https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc "What do I think of the following statements?" en-us 2023-05-07 12:52:40 UTC 2023-05-11 04:39:14 UTC hello@padlet.com alfieanaalphonso3 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2580811775 There are 7 statements taken from / associated with HATSOS / related to Salman Rushdie. Choose two statement(s) to respond to and share your thoughts on the statement. 

Click on the '+' button at the end of the statement, to add a post. ]]> 2023-05-07 12:52:40 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2580811775 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581389286 I do not agree. I think stories that might not be factual allows us to unleash our creativity and imagination to live in fantasies we don’t experience in real life. Fictional stories can also inspire us to do great things in real life. 
Others might say that fictional stories direct our focus to something that may not be relevant to the world today,
but I think that people can also share values and problems through the use of fictional stories. For example, in famous Chinese stories of Journey to the West, Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and more, they were used to speak up about the way the Chinese ruled China. If the author had spoken directly about his displeasure, he would have been killed. The stories themselves might not be true, but the values brought up in the stories can be true and meaningful to readers.
Thus, it is not meaningless to spend time reading stories that are not true.]]> 2023-05-08 03:18:49 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581389286 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581390707 I agree. It’s better to be overly-wary of other’s unseen intentions and unseen people than to be not wary of anyone or anything at all. It’s good to be prepared for anything so you know how to tackle different situations. If you can’t trust anyone, you have to trust yourself. Even for potentially good things that may happen to you, it’s better to be on your guard. However, religion is a completely different matter. Many people have many beliefs and we can’t stop them from trusting their own religion. In these cases, I think that it’s fine in the case of religion as no potential harm can come from believing in your own god(s), in fact, these religions can motivate you and let you see the light in many things. In the end, I still agree that religious beliefs aside, it is better to not trust what you cannot see.]]> 2023-05-08 03:20:07 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581390707 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581391666 I do not agree.
Although fictional stories are not real, they could be a sort of refuge of a different or better reality for people to retreat to after they have had a hard day or want some entertainment or to relax. Reading more fictional stories could also prompt peoples imagination to make one of their own or expand on the reality they have already created in their head]]> 2023-05-08 03:21:00 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581391666 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581391882 I agree that silence is golden. Silence can hold value and meaning beyond emptiness, nothingness and “value 0”. Silence can reassure, shut someone up, warn someone, signal someone, create calm and peace within a situation or environment. In a situation of chaos and loudness, silence can be like a golden fairy to pause everything and create calm to settle the problem. Silence at the right time can be the most powerful and precious thing, even more so than sound. Thus I agree that silence is golden.]]> 2023-05-08 03:21:13 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581391882 xyzeelim10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392139 I disagree.
Reading stories that are not true helps us to be more creative and innovative, which can assist us in other areas like music and art. The ability to think out of the box also enable us to dare to dream, which can lead to us doing things that no one would be able to imagine of.]]> 2023-05-08 03:21:28 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392139 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392279 i agree with this statement. what we see may not be true all the time, like photoshopped and fake images on the internet. it’s important to treat everything with caution and not believe in everything you see]]> 2023-05-08 03:21:37 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392279 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392452 i disagree. although there are a lot of things that creative writer-artists can write or draw, there are limits as to what they can and cannot do. promoting things like racism, sexism, etc which are morally wrong things that shouldn’t be going around, through their work is an example of something they shouldn’t do. they should not attempt to portray sensitive topics such as politics or mental health without doing research or understanding it well enough first, or they could end up making use of hurtful stereotypes in their work.
  also, what if the topic they are writing or drawing about makes others uncomfortable? for example, if there are two content creators who are very close friends but do not want to be “shipped” romantically as they are uncomfortable with it, and yet people continue to write inappropriate fanfiction or draw inappropriate art of them, this could cause them to be so uncomfortable with each other due to the art or stories written about them that their friendship would be negatively affected. (this actually happened) stories aren’t real but Consequences sure are
  in conclusion although there are a lot of things creative writer-artists are allowed to write about there are limits on what theyre allowed to write.]]> 2023-05-08 03:21:46 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392452 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392580 I do not agree. In one’s life, one has to entertain him/herself somehow, reading fiction being one of the more meaningful options. Through reading fiction, we can broaden our vocabulary, improve our imagination and creativity and also learn important values such as love and loyalty.]]> 2023-05-08 03:21:54 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392580 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392629 I think people should not be allowed to say whatever they want, whenever they want if they are not discerning. At certain times, there are certain things that would be inappropriate to say. For example, cracking jokes at a formal event or a funeral. If freedom of speech is given to those who are not discerning, they would take advantage of the freedom to speak to spread negativity and cause harm to others.
