Purchase Behavior Of Consumers Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Purchase Behavior Of Consumers - Assignment Example The current sample is predominantly female, composing 83% of the sample. On the other hand, the remainder 17% are males. On civil status, the sample consists of 32% married respondents, and 68% single respondents.   The profile of the sample in terms of age is as follows: 25-

Listen actively Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Listen actively - Essay Example Listening to Olivia my childhood friend becomes a task when she has full five minutes to speak and I could not utter a word. Initial one-two minutes went good and I focused as much as I could, but the rest three were impossible to pass. She had been reading Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code and since, I have already read it before; the story entailed minimal interest for me. Secondly, I was having this surging urge to check my cell phone for facebook, twiter, email, messages updates. Overall, this experience taught me I am not a good listener and I rather like to interrupt the speaker to add my piece of mind. On the other hand, Olivia is good at listening according to her those five minutes were significant. Since, I shared my thoughts about bullying issues, which I have been facing in the school lately. I must say it feels refreshing to be listened intently and I shared the stuff, which I was not intending to share with her. Question 2: Recalled an encounter in which you were saying something important but the other person gave you negative feedback. How did the feedback affect your communication? Your relationship? Is negative feedback ever appropriate? If so, under which circumstances? I was out with a friend in the mall and we were just discussing some relationship issues she recently had. I do not like to share my personal issues with people as they do not understand how I establish actions to secure myself. After more than half an hour of sharing done by her, she started asking me a lot of questions. Initially, I tried to give secure answers by not giving answers which would depict me as a loser about my situation, but later on I shared a bit of my dilemma. Exactly after my sharing she abruptly started concluding pessimistically the whole story without empathizing. Her negative feedback made me more defensive and I got a little angry too and eventually this made me regret the sharing I did. For the next time, I

