Saturday, November 30, 2019

Why You Need To (Or Should) Pay Student Loan Interest In College

Oneglaring aspect ofstudent loans that people tend to overlook is the interest rate on the loan. Here are somereasons you should start paying them off sooner rather than later. If put off too long, they can be a bigger obstacle than you bargained for down the road. Making interest payments on student loans is good idea for a couple of reasons. While it may be a bit of a hassle for a college student, the benefits of doing so far outweigh the cons. The first and foremost reason for paying off interest during college is to save money. The motivation for making these payments early is to avoid capitalization. Capitalization is when unpaid interest is added to the principal balance on a loan. This means the principal balance increases every month which sets the stage for interest to accrue on a greater principal balance each consecutive month. Here is a quick example of capitalization. One month there is a loan with a principal balanceof $1000 and an interest rate of 5%, so $50 is accrued in interest for that month. Next month, the principal balance is taken as $1050, so the next interest accrualcomes out to $52.5. With the previous example, it is clear how capitalization creates a snowball effecton a student loan. If interest payments are not made during college, then new graduates may find themselves with an unmanageable loan. Choosing to make interest payments in college helps reduce the size of this snowball by keeping the principal balance closer to its original disbursement value. You can calculate your savings using thiscalculator. In the end, the borrower will spend less on his or her student loan; additionally, shorter repayment terms often result from this practice. The next motivation for making interest payments during college does not yield the same fiscal return as the previous point; even so, it is just as important. Paying off monthly interest during school fosters a good habit of making monthly payments in general. A significant portion of student loans are not in repayment. This means they are either dubbed as in-school, grace deferment, forbearance, delinquency, or default. Delinquent and defaulted loans are a serious issue. These terms mean that payments are late on a loan, and this is often a result of bad loan payment practices. Avoiding default is important for both the borrower and the lender. Not just for student loans either, it is a paramount for auto loans, mortgages, and credit payments. Many borrowers fall behind on these monthly debt payments, but adhering to monthly interest payments is solid way to start a good habit for the future. Starting interest payments in college creates multiple benefits that apply to the borrower, the lender, and the economy overall. The borrower can form a good habit that ultimately saves him or her money in the long run. The lender receives the desired return on investment which is the whole point from the company perspective. Less strain is felt by the government and tax payers which benefits the economy overall. It may seem ridiculous to say that tackling student loan interest early improves the overall economy. At any rate, it is an excellent method to tackle any form of debt which surely contributes positively to the overall economic situation. One of the best places to start forming these positive habits is in college where most young adults experience their first debt challenge: student loans.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Express

Express Express Express By Maeve Maddox A reader has a question about the use of the transitive verb express: Is there something wrong with a phrase like this: He expressed that he was tired? It seems odd to me, but I cant figure out why or if Im just off base. It seems like you could say, He expressed the idea that he was tired. Yes, the sense is slightly different, but is one right and the other wrong? Is the issue that express is a transitive verb? The literal meaning of the verb express is â€Å"to press or squeeze out.† For example: Water may be expressed from a wet towel by twisting the towel. Breast milk may be expressed manually or with a mechanical device. Amorphous metal tapes are produced by expressing a metallic melt in a supply container through at least one nozzle opening. Express has more than one figurative use. In one sense, express is â€Å"to portray† or â€Å"to represent,† either physically or symbolically. For example, artists express the human figure in drawing and in sculpture; mathematicians express one quantity in terms of another quantity. Express can mean, â€Å"to manifest or reveal by external tokens.† For example, â€Å"Ancient Roman aqueducts still in use express the genius of Roman engineering.† Another meaning of express is â€Å"to put into words†: True wit is nature to advantage dressed, What oft was thought, but neer so well expressed.- Essay in Criticism, Alexander Pope This meaning of express is also used reflexively, as in the titles of songs by Madonna and Ice Cube: â€Å"Express Yourself,† i.e, â€Å"say what you think.† These definitions do not exhaust the uses of express, but they do bring us back to the reader’s question: â€Å"Is there something wrong with a phrase like this: ‘He expressed that he was tired?’ † The answer is â€Å"Yes, there’s something wrong.† It’s not idiomatic. Express is transitive, but that is not the problem. Other transitive verbs, like say and admit, can take a noun clause as their objects: He says that he was there, but I did not see him. (noun clause, direct object of says) I admit that I was wrong. (noun clause, direct object of admit) When express takes a direct object, however, the object cannot be a clause. For that reason, the reader’s first example (He expressed that he was tired) â€Å"sounds wrong,† but the second example (He expressed the idea that he was tired) â€Å"sounds right.† Why? It’s a matter of idiom. I can only say with Professor Brians (Common Errors in English Usage), You can express an idea or a thought, but you can’t ever  express that.    Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Exquisite AdjectivesBetween vs. In BetweenWhen Is a Question Not a Question?

