Friday, November 20, 2009
Chapters 2 & 3
Throughout America’s history, there have always been laws that regulated citizens’ personal behavior. Among the Puritans of the 18th century, for example, adultery was a serious crime, asThe Scarlet Lettermakes clear. Today we have laws forcing motorcycle riders to wear helmets, laws that make suicide illegal, and laws against speeding on an empty highway, among many others. Where should society draw the line between personal and political actions? Should society have the right to tell you how to behave on your own time? Why or why not?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
In my opinion, we should allow people to make decisions for themselves, and do what they want, as long as it is not interfering with the lives and goodwill of others. Adults can make their own decisions, wether they happen to be right or wrong, However, when these decisions have an influence on others lives, punishement should be the consequence. Society should not have the right to tell us how to behave on our own time because it is our own lives, and as long as its an adult, he or she can live their life however they want.
ReplyDeleteSociety should draw the line at the place where your actions won't harm anyone else in any way. If your actions won't harm anyone, then society shouldn't have any say in what you do. In a limited fashion, society should be able to tell you how to behave on your own time, as long as the laws are for your own safety or the public. For example a law against having nuclear bombs going off in your backyard would be okay.
ReplyDeleteSociety should draw the line between personal and political actions where the actions of others wont affect society. Society should not have the right to tell us how to behave on our own time. Because we should have the right and free will to behave on our time. It's our time not anyone elses.
ReplyDeleteThe line should be drawn at whether or not in affects others around them. If its personal then its really no ones business and needs to be dealt with the original person not the whole community. If its political then it should be delt by law and government and not so much just others living the same society as you. Society should not have the right to tell us how to live on our own time. Its our own lives and our own mistakes let us learn on our own unless it involves someone else. We should still have the freedom we were addressed to have.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we, as citizens, have the right to choose what we shall and shall not do as long as it does not affect others or society as a whole. If it can cause only harm to oneself, than the decision should be made on the person who is taking action. If it can possibly cause harm to someone else, than I believe the law can then step in. Otherwise, what we do on our own time should not concern others.
ReplyDeleteSociety should draw the line between political and personal actions through the cause and effect of those actions. If some of those actions put the society in danger then that is when they should tell you how to behave and if you disregard it puninshment should be put into action only if you are endangering the other person.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion society should draw the line at actions that are not only harming you but others in the process. All actions, to me, are the same, whether it is forcing motorcyclists to wear helmets, banning suicide, or fining someone for speeding on an empty highway. I believe that society should not have the right to tell us how to spend our time. As long as what we are doing does not get in the way or harm anyone it does not have to be stopped. If what one is doing is personal or political and not harming or offending anyone then there should be no action in stopping it. I believe that as United State citizens that we are able to have the free will to do what we wish with our time. Free will is a powerful thing and it is what allows us to be the country we are today.
ReplyDeleteI believe that society should draw a line in personal actions when one's actions exceeds the limits of someone else's liberty. Meaning that one has as much liberty and freedom as he wants to an extent that does not harm the others. We are all responsible for our own actions. Hence, society should not in any way whatsoever tell us what to do. It is our own life, and we get to choose how to live it. One may choose dangerous hobbies, however others do not. It is not society's role to choose our hobbies, therefore it does not have the right to tell us how to behave on our own time.
ReplyDeleteI think society has drawn the right line between person and political actions. Even though people should have the right to do what they want on their own time, society cannot allow destructive actions even if they don't effect other people. If people were allowed to speed on an open highway if no one was around, then what's stopping them from speeding when other cars are present? These laws are not in place to restrict people's private actions, but to keep order in society.
ReplyDeleteSociety should draw the line when any personal actions would harm anybody else. Society should not tell us how to behave on our own time. As in the speeding on a highway when no one else is around, people probally speed anyway, so why make it illegal? But society shoukd draw the line when a persons actions would harm people around them.
ReplyDeleteSociety should draw the line between personal and poltical actions when the people's actions couls harm others. I feel like people need structure to live an organized life. Without any sort of laws life would be chaotic. I dont think that we should be told what do to on own our time always, ut in some cases its necessary for he government to step in.
