Think Before You Speak

The most frustrating thing about social media is the ease of sending a message that can haunt you for years to come. Taking a few minutes before posting or tweeting can save thousands of people the pain and humiliation of your words. Think before you speak and, if it really needs to be said, make sure it’s worth sharing with the world.

As social media has continued to grow in popularity, so too has the culture of online shaming and name-calling. While it's certainly fun to play along, these modes of online communication can have serious consequences. In an age where cyberbullying is the norm, we have a responsibility to care for one another, especially if it’s someone else’s bad day due to your posts. The internet is a massive place for us all to gather information and get our points across in a way that really resonates with the masses. We also owe it to each other not to contribute as much as we can—or not at all—to online witch hunts.

For their part, perpetrators of online bullying and shaming need to take some responsibility for what they say. In an age where one mis-step can mean a lifetime of bullying and name-calling, I’d hope every person would think twice before engaging in a conversation that's likely to be filled with hate speech. If you can’t say something nice, don't say anything at all. Since the beginning of our species, humans have been willing to fight another man over a comment or two. But today's social media makes it easy to make those comments public, and sometimes public is all it takes to ruin someone's reputation and life. Remember: words can kill.

Now isn't the time to be a hypocrite. Take a moment before you post something to consider if what you're about to say is worth saying. If the answer is no, don't post it. Don't assume that everyone needs your opinion or feels the same way you do; I'm sure that's not true for everyone who reads this article, but it's certainly true for me. What's more important than what I have to say? The fact that I have something to say at all is probably more telling of my character than anything I could write in this article.

While we all share our thoughts with the world, I don’t want you to be someone you're not—not for one moment. If you are tired of being a part of this culture—if your heart is heavy because of all the hate-filled posts that get sent your way—you may consider leaving social media. But before you do, know that's not always an option. It would be a shame to spend a lifetime angry at the world and never give it another chance. But if you're tired of it, you should definitely consider it.

While the internet can be a powerful thing, I don't want the world to be blinded by its influence. I know there are those who write and speak out of ignorance, or meanness, or all of the above. I want us to think before we speak and make sure that everyone is doing the same. To cut things short: think before you speak and be kind to one another because kindness builds character, and you never know what will happen with someone else's character in a lifetime.

Source: http://wagingpeace.org/think-before-you-speak/#.Vd93Gz69Pkp

Author: Dustin Kneisel Source: http://wagingpeace.org/think-before-you-speak/#.Vd93Gz69Pkp Author: Dustin Kneisel

Title: Why Recent College Grads Are Living at Home

Statistics show that over the past 30 years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of college grads living with their parents, and it's not just because they're using the extra income to pay off student loans; it's because they simply can’t afford to live on their own.

"It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that student debt was getting out of control, and that it would lead to a lot of these folks living at home. But what people didn't anticipate is how many college graduates were living at home," said William McCarthy, president and CEO of CardHub.com. "In the past, college graduates would move out after finishing their education, but now with all this debt, many are staying at home because they simply can’t afford to go out on their own."

The median amount of student loan debt for 2012 graduates was $26,834 with an average student loan balance of $29,400 according to The Wall Street Journal. This is up from $15,900 and a $27,600 average student loan debt balance in 2000. While the number of graduates at home is growing, so are the numbers of parents who are working full-time jobs to support their children's higher education.

It’s no wonder that 18-to 34-year-olds tend to move back in with their parents after earning their degree; only 35% of graduates aged 20 to 24 live at home. Whether it's because of the amount of debt they carry, or the fact that their post-graduation job options aren’t as high paying as they had hoped, many recent grads are forced to stay at home.

Some argue that living with parents is a better option than living on one’s own because they are able to save money while their children are out at school. That's not always the case though. Even if it was, most people don't realize just how expensive paying for college can be. According to Mark Kantrowitz, managing editor of Edvisors.com, the average cost per year for public colleges increased 6.5% since 2011 while private universities saw an even higher increase at 9% during that same period.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304727604579324063021626476

Author: Jessica Saporito Source: http://www.wsj.

Conclusion

The post-graduation job market is still suffering from the effects of the 2007-2008 recession, and many high school graduates are choosing to enroll in junior colleges and community colleges. Some of these students are staying at home, while others are forced to live with roommates. What's more, many graduates take part-time jobs after they graduate so they'll have a least some income while waiting for job openings.

Even if recent grads are able to get jobs right out of college, they still don’t make as much as older peers with more experience. Furthermore, some argue that living at home is more affordable than living on your own because you don't have to worry about paying rent or utilities.