Friday, November 22, 2019

The Complete Guide to the AP World History Exam

The Complete Guide to the AP World History Exam SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Before you start studying for the AP World History exam, you should get the inside scoop on its format and content. The types of questions you'll see might differ from your expectations. It's especially smart to practice writing essay outlines based on past questions before you're faced with fresh prompts on the test. In this article, I'll go through the structure, content, and question types on the exam and provide some helpful tips for acing it! How Is the AP World History Exam Structured? The exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long in total, with two sections. Section 1 Format: Total time: 105 minutes 55 minutes to complete55 multiple-choice questions (worth 40 percent of your score) 50 minutes to complete four short-answer questions (worth 20 percent of your score) Question Breakdown: Era Percentage of MC Questions Technological and Environmental Transformations: Up to 600 BCE 5 Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies: 600 BCE - 600 CE 15 Regional and Transregional Interactions: 600 CE - 1450 20 Global Interactions: 1450 - 1750 20 Industrialization and Global Integration: 1750 - 1900 20 Accelerating Global Change and Realignments: 1900 - Present 20 Section 2 Format: 90 minutes Two essay questions: Document based question (50 minutes, which includes a 10 minute reading period) You’ll integrate an analysis of ten historical documents with your discussion of a topic in world history. This question is worth 25 percent of your score, Long essay (35 minutes) You'll choose between two different prompts for the long essay question. This question is worth 15 percent of your score. This section, as a whole, makes up the other 50 percent of your final exam score. Content Background for AP World History The content is divided into five themes that can be traced through six historical eras. Knowing the themes can help you get a better sense of which historical trends the test will ask you to examine (this is especially helpful when writing free-response essays). The six eras are also important to know for the test because they provide an easier way of organizing information and events. As you'll see in the multiple-choice question example in the next section, your ability to make the right answer choice often depends on your memory of how these eras differ from one another on a large scale. The five themes are: Theme 1: Interaction Between Humans and the Environment Demography and disease Migration Patterns of settlement Technology Theme 2: Development and Interaction of Cultures Religions Belief systems, philosophies, and ideologies Science and technology The arts and architecture Theme 3: State-Building, Expansion, and Conflict Political structures and forms of governance Empires Nations and nationalism Revolts and revolutions Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations Theme 4: Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems Agricultural and pastoral production Trade and commerce Labor systems Industrialization Capitalism and socialism Theme 5: Development and Transformation of Social Structures Gender roles and relations Family and kinship Racial and ethnic constructions Social and economic classes The six time periods, which I also listed briefly in the first section of this guide, are: Period 1: Technological and Environmental Transformations (Before 600 BC) Key Concepts: Paleolithic era hunter-gatherer societies Neolithic Revolution and early agricultural societies Foundational civilizations (ex. Mesopotamia, Egypt, Olmecs) The first states Development of urban planning and culture Systems of record keeping and legal codes New religious beliefs Trade expansion Period 2: Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies (600 BC - 600 CE) Key Concepts: Codification of religious and cultural traditions New artistic expressions in literature, drama, architecture Further development and consolidation of states and empires (ex. Persian Empires, Qin and Han Empire, Roman Empire) Decline and collapse of large empires New networks and means of communication and exchange Period 3: Regional and Transregional Interactions (600 CE - 1450) Key Concepts: Further expansion and intensification of networks of communication and exchange Migration of peoples leads to linguistic and environmental effects Diffusion of new crops and new diseases along trade routes Emergence of new types of states after empire collapses Contact and conflict between states and empires leads to technological and cultural transfers Increased productive capacity in agriculture and other industries Urban decline and revival Period 4: Global Interactions (1450 - 1750) Key Concepts: Global networks of communication and exchange Technological advances make long sea voyages possible Age of exploration Columbian Exchange Religious spread and reform Increased labor demands (peasant labor, slavery, growth of plantations) Restructuring of gender, racial, and ethnic hierarchies State consolidation and imperial expansion (both land and maritime empires develop) Period 5: Industrialization and Global Integration (1750 - 1900) Key Concepts: Industrial Revolution; fundamental changes to the way goods are produced Transoceanic empires established, decline of Spanish and Portuguese influence Influence of imperialism on state formation around the world Social Darwinism, other racist ideologies facilitate/justify imperialism Enlightenment Revolutionary movements Global migration Period 6: Accelerating Global Change and Realignments (1900 - Present) Key Concepts: Rapid advances in science and technology Impact of population expansion on the environment Dissolution of empires and restructuring of states Military conflicts on a global scale Different responses to new economic challenges States, communities, and individuals grow more interdependent Challenges to old assumptions about society and culture, human rights movements Consumer/pop culture goes global Although we still have a ways to go in accepting the devastating impact we've have had on the environment. Remember whena congressperson threw a snowball in the House of Representatives in an attempt to prove that global warming doesn't exist? We're doomed. Sample AP World History Test Questions Let's go through examples of each of the four types of questions you'll see on the exam. Multiple Multiple-choice questions on the AP World History exam are organized into sets around the analysis of a piece of historical source material in the form of a text, map, or chart.For this question, you’re asked to examine a map that will inform your answer: There’s a lot going on in this diagram, but you can pretty much use your intuition to figure out the correct answer. Choice A is too specific and too early.We see a much wider variety of trade routes on the map than this choice indicates - China is clearly in on the trading action.The dates mentioned are also before technology had developed to the point where the long sea voyages indicated on the map could take place. Choice B seems more likely.This was the period when trading amongst Europe, Africa, and Asia really started to take off.This choice also mentions the growth of new cities, and many cities are labeled on the map. Choice C, like choice A, is too specific.There’s a lot of other trading going on here that doesn’t involve China at all, and the map doesn’t seem to indicate Chinese dominance of the networks. Choice D is a little harder to rule out, but it’s also incorrect.It mentions an era when these trading networks were already well-established, and the Columbian Exchange with the Americas became a significant factor.Also, it’s hard to see how the map is demonstrating any changes in trading networks. This choice points to evidence that just isn’t there. The answer is B! The key to answering multiple-choice questions correctly is a careful reading of the source material and the question itself. Your answer should be informed by your background knowledge in world history, but it should be finalized through your understanding of the given context. Short Answer Question Example Short answer questions (new for the test in 2017) ask you to consult source materials and your knowledge of world history to provide concise responses. In a multi-part short response question, each part should only require a 1-2 sentence answer. If the question doesn't have multiple parts, your response should still be confined to no more than a paragraph. Here's an example from the latest course description: A good answer to part (a) would briefly describe how the Meiji restoration and industrialization contributed to Japan's increased military capacity during the late 19th century. For part (b), you would need to point out a specific example of how the painting shows a shift in Japanese cultural identity - for example, the Western-style military uniforms. For part (c), you would need to give an example of how increased militarism in Japan affected relationships with other countries at the beginning of the 20th century. You could talk about the impact of the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05 on the Russian Revolution or the increase in Japanese imperialism and militarism in the 1930s contributing to the start of World War II. Frees There are two free-response questions on the exam, one document based question and one long essay question. I'll give you an example of each type of prompt. Document Based Question Here’s a sample document based question: And here are two of the accompanying documents so you can see the types of materials you’ll be asked to integrate into your answer: A great answer forthis document-based question would analyze the documents by making multiple groupings around patterns of mechanization in Japan and India, examining similarities and differences.Groupings might include the growth of mechanization in both areas, the dominance of female labor in Japan and male labor in India, and testimony about peasant labor in both areas. You could use a single document as evidence for a variety of characteristics of mechanization and weave it into the essay at appropriate points.You should also create subgroupings within overarching themes.Don’t just say working conditions were â€Å"bad.† Make a distinction between different types of badness, for example, dangerous conditions versus low wages.Your essay should also analyze perspectives in at least two documents, explaining the contextual reasons that an author might have the opinion or point of view presented. You'll need to identify the additional document asked for in the question, and explain how it would contribute to your analysis.For example, there’s no document that provides the perspective of an Indian worker, so that would be good additional evidence. You could earn extra points for mentioning more than one additional document, explaining why the additional document is necessary, or weaving the potential addition(s) into your broader analysis.Incorporating outside knowledge of the historical context beyond what is presented in the documents is also a plus.For example, you might compare India’s status as a colony with Japan’s status as an independent imperial power, which would help explain why only one of the Indian sources comes directly from an Indian author. For document based questions, the central goal is to use all the documents in ways that relate to your thesis and bolster your supporting points. If you can do that in a cohesive essay that flows well, you'll earn most of the points available for this question. Long Essay Question Here's a sample long essay question (remember, you'll be able to choose between two of these types of questions on the test): Question 2: Evaluate the extent to which the emergence of Buddhism in the fifth century B.C.E. can be considered a turning point in world history. In the development of your argument, explain what changed and what stayed the same from the period before the emergence of Buddhism in the fifth century B.C.E. to the period after the emergence of Buddhism in the fifth century B.C.E. A strong answer for this question would include a thesis that makes a claim about the extent to which the emergence Buddhism was a turning point at this time in history. The thesis should go beyond just saying that Buddhism was or was not a turning point - state the reason for your claim in your thesis. Your argument should be supported throughout the essay by specific examples that show changes and continuities that occurred between the period before the emergence of Buddhism and the period afterwards. The similarities and differences between the two periods should be woven together to make a larger statement about the impact of Buddhism on world history. Examples supporting Buddhism as a major turning point include: The challenge it presented to existing caste and gender hierarchies in Southeast Asia Promotion of Buddhism by the Mauryan Empire was associated with the first large centrally administered state in South Asia If you're arguing in the opposite direction, that Buddhism wasn't a major turning point, you might describe the continued significance of religions like Daoism and Shintoism in East Asia both before and after the fifth century B.C.E. Make sure your argument is supported and qualified by other developments during this time period that had a scope beyond Buddhism. This might include: Overall formation and expansion of empires Origins of Confucianism Impact of Upanishads in development of what would eventually become Hinduism You might say that these other developments played a greater role in establishing the fifth century B.C.E. as a turning point in world history than Buddhism did. Or, if you're arguing that Buddhism was a signficant turning point on its own, you might say that these developments were all secondary indicators of the change that would come about with the spread of Buddhism. To take your essay to the next level, you also need to synthesize your points and expand the argument you're making. A smart way to do this would be to compare the emergence of Buddhism to other turning points in world history. In making these comparisons, you could bolster your argument for Buddhism as either a major turning point or a less significant development in world history depending on how it compares to these other major cultural shifts. How Is the AP World History Exam Scored? Raw scoring for multiple choice is simple.You will earn one point for each multiple-choice question you answer correctly for a maximum of 55 points.No points are taken off for incorrect answers, so you should fill in an answer bubble for every question. Each short answer question is worth three points (one for each task you're asked to complete in the question). That means you can earn a total of 12 raw points for your responses to short answer questions. The document based question and long essay question vary in point values. It's more significant to remember that the document based question is worth 25 percent of your score and the long essay question is worth just 15 percent. After the graders determine the number of points you've earned in each section, they'll calculate your two scaled scores based on the exam curve (which changes year to year).Each section gets a separate scaled score (one scaled score for multiple choice/short answer and one for the two free response questions). Then, the two separate scaled scores are added together for a total scaled score, which is converted to a score of 1-5 on the AP scale. The scoring methodology is a little less clear right now because of the significant changes that have been made to the exam for 2017. More information will become available after students take the revised test for the first time. What’s the Best Way to Prep for the AP World History Exam? Here are a few of the most important prep tips for AP World History. If you want even more advice, take a look at this article that delves into more detail on the best study strategies for this exam. Tip #1: Make Connections to Themes (and Memorize Examples!) This is a course that covers so much information that it can be hard to think of specific examples that relate to your arguments in essay questions.You should be able to elaborate on one or two concrete events from each period that relate to each theme of the course.If you can preserve this bank of information in your mind, you’ll be able to support your answers to any essay questions the test throws at you. Tip #2: Use Outside Information Selectively Providing specific historical examples in your essay is a way of showing your mastery of the material, but you need to be cautious.This test is less about how much you know and more about how well you understand the connections and underlying themes that connect historical facts.For example, in the last essay question example, even if you knew a million things about Buddhism and listed out a bunch of very specific facts in your essay, you wouldn’t necessarily get a good score.Each fact that you mention should have a purpose. It needs to tie directly into what the question is asking and what you’ve stated in your argument. Tip #3: Learn to Read Multiple-Choice Questions Carefully You can get into some trouble if you don’t understand exactly what the multiple-choice questions are asking on this exam.You’ll only find the correct answer if you stick to the specifics of the question.Otherwise, you could get tripped up by choices that are accurate statements about history but inaccurate answers to the question being asked.In the multiple-choice question we answered above, all of the choices represent valid historical events and trends, but only one provides a correct description of the map.Practice your skills in selecting answers that directly pertain to the evidence presented in the question. STICK to the specifics of the question! Also, I admire the sacrifices this woman made for the sake of a stock photo both in terms of her dignity and in terms of the pain she must have experienced when ripping that tape out of her hair. Summary The AP World History exam contains55multiple-choice questions, four short-answer questions, and two free-response questions. The two free-response questions include a document based question, which asks you to incorporate ten real historical documents into your response, and a long essay question. The exam questions address five major historical themes over six eras that stretch back to the beginning of human history. While this is undoubtedly a lot of information to study, it's important to realize that long-term trends are more important than small details. You can do extremely well on this test if you just master the major events of each era and understand their essential causes and effects. What’s Next? Looking for some practice materials? Check out our article listing all the AP World History practice tests available online. It's a smart idea to practice your writing skills on document based questions before the exam. Learnabout the best places to find DBQ examplesand how you can write an excellent response to these tricky questions. Which AP classes should you take in high school besides AP World History? This guide will help you decide based on your goals, academic interests, and schedule. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Reflection (one page) and Workshop related assessment ( 4 pages) Essay