Study On The Marshall Plan

Study On The Marshall Plan The Marshall Plan officially known as the European Recovery Program or ERP, it was the primary program during 1947-51 to assist with aid. The United States rebuilt and created a stronger economic democracy for the countries of Europe. At the end of World War II, the United States went on a venture to rebuild Europe. General Marshall went all across the Continent to villages, towns and cities that had been pounded in to rubble. The transportation system was unreliable after the war. Bridges, roads and railroads lay wrecked and destroyed. Germany was ruined. Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and other European countries had been badly damaged. Millions of men, women, and children had been killed. Millions more struggled just to find food to eat and a dry place to sleep at night. Britain faced a desperate shortage of coal and electrical power. Trade was deceased, and factories had been crippled across Europe. Farms, mines and manufacturing concerns struggled to provide food, shelter, and clothing. Europe was starved for capital to reinvest in industry. They needed capital with which to relieve a crippling debt burden, and capital to enable Europeans to get their people back to work and adequately feed them. Reconstruction required products from the United States, and the Europeans simply did not have the dollars to purchase such material. The Marshall Plan was set up because of the economic disaster in Europe. It was the coldest winter in the record in1947. People died of starvation or either froze the death. General Marshall wasnt pleased with the conditions that these countries were in. He spoke with President Truman and said the world turn communist if its not jumped started. (Milward, 1945-51.) George Marshall (who had served as a general in the U.S. Army during the war) had been appointed U.S. secretary of state. The tragedies of the European situation became more aware to American leadership. A small recovery was already on its way, fueled by a little publicity of aid from America, mainly in the form of loans, fuel, raw material, goods, wheat, and US machinery to help get factories get back on their feet. The transport system was helped by rebuilding transport system through advis ers. They also had a very large number of Norwegian fishermen, wool for Australian weavers and new tractors for farmers. From July 1945 until December 1947 America funded roughly $11 billion into Europe. (The Marshall Plan, 2008). But this aid oriented toward relief and was largely unfocused. It had not achieved the progress that had been hoped for. A more coherent and effective approach was necessary. In March 1947 Secretary Marshall attended the foreign ministers conference in Moscow. Political and economic developments were not promising. Alarmed at the failure of the conference, on his return from Moscow Mr. Marshall declared that the patience is sinking while the doctors deliberate. (Martin Schain (ed.), 2008) Over the next six weeks the secretary set his department working hard to come up with a workable solution. The plan that eventually emerged was simple and broke new ground. America provided aid to European countries for years and agrees to respond cooperatively. Remarkable as it may seem from a Cold War perspective, this plan even envisioned including the Soviet Union and its newly Eastern European satellites. The goals were straight forward and alleviate the dollar shortage. This provided a catalyst for recovery to head off any provided many solutions. This act alleviated communist threat. The new program would target construction, investment, and new technology. It would include and involve advisers in economic modernization. America wanted a rebuilt Europe, in which nations would act together and cooperate as the American states had done for decades. This new aid would be issued over several years and targeted in a way that would help alleviate balance-of-payments problems. The economies progressed productively and cooperated between capital and labor across the region. This plan was publicized as a hand-up, not a hand out. (Martin Schain (ed.), 2008). On June 5, 1947 George Marshall launched the program during Harvard University graduation ceremony. Marshall described the dangerous situations in Europe and laid out the rationale for American involvement in nothing less than to lend a hand to help rebuild Europe. In what has been called the ultimate commencement address, Marshall argued that Europe must have substantial additional help or face economic, social and political deterioration of a very grave character. (The Marshall Plan, 2008). He thought it was only logical that the United States should do whatever it takes to assist in the return of normal economic health in suffering countries, without the help he felt there wasnt going to be any political stability and no assured peace. He made his point for why his plan was needed: The policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. The main purpose of the project was to be a partnership. It would be neither fitting nor efficacious for this government to undertake or to draw up a program designed to place Europe on its feet economically. The State Department was concerned about the speech they felt as if it was understated and short on specifics. By this American publicity was silent. Many peopled failed at first to grasp the importance of the discloser and didnt quite understand what was really going on. However, this was not the case in Europe. British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin heard Marshalls radio broadcast speech and immediately contacted French Foreign Minister George Bidault to begin preparing a quick European response to accept the offer. The two agreed that it would be necessary to invite the Soviets as the other allied power. When the Soviet ambassador in Washington saw the plans as creating an anti-Soviet bloc, Joseph Stalin felt that the Soviets should take the offer. Stalin directed the negotiations to be held in Paris regarding the aid; countries in the Eastern Bloc must not agree to accept economic conditions. Stalin changed his prospective on things when he learned that funds would be extended only on a willingness to accept economic cooperation and the catch was that Germany would also be extended more aid, from this he thought that this would wreck the Soviets ability to influence in Western Germany. Stalin suspected a possibility that these Eastern Bloc countries might defy Soviet directives not to accept the aid, potentially causing a loss of control in the Eastern Bloc. In addition, the most important condition was that every country to join the plan would need to have its economic situation independently, but the Soviets could not agree. Bevin and Bidault also insisted that any aid be accompanied by the creation of a unified European economy. But progress was slow, and it took two months to draft a suitable plan. Not until December was the first official version of the plan submitted to Congress. The Marshall Plan, officially called the European Recovery Program, came into being on April 3, 1948. The United States Congress passed the new law and called it the Economic Cooperation Act, which outlined a great program of European aid. By the end of 1952 the Marshall Plan had grossed more than $13 billion in funds to rescue Europe and settle it back on its feet. This was about five to ten percent of the U.S. federal budget and two percent of gross national products. The plan served as a stimulus package to expand European agricultural and industrial production; it helped restore budgets and finances; it stimulated trade among European countries and the rest of the world. The United States wanted to be the first to help with the redevelopment of Europe, by 1949 it became the policy of the Marshall Plan to encourage the unification of Europe. The Marshall Plan was the containment of communism. By rescuing, Europe, America hoped to change the political and economic landscape that communism would to cease economic issues. The Marshall Plan dramatically strengthened the role of American power and prestige in Europe. It played its part in paving the way for the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949, which bought the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) into existence. America saw that a partnership between itself and a strong, united Europe, sharing the same essential values o f freedom and democracy, provided the best means to cease communism and other regional and global problems. The Marshall Plan is considered by many to have been the most effective of all American foreign-aid-programs. It succeeded in preventing the deteriorations of European economies and in so doing helped cease communism. The spirit of George Marshall lives on as America and Europe work toward the same grand vision of shaping the peace, freedom, and prosperity of the world based on democratic values.

