UtilityProbability Tree Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

UtilityProbability Tree Analysis - Essay Example However, if these hostages are booby trapped, there is 80% chance that some or all of the hostages will be killed and only 20% chance that all of the hostages will be saved. Considering both events, we can clearly see that in any event our chances of saving hostages are less than 50%. This means that it is more likely that all of the hostages will not be saved and hence we should plan our excursion in a way as to minimize the losses and to see if it is worth undertaking an excursion where all hostages cannot be saved. We should look at other alternative and make sure that if there are better options available where there are brighter chances of saving the hostages than the current situation. If there are other means and methods available then we should focus on the option where there is a most likely chance of saving the hostages. However, if there is no other option available than this excursion is the best possible option, and our team should focus on minimizing the losses as much as possible.

Holens Breakdown :: essays papers

Holens Breakdown â€Å"This fall I think you’re riding for- it’s a special kind of fall, a horrible kind. The man falling isn’t permitted to feel or hear himself hit the bottom. He just keeps falling and falling. The whole arrangement’s designed for men who, at some time or other in their lives, were looking for something their own environment couldn’t supply them with. So they gave up looking. They gave it up before they ever really even got started.† Holden Caulfield’s fall to psychological breakdown begins with his brother Allie’s death. To Holden, Allie represents everything that was good in this world. When Allie is first described, Holden only says great things about him. â€Å"You’d have liked him... He was terrifically intelegent... He was the nicest (member of the family).† Therefore when Allie dies, the good things in his world disappears. After this first major event, Holden gradually realizes that he is powerless to change the evil and corrupt world that he lives in. Holden is looking for something that his own environment couldn’t supply him, the only thing that he ever liked, Allie. â€Å"Just because somebody’s dead, you don’t just stop liking them, for God’s sake- especially if they were about a thousand times nicer than the people you know that’re alive and all.† Another early event in Holden’s life is the death of James Castle. Holden sees himself as James in many ways. James would not take back what he said about a conceited boy, and jumped out of the window before he would do something that he did not believe in. Holden is the same in many ways. He refuses to accept the fact that the world is evil, and does everything in his power to change it. â€Å"The mark of an immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature one is that humbly for one.† Another similarity between them both is that James was wearing Holden’s sweater when he fell out of the window. As he saw James lying on the ground, Holden sees a part of himself die with him. The part that dies is the part that believes in the goodness of people and the world. Holden’s tendency to get kicked out of schools is both a reason and effect of

Abortion Outline 3

Why choose Pro-Life over Pro-Choice Thesis: Although convenient, abortions are cruel, and inhumane alternatives to pregnancy. I. What is abortion? A. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy, either by choice, or for medical reasons. B. There are two possible ways to terminate a pregnancy (pill and in-clinic. ) C. There are also two kinds of abortion. Therapeutic abortion, which the baby is aborted for the safety of the mother, and elective abortion, in which the abortion is performed due to a choice that the mother has made for an unborn child. II. What is life? A.Most people who feel strongly of abortion and religion believe that life is created upon conception. (egg + sperm) B. Viability is when the fetus is 18 weeks old, and can live outside the womb. The fetus can still be aborted at 18 weeks, but if it were outside the womb, it would have the legal rights of a person. C. At three weeks old the fetus’ heart begins to pump blood to the body. III. Why is abortion chosen o ver adoption, or keeping the child? A. Some women feel its incontinent. B. Rape or incest only accounts for less than 2 percent of abortions. C. Since its not mandatory, some women don’t know the alternatives. IV.How is an abortion performed? A. There are 2 ways it can be performed. B. Aspiration abortion is the most common method of abortion. C. The average time for an abortion to be performed is 10-20 minutes. V. What are the legal attributions in an abortion? A. Abortions are 100% confidential (unless the patient is under 18. ) B. Obama’s executive order won’t protect the unborn. C. Since 1973 it has been the responsibility of 7 non-elected judges on the Supreme Court to make decisions on abortions for our nation. VI. Will the mother suffer any complications? A. Post traumatic stress disorder is very common among mothers. B.Many mothers suffer complications if they become pregnant after their abortion. C. 47% of