fandomhigh | Sociology 310 and 500 Class Meeting

Welcome to the first class meetings for Sociology 310 and Sociology 500. If you have signed up for either class, please consult the roster to confirm your enrollment.

Sociology 310: Special Topics - Death and Dying

Please sign in below in the appropriate space. The syllabus for this course has been posted.

This class period will serve as an introductionary exercise. Please state your name to the class, and share why you are interested in the course material. The subject matter is difficult, and it is important to be respectful of the viewpoints of others.

In class we will read Walt Whitman's poem To One Shortly to Die. Please feel free to share your thoughts in regards to this poem. Although not a written assignment, your participation will be noted.

Sociology 500 - Sociology of Deviance

Please sign in below in the appropriate space. Copies of the syllabus for this class can be located on my office door.

Please introduce yourself to the class and the professor. Your assignment for next class is to write a short essay that defines deviance. There is no wrong answer, this is merely to understand the different perspectives of all students in this seminar.

[OOC: Sorry for the delay, and lumping these together. I was slammed by RL unexpectedly. Grissom will be around to speak to students if they have questions this afternoon, however, all classes will be slow-played now and in the future for everyone. Play as much as you can regarding assignments, comment at least that you attended. Classes will be stored in my memories so you can catch up. Next week classes will run on a normal schedule and happen separately, and "coursework" will be laid out for the semester in part. Thank you.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Welcome to class.

My name is Wednesday Addams. I have joined this class in order to establish what, exactly, society as a whole defines as 'Deviant Behavior'. Abnormal Psychology and its various applications are a family interest, and it is a subject which has always fascinated me.

I am looking forward to this class and to the essays written by my fellow students.

Nice to meet you, Ms. Addams. It will be interesting to hear your thoughts; I would be interested in learning more about your family and its background with the subject matter, as much as you are willing to share.

Thank you, Dr. Grissom. I am looking forward to exploring this theme and your class.

Good afternoon, Dr. Grissom. Ah, hello, I'm Susan Ivanova. My duties with EarthForce require me to interact with several different cultures and societies within those cultures, some practices of which I may see as deviant.

Random example, arbitrarily dividing an entire race into two factions which then beat each other senseless. *rolls eyes* Only the Drazi . . .

I want to understand what is deviance in order to help me function in this role as ~~Green Drazi Leader~~ an authority figure. Hearing other students' perspectives will be very interesting.

Hey there, teach. Angelus, reporting in for class.

I would define deviance as anything interesting that good people deny themselves just because they don't like having fun. You can't be good if you're not suffering, and the cheapest way to suffer is to pretend you don't want to have a piece of that pretty little schoolgirl, or don't get hard thinking about peeling off the skin of that nun... as for example.

There's nothing in the world that's true deviance, just really fun stuff that some people are too pathetic to admit that they desire.

"My name is Rogue. I decided to take this class because I've lost a lot of my friends and teachers, and will probably lose more in the future." She pauses, as if pondering whether to continue, but decides to remain silent.

Callisto.

Having dedicated my entire existence for the past few years to the death after a prolonged and painful dying of the warlord who slaughtered my family like animals, I guess you could say that Death and Dying are subjects very close to ~~the blackened cinder that remains of~~ my heart.

My name's Westley. I'm interested in the class because... this is a wee bit embarrassing... I keep having these dreams where I'm dead. Only I'm not quite all the way there yet. Sort of like a chicken right after it gets it's head cut off, only no one can see me moving around or hear me. Everyone thinks I'm totally 100 per cent without question certifiably dead. But I'm not. I'm just... mostly dead.

I