Reflection (one page) and Workshop related assessment ( 4 pages) - Essay Example With their combined varied expertise, experiences and beliefs/principles, they would surely gain Jeremy’s confidence and trust, which are of primary importance for successful therapy. In fact, the educational background of Bentley’s team of counsellors alone (all gained graduate school degree in psychology, counselling and therapy from prestigious universities) is enough to get client’s confidence that they can do their job. Not to say the formal and informal training they had for their over 50 years of combined industry experience. This means that their strong theoretical foundations, rich professional experiences, and varied encounters with clients had capacitated them to deal with mental health issue of their expertise effectively. ... Much more, its amenities (for example, ample parking), and other services (for example, booking and enquiries, workshops and courses) are all meant to give clients better and personalise services. With all these, what more could Jeremy ask for? B. Bentley Family Therapy Centre: Best Clinic for Jeremy My assessment of Jeremy’s mental condition and my appraisal of Bentley Family Therapy Centre make me believe that Bentley is the best clinic there is in Perth for Jeremy. Why I said so is mainly because of the following reasons: 1. Jeremy’s identified risk factors are addressed by the clinic. In fact, his primary risk factors (clinical depression and post-traumatic stress) are Bentley’s focus and trademark. 2. The framework by which Bentley’s therapeutic strategies are designed fits well with Jeremy’s need – holistic approach grounded in the individual’s traits/personality and family background. 3. The therapies that Bentley offers are des igned to address mental health issues similar to Jeremy’s (see question 2) of similar/related stressors (serious accident/physical injury, loss, divorce, discharged from the military) thus these therapies correspond to Jeremy’s need and context. 4. The specialisation, expertise, and beliefs/principles of Bentley’s team of counsellors match Jeremy’s mental health needs and potentials. Aside from their combined expertise on loss, grief, trauma, clinical anxiety, drug abuse, childhood trauma, some of them has experience working with military and male adult clients, and some specialises in Expressive (Creative Arts)

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Photography with a Pinhole Camera Research Paper

Photography with a Pinhole Camera - Research Paper Example Therefore, one has to study a variety of books and other available materials to have substantial information regarding the practice of photography. The pinhole camera is one of the ancient equipment used for photography (Sandler 19). Generally, a pinhole camera can be described as a simple that has a single aperture (pinhole) with no lens. This  study  focuses on an  overview of the pinhole camera, its comparison with the human eye, construction procedure and the procedure of shadow catching. Apparently, several studies have revealed that a pinhole camera is the simplest device to use when taking pictures (Daniilidis 39). The practice of constructing and using the pinhole camera gives the student a broad exposure to various disciplines such as the human psychology and light physics. In essence, the student students get the clear picture of photography and its associated challenges and opportunities. It is worth noting that all cameras, irrespective of the level of complexity, rely on a common elementary principle. Moreover, there exist various elements in the field of photography that should be considered in the study of the pinhole camera. For instance, it is important to recognize that the pinhole camera operates just like the human eye. In essence, the components of the pinhole camera and the various parts of the human eye perform similar tasks as discussed in the subsequent paragraphs. Light from the surrounding environment gets to the human eye through the pupil. The amount of light entering through the pupil is regulated by the Iris. In essence, the major role of the iris is to manipulate the size of the pupil in relation to the amount of light. Just like the eye, the pinhole camera operates with the aid of light. Light enters the camera through the aperture. The aperture can be described as a hole that facilitates penetration of light to the camera. The amount of light through the aperture is regulated by a component referred to as the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Evolution of Porters Five Forces Model Essay Example for Free

