Sociology Courses | February 6, 2006

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Sociology of Violence: 2nd Period

"Welcome, everyone. Veronica, thank you for covering class last week."

*handwave* Grissom launches into a lecture on Gang Violence *handwave*

"Now, as I mentioned, gangs tend to adopt colors, or other means of identification. For discussion today, I'd like you to describe a gang symbol that you have seen, whether in your life or through the media, and discuss why you believe it was or is used by that group."

Homework: Read Community and Institutional Responses to the Youth Gang Problem by Irving A. Spergel and Ron L. Chance.

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Sociology of the Paranormal: 6th Period

"Hello, class. Bel, I appreciate your efforts last week, covering the class. I have also recorded all your grades from the quiz."

Grissom then give Marty a sorrowful look. A C-? Woe.

*handwave* Grissom launches into a lecture on Out-of-Body Experiences *handwave*

"Now unfortunately, I'm not allowed to give you all ketamine or put you through extreme sensory deprivation or a near death experience, so we can't replicate the condition as a lab assignment," Grissom says with a grin, because seriously, drugs are bad and he's obviously kidding.

"However, as out-of-body experiences are far more prevalent than many other types of paranormal activity, if any of you have had these experiences, or know someone who has, I'd like you to share. And if not, I'd ask you to discuss why or why not you believe in the concept."

Homework: Grissom hands out a packet to read for Wednesday. Very. Serious. Reading. Kind of. Also, please bring your jackets and weather appropriate clothes. As long as it doesn't rain, we'll be outside.

[IMPORTANT: For next class, I need you to read this short post and leave a comment there. Please, please. It's going to be fun, and it's very easy! I promise.]

Comments

Re: Paranormal: 2/6

[wraithbaitjohn.livejournal.com]

"Well, what *caused* it was 400 jules to the torso that caused my heart to stop. But if you're asking me if I believe in a 'soul'... well, yeah. I mean, if humans were truly just biological machines, we'd get to a point where we could live indefinitely just by repairing all the damage that gets done to it. But yet there are times when a body that isn't all that badly damaged simply won't 'wake up'. There's something non-biological that's missing and can't be recreated or repaired."

He stops for a minute. "Now, as weird as this may sound - do I even need to qualify like that in here? - anyway, the plan was to stop my heart temporarily, then restart it. And I knew that before they 'killed me'. So it was like I was dead... so I... you know, left my body, but I knew I needed to come back, so I didn't go far. I just hung out until it was time to come back. Sort of like sitting in the waiting room while they fix your car."

Re: Paranormal: 2/6

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Grissom chuckles a little at John's analogy, but mostly keeps it to himself.

"Those are some interesting thoughts. I would assume you believe in the concept of 'having a will to live'?"

Re: Paranormal: 2/6

[wraithbaitjohn.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely. I've seen more than my share of seriously wounded people. I'm not sure what else explains some people with the exact same injuries and treatment dying and others living. And I've seen some people who absolutely should have died of their injuries... and yet, they didn't. Or elderly people - when one spouse or close person dies and then the other one does shortly thereafter despite not having been ill before that."