March 25, 2009
Me? Ethical?
THOUGHT I’D SHARE THIS WITH YOU GUYS…
I would say that one of my major life achievements is to live an ethical life free of conflict or negativity. In my attempts to live my life conflict-free I find myself in a boring cycle of repetition where consistency define my existence and so in an attempt to ‘spice up’ my life – disaster!
Picture this scenario, I wake up every morning at, say, 7 p.m. then do the necessaries and end up in class 10 minutes before the lecturer. Every day I follow this pattern until one day I wake up at 8 and a feeling of disappointment hits me and reminds me of how much I have failed…. Then picture this second scenario, today I wake up at 7, go to class 5 minutes before the lecturer. Tomorrow, I wake up at 8.30 and who knows what time I will get to class. Of course my life lies in the latter where many are the times I make the lecturer cross due to my tardiness. So I guess I fail in living an ethical life at least in the mornings.
So how I begin my mornings could be unethical, but at least I pride myself in doing my work, both academic and personal, following set ethical guidelines. This may include being faithful to do assignments, do them on time, and hand in quality work earned from my own sweat! Well, thinking about it, I do hand in my assignments and apart from the few errors here and there I would say I got the quality and hard work part covered. However, do I keep faithful to time constraints? Well, at least I try…a question here…is trying to be ethical being ethical? Does the saying, ‘it’s the thought that counts’, apply in this case?
I have a feeling I am being a bit too harsh on myself. Being a writer, there are things that I am ethically bound from doing and so I try and avoid them like the plague. Libel, plagiarism, deceit, propaganda…all these big words and yet my attempts to live an ethical life are drenched by the fact that I always lose when it comes to racing with time. Time, good old Grandfather Clock so old yet I never win, I guess life is the unethical party and I am the victim. Look at it this way, I cannot win in some situations. I have to do what I have to do when I have to do and since life, or time in particular, seems to mind caring how I handle my doings, it becomes unethical since the bar set is usually unrealistic and unfair. Unlucky me however, since the world is full of judgmental ethica-holics who live in that boring cycle I mentioned earlier.
Am I ethical? Maybe, maybe not…all I know is as long as I do not step on some toes…too hard, then I am good to go. So since you’ve read this you tell me am I ethical or am I not?
March 24, 2009
ETHICS AND OPINION WRITERS:Minah and Edna
INTRODUCTION
According to Velasquez, Andre, Shanks and Meyer (1987), ethics is well base standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans (opinion writers) ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness or specific virtues. The Longman Advanced American Dictionary (2000) defines ethics as moral rules or principles of behaviour for deciding what is right or wrong.
Ethics also refers to those proscriptions and guidelines that involve concerns larger than effectiveness of persuasive efforts. Ethical standards look toward the needs of others and the greater good of the society in which persuasion takes place. (Dr. Lee McGaan, Monmouth University)
Opinion writing is the action of putting one’s point of view or convictions on an issue in writing. Ethics apply to both behaviour and writing.
Issues in Opinion Writing
All writers, including opinion writers face challenges. As opinion writers play the roles of echoing public opinion and acts as change agents, they have to deal with negatives such as libel, plagiarism, obscenity, sedition and propaganda.
Libel: According to Brooks, Kennedy, Moen & Ranly (2002), libel is defined as damage to a person’s reputation caused by exposing a person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule through writing or broadcast. In an effort to pass his own opinion on an issue or public figure, an opinion writer may write something that damages another’s reputation. This can lead to a legal suit.
Plagiarism: the same authors define plagiarism as copying someone’s work and presenting it as your own. Since opinion writing involves expressing one’s own view, plagiarism is not common. However, it is possible that a writer may use someone else’s work verbatim without acknowledging the source of the information. It is ethical to acknowledge any information that appears on one’s article if it is not an original idea.
All of the following are considered plagiarism:
• Turning in someone else’s work as your own
• Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
• Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
• Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
• Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
• Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not.
Use of offensive language: This does not necessarily mean use of obscene words. It could be an article that is offensive to a particular tribe, social class, gender, religion or group of people. It is possible for an opinion writer to be offensive in his effort to pass on his message or persuade others.
Propaganda: This is the deliberate and systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions and direct behaviour to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist. (Class handout). It connotes falsehood, lies, deceit and disinformation. With the knowledge that they are in a position to influence public opinion, some opinion writers may manipulate their readers using false or lopsided information.
