Robert Wrights Article the Evolution Of Despair :: essays research papers fc

Robert Wright's Article "The Evolution of Despair" Robert Wright is the science writer for Time Magazine. Because he writes for this popular magazine, he enjoys the attention of many readers who look to him to provide them with the latest news from the scientific community. After reading The Evolution of Despair, an article written by Wright, I came under the impression that he is both reporter and commentator, but not explicitly so. Wright utilizes a variety of rhetorical tools to establish trust and confidence in his readers, thereupon interjecting his own opinions without arousing suspicion. The article's first paragraph is a perfect example of how a writer can establish intimacy with his reader. The following example demonstrates Wright's use of first person and emotional appeal: "Whether burdened by an overwhelming flurry of daily commitments or stifled by a sense of social isolation; whether mired for hours in a sense of life's pointlessness or beset for days by unresolved anxiety; whether deprived by long workweeks from quality time with offspring or drowning in quantity time with them – whatever the source of stress, we at times get the feeling that modern life isn't what we were designed for" (1). Everyone, at some point, has experienced the feelings that Wright describes. And with the pronoun ‘we' Wright tells his readers, ‘Yes, I have been through the same things.' This sort of statement is like a token of good will. The readers feel that Wright understands their plight and thus are more likely to listen to what he has to say. With this trust established, Wright moves on to the task of building confidence in his readers. He lives up to his title of science writer by providing various statistics ("As of 1993, 37% of Americans felt they could trust most people, down from 58% in 1960" (4).) and reporting the findings of numerous professors and scientists ("The anthropo-logist Phillip Walker has studied the bones of more than 5,000 children from hundreds of preindustrial cultures, dating back to 4,000 B.C." (2).). This serves a three-fold purpose: 1) to give credibility to the article, 2) to provide subject matter on which Wright can comment, and 3) to indirectly establish the moral character of Wright. On this last point, explicit endorsement of Wright by these respected authorities is absent and unnecessary. The mere appearance of support from these sources is sufficient enough to suggest the validity of his views. Wright's persuasive approach is a method that an aspiring orator might adopt. Instead of the written word, this article might be presented orally. It is no difficult task to imagine Wright standing before a podium, addressing a

