Sociology Courses | January 18, 2006

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Sociology of Violence

Grissom gives a short lecture on gender-based violence as an International problem.

"Although aide groups, and even governments, are working on this issue internationally - providing medical care, encouraging education and research, and lobbying nations where gender-based violence needs to be addressed in a different manner, it is still a pressing, dire issue."

"My question to you is this - should there be International laws that specifically prohibit gender-based violence? Should certain crimes be given harsher sentences in the courts as a deterrent? Would it be helpful to have these type of laws at all? Is treating women differently an insult in and of itself?"

"I know some of you come from... places, in which gender is not the same issue as it is here on Earth. If that is the case, please feel free to speak in generalities and refer to oppressed groups as a whole. We will be moving on to that type of topic next class."

Homework: Read Legacy of Hate:
a short history of ethnic, religious, and racial prejudice in America by M.E. Sharpe for Monday. It's only 328 pages, you should have no problems finishing that in a prompt manner.

---

Sociology of the Paranormal

Grissom gives a lecture that relates to evaluating paranormal claims, and then has the students push the desks into a rather sloppy circle formation.

"Okay, now to see if you were paying attention, I'd like each of you to select one 'myth' I outlined in the lecture, and share your thoughts on it.'



[The link directs you to a lecture that outlines these 16 'Myths of Skepticism'. Each is explained in more detail there, if you want to just scroll down, but winging it is also totally acceptable.]

Myth #1: Theories cannot be proved, they can only be disproved.

Myth #2: Science is a self-correcting system.

Myth #3: The data speaks for itself.

Myth #4: Extraordinary hypothesis require extraordinary evidence.

Myth #5: There is one universal scientific method.

Myth #6: Science is our best method of acquiring knowledge.

Myth #7: Scientist are more intelligent than average, and better than average problem solvers.

Myth #8: People may not be perfect with reasoning, but training in the use of formal methods of reasoning, and particularly knowledge of science improves that reasoning.

Myth #9: Skepticism makes one less vulnerable to errors of reasoning or illogic.

Myth #10: Believers in the paranormal are thinking in primitive, childish, misguided and uninformed ways.

Myth #11: Believers in the paranormal don't want to give up their comfortable belief system. They are afraid to think independently and need the security blanket that all such belief systems provide.

Myth #12: Failure to accept the findings of science, or a general tendency to believe in paranormal or fringe claims is a sign of intellectual weakness, mental illness or sloppy thinking.

Myth #13: Just show me the data and I'll believe it.

Myth #14: A skeptic should also be an atheist, or at least agnostic, since belief in a deity is incompatible with the truly skeptical mind.

Myth #15: Being a good skeptic means being a debunker.

Myth #16: Skeptics are defending science and reason from a rising tide of irrationality.

"There will be some doubling-up, due to the numbers of the class."

Homework: I'd like you to interview someone from Fandom about a paranormal experience they have encountered. You must determine the who, what, where, and when, as well as ask them three additional questions. And remember, extensions are easily granted to those who offer cookies. This is due on Monday, and if you get stuck, remember, I can always help arrange an interview for you.

Comments

SIGN IN: Violence : 1/18

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Sign in.

Re: SIGN IN: Violence : 1/18

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

Lee signs in.

Re: SIGN IN: Violence : 1/18

[demonbelthazor]

Bel signs in.

Re: SIGN IN: Violence : 1/18

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Krycek signed in.

Re: SIGN IN: Violence : 1/18

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica signs in.

Re: SIGN IN: Violence : 1/18

[absolutesnark]

Piper signs in.

Re: SIGN IN: Violence : 1/18

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

Peter signed in.

Re: SIGN IN: Violence : 1/18

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe signs in... even though the doctor said she was supposed to be in bed for the rest of the week. She sticks close to Cole or Piper, and keeps looking towards the door, fear in her eyes.

Re: SIGN IN: Violence : 1/18

[can_be_more]

Aeryn signs in.

CLASS: Violence | 1/18

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Welcome.

Re: CLASS: Violence | 1/18

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

Lee feels slightly sick to his stomach after reading about this culture of violence against women on this planet. Swallowing, he says, "I doubt that an international law could be created and inforced when so many cultures on this planet are based on a misogynist patriarchy."

Re: CLASS: Violence | 1/18

[pure-blooddraco.livejournal.com]

Draco thinks for a minute. "I think it would be a miracle to create internation laws on this subject that will please everyone. There are many cultures in the world that think men are superior to women and here muggles believe that women and men are equal." he says "I think that individual countries have to handle the laws on gender based violence."

Re: CLASS: Violence | 1/18

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

"Having laws that prohibit it would at least put forth the statement that it should not be tolerated," Krycek said thoughtfully. "But enforcing it would be the deal-breaker."

Re: CLASS: Violence | 1/18

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"I don't think international laws are a good idea because every culture is different and who are we to say that our cultural ideas are the right ones?"

Re: CLASS: Violence | 1/18

[absolutesnark]

"I think international laws to prohibit gender-based violence is a nice idea in theory, but, like Draco said, it would take a miracle for that to happen."

Re: CLASS: Violence | 1/18

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

"I think that such laws would make some sense since it's basically just an extension of hate crime laws. But, yeah, cultural differences would make it way too difficult to institute on an international level. And it might cause more problems down the line with those other cultures getting angry at us for trying to impose our rules upon them. It sucks that that's the case, but it's probably all too likely to happen."

Re: CLASS: Violence | 1/18

[can_be_more]

Aeryn's going to ignore the fact that she couldn't finish the first, shorter reading.

"I can't say say anything that everyone else hasn't said. Considering the varying cultures here, along with the fact that this same class on Monday thought women could easily take care of themselves, I don't see it as being realistic."

SIGN IN: Paranormal | 1/18

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Sign in.

Re: SIGN IN: Paranormal | 1/18

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Martin Blank.

Re: SIGN IN: Paranormal | 1/18

[imac-kenzie.livejournal.com]

Mac, signs in.

Re: SIGN IN: Paranormal | 1/18

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana signs in.

Re: SIGN IN: Paranormal | 1/18

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

Jake signs in.

Re: SIGN IN: Paranormal | 1/18

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige signs in

CLASS: Paranormal | 1/18

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Welcome.

Re: CLASS: Paranormal | 1/18

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Marty goes over the list and picks #3. "For 'The Data speaks for itself'? That can't always be 100% true. Data can often be skewed by any person's point of view, whether it be scientific analysis, statistical data or just a plain old newspaper article."

After Class | 1/18

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Grissom is re-programming his Big Mouth Billy Bass to play Heatwave by Martha and the Vandellas.

[OOC, OTP, OPP, WTFOMGBBQ, ETC.]

Re: After Class | 1/18

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Marty luckily has some cookies.

"Dr. Grissom? I'm going to be going out of town soon and may not have time to RP interview someone regarding a paranormal experience. Is it all right I get that into you by Wednesday?"

[OOC: Will be AFK from Thursday Night until Monday]