Card stacking: This is the selection of facts and data to build an overwhelming case on one side of an issue while concealing the other side. Ethics in persuasive opinion writing dictate that both sides of an issue are presented for the readers to make a logical choice.
Sedition: According to the web dictionary, sedition is any action, especially in speech or writing, promoting discontent or rebellion against a government. Though uncommon, it is possible for one to abuse a publication by covertly writing a seditious piece.
Ethics of Opinion Writing
• Do not use false, fabricated, misrepresented, distorted or irrelevant evidence to support arguments or claims.
• Do not intentionally use unsupported or illogical reasoning.
• Do not represent yourself as informed or as an expert on a subject when you are not.
• Do not use irrelevant appeals to divert attention or scrutiny from the issue at hand.
• Do not ask your readers to link your idea to emotional laden values, motives or goals to which it is not related.
• Do not deceive your audience by concealing your real purpose, your self interest or your position as an advocate of a viewpoint.
• Do not hide, distort or misrepresent the intensity, scope or features of a consequence.
• Do not oversimplify complex situation into simplistic, two valued, either/or polar views or choices.
• Do not pretend certainty when tentativeness and degrees of probability would be more accurate.
• Do not advocate something in which you do not believe yourself.
• Acknowledge any information borrowed from other sources.
Communication Values Relevant to Opinion Writing and Persuasion.
Truthful information (which makes rational choice possible). Lying undermines persuasion and all communication and, thus, all human sociality. It promotes mistrust. Truth constitutes:
o factual accuracy
o completeness
o appropriate context
o honest disclosure of their motives
Allowing receivers a range of choices that make freedom actual and moral action possible. Do not use coercion.
Presenting and discussing the best reasons for action, not just those most favorable to the advocate or those which work for you (i.e. get you what you want).
Respecting the (adult) audience as capable of rational decision-making.
Readers’ responsibility
The readers of opinions have the responsibility to be active, critical listeners – not passive receivers.
They also have the responsibility to respond to persuasion using their own ethical standards.
Conclusion
With different existing worldviews, one may argue that ethics are subjective and personal. However when acting in public interest, it is paramount that opinion writers subscribe to an agreed set of values.
March 19, 2009
When technology goes bonkers
Growing up, I had this insatiable interest about devices and technological gizmos. My favourite pastime was unscrewing any electronic that was unlucky enough to have detectable screws, that were within easy reach.
Many times, I received more than a fair share of child abuse after I had destroyed a gadget because of my curious hands.
However I can now attest to the fact that technology can turn nasty and I have had some bad experiences with some devices that have attempted to end my life.
Picture this, I am whistling to my favourite tune while enjoying the benefits of a hot instant shower unit. I reach up to regulate the heat because these so called energy saving gizmos, have an irritating way of heating up, way past the ordinary human heat threshold.
My face is all soapy so I can’t open my eyes. In my dark stupor, I instead touch the water nozzles and I instantaneously become the recipient of mind boggling electric shock.
Now I have never enjoyed electric shocks one bit so I call out for dear momma as I spring back in reflex for I don’t want to end up becoming one of those ‘human turned vegetable’ statistics.
‘Heh I’m not going to die all because of majji motto,’ I utter as I quickly turn off the devilish device. With equal speed I rub the soap off my body with the towel and leave the shower cubicle faster than I got in.
‘Kwani kuoga ni lazima?’ I shakily mutter as I slip into clean clothes while my roommates burst into laughter after I had given them my story.
“Next time nita piga summary.”
This experience left me with a phobia for electronic instant shower units and if you think this is unjustified gibberish follow these simple steps to personally find out.
Ensure that you are in the shower cubicle in your Adams/Eves suit. This ensures total body coverage by the electric current. Then turn on the heater and watch the shower head spark as it rumbles on.
Now carelessly jump into the water’s path and start singing your favourite tune to ensure maximum distraction. After soaping up, reach out and touch the water nozzles with efficiently watered hands and wait for your prayers to be answered. You won’t wait long enough!! If you do then please repeat the previous steps with more gusto. If this fails too then please contact me for more details.
The next deadly techno worth my review is the elevator. Nine years old and totally clueless about commonsense, I simply loved playing with lifts.