Evolution of Porters Five Forces Model Essay Five forces is a framework for the industry analysis and business strategy development developed by Michael E. Porter of Harvard Business School in 1979. Michael Porter is a professor at Harvard Business School andis a leading authority on competitive strategy and international competitiveness.Michael Porter was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Five forces uses concepts developing, Industrial Organization (IO) economics to derive five forces that determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractiveness of a market. Attractiveness in this context refers to the industry profitability. An unattractive industry is one where the combination of forces acts to drive down overall profitability. A very unattractive industry would be one approaching pure competition. Introduction Five Forces Model by Michael Porter Five Forces model of Michael Porter is a very elaborate concept for evaluating companys competitive position. Michael Porter provided a framework that models an industry and therefore implicitly alsobusinesses asbeing influenced by five forces.Michael Porters Five Forces model is often used in strategic planning. Porters competitive fiveforces model is probably one of the mostcommonly used business strategy tools and has proven its usefulness in numerous situations when exploring strategic management models . Three of Porters five forces refer to competition from external sources. The remainder are internal threats. It is useful to use Porters five forces in conjunction with SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). A change in any of the forces normally, requires a business unit to re-assess the marketplace given the overall change in industry information. The overall industry attractiveness does not imply that every firm in the industry will return the same profitability. Firms are able to apply their core competencies, business model or network to achieve a profit above the industry average. Porters five forces include : Three forces from horizontal competition * Threat of new entrants or barriers to entry * Threat of substitute products or substitutes * Threat of established rivals or competitive rivalry Two forces from vertical competition * The bargaining power of buyers or buyers * The bargaining power of suppliers or suppliers Force 1: Barriers to entry Barriers to entry measure how easy or difficult it is for new entrants to enter into the industry. This can involve for example: * Cost advantages (economies of scale, economies of scope) * Access to production inputs and financing, * Government policies and taxation * Production cycle and learning curve * Capital requirements * Access to distribution channels Patents, branding, and image also fall into this category. Force 2: Threat of substitutes Every top decision maker has to ask: How easy can our product or service be substituted? The following needs to be analyzed: * How much does it cost the customer to switch to competing products or services? * How likely are customers to switch? * What is the price-performance trade-off of substitutes? If a product can be easily substituted, then it is a threat to the company because it can compete with price only. Force 3: Competitive Rivalry In this,we have to analyze the level of competition between existing players in the industry. * Is one player very dominant or all equal in strength/size? * Are there exit barriers? * How fast does the industry grow? * Does the industry operate at surplus or shortage? * How is the industry concentrated? * How do customers identify themselves with your brand? * Is the product differentiated? * How well are rivals diversified? Force 4: Bargaining power of buyers Now the question is how strong the position of buyers is. For example,cancustomerswork together to order large volumes to squeeze your profit margins? The following is a list of other examples: * Buyer volume and concentration * What information buyershave * Competitive price * How loyal are customers to your brand * Price sensitivity * Threat of backward integration * How well differentiated your product is * Availability ofsubstitutes Having a customer that has the leverage to dictate your prices is not a good position. Force 5: Bargaining power of suppliers This relates to what your suppliers can do in relationship with you. * How strong is the position of sellers? * Are there many or only few potential suppliers? * Is there a monopoly? * Do you take inputs from a single supplier or from a group? (concentration) * How much do you take from each of your suppliers? * Can you easily switch from one supplier to another one? (switching costs) * If you switch to another supplier, will it affect the cost and differentiation of your product? * Are there other suppliers with the same inputs available? (substitute inputs) Need for Porters five forces Model In general, any CEO or a strategic business manager is trying to steer his or her business in a direction where the businesswill develop an edge over rival firms. Michael Porters model of Five Forcescan be used to better understand the industry context in which the firm operates. Porters Five Forces model is a strategy tool that is used to analyze attractiveness of an industry structure. Porters Five Forces modelviews thebusiness fromoutside. It focuses on assessing competitive position within industry .Porters Five Forces model in the internal view. Automobile Industry The auto manufacturing industry is considered to be highlycapital and labor intensive. The major costs for producing and selling automobiles include: Labor While machines and robots are playing a greater role in manufacturing vehicles, there are still substantial labor costs in designing and engineering automobiles. Advertising Each year automakers spend billions on print and broadcast advertising, furthermore, they spent large amounts of money on market research to anticipate consumer trends and preferences. The auto market is thought to be made primarily of automakers, but auto parts makes up anotherlucrative sector of the market. The major areas of auto parts manufacturing are: Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) The big auto manufacturers do produce some of their own parts, but they cant produce every part and component that goes into a new vehicle. Companies in this industry manufacture everything from door handles to seats. Replacement Parts Production and Distribution These are the parts that are replaced after the purchase of a vehicle. Air filters, oil filers and replacement lights are examples of products from this area of the sector. Rubber Fabrication This includes everything from tires, hoses, belts, etc. In auto industry, a large proportion of revenue comes from selling automobiles. The parts market is even more lucrative. For example, a new car might cost $18,000 to buy, but if you bought, from the automaker, all the parts needed to construct that car, it would cost 300-400% more ./p A significant portion of an automakers revenue comes from the services itoffers with the new vehicle. Offering lower financial rates than financial institutions, the car company makes a profit on financing. Extended warranties also factor into the bottom line. Greater emphasis on leasing has also helped increase revenues. The advantage of leasing is that it eases consumer fears about resale value, and it makes the car sound more affordable. From a makers perspective, leasing is a great way to hide the true price of the vehicle through financing costs. Car companies, then, are able to push more cars through. Unfortunately, profiting on leasing is not as easy as it sounds. Leasing requires the automakers to accurately judge the value of their vehicles at the end of the lease, otherwise they may actually lose money. Indian Automobile Industry The Indian automobile industry is the tenth largest in the world with an annual production of approximately 2 million units. Indian auto industry, promises to become the major automotive industry in the upcoming years and the industry experts are hopeful that it will touch 10 million units mark. Indian automobile industry is involved in design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles. There are a number of global automotive giants that are upbeat about the expansion plans and collaboration with domestic companies to produce automobiles in India. Major car manufacturers The major car manufacturers in India are Maruti Udyog, Hyundai Motors India Ltd., General Motors India Pvt. Ltd., Honda Siel Cars India Ltd., Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd., Hindustan Motors etc.The two-wheeler manufacturers in India are Honda Motorcycle Scooter India (Pvt.) Ltd., TVS, Hero Honda, Yamaha, Bajaj, etc. The heavy motors including buses, trucks, auto rickshaws and multi-utility vehicles are manufactured by Tata-Telco, Eicher Motors, Bajaj, Mahindra and Mahindra, etc. * The passenger car segment in the Indian auto industry is growing by 8-9 percent. * Commercial vehicle will grow by 5.2 per cent. * India is a potential emerging auto market. * Motorcycles contribute 80% of the two-wheeler industry. * India is the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world. * Indias motorcycle segment will grow by 8-9 percent in the coming years. 11. India is the fifth largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in the world. 12. India has the number one global motorcycle manufacturer. 13. In Asia, India is the fourth largest car market. * Unlike the USA, the Indian passenger vehicle market is dominated by cars (79%). Used car Market The new chapter in the automobile industry is that of used cars. The massive demand of used cars indicates that cars are becoming increasingly popular. Those who cant afford the luxury cars and their high prices are opting for used cars. In todays time, customers are conscious and diligently investing on car dealership. Car buyers are investing heavily a lot of time for both to sell a car and buy car. Theres also a number of car websites that have offering detailed information on new car prices, used cars, car reviews, Chevrolet cars, jaguar cars and luxury cars. Market Share At present major Indian, European, Korean, Japanese automobile companies are holding significant market shares. In commercial vehicle, Tata Motors dominates over 60% of the Indian commercial vehicle market. Tata Motors is the largest medium and heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer.Car manufacturers in India dominate the passenger vehicle market by 79%. Maruti Suzuki is the largest car producer in India and has 52% share in passenger cars and is a complete monopoly in multi purpose vehicles. In utility vehicles Mahindra holds 42% share. Hyundai and Tata Motors is the second and third car producer in India The automobile Industry in India is now working in terms of the dynamics of an open market. Many joint ventures have been set up in India with foreign collaboration, both technical and financial with leading global manufacturers. Also a very large number of joint ventures have been set up in the auto-components sector and the pace is expected to pick up even further. The Government of India is keen to provide a suitable economic, and business environment conducive to the success of the established and prospective foreign partnership ventures. $5.7 billion is the investment envisaged in the new vehicles projects. Porters five forces model on Automobile Industry 1. Barriers to Entry Its true that the average person cant come along and start manufacturing automobiles. The emergence of foreign competitors with the capital, required technologies and management skills began to undermine the market share of many automobile companies. Globalization the tendency of  world investment and businesses to move from national and domestic markets to a worldwide environment, is a huge factor affecting the auto market. More than ever, itis becoming easier for foreign automakers to enter the Domestic market .Automobiles depend heavily on consumer trends and tastes. While car companies do sell a large proportion of vehicles to businesses and car rental companies (fleet sales), consumer sales is the largest source of revenue. For this reason, taking consumer and business confidence into accountshould be ahigher priority than considering the regular factors like earnings growth anddebt load . 2. Threat of Substitutes Rather than looking at the threat of someone buying a different car, there is also need to also look at the likelihood of people taking the bus, train or airplane to their destination. The higher the cost of operating a vehicle, the more likely people will seek alternative transportation options. The price of gasoline has a large effect on consumers decisions to buy vehicles. Trucks and sport utility vehicles have higher profit margins, but they also guzzle gas compared to smaller sedans and light trucks. When determining the availability of substitutes you should also consider time, money, personal preference and convenience in the auto travel industry. Then decide if one car maker poses a big threat as a substitute. 3. Competitive Rivalry Highly competitive industries generally earn low returns because the cost of competition is high. The auto industry is considered to be an oligopoly (A market condition in which sellers are so few that the actions of any one of them will materially affect price) which helps to minimize the effects of price-based competition. The automakers understand that price-based competition does not necessarily lead to increases in the size of the marketplace, historically they have tried to avoid price-based competition, but more recently the competition has intensified rebates, preferred financing and long-term warranties have helped to lure in customers, but they also put pressure on the profit margins for vehicle sales. Every year, car companies update their cars. This is a part of normal operations, but there can be a problem when a company decides to significantly change the design of a car. These changes can cause massive delays and glitches, which result in increased costs and slower revenue growth. While a new design may pay off significantly in the long run, its always a risky proposition 4. Bargaining Power of Suppliers The automobile supply business is quite  fragmented (there are many firms). Many suppliers rely on one or two automakers to buy a majority of their products. If an automaker decided to switch suppliers, it could be devastating to the previous suppliers business. As a result, suppliers are extremely susceptible to the demands and requirements of the automobile manufacturer and hold very little power. For parts suppliers, the life span of an automobile is very important. The longer a car stays operational, thegreater theneed for replacement parts. On the other hand, new parts are lasting longer, which is great for consumers, but is not suchgood news for parts makers. When, for example, most car makers moved from using rolled steel to stainless steel, the change extended the life of parts by several years. 5. Bargaining Power of Buyers -The bargaining power of automakers are unchallenged. Consumers may become dissatisfied with many of the products being offered by certain automakers and began looking for alternatives, namely foreign cars. On the other hand, while consumers are very price sensitive, they dont have much buying power as they never purchase huge volumes of cars. Example : Porters 5 Forces Model of the NANO car There is continuing interest in the study of the forces that impact on an organisation, particularly those that can be harnessed to provide competitive advantage. The ideas and models which emerged during the period from 1979 to the mid-1980s were based on the idea that competitive advantage came from the ability to earn a return on investment that was better than the average for the industry sector. As Porters 5 Forces analysis deals with factors outside an industry that influence the nature of competition within it, the forces inside the industry (microenvironment) that influence the way in which firms compete . BARRIERS TO ENTRY Time and cost of entry Time is most essential thing while launching a product in any market. The launch of the NANO is quite viable as the demand of the small car is on the rise in the market. By the cost of the entry we mean the initial capital required to set up a new firm is very high, it makes the chances of the chances of new entrants are very less. Knowledge and Technology Ideas and Knowledge that provides competitive advantage over others when patented, preventing others from using it and thus creates  barrier to entry. The TATA motors have great knowledge/ experience in the automobile industry and has renowned technological advantage because of the recent acquisition and mergers. Product Differentiation and Cost Advantage The new product has to be different and attractive to be accepted by the customers. Attractiveness can be measured in the terms of the features , price etc. At this level the price of the NANO car was one thing that is attracting customers. And above all this the image , trust the name TATA carries with it. Government Policy and Expected Retaliation Although governments job is to preserve free competitive market, it restricts competition through regulations and restrictions. The government tried to promote the TATA Motors to start a plant by providing land and tax rebates. But the unexpected retaliation by the local people surface in the setting up of the plant which costed the company a lot. Access to Distribution Channels When a new product a launched a well developed distribution is must for its success. The TATA motors had a advantage of well established distribution channel across the world. SUBSTITUTES Price band The threat that consumer will switch to a substitute product if there has been an