Even without freedom of speech, there are of course normal things that can be spoken and people can still be creative. The lack of freedom of speech would specifically mean that especially harsh words (whether or not to a specific group of people) cannot be used. In certain situations, harsh words might be acceptable to use, but some people in society are unable to discern the right timing to use those specific words and thus use the words to harm others. 
Of course, if everyone is discerning, they should be allowed to speak whatever they want. However, in a society we are now, there are indeed people who are not discerning and thus freedom of speech should not be given.]]> 2023-05-08 03:21:57 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392629 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392663 I do not think that people should be able to say whatever they want. If what is being said does not harm anybody else or spread negativity then it is fine. But if what is being said purposefully targets a group of people (especially minorities) or a person, then i believe that that should not be allowed. Especially on the internet, people can say negative things about others and remain anonymous, which should not be allowed, but happens anyway. Of course constructive criticism is allowed, people should take accountability for their actions, but straight up bullying them is not right. Not bullying others is also called being a decent human being. To answer someone’s question, if the person has things to say but cannot because of expectations imposed on them then the things they want to say are probably negative and not helpful. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:21:59 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392663 janelleng10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392887 I agree with this statement. Creative writers-artists should be able to freely express themselves creatively as there is no rule to write only non-fiction books in the world. They cannot be hindered or banned from expressing themselves in a different way. However, there has to be some limit to this creative level. The writers-artists cannot include any racist or crude remarks in their artpiece, or show any discrimination to others. They have to keep a positive impact on the society, although in their minds they mean otherwise. They must also be mindful of their tone and intentions with what they are writing. For instance, if they are promoting crude topics, [eg. sexism, racism, religious clashes]. And for the writers, in there work such as fan-fictions, they have to be mindful whether the information is age appropriate etc on their own as platforms for these stories such as Wattpad have no function to identify inappropriate writing.Thus, I think they should be allowed to freely express themselves but there has to be a limit and action to be taken if they cross the boundary.]]> 2023-05-08 03:22:13 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581392887 violetlin101 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393104 i disagree that the power of speech is the greatest tool. communication is a very important part of our daily life and it is the roots of our society. however, we cannot simply say that it is the only important thing. sometimes, other senses are more vital, like when you are running from a predator, talking or shouting would not be smart but your physical strength would be put to the test instead. additionally, the importance of speech can vary depending on cultural and social contexts. in the end, the most important tool depends on the circumstances and goals at hand, and the ability to effectively utilize multiple tools is often the key to success]]> 2023-05-08 03:22:24 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393104 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393124 I disagree. Even if the stories are fictional, you can read them to relax and escape from reality for a while. You would also be able to pick up some tips on how to make your story seem more interesting, how to personify and characterise your characters in a more interesting way. Fictional stories can be used to share important values and morals, just like some of the stories in Aesop’s Fables. Although we know that the crow can’t actually talk, and the cat can’t actually be a doctor, these fictional stories contain a deeper meaning to teach us certain values. If directly told or written as such, it would cause some displeasure amongst certain people in power, and the author might end up losing his or her life. By weaving these values and life concepts into a fictional story, we can indirectly teach others without incurring others’ anger.]]> 2023-05-08 03:22:26 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393124 zhenzhenwu101_1 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393153 I dont agree that it is meaningless to spend time on reading stories that are not even true because firstly, these stories tend to be filled with more creativity, action, and are more engaging which allows us to let down our hair and de-stress. Stories that are not true also tend to include things that create more tension, like the avengers for example. Besides that, Fantansy, Sci-Fi etc enables our creative juices to flow, this then encourages creative thinking.]]> 2023-05-08 03:22:28 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393153 gilliankoh101 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393252 I agree. If we are unable to see what something is or how something happened, we will not know what is true and what isn't. For example, people tend to exaggarate when telling stories, causing some parts of the story to be untrue. We will not know if what the person said is true unless we see it for ourselves. We should also not trust people, especially those we haven't met before, we do not know if these people have ill intentions or if they genuinely want us to have the best things unless we look deeper into them and understand them. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:22:34 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393252 claireanwar10_2 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393352 I do not agree. Having the power of speech is useless if no one cares to listen. If speech were to really be powerful, the speaker will have to be respected by others and get their attention. In order to get that respect, actions have to be done. When helping someone, actions speak better than words. Only when you have the respect and belief from others, only then will having the power of speech actually make and difference and be considered ‘powerful’. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:22:41 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393352 victorialim10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393526 I agree. Silence has more value than ‘nothing’. However, I feel that it depends and varies from situation to situation. There are situations in which silence is appropriate and is needed to prevent more conflict or more misunderstandings from occurring, or allowing for both parties to calm down. Silence may also provide us with space and opportunity to think through our thoughts and reflect. However, on the other hand, if silence is maintained from both parties, this may worsen the relationship due to miscommunication and make the relationship even more strained. Hence, whether or not silence is golden depends on the situation.]]> 2023-05-08 03:22:50 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581393526 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394019 I agree, silence is golden.
