Thursday, September 6, 2012

This entry is for PERIOD 7 JUNIORS only.



Today we're going to participate in an online discussion. Your task is to comment thoughtfully and often to the discussion. The following is a list of ways to participate:
  • post a short paragraph in which you present a point of view
  • comment on the posts of your classmates
  • ask a question - either regarding a classmate's post or generated simply from your own curiosity
  • respond to comments classmates have made regarding your posts

Some of your responses are going to be short, some of them are going to be thorough. All should be thoughtful and appropriate for class. All should be specific. Use specific examples in your discussion - either from the novel we are reading, real life, other literature, films, etc.

Here is the topic of the day:


What natural rights do teens possess?


This question is merely a jumping-off point. Your discussion can go anywhere. Here are some questions you may wish to address throughout your discussion:
  • What is a "right"?
  • What is the difference between a "right" and a "privilege"?
  • When should rights be taken away, if ever?
  • How have teens' rights changed over the years?
  • How does technology figure into the equation?
  • Are all rights shared by all teens, or just a select few?

Here are the instructions for posting a comment:
  1. Click on 'comments' below.
  2. Post your comment. (Try cutting and pasting from word if you like.)
  3. Click on 'Name/URL' and type in your name.
  4. Click on 'post comment'. 

153 comments:

  1. I believe smoking is a bad thing. Joe Mazz

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    1. Why do you believe smoking is a bad thing. Can you give an example.

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    2. Well Katie,
      It is not a good thing because You have to be 18. At this age we are at it is a bad thing and choice to smoke.

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    3. Kara - Does it become a good choice to make when you turn eighteen? Explain...

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    4. i believe it is a bad choice as well

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    5. What could we do to stop this Joe.

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    6. I think that even when you turn 18 it is a bad choice to smoke. Like Joe said smoking can cause cancer. Making a choice at 18 to smoke can ruin your in the long run. I think it is also a bad choice because you are exposing it to people around you who can follow into your steps. Its setting bad examples for people who are younger.

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  2. But do you have the right to do it?

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    Replies
    1. Are there rights other than legal rights? What do you mean by "not legally"?

      SHOULD you have the right to smoke?

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    2. Well, that's a bit tricky. I think that's more opinion based than anything else. I personally don't find it that interesting of an activity but generally I find it to be a right when at a legal age. Under 18 seems like you're a bit more impressionable and it might not really be your choice so much as peer pressure.

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    3. Emily - Good point, but I'm not sure everyone would agree with you. I'm not sure an eighteen year old is much more equipped to make good decisions than a seventeen year old...

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    4. I believe that the only reasons why there are laws against things like drinking or smoking marijuana because when people are under age they tend to do things that are'nt as smart as people that are over 21 would do. The only reason 21 is the legal age is because people tend to be more mature at that age.

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    5. Oh, I don't even agree with that, that's my opinion on why it's 18. I think 18 is just as impressionable. The frontal lobe (which controls impulses, in most women, isn't fully developed until 21 or 22 but in men it's even older, around 28 and 30 sometimes.

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    6. yeahh i agree jacob. also i think that becuase i dont think they want us to screw up our lifes becuase we're the future of this country.

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  3. I think rights are things like marriage and voting and stuff like that. Things you don't really have to do anything to have. A privilege is like an ipad or new shoes or a bunch of Holister clothing; things you (should) have to work to get.

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  4. Teen's right have been limited over the years. though that can be ridiculous its for our protection.right

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    1. Keely - How have they been limited? Can anyone provide examples?

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    2. For instance the age to drink has risen. also the right to smoke is 18. marriage is on the list is well, except Georgia if girl is pregnant, but trust me its not a good choice

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    3. For student driver you use to only have 25 hours of driving to do before you get your license and now they have to have 50 hours.

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  5. Well you have a right to smoke.. But I don't think it would be a smart choice..

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    1. You have to be 18 to smoke so technically you do not have a right to smoke.

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    2. I agree to the comment. its not a smart choice, but its no longer a right you have to be 18

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    3. even if you i8 smoking is still dangerous for the body. i really dont think it is a right choice.

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    4. But there are still people under the age of 18 that do it.

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    5. It's obviously not a smart choice, and I think that the only reason there are laws for things like smoking is to try to have kids become older and more mature before they start trying something like smoking so they can realize before they try it that it's a bad choice

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    6. what can we do to prevent this. There is so many people that die every year due to smoking.

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    7. One way is that we could raise the price on whatever they smoke

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  6. Teens have changed over the years by their personality and actions. Many teens are constantly changing depending on their moods or the way people treat them. The one thing in life that people look for is your personalities. In addition, your actions can come back and hurt you. I was always taught before you do something think, will your parents approve of your actions.