women who have one abortion will have another. VII. Should abortion be illegal or just frowned upon? A. 53% of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in some circumstances. B. 22% believe that it should be illegal in all situations. C. Banning abortion, would make it a violation of human rights to some. VIII. Does ethnicity affect abortion statistics? A. African American women are almost 5 times as likely to have an abortion than a white woman is. B. The two main ethnicities that have abortions are Caucasian and African American.C. Most Mexican Americans are Catholic, and Catholics only contribute to 27% of abortions. IX. Abortions aren’t always performed in a safe environment. A. Unsafe abortions kill upwards of 70,000 women each year. B. Africa has the worlds highest maternal mortality (100x more than developed countries. ) C. In Latin America 21% of maternal deaths are associated with unsafe abortion. X. Unborn babies have characteristics of humans outside the womb. A. By 20 weeks fetuses have pain receptors. B. At 4 weeks fetuses can hear C. At 5 weeks the fetus is just a sac of DNA. XI. Abortion is not globally acceptedA. Abortion in Eastern Europe is higher than any other developed country. B. In Russia where abortion is legal 19/1,000 women have abortions. C. Whereas in Poland where abortion is illegal and highly frowned upon, not 1 % of the population has abortions. XII. Differences between pro-life and pro-choice. A. Pro-life tends to be more of a republican base and believe that everyone has a right to life. B. Pro-choice are more of a Democrat base and believe that a woman has the right to be in control over her body. C. Most people don’t know the extent of abortions, and their specific procedures.

The Effects Of Advertising On Our Daily Lives - 1614 Words

â€Å"Explain the evolution of advertising in television, from its early days until now. Feel free to bring movies into the conversation when you discuss product placement and product integration† The definition of advertising is â€Å"the act or practice of calling public attention to one s product, service, need, etc., especially by paid announcements in newspapers and magazines, over radio or television, on billboards, etc.† (Dictionary.com, 2016). Advertising has a great effect on our daily lives. The techniques used in advertising have changed greatly over the years. â€Å"Television is a visual and auditory medium that, unlike print media, affords advertisers additional methods and opportunities for influencing your customers decisions. The sights and sounds of television help advertisers appeal to different senses at the same time -- if a visual doesn t attract you, the music may, or vice versa. Unlike print or radio ads, which focus on one sense or the other, television advertising can hit your audience with both at once† (Ryan, 2016). â€Å"In the U.S., far-reaching advertising trends were established in the cultural and economic environment of the 1950’s. Traditional media such as radio, newspapers and magazines remained vital ad conduits during the early years of the decade, but TV quickly became a cornerstone of many advertisers national media plans† (Adage Encyclopedia, 2003). Advertisers selli ng techniques relied on methods including motivational research, demographicShow MoreRelatedThe Negative Influence Of Advertising In Our Life1239 Words   |  5 PagesAdvertising has become so prevalent in our lives today due to mass media. It is every form from print to online through social media and websites, advertising has never had this much importance. From driving in your car to scrolling through your daily feed every person is exposed to advertising in a variety of forms. Since advertising has become so dominant in our daily lives, each advertisement that comes out is critically analyzed by consumers, and many people see advertising as a very negativeRead MoreAdvertisement as a Social Phenomenon953 Words   |  4 Pages Advertising is an important social phenomenon. Consumers are constantly confronted with advertisements in our daily lives. Seeing as how advertising is such a large chunk of our daily lives, it can be assumed that it will have an affect on not only us as individuals but our society as a whole. My question is â€Å"Are the affects doing more harmful than helpful?† As you yourself are a part of the body of consumers, you should take an interest in this. Think about this for a second, have you ever watchedRead MoreEffects Of Advertising Essay1249 Words   |  5 Pages We live each day not knowing the effects of everything our eyes see. We live in a world where we contribute to the prominence of advertising; however, the effects u pon us are unknown. Advertising can be seen in the majority of the world, it has gotten to the point in which people become almost completely oblivious to them. People see advertisement in stores, in billboards, television, and even their homes. It has come to the point where people believe they are not affected by these ads but thatRead MoreThe Negative Effect Of Youth Health Essay1734 Words   |  7 Pagesis consumed by advertising. Everywhere we look, everywhere we go our eyes are continually be exposed to some form of advertising; televisions, media, magazines, bill boards