives today, the telephone. The telephone was created back in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell; little did he know that it would open a whole new door to communication and change the way people act today. Before Alexander invented the telephone, many people used postal service, carrier pigeons, newspapers, and telegraphs to communicate with one another and learn new information going on in the world. Although Alexander was not the first to come up with the idea of communicating with one another via electronic devices, he was the first to truly perfect it.

The invention of the telephone was one of the fastest-spreading inventions ever due to it allowing for much faster, more efficient, and more reliable communication among citizens. Once it was perfected, it became the dominant form of mass communication. Before the telephone was invented, people would wait around for not only hours but days to get a response or learn even to learn about what was going on in the world. Telephones also made it easier for businesses to communicate with one another, significantly cutting down the time it took to send each other messages. Along with this, it allowed businesses to expand their reach and even the possibility of becoming international.

The telephone was not only more efficient, but it was significantly cheaper. With the telegraph, it was unnecessarily expensive to send such a short message to someone far or near, hoping they would receive the message sometime in the next two to four weeks. Although the telephone may have been expensive to purchase, it was much cheaper in the long run due to the consumer being allowed to talk as much, and for however long they wanted at no additional cost.

Although many were early adopters of the telephone, many were hesitant initially; I mean, who would blame them? Before the telephone, there was nothing remotely similar to this. There was even a huge debate shortly after the telephone was released on whether this type of technology could have physical and mental harmful health effects; this debate is still a hot topic for smartphones in today's era. Due to this, there were many late adopters and even, although very rare, some non-adopters.

This year in 2023, it was recorded that about 7.33 Billion smartphone users, also meaning 90.04% of the world's population, own a smartphone or some type of feature phone. Although this number is enormous, about 10% of the population still does not own or use any type of smartphone for feature phones, which means, although rare, there are some non-adopters. Whether this small 10% is concerned with the possible health issues I discussed earlier or they are concerned about their privacy, the possible adverse effects of owning this device clearly outweigh the positive.

Although the telephone has many positive impacts, there are definitely some negative consequences that come along with the telephone. This includes things such as since it is so easy to contact anyone at any desired moment, nowadays, it can cause distracted driving and sometimes even car accidents. It has now been found that telephones now have the possibility of causing stress, anxiety, depression, and even a lack of face-to-face communication. The telephone can cause issues or disrupt learning environments and cause a lack of focus or drive when it comes to your job or school work.

Although there are many possible consequences and even some people who believe you should not use a telephone at all due to the side effects, I believe the telephone changed our world mainly for the better. It created jobs, allowed people to stay in contact with loved ones, and facilitated communication worldwide. Without the telephone, things would be different, and I don't mean different in a good way.

Blog Post #7: EOT Reflection on Netflix

Most, if not all of us, already knew what Netflix was, it has been a part of our everyday lives for as long as most of us can remember, but it had to start somewhere. Netflix was founded back in 1997 by two men named Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. Many of us know Netflix as a way to watch television shows and movies on our TVs, but that's not how it started.

Netflix began when Reed and Marc were curious if there was a way to rent a DVD by mail instead of physically going to a store such as Blockbuster to avoid potential issues such as not having the movie you want, late fees, etc. Marc and Reed had recently had a poor encounter at one of these movie stores with a late rental fee for a movie they were renting. They both ended up getting very frustrated and wanted to figure out if there was a way that they could mail themselves a DVD instead of dealing with the hassle of going to a movie store. They ended up testing it and sent themselves their first DVD, it arrived in perfect condition and timing, and this affirmed them to continue rolling with their idea called Netflix.

Then, in 1998, Reed and Marc launched a website called Netflix.com. This was where customers could order DVDs online and have them shipped directly to their front door. They could keep the DVD for as long as they wanted and re-watch it as often as desired, with no rush to bring it back before a late fee was initiated. The pair even created an option for a subscription to the Netflix service, where you would have one monthly fee with unlimited access to rental movies.

In later years, Netflix became even more advanced with a streaming option so subscribers could stream movies and TV shows from their couches instead of ordering a DVD. From there, it slowly evolved into what many of us know it as today; it even started becoming a worldwide platform, found in not only the United States but also Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and over 130 other countries.

I not only learned how Netflix came about but also about some of the positive and negative impacts it currently has on our society. Some of the positive effects it has brought about are that it has made it easier for people to find and watch whatever they want, whenever they want. Thanks to the new algorithms, Netflix provides a section called "based on what you've watched" to help viewers find shows or movies they might enjoy. This recommendation section has even started becoming the main section that viewers choose from, meaning that Netflix does an excellent job at creating an algorithm that will intrigue their interest and marketing their new media.