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    Replies
    1. We're talking about rights, here. Do our rights change depending on our behaviors, or do possess rights regardless? Anyone?

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    2. i agreee with this. your action can come back and hurt you depending on what the situation was

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  7. To drive is a right for people above 16 but it is a privilege to keep your license. A right is when someone is able to do something no matter who you are, but a privilege is when your able to do something that can get taken away from you if doing something wrong.

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    1. Do you think we should get are license at 17 then if people are not taking the privilege? For example, there is a higher rate of accidents at age 16 then 17.

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    2. I think 17 would be a better age

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    3. nahh youngstas need to learn how to drive thats it

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    4. i agree ^ luke we need to learn how to drive so that we dont have to depend on our parents to take us everywhere

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  8. Also the alcohol age has been rised to 21 even though the law been constantly broken by high schoolers

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    Replies
    1. If teens constantly keep breaking this law,what's the point of keeping it one?

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    2. i think the idea of keeping this a law is for kids under 18 can know there will be consequence like getting arrested or getting fined. by doing so they will learn wheater its right or not. learing from there mistake

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    3. I think a lot of times teens break the law because it's a law. If it weren't I don't think as many people would think it's as cool to do.

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    4. everyone has the right to drink and do drugs, its the consequenses they have to face tho. n yea i dont get why its 21 when you can join the military and vote at the age of 18

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    5. joining the military and voting is way different from smoking and drinking. drugs do damage to your body it affects your heath. but voting and military doesnt.

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  9. the difference between rights and privilage is when you have privalage to benefit and enjoye only by a person beyond the advantages of most and rights is making sure it is appropriate.

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    Replies
    1. Shaquillah - Explain what you mean. You've lost me.

      Anyone - what do you think is the difference between a right and a privilege, and what are some specific examples of each?

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    2. Basically a right is what you already have. a privilage is what you have to earn

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  10. Smoking is a very bad choice. I mean we all know that we have rights but the truth is that smoking doesn't help your life feel better. It just makes your life worst and plus you can mess up your life.

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    Replies
    1. But some people enjoy it. Don't we have the right to be happy? Also, just because something hurts us, does that mean we don't have the right to do it? How about fast food? How about soft drinks? How about X-Box. These things are unhealthy, but people like them. Should we not be allowed to do them?

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    2. But why do people still choose to smoke? Is there anything we can do.

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    3. not realy katie but we can in couraage them not to smoke.

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    4. People smoke because they like it.

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    5. i think that when a right is taken away, it is because of their actions. And when they go outside the boundaries in which rights come with

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    6. We all should be aloud to do whatever it is that makes us happy, even if it is unhealthy.

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  11. To have a car is a big right from your parents and the lives of your friends. When your driving you in a weapon. It is a huge privilege to have a car because cars are very expensive.

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    1. charlie was not expensive at all?

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    2. Yes he was expecially my spair key. Charlie needs to go to the dealership every months to be checked. Do you take advantage of driving Joesph?

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    3. who is charlie?

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    4. My car sorry!Thats what I named him

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  12. a right is something you are able to do but are not intitled to do.

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    1. Lukas - Can you provide an example?

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    2. you have the right to go to college but you are not intitled to go to college even if your parents have money-example.

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    3. also you have the right of freedon of speach but you still have a limit on that.i feel like with every right theres still a limit.

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  13. It depends on on what kind of rights to we believe we have. If we have good rights then were okay, but if we have bad rights then it changes are behavior.

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    1. Give examples of "good rights" and give examples of "bad rights."

      Also, who gets to decide what is "good" and what is "bad"?

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    2. some examples of bad rights are people in gas stations cracking down on who he is selling tabaco to and not just selling it to make a profit. good rights are having age limits that kids under 18 can not buy tabaco.

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    3. An example what is a bad right is when kids can only have one extra person in the car the first year. I think teenagers are not going to listen to this law and people need to realize that we are capable of having more than 1 person in the car. I personally d not like this right.

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    4. i agree with katie its dumb right that you can only have one extra person in your car for the first year.

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  14. yes smoking just to smoke and act cool is not a good reason to smoke i am fine with smokers that do it to relax them selves or to relieve stress. yes smokeing is a bad habit and not only is it gross it gives you cancer.

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  15. yes smoking just to smoke and act cool is not a good reason to smoke i am fine with smokers that do it to relax them selves or to relieve stress. yes smokeing is a bad habit and not only is it gross it gives you cancer.

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  16. We do have the rights to do all those things sometimes but having those rights to doing it all the time can sort of make the person feel upset

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  17. i dont thing we can do anything people chose to do it knowing that it is not the best choice they have made. in order for us to help the person who smokes have to want to help them selves too.