increase in price of the product or there has been a decrease in price of the substitute product. If the price of the NANO car will increase the main expected customers ie the one switching from bike to car will not move to car and will remain in the bike only. Thus the price is kept checked in this manner. Substitutes performance The performance of the substitute sector will also play a important role in the success of the NANO car. If the price of the Bike segment increases or the price band of the small segment fall , it will have effect on the quantity required in the market. Its just on the price but also the features and the other services associated or it may be the status symbol story. The success of the electric car segment with player like REVA can also effect the demand of the NANO. Buyers willingness Products with improving price/performance tradeoffs relative to present industry products. It will determine the willingness of the buyer to but the NANO car.The willingness of the customers to go forward try the new product in the market ie NANO. They might be willing to go for the test products like Maruti 800 , Santro etc. COMPETITIVE RIVALRY Number and Diversity of Competitor This describes the competition between the existing firms in an industry. the current Business Policy Competitive Strategy scenario, the small car market in India is very competitive with players like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai etc. which was pretty much dominated by Maruti. But with launch of Nano the 1 lakh car the whole momentum of the market has shifted. Now to be competitive in market other companies have to either slash rates of their existing model or have to go back to the drawing board and build again. Price Competition Advertising battles may increase total industry demand, but may be costly to smaller competitors. Products with similar function limit the prices firms can charge. Price competition often leaves the entire industry worse off. NANO is the only player so it has the price freedom but as the Maruti and Honda are also planning to launch the car in the same segment the price competition will start. Exit Barriers Even if the product fails in the market its not that easy for the company to exit the market just like that because of the heavy investment it has made in the initial stage. If the NANO fails or falls flat the TATA motors will not be in a state to slow done the product even when NANO production line can be used by the other products after few modification as for NANO only the new product line were setup and huge cost were incurred. Product Quality Increasing consumer warranties or service is very common these days. To maintain low cost, companies consistently has to make manufacturing improvements to keep the business competitive. This requires additional capital expenditure which tends to eat up companys earning. On the other hand if no one else can provide products/ services the way you do you have a monopoly. NANO enjoys the monopoly are there are no competitors in this segment. BUYERS Switching Costs If switching to another product is simple and cheap the customers does not think much before doing it. In case of NANO car the switching cost from bike to car is too high. Thus increasing the demand of the car many fold. Number of customers/ Volume of sales If there are few buyers then they are able to dictate the terms. They pull down the cost by Bargaining. The bargaining power of buyer is high as there are lot of choice available to the buyer and the service do not vary from one manufacturer to  the other. They force the manufactures to improve the quality. All this can be clearly seen in the case of NANO car the price tag at which it has been offered or the quality of the NANO car no compromises has been done at any front. Brand Image The brand image of the TATA and the segment in which the NANO has been the most attractive thing in the entire package. SUPPLIERS Number and Size of Suppliers A company to manufacture its products requires raw material, labor etc. If there are few suppliers providing material essential to make a product then they can set the price high to capture more profit. Powerful suppliers can squeeze industry profitability to great extend. In case of NANO the supplier are limited and the size of the suppliers are big enough to bring about the controlling power in the price of the car. The NANO car has more than 128 suppliers in all and the major portion of the building cost of the car is the parts supplied by the suppliers. Unique Service / Product Suppliers products have few substitutes. Supplier industry is dominated by a few firms. The some parts of the NANO car are obtain from the supplier who them are big enough and limited substitutes are available against them. So the entire production line depends upon them only. Ability to substitute Suppliers products have high switching costs. In many case even when substitute are available its not that easy to opt for substitute as the next product in the assembly line depends upon it. If the change in the any part is brought about the long list of depended parts also have to be changed , which in most cases is not feasible to do. Tata motors strengths The internationalisation strategy so far has been to keep local managers in new acquisitions, and to only transplant a couple of senior managers from India into the new market. The benefit is that Tata has been able to exchange expertise. For example after the Daewoo acquisition the Indian company leaned work discipline and how to get the final product right first time. ï‚ · Tata Motors Limited acquired Daewoo Motors Commercial vehicle business in 2004 for around USD $16 million. ï‚ · The company has had a successful alliance with Italian mass producer Fiat since 2006. This has  enhanced the product portfolio for Tata and Fiat in terms of production, knowledge exchange , logistics and its infrastructure.   In the summer of 2008 Tata Motors successfully purchased the Land Rover and Jaguar brands from Ford Motors for UK 2.3 million. Two of the Worlds luxury car brand have been added to its portfolio of brands, and has undoubtedly off the company the chance to market vehicles in the luxury segments. ï‚ · NANO is the cheapest car in the World. The range of Super Milo fuel efficient buses are powered by super-efficient, eco-friendly engines. Tata motors weaknesses The companys passenger car products are based upon 3rd and 4th generation platforms, which put Tata Motors Limited at a disadvantage with competing car manufacturers. Despite buying the Jaguar and Land Rover brands Tata has not got a foothold in the luxury car segment in its domestic, Indian market. The brand associated with commercial vehicles and low-cost passenger cars to the extent that it has isolated itself from lucrative segments in a more aspiring India. ï‚ · Other competing car manufacturers have been in the passenger car business for 40, 50 or more years. Therefore Tata Motors Limited has to catch up in terms of quality and lean production. Sustainability and environmentalism could mean extra costs for this low-cost producer. This could impact its underpinning competitive advantage. Obviously, as Tata globalises and buys into other brands this problem could be alleviated. Attractiveness of the Automobile Industry for Investment purpose Economic reforms and deregulation have transformed that scene. India has already become one of the fastest growing automobile markets in the world. The Indian automobile industry is going through a technological change where each firm is engaged in changing its processes and technologies to maintain the competitive advantage and provide customers with the optimized products and services. Starting from the two wheelers, trucks, and tractors to the multi utility vehicles, commercial vehicles and the luxury vehicles, the Indian automobile industry has achieved splendid achievement in the recent years. In the Indian economy, auto industry maintains a high-flying place. Automobile industry has a strong multiplier effect and is capable of being the driver of economic growth. A sound transportation system plays an  essential role in the countrys rapid economic and industrial development. The well-developed Indian automotive industry skillfully fulfils this catalytic role by producing a wide variety of vehicles: passenger cars, light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, multi-utility vehicles such as jeeps, scooters, motorcycles, mopeds, three wheelers, tractors etc. The automotive sector is one of the core industries of the Indian economy, whose prospect is reflective of the economic resilience of the country. Continuous economic liberalization over the years by the government of India has resulted in making India as one of the prime business destination for many global automotive players. The automotive sector in India is growing at around 18 per cent per annum. The auto industry is just a multiplier, a driver for employment, for investment, for technology. The Indian automotive industry started its new journey from 1991 with delicensing of the sector and subsequent opening up for 100 per cent FDI through automatic route.The automobile sector has been contributing its share to the shining economic performance of India in the recent years. With the Indian middle class earning higher per capita income, more people are ready to own private vehicles including cars and two-wheelers. Product movements and manned services have boosted in the sales of medium and sized commercial vehicles for passenger and goods transport. Side by side with fresh vehicle sales growth, the automotive components sector has witnessed big growth. The domestic auto components consumption has crossed rupees 9000 crore and an export of one half size of this figure. India is on the peak of the Foreign Direct Investment wave. FDI flows into India trebled from $19 billion in 2006-07 and $25 billion in 2007-08. By AT Kearneys FDI Confidence Index 2006, India is the second most attractive FDI destination after China, pushing the US to the third position. It is commonly believed that soon India will catch up with China. India is up-and-coming a significant manufacturer, especially of electrical and electronic equipment, automobiles and auto-parts . The country is expected to witness over Rs 30,000 crore of investment by 2010.Over the next one year, some 20 new cars will be seen on Indian roads. Maruti Udyog has set up the second car plant with a manufacturing capacity of 2.5 lakh units per annum for an investment of Rs 6,500 crore (Rs 3,200 crore for diesel engines and Rs 2,718 crore for the car plant itself). Hyundai and Tata Motors have announced plans for  investing a similar amount over the next 3 years. Hyundai will bring in more than Rs 3,800 crore to India, Tata Motors will be investing Rs 2,000 crore in its small car project. General Motors will be investing Rs 100 crore, Ford about Rs 350 crore and Toyota announced modest expansion plans even as Honda Siel has earmarked Rs 3,000 crore over the next decade for India a sizeable chunk of this should come by 2010 since the company is also looking to enter the lucrative small car segment. Commercial vehicle segment, Ashok Leyland and Tata Motors have each announced well over Rs 1,000 crore of investment. Mahindra Mahindras joint venture with International Trucks is expected to see an infusion of at least Rs 500 crore. Hero Honda is about to establish its fourth manufacturing plant. Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors are moving to the excise-free zones of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal for putting up new capacity. The growth of the Indian middle class along with the growth of the economy over the past few years has attracted global auto majors to the Indian market. Moreover, India provides trained manpower at competitive costs making India a favoured global manufacturing hub. The attractiveness of the Indian markets on one hand and the stagnation of the auto sector in markets such as Europe, US and Japan on the other have resulted in shifting of new capacities and flow of capital to the Indian automobile industry. Global auto majors such as Japanese auto majors Suzuki, Honda and Korean car giant Hyundai are increasingly banking on their Indian operations to add weight to their businesses, even as numbers stay uncertain in developed markets due to economic recession and slowdown. Moreover, according to a study released by global consultancy firm Deloitte, at least one Indian company will be among the top six carmakers that would dominate the global auto industry by 2020. According to the study, the car industry would see a massive capacity building in low-cost locations like India as manufacturers shift base from developed regions. Production Although the sector was hit by economic slowdown, overall production (passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, two wheelers and three wheelers) increased from 10.85 million vehicles in 2007-08 to 11.17 million vehicles in 2008-09. Passenger vehicles increased marginally from 1.77 million to 1.83 million while two-wheelers increased from 8.02 million to 8.41 million.  In recent times, India has emerged as one of the favourite investment destinations for automotive manufacturers. * German car major Audi will start assembling its sports utility vehicle Audi Q5 from mid-2010. The company plans to assemble more cars locally at its Aurangabad plant instead of importing completely built units (CBUs). * Ford India commenced commercial production of its compact car Figo, and diesel and petrol engines at a new factory in Chennai. The Figo will be built exclusively in India and exported to Asian countries and South Africa. * Japanese major Nissan has decided to shift the entire production of its small car, Micra, from the UK to India. After production of the Micra begins here, Nissan plans to manufacture four more models in India, involving a total investment of over US$ 412.2 million. * Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japanese auto major Suzuki Motor Corporation, plans to double production capacity of its two-wheelers to 300,000 units by the end of the current fiscal year. The company will invest US$ 26.77 million. * Volkswagen has set a target to localise production in India to about 80 per cent in 2-3 years from the current levels of almost 50 per cent as it seeks to offer cars at more competitive prices. Domestic Market According to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), domestic passenger car sales have increased 32.28 per cent to reach 145,905 units in January 2010 from 110,300 units in the same month last year. Across all categories, total sale of vehicles increased 44.94 per cent to 1,114,157 units in January 2010, against 768,698 units in the January 2009. Road Ahead The Indian auto industry is likely to see a growth of 10-12 per cent in sales in 2010, according to a report by the global rating firm, Fitch. According  to its report, Indian Auto Sector Outlook, competition in the countrys auto sector is likely to increase due to increasing penetration of global original equipment manufacturers (OEM). Conclusion The average person cant come along and start manufacturing automobiles. The emergence of foreign competitors with the capital, required technologies and management skills began to undermine the market share of many automobile companies.Rather than looking at the threat of someone buying a different car, there is also need to also look at the likelihood of people taking the bus, train or airplane to their destination. The auto industry is considered to be an oligopoly. Many suppliers rely on one or two automakers to buy a majority of their products. If an automaker decided to switch suppliers, it could be devastating to the previous suppliers business. The bargaining power of automakers are unchallenged. Consumers are very price sensitive, they dont have much buying power as they never purchase huge volumes of cars Indian automobile industry has achieved splendid achievement in the recent years. India is on the peak of the Foreign Direct Investment. The attractiveness of the Indian markets on one hand and the stagnation of the auto sector in markets such as Europe, US and Japan on the other have resulted in shifting of new capacities and flow of capital to the Indian automobile industry. India is a significant manufacturer of automobiles and auto-parts. Global auto majors such as Japanese auto majors Suzuki, Honda and Korean car giant Hyundai are increasingly banking on their Indian operations to add weight to their businesses .The car industry would see a massive capacity building in low-cost locations like India as manufacturers shift base from developed regions. Although the sector was hit by economic slowdown but it doesnt effect the overall production of automobiles. In recent times, India has emerged as one of the favourite investment destinations for automotive manufacturers. The Indian auto industry is likely to see a growth of 10-12 per cent in sales in 2010.Competition in the countrys auto sector is likely to increase due to increasing penetration of global original equipment manufacturers References http://www.workosaur.com/auto-industry-overview/ http://www.ibef.org/industry/automobiles.aspx http://www.investopedia.com/features/industryhandbook/porter.asp http://ayushveda.com/blogs/business/indian-automobile-industry-and-michael-porters-five-forces-model-of-industry-forces/ http://www.indiastudychannel.com/projects/2663-A-STUDY-OF-CONSUMER-SATISFACTION-IN-AUTOMOBILE-INDUSTORY-IN-URBAN-CITY.aspx http://www.scribd.com/doc/18220669/Michael-Porters-Five-Forces-Analysis-TATA-Motors http://www.automobileindia.com/automobile-industry/ http://www.wikinvest.com/industry/Auto_Makers Read more: http://www.businessteacher.org.uk/free-business-essays/porters-five-forces-model.php#ixzz2Hs7eQILu