Silence itself holds significance to others for example a silence to build up tension before delivering an important point or to convey to someone else that you are not happy with them or what to be left alone and do not want to talk to them.]]> 2023-05-08 03:23:19 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394019 chloeng10_2 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394156 I agree. The power of speech is the greatest power as it can impact and influence someone negatively or positively. If it does not affect other people, it will also affect the speaker himself. In one way or another, it will affect somebody in the process and can start a chain reaction. One single word can have utmost power. As everybody has the power of speech, it is easy to use it for good, or for bad, this makes it a double bladed sword and has great power. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:23:26 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394156 xyzeelim10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394375 I agree.
Silence can convey many different emotions, such as anger annoyance and sadness. Silence also allows us to focus on other areas and cut down on unnecessary speech. There are also other ways of communication that may be even clearer or easier for others to understand.]]> 2023-05-08 03:23:38 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394375 kaylaryuyap10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394635 statement three
i feel that the power of speech is not the greatest power of all. 
even though speech is a key part of our daily life and can aid us in many ways such as helping us get an idea across with just a few words, expressing our feelings or thoughts and more. 
however, we can still communicate using different forms / ways such as hand gestures, body language, or facial expressions and be able to get our message across (although with less precision). 
in a nutshell, this is why i feel that the power of speech is not the greatest power of all. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:23:53 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394635 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394653 no its not meaningless to spend time reading stories are not even true. the story may not be true now, but it come become reality in the future, for example a murder book may just be someone’s thought pen down but one day someone may take inspiration and actually convict it or soemone may take inspiration from a book and create the next best thing!
Besides reading stories also borden creativity and makes writing compositions easier, books also consists of creative language that might be applicable to a real life situation ]]> 2023-05-08 03:23:54 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394653 yunqiren10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394950 i do not agree with this statement. there are some things you can’t see but you have to trust, eg like air, if you can’t trust air, are you saying we should not breathe? there are also some peoples personal beliefs that can’t be seen, like the Christians believe in and trust God, but we can’t be sure that God exists, and it can be said that no one has seen him before. There are also information spread by aural methods, like news broadcasts . we cannot say that the information reported by the news reporter is entirely false, nor can we say that you cannot trust it (although it might not be 100% true )]]> 2023-05-08 03:24:10 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394950 shuenkueh10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394964 I agree with this statement to a certain extent. People may take advantage of their freedom to talk whatever they want, and use it to say harmful and disrespectful words to other people, but we still need to convey our thoughts to other people, so they can talk whatever they want, but think if it is disrespectful or harmful before saying what they want to say.]]> 2023-05-08 03:24:10 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581394964 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581395171 Yes, I agree. People should have the freedom to express their thoughts and opinions, be it negative or positive. Positive opinions serve as compliments that build confidence, whereas negative opinions serve as constructive criticism that help better a person.

Differing opinions pave way for in-depth thinking, which helps us explore a topic more and consider the different sides to a coin.

In the face of insults and meaningless criticism, we can just remain indifferent and move on. Statements that contain no logic or reason behind them are meaningless, and we don’t have to pay attention to them. It’s up to us to choose and listen.