and shops are some examples of places where we gather information from certain types of commercial advertising. Our lives are ruled by screens; it is inevitable that during our daily lives we are going to experience a sponsored ad, a TV commercial or a sexy, skinny model on the front of a mag. All these advertising elements mayRead MoreAdvertisement in the Digital Age Essay1159 Words   |  5 Pagesthrough o ur everyday life and we take our surroundings and the things we do for granted. Most would think that our routine life is just that a routine. Many do not know that the basic things we do are influenced by some form or another. From the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep, we are bombarded everyday by products that we perceived that we have chosen at our own accord but in reality was influenced through some form of persuasion by means of merchandising or advertisement. Over our lifetimeRead MoreAdvertising: the Good and Bad Essay1187 Words   |  5 PagesAdvertising is a persuasive communication attempt to change or reinforce ones prior attitude that is predictable of future behavior. We are not born with the attitudes for which we hold toward various things in our environment. Instead, we learn our feelings of favorability or unfavorability through information about the object through advertising or direct experience with the object, or some combination of the two. Furthermore, the main aim of advertising is to ‘persuade to consumer in order toRead More Advertising: the good and bad Essay1193 Words   |  5 Pages Advertising is a persuasive communication attempt to change or reinforce one’s prior attitude that is predictable of future behavior. We are not born with the attitudes for which we hold toward various things in our environment. Instead, we learn our feelings of favorability or unfavorability through information about the ob ject through advertising or direct experience with the object, or some combination of the two. Furthermore, the main aim of advertising is to ‘persuade’ to consumer in orderRead MoreConsumerism Is All Around Us747 Words   |  3 PagesRegardless of where our travels may take us, where our minds may wander, and how we choose to carry out the day-to-day happenings of our lives, the people of the 21st century cannot seem to escape the ever-powerful grasp of corporate consumerism. While many are aware that consumerism is all around us, few understand the true extent to which it impacts our lives. With constant exposure to advertising it’s hard not to get sucked into consumerism. The advertisements we see influence our spending habitsRead MoreThe Affect of too much Advertising725 Words   |  3 PagesIf you think excessive advertising is harmless and affects no one, sadly, you are absolutely wrong. Advertising has many problems and negative effects on people and you are right to be annoyed by the waves of ads you are attacked by everyday. The problem I chose to explain is advertising targeting teens tweens, this affects people by draining them of money, priorities, and even their social obligations. However, you can solve this problem by educating yourself and being aware of all of the marketingRead MoreMass Media and Popular Culture1367 Words   |  6 Pagesvideo games, and computer games that have entered the market and brought influence to people s lives. Mass media enculturation has impacted many people in today s society because the world is constantly being exposed to mass media in which has affected popular American culture. The impact that mass media has had on enculturation is invasive in communities because information is being transmitted on a daily basis. Television has impacted mass media enculturation in influencing teenagers and adults

Persuasive Essay On Gun Control - 1465 Words

After every highly publicized mass shooting, the topic of gun control becomes a political hot potato being juggled by the senators, congressman, and even the sitting president of the United States. It followed the usual pattern of condemning the shooter, questioning the ease in which the shooter was able to obtain guns, and with most mass shootings, proposing a ban on assault files used in the shooting. But within a few months, when the news agencies move onto other headlines, when all the hashtags on Twitter fall out of use, we forget about the gun control measures we were so passionate about and move on with our daily lives. This is when the lawmakers backed by pro-second amendment constituents swoop in and briskly cut down the proposed†¦show more content†¦Although gun ownership does not necessarily lead to more gun deaths, study conducted by the Harvard Injury Control Research Center analyzing the relationship between gun availability and homicide using data from 26 deve loped countries show that where guns are more readily available, there were more homicides. As a result, Americans face greater chance of death by firearms than the next five highest countries combined (â€Å"Homicide† 2). Lawmakers within the state and federal government are attempting to alleviate this problem. However, the majority of focus on gun control comes in the aftermath highly publicized of mass shootings, with lawmakers introducing new bills targeted at assault weapons commonly