A State of Mind for Peace

Colten,

In your last letter you wrote about how you are having a hard time getting along with your roommate. While I can understand your point of view, I think that it would be good for you and Tanner to figure out how to better communicate and solve your problems together. Have you thought about why you seem to be getting into arguments? Let me share an insight from an Enlightenment philosopher about social order that will help you to think about your motives and hopefully help you reestablish your friendship on better grounds of communication.  

Changing Propaganda: How Social Media Gives Power to the Individual

posted by Karee Brown

It started as a simple trickle of water running down the walls in the bathroom of the hotel room, but it soon turned into a steady stream of water coming from the ceiling. It didn't take long for the paint to begin peeling and eventually some drywall began to fall from the ceiling. My dad had been in his hotel room for thirty minutes and it was already falling apart. It was late and he didn't want to waste his time talking to hotel management. So he tweeted about his hotel experience thus far. To his surprise, the hotel management contacted him within the hour and offered him a new room and reimbursement. 

Why did the hotel respond? Because what my dad had to say about the hotel management and maintenance would influence the way that other potential customers saw that hotel. If my dad was portraying a bad image, he could easily damage their reputation. He was using the leverage of propaganda to get what he wanted. Quality service.

There has been a shift in the use of propaganda from the twentieth to the twenty-first century. This shift hasn't just been the medium that is used, though that is a factor. The shift is mostly concerning who is distributing the propaganda and how much power that government, company, or individual has. Just like my dad was able to spread an opinion about a hotel room, you can have power to influence. 

Although these companies and government powers have a lot of influence, you have more influence than you think. With the changes in propaganda from the twentieth to the twenty-first century (especially with social media), you can help government and companies use their powers to promote a more ethical society.