Fighting Words or Freedom of Speech?

10/8/2016

“Confidence is knowing who you are and not changing it a bit because of someone’s version of reality [that] is not your reality.” ~Shannon L. Alder

Think: When the "real" you is exposed, does being rooted in who you are make you an awful person because you're vile or an amazing person because regardless, you're honest?

Answer the following question: Who should decide how freely people are allowed to express themselves? Why?

NOTE TO IB!! In addition to answering the question, in your response, apply TOK concepts and identify the AOKs or WOKs for the question.

INCLUDE: First initial AND last name AND class period.

You must also reply to a classmate's post. You cannot post identical comments on different classmates' posts. Posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will not earn you a passing grade. Make sure your posts address the reply that you are responding to.

CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school or your parents with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

Due: Fri., Oct. 14, 2016 11:59 p.m. CST

I osorio 3rd period

10/11/2016 09:38:10 am

No one but yourself should be able to decide how to express yourself. If you want to be mean one day you can do that you should express yourself however you want people to see how you are. And to see what your are like.

T.Dawson-1st

10/12/2016 04:50:50 pm

I have to agree with you. Whatever colors you want to show others should be seen. To be limited in how we express ourselves could be considered abuse. To express yourself may mean to free yourself . If someone regulates how you free yourself, you are never truly free. Instead, you are a caged animal.

Z.Williams

10/12/2016 09:02:14 pm

I agree with Osorio no one should put a limit on how much self expression is tolerated within society. Self expression is what defines a person and determines who they are and what they desire in life. As I express myself during activities that I take part of show my passion and heart for that particular event, expression is what makes me who I am and there is no one who should put a limit on how much I express myself or anyone else.

J.Hamilton-6th link

10/12/2016 10:44:53 pm

I agree with Osorio. You should be able to express yourself and no one should infringe on it. Although there are times when restraint and common sense should be applied. Know when,where and how to express oneself in certain situations.

J.Hollis 7th period

10/13/2016 07:36:06 pm

I agree with Osorio because you should be able to decide how to express yourself. If you having a bad day and having a attitude you should be able to express that. Nobody can't come up to you and be like " Be happy or stop having a attitude" that's saying you can't express yourself. You are free to say whatever is on your mind or heart.

T.Dawson -1st

10/12/2016 04:47:41 pm

People should decide as individuals how freely they should be able to speak .There are some people that may say things that are ethically sensitive such as Donald J. Trump. He has said things that have hurt people's feelings and he has gained both hate and fame from doing so. To what extent should this be allowed?... Until it is lawfully incorrect and is hurting others in extreme levels. Until such extremes are reached, a person should be able to express themselves as they wish. Although you as individual may have a different perception, it doesn't make the opposing voice any less important . It is human nature to not like those who do not fully agree with us , but it is only fair to allow others voice their opinion the same amount you voice yours. Giving voice to your thoughts gives others a more accurate reflection of who you are and allows those who are investing time in you know the truth behind your face. If you like to remain a mystery, then don't express yourself as much. It is all up to you.

D. Moseley-1st Pd

10/14/2016 11:24:08 pm

I agree that people should decide as individuals how freely they should be able to speak . But to what extent can that same freedom endanger or hinder someone's lifestyle?

J. Wegscheider

10/14/2016 11:54:11 pm

I agree. There is a certain extent to which people can express themselves, and that is where boundaries are set and people set up certain rules for what they expect from others. You should only show people the side of you that you want them to see, but showing them your true self is the best reflection of who you are.

B.Criss 1st

10/12/2016 04:52:22 pm

I don't think anyone should decide how someone expresses themselves, because there is a reason for everything that is said. Now whether its right or wrong is a different situation and that is only because everyone has a different way of thinking. You shouldn't want to get paid to criticize what someone says because you become biased in your opinions towards that persons choice of words. Only God can judge and that is the only person you have to answer to when this life is over.

J. Grant

10/13/2016 08:27:12 pm

I agree 100% of what you saying .Its basically saying what i have said . Like i have said no one should tell you how to feel or how to express your self .

J.Hamilton-6th link

10/12/2016 10:33:25 pm

People should chose to express themselves in a positive way.Expressing yourself only when it is appropriate because people just can't say everything that comes to mind. Most importantly you just can't say vile,disgusting or dangerous things. For example yelling fire in a crowded theater. This example is saying that sometimes it is not appropriate to say or do something that is unlawful. People should be able to express themselves but limits must be adhered to. Free speech is the law but there are limits.

J.Hollis 7th period

10/13/2016 07:25:47 pm

No one should tell people they can't express or truthful about any situation. For example Donald Trump he can express his self how many times he wants even if its good or bad. To express yourself may mean to free yourself If someone regulates how you free yourself, you are never truly free.

B.Criss

10/13/2016 09:07:51 pm

I agree with you if we cant express then what is the point of the First Amendment. Also if that is still the case then the nations wouldn't get along because we would be restricted from saying what we have to say.

