Sociology Courses | February 15, 2006

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Sociology of Violence: 2nd Period

Grissom greets the class with a lecture on mass murder.

"Discussion question today. The USA Bureau of Justice Statistics defines a mass murder as the murder of four or more victims at one location, within one event. I'm also going to include spree killing, which is killings at two or more locations with almost no time break between murders, in our discussion.

I want you to choose one category of mass murder:
# 1 mass murder by individuals
# 2 mass murder by terrorists
# 3 mass murder by a state
# 4 mass murder in warfare

and define the term, by numbers, for yourself. Do you think an individual who kills three people should be considered a mass murderer? Or how about during warfare?"

---

Sociology of the Paranormal: 6th Period

Grissom waits for his class to enter, and then literally sits on top of his desk.

"Okay guys. Before we start the next unit, I need ask you a question. Whether from personal experience, or just your general beliefs, please answer this -

What happens to you after you die?"

Comments

Violence : 2/15

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Welcome.

Re: Violence : 2/15

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe signs in. When she sees the assignment, her face kind of pales.

She starts writing about ~ # 1 mass murder by individuals ~. After all, it looked like it would happen in her world.

Re: Violence : 2/15

[can_be_more]

Aeryn signs in, even though going to class right now is kind of pointless.

"There are different rules for warfare," she says, though she almost doesn't want to. "There comes a point where it's kill or be killed no matter who's attacking who, so is that murder? Because I've never seen myself as a mass murderer."

Re: Violence : 2/15

[demonbelthazor]

Bel is quiet. Very very quiet. You don't want to know what his total is.

Re: Violence : 2/15

[absolutesnark]

Piper signs in and ponders the discussion question for a moment.

"I think an individual who kills three people should definitely be considered a mass murderer. Unless it was in self defense."

Re: Violence : 2/15

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

Peter signed in.

"With individuals, I think four seems kind of arbitrary. Really, by the time you've killed three people at the same time, it gives the impression that the killer probably would have murdered more if they could have."

"Theoretically, though, I guess you could lower it to two with the same reasoning, so I don't know."

Re: Violence : 2/15

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica signed in and look distinctly uncomfortable with the topic.

Re: Violence : 2/15

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Krycek signed in, then looked over the discussion question. "I think it's highly situational for all of the categories."

Paranormal: 2/15

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Welcome.

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"I've been taught to believe that when you die, your soul is judged and you go to either Heaven or Hell." Walter shrugged. "Since I live in a world where I have seen holy magic work, I believe what I was taught."

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige looks over at Grissom then calls him over, "erm I kinda think I know what's gonna happen to me when I die, but I've been not I'm not meant to talk about it, because of what I am."

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[sensethevisions]

When she sees hears the question for Paranormal, Phoebe blanches. Poor Grissom, he has no idea what's going on Phoebe's life and how these last three classes have killed her.

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana signs in. "I think that when we die a part of us goes on - maybe to heaven, maybe to another life... I'm not sure, but I do believe there's more after this lifetime."

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

"Nothing, as far as I remember." Jake looked contemplative as he doodled in his notebook.

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[demonbelthazor]

"When you die, you go to the Wastelands," Bel said emotionlessly. "The cross between the worms from "Tremors" and a Hoover Beast devours your powers, then you don't exist anymore. At all."

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[fates_jaye]

"They wrap you up in a nice white sheet and drop you down about six feet deep. The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the worms crawl in and out of your mouth. Your stomach turns a slimy green and pus comes out like whipping cream." She almost sings it.

Jaye? Has no tact, people. None.

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[sensethevisions]

"When a witch dies, there's nothing left of her but her essence, if she's lucky and she was very strong. It also depends on how she dies."

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[upforachase.livejournal.com]

Cordy thinks about the question for a bit.

"Quiet. I think it's quiet when you die. Maybe that's just wishful thinking, something that sounds nice."

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[chasingangela]

"I don't know," Angela said. "I guess I believe it depends on the person? Like, some people are just gone, but there are a few who stick around as ghosts? But I don't know how the heaven and hell thing fits into that. I don't really believe in them."

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[absolutesnark]

"I believe there is a peaceful afterlife for those who deserve it," Piper says quietly, not really sure she actually believes that anymore.

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

"You mean something outside of the general rotting away of a corpse?" Marty asks somewhat rhetorically. "Hopefully there's some kind of afterlife. I wouldn't bank on it 100% though."

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta paused a moment in contemplation, lips pursed, before she answered. "I think what happens after death is a very individual thing -- where we go, what becomes of us -- whether we go to an afterlife or are somehow reborn." She sighs, shaking her head. "I guess it just means that there is judgment, and movement from there. What happens next can be your own personal Heaven or Hell. It all depends on your perspective."

Silently, she mused that the jury was still out on her own post-mortem.

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[aroseintime.livejournal.com]

"Some sort of afterlife would be nice," says Rose, thoughtfully.

Re: Paranormal: 2/15

[wraithbaitjohn.livejournal.com]

Shep had gotten an up close and personal view of what was apparently going to happen to him after he died. And while knowing he would Ascend was kind of cool, he wasn't sure anyone - even in this class - was going to buy that he'd already seen where he was headed and what all that meant.

He gives Grissom a slightly ill look, one that said, "Oh, please oh please, do not make me answer that out loud."

After Class: 2/15

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Holla.

Re: After Class: 2/15

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe bites her lip and approaches Grissom.

"Can I talk to you?"