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  18. I'm fine with smokers because I'm friends with some people who smoke and they just to smoke to them. I just wish I can motivate them by telling them that smoking is a bad habit.

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    Replies
    1. My cousin is a smoker and some people need it to reduce stress and depression.

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    2. I have relatives too who smoke, unfortunatly they just got too addicted to the smoking its hard once you start

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    3. You can't motivate someone who is a smoker to stop. Once they have started it's something thats hard to quit. Only the smoker him/herself can change there ways.

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    4. Its a shame because of smoking I never met my grandpa and he died at age 50. Also I am watching my uncle who smoke die of cancer. You would think people would stop knowing their outcome.

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  19. Technology has figure in to the equation. determining if a foreign or illegl substance is in your body. with tech today its hard to beat the sysem of the law.

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    Replies
    1. I agree i think that their are certain tests now a days that are hard to beat the system so more people are becoming aware and being more careful.

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  20. I think rights should be taken away from a person when they have done something bad enough to take it away or put someone in danger. Like driving a car, if someone has gotten many tickets or driven while drunk I believe their right to driving should be taken away. It does not have to be forever but for a certain amount of time that they have learned not to do it again.

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  21. Some good examples whe have are like playing video games all day and go out with friends until midnight are good rights. Some bad examples are smoking, drinking, drugs, and changing your behavior is one of the bad rights.
    Plus it's really no one who gets to decide what rights are good and bad. The perosn who gets to decide is yourself.

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  22. "aa aa smoke weed .......everyday" i belive famouse qoutes as shown are the leading cause of why certion unalienable rights are changed to better protect teens.

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    Replies
    1. What "unalienable rights" are you talking about? Are you saying drugs are an unalienable right? If so, why?

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    2. Like the quote ryan. Where did you get this from?

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    3. teens think smoking weed make them cool but it is not!!!

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  23. We're talking about rights, here. Rights are owed to you. No matter who you are, you deserve them. So here's a question that's been playing heavily into the presidential election: Does every person have the right to health care, or is health care a privilege?

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    Replies
    1. i think that every person DOES deserve healthcare becasue if we are "one nation under god" then we should care for each other.

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    2. I think health care is a right. You shouldn't have to have a certain amount of money to get health care. I mean, obviously if you're one of the government officials that want the ban on it to be passed it doesn't matter because most government officials and such get free health care for life.

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    3. Also, Austin, I agree.

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    4. sort of both Mr. Cowlin like some people yes can not afford health care but if they had there lives in danger no matter what the hospital wont turn them down and yes it is a privilege to have health care and knowing we have great doctors that will fix to what ever we need fixed.

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    5. I believe they do have the right to health care, I dont think it's fair for people that can't afford it, so they don't get as good of a right as people that could afford it

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    6. I think we should be more like Europe; Free health care for anyone. Rich, poor, middle class; those things shouldn't matter.

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  24. What rights do adults have that teens do not? Do you think teens deserve any of those rights?

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    Replies
    1. to smoke, to drink, and no i dont think we deserve them

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    2. Adult can make their own descision when it comes to the law. As for teens they need a Guardian Ad Litem or the parents to make the descision for them. A teen's word is not important as an Adult's word to me it's not fair

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    3. I agree with Austin. Adults usually have a better idea of right and wrong and what's too much. Kids just go crazy because we're not great at moderation.

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    4. Keely, an adults word is considered more important because they're older and have more experience with life and with the situation at hand. Usually adults have a more rounded view of what's going on around them.

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    5. Even if they would lie as much as teen

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    6. no adults are forced to be more responable then teenagers they have a family,and the family that you will support that relies on you to get food for them everyday. Also by being a parent to your son, and no one is really out there to help. It you againist the world. While for teens you dont have a worry about making enough money for your family to eat every day or even rise a family as a teenager so many people willing to help you ,but as an adult people expect you to fix by yourself.

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    7. adults get the right to drink. it's a fair law given to them because many teens don't know how to handle there drinking. many teens think they are old enough to do whatever it is that they want. but laws are made for a reason.

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    8. Keely, yes. I'm not saying they don't lie, but I think it's general consensus, you know? Most adults are the kind of people whose opinions are more important. Or rather, more thoughtful.

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    9. i think that teens have every right that an adult has i just think that teens dont handle them and responsibly as adults would.

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    10. Adults have the right to drink because they are more mature and more responsible. Most of adults know their limit to stop so they don't overdue it. In addition, they are of age due to the law.

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  25. If i had to take any rights away it is the right for smoking to be there at all. if you don't have smoke or tobacco products. you're forced to quit

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    1. people will force to quit but i think they will look or try to find other drugs that will "relax" them .

