Title of the Essay, Author, and Date

Confession Ethics By Norra Dunne (March 18, 2014)

Title of the Reflection

W hat to do when Confessing

First Impression

An essay on what you should when you are confessing

Quote

Confessing secrets can be therapeutic it's a way to connect people

Reflection Paper

Contributors of confession pages or websites don’t have any ethical problems with it and the moderators of these websites operate. I believe the websites are intended for entertainment, to relate to other people’s habits and to share weird and unusual thoughts. The comments can be inappropriate and very strange on these confession pages, but isn’t that partially the purpose of the website? To be able to talk anything, discuss to somebody because you cannot share it to anyone who is close to you or presently in front of you. The identities of the contributors are protected, however, the website or page knows who said the comment. As long as the website doesn’t reveal the contributor’s identities, I don’t think there’s any ethical dilemma with that. The contributors should know that they’re voluntarily posting their thoughts and should post their comments knowing that they can have an effect on others. Contributors do have to be careful about identifying others in their confessions or comments. It’s a guideline many of these sites establish outright. It’s a smart move from a legal standpoint.

As what Warren, of PostSecret Website, has said that confessing secrets can be therapeutic; it’s a way to connect people. That connection between writers and readers is a point for ethical consideration itself. Will college students with literally life-altering confessions, like thoughts of suicide or stories about abuse, turn to these websites for a cure to their anguish? Will support from classmates through comments provide the help these confessors really need?

5 Things That I've learned from the article:

1. Despite some heavy secrets throughout the years — about suicide, abortion, betrayals, you name it — the project has avoided major controversy, and there’s no public evidence of lawsuits.
2. Confession websites are popular, in particular, among college communities.
3. When minors are involved, as with high school confessions pages, schools and parents have more control.
4. Facebook will “take action on all reports of abusive behavior directed at private individuals.”
5. Contributors do have to be careful about identifying others in their confessions or comments. It’s a guideline many of these sites establish outright. It’s a smart move from a legal standpoint.

5 Integrative Questions

1. Why what are the reasons consumers patronize the confession websites?
2. What actions does our government do to protect the consumer privacy when they share their thoughts in the confession websites?
3. Why confession websites do not have comments from the readers?
4. What are the common topics discussed in the confession websites?
5. Why what are the reasons consumers feel secured once they shared their thoughts in the confession websites?