The Ethics of Cloning :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

The Ethical Questions of Cloning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   A couple that had been married for only two years was in a terrible car accident.  Ã‚   The wife walked away with a few cuts and bruises.   The husband, however was unconscious when the paramedics arrived.   He went into a coma shortly after arriving at the nearby hospital. He came out of the coma but was never to be the same again.   It turns out that when he was in the accident he had severe head trauma, and would be a vegetable the rest of his life.   He could not take part in the reproduction of children.   The wife is now distraught because they will never have children together.   She heard about the possibility of cloning and believes that it is the only way that she will ever have children.   Is it so?    Introduction The ethics of human cloning has become a great issue in the past few years.   The advocates for both sides of the issue have many reasons to clone or not to clone.   This is an attempt to explore the pros and cons of human cloning and to provide enough information of both sides of the arguments in order for the reader to make their own informed decision on whether human cloning is ethical or not.   Cloning will first be defined.   Then a brief explanation of why questions concerning cloning humans have arisen will be presented.   Some things cannot be known for sure unless it is tested, i.e., human cloning is allowed. Followed by that, a discussion of the facts and opinions that support cloning will be presented and then the same against cloning.   Please remember that not all of this has proven true nor is able to be proven yet, but has simply been argued as a scientific hypothesis.   Finally, my own personal opinion will be stated.       Defining Human Cloning When speaking of human cloning, what is meant?   Different groups and organizations define it differently.   To use a specific definition, the American Medical Association (AMA) defined cloning as "the production of genetically identical organisms via somatic cell nuclear transfer.   'Somatic cell nuclear transfer' refers to the process which the nucleus of a somatic cell of an existing organism is transferred into an oocyte from which the nucleus has been removed" (Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs 1).   In other words, cloning is the method of produce a baby that has the same genes as its parent. The Ethics of Cloning :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics The Ethical Questions of Cloning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   A couple that had been married for only two years was in a terrible car accident.  Ã‚   The wife walked away with a few cuts and bruises.   The husband, however was unconscious when the paramedics arrived.   He went into a coma shortly after arriving at the nearby hospital. He came out of the coma but was never to be the same again.   It turns out that when he was in the accident he had severe head trauma, and would be a vegetable the rest of his life.   He could not take part in the reproduction of children.   The wife is now distraught because they will never have children together.   She heard about the possibility of cloning and believes that it is the only way that she will ever have children.   Is it so?    Introduction The ethics of human cloning has become a great issue in the past few years.   The advocates for both sides of the issue have many reasons to clone or not to clone.   This is an attempt to explore the pros and cons of human cloning and to provide enough information of both sides of the arguments in order for the reader to make their own informed decision on whether human cloning is ethical or not.   Cloning will first be defined.   Then a brief explanation of why questions concerning cloning humans have arisen will be presented.   Some things cannot be known for sure unless it is tested, i.e., human cloning is allowed. Followed by that, a discussion of the facts and opinions that support cloning will be presented and then the same against cloning.   Please remember that not all of this has proven true nor is able to be proven yet, but has simply been argued as a scientific hypothesis.   Finally, my own personal opinion will be stated.       Defining Human Cloning When speaking of human cloning, what is meant?   Different groups and organizations define it differently.   To use a specific definition, the American Medical Association (AMA) defined cloning as "the production of genetically identical organisms via somatic cell nuclear transfer.   'Somatic cell nuclear transfer' refers to the process which the nucleus of a somatic cell of an existing organism is transferred into an oocyte from which the nucleus has been removed" (Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs 1).   In other words, cloning is the method of produce a baby that has the same genes as its parent.