used in those type of shooting. While lawmakers have focused their efforts on introducing new bills to ban and restrict semi-automatic assault rifles such as the notorious AR-15, the statistics compiled in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Report show that rifles accounted for 4 percent of the murders committed between 2006 and 2011 while handguns account for 72 percent (Beckett). These new bills, even when passed, will have little to no effect on reducing the numbe r of gun related death. We must then ask ourselves why would politicians attempt to pass these laws that seek to clamp down on these veryShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay : Gun Control798 Words   |  4 PagesPersuasive Essay Did you know that in the United States almost 100,000 people are shot or killed with a gun in one year? 10,527 people die a year in handgun related incidents in the United States. This number, by far, outweighs the number of gun related deaths in countries such as Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan, which number 13, 22, and 87, respectively. What is the reason for such drastic differences in numbers? Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan are all countries that have stricter gun controlRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1753 Words   |  8 PagesPersuasive Essay Rough Draft The United States of America has a problem that is growing worse every day. American laws are not protecting its citizens from injury or death. You may think the mass shootings in America the guns used were bought illegally, but â€Å"since 1982, there have been at least 62 mass shooter carried out with firearms across the country, with the killings unfolding in 30 states from Massachusetts to Hawaii. Of the 139 guns possessed by the killers, more than three quarters wereRead More Persuasive Articles on Gun Control Essays607 Words   |  3 PagesPersuasive Articles on Gun Control Persuading an audience can be done in several different fashions, one of which is Hugh Rank’s Model of Persuasion. Rank’s model states that two major strategies are used to achieve the particular goal of persuasion. These strategies are nicely set into two main schemas; the first method is to exaggerate an aspect of something, known as â€Å"intensify.† While the second is to discredit it, which is referred to as â€Å"downplay.† Al Franken, Jeffrey SnyderRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1018 Words   |  5 PagesImagine, an America where no citizen, law abiding or not, has the legal ability to own guns. Three gunmen with fully automatic rifles walk into a crowded city and begin firing. No law abiding citizen can defend themselves. It’s hopeless. This future can only be prevented if Americans continue to keep the second amendment. We should keep the current gun control laws, but revise them to make them even better. Most gun own ers are responsible under the current laws, however, I think some laws need to beRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1245 Words   |  5 Pagesand time again. Due to recent tragedies involving firearms, the view of guns and peoples rights to own and operate firearms have been frowned upon and viewed in a bad light due to Media. News sources have cherrypicked pictures of tragedies and stories about bad instances of gun usage in order to fight for Gun Control and the suppression of Americans rights. Due to the recent Vegas shooting, the argument for Gun Control has never been more intense, and Media outlets are having a field day onRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control915 Words   |  4 PagesHistorically guns haven’t been a national issue. It is not until relatively recently that an overwhelming amount of people have been in favor of placing stricter laws on the owning of a fire arm. The call for gun control has become more prevalent in the eyes of the government and the people; the gun laws that are also often proposed are irrational and ineffective. One could not simply ban guns, it is comparable to banning a certain genre of music; it’s unachievable and would be a fruitless pursuitRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1745 Words   |  7 Pagescruelty to animals, and yet he was able to buy four guns legally (Rosenberg). That is the most recent example of why Americans need more gun control laws. Guns are not cool or makes you look good, they are a da ngerous piece of machinery that Americans take advantage of. The average American in the right mindset should not want to own anything more than one handgun or rifle for hunting or protecting their household. Gun control reform that limits gun ownership, enforces mandatory background checks, andRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1439 Words   |  6 Pagesreason why Americans own so many guns is because of the Second Amendment, which states, â€Å"A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.