After school on my trip homewards, I would stop by some building back in Uganda just to give the lift a daily test drive.
I would sit back and wait for this moving marvel to empty out and when I was sure the cabin was absolutely vacant, I would dash in and have a good time.
Pressing buttons like a seasoned pilot in his helicopter cockpit, I would lean back and wait as the lift moved up and down in over programmed motion.
All this while, I would execute the latest dance styles, makes faces at the mirror at the back shield and do anything else I fancied as the object of my adoration dutifully gravitated its’ course.
The notion that ‘a thief’s days are forty’ holds major water I came to realise on one fateful day. I was busy expertly manning my ‘helicopter’ when it stalled midway leaving me trapped for three hours. I was in the middle of a ‘running man’ jig when everything just went dark.
My heart leapt to my throat as visions of never being discovered rattled my medulla. The interior was deathly quiet except for the groaning cables and I was awash with claustrophobia. I did what I could do best. Scream out for help like a trapped banshee.
Like the total Catholic I had been raised to be, I quickly started saying numerous ‘Our fathers’ while hopping God would throw in some ‘lift mercies.’ for good measure.
Eventually when I was rescued, I took off like a shot homewards my heart palpitating crazily, my legs dangerously wobbly as I mightily hyperventilated.
As a grown man now, I would be lying to say I recovered from the helicopter. Give me the stairs to the a hundredth floor any day.
This is a piece I wrote and was published by the monitor newspaper. They therefore own the rights to it.
Mark Kawalya
March 17, 2009
May Day May day
Hey guys the class trip that was sheduled for been Thursday has been cancelled. We shall
therefor have class on Thursday instead.
Ms Wamunyu asked me to deliver this.
Please tell all the other guys
March 13, 2009
Visit to columnist next week
I know Mina has already communicated with all/most of you. I forgot to make this announcement during class. We are meeting our columnist Andrew Limo during class time next week from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. which will give us time to race for the 11:30 a.m. bus. Please prepare for the visit by reading some of his columns (online or published in the Saturday Nation) and having some questions ready. Mina will get the details on where to meet in town. We should all be there at 8:30 a.m.
March 5, 2009
Editors pick
Michel de Nostredame
Having watched a documentary on Nostradamus, I was prompted to go and find out more about him and his fascinating prophecies, and this is what I found. Quite interesting i would say.
Michel de Nostredame (14 December or 21 December 1503– 2 July 1566), usually Latinized to Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties (The Prophecies), the first edition of which appeared in 1555. Since the publication of this book, which has rarely been out of print since his death, Nostradamus has attracted an enthusiastic following who, along with the popular press, credits him with predicting many major world events.
He was one of at least nine children of Reynière de St-Rémy and grain dealer and notary Jaume de Nostredame.
At the age of fifteen the young Nostredame entered the University of Avignonto study for his baccalaureate(an educational qualification). After little more than a year (when he would have studied the regular education of grammar, rhetoric and logic, rather than the later study of geometry, arithmetic, music and astronomy/astrology), he was forced to leave Avignon when the university closed its doors in the face of an outbreak of the plague. After leaving Avignon, Nostredame (according to his own account) traveled the countryside for eight years from 1521 researching herbal remedies.
By 1566, Nostradamus’s gout, which had plagued him painfully for many years and made movement very difficult, turned into oedema, or dropsy.
On the evening of 1 July, he is alleged to have told his secretary Jean de Chavigny, “You will not find me alive at sunrise.” The next morning he was reportedly found dead, lying on the floor next to his bed and a bench.
Some of his fulfilled prophecies include:The Death of Henry II from a jousting accident ,The fire of London, World War II and Hitler, The exile of Franco,The Kennedy assasinations, the September 11th attack on the U.S World Trade Center, the French Revolution,.
Future predictions include World War III,end of the world,the amargeddon and the third anti-christ.
Nostradamus claimed to base his published predictions on judicial astrology — the astrological assessment of the quality of expected future developments —- but was heavily criticized by professional astrologers of the day such as Laurens Videl for incompetence and for assuming that “comparative horoscopy” (the comparison of future planetary configurations with those accompanying known past events) could predict what would happen in the future.Recent research suggests that much of his prophetic work paraphrases collections of ancient end-of-the-world prophecies (mainly Bible-based), supplemented with references to historical events and anthologies of omen reports, and then projects those into the future in part with the aid of comparative horoscopy.