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    2. smoking like anything else should be a choice. you shouldn't be forced to give up anything that isn't under your approval.

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  26. I think health care should be a right for every person to have.

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  27. I believe health care is a privilage cause its hard to get any in the first place

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    1. Just because it is hard to get doesn't necessarily mean it's a right, though. It's hard to get tickets to the Super Bowl, but that doesn't mean every American has the right to go to the Super Bowl.

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    2. I said "Privilage" not right

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  28. Consider this scenario: You have a job. You buy a cell phone. You pay the phone bill. You fail a test in school.

    Okay. Do your parents have the right to take away your phone? Or do you have the right to keep it no matter what?

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    Replies
    1. No, they can't take it away because it's something you worked for. They can take away the things that they provide you with, like a computer or an ipod or a car. (The car one's tricky, though, because if you need it for work they can't take it)

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    2. I don't think your parents have the right to take away your phone, they do have the right to make you quit your job and focus more on school though.

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    3. no they dont have the right to take your phone away. like not at all. if you work hard and pay ur phone bill thats like your propety, its like taking your parents phone away becuase they got a bad review in work.

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    4. i know that in my family whatever my mom buys is always under her control, but i also know that whatever i buy, as long as it doesnt effect them, is my business.

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    5. I think your parents have a right to take away your phone in this case because you did fail a test and even though it may not have been because you were on your phone instead of studying it could give you less distraction to study for the next one. I also think that they can take it if they are the ones paying for it because it is a privilege to have a phone from your parents and be able to talk to people. A test is important to do good on and you want to be able to succeed in school, so I think that your parents have a right to take your phone away after failing a test because it can help you in the long run.

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    6. i agree with nat and austin^

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    7. to me if you are the one taking care of the phone itself then you should be allowed to keep it. unless there something illegel going on, to me Why should they take if there not responsible

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    8. I don't think this person should have your phone taken away because this person is taking responsiblity by having a job. Everyone fails a test their life and as long as this person tried their best that is all that matters. It woud be different if this person did not have a job and did nothing. Then i would say take their phone away but in this case keep the phone. Taking a phone away makes the kid want it more and will lead in more fights. Having a phone is important by communicating where they are and if they need help with homework.

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  29. You should have the right to keep your phone because you are the one paying for it with your own money.

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    1. Well you are paying for it with your own money. So it's something you own not your parents.

      Now if they were paying for the phone bill then they should be able to take it away.

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    2. Because the phones the person's property if she or he's the one paying for it.

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    3. I agree with dimitri, but if you're doing bad in school, I think your parents have the right to take you out of work to focus more on school

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    4. if you are paying for your own phone your parents don't have the right to take it away. if it's coming out of your money then controlling what you do or don't do with it, it's your own problem. no matter the case, parents shouldn't be allowed to take something away from you that's yours just because they are "surprior" to you.

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  30. It depends because for example if the person is smoking and wanted us to care for the person there's no point because the persons having bad health because of himself and the persons doing this to themsleves unless if you quit on whatever product your on yes every person does have a right because they want the world to help them out with their health so that they could stay healthy

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    1. thats true, also when they choose to put themselves in harms way, then its there choice

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    2. But I think that either way you should still get health care because you deserve to be protected from even yourself sometimes

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    3. Yeah but what if the perosn doesn't need healthcare then.

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    4. What if the person doesn't care about their healthcare.

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  31. rights are something a person is loaned and if they can "pay off" that loan by abiding then they have earned there rights

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    1. and a privilege is something you pay for before getting it

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  32. technology comes into play kind of like a perk of our rights, when we abuse the rights and go to prison our technology is revoked

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    1. Technology is always a positive affect to teenagers by helping you solve prolbems that you need. Teenagers are using technology for their homework and extra resources. Another positive effect is teenagers are able to communicate with relatives and friends that live far away. Most teenagers love technolgy and its like a personal preference.

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  33. Do you guys think that after we all graduated from highschool that we have rights to get a tatoo?

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    1. you do but is it right to get tatto or do you think people do it to fit in

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    2. people that are still in high school have tattoos i dont think they care if its a right or not. if you have some one that can do you tattoos for you they are going to take the chance and get a tattoo. i have friends now that are 15,16,17 and have tattoos. i think you have to get a tatto when your 18 and older

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    3. I think people have the rights to get a tattoo because tattoos represent something to each individual. I would not encourage teenagers to get it because they think its cool or because everyone else has one. Teenagers have to know that you will have this the rest of your life and you want to feel comfortable with it. Also don't get matching tattoos with a boyfriend or a friend because you never know what will happen with those people.

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  34. yes i believe that same thing with katie if you want a tattoo and that its gunna mean something to you then you should get it but dont just get a tattoo because everyone else has

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