† (Rauch) This amendment guarantees U.S. citizens the right to have firearms. Since this amendment is relatively vague, it is up for interpretation, and is often used by gun advocates to argue for lenient gun laws. Hence, gun control is a frequently discussed controversialRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control967 Words   |  4 Pagessaid gun violence has gotten out of hand. This do esn’t mean that the second amendment is the cause of it. Gun Violence has become such a big part of the Second Amendment since they both play a major part of the gun industry. Guns have become such a powerful source to many individuals. With the second amendment placed, this means we have gun control, which are rules that regulate, the manufacture, possession, modification, or use of firearms by civilians. There should be a stricter law on gun controlRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1634 Words   |  7 PagesOver the recents years, there have been many arguments about the issue of gun control at the state and national level. In California, there have been a variety of enacted laws within recent years to address the issue of growing gun violence around the country and ways to prevent terrorist attacks. California s new enacted laws about gun control in the state range from abolishing certain features on weapons to restricting certain handguns or other firearms a person might buy. The legislative branch

The American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman...

The American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman The American Dream ~ for many, it is the unlocked door that leads to happiness. It is the hope for a future filled with success and fortune. Although most people have a similar idea of what the American Dream is, they may have different ideas on how to achieve it. For Willy Loman, a struggling salesman, achieving this dream would be a major accomplishment. Unfortunately, his unusual ideas of how this dream can be achieved prevent him from reaching his goal. Out of all of Willy’s unusual ideas, one major pattern we can notice is how Willy truly believes that popularity and physical appearance are what make people wealthy. We are first introduced to this†¦show more content†¦An example of how Willy depends on popularity to help achieve the dream is seen when Willy is having a flashback in which he’s speaking to both Biff and Happy about having his own business. The boys ask their father if his business will be like their Uncle Charley’s. Willy responds by saying that he’ll be, â€Å"Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not- liked. He’s liked, but he’s not- well liked.† From this example, it becomes evident that Willy thinks being â€Å"well liked† can make you successful. The most significant example, however, is also one that takes place in one of Willy’s flashbacks. Again, he is speaking to his sons about becoming successful. He tells them, â€Å"...the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want. You take me...I never have to wait in line to see a buyer. ‘Willy Loman is here!’ That’s all they have to know, and I go right through.† From these examples, it becomes very apparent that appearance and popularity are unusually important to Willy when it comes to being successful in the business world. As we can see from Willy’s ideas of personal attractiveness, heShow MoreRelated Destruction of the American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of A Salesman834 Words   |  4 PagesDestruction of the American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of A Salesman A white picket fence surrounds the tangible icons of the American Dreams in the middle 1900s: a mortgage, an automobile, a kitchen appliance paid for on the monthly - installment - plan, and a silver trophy representative of high school football triumph. A pathetic tale examining the consequences of mans harmartias, Arthur Millers Death of A Salesman satisfies many, but not all, of the essential elements of a tragedyRead More Failure of the American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman932 Words   |  4 PagesFailure of the American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman is a story about the dark side of the American Dream.   Willy Lomans obsession with the dream directly causes his failure in life, which, in turn, leads to his eventual suicide.   The pursuit of the dream also destroys the lives of Willys family, as well.   Through the Lomans, Arthur Miller attempts to create a typical American family of the time, and, in doing so, the reader can relateRead More Failure of the American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman907 Words   |  4 PagesFailure of the American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman    In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller forces the reader to deal with the failure of the American Dream(Field 2367) and the effect it had on the Loman family, how it ruins the life of Willy, and destroys Biff’s life as well.   By focusing on serious problems that the reader can relate to, Arthur Miller connects us with the characters facing these life-altering crisis.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To Willy Loman success is defined asRead MoreThe Survival of the American Dream in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman1110 Words   |  5 PagesThe term, â€Å"American Dream,† came from American historian James Truslow Adams who first used the term in his published book, â€Å"The Epic of America.