M. Rodriguez

10/14/2016 11:20:32 pm

Do you believe it is okay to express oneself even though you are hurting someone else? Like in your example (yes Donald is expressing himself) but does he really have to degrade anyone who is not like him

E.Valdez- 4th period

10/14/2016 11:39:20 pm

J.Hollis you made a very valid point when you said that "if someone regulates how you free yourself, you are never truly free" because that would mean that neither people would be truly expressing themselves. Those who regulate how others express themselves are expressing themselves through that individual using their perception and not their own.

J.Grant

10/13/2016 08:24:15 pm

No one should tell people how or when to express there self through out a win , lose , truth or false situation. Everyone is entitle to there own mind and thoughts . Its a reason things are said,people think on an entire different level then others. For example Donald Trump has said a lot of things but he expressing his self weather its good or bad . He can say how much he want ,but at the end of the day he entitle to his own opinions. Again at the end of god is the only one that can judge us

victor ajuobi

10/14/2016 11:21:54 am

I believe that everybody is entitle to their own opinion and have the right to do so. I agree with you because people think in different ways and express themselves in their own way.

victor ajuobi

10/14/2016 11:19:56 am

Nobody has the right to tell you how or when to express who you are. The reason for this because, everyone has the right to act the way they want too. This may be bad or good but everyone has the right to do what they want and reach for their goals. Using reason, I was able to determine that people who express themselves are happier because their doing the things they want to do, I also used m imagination to relate to expressing my self and how that makes me feel. In conclusion expressing yourself should be a decision you should make on your own, not anybody else's.

J.Bonilla -5th Period

10/14/2016 11:59:07 pm

People should be able to express themselves freely, but what about bad people? If they express themselves they may hurt other people's lives. Nobody should take the privilege of expressing yourself freely, unless there is an negative impact to the world.

J. Wegscheider 1st

10/14/2016 11:17:37 pm

The only person who should decide how freely they want to express themselves is ourselves. We should be our own judges of how we express ourselves verbally, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Of all the celebrities in the world, society picks out the ones they consider good role models and they try to imitate the celebrities. Society doesn't have a good interpretation of how to do things for themselves. We are the only ones who should make the ultimate decisions of what we do, and there will either be consequences for our behavior or there won't be. Humans know right from wrong and know the correct way to do things.

M. Rodriguez 4th

10/14/2016 11:18:02 pm

Everyone should decide for themselves on how freely the can express their emotions. Society attempts to play on the memory you have stored of appropriate behavior/expressions and that is one way that many people have a difficult time fully expressing themselves. Stereotypes will always exists, therefore there is no reason to let others dictate how you express yourself. For example, Donald Trump calling a female a "bimbo" and demanding her to make him food just because that is the typical role of a woman, does not mean that she is going to confine herself to only that. Considering this notion, only you should decide how you express yourself

D.Moseley-1st pd

10/14/2016 11:18:54 pm

People should individually decide how freely they express themselves. The cultures, values, imagination, ideas, and perception of one person differs from another no matter how similar the two can be. Being under the control of another limits the possibilities of how far your creativity expands. Just as painters have that freedom to do what they want on a canvas, we as people have that same control over how much exert ourselves. There will be consequences whether we are outspoken or subtle, so you might as well speak your truth.

E.Valdez- 4th period

10/14/2016 11:31:15 pm

Ethics set the moral principles of a person but we now live in the 20th century, a century where perception and emotion have evolved. Before, people controlled when and how others expressed themselves and because those individuals could truly express who they were over the years their emotions on a certain subject changed and so did the way the view things. No one should ever decide how freely someone expresses themselves, the only person who has control is that individual. At the end of the day there is only one person who knows how to make themselves happy and that individual follows their intuition because they know who or what they are trying to share with the world regardless of what the morals might be or what others might think.

J.Bonilla- 5th Pd

10/14/2016 11:56:31 pm

Nobody should be a burden to others when they are expressing themselves, unless it's in a negative aspect. Based on history, as a minority whether it was being a female or based on skin color they weren't allowed to express themselves freely. This raised tension between people. Also, emotions may stir up if one isn't expressing themselves like they would. They may take everything in and pile it with everything they already kept in. History has also stated that as a human being living in this world you are granted to have "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness", these can't be taken away from you. Expressing yourself is something that shouldn't be stopped unless it interferes negatively with other people's life.

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Mixed Ink

Mixed Ink is our class blog, the window into our souls. It was designed to improve students' writing, critical thinking and communication skills by giving them a platform to provide meaningful content based on their interpretation of what they see.

Although the students receive a grade based on a rubric for completing this assignment, they are not graded on complexity of thought. This is a place where students of all levels can freely, confidently and creatively express themselves and their opinions in a nonjudgmental platform. They are required to respond to and critique each other, but degradation, slander, lewdness, etc., will not be tolerated.

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Communicate effectively
Be aware of current events
Write concisely
Boost critical thinking skills
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Have a voice about what goes on in the world around you