ReplyDeleteYes, to an extent. Suicide, for one, is not something that should be illegal. Who spent the time getting that passed. No one is going to get arrested when they are dead. But in another sense something like that is your own choice and does not directly cause problems for others so legislation should stay out of it. Same goes for wearing a helmet. If someone is going to risk their own life by not wearing one then let them go, if they die or get hurt thats their problem and responsibilty. For and instance like speeding though, there should be laws becasue that can potentially injure someone else. The individual is now not the only victim, but has brought others in so it is right to be made illegal. Basically if its something that is only going to effect the person doing it then dont waste time trying to control them and spend more time protecting people from others who could hurt them. Let people make their own stupid choices but dont let it affect others.
ReplyDeleteI think society should draw the line when it is interfeering with your personal life and it something you have to do everyday that just doesent make any sense for the benefit of others or yourself. No I dont think society should tell you what to do as long as it does not interfere with them beacuse everyone should have the right to do what they want.
ReplyDeleteThey should draw the lines when you do something that tries to change many peoples lifew, whether its a political action or not. IF you're doing something that can affect other people around you, that is when you're actions should be interfered with. Doing something in your own time that doesnt affect anyone else though shold absolutely not be regulated
ReplyDeletei think that society should draw the line between political and personal. It is true though that people need laws and order to be able to have a well maintained and organized community, but there is no need to place laws on peoples personal life , as long as peoples actions don't affect anyone else then there is no need for them .
ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion, society should draw a line between personal and political becuase even though we need laws, we need to be individuals too. As long as peoples actions do not harm the ones around them then they should be allowed to do it.
ReplyDeleteSociety should draw the line between personal and political actions when someone is acting out irraticaly and trying to tell other people what to do with there lives, (like the government). i personally do not think society should have the right to tell you what to do on your own time as long as your not putting someone elses life in danger while your doing whatever your doing.
ReplyDeleteI think that you should be able to do what you want. As long as you are not disturbing the peace then you should do what you want. Society should not tell you what you can and cant do, as long as you are not harming anyone. Hence the name "your own time" you should just do whatever you want
ReplyDeletePersonally I find that society should not tell you how to live your life and that your actions are yours to choose. Though if said actions directly or indirectly should endanger the life of another person, society should absolutely have the ability to stop and regulate your actions.
ReplyDeleteSociety should be allowed to hold restrictions when there is a possibility of endangering someone else's life. However, they should have no say in our life. We should have the right to make our own decisions.
ReplyDeleteA definite line should be drawn between personal and political actions. Society should have the right to protect you and others from yourself. If these restrictions did not exist people would push the boundaries and create chaos. Personal freedom is important and for the most part should be left alone however I believe society has the right to look after our best interests.
ReplyDeleteI believe that as long as you are not putting other people in danger that you should be able to do what you would like on your own time. If we were not allowed, this situation would parallel to the book 1984 how Big Brother is constantly controllng your every thought and move. If you are causing harm to others that is where, I think, society has the right to draw the line.
ReplyDeleteI think society has drawn a pretty good line between personal and political actions. Most of the laws made are to make sure you are not harming others which I think is good. Although, I do not agree with the law that suicide is made illegal because that is doing what you want to do, on your own time. Although that can hurt others emotionally it is not hurting others physically which i believe is fine because everyone hurts emotionally at one point or another. Therefore, society should not be able to tell you how to behave on your own time unless it harms others.
ReplyDeleteSociety should draw the line at whether or not our actions interfere with the lives of others. If they do, and if they do so in a harmful way, society should draw the line. Otherwise society should not interfere with anything involving your own personal issues.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal opinion I think people should be able to make their own decisions. The only line that should be drawn is if your decisions are affecting others in a harmful way you should be punished. Other than that I believe society should not have the right to tell us how to behave on our own time. If a person is a legal adult I think they should be able to do whatever they want and live the way they want.
ReplyDeleteWhere the line between personal and political actions should be drawn is very hard to tell as the two come so close in many instances. In some cases society should have the right to tell you what you can and can't do on your own time, but in other instances society should not be able to tell you what to do. If what you are doing can cause harm to anyone then society should have the right to tell you what to do, but if you are causing no harm than society should not have the right to tell you what to do.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there is a line crossed but to say at which point that it is crossed is a little shady. Laws making suside illgeal for instance is somewhat trying to protect individuals. As well as having a law that says all motorcyclist have to wear helmets. I think that most of the laws that tell you what you can do on your free time are to benfit you and the safty and heath. But some laws are crossing the line just a little bit.