Health promotion Essay

The 21st century poses vast challenges for public health, with environmental threats, cultural diversity and an ever aging population. The role of health promotion is as important as ever, within this assignment I will look at the issues we face and the techniques used to alter public perception and behaviour. One definition widely highlighted from the World Health Organisation states that health is ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well being’ (WHO 1947). This definition encompasses the indicators of poor health but does seem to view health as something that is quite conventional and static. This can be contrasted to a definition from Parsons who defines health as ‘the state of optimum capacity for an individual for the effective performance of the roles and tasks for which they have been socialised’ (Parsons 1971). Here we are viewing health as something maintained to the standard needed for us to perform our lifestyles. Health promotion is of great apprehension not only for the NHS but also many other groups that are involved in health care such as social, environmental and welfare practices. At its core is the intention of empowering individuals and communities to allow greater control of their health by providing information, education and support. Varying methods and strategies are used to change people’s perceptions of health, with the aim of working toward the creation of stronger communities and improved future health for all. The health belief model emphasises the function of beliefs and perceptions in human decision making. Originally developed by Rosenstock in 1966 it looks to predict patterns in health behaviour, such as willingness to partake in vaccinations and act upon health advice. It suggests that the factors that govern an individual changing their behaviour are based around an assessment  of how feasible change is and the benefits provided. It puts forward the idea that people need relevance or a trigger to initiate decision making (Naidoo, Wills 1994). This model incorporates Bandura’s concept of self-efficacy. This suggests that an individual must believe they have the capability and insight to see an intended behaviour change through (Bandura 1991). The empowerment model seeks to expand the individual’s capability to control their own health. This model facilitates a move toward change by building an individual’s sense of worth and identity, allowing them to indentify their own health concerns (Naidoo, Wills 1994). It aims to develop decision making and problem solving skills, giving the individual the tools needed to see changes through with independent thought and action. This model can be very effective for young people who sometimes struggle to make independent decisions and are susceptible to peer and environmental pressures. There is a strong relationship between employment and health. The main negative being occupational ill health, this can be an issue for many people working within manual job roles, as well as people working in stressful high pressure environments. It’s shown that having little or no control over work processes and being in lower positions can contribute to ill health (Marmot et al 2006). Unemployment is of a greater risk to ill health than employment, moving people into work can be seen as a health promotion in its own right. Employment brings higher living standards, more disposable income, improved confidence and wellbeing. Gender is still a large determinant, men generally work in more manual roles and take poorer care of their health overall. Loosing work can actually double the risk of a middle aged man dying within the following five years. Evidently there are strong links between employment and men’s wellbeing. Men over the age of 65 are also three and a half times more at risk of developing coronary heart disease than women (DH, 1998). Men’s life expectancy still lags behind that of women and within Europe there are large inequalities in life expectancy. These differences are greatest in men, where as the difference between the best and worst countries for male life expectancy is 17 years, for women it is 12 (BBC, 2013). Clearly there ar e health inequalities within gender that need to be addressed. The promotional campaign stoptober is clearly targeted toward working classes; the majority of the subjects pictured are in uniforms that are associated with lower paid roles. There is evidence to  suggest that smoking related deaths are higher amongst poorer social classes (ASH, 2006). The branding used is very simple and appeals to people’s logic through the use planning, note making and goals toward quitting. This appeals to the individual and gives a greater sense of empowerment and personal involvement in the process of creating change. The campaign seems to utilise the stages of change model, the process is broken down into stages and encourages involvement in the planning process. Initially encouraging the participant to write down why they are taking part (contemplation) and then take part in a planning process (preparing to change) along with accepting extra support (Prochaska, DiClemente 1992). Evidence from studies shows that when people are involved in a planning process there is a higher probability they will succeed (McLeod, Clark 1993). There is no mention of the harms of smoking and shock tactics are not used. Raising awareness of the dangers is clearly not enough and more personal tactics are used. With addictive habits highlighting the negative consequences does not seem to help create behavioural change, clearly ‘short term gratification is a greater incentive than long term harm’ (Nanidoo, Wills, 1996, pg 182). There is a very collaborative feel behind the promotional material with comments like ‘you’re not in this alone’ and ‘were with you all the way’. There is clear intent to show that the task of quitting is achievable and by anyone. As Bandura states ‘seeing people similar to oneself succeed by sustained effort raises observers beliefs that they too possess the capabilities to succeed’ (Bandura 1994). This is clearly a core strategy of this campaign, when we see someone succeeding this helps to increase own self efficacy. Health has broad range of definitions and many see health as an all encompassing ideal state. Some however acknowledge that a functional state of health can be achieved despite the presence of illness or disease. The role of health promotion is to help people work towards their personal health potential, at the same time reducing the strain on services. With the recent rises in poverty there is clearly demand for new and effective health promotions. Stoptober meets these needs well by using tried and tested health promotion techniques. It is an effective and socially relevant campaign and last years figures of ‘160 000’ quitters speaks volumes on its success. Word count 1100 References ASH (2006) Major Online Mapping Project Shows ‘Iron Chain’ Between Smoking and Deprivation http://www.ash.org.uk/media-room/press-releases/major-online-mapping-project-shows-iron-chain-between-smoking-and-deprivation. (Accessed 02/11/13) Bandura, A. (1991). Self-efficacy mechanism in physiological activation and preventing behaviours. Cambridge University press Bandura, A. (1995). Self-efficacy in changing societies. Cambridge University Press BBC (2013) European men lag behind in life expectancy. (Online). Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21760905 (Accessed 03/11/13) Boseley,S. (2006) Iron chain links smoking and poverty. Guardian. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/oct/09/smoking.socialexclusion (accessed 02/11/13) Current Nursing. (2012) Stages of change model (Online): Available at: http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/transtheoretical_model.html Davidson, N. Lloyd, T. (2001) Promoting Men’s Health: A guide for practitioners. Harcourt Publishers Naidoo, J. Wills, J. (1994) Health Promotion: Foundations for practice. London. Bailliere Tindall Marmot,M. Wilkinson, R. (2006) Social Determinants of Health, 2nd Edition. Oxford. Oxford University Press. NHS, Smokefree. (2013). Sto ptober. (Online).Available at: http://www. http://smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober/. (Accessed 25/10/13) NHS, Smokefree (2013) Stoptober (leaflet) (Accessed 14/10/13) Ogden, J. (2012) Health Phychology: A Textbook. Berkshire. Open University Press. Prochaska J, DiClemente C, Norcross, J (1992). In search of how people change: Applications to Addictive Behaviours. American Psychologist, Vol. 47, No 9 Tones, K. Tilford, S. (2001) Health promotion: Effectiveness, efficiency and equity. Cheltenham. Nelson Thornes WHO, (2013). World Health Organisation. (Online).Available at: http://www.who.int/en/. (Accessed 23/10/13)