† According to Adam himself, he believes that the American Dream is the â€Å"dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement† (Amadeo). The term has been used differently in today’s society and recalls it as maturing, getting married with the love of your life, havingRead More Myths of the American Dream Exposed in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman828 Words   |  4 PagesMyths of the American Dream Exposed in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman    Willy Loman, the lead character of Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman, believes in the myths of the capitalistic society(DiYanni 412). This essay will examine the impact of the capitalistic myths on Willy Lowman.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Willy believes in the myth that popularity and physical appearance are the keys that unlock the door to the â€Å"American Dream†. We are first introduced to the importance of popularity and physicalRead MoreThe Destruction of Willy Lowmans American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of A Salesman626 Words   |  3 Pages In Arthur Millers Death of A Salesman readers are introduced to Willy, an ambitious salesman who just cant seem to get a break despite his drive. Willys life is marked by failure, and an almost stubborn attachment to the idea of striking it big. Willys life is ended by his own hands, the result of a broken dream that lead to a broken spirit. In many senses Willy represents the idea of the everyman, the average working class man trying to get ahead, this is reflected in his attachment toRead MoreThe Importance Of The American Dream In Arthur Millers Death Of A Salesman2107 Words   |  9 PagesThus, in Millerâ€℠¢s Death of a Salesman, the different components of the American Dream can either work together, or destroy an individual in their pursuit of their ultimate goal are represented through Willy’s pursuit a tight-family unit and extreme wealth. The prospect of the American Dream destroying an individual rests upon the definition and action of that same individual. What one individual may see as a success in their pursuit of happiness may very well be seen as a failure in another’s. SomeRead More The American Dream in Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun and Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman 2744 Words   |  11 Pagesago, Americans were fighting for their freedom from Britain. Then, the American dream was to have freedom. To American then, being free and having their own individual country was enough. Up until a few decades ago, African Americans were fighting to have equal rights. They thought this was all they needed and they would be truly happy. Somewhere over the course of time; happiness had a new meaning for all Americans. Now material possessions are what it takes to be happy. The American dream is toRead MoreA Detailed Analysis of Death of a Salesman1199 Words   |  5 PagesLook at Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman has been accepted worldwide as one of the greatest American dramas to premier in theatre. The story behind the play is based on Miller’s interactions with his Uncle, a salesman whose efforts to obtain the â€Å"American Dream† and pass his success on to his two sons becomes his main focus. Miller’s life during the preparation of Death of a Salesman provides the spark and inspiration needed to pen a literary classic. Almost five decades later, Death of a Salesman’sRead More Destruction of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman Essay1042 Words   |  5 Pagessame dream that says this is a country where anything’s possible. No matter who you are. No matter where you come from.† -- President Obama, Commenting on the American Dream The American Dream is a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success. It is the belief that, no matter how poor you begin life, you can achieve upward social mobility for your family and children. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, crushes the ethos of the American Dream. Miller’s

It’s easy to become a football hooligan! Free Essays

With reference to football hooliganism in Britain and the latest theories and research, state your views to agree or disagree with the statement? Who are hooligans and why do they do it? Discuss the latest theories. Football hooligans are noisy, violent people who want to make trouble. Evidence suggests that most of these hooligans are in their late teens or early 20’s. We will write a custom essay sample on It’s easy to become a football hooligan! or any similar topic only for you Order Now And also that they come from mainly working class backgrounds. It is also suggested that generally hooligans are from low-income occupations- some are unemployed or are working in a poor economy. Hooliganism is actually non-violent. Hooliganism involves verbally abusing rival fans, threatening them with attack and most of the time they aim to have a laugh. Although seem of them do seem more interested in fighting rival groups who are, like themselves, looking for trouble. What is the motivation of the hooligans? There are many theories for this. The main reason is said to be the risk and excitement involved in hooliganism drives people (esp. them who are in