ReplyDeleteSociety should draw the line between personal and political actions by giving people freedom but having a limit. Without some sort of laws our society would have a major downfall. If a persons actions doesn't effect anyone else they should be allowed to do it. No, society should not tell us how to behave on our own time because we should be able to live our lives how we want. This will bring society's consequences though. We should have the ability to have freedom and personal rights.
ReplyDeleteI believe that laws play an important role in our society. Although I believe that people should be able to make their own choices, but to an extent. Being able to make our own choices and acting like we want is human nature. Sometimes laws take advantage of that; though there definitley needs to be boundaries to keep our society sane.
ReplyDeleteThe line between political and personal actions has never been black or white but rather a giant gray area. As a society we determine where to draw the line, mostly when it becomes detrimental to others, yourself, and or personal property. I personally believe that laws are placed and enforced for the common good, however limiting your personal freedoms in order to conform to a strict guideline society has setup is plain ludicrous.
ReplyDeleteThere is a fine line between personal and political actions. I believe society should not interfere in our personal lives whatsoever, as long as our personal lives are not causing the harm of others. The choice to make our own decisions is rightfully ours to make, but there comes a point where law must set some clear boundaries to keep society in order.
ReplyDeleteI believe that in the public aspect or in the safety of people that there should be laws pertaining to what one does, but if someone is doing something that only pertains to themselves, them society should let them alone. I don't think that society should have the right to say how I behave on my own time because it should be my decision on what I do in my personal life. Society can't have a say in everything you do or else, like Carli said, we'd like in a world like the one in 1984.
ReplyDeleteI believe that adults should be allowed to act on their own as long as it doesn't affect the well being of others. Adults learn from their mistakes and if there are laws that don't allow anything to be done wrong then people will not think on their own. I believe society should not interfere in people's personal lives but they should keep the country safe.
ReplyDeleteSociety has drawn a serious line between political and personal actions. I believe that there shouldnt be as many restrictions on what we do with our own time as long as it doesn't hurt anybody or have any serious consequences. I should be able to control what I do with my own time and in my personal life as long as its not seriously affecting anyone else, society should allow everyone to act on their own without creating so many restrictions on whats allowed and whats not as long as its not hurting anyone.
ReplyDeleteI feel that YES, Society should have a say-so in what someone does in their own time. What you do in life, whether its solo, or with a crowd, is gonna factor out in the things you do. Although that is true, I feel that the whole suicide thing is too far. There shouldn't be a law preventing suicide. Thats between someone and GOD, nobody else. Something happening political, society should be able to tackle but something personal should be left alone.
ReplyDeleteI think that in a public setting society should have laws and restrictions for the way people behave.So that others are not hurt or put into situations that thier safety could be compromised. But in regurds to your own personal life I think that people should be able to do what they please. Many people are going to make the right choices for themselves which will be different from the person next to them.And in additon to that many people would not like a dictator society, that could come from having laws and regulations on a persons personal life.
ReplyDeleteI think political and personal mostly go hand in hand. I think adults should make there own rules to an extent. But the law should step in if something or someone is in harm. If certain things are not harmful to anything or person, then they should not be laws.
ReplyDeleteSociety has done a fair job with today's laws. The line needs to be drawn when others can be affected in any harmful way because of your behavior. We take care of that with laws limiting our speed. But laws such as whether you wear your helmet or not are ruthless. It should be your own choice as it doesn't affect others
ReplyDeleteThe society should draw line between politic and personal actions between how much of the personal actions effects the society. And no, society does not have right to tell you what to do or what not todo. As I mentioned above, you cannot just yell "fire" a movie theatre when there is no such thing happened, becuase your behavior will effect others. But on the other hand, we are protected by the constitution that we have the freedom of speech, freedom of press and more. On the issues like gay marriage and aborsion, I think is totally up to what the person what to do with it, instead of what the government want people to do anything with it.
ReplyDeleteI belive that in our day in age people should have the choice to make there own descions. However regarding saftey the goverment should force you to be safe because your saftey not only effects you but others around you. the goverment by no means should regulate waht you do on your personal time because it is your personal time. If you are a law-following citizen you shold be giving freedom. As long as you respect sociteys time socitey should respect yours.