Yes, people should have the freedom of expressing their thoughts, though it doesn’t mean we are obliged to give said opinions the time of the day.]]> 2023-05-08 03:24:20 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581395171 violetlin101 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581395397 i agree that silence is golden. the value of silence depends on the situation and context. in some cases, staying silent can be beneficial, but in other situations, speaking up can be more important. silence is a very useful tool and even if you object that you need to speak, its vital to remember that there are also many other factors that come into play. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:24:33 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581395397 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581395490 I disagree. It is not meaningless if what you are doing is enjoyable to you. Reading fictional stories could provide people with comfort during hard times, helping them with their mental health. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:24:39 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581395490 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581395674 i do not agree. although some stories aren’t real, reading them still give people a sense of wonder as fiction lets us explore some things that we wouldn’t be able to otherwise. it’s fun and a good way to build creativity and isn’t a waste of time in the slightest :D]]> 2023-05-08 03:24:49 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581395674 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581396527 I agree. If we are unable to see how something actually happened, we would not know if that person is tricking or lying to us. It is my personal opinion that it is better to be overly wary than to trust other people easily. Once you lose something, it is very hard to get it back.]]> 2023-05-08 03:25:39 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581396527 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581397249 I disagree with this statement. What can be seen and what can be trusted has no direct relationship whatsoever. For instance, air cannot be seen, but you still breathe every day. At the same time, just because you can see something does not mean you can trust it. If a stranger randomly pops up after school claiming to be a friend of your parents’, you can see the stranger, but can you trust him?]]> 2023-05-08 03:26:19 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581397249 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398597 I disagree. Reading fiction is a form of entertainment which helps spur creativity and prompt imagination. This paves pay for out-of-the-box thinking and unconventional ideas to solutions. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:27:38 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398597 victorialim10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398711 I agree. It is better to be safe than sorry, and as we do not know  who or what is behind it, so we should not trust it. However, even if you do not trust something doesn’t mean that you are telling others not to trust that particular religion — that is a different matter altogether. Trusting somethings you cannot see may also result in misinformation, and this may lead to rumours which are not true being spread.  ]]> 2023-05-08 03:27:44 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398711 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398720 I agree. I feel that to have freedom means to be able to do whatever you want, speak anything you want to say daringly and live your own life. If we do not even get to choose what we want to say or have the opportunity to voice out our opinions, then how is that freedom?
However to some certain extent, we should still be careful of what we say, for example the phrasing of our words, as it may hit someone differently from the original meaning. For example, when giving advice we should choose our words carefully, as they might be easily agitated or annoyed if they found whatever we say rude and think that we are criticising them, instead treating it as good-willed advice.]]> 2023-05-08 03:27:45 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398720 faithgoh101 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398749 I do not agree with this statement. This is because reading fiction books improve one’s creativity by imagining a whole new world with many impossible unseen things today. This can be beneficial for creative writing as one needs to have a creative mind in order to pique one’s interest. Furthermore, fictional books, though unrealistic, can teach us moral values. For example, the story of the tortoise and the hare teaches us to not be complacent. By using fiction stories, the writer is able to make the story more interesting and put a further meaning behind the story. Lastly, fictional books are more interesting, with action, fantasy, horror, etc, it has the ability to transport us to a whole new world and keep us entertained.]]> 2023-05-08 03:27:47 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398749 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398753 i disagree
i think that you can trust what u cannot see. for example, air, you literally cannot see it but you do trust that it exists, you do trust that it keeps you alive and allows you to breathe. or, a blind person. a blind person cannot see their family or loved ones or the world around them, but he can trust that they are real, that they love him and that they exist, and he only cannot see them. or, you also cannot see your own hopes, dreams or thoughts ohysically but you can know that they are there in your mind and that they will guide you. other than using our sense of sight to ‘trust’ things, we have 4 other senses to allow us to trust things. for example, although the same blind man cannot see his loved ones, he can determine that they exist and can trust them by using his sense of smell, touch and hearing. he can hear their voice, feel their body and trust that they love by not physically ‘seeing’ their body language but ]]> 2023-05-08 03:27:47 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398753 janelleng10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398772 I disagree. People read fiction novels and stories such as fan-fictions to relieve stress and escape from the real world. The fiction stories are also a great way to work our creativity and thinking skills. It also allows us to express ourselves.]]> 2023-05-08 03:27:48 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398772 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398805 i disagree. writers and artists should be aware of what they publish, as some topics may be offensive, inappropriate and insensitive. stories promoting racism, and nude artworks are such examples. one should be mindful of what he/she/they are writing. if one were to truly express their negative emotions through writing, it would cause a lot of chaos and negativity, and hate too. thus, creative writers of artists should not be allowed to write or draw anything, and exercise control over what they publish.]]