Motorcycle Helmet Usage

The use of helmets in the United States is a highly controversial topic. The government has enacted and then repealed laws intended to uphold state helmet laws twice. Currently, regulation laws vary state to state. Twenty states have comprehensive helmet laws. Seven states require riders under the age of twenty to wear a helmet, while 19 states require riders under the age of eighteen to wear one. Only three states, Colorado, Illinois, and Iowa, have no helmet regulation whatsoever. Motorcyclists protest their personal freedom, while others complain about the tax burden and higher insurance rates.Motorcycles account for less than 2% of all registered vehicles in the United States and 0.4% of all vehicle miles traveled. Unfortunately, riders account for more than 9% of all traffic deaths. Over the past ten years motorcycle related deaths have increased by about 89%.The motorcycle is both the most fuel efficient and the most hazardous highway vehicle there is. More than 2,500 motorcycl e riders die in the United States each year, and over 60,000 are injured as a result of an accident. In general, riders and non riders seem to agree that it is obvious that a helmet can reduce the chance of brain injury and death.However, some believe helmets are more likely to cause an accident in the first place. Helmets limit hearing and peripheral vision capabilities which make it difficult for riders to be fully aware of what’s going on around them. The weight of the helmet, combined with hot weather can cause a sense of claustrophobia resulting in anxiety and dizziness. It is likely in these types of situations there is an increase in the chance of an accident. It is also possible to become paralyzed because of a helmet during a crash, under the right circumstances. This leaves some riders to believe there are similar risks whether they wear a helmet or not and they should be able to choose between to two.Some riders simply feel that helmets are uncomfortable and bulky, and it should be their own decision whether or not they want to wear one. And to others, they perceive the use of a helmet as â€Å"uncool†, which is enough justification for them.Contrary to some beliefs, a study by the National Public Services Research Institute concluded that the use of a motorcycle helmet does not interfere with the driver’s capability to hear or see what is going on around them.  Data collected by the National Highway Traffic Administration regarding motorcycle accidents in states where there is only a helmet law for minors indicates this type of helmet law is more difficult to enforce. The data showed that less that 40% of minors killed in crashes were wearing helmets, even though it was required by law.When a catastrophic accident has occurred, the financial burden is usually placed upon private insurers or the state. So in a state where there are multiple head injuries due to motorcycle accidents which require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, tax payers and others who carry insurance are financially affected. As a result, a number of people do support enforcing the helmet regulation laws since they feel directly impacted.The Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) conducted an analysis of three states with the universal helmet laws and three states without. The inpatient charges for brain injury were double the cost in the states without the universal helmet laws. Numerous studies have concluded that motorcycle crash victims who were not wearing helmets are less likely to have insurance than crash victims who were wearing helmets.Others are less concerned with the financial burden, and more concerned with the psychological impact of witnessing a gruesome disaster, or having a friend or family member die in such a manner. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA) head injury is the number one cause of death in motorcycle accidents. A survey conducted in 1998 concluded t hat 46% of fatally injured motorcyclists were not wearing helmets. The NHTSA estimates that helmets diminish the possibility of death by 29% in a crash. In 1989, six states enacted a law requiring the use of helmets. All six have seen a reduction in deaths from motorcycle accidents since then.In 1980, motorcycle rider fatalities reached a record high of 5,144. By 1990 the numbers had decreased to 3,244. For the year of 1997 there were only 2,116, an all time low.  Other research indicates that helmet laws significantly decreases fatality rates, saves taxpayer’s money, decreases money lost due to missed work, and reduces the severity of head injuries. A study carried out in California showed that during the first four years after the elimination of the federal sanctions, motorcycle deaths increased by 61% while motorcycle registration increased only by 15%.In Hawaii, research conducted by the Department of Transportation showed that motorcyclists are three times more probabl e to suffer a traumatic brain injury as a result of a motorcycle crash.  The accuracy of statistical information is questionable. It has shown to be difficult to retrieve financial and medical information due to privacy rights and a lack of data. More information has been successfully collected from surviving crash victims than ones who did not survive. There may also be other contributing factors to these accidents besides the fact they weren’t wearing helmets. Different weather and the length of the riding season can have a significant impact on the varying statistics.Other alternatives to reducing the number of fatalities have been suggested. Riders tend to be more supportive of raising safety awareness and mandating education before obtaining a license, since it is common for motorcyclists to learn to ride without any type of education.  In Japan, the new motorcycle riders may start off with the smallest sized motorcycle, and after a set amount of time they are allowe d to graduate to a larger motorcycle. If similar regulations were mandated in the United Sates, the number of fatalities could decrease without helmet laws.Some place the blame on inattentive automobile drivers. It is common to see automobile drivers talking on their cell phone, eating, drinking, etc. Distracted drivers are less likely to use blinkers and potentially more likely to hit a motorcyclist they did not notice previously. An emphasis on defensive driving because of these types of disasters in driver education could help promote safety and reduce motorcycle-related injuries.Small incentives could help promote the use of motorcycle helmets, rather than a mandatory law. For example, a reduction in the cost of motorcycle insurance for wearing a helmet might be beneficial. Some motorcycle stores have been known to give away free helmets, or offer to install free two-way communicators in them in hopes to encourage the use of helmets.While the majority of the public seems to supp ort a mandatory helmet law, the majority of actual motorcycle riders support freedom of choice. There are good arguments supporting both sides. This is a highly debatable topic similar to one’s right to risk dying of lung cancer because they choose to smoke. It is highly unlikely a compromise will be made that is deemed reasonable by both sides.Works CitedDepartment of Motor Vehicles. Helmets: A Matter of Choice? 5 December 2006   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/motorcycle-chouces.phpSMS Research & Marketing Services, Inc. March 2004. Motorcycle Helmets   Ã‚   Integration Report. 5 December 2006.    http://www.hawaii.gov/dot/publicaffairs/safecommunities/reports/motorcyclehelm  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ets/motorcycle-intergration.pdfSMS Research & Marketing Services, Inc. January 2004. Executive Highlights. 6   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   December 2006.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.hawaii.gov/dot/publicaffair s/safecommunities/reports/motorcyclehelm  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ets/motorcycle-focusgroups.pdf   

