Sociology | January 11, 2006

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Sociology of Violence: 2nd Period

"Welcome class. I'd like to make a quick announcement. Veronica Mars will be my TA for this class. If you need anything from the lab and can not locate me, she will be able to assist you, and she will also be helping me with various class endeavors. Please treat her with the respect you have all shown me, so far. Thank you."

"I asked you Monday to find a definition of violence. I think in your research you may have found that it isn't as easy of an assignment as you may have first thought. It's something that can be easily debated, and legal definitions often do not match those of our personal beliefs.

Therefore, I'd like you to each share your definition. I'd also like you to comment on one other classmate's definition, and how you feel it is correct, or maybe incorrect, as the case may be.

Homework: Read this chapter titled Gender and Interpersonal Violence from Understanding and Preventing Violence, Volume 3: Social Influences. It's only 83 pages, you should have no problems finishing that by Monday.

---

Sociology of the Paranormal: 6th Period

"Welcome, class. I'd like to introduce your new TA for this course, Belthazor. Please give him the same level of respect I have come to expect from all of you, and he will be ruling with said iron fist assisting me, and you, as needed all semester long. Lyta will also be a general TA. Thank you both, for applying."

Grissom then launches into a long-ass lecture on Skepticism but the word Matrix is strangely subbed with Grid. Odd.

"Okay, after that torment, let's keep discussion light today. I'm sure all of you, in one form or another, have been exposed to groups of skeptics, and groups of believers.

So, which do you identify with more, and why? Because I blame it on brain chemistry."

Homework: Read Wonder and Skepticism by Carl Sagan for Monday.

Requests for Add/Drops still go in a different post. Thanks muchly.

Comments

Violence | 1/11

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Welcome.

Re: Violence | 1/11

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe signs in to class and it's obvious that there is something very, very wrong as her smile is brittle and her eyes are full of fire. She's angry.

Re: Violence | 1/11

[pure-blooddraco.livejournal.com]

Draco signs in. He notices the look on Phoebe's face and sits as far away from her as possible.

When Draco is asked to define violence he stands up and says "I think violence is any physical act that hurts someone or some thing on purpose."

Re: Violence | 1/11

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica signs in and grins at Dr. Grissom when he makes his announcement.

Re: Violence | 1/11

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Krycek signed in, then frowned thoughtfully before he said, "Violence is a physical act visited upon someone, not necessarily with the intent to harm."

Re: Violence | 1/11

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

Lee signs in and looks at all his notes on the defintion of violence before speaking up. "I think violence can be defined as always having a negative connotation along with it. For example, while a military is vitally important to the protection of a state, you will have to have a little violence now and then to keep everything in line - and while it's viewed as "bad", it must occur. So the word itself is very contraversial in that sense."

Re: Violence | 1/11

[demonbelthazor]

Bel signs in and raises an eyebrow as he hears the announcement about Veronica. Interesting. "Violence is the use of physical force to damage or to control," he gave for his definition. That was an easy one, something he was very familiar with.

Re: Violence | 1/11

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

Peter signed in. "Violence is a physical act that can or could cause harm. If no harm is done but there's intent? That's still violence. If there's no harm done but there's intent? Still violence."

[OOC: Reposted because stupid LJ sent my comment to the bottom of the page.]

Re: Violence | 1/11

[can_be_more]

Aeryn signs in.

"Violence is a physical act that leads to harm." she says, like it's just that easy.

Paranormal | 1/11

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Welcome.

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[wraithbaitjohn.livejournal.com]

Shep sits and ponders the question and checks out that thing on Brain Chemestry.

"What if we've jumped ships?" he asks the prof. "Because I used to like my world to be pretty black and white... it was either there and real and I saw and I could believe in it... or not. Then I had a few life expriences that made me realize that there were things... what's that quote? 'there are more things in heaven and Earth, Horatio...' I mean, I've seen some strange stuff... learned some strange stuff about myself and people around me. And now I'm *way* more inclined to believe the things a lot of people call 'paranormal' even if I haven't experienced them myself.

So now? Yeah, I'm a believer. But I wasn't always that way."

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige is there but not especially responsive.

"I guess I identify with believers more since well given what I am it's meant I've had believe some pretty amazing stuff."

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[upforachase.livejournal.com]

"I'm the same way as him," Cordy said, pointing to Shep. "When I was younger, I didn't really believe in any sort of paranormal activity. But then I got older and met Buffy...and that should be all I have to say about that, if you know her. For the past few years I think I've probably had more encounters with paranoramal beings than normal ones," she said.

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"I'm a believer," Walter says, slouching in his chair. "I know without any doubt that the paranormal exists, and I know without any doubt that it gets covered up because I help cover it up."

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[imac-kenzie.livejournal.com]

"Until quite recently, I'd have always said I was a skeptic. I believed in what I knew for certain, and left the fuzzier side well alone. It's what I've always been brought up to believe... but then, there are some things that you just can't pretend aren't there, particularly since coming here. I'm definitely well on the way to being brought round as a believer." She pauses, "I guess that means I hover a little more on the side of belief, although there are still some things that I'm less sure about."

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia signed in, she was exhausted and looked every bit like a person who had not slept in days. Before Grissom got started she just laid her head on the desk and didn't speak to anyone.

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Hearing Grissom start the lecture Maia sat up listening closely and then finally spoke. "I'm a believer of course." She said blinking her eyes slowly "I believe things like this and other things because of personal experience."

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[absolutesnark]

"I'm definitely a believer. I've seen too many weird things at this school. Also, I'm a witch. That automatically makes me a believer in the paranormal."

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[psi16.livejournal.com]

"Where I'm from, I don't think skepticism exists on the same level as it might...elsewhere," Lyta responded. "Telepaths, aliens, alternate dimensions, and time travel are a part of daily life in most cultures there. Events taking place in my lifetime have caused some skepticism regarding our religious beliefs, though, so I suppose everything balances in the end."

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[aroseintime.livejournal.com]

"Definitely a believer. The last year I've seen too many things not to believe. But, if you had told me two years ago about people coming from other planets, magic, time travel, things like that, I would have thought you were mad."

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[chasingangela]

"I guess I'm a skeptic," Angela volunteers. "I mean, I believe in the weird stuff I've encountered here, sure. But that doesn't mean I'm convinced things I've never seen, like god or dragons bigger than Lockheed, exist. Also, I know Piper and Phoebe are telling the truth about being witches, byut that doesn't mean I believe everybody with a henna tattoo and a spice rack else who says that also has supernatural powers. Especially in my world."

Then, softer, almost talking to her notebook: "But, um, I definitely believe in ghosts. In every world."

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

"Well, before I came here I pretty much worshipped the Grid, Neuromancer the mun makes a note to finish reading that book by Friday, and other such stuff so I guess I always wanted to believe that there was something else. Then I came here and sort of don't have much of a choice."

Re: Paranormal | 1/11

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana thinks about it for a moment. "I think I'm kind of a skeptical believer/ I mean, just given where I come from and the things I've seen and experienced, I *know* there's stuff out there that's definitely real. On the other hand, that doesn't mean I'm necessarily going to believe everything someone tells me sight unseen."

After Class | 1/11

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

(Non-class interaction, OOC questions, general tomfoolery.)

Also, sorry for being late this week. STUPID REAL JOB ZOMG WTF HATE!

Re: After Class | 1/11

[sensethevisions]

After class, Phoebe approached Grissom. Her hands were clenched at her sides. "Sir, do you have a moment?"