their late teens or early 20’s). For example, the British sociologist Paul Willis (sociologist analytical theory) talks about the tension involved in the fight situations and the risk in these attractive situations is what makes them do it. The sociological approach also states that male hooligans are formed because young men are expected to be able to look after themselves. Fights can be prepared for and enjoyed, not only because of the risk in it but also because of how these fights make the hooligans feel cool and masculine (i.e. manly). Young men like these defend their own, their gang’s, and their town’s reputation against similar rivals who are aimed at playing against their hosts. Most of this engagement is about insulting and verbally abusing opposing fans, but core hoo ligans also enjoy a fight when they can get one. Not only this, but the rewards involved in such activities like the loyalty and the entertainment you get from hooligan involvement is very valuable for these young men whose opportunities for status and excitement from other ways are very limited. Heavy drinking, for example, is often considered having a good day out. Hence hooligans do this to get status and loyalty in the society also. The sociological approach also states that hooligans behave in this manner to act cool and to show-off (i.e. get attention). For example hooligans come wearing very fashionable casuals and try to compete with their hooligan rivals on the means of stylish and expensive clothing. The socialist approach also tells us to read the act of hooliganism as a form of resistance to the intrusion of more middle class sensibilities1 into sport and local cultures. The anthropology approach is more bent towards the theory that hooliganism is performed because of its attractions as social drama and the opportunity it provides for a sense of belonging, for competition and risk, achieving honor and throwing shame on rivals. Another approach/theory is the social-psycological one, which is based more on the meaning of the activity itself than on the social background of those involved. They see hooliganism as an example of the search for a peak experience, which is an intense, emotional experience not usually, encountered in everyday life. Peak experiences allow for an open expression of collective emotionality: an outpouring of joy or sadness, and a strengthening of a common social identity via suporting a team. Hooligans, like other fans, seek peak experiences through their involvement in football. These were the three theories for why do hooligans do what they do. All of these theories are convincing though we still do not have all the data required to agree or disagree with the statement. Do only the English Produce Hooligans? No. There have been many cases of hooligan violence in other countries- even the more serious ones. Some examples would be: * In December 2000 a match between Strasbourg and Metz in the French First Division was abandoned because an assistant referee was injured by a firecracker. * In Italy, hooligan groups known as ‘ultra’s’ clashed with rival firms and the police. * In Greece, AEK Athens were banned from playing in their own stadium for four matches after their fans threw missiles and invaded the pitch during a Greek Cup tie with Olympiakos. * Perhaps the most serious football-crowd disorder takes place in Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and South America where serious crowd rioting is much more common place than in the U.K. So it is not only UK who suffers from these troublemakers. Most of the world does. Is their hooliganism in other sports? Yes. Certainly there is. Hooliganism at sports like boxing, rugby league and cricket provoke very regular panics about the behavior of spectators. There have been disturbances even at horseracing competitions. But the difference is that hooliganism at football gets lots of newspaper coverage while the others don’t. And nor are these problems as routinised as they seem to be at football. I have seen hooliganism in Cricket myself in a match between England and India in India where some people started throwing water bottles (known as water missiles) and other stuff on the English cricket players. As we have read from the theories, the main of hooligan-like behavior is to get loyalties, be honored, and be involved in risk. Though the difference was that since it was an International match in India- there was no hooligan in the rivalry. Hooliganism is not tied to a sport as I said. Hooligans disturb matches because of the many reasons I have explained from the three different theories. Why is hooliganism linked to football? Well, I think that hooliganism is related to football simply because of the explanation given by the social theory and the others. The socail-pyschological theory tells us that these football fans have a passion for football. Hooliganism is a way to search for a peak experience, which is an intense, emotional experience not usually encountered in everyday life. Peak experiences allow for an open expression of collective emotionality: an outpouring of joy or sadness, and a strengthening of a common social identity via suporting a team. And since football is the world’s most popular and one of the