> 2023-05-08 03:27:49 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398805 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398841 I think that for me I would agree that Rushdie’s writing is quite confusing and unappealing for the most part despite some parts that are rather straightforward and easy to understand. When I read the pages after the first few pages, I instantly disliked his writing as I found it very hard to understand with the phrasing even when the words were simple. His writing and phrasing of meaning came so abnormal and strange to be such that it became an extremely unappealing piece. To me when I view or listen to writing and art, I think of it as “inedible food”. It depends on what I’m feeling, what I want that day and most importantly, whether it can click right with me or give me certain emotions, thoughts for instance nostalgia. When I read Rushdie’s work I didn’t like the “taste” of it; it was rather “strange and sour”. In a way or so after I questioned why I truly disliked his work, I thought that maybe it was because I could never understand his work and it was like another different universe since everything was so complicated and unusual to me. Thus, I agree that for me, I find Rushdie’s work quite confusing and unappealing for my taste in reading and writing]]> 2023-05-08 03:27:51 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581398841 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581399274 I don’t agree. These stories can implant important life lessons into our heads, letting us have a better view of the world and have good morals. I think fictional stories are just the authors’ way of expressing their idea through an ideal situation as most of the time, things won’t happen in a simple way; in real life, we most likely can’t learn life lessons from a perfect situation as life is unpredictable. Through fictional stories, the author allows us to understand what he/she wants to show in a more simplistic manner through the ideal situation where it is easy to understand. For example, if someone wants to teach us that stealing is not good, in real life, the thief may have had a reason to steal, like poor family background, or due to desperation to survive. In these cases, there is no black and white, only grey. However, stealing is still unacceptable, and to let us understand that, the author can create an ideal background through fictional stories where the thief just steals with no background story on the thief, and it it obvious who’s right and wrong, so that we can learn the lesson.]]> 2023-05-08 03:28:14 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581399274 yunqiren10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581399286 i agree with this statement, that creative artists (emphasis on “creative”) should be given the right to express their opinions and whatever they want through their work, given that it is appropriate (to a certain extent). a lot of times, something released by an artists, whether a writer or an artist, gets labelled as “controversial” by the public, where people have different opinions. other times, artists get hate and backlash on certain of their works, sometimes because its morally wrong, or sometimes its actually a different point of view that is not popular with most of us. thus, i think people should get the right to express their own opinions through their work, no matter how exotic it is. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:28:15 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581399286 gilliankoh101 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581399446 I agree. Silence will allow people to reflect on themselves, think about their future and what they want. People will get the chance to learn more about themselves and understand themselves better, in the end they will be able to become better people and achievce their goals. When there is a lot of noise, people are unable to think as other people are constantly shouting out their opinions, breaking other's train of thoughts. When there is more opinions, it will cause more chaos as assumptions are made, leading to lies and misunderstandings. Silence not only allows people to reflect on themselves, it also conveys a lot of messages. Silences can be a peaceful one, a tense one or an angry one. Thus, I think that silence is definitely very important and we all need to learn to appreciate it. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:28:25 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581399446 shuenkueh10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581399871 I disagree. Creative writers may write harmful or disrespectful stuff about other people, and not that they cannot express themselves, they just have to think about the consequences of their writing before they write it out. For example, someone may write a rumour discriminating a certain group of people, and I think that this is not acceptable as long as someone is hurt or disrespected.]]> 2023-05-08 03:28:47 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581399871 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581400854 I do not agree. Regardless, stories are meant to engage you in learning new things and though the stories may not be true, it is not completely false. It may be able to teach you new lessons and how to overcome certain difficulties in your own life, as a good story would include the conflicts in the protagonists themselves and how they would go on to improve or perhaps the consequences their actions are going to land them in. No matter how weird the story may be the logic will always stick to that of a human mind as it is created by one. We will also be pushed to train our own creativity and mind to help us in solving difficulties and help us create new original ideas for projects, works, studies, learning, and more. We will also be able to extract new vocabularies and ideas to apply to our conversations, speeches, etc, basically expressing ourselves to others and communicate better and prevent misunderstanding and conflicts to happen which would be of great help. We would also be able to relief stress and anxiety as our brain would take a break and take the time to appreciate the author's work and stories, this would help improve our overall mental health. We would also be able to adapt to have better time management as we would naturally want to set aside time to finish a certain story. Overall, these stories will be important and meaningful to us in different ways as it may also share the author's personal thoughts and experiences, helping us see through their lense and helping us become a better person.]]> 2023-05-08 03:29:38 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581400854 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581401047  I do not agree. Even though to some, it may look confusing and unappealing at first, but this is a unique style of writing that involves a lot of brainstorming and thought while reading. It uses varied sentence structures to make the stories less dull and more interesting. For example: “Haroun noticed that old General Kitab himself, mounted on a winged mechanical horse very like Bolo’s, was flitting from Barge-Bird to Barge-Bird to keep in touch with the various discussions; and such was the freedom evidently allowed to the Pages and other citizens of Gup, that the old General seemed perfectly happy to listen to these tirades of insults and insubordination without batting an eyelid.” It looks like a lot of information and some might be lazy to read, but if it is read carefully, you will be able to imagine sort of like a “magical meeting”. So all in all I feel that if you focus and read the book, the story would be really interesting, however it really just depends on preference.]]> 2023-05-08 03:29:49 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581401047 jingrongwang10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581401422 Silence is golden.