I usually do not believe in prophecy and i did not want to believe this either, but a friend of mine convinced me until i had to think twice about these predictions.But still, until George Bush is assasinated, and there’s an outbreak of the World War III, and until i witness the anti-christ and maybe the end of the world,am just going to sit down and wait to believe Nostradamuses prophecies.
March 3, 2009
Dave Barry article
Hi everyone, my favorite column writer is Dave Barry. I think he is very good at what he does and I thought I should share one of his articles with you. He has been syndicated in many newspapers such as the Washington Post and The Herald. I got this article from the Washington Post website. I hope I’m not breaking any laws. Enjoy 🙂 www.washingtonpost.com
Men aren’t dropping the ball
A Man’s Job When it comes to domestic responsibilities
By Dave Barry. Sunday October 31, 2004;
Oh, swell. We have yet another survey showing that men, when compared with women, are scum. Just once, I’d like to see some survey asking questions that would highlight areas where men are more likely to be superior, such as:
(1) If it was an emergency, could you open a beer bottle with your teeth?
(2) How many hours per week, total, do you spend fretting about your thighs?
(3) Do you have the emotional stability to make a meaningful lifelong commitment, through good times and bad, to a set of underwear?
(4) Do you know the joke whose punch line is: “But first, roo-roo!”?
(5) If another person is not saying anything, and you’re wondering if this might be because something is bothering that person, and you ask that person what that person is thinking, and that person says, “Nothing,” do you accept this perfectly reasonable answer, or do you proceed to nag the person half to death?
But do we see these questions on surveys? We do not. Instead, we see questions like the ones asked in a recent survey by the U.S. Department of Labor. Having apparently run completely out of useful things to do, the department asked 21,000 Americans how they spend their time when they’re not working. It turned out that women spend twice as much time as men on household chores and child care, while men spend more time on leisure. On the surface, this looks bad. But surface looks are often deceiving. A good example is the iceberg, which appears to be a big hunk of ice, but if you look beneath the surface, you find that it is . . . okay, it is actually a big hunk of ice. So we see that this is, in fact, not a good example, and we should just move on. But my point is that this survey is very misleading. Take the concept of “housework.” It may be true that women spend more time on it, but what, really, are they accomplishing? In my own home, my wife spends a lot of time picking up our 4-year-old daughter’s doll clothes and laboriously putting them back on the various naked Barbies, the naked Snow White, the naked Ariel the mermaid and the incredibly lucky naked Ken. When my wife does this, she is clearly working, but she is not what a man would call “working smart.” A man knows from harsh real-world experience that all of these dolls will soon be naked again, and so he makes a conscious decision to leave the dressing of the dolls, and the cleaning of his daughter’s room in general, until a more sensible and productive time, such as when his daughter enters college. But does this man get any slack from the so-called Department of Labor? He does not.
And let’s talk about child care versus leisure. For women, these are two separate activities, but men have perfected a productivity-enhancing technique called “multitasking.” Say a man is supposed to watch a child, but he also wants to watch a football game. Thanks to “multitasking,” this man can keep one eye on the football game, while at the same time keeping the other eye also on the football game. But in some remote sector of his brain he is vaguely aware that there is a child around somewhere, and if he hears anything suspicious, such as sirens or an explosion, he will respond immediately, unless it is a crucial third-down situation. Speaking of which: I was once at a Thanksgiving gathering where there was a backyard touch football game involving all the guys except one — I will call him “Fred” — who was watching us while holding his infant daughter. My team was short one player, and we were in a crucial third-down situation, so we looked over at “Fred” — an excellent receiver — and, after making us swear we would never tell his wife, he very carefully set his daughter down on the lawn and joined the game for a single play, which resulted in Joel — excuse me, I mean “Fred” — scoring a touchdown. This never would have happened if we had allowed ourselves to be shackled by the rigid, inflexible definitions of “leisure” and “child care” that have for so long enslaved women and the so-called Department of Labor. Am I saying men are perfect? I am not. There are certainly areas of domestic life where men could show more sensitivity toward, and awareness of, the imbalance between them and women, and I intend to address these areas in detail. But first, roo-roo!
Vile tuna feel 