most intense sports it has got more advertisement in that manner. Hooliganism in football would hence be the easiest and best way to get loyalties, raise your status, have a peak experience and have risks. This is what I believe. Does drink have a part? Yes, but not all the time. In the English society, drinking heavily is considered being manly. Males of all social classes are often encouraged to celebrate special occasions with their male friends by drinking to excess. Football trips abroad seem regularly to involve male fans drinking heavily together in situations where drink is cheap and easily available. On occasions like this, situations can get out of control because Englishmen placed in an unfamiliar, and perhaps threatening culture have had too much to drink. This may increase the chances of serious hooliganism. However, it cannot be said that drink is the cause of hooliganism- yes, it can make it worse. Are political groups involved? There is no real evidence that such organizations are actively and effectively controlling hooliganism in England or anywhere else. Though yes, there are rumors, which cannot be, carried true until and unless evidence is provided. What is the role of the media? It is true that newspapers report on football using the language which seems to derive more from the world of war than it does from sport. Maybe this helps to heighten rivalries between opposing fan groups. And my sources also inform me that so do the predictions newspapers sometimes used to make that trouble is likely to occur between rival fans. Media coverage of hooligan activities worked at promoting if not causing hooliganism. The main reason for this which comes to my mind is that since the hooligans are doing this to get honored and be involved in risk (using the theories) media coverage will amplify and multiply the effects and its significance. After answering these questions I can discuss a lot on whether I agree or disagree with the statement that â€Å"It’s easy to become a football hooligan!† Well, it is not easy to become a football hooligan- (from the theories we have) the situations and mental conditions of a person have to be very in a particular way to be a hooligan. In the below paragraphs (and some of the paragraphs I have already written) you will get to know from me that I do agree with the statement and I don’t also. It is easy to become a football hooligan only if the situations are perfect i.e. you are mentally down, you want to be entertained- to be noticed, to be involved in risk, you want loyalties, you want to act cool or you deeply love your football club (which is the least chance for a person to become a hooligan). Also it depends upon which nationality or culture you are from. For example the Indian culture doesn’t encourage us to drink (which may make situations worse) nor does it encourage us to get involved into fights of some kind. Generally it is very rare for Asians (i.e. Eastern hemisphere) to get involved in these hooligan fights. Not only this, but it depends upon the stable mentality of the person- if you are not mentally stable and are looking for attention- hooligan behavior might be the answer for your prayers. Also it matters what your status is in the society. If you are at a high post- fights and verbal abuses including so much life risk would not be the thing you would want to do- this may hurt your reputation. It is generally found that youths (late teens and early twenties) are the ones involved in such activity. This is because of the mental imbalances going on in their mind and how they react to what they see in the society. If you live in an environment where there is some existence of shame and security, a person would not get involved in such activities, (which is again found widely in the Eastern Hemisphere). If you looked at what the sociological theory is closely: The rewards involved in such activities like the loyalty and the entertainment you get from hooligan involvement is very valuable for these young men whose opportunities for status and excitement from other ways are very limited. Now, if you get opportunities and excitement and the involvement in risk (if required) from other ways (excelling in studies, participating in state or club teams and gaining reputation etc.) these activities will not at all be necessary to do. There is some affect of how you are brought up and what environment you live in. Peer pressure comes into play. And so do so many other factors. What I mean to say is that it depends upon how you are suppressed under the factors i.e. are all the factors positive to say that your requirements are of one to become a hooligan. It is very hard to answer this question that why some young men, rather than others, might find this sort of activity attractive and rewarding. Nor is it clear why, at particular times and in particular kinds of societies or in particular places, hooliganism of this kind should become so attractive. What my opinion is that things should match with those in the theories to give us some sense of realization that this person might be a hooligan because of these reasons. It is not easy to become a hooligan but it is not hard also. How to cite It’s easy to become a football hooligan!, Papers