Power, Language, and Freedom (second response)

Molly Quaid
Mod A

Not only is language being used offensively, but it is also being used in a harmful, threatening way. After reading what happened to Ms. Crouch in Eastern Michigan with YikYak, it is evident that many people only know how to express their freedom of speech in a negative, harmful way. I disagree with the way the students were using their resources such as YikYak because using language and power to harm someone is not what language was meant for. Astonished was an understatement when I read that article because of how deeply it affected Ms. Crouch. Also, I felt very disappointed in the article "How to Talk to Little Girls" because it shows how many girls now see themselves and if it weren't for the negative, harmful use of language, many girls would not feel like they were fat or ugly and would not feel the need to become anorexic or have eating disorders. As the article says, it is very common for the first thing to do when you see a little girl is compliment her on how cute she is or how beautiful she is which shows how our society only portrays that looks are more significant than anything else. Having the power to say whatever you want is too much freedom for some people who influence society negatively, like many people who think a woman is only pretty when she is thin and has makeup on.