ReplyDeleteThe puritan society and our society today very different. Their society makes our society now look careless and wild. As far as drawing a line , I think our line is fine were it is; After all America is a free country. In the puritan society you could be killed for adultery. Now the government has no say in that, besides your husband having the right to divorce you. Children with bad behavior could be taken away, they even whipped them. Now a days children with bad behavior is only the parents problem. Although if they whip those children then they are committing child abuse that is punishable by law. This is an example of Puritan Law and American Law at it's finest. I think it's safe to say that the government minds it's business when it should, but has laws that defy our country from instigating most problems. Such as murder, child abuse, stealing, and molesting. These rules stop most people from committing these crimes. I feel that the puritan society left room for error such as the witch trials. Our country bases our verdict on solid truth unlike the puritan's. So i believe where our country draws the line is were the personal problems are not messed with, unless the personal problems turn into public problems.
ReplyDeleteSo yes society should have the right to tell you how to behave some what. Because if they didn't our country would be anarchy. That is not what our country would want. So they can tell us how to behave in order to keep all of us safe.
ReplyDeleteLaws are in place for a reason but the line needs to be drawn somewhere. People should be allowed to make their own decisions until those decisions pose harm to the person or someone else. This is why we have laws against suicide and not wearing helmets. As long as we are not posing harm to others on our own time we should be able to make our own decisions
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, people need to make their own decisions based on their own opinons on the situation, and do what ever they end up doing, as long as it is not effecting others detrimentally. Adults can make their own decisions even if it happens to be the wrong decision. However, when these decisions happen to be wrong and negativly effect others, punishement should be the consequence. Society should not tell us how to live our lives, people should be able to lead their own lives and go down whatever path they please and society should not get involved with their lives.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a certain standard of political action is required in many cases because no one is completely perfect, and although man has come astronomically far since Salem’s witch hunts, regulation and care is still quite necessary. There are some people that believe that they should govern their own lives, but would good would that do? That’s the reason we have a government in the first place. We realized that we really couldn’t do without one, or at least our forefathers thought. I believe so too.
ReplyDeleteCommon sense would tell you when society should draw the line between personla and political actions when the peoples actions could harm others. I think people need structure to live an orgnized life, without any laws life would be chaotic the worl would have no sense.I dont think we should be told what to do and at some point the government steps in..
ReplyDeleteI think that society should definitely have the right to draw the line between personal and political actions. When it gets the point where the law inflicts a disruptment in someone's everyday life then there should be a change in that. Also if a law causes a person to have to purchase something and if they don't follow it then might have to pay more money then society should have some say in drawing the line.
ReplyDeleteThe lines of law should be draw at the expense or harm of someone. Law should not affect actions that may not inflict damages onto others or the inflicter. Common sense also pays a big role in the use of laws. People should be able to govern themselves until it is necessary that the laws step in.
ReplyDeleteI think that society should have control over the citizens when the action could harm somebody. If it is suicide or something of a personal matter, then I believe society should leave the citizens to their personal preference.
ReplyDeleteI think that if an action can harm either the person doing it, or other people around them, the law can step in. Even committing suicide, that doesn't only effect the person doing it, but all of their friends and family.
ReplyDeleteI belive that there is a reason these lines have been drawn. Sucide can SHOULD only be the act of taking your own life. But what if something goes wrong? You accidentally hurt someone else? What if, while speeding down that empty highway, you hit someone or something that tried to cross that highway. These are gray areas. They are there for a reason.
ReplyDeleteWe citizens should be able to partake in any decisions we choose. As long as they wont affect others, the decisions people make should be up to themselves. How ever, people should draw the line somewhere. If their decision is taken too far, society should step in, and take matters into their own hands.
ReplyDeleteAlison Fischetti Period 2 - Yes, society should have the right to some extent to control how people behave on their own time. This is simply because rules and regulations are for society's well-being and safety. If we just let people run wild with no morals or restrictions we would live in a world of madness.
ReplyDeleteSociety should not have the take to run our lives in our own time. We live in america, a free country where we all have freedom. We should be able to make our own decisions even if they are bad.
ReplyDelete