The Tipping Point

The reading “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference,” written by Malcolm Gladwell, discussed how cultural fads originate from small groups of people, get noticed and then blow up and become the latest “thing.” I thought the most persuasive example Gladwell used was the kids from Micronesia that were killing themselves because of little things such as being rejected for a date, or being yelled at by a parent. This practice became a common practice among the teenage boys in Micronesia because one boy hung himself because his Father yelled at him. The kids in Micronesia thought this was cool and almost a way of getting back at whoever hurt their feelings, but they were really just hurting themselves. I found this example the most interesting because it is so outrageous and unbelievable. I thought it was crazy that these kids were just doing what they thought was cool and it is all because of one person.