Although not everyone appreciates the beauty of silence, silence is key, especially when you want to reflect on life, think or just do nothing. However, silence is only golden in some situations, and in these situations, you must concentrate on the present, and maybe think about everything. Like in some group discussions, you just have to tune everything out and make sense of everything. And in others, it is unavoidable to speak up and express your opinions.
Silence, closely related to peace, allows us to be able to concentrate on something without any distractions.

Furthermore, silence can be louder than words. In stories, pieces and sounds, silence allows us to be able to pause and prepare for whatever is coming next. In a song, “little voice”, noise is not always enough to convey a message. Sometimes, silence is the only thing that can convey a message, or silence can convey something better than noise can. ]]> 2023-05-08 03:30:11 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581401422 zhenzhenwu101_1 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581401667 I agree that the power of speech is the greatest power of all. Speech has many aspects, including timbre, tone. These many aspects are what makes speech powerful and speech therefore creates impact. For example, a change of tone and create different impacts. “”HEY! THATS MINE!” Can show anger, therefore different tones used can show different emotions. You can change a person’s opinion or actions, including persuading someone to think differently with the right phrasing and organisation. Although i do also agree that silence is golden, if there is complete silence, a person may not be able to express their thoughts with precision. Therefore, i agree that the power of speech is the greatest power of all.]]> 2023-05-08 03:30:25 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581401667 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581402288 I disagree that the power of speech is the greatest tool. As the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words”, and I could not agree more. For example, if someone talks non-stop about the goals that they want to achieve and how they will achieve them without actually doing it, no matter how motivating and powerful the speech may be to the person, the goals will not be reached either way. One may argue that the speech would motivate others to achieve their own goals, but who would listen or allow themselves to be motivated by someone who is all talk? Personally, I would be much driven to support a cause or a person if they go by their words and actually DO as they say , and not just SAY what they would do.                                                                                                                                                                  ]]> 2023-05-08 03:30:59 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581402288 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581403122 people should have the freedom to speak,everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and their all welcome to share it however they should be responsible for what the say, for instance, if their talking about something racist or insulting, they are abusing their freedom of speaking]]> 2023-05-08 03:31:30 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581403122 persischew101_1 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581428066 I disagree. I don’t think that the power of speech is the greatest power of all. First of all, speech is used to convey emotions or thoughts, but that makes humans less perceptive, expecting everything to be voiced out. Without speech, we could focus on the body language of the person we are with to pick up on their thoughts and emotions. It could also help us to understand each other better and forge a strong bond through everything that was never said out loud. After all, as they say, actions speak louder than words. Words are meaningless; they an be woven to make you believe anything. It takes more to make your body language a facade, and it always holds the truth to your feelings. As humans, with often fail to understand that. For example, I once read a story in which a boy was asked to be friends with another boy with selective mutism. At first, he didn’t think they could connect, but he found that he could look beyond speech, which could often be misleading, and he focused on one thing - the boy’s laugh. Since the boy had selective mutism, his vocal chords could still function, he just didn’t speak, making the only sound he ever made a laugh. In that way, the other boy could see the genuine feelings of the boy who laughed - it is hard to fake a pure laugh, as it is hard to mask deceit in a laugh. It made them trust each other more and they are to build a strong relationship of understanding. Thus, speech can be misleading, and it’s not the greatest power. We should not rely on it. My second example is from the show Girl Meets World. From the episode Girl Meets Boy, the main character, Riley, finds speaking to people daunting, and ends up preferring to text people. In this episode, you can see people are no longer able to appreciate speech, making it worthless. Riley also resorted to using hand signals and facial expressions to convey her emotions and ideas, which she was more comfortable with. Again, sight is a great power and can allow people to understand your message better. Now, moving on to another scene in the episode. Maya and Farkle, two characters in the show, found out the beauty of looking at each other properly, and picking up on each other’s body language, and truly seeing each other for the first time, without speaking at all. They discarded the power of speech, and discovered the beauty of sight. My third example is during English class, we had to pretend that we couldn’t speak each other’s language and convey our message with our body language and hand signals. That helped me to realised how limiting speech is. We have learnt to rely on speech, and we cannot understand each other as well as we thought. Sight is beautiful, and we have been blinded, used to having everything voiced out. On the other hand, through sight, it is hard to hide the truth, but hard to find it as well, if you do not truly understand each other. Thus, the power of speech is not the most powerful, it simply limits us from building the strongest possible relationship. Instead, I believe that the greatest power of all is, in fact, sight.]]> 2023-05-08 03:57:29 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581428066 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581658653 Yes I agree. The power of speech is a form of freedom, and it gives you say in matters, it makes your voice count, and it is something all of us can do, and this freedom should not be stripped from us.
