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fandomhigh2006-01-18 11:07 am
drgrissom.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2006-01-18 11:07 am
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Sociology Courses | January 18, 2006
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.
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.
Re: After Class | 1/18
"Excuse me, Dr. Grissom? I'm working on this, um, special project, and I was wondering if you could give me a hand, 'cause it's kind of related to your class."
Re: After Class | 1/18
Re: After Class | 1/18
"I'm not sure if you know Anakin Skywalker, but he's a senior and he belongs to this religion called Jedi, and it sounds really fascinating when he talks about it. They have this whole set of cultural beliefs and traditions that are way, way different from anything I know about on Earth, and they have really fascinating mental powers. And, um, I don't want to just quiz Anakin about it, 'cause that seems kind of rude and invasive. So I was trying to research it -- I work in the library -- but the books are in Special Collections. I need a teacher's note to get in there." She pauses then for breath, and gives Grissom a speculative look.
"I thought it was kind of a sociology thing, so I wondered if I could have a note for me and one for Maureen Parker."
She hopes Parker will forgive the use of her first name in this context.
She also hopes Grissom is buying this.
Re: After Class | 1/18
"So instead of telling your friend you are interested in his life and his culture and would like to learn more, you'd instead like access the dangerous and restricted area of the library, so that you can locate the information while Anakin is completely unaware that you and Miss Parker are privy to to it?"
"You're right, I do believe this is very interesting, from a sociological perspective."
"Is there a form you need filled out?"
Re: After Class | 1/18
"Yes?" she says weakly. "I mean, it's not like -- like how you made it sound. Anakin is really shy about the whole thing." That will work if he hasn't ever spent more than five minutes talking to him. Right, moving on, she thinks.
"But there isn't a form. You just need to write a letter saying our names and what area we need to access, and for which class. Which I guess would be this class?"
Re: After Class | 1/18
Grabbing a pen and a piece of paper, he scribbles out something behind his arm so that Angela can't see it.
To whom it may concern:
Please grant Miss A. Chase and Miss M. Parker access to the Special Collections area of the library with my blessing. Miss Parker is assisting Miss Chase on a project that is taking place in conjunction with Angela's Sociology of the Paranormal course, of which I am the instructor. She will need access to several resources on the cultural relevance of various societal practices with which she is not generally familiar, and due to the collaborative nature of the exercise, Miss Parker needs access at the same time as Miss Chase for their project to properly succeed.
If you have any further questions, please contact my office.
Sincerely,
Gil Grissom
After another silent minute with the same wicked smile on his face passes, he hands Angela the note.
"Next time, I will expect the truth on why you need my help. I may be more understanding than you think.
As for this time, tell Maureen that when I told her I owed her a favor, I meant it. This, however, is now her official collecting that favor.
Have a good day, Miss Chase. And be careful."
Re: After Class | 1/18
unless Grissom has stuck it in an envelope or taped it or something, in which case she can't, a solemn look on her face, then nods in approval."Thank you, sir. I plan to be incredibly careful. That place really scares me."
"I'll see you in class Monday."