Rumors Paper

  Rumors can be very hurtful to people.  They can fabricate an image of a person who maybe did not do what society calls the “right thing.” Rumors are said to be understood by “Having expressions of our collective fears, hopes, and attitudes about the community and the world we live in” (Behrens 478).  Rumors might start out somewhat true and end up completely false the next.  However, when people are telling rumors they might add extra details to make the story more dramatic for the listener.  Rumors can also proliferate when it is of interest to a group of people to make others think that everyone is talking that certain way.

  An example of a recent rumor is about a senior named Jacob Shoemaker, from Hilliard Davidson High School who got in trouble for not following directions.  His school was participating in national walkout day for people who were for gun control.  The students could either walkout or go to study hall instead.  He didn’t want to do either one because he felt like that meant he was picking a side so he just stayed in the classroom till the walkout was over.  However, come to find out he got suspended for not following directions (Snopes 2018). This rumor is hurtful because he was not going to participate in something he did not feel was right.  The rumor had some truth to it, “It was true that Jacob was suspended after he remained in a classroom while his classmates took part in the protest.  The part that was false was, “Jacob did get suspended for not going to study hall as directed, not for refusing to take part in the protest” (Snopes 2018).   

  This rumor is considered hurtful because Jacob was getting punished for something he did not feel comfortable participating in.  A psychologist named Robert H. Knapp came up with the three basic characteristics of rumors that are all based on emotions (497).  In this particular rumor shared using Knapp’s classifications this rumor would be called a, “Wedge-driving aggression rumor which means of hatred or aggression” (496).  Within this rumor it seems that the Wedge-diving aggression fits best.  It seemed like he was being targeted for not believing in what the other students and people were for.  Therefore, they suspended him out of hatred and aggression for his actions.  It seems this way because he didn’t want to follow the rest of his classmates in the walkout.  This rumor can become disasterous to the student because of how they responded to the actions of not participating.

  People want to have a voice and freely express how they feel.  However, if punishment is the result of standing up for what they believe in that would make many people reluctant in saying anything at all.  That right there seems disaterous in itself.  People want to have that “stand up guy” to ultimately take a stand for what a group of people believe in so they can follow and become that person’ supporters. At the end of the day it’s all in how a situation is handled.

  Knapp not only came up with the classification of rumors but, also came up with the qualities of a good rumor (497).  The first quality is it, is good to have a short and simple story just like the example, just the title alone gives the main point of the rumor (Knapp 497).  The second quality makes for a good story and it fits on the actions that are happening today (Knapp 497).  The third quality is Easily disorted because the student didn’t get suspended for refusing to protest (Knapp 498).  The fourth quality is the names, numbers, and places. The name of the student was Jacob Shoemaker there were no numbers because there was no reason for numbers and took place at Hilliard High School (Knapp 498).  The fifth quality was high authoritative source the rumor is both important and accurate to what really happened to Jacob (Knapp 498).  The sixth quality is, “harmony with cultural traditions of a group in which they circulate in this rumor people from all over the states would know about this rumor but not the truth to it (Knapp 498).  The last quality is, “It adapts to the immediate and traditional circumstances of a group that it must ride the tide of current events in public opinions and interests" (Knapp 498). 

  The rumor encourages “shared human sense making” for people who get upset and feel hatred when they don’t get their way, as a result wanting others to be punished for not agreeing with their personal thinking processes.

  Therefore, standing up for what you believe in is a very brave thing to do.  Though some might applaud him for taking action others will be very aggressive towards what they believe is wrong.  For Jacob not knowing what the right thing to do in the situation he was given ended up getting in trouble anyways. This rumor fits all the qualities of a good rumor in Knapps outline and is considered a “Wedge-driving aggression rumor” in Knapps classification of rumors.  The outcome could have been handled not as harsh as they were leading on with suspension. Sometimes being strong in what you believe in and standing up for what is right does make for a strong leader even though Jacob got suspended he definitely is leader material.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/student-suspended-staying-in-class/

My Career Ethical Dilemma

Now and then people face ethical dilemmas either at the workplace or something personal.  Ethics ask, “What we should do in some circumstance, or what we should do as participants in some form of activity or profession.”  Stephen J. A. Ward, (264).  However, in my case I had a career dilemma.  I was hired for a job and without warning,  I was jobless but, it didn’t stop me from being the best that I can be.  When I don’t get my way sometimes, I understand later on that there is something better out there for me; I just haven’t gotten there yet.

It’s always exciting to get a new job; especially when you’re leaving from a job that you do not like.  I have been working at my new job as a cashier for about two weeks.  Then after those weeks passed my cousin was having her wedding in OK., I was in.  I was gone for about 3 days, when I got back into town.  I called Kyle Fletchers, where I worked to ask when they wanted me to come back to work and every time I called they said will call you back and let you know.  Well days and days later they never called.  That wasn’t the way I wanted things to end up obviously.  I was very disappointed because they never gave me a reason why they didn’t want me to return. I was stuck without a job and I hated it.  I kept thinking to myself, “Good things come to those who wait” Violet Fane.  That’s what my parents always taught me and I know between that and what my pastor at church has taught me, I knew I couldn’t give up.
 
I was feeling down at first but, every day I sent out job applications for a month straight till I finally got another job.  I know it was the determination and want for something better that landed me a more stable job than I’ve had in the past.  I would call this dilemma the utilitarian approach.  The utilitarian approach is about increasing the good and decreasing the harm.  This approach also says it, “Deals with consequences; it tires both to increase the good done and to reduce the harm done.”  Velasquez et al. (274) I believe this is what happened for me.  I didn’t feel like I fitted in at Kyle’s.  However, right when I started my job at Tony’s ice cream I felt right at home.  I strongly believe if I’m going to work somewhere where I am going to be there a lot of the time I want it to be a business that I enjoy and enjoy the coworkers as well.  This job for me produced the most good for sure.  I stayed employed there for a little over a year and made and met some great friends and strangers who I became friends with in my hometown.

While searching for something better I used the virtue approach.  This approach overall is about character.  It states, “Virtues are dispositions and habits that enable us to act according to the highest potential of our character and on behalf of values like truth and beauty.” Velasquez et al (277) When I was jobless I never let that be a sign for me to just give up.  I knew that I deserved the best and that I would reach to my highest potential.  Virtue is about love, being honest, self-control, prudence, and potential.  Velasquez et al (277). If I didn’t have any of those aspects in my life I wouldn’t have reached my goal of a new job.  Having these virtues can be really healthy for day to day living.

It’s important to never give up and become a better person.  There are obviously going to be challenges like one day having a job and the next day jobless but giving up isn’t the answer.  Being a Christian for me helps me to make choices to guide me through life.  Having the utilitarian approach and increasing the good and reducing the harm is the way to go through life to succeed.  Furthermore, having the virtue approach helps me to reach my highest potential, honesty, self-control, prudence, love and many other virtuous acts through everyday life!

Introduction

Hello my name is Sarah Wall,
I am going to school to be a Dental Hygienist it's challenging but I know that I can do it. I enjoy college reading 101. I like to write about things that I am passionate about and have enjoyed learning in this class. In this class I hope to accomplish good and proper ways of writing. I want my papers to flow and be easily understood. I typically hate English classes but I like that in this class it is different than a typical English class. I think that I will do great in this class and learn new things. I hope that I can enjoy reading again because I used to read all the time and I think with having to read a lot in this class will get me back to what I used to enjoy doing.