The New York Times blog under the Health called "Well" by Tara Parker-Pope, discusses a study that was conducted on how much peers influence one another on different levels. An experiment was conducted that focused on bad influencing, such as uncontrollable video-gaming. Teenagers were given fMRIs to test their brain wave activity when they played video games alone and when they were aware of their friends watching. The results showed that other people's presence encourage them to play longer and violently, finding every way to defeat the game. This blog by Parker-Pope gives two side: factual and emotional statements. She shows the viewers, who are typically adults who read The New York Times, the statistical side of the dangerous habits their children face and then additional comments to create more pathos.
The next blog called "Dont Suffer in Silence, Enough is Enough", gets attention of young teens and adults based on the same website as this blog. The information presented is also very short and simplistic, providing an image to support the topic. On October 6th, the writer of the blog (anonymous) discusses the risky behaviors that peers can lead one another too. Specifically, this case would be hazing in fraternities/sororities as the picture shows a few fraternity brothers sitting next to each other. When trying to get accepted into such groups, they fall into many dangerous situations and behaviors. These risky behaviors include risk drinking, illicit drug use and dangerous driving with some of the potential consequences: being charged with criminal offences, being involved in an accident or violence; hospitalization and, in some cases, death. Including an image adds more depth to the topic and helps the audience get a better understanding of these situations.
Both audiences differ in the readings were participate in class by the level of seriousness. When watching the movie "Team America", we were able to see how much satire was presented in the film, whereas these blogs give off a serious tone to be informative while also appealing to different ages.
The next blog called "Dont Suffer in Silence, Enough is Enough", gets attention of young teens and adults based on the same website as this blog. The information presented is also very short and simplistic, providing an image to support the topic. On October 6th, the writer of the blog (anonymous) discusses the risky behaviors that peers can lead one another too. Specifically, this case would be hazing in fraternities/sororities as the picture shows a few fraternity brothers sitting next to each other. When trying to get accepted into such groups, they fall into many dangerous situations and behaviors. These risky behaviors include risk drinking, illicit drug use and dangerous driving with some of the potential consequences: being charged with criminal offences, being involved in an accident or violence; hospitalization and, in some cases, death. Including an image adds more depth to the topic and helps the audience get a better understanding of these situations.
Both audiences differ in the readings were participate in class by the level of seriousness. When watching the movie "Team America", we were able to see how much satire was presented in the film, whereas these blogs give off a serious tone to be informative while also appealing to different ages.
Parker-Pope, Tara. "Teenagers, Friends and Bad Decisions." Health. The New York Times, 03 Feb 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. <http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/teenagers-friends-and-bad-decisions/>.
"Peer Pressure and Risk Taking." Don't Suffer in Silence. Enough is Enough Blog.. Blogspot, 06 Oct 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. <http://enoughisenoughau.blogspot.com/2011/10/peer-pressure-and-risk-taking.html>.
Sara your topic is a very good one because it can relate so strongly to parents and also to teenagers. Video games and hazing are two forms of violence that severely affect our generation. These topics are also so interconnected with peer pressure. Your post interested me because it reminded me of a story my mom told me just last week of an 8th grade boy who shot his classmate. Violence because of peer pressure is definitely a topic that has to be discussed and dealth with.
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ReplyDeleteI agree completely with all that you stated in this weeks blog. I, without a doubt, believe that kids have huge pressure when it comes to impressing their friends and that they will go to the extremes to make sure that people like them and that they fit in; also known as peer pressure. Also, the blogs definitely gives off a more serious vibe than does the movie Team America: World Police. I would read these blogs to educate myself about peer pressure and watch the movie for comedic reasons.
ReplyDeleteI like that you touched on two opposing, yet equally important, characters in the event of a dangerous peer pressure situation. I also think that the blogs have the potential to appeal to the other group. The New York Times could draw in kids and your second blog could reel in parents. It's all about educating yourself and this is a great representation of that.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the second blog topic. A lot of people have a somewhat certain type of person they want to be friends with and teenagers and young adults definitely face this problem. I like how it talked about hazing and how people would do anything (embarrassing or dangerous) to be accepted into a certain group. I think that for many people it's easier said than done to not succumb to such behavior.
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