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Sociology - Nov. 30

Death and Dying

I hope you all got a chance to see the assigned film over the past few days.

Discussion Question: How do societies justify ignoring atrocities like genocide?

Homework: Read the chapter in your text on euthanasia, and start collecting your thoughts on the subject matter for discussion next week.

Soc of Deviance

I'd like to start today with everyone sharing their homework with the class. Please provide the URL of the website you found to contain deviant material and explain why you found it deviant.

Homework: I would like you to conduct one interview with someone outside of this class. You should ask them 5 questions derived from your subject matter for your term project. This will be 25% of that grade.

For example, Bel is studying a subgenre of pornography. He might ask one of the employees at the Fourth Sin, or on the other hand an asexual classmate, five questions on that subject matter. You may decide on the focus of your questions, as they will be included in your project.

Also, please read Chapter 8 in your text on Frank Tannenbaum's The Dramatization of Evil

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Welcome

"I wouldn't call it a justification, but I find that people tend to ignore any problems unless they directly affect their way of life. If it's not happening in their backyard? It's not their problem."

"A cynical, but observant, take on the subject. Do you think there is a possibility people choose to be ignorant though, or is it a phenomenon that is out of their direct control?"

((OOC: Heya, i missed a whole bunch of classes, sorry bout that :S Do you want Harry to go into detention, of just continue following classes, or something else?))

"Just like the Germans that swore they had no idea what was going on in their own backyard? With those huge incenerators and crap, it's ridiculous."

"Human beings are capable of great depths of self deception. Things like this only prove how deep those depths are."

"I believe she said it better than I could have, and I fully agree. We humans are far too adept at making ourselves believe utter fallacies in order to avoid facing unpleasant and uncomfortable truths."

After class, Harry approaches dr. Grissom, acting somewhat shy. "Sir? Could i have a moment of your time?"

"Sure, Harry," Grissom takes a seat at his desk and crosses his hands in front of him. "Have you been well? I noticed you missed a few classes."

((waw, that was LJ and not giving email notification. Just pretend i wrote this like, 8 days earlier, yeah? :D))

"Yeah- that was kinda what i wanted to talk about Dr Grissom. I was ill for the last days, some kind of flu i guess. That's why i wasn't in class. I could ask the clinic to write a note, if you want to?"

"They can't justify it. They can say they didn't know, but you can't not know. It can be hard, impossible, to conceive of these things, to understand what's really happening. So they ignore because it's easier, or because it isn't real to them because they aren't the ones dying."

Allie says something incredibly intelligent.

[her mun is incredibly brain-dead today]

"I don't think it's so much that they justify it as that their minds will not let them believe that such evil is going on right there around him. It's like some sort of ingrained defense mechanism."

Welcome

Angel signs in. He gives Grissom the URL of the website (http://www.skepticfiles.org/misc3/deviate.htm) along with a lengthy essay on why it's not so much the website itself that he finds deviant, but the material that it talks about. The essay includes a discussion about how the Christian Right views homosexuality as a deviance, while there are those who would view the CR themselves to be deviant in how they've chosen to interpret religion.

He also looks like he wants to ask Dr. Grissom a question when/if the opportunity arises.

"Angel, did you have something else you'd like to add?"

"I was going to ask if you had any suggestions about who I should talk to."

"For the project?" Grissom studies his face for a moment, and then seems to relax just a hair. "What angle are you taking with the project? Do you have a focus?"

"I was thinking the use of religious beliefs to justify one's own deviant belief system," Angel said.

"Well, I suppose telling you to stop by the Catholic mass on Sunday would be inappropriate." He sighs. "Professor Cregg I believe is Catholic as well, and surely has some thoughts on the matter. Would she speak to you?"

"I know Catholic Masses," Angel said, quietly. He cleared his throat. "Um - yeah. I think she might. What sorts of things should I ask her?"

"That depends... you can ask her a blanket question about deviance in religion and go from there if you have trouble developing the questions. Respond and ask for clarification on what she says. If you're uncomfortable with that, perhaps you could ask one of your friend in the dorms to help you."

"Okay, thanks," Angel said. He made a note to check CJ's office hours.

Belthazor, looking a little flushed from his exertions with Veronica *cough*, signed in and turned in his URL (so not work safe) with a paragraph on how it was deviant because most people viewed vampires as blood-thirsty monsters, and making them into sexual/romantic figures made them more attractive and less fearful and therefore more dangerous ~~and oh isn't this just so ironic?~~.

"Can I have a note from you saying I may need to go to the Fourth Sin for research?" he asked Grissom. "My girlfriend might not be so understanding." He grinned.

Grissom looks slightly amused. "And how should this note read?"

"'Dear Ms. Halliwell, I assure you your boyfriend is going to the brothel strictly for research for my class'?"

Grissom bites back a laugh. "Somehow, I don't think that will quite fly."

He grabs a piece of paper and scribbles off a quick note.

To whom it may concern -

Although the research methods partaken by some of my students may be considered unusual, I assure you that any visits or correspondence they may have with various people and institutions in this town are purely for academic purposes. They proceed with my full blessing, and any questions or concerns that may arise should be directed to my office. Thank you for your understanding.

Dr. Gilbert Grissom

"You might have a bit more luck with that. But if your visit crosses the line between academic and... personal, no note in the world is going to bail you out. Do we have an understanding?"

"Absolutely," Bel said solemnly, taking the note. "Thanks."

[[OOC: *giggles* Phoebe is so not going to know what to do...she could always tag along. MIght learn something. *grins*]]

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Sociology - Nov. 30

Death and Dying

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