With the positive comes the negative. Although Netflix has provided nothing but convenience to its consumers, one of the significant drawbacks of Netflix is that it started causing other movie companies, such as Blockbuster, to go out of business. Due to Netflix becoming so popular each coming year, many other companies have either started going out of business or losing money because many of their consumers started transferring to Netflix due to its convenience. People even started getting rid of their cable subscriptions due to Netflix providing so much more.

As many of us probably already know, Netflix has begun to take over the entertainment industry providing easy access to our favorite moves and television shows whenever we desire. However, although Netflix has many positives, we as consumers need to be aware of the possible negatives that come along with it; just like I stated before, with positive change comes adverse effects.

Blog Post #6: Anti-War

 

Anti-war has always been a topic of controversy in America, whether that is because the government is suppressing citizens' voices or because they are censoring what we are allowed to do and how we are allowed to act, it is typically very hard to find opinions that don't agree with the United States governments point of view.

Our country was supposedly built around the first amendment, but if that's the case, why, for example, have I never heard of the websites Antiwar.com or Theamericanconservative.com. Maybe because these articles share opposing ideas from those shared on mainstream news outlets. 

It is very apparent that if our government doesn't want us as citizens to know something, even though it is our right, it will somehow be disregarded; that is why many of us never hear about anti-war because our government does want us to. A prime example is, after exploring deeper into the websites Theamericanconservative.com and Antiwar.com, I learned about things such as a Rage Against the War Machine Rally in Washington DC that happened THIS MONTH, the same Rage Against War Machine Rally but in San Francisco, and I even learned about where our military aid comes from and how much it is costing us.

Topics like these are hidden from the eye of Americans because it can be very unsettling to hear that the U.S. government approved expenditures of $113 billion on aid to Ukraine. This means that, since there are about 131 million households in America, the average household just throws away $861 every year just for this to be possible; that's CRAZY!

Thanks to the First Amendment, the government cannot take down or prevent websites such as Antiwar.com and Theamericanconservative.com from publishing due to prior restraint; however, they have found many ways to suppress the information, so it is not a hot topic of discussion. Although we do not know precisely how the government keeps this information from us without stopping it from being published, we do know why. I believe that the government does this because groups or topics that oppose the government have the ability to not only weaken the government's power worldwide but it also has the ability to turn essential allies against them. The government wants to be the powerhouse worldwide, so it will avoid anything that could weaken its reputation, such as anti-war articles. Since they cannot stop us citizens from speaking our minds, they only have the ability to suppress the information from being heard. That is why if you are interested in learning about these topics, it is essential to do your own research and find your way to make yourself heard because although it may be difficult, it is possible.

Blog Post #5: Facebook

On February 4th, 2004, a sophomore at Harvard, Mark Zuckerberg, launched a new social media platform called Facebook with the help of his three roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. It was initially built as a way to connect Harvard students with one another. Mark event named it after the directories handed out to the students that helped them get to know one another. However, over the years, it has become a worldwide platform. 

Over thousands of students registered for Facebook within the first 24 hours of it being live, and by the end of the year, they had about one million users, with a man by the name of Peter Thiel investing $500,000 into the platform. About 71% of 18-24-year-olds stated that the internet is their primary news source, which caused this platform to spread rapidly. The idea behind Facebook was for the people who joined to be very transparent about who they were. This was because the company, Facebook, argued that transparency is necessary when forming personal and professional ideas when gathering or sharing information and building society as a whole.

Before Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook the previous year, Mark and his three roommates had become famous around campus for another social media platform similar to Facebook. This was called FaceMash. FaceMach was a website whose goal was to connect students around Harvard's campus together, just like Facebook; however, the actual platform had a very different appeal.

This was a website where Harvard students could judge the attractiveness and vote on which of two randomly selected Harvard women were more attractive. There were different people every week, and the women were randomly selected. This website, although very popular among most, Mark Zuckerberg violated university policies, and the platform was shut down two days after it was launched by the Harvard board.

Despite the shutdown of FaceMash, Mark gathered 450 followers, and there were over 22,000 votes in those two days of the website being up. This gave Mark a baseline when he launched his following product, Facebook. Initially, Harvard students who signed up for Facebook used it as a platform to post information about their personal and professional lives. Things such as their class schedules, different clubs they joined, and what party they were going to on Saturday night.

As Facebook grew in popularity, students from other nearby prestigious schools, such as Yale and Stanford, began signing up for Facebook. As of June 2004, more than 250,000 students from a variety of 34 schools have already signed up to join Facebook; the credit card company MasterCard even started paying for exposure on the site.

Facebook began having a worldwide impact, spreading around the globe in 2009 and becoming the most used social networking platform ever. It allowed people across the nation to express their beliefs and opinions openly and with people they didn't know. It is even statically stated that about 56% of internet users aged 65 and older have a Facebook, and 39% of those using it have never actually met their followers.