Attitudes Toward The Juvenile Justice System - 1436 Words

Abstract In this paper, the researcher explores Attitudes toward the Juvenile Justice System amoung Juvenile Deliinquents. Data will gathered using surveys. A total of 80 people are expected to participate in the research. The initial hypothesis in this study is Respondents living in single family homes are more likely to feel the Juvenile Justice System is non-effective than those living with both parents.. I. Introduction A system put in place to deal with Juveniles has been around for over 100 years. During the 18th century offenders were placed in two categories, an infant or an adult. Infants were not babies as we refer to those under the age of one, but more so, those who were not about to fully understand the act in which they have committed. Children under the age of seven were as the law stated unable to be guilty of a felony; whereas, children over the age of fourteen were held to the full extent of the law and were eligible for the death penalty. The ages in between seven and fourteen were considered a gray area. If the child in question was found to have full knowledge of their actions he/she could be held to the same consequences as those of adult offenders. There has been a substantial amount of changes made to the system between then and the present. During the 19th century the way in which juvenile offenders were handled and facilitated changed. Beginning in larger cities in the United States, Juveniles were placed in Refugee Houses andShow MoreRelatedFuture of the Juvenile Justice System1280 Words   |  6 PagesFuture of the Juvenile Justice System The future of the juvenile justice system is uncertain. There is a struggle to try a find a way to serve the needs of the juvenile delinquents and issue them a punishment for violating the law. In order to improve the direction of the juvenile justice system, recommendations are needed regarding community involvement, law enforcement, courts, corrections, and the private sector. These recommendations address issues that the system is currently facing and offersRead MoreJuveniles1358 Words   |  6 PagesQuestion What do we really know from recent, sound empirical studies regarding the attitudes surrounding risky sexual behavior and condom use among juveniles involved in the justice system? Quantity and Quality of the Research Literature There is evidence that juveniles involved in the justice system have an elevated risk for contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections STIs) due to higher rates of psychopathology, illicit substance use, and lack of exposureRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency1154 Words   |  5 PagesDiscussion In common parlance, there is an understanding of juvenile delinquency as meaning adolescents breaking the law or participating in mischievous behavior. 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This survey measured participant Attitudes Toward the Criminal Legal System (ATCLS) andRead More Juvenile Justice Essay881 Words   |  4 Pages Juvenile Justice nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Juvenile Justice System as it typically functions in Americas thousands of jurisdictions is the subject that will be covered. The Juvenile Justice System is defined as that quot;sociolegal process having responsibility and authority for public reaction to current juvenile delinquency and deterrence of future juvenile delinquency, including within that process the public and private agents, agencies, laws, rules, and policies having to do withRead MoreEssay on Life Without Parole for Juveniles956 Words   |  4 Pagesthe use of life without parole for juveniles who committed non-homicide crimes, and Roper v. Simmons (2005) abolished the use of the death penalty for juvenile offenders. They both argued that these sentences violated the 8th Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. 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Inherent in the controversial topic of trying juveniles as adults is an increased responsibility to create a functional system gearedRead MoreThe Death Penalty For Juveniles1169 Words   |  5 PagesResearch Paper: Death Penalty for Juveniles Capital punishment for juveniles is one of the most controversial topics to ever be explored in society and in the criminal justice system. The death penalty is a rare occurrence amongst juveniles since it is so arguable as to whether they should be tried as adults. Lynn Cothern from the Juvenile Justice Resource Center suggests that â€Å"the primary purpose of the juvenile justice system is to hold juvenile offenders accountable for delinquent acts whileRead MoreJuvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act1577 Words   |  7 Pagesto research the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act. The paper will focus on the purpose of this legislation, as well as the values that are expressed by this policy. This paper will not only address why this piece of legislation is important it will discuss the effects this act has had on the communities as well as the youths themselves. This paper, will also address the potential for change about the pu blic attitudes towards the juvenile justice system and the socialRead MoreRelationship Between Police Intervention And Juvenile Delinquency1459 Words   |  6 PagesStephanie A. Wiley and Finn-Aage Esbensen’s article (2016) research the relationship between police intervention and juvenile delinquency and what polices are ideal for deterring deviance amplification. There are two main theories that initiate America’s juvenile justice system: labeling and deterrence. Essentially, labeling proponents believe that official intervention increases delinquency and, oppositely, deterrence theorists argue that it cracks down on deviancy. Wiley et al. (2016:283) want