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Nazi Propaganda Essay -- World War II WWII

Nazi Propaganda "Propaganda attempts to force a doctrine on the whole people... Propaganda works on the general public from the standpoint of an idea and makes them ripe for the victory of this idea." These words of Adolf Hitler are taken from his book Mien Kampf (My Struggle) published in 1926. Propaganda was an elaborate and essential tool used extensively by Hitler and the Nazi's during their terrorizing reign of Germany and throughout Europe. Not only was it used to promote and endorse the party and its leader's extreme anti-Semitic values, but also to mask the horrifying truths of what was to become known as the Holocaust. Anti-Jewish measures and programs have taken place numerous times throughout history, but never to the extent and successfulness attained by the Third Reich. A clear reason for this level of success can be attributed significantly to the abundant amounts of misinformation released by the Nazis prior to and during World War II. The degree of importance these public-swaying devices were to Hitler became particularly evident when he created the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, announcing a man by the name of Joseph Goebbels as the head. This was a section of his fascist regime devoted solely to spreading lies. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's websites describes, "The Ministry's aim was to ensure that the Nazi's message was successfully communicated through art, music, theater, films, books, radio, education and press." The measures that were taken to spread these hateful ideas and values are quite astonishing. Anti-Jewish books were even brought into classrooms, one famously called "Der Gifpiltz" meaning "The Poisonous Mushroom." The book contained differe... ...nd heartbreaking. While, fortunately their complete goal was never reached, it is alarming and shocking how successful and influential these campaigns were. Hitler's fervent hate of the Jews and passion for power mixed with intelligence and great oratory skills illustrates the power of persuasion and authority of propaganda in modern societies. Ultimately, the massive use of videotaped lies and printed fabrication non-directly aided in killing an estimated 6 million Jewish persons during World War II. Works Cited Giesen, Rolf. Nazi Propoganda Films: A History and Filmography. McFarland and Company, 2003. Hiemer, Ernst. The Poisonous Mushroom. Der Stà ¼rmer-Nurnberg, 1938. Powell, Lawrence N. Troubled Memory: Anne Levy, the Holocaust and David Duke's Louisiana. The University of North Carolina Press, 2000. www.holocaust-history.org www.ushmm.org

Monday, November 11, 2019

American Colonies in Early 1600 and 1700.

America’s colonial history can be described in terms of the economic, political and social events of the early sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The two centuries came with two sets of societies altogether. No historian will contest the fact that the start of the 1600 and its formative years marks the starting point of the American colonies’ history of existence. The American native society had a tight hold of their territories albeit without any form of a structured government but had a well organized defense outfit to check  intruders (Adams, 1921).The invasion by the English and other European giants and subsequent formation of the thirteen colonies was characterized by tribal and cross culture fights pitting mainly the native tribes against the colonizing English between 1600-1650. This points to an era of cultural disorientation and societal instability. Disease, poor weather and tribal warfare made it impossible for meaningful political, social and economic e ndeavors to materialize. Small-scale farming was the main economic activity in this era. The introductionof tea and tobacco in early 1600 gave the American colonies the opportunity of agriculture for trade and subsistence. The 1700 came with a different social, economic and political arrangement (Adams, 1921). The thirteen colonies each had an elaborate governance structure. The American colony of Pennsylvania had its first constitution in1701, no doubt then that the society already had a sense of respect for human rights and freedoms as they would call it ‘the Charter of Privileges’. This new set of laws guided governance and people’s conduct within and without the society (Schlesinger & Arthur, 1993).AMERICAN COLONIES IN EARLY 1600-1700Agriculture took a new angle during this era. Large scale farming replaced the old fashioned small scale and subsistence farming of the early 1600. Big plantations were put up by wealthy landowners of the southern colonies who al so engaged in hunting. This agrarian culture effectively put to an end the perennial hunger of the previous decade. There is a marked difference in the educational setup of the two eras. The early sixteenth century saw nothing much of formal education.Public schools were established and grammar schools became common place between 1700 and 1750. College education gained value and in effect Yale College was founded in 1701. Later, a pioneer journal was published and the freedom of the press and liberties was enacted (Schlesinger, 1993). The era of 1600-1650 had witnessed a culture of ignorance and disenfranchisement coupled with religious and cultural intolerance. Impunity went unpunished resulting in many killings and murders with anti-establishment figures being banished or executed.The society of the 1700-1750 era led a different lifestyle compared to that of 1600-1650. These people were a lot more economically stable (Gipson, 1936-1970). A pointer to this is their love for fashion and big life contrary to their early sixteenth century counterparts where starvation and hard labor punctuated their lives. The former had enough to spend and spare and even dress well owing to a healthy economy while the latter barely managed to scrape through life. The Great Awakening movement by Jonathan Edwards in the 1730s and 1740sdemonstrates a great difference in religious faiths of the two eras as he calls his group ‘new lights’ and the previous religions ‘old lights’. With this evangelistic movement, the religious and social orientation changes and differs greatly from that of the 1600 – 1650 era.REFERENCESAdams, Truslow. J [1921]. The Founding of New England. Atlantic Monthly Press. New York.Gipson, L [1936-1970] The British Empire Before the American Revolution (15 volumes) Pulitzer Prize.Schlesinger, Jr. , Arthur M. [1993] The Almanac of American History. Nobles Books, Greenwich, CT.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Sexual Orientation

