Taking Your Private Information...

After visiting USA Today Website, I found that one of the snapshots talks about the percentage of people who would not share any personal information if offered 50% off specific dollar amounts.  It states that 35% of people would not give out personal information if offered 50% off of a $100 dollar item.  The chart also goes on to say that 52% of people would not share personal information if offered 50% off a $500 dollar item.  Then the chart closes with 55% of people would not give out personal information if offered 50% off of a $1,000 dollar item.  The first claim that this chart makes is that 65% of people would share personal information if it meant getting $50 dollars off a $100 dollar item or simply put, the majority of people would give personal information away to save $50 dollars.  This is plain statistics and it shows how people are so easily convinced to do something to save a few bucks.  65% of people is a fairly decent amount.  This makes the claim that the majority of people are very susceptible to internet fraud and shows their willingness to give out private information.  The next claim that this snapshot proves is that on 55% of people are not willing to give private information out to save 50% of a $1000 dollar purchase.  This makes the claim that the majority of people will not give out private information for saving some money.  Yes, the numbers are different from the last claim, but statistically talking, this group takes the majority on not giving out private information.  This side makes the claim that the majority of people are not willing to give out private information for saving some money.  The last claim that this snapshot makes is that the bigger the discount, the less likely one is to give out private information.  I think this happens because people believe that a small discount is a possibility rather than a crazy discount such as 50% off of $1,000 dollars.  People let their guard down on things that don’t shock them.  This is why online shoppers are 20% more likely to give out private information on a small discount rather than a bigger one. All three of these claims are valid because they all use the information provided in the chart to convey a different idea.  One makes people believe that most people are going to fall into giving out private information.  The next makes people believe that they have the upper hand when it comes to taking your private information.  And finally the last makes people believe that the bigger the discount is, the less likely someone is going to give out their private information.

Facebook Ethos

      I try to keep my Facebook page clean of anything people will see as not acceptable for someone to post.  If a potential employer were to look at my Facebook page, they would see just photos of me on vacation or from high school.  It would show that I am a responsible person and that I don’t do stupid things and then post them on the internet for the whole world to see.  My posts and pages will come off as educated and relevant.  I really don’t use Facebook anymore because of the fact that people are dominated by it.  I don’t like the fact that someone can go search my name on Facebook and learn everything about me in just a few moments.  The only reason I still have Facebook is because it is a great way to stay connected with people.  I don’t insult people on Facebook because if someone sees that, then they might think less of me as a person for using a social media website to fight my battles.  I try not to get involved with anything too controversial because, once again, people perceive using a social media website to talk about controversial topics as a way of hiding from the truth.  I would much rather talk about those things in person because it’s respect and talking face to face is much better than talking over a keyboard.  Overall, my Facebook page portrays good ethos of me as a reliable guy who does his job and just wants to have a good time like everyone else.

Coming Together As a Nation

After listening to President Obama’s Inauguration Speech, I thought he did an incredible job with his presentation and overall message drive.  Throughout President Obama’s speech, he repeats multiple times the words “We” and “Together”.  During the speech, Obama says “Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.”  Obama uses ethos throughout his entire speech just like such to make people believe we are all equal and in this together.

President Obama references back to the founding years of our country by saying “The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.” This is an important part of his speech because it shows that we as the American people have to come together just like our past generations have to fix our problems now.  Obama uses the fact that the majority of people in the country are affected by the recent economy problems to unite the American people around a common cause.  The American people are looking for someone to turn to in these hard times and Obama proves to the American people that he is capable of fixing the problem.  One quote from President Obama’s speech stood out to me was when Obama said “We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.”  Obama uses real life situations to bring us together.  We as American people have the right to succeed and no one should ever be told they can’t do something.

Obama makes the American people feel like he is equal with them.  This is a fantastic quality to have as a President because as an American citizen, one wants to be able to connect with the person in charge.  No one wants to be intimidated by their president and Obama really makes the American people feel like he is there for them.  One quote that shows this is when he says “My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together.”  Obama makes his speech personal by making himself at a level where we as a country can bond with.

And The Winner Is...

     Now a days, everybody is so concerned with having the best and most up to date technology.  One of the most common arguments between people would be Apple vs. Microsoft.  This advertising image depicts two cars, one which represents Apple and one that represents Microsoft.  Clearly, Apple is the producer of this marketing ad. This image uses the relatable topics of cars to compare the two companies. The two cars used in this image are complete opposites.  The Microsoft car is out of date and old.  The Apple car is high tech and new.  One can look at the colors used too.  The Microsoft car has dull colors and is very unappealing.  The Apple car is painted with bright blue and whites.  The Microsoft engine is a hassle.  This is supposed to represent the operating system and how confusing it is.  Looking at the Apple engine, it’s simple and clean.  Anyone who saw this ad would realize that Apple is a better company just by what this picture shows.  Another message that this picture conveys is that owning an Apple is easy.  The person standing by the car is happy and clean cut.  The person standing by the Microsoft car is old and out of shape.  He looks confused and frustrated with the nightmare he has in front of him.  The futuristic style of the Apple car is supposed to represent the quick connections and fast doings compared to the slow speed of the Microsoft car. Overall, the message that this ad is trying to drive is that owning an Apple is superior to owning a Microsoft pc.  Everything about the Apple side is simple and clean while the Microsoft side is a disaster.  No one wants to be out of the loop with the hottest and newest technology and this image makes people think that Apple is better than Microsoft.

Object Reflection

       When asked to pick just one object to describe myself, I found much difficulty in the question.  I thought about how many objects represented who I was.  After some thinking, I decided that my Fly Fishing Rod was the best object to represent me.  My fly rod is quiet and reliable just like me.  The first reason why I decided to pick my fly rod was because fishing is a sport.  I love sports and have always been involved in them.  As an avid fisherman, picking my fly rod just felt right.  I have been fishing since I was about three or four years of age and fishing just came natural.  The next reason why I chose my fly rod would be because it represents loyalty.  I am loyal to the sport of fishing and what it represents.  Also, loyalty is one of my fundamental characteristics and I feel every person should embody it.  My fly rod also represents family.  I used to fish with my grandfather all the time before he passed and fishing has been a way for me and my family to bond.  My fly rod used to be my father’s but he gave it to me when I started fly fishing.  Family is everything to me.  Without family, one can never really be truly happy.  Lastly, my fly rod represents determination.  Determination is a trait that every fisherman should have.  I will fish for hours without taking a break until I feel that I gave enough effort.  My fly rod represents so much of me and is such an influential part of my life that I felt it was the best object to represent who I am as a person today.