After all, speech and words tell a truth, even if it’s not the truth, and all forms of speech should be appreciated, if not, at least respected. Although facial expressions and actions are also important and can also be used to express our thoughts and feelings, speech is still by far the best way to express it as there are so things that is best expressed when they are voiced out, and facial expressions come naturally when we are speaking out our thoughts and feelings, and actions are just not as effective as speech and words. Thus, the power of speech indeed is the greatest power of all. ]]> 2023-05-08 07:20:17 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581658653 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581659363 Fiction isn't just an escape from reality, but a source of valuable insights and lessons. While it offers a break from the stress of daily life, the emotions and experiences conveyed in fictional stories are often universal, making them powerful tools for exploring complex themes such as love, loss, and social justice. Reading fiction can also develop important skills like empathy, imagination, and creative thinking. 
So fictional stories should not be easily dismissed, because it has many diverse benefits.]]> 2023-05-08 07:20:54 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2581659363 chloeng10_2 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2583507491 I diagree as I think Rushdie used very simplistic terms to describe the story. He also uses very relatable and imaginable things to compare to and this gives me imagery and allows me to imagine it easily. This makes the story appealing to me using vivid imagery and comparison. I do not think his writing is confusing as it it mostly straight to the point. This may however differ from person to person as everyone has their own views. But to me, his writing is not confusing and unappealing. ]]> 2023-05-09 09:15:36 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2583507491 aliceli101 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2583637008 I’d agree, but only to a certain point.
I feel that they should be able to do that, as it shows their full potential and they can express their creativity. Through that, we can learn more about the different types of writing/drawing too. An example would be Vincent Van Gogh. He was an artist who created a new approach to still life’s and local landscapes, however, his creativity was only appreciated after he died, and during the time where he lived, he suffered severe depression because he was not able to express his true talents (no one bought his artworks), thus he turned suicidal.

But this also leads me to feel that there should be a limit to how we write about these things, because it may negatively impact part of the audience. Some artists/writers may illustrate biased and inappropriate thoughts a bit too much that would cause hurt and harm to the audience. Just like how I’m pretty sure there were hateful comments about how Van Gogh’s works were ugly and that he had no talent. (This is from the feedback given by my peers)]]> 2023-05-09 11:12:23 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2583637008 gwentan10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2585370563 fictional stories are like an escape from reality and can help us de-stress. they also can be thought-provoking, letting us wonder what we would do in a certain situation the protagonist faces.]]> 2023-05-10 11:45:55 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2585370563 gwentan10 https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2585380681 everyone has a right to speak freely and are entitled to their own opinion. however, words with a negative impact should be carefully considered before spoken. while words can break someone, they can also put them back together, and how we use our freedom of speech is crucial. in my opinion, constructive criticism does not fall under negative impact as it can be used for us to improve and can have a positive impact. as taylor swift said, “speak now or forever hold your peace”. we may regret the words left unsaid, so if people clearly know what they need to say freely, they should say it.]]> 2023-05-10 11:54:46 UTC https://padlet.com/alfieanaalphonso3/sxyz26vz0z12p1kc/wish/2585380681