Societal attitudes towards same-sex relationships have varied over time and place, from expecting all males to engage in same-sex relationships, to casual integration, through acceptance, to seeing the practice as a minor sin, repressing it through law entorcement and Judicial mechanisms, and to proscribing it under penalty ot death People with a homosexual orientation can express their sexuality in a variety of ways, and may or may not express it in their behaviors. ] Many have sexual relationships predominately with people of their own gender identity, though some have sexual relationships with those of the opposite gender, bisexual relationships, or none at all The Kinsey scale attempts to describe a person's sexual history or episodes of their sexual activity at a given time. It uses a scale from O, meaning exclusively heterosexual, to 6, meaning exclusively homosexual. It is based on actual sexual behavior surveys.Research indicates that many lesbians and gay men want, and succe ed in having, committed and durable relationships. For example, survey ata indicate that between 40% and 60% of gay men and between 45% and 80% of lesbians are currently involved in a romantic relationship. [110] Survey data also indicate that between 18% and 28% of gay couples and between 8% and 21% of lesbian couples in the U. S. have lived together ten or more years. 110] Studies have found same-sex and opposite-sex couples to be equivalent to each other in measures of satisfaction and commitment in relationships, that age and gender are more reliable than sexual orientation as a predictor of satisfaction and commitment to a relationship, and that people who are heterosexual or homosexual share comparable xpectations and ideals with regard to romantic relationships GENERAL Science has looked at the causes of homosexuality, and more generically the causes of human sexual orientation, with the general conclusions being related to biological and environmental factors.The biological factors that have been researched are genetic and hormonal, particularly during the fetal developmental period, that influence the resulting brain structure, and other characteristics such as handedness. [3][4] There are a wide range of environmental factors (sociological, psychological, or early uterine environment), and various biological factors, that may nfluence sexual orientation; though many researchers believe that it is caused by a complex interplay between nature and nurture, they favor biological models for the cause.Sexual orientation change efforts There are no studies of adequate scientific rigor to conclude whether sexual orientation change efforts work to change a person's sexual orientation. Those efforts have been controversial due to tensions between the values held by some faith- based organizations, on the one hand, and those held by LGBT rights organizations and professional and scientific organizations and other faith-based organizations, on the other. ] The l ongstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions is that homosexuality per se is a normal and positive variation of human sexual orientation, and therefore not a mental disorder. [9] The American Psychological Association says that â€Å"most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation†. 1 56] Some individuals and groups have promoted the idea of homosexuality as symptomatic of developmental defects or spiritual and moral failings and have argued that sexual orientation change efforts, including psychotherapy and religious efforts, could alter omosexual feelings and behaviors.Many of these individuals and groups appeared to be embedded within the larger context of conservative religious political movements that have supported the stigmatization of homosexuality on political or religious grounds. No major mental health protessional organization nas sanctioned efforts to change sexual orie ntation and virtually all of them have adopted policy statements cautioning the profession and the public about treatments that purport to change sexual orientation.Physical The terms â€Å"Men who have sex with men† (MSM) and â€Å"women who have sex with omen† (WSW) refer to people who engage in sexual activity with others of the same sex regardless of how they identify themselves†as many choose not to accept social identities as lesbian, gay and These terms are often used in medical literature and social research to describe such groups for study, without needing to consider the issues of sexual self-identity.The terms are seen as problematic, however, because they â€Å"obscure social dimensions of sexuality; undermine the self-labeling of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people; and do not sufficiently describe variations in sexual behavior† . 182] MSM and WSW are sexually active with each other for a variety of reasons with the main ones arguably sexual pl easure, intimacy and bonding. In contrast to its benefits, sexual behavior can be a disease vector. Safe sex is a relevant harm reductionphilosophy. 183] The United States currently prohibits men who have sex with men from donating blood â€Å"because they are, as a group, at increased risk for HIV, hepatitis B and certain other infections that can be transmitted by transfusion. â€Å"[ Public health These safer sex recommendations are agreed upon by public health officials for omen who have sex with women to avoid sexually transmitted infections (ST's): Avoid contact with a partner's menstrual blood and with any visible genital lesions.Cover sex toys that penetrate more than one person's vagina or anus with a new condom for each person; consider using different toys for each person. Use a barrier (e. g. , latex sheet, dental dam, cut-open condom, plastic wrap) during oral sex. Use latex or vinyl gloves and lubricant for any manual sex that might cause bleeding. [186] These safer sex recommendations are agreed upon by public health officials for en who have sex with men to avoid sexually transmitted infections: Avoid contact with a partner's bodily fluids and with any visible genital lesions. Use condoms for anal and oral sex.Use a barrier (e. g. , latex sheet, dental dam, cut-open condom) during anal-oral sex. Cover sex toys that penetrate more than one person with a new condom for each person; consider using different toys for each person and use latex or vinyl gloves and lubricant for any sex that might cause bleeding. Gay and lesbian youth See also: Suicide among LGBT youth Gay and lesbian youth bear an increased risk of suicide, substance abuse, school roblems, and isolation because of a â€Å"hostile and condemning environment, verbal and physical abuse, rejection and isolation from family and peers†. 192] Further, LGBT youths are more likely to report psychological and physical abuse by parents or caretakers, and more sexual abuse. Suggested re asons for this disparity are that (1) LGBT youths may be specifically targeted on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation or gender non-conforming appearance, and (2) that â€Å"risk factors associated with sexual minority status, including discrimination, invisibility, and ejection by family members†¦ may lead to an increase in behaviors that are associated with risk for victimization, such as substance abuse, sex with multiple partners, or running away trom nome as a teenager. [ Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Philippines have a distinctive culture but limited legal rights. Gays and lesbians are generally tolerated, if not accepted, within Filipino society, but there is still widespread discrimination. The most visible members of the Filipino LGBT culture, the Bakla, are a distinct group in the Philippines. According to he 2002 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey, 11% of sexually active Filipinos between the ages of 15 and 24 have had sex with someone of the same sex. l] Filipino poet and critic Lilia Quindoza Santiago has speculated that Filipino culture may have a more flexible concept of gender because kasarian, the Tagalog word for â€Å"gender†, is defined in less binary terms than the English word gender. [2] Kasarian means â€Å"kind, species, or genus†. [3] The English word gender originally also meant â€Å"kind†. Phil. Survey The Philippines has earned its ranking as one of few gay-friendly countries in the world. Of the 39 countries covered by a global survey, only 17 countries had majorities that accepted homosexuality, with the Philippines ranking at number 10 among the 17.Despite its religiosity, the Philippines is one of the countries in the world where the level of public â€Å"acceptance† of homosexuals is high, according to the results of the survey. The survey titled â€Å"The Global Divide on Homosexuality' conducted by the Us-based Pew Research Center showed t hat 73 percent of adult Filipinos agreed with the statement that â€Å"homosexuality should be accepted by society,† up by nine percentage points from 2002. The percentage of Filipinos who aid society should not accept gays fell from 33 percent in 2002 to 26 percent this year, it added.This high level of acceptance, which is comparable to that found in secular western Europe, is even higher than those found in Japan (54 percent), South Korea (39 percent) or the United States (60 percent), where some states allow gay marriage. â€Å"Brazilians and Filipinos are considerably more tolerant of homosexuality than their countries' relatively high levels of religiosity would suggest,† the Pew survey report said. The Philippines bucked the trend found in the survey showing that gays are mostly accepted in rich and secularized countries.The survey finds that acceptance of homosexuality is particularly widespread in countries where religion is less central in people's lives. The se are also among the richest countries in the world,† the Pew report said. â€Å"In contrast, in poorer countries with high levels of religiosity, few believe homosexuality should be accepted by society,† it added. Religiosity scale The Philippines is said to be one of the most religious countries in the world and almost a third of its population lives below the poverty line.In the surveys â€Å"religiosity scale† where a score of â€Å"3† was the most religious, the Philippines almost got 2. 5. â€Å"Age s also a factor in several countries, with younger respondents offering far more tolerant views than older ones,† the survey report said. And while gender differences are not prevalent, in those countries where they are, women are consistently more accepting of homosexuality than men,† it added. In the Philippines, 78 percent of those aged 18-29 who were interviewed said gays should be accepted, 71 percent for those aged 30-49, and 68 percen t for those 50 years old and above, according to the survey.The report also showed that of the eight countries surveyed in the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines nad the second highest cceptance rate next to Australia's 79 percent. â€Å"In the Asia-Pacific region, where views of homosexuality are mostly negative, more than seven in 10 in Australia and the Philippines say homosexuality should be accepted by society,† the report said. In contrast, only three percent of people in neighboring Indonesia, nine percent in Malaysia and 21 percent in China said homosexuality should be accepted, the report added.Not impressed However, Filipino gay groups were not impressed by the survey results. When asked if the gay community in the Philippines felt accepted, Jonas Bagas, executive director of the TLF Share Collective, said: â€Å"Hardly. â€Å"l think that the study only reflects the perceived acceptance of the LGBT community based on the high visibility of gay entertainers. It' s acceptance [that is] contingent on how you fit the acceptable stereotype†the gay entertainer, the creative, talented bakla, the lesbian security guard,† Bagas said. â€Å"Once you go outside these stereotypes, that's when you encounter rejection,† he added.Bagas said a Filipino student in a lesbian relationship faces higher probability of getting kicked out of her school than a student in a heterosexual relationship. â€Å"We still have strong biases against gay sex, which for any is still deemed immoral and unnatural. This attitude fosters inequality in our laws, in education, healthcare and even within the family,† Bagas said. The Pew report said those who conducted the survey had face-to-face interviews with 804 Filipinos aged 18 and above from March 10 to April 3 this year. The interviews were conducted in Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilonggo, Ilocano and Bicolano.The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 4. 5 percent. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transge nder (LGBT) people in the Philippines have a distinctive culture but limited legal rights. Gays and lesbians are generally tolerated, f not accepted, within Filipino society, but there is still widespread discrimination. The most visible members of the Filipino LGBT culture, the Bakla, are a distinct group in the Philippines. According to the 2002 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey, 11% of sexually active Filipinos between the ages of 15 and 24 have had sex with someone of the same sex. l] Filipino poet and critic Lilia Quindoza Santiago has speculated that Filipino culture may have a more flexible concept of gender because kasarian, the Tagalog word for â€Å"gender†, is defined in less binary terms than the English word gender. 