Karnani and Prahalad

IN YOUR OPINION, which arguments you prefer: Karnani’s or Prahalad’s? Why? The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramide (F. BOP – Prahalad’s article) defend the idea that if MNC’s can succeed in the BOP market their potential rewards, such as growth, profits and contributions to human kind will be prodigious. This challenging opportunity is created due to the characteristics of an unsaturated market (e. g. ize) which required affordability, availability, awareness and access. The Mirage at the Bottom of the Pyramid (M. BOP – Karnani’s article) defend a different perspective from Prahalad’s arguing mainly that the BOP market is composed by 2. 7 billion of poors instead of 4 billion; that the fortune at BOP is a misleading notion due to high cost for MNC’s, poors’ purchasing power, fallacy of â€Å"affordability† and the uncorrect exemplifications in Prahalad’s article (e. g. Casas Bahia).Moreover, the art icle defend that it is not only crucial to raise poor’s income creating employment or lowering prices decreasing quality but also to create productivity, efficient markets, increase poor’s capabilities and freedom, make social and cultural changes and transform the role of government. Firstly, it is not possible to precise the size of the BOP market and therefore authors can use the more convenient source of data. In my opinion, the dimension the BOP market (4 billion or 2. billion) is in both cases relevant for MNC’s, comparing with saturated markets where they operate, which have the pressure to growth trough new markets or trough new products in order to survive. Also, the BOP opportunity has not only to do with profits but with gaining efficiency and innovation. Secondly, in my opinion, the poor consumer is not â€Å"fooled† to think that small size products are cheaper but they do not have another option. Therefore, give them the possibility of choos ing others items (e. g smaller products) is a way to provide them, at least, the capacity for a daily consumption.Thirdly, all individuals have different consumption needs and therefore they can be prioritized differently. In my opinion, no interdiction or change can be made to avoid poor’s relatively bad consumption since it is more a matter of culture, habits and preferences than a lack of information. In the long term run, with the development of the country, the poor consumer will naturally change its consumption. The lack of information, mentioned before, is used by Karnani to explain the vulnerability of the poor consumer.Nevertheless, when Karnani defend that the BOP market prefers cheaper but lower quality products (e. g. Nirma) even if it can cause blisters, he seems to disregard the fact that consumers are not well-informed and may not know about potential effects. How can the poor consumer not have enough knowledge to understand the trade-off between buying two dif ferent products or the trade-off between small-size and price but have enough education to understand about the price-quality/safety trade-off?In my opinion, in this explanation, Karnani demonstrate some inconsistency in his arguments. Furthermore, I agree with the notion of â€Å"The poors as producers† but in order to be achieving it is necessary to have financial and governmental support, a minimum of infrastructures available, etc. Both articles make a reference about the importance of the employment creation, the productivity and the role of government which is without doubt crucial for the development of the BOP market.Finally, I can conclude that I prefer Prahalad’s perspective because he takes into account both consumption and production in order to achieve poverty alleviation in which multiple players are involved (e. g. NGOs, governamental authorities and other companies) and not only MNC’s. Also, in my opinion, creating the ability to consume is a way to create potential disposable income and original and lucrative markets. In that sense, F.BOP article, perceive and describe the development of the BOP market more as a complex and detailed process in which companies are still beginners and therefore still learning, improving and innovating. In addition, Prahalad’s article makes reference to more deterministic arguments and solutions. Nevertheless, even if I prefer Prahalad arguments I am conscient that there is still much to be resolved and improved. (e. g. environmental concerns)