Facebook became a place to not only launch your business but also somewhere to check on your loved ones. Mark states, "Most importantly, it has made the world smaller, connecting people with friends and family in ways that weren't possible before." It has even created millions of jobs, including media, marketing, sales, and technology. 

Facebook has become a minefield for brands...

Instead of the customer complaining to the customer service representatives, the angry customers have begun posting their complaints online for thousands of their "friends" to see.

This platform even started being a prominent source in election campaigns by importing consultants. The first actual social media election that Facebook took part in was in 2008 with Barack Obama's victory. Much of social media, such as Facebook, was used to keep people updated on what was happening, share their own opinions, and even ask questions.

A few positive outcomes of Facebook and its success was that Mark signed a pledge in 2010 stating that he would donate a least half of his wealth to charity; so far, he has also donated about $25 million towards fighting Ebola. He also announced that he would contribute 99% of the Facebook shares to Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to help improves lives. Overall, Facebook became the gateway to the rest of the internet.

Although Facebook has plenty of highs, there have also been lots of adverse effects found because of this platform. Facebook is very controversial. Not only does it allow misinformation and fake accounts to be created, but it also has been known for selling its users' data. This means they are failing to protect their users, which also means they are failing to do their job to the best of their abilities. Although Facebook was initially made for good, now some people use it to commit human rights cruelty by mobs engaged in violence worldwide. It has also given bullies, racists, and liars an easy platform to bully their target.

Facebook is a very controversial topic; it has created a lot of good, but with good comes bad and with bad comes unhappy customers. Overall, Facebook was the mini launch into creating our world into what it is today. Although many of you might hate Facebook, without it, we wouldn't be able to learn and evolve to where we are today with other social media platforms.

Blog Post #4: Eight Values of Free Expression

The Eight Values of Free Expression have played a significant role in shaping our society, without things such as promoting tolerance, stable change, a marketplace of ideas, individual self-fulfillment, participation in self-government, check on government and power, promoting innovation, and protecting dissent us as citizens would not be able to live the lives we are used to. The first amendment states,

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

This guarantees Americans freedom FROM religion, freedom OF religion, freedom of speech, press, assembly, and petition. Not only is the first Amendment essential in keeping a fair and equal society, but it is also vital in our current era due to economic growth and the new social media platforms taking over our everyday lives. The opportunity to have freedom of expression allows citizens to be free of censorship from the government, along with allowing the people to be whomever they desire. To express their thoughts, ideas, and beliefs and form their own opinions about politics or government issues on various platforms such as social media, the internet, newspapers, and magazines. 

Although all eight values of free expression are essential in creating a fair society, one, in particular, resonates with me personally as a young individual still figuring out who I am. This is the idea of promoting tolerance.

Promoting tolerance is the sixth value of free expression, and it states,

"It has been argued that freedom of speech, especially through our practice of extending protection to speech that we find hateful or personally upsetting, teaches us to become more tolerant in other aspects of life -- and that a more tolerant society is a better society. Somewhat counter-intuitive, the First Amendment protects hate speech because society learns valuable lessons from, including why it is hateful and worthy of condemnation. It's how we spread norms about acceptable behavior."

In simple terms, promoting tolerance is an autonomy theory. This means that it is an ethical theory that emphasizes that each individual knows what is best for themselves, that they have the ability to form their own opinions, create their own decisions, and have their own beliefs, and that no one can interfere with that; you are free to be yourself. Tolerance makes it possible for people of various races, nationalities, ages and cultural backgrounds to coexist and grow from one another.

As a college student, I am constantly battling with figuring out who I am, what I want to do in the future, and who I want to be. By having the opportunity to communicate with and learn from people of other ethnicities, religions, or backgrounds and creating diversity in our society, I, along with thousands of others, can figure out where we fit in this massive puzzle piece we call earth.

Along with promoting tolerance, stable change is one topic that hits home for me. Stable change states, 

"It has been suggested that a society in which angry and alienated citizens are allowed to speak their mind, or "vent," will be more stable, as people will be less likely to resort to violence. It has also been pointed out that allowing the alienated and discontented to speak freely enables government to better monitor potentially dangerous groups who would otherwise act more clandestinely. Ultimately, it is in the government's own self-interest to allow such venting."

Stable change, also known as the "safety valve," is essential in all eight values of free expression, but it is particularly important when it comes to self-fulfillment and protecting dissent. This is because most people like to talk, and when someone tells someone else they cannot talk, one of two things will happen, they will riot, or they will talk anyway and deal with the consequences later. Allowing citizens to voice their opinion rather than constraining them can help eliminate violence because people feel like they are being heard. When you allow people to gather together and express themselves freely, you allow them to have individual self-fulfillment and create their own identity. This prevents violence and allows people to figure out where they fit in.