2] Kasarian means â€Å"kind, species, or genus†. [3] The English word gender originally also meant â€Å"kind†. A bakla is a gay man who displays feminine mannerisms, dresses as a woman, or identifies as a woman. The term itsel f is not the equivalent of the English term but bakla are the most culturally visible subset of gay men in the Philippines.They are often considered a third gender, embodying femaleness (pagkababae) in a male body. [5][6] The term bakla is sometimes used in a derogatory sense, although bakla people have largely embraced it. Bakla individuals are socially and economically integrated into Filipino society and re considered an important part of society. The stereotype of a bakla is a parlorista, a cross-dresser who works in a beauty salon. [7] Miss Gay Philippines is a beauty pageant for bakla. Slang terms for LGBT people and concepts In the Philippines, the term gay is used in reference to any LGBT person.For Filipino gays, the Tagalog phrase paglaladlad ng kapa (â€Å"unturling the cape†), or more commonly Just paglaladlad(â€Å"unfurling† or â€Å"unveiling†) refers to the coming- out process. Tibo, T-Bird and tomboy are derogatory terms for butch lesbians Just as bakla is for effeminate gay men. Some lesbians, both butch and femme, use the erms magic or shunggril to refer to themselves. [4] Neutral slang terms for gay men include billy boy, badette, bading, and paminta (straight-acting gay man).While many of these terms are generally considered derogatory, they are sometimes used casually or Jokingly within the Filipino gay and lesbian community. For example, gay men often refer to their gay friends as bakla when talking to each other. Swardspeak[edit] Main article: Swardspeak This article may be confusing or unclear to readers. Please help us clarify the article; suggestions may be found on the talk page. (October 2013) Swardspeak, or â€Å"gay lingo†, s a cant slang derived from Englog (a Tagalog-English pidgin) and is used by a number of homosexuals in the Philippines. 12] Swardspeak uses elements fromTagalog, English, Spanish and Japanese, as well as celebrities' names and trademark brands, giving them new meanings in different contexts. [13] It is largely localized within gay communities and uses words derived from local languages or dialects, including Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Bicolano, and/or other Philippine languages. The use of Swardspeak once immediately identified the speaker as homosexual, making it easy for people of that orientation to recognize each other. This created an exclusive group among its speakers and helped them resist cultural assimilation.More recently, though, straight people have also started to use this way of speaking, particularly in industries dominated by gays, such as the fashion and film industries. LGBT Politics: In the Philippines, the Communist Party of the Philippines Marxist-Leninist and Maoist revolutionary proletarian party in the Philippines are the one and first to introduce and promote the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. They recognize the LGBT as part of the bulk of the masses that can encourage and recruit for their revolutionary work. The revolution ary leader admitted that in their rank.The wide spread of sexual intercourse within their rank and same sex that brought their party principle to set a guideline for those belong with the LGBT's. They also allow to married their fellow same sex revolutionary party member as long it will not affect their revolutionary task in the party organization. Document of the CPP-MLM guideline â€Å"Gabay Para sa Rebolusyunaryong Pakikipagrelasyon at Pagpapakasal† . Same-sex relationships data indicate that between ot gay men and between 4 expectations and ideals with regard to romantic relationships. Sexual Orientation In our day and age, being of a sexual orientation other than heterosexual is somewhat common. Though it is definitely not considered a norm, it is more accepted in most parts of the world. A few years ago, people who were not heterosexual had to hide who they really were in order to be accepted by society. Because of this norm, one automatically assumes they are straight whether it comes to themselves or others. So how do homosexual/asexual people become conscious of their sexual orientation? In the same way that gender is a spectrum, sexuality is a spectrum as well.There are four distinct sexualities. Heterosexual, or straight, people are attracted to members of the opposite sex. Bisexuals are attracted to members of both genders. Homosexuals are attracted to people of the same sex. Homosexuals can be called gay, for both genders, or lesbian, for females only. The last sexuality is asexual, in which there is no attraction to either sexes. Psychologists say that sexuality is determin ed in the early stages of childhood but is not a conscious decision. Basically, people are born with their sexuality.That being said, many parents assume there might be something off about their child if they show interest in activities meant for the opposite sex. If their little girl doesn't like to dress up and would rather play in the dirt, parents start to get suspicious. If their little boy likes dolls and is not all that interested in going outside or playing video games, parents think there's a possibility of them being gay. But a very important thing to understand about sexuality is that there is no way to tell what sexuality someone is just by how masculine or feminine they are.That is because, like afore mentioned, gender is a spectrum. There are gay men that are very masculine but then some that are also extremely feminine. There are lesbians that seem like straight girls to there because they aren't as masculine as the stereotypical lesbian. This applies to other sexuali ties as well. Straight men and women can also be very feminine or masculine, respectively. Personality and curiosity does not completely determine one's sexuality. Sexuality is not something that can be changed. People tend to suppress their feelings if they aren't straight, but that does not change who they really are.Many think that going to therapy can ‘fix' a gay/bi/asexual person, but that does not do anything either. It is not an illness, a mental disorder, or a problem of any sort. Just like being straight, ices who they are. Trying to change someone has proven to be not only ineffective, but also possibly damaging. Nadine and Vain are straight, and they know this based on the pure fact that they aren't attracted to girls. This wasn't a hard thing for them to realize because that sexuality is what is expected. Both have straight parents, and a majority of straight friends.There was never a need for them to have to realize that they were something different, because acco rding to society, they are normal. But someone who doesn't feel anything for the opposite sex, or feels for everyone, or no one at all, how do they know? After hearing the experiences of many internet sensations who have come out as being gay such as Connors Franca, Troy Siva, and Tyler Oakley (major supporter of GSA [Gay Straight Alliance]), we learned that they always knew that they were a little different, supporting work by psychologists at the American Psychiatric Association.In Connors case, he was not able to pinpoint exactly what was different about him until he was 12 years old, when he just randomly thought, â€Å"What if I'm game At 22, he did not come to terms with his sexuality until this year. Throughout high school, he dated girls to did his sexuality, primarily lying to himself. Once he finally allowed himself to accept it, he realized that his friends and family would support him no matter what, and that was when he stopped suppressing his feelings.Connors hid his feelings in fear that people would treat him differently and rightly so. People with an ‘uncommon' sexuality are discriminated and hated against around the world. The U. S. Is one of the most accepting countries for these people, but there are still hate crimes committed against them. Forget the crimes, gay people are not even allowed to openly serve in the U. S. Military. Until gently, Openly gay boys Were not allowed in Boy Scouts. Even now, if the boys are all staying in the same area, the gay boys have to stay in a separate area.Learning about all these things would definitely add to a person's confusion and cause them to suppress their emotions. Once social stigma against homo/bi/a-sexual people stops, they can be more comfortable with whom they are and the coming out process will be much easier. Once they realize what their feelings mean, the transition of their sexuality from subconscious to fully aware will become smoother and that is something we as a species should b e aiming for. Sexual Orientation In our day and age, being of a sexual orientation other than heterosexual is somewhat common. Though it is definitely not considered a norm, it is more accepted in most parts of the world. A few years ago, people who were not heterosexual had to hide who they really were in order to be accepted by society. Because of this norm, one automatically assumes they are straight whether it comes to themselves or others. So how do homosexual/asexual people become conscious of their sexual orientation? In the same way that gender is a spectrum, sexuality is a spectrum as well.There are four distinct sexualities. Heterosexual, or straight, people are attracted to members of the opposite sex. Bisexuals are attracted to members of both genders. Homosexuals are attracted to people of the same sex. Homosexuals can be called gay, for both genders, or lesbian, for females only. The last sexuality is asexual, in which there is no attraction to either sexes. Psychologists say that sexuality is determin ed in the early stages of childhood but is not a conscious decision. Basically, people are born with their sexuality.That being said, many parents assume there might be something off about their child if they show interest in activities meant for the opposite sex. If their little girl doesn't like to dress up and would rather play in the dirt, parents start to get suspicious. If their little boy likes dolls and is not all that interested in going outside or playing video games, parents think there's a possibility of them being gay. But a very important thing to understand about sexuality is that there is no way to tell what sexuality someone is just by how masculine or feminine they are.That is because, like afore mentioned, gender is a spectrum. There are gay men that are very masculine but then some that are also extremely feminine. There are lesbians that seem like straight girls to there because they aren't as masculine as the stereotypical lesbian. This applies to other sexuali ties as well. Straight men and women can also be very feminine or masculine, respectively. Personality and curiosity does not completely determine one's sexuality. Sexuality is not something that can be changed. People tend to suppress their feelings if they aren't straight, but that does not change who they really are.Many think that going to therapy can ‘fix' a gay/bi/asexual person, but that does not do anything either. It is not an illness, a mental disorder, or a problem of any sort. Just like being straight, ices who they are. Trying to change someone has proven to be not only ineffective, but also possibly damaging. Nadine and Vain are straight, and they know this based on the pure fact that they aren't attracted to girls. This wasn't a hard thing for them to realize because that sexuality is what is expected. Both have straight parents, and a majority of straight friends.There was never a need for them to have to realize that they were something different, because acco rding to society, they are normal. But someone who doesn't feel anything for the opposite sex, or feels for everyone, or no one at all, how do they know? After hearing the experiences of many internet sensations who have come out as being gay such as Connors Franca, Troy Siva, and Tyler Oakley (major supporter of GSA [Gay Straight Alliance]), we learned that they always knew that they were a little different, supporting work by psychologists at the American Psychiatric Association.In Connors case, he was not able to pinpoint exactly what was different about him until he was 12 years old, when he just randomly thought, â€Å"What if I'm game At 22, he did not come to terms with his sexuality until this year. Throughout high school, he dated girls to did his sexuality, primarily lying to himself. Once he finally allowed himself to accept it, he realized that his friends and family would support him no matter what, and that was when he stopped suppressing his feelings.Connors hid his feelings in fear that people would treat him differently and rightly so. People with an ‘uncommon' sexuality are discriminated and hated against around the world. The U. S. Is one of the most accepting countries for these people, but there are still hate crimes committed against them. Forget the crimes, gay people are not even allowed to openly serve in the U. S. Military. Until gently, Openly gay boys Were not allowed in Boy Scouts. Even now, if the boys are all staying in the same area, the gay boys have to stay in a separate area.Learning about all these things would definitely add to a person's confusion and cause them to suppress their emotions. Once social stigma against homo/bi/a-sexual people stops, they can be more comfortable with whom they are and the coming out process will be much easier. Once they realize what their feelings mean, the transition of their sexuality from subconscious to fully aware will become smoother and that is something we as a species should b e aiming for.