Friends with The Quiet Kid †Creative Writing Essay

Friends with The Quiet Kid – Creative Writing Essay Free Online Research Papers Friends with The Quiet Kid Creative Writing Essay How was it that started our fateful friendship? As I remembered, it was the beginning of middle school when I was eager to meet new people yet, at the same time, was afraid to approach anyone. Even as a little girl, I was never a sociable person. Being born into an Asian family, it was idealistic to be a talented while also being an outgoing kid because it was the way for others to even acknowledge a person’s existence. Nobody wanted to be friends with the quiet kid; that was what I learned from elementary school first grade in Taiwan. In addition, the one who wore the nicest clothes was the one whom everyone should exclude in their â€Å"list† of friends because of their simple jealousy. The quiet kid was depicted as the â€Å"weirdo,† which serves as the perfect target for the big bullies of the class. And I was the obvious example. However, despite all this, there was one girl that overlooked the outside appearances of mine and chooses to be friend with me. One day, I gained the courage to finally stand up to the bullies. As a result, I have befriended them and they even offered to be my body guards. Considering that I was only in first grade, the offering of body guards was like an honor to me. However, now looking back, I see how silly we all were. Nonetheless, the girl w ho stood by me later became my best friend. Although I have gone through the loneliness of my childhood and learned the value of friendship, one thing for certain that I have not lost is the reserved characteristic of mine. And it is two years later that I learned that I must leave Taiwan to go to school in America. Even then, the same feeling of being unwanted came back to haunt me. To my surprise, when I continued elementary school in a small city of California I found that people were very generous and wanted to get to know me. The matter of difference of each individual was not as important as I thought it would have been like. And forever gone was my worry about being different. Going on to middle school, as I said, was full of excitement as I was eager to meet new people with hopes in becoming more outgoing. However, my shyness continued to overtake my intentions. At the same time, the use of AIM was also gradually becoming popular among the students. Even I, who found opportunity to meet new people in its use, downloaded the program. In the beginning I did not acknowledge the detrimental effect of the use of AIM in building friendships. I was only concerned about getting new screen names, â€Å"chatting† by means of entering words through the lifeless keyboard, and then greeting them the next day with an awkward â€Å"hi†. Soon enough, online chatting was the way for many, not just me, to keep in touch with one another. The expressionless messages and the counterfeited smiley faces was the way we communicated our thoughts and expressed our emotions. As I have observed, this builds a shaky foundation for many friendships and many friendships a re now judged as ephemeral. Friendships should not have begun in this manner, not through the deceiving messages sent from computer to computer. Expectedly, I now face the same consequences result from years of online communications. I realized what’s left in a friendship built upon internet usage is only emptiness. The same genuine friendship from my childhood cannot be attained by shortcuts. Each friendship has its own story and all cannot begin with AIM or other similar source. These sources mask over our true self as well as prevent us from being unique. This experience taught me never to let anything hold back from the desire to change myself or to take shortcuts in life. Research Papers on Friends with The Quiet Kid - Creative Writing EssayStandardized TestingQuebec and CanadaThe Spring and AutumnAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionHip-Hop is ArtThe Hockey GamePersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug Use