Individuals in Groups

In the passage "Individuals in Groups", adapted from"In Groups we Shrink", Carol Tavris discusses the "Diffusion of responsibility", which means if there are a lot of people who see an accident, they will step back and wait until someone does something. However, if there is only one person who sees accident, he will directly go to help the victim. I believe people in groups are less responsible than individuals, because these kind of irresponsible behaviors have already been proved by so many dangerous situations, and many sufferers aren't able to receive emergency aid immediately.

First of all, in my experience if individuals in groups see emergency situation, they react slower than they see it by themselves or they just ignore the dangerous situation. When I was shopping in Manhattan, I saw a middle age guy shocked by the heat and fell down. However, many walkers saw him but didn't help him, and just walked away from this man. Although this man got help later on, at that time many witnesses didn't help him immediately. In this case, the crowd on the street behaves like a group, and ignores the man. The most significant idea in this passage is " Often observers think nothing needs to be done because some else has already taken care of it, and the more observers there are , the less likely any one person is to call for help" In other words, people often think it isn't my business, someone will take care of it.  Which indicate individuals are more likely less reactive in the groups.

I have experienced  "Diffusion of responsibility" or "Social loafing" when I read a news about subway murder ignorance news, if there was a person gave victim a hand, he could get out from the rail way, and he could save his life. However, according to the news picture, no one helped him when he was asking for help under the platform. Based on this example, I think people in groups have less responsible for accidents, and this irresponsible behavior can put victims into terrible situation.

I think it is  happen because in more crowd city human being's mentality is different than normal city. When I was living in California, I experienced people try to help each other, unlike crowd New York city that dwellers try to step back when they see situations. once my car ran out battery in a California shopping mall parking lot, I could easily get help from other shoppers to charge my car. However, in the heavy traffic New York City, I could call the car service for getting help.


 In conclusion, it is true that when many observers see an accident, they probably step back and wait until hero come out. In my opinion, this is a sad fact, because everyone may have unexpected emergency situation in their lives.

Second Essay

In the Passage "I know the truth, So Don't Bother Me With Facts" adopted from Jeffrey Kluger, the main Idea the author is trying to convey is that people who has false belief don't easily change their wrong mind with real facts. He gives a study shows that although research data demonstrates they are wrong, these data just consider as biases by dupes. I agree with the author's point that changing dupes' stupid mind is very difficult.

The significant idea in this passage is that dupes have deep beliefs. As the study concluded "even in the best of circumstances, fewer than a third of people were willing to reverse their positions, regardless of the contradictory evidence they were given" In other words, most of dupes don't believe facts easily. They only think they are right. On the other hand, rumors seems can stimulate our brain, and people hope flat-out lies can happen to their lives. For example, when I was a little boy, I strongly believe Santa was alive, because I wished that it could happen to me and I could receive a Christmas gift from Santa. Although, my friends told me that Santa wasn't existed, I still believed Santa few more years after that.

Eventually, it isn’t dupes can’t easily believe truth, but rumors are their hope. When I was a high school student, I saw many dupes in my school. All of them were willing to become super rich, so they easily deceived by a pyramid sale products company. However, this becoming rich rumor had negative effect on them, because they spent all their money to buy useless products just to achieve top level and became rich. These foolish students didn’t only believe by themselves, but they also convinced their friends and families to believe so. The sadness case was a student who deeply believes that he could become rich by rumor, as a result, he dropped out high school, he convinced his entire family member, and his family broke in a year. So people imagine rumors can happen in their lives, that’s why they don’t easily trust facts.

In conclusion, it is true that people who have wrong beliefs usually are not willing to change their mind. The reason is because lies can be their hope. I believe Santa because I wished to receive a Christmas gift, and dupes believe liars because they want to be a rich man. In my opinion, rumors have no reality; it has bad effect on dupes.

  

I know the Truth, So Don't Bother Me with facts

In the Passage "I know the truth, So Don't Bother Me With Facts" adopted from Jeffrey Kluger, the main Idea the author is trying to convey is that people who has false belief don't easily change their wrong mind with real facts. He gives a study shows that although research data demonstrates they are wrong, these data just consider as biases by dupes.

My first CATW essay

Longhua.li

ENZ099

Professor C. Jason Smith

3/10/2014

In the passage “Hype” excerpted from Kalle Lasn, the author talks about too many advertisements are polluting our lives. She says, nowadays TVs and Radios are playing more advertisements than before. Consumers can easily see various Advertisements in anywhere. As a result, Advertisements are annoying the standard of life. The author thinks advertising pollution is a serious problem in our society. However, I disagree with the author’s point, and I think people are getting benefits from the advertisements.

            The most reason why I like advertisement that is because billboards deliver useful information to consumers the first time we can know new products from the TV Ads. As the author’s example “A company called VideoCarte installs interactive screens on supermarket carts so that you can see ads while you shop.” In other words, this company creates an easier way for shoppers watch Advertisements. Therefore, Consumers can easily find the market on sale products’ information on the small screen. . High way billboards give drivers direction of McDonalds or the nearest gas station. When I drive on a highway, I always use highway billboard to find a gas station or restaurants. Not only consumers get benefits from watching on Advertisements, but this industry also creates more jobs to our society. Logically, TVs and radio play more Ads means they need more employees to make Ads. So, Advertisement is good for consumers as well as our whole society.

            On the other hand, the author claims that too many advertisements are annoying audiences to watch TV programs. However, if we watch a non-Advertisement TV show, how much should we pay for the cable? The most TV companies’ profits are come from commercial Ads. TVs without Ads, audience should pay for the watching on News, weather, movies, dramas, and other TV programs. Moreover, before there was only one Car Company, now we have dozens of car makers. Before we had a small market, but now we have a big market, and the population has increased much more than before. Shouldn't be Advertisements increased? Commercial Advertisements support one hour TV shows for playing a minute Ads, isn't it fair enough?

            In the end, there are many benefits that commercial Advertisements give to our society. For example, we can easily get free commercial pen, cheap cable, and so on.   The point that I want convey is that commercial Ads are not polluting our society, consumers get benefits from watching on Ads. In my opinion I’d like to free watch TV with minute Ads, rather than pay for it without Ads.