The Tipping Point

"The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell is all about the way that little things make a difference and cause major changes over time. I thought this article was very interesting because sometimes it seems like there are no real explanations; that it's just phenomena. But Gladwell attempts to make connections between changes in society. He asserts that fads happen due to word of mouth. Using the example of the Hush Puppies shoe brand, he discusses that if it weren't for kids wearing them around town and to clubs, they would not have gained popularity. Gladwell also uses the examples of suicide and smoking, and the way that imitation affects these two things. When someone commits suicide, although an atrocity, Gladwell believes that it almost gives other people the "okay" to go ahead and do it themselves. I really agree with Gladwell's stance on smoking. My school district employed the D.A.R.E. program to teach kids about the negative effects of drug abuse, but of course there will still people who smoked or tried drugs. I believe that the more you tell teens not to do something, the more curious they become.