Analysis Of Can A Playground Be Too Safe

Is it possible that a playground can be to safe? John Tierney would argue this question. Mr. Tierney, a news journalist from The New York Times, and the author of the piece, ' Can a Playground be Too Safe lets us analyize this question. The comparison between the playgrounds of mid century America and those of present day have changed quite diversely. What the author is trying to prove is the harm that has been done is a result of the overly safe equipment now used on playgrounds. Walking through this piece and observing the vital construction that makes this argument plausible and looking at the purpose of the piece and as to what audience we are pertaining to. It is important when looking at the document to review the pathos, ethos and finally the logos compiled together creating the argument that the author has introduced.

The authors purpose of this paper can be defined directly from the title, Can a playground be Too Safe? clearly he belives that the playground today can actually be more harmful then those of the past both pertaining to physical and mental development. He attacks the idea that a safer playground can actually be very detrimental to the youth of today. stating leaving children with anxieties and fears that are ultimately worse than a broken bone. The question then presents itself, to what audience is the author

trying to communicate to? As we can identify from the text, the old playground equipment has been disappearing in modern day American due to overly protective parents new manufacturing standards and fear of lawsuits. (Tierney 270). This observation can lead to the point that the author isn't just talking to the people reading this article to try to see the reversal of this decree but more importantly the parents of these children that are currently playing on this equipment.
The author immediately draws us in with an emotional appeal, as he makes us picture a the playgrounds of mid-century America. The towering jungle gyms laid on a block of concrete and tall slides letting you reach high speeds. The children on the playground feeling jolly, adventurous, and free. Then a flip to todays playground where soft plastic equipment positioned over top wood chips and soft shredded rubber. The children of these playgrounds feeling less enthused than ever before lacking a sense of thrill and possibly even being at a higher risk for injury. The writer draws in on our emotions letting us picture ourselves once again climbing on those very jungle gyms as if we were at recess at grammar school. By doing this he is making himself credible as well as wanting us to look into his advocacy at a deeper degree.
Looking ethically into this write, when displaying the emotional appeal the author also transitions that into the ethical appeal.

Orkidia Rojas, a mother from the South Bronx watches her daughter climb an antique jungle gym stating, " It's kind of dangerous, I know, but if you just think about danger you're never going to get ahead in life" (Tierney, 271) this statement facilitates one of the ideals of this culture and that is to always get ahead and be the best in life. However, this example being the last line of the argument polishing up what John Tierney is trying to voice this establishment of ethos flows throughout this

piece.
The information the author presents throughout this article leads us to believe in his thought of reasoning while making only that more credible. The author gets much professional advice such as David Ball, a professor of risk management at Middlesex University in London. Noting that the risk of injuries have increased in Britain and Australia after the introduction of softer surfaces.
After revealing the opportunities that John Tierney has placed for his argument the he was able to facilitate pathos, Ethos, as well as logos in an respectful manner. In contrast to all three of these appeals the conversation was held at a admirable equality. However, looking at this piece as a whole it is lead by an high amount of pathos, the author wants to capture us as we remember our fun days back at the playground also helping us to look at the well-being of our own children. We are emotional being and an argument like this I best done by pick up on our emotions espicially when looking into the perspective of our youth.