Blog Post 1

Overall, communication ethics can be understood as an exchange of moral standards verbally and nonverbally between individuals.  In addition, each individual has their own set of moral standards that are shaped through personnel experience, culture, gender, race, age and class. A persons morals, or an individuals belief as to what is right and wrong is like a code that an individual feels is necessary to follow. Each individuals "moral code" influences how they interact and communicate with those around them. The end result of people exchanging their moral codes impacts the structure of power in each culture and how people of every race, class and gender navigate living amongst each other in society.

More often than not, having the personnel experience of being in prison attached to ones identity creates a nasty stigmatism that is not easily lost--greatly affecting how one interacts and is treated in society. In the opening scene of the film "Les Miserables" Jean Valjean is released from prison and must immediately try and adjust to a society that is very foreign to him. After nineteen years of prison where one is nothing but a number to those in power, Jeans moral code most likely revolves around him being able to survive. Next, when Jean gets out he tries to get a job, but no one wants to hire an ex-prisoner because their moral code associates prisoners with people who are troublesome and create more harm than good. Thus, does society even allow for people like Jean to change into something society would find more acceptable? After trying to steal a bunch of silver from a priest who takes him in, Jean is caught by the police and brought back to the priest. The priest then lies and states that he gave Jean all of the silver. Moreover, this is a pivotal moment because the priest violates his moral code by lying in order to restore Jeans moral code for the better. However, the priest did Change Jean's life for the better because he lied, so did he really violate his moral code?

I think that it's important to understand that we all have a moral code that holds a distinct purpose in the end. How we allow our moral codes to interact with others can be huge factors that influence how we communicate and respond. In all, understanding communication ethics can only build a better way to navigate with others because that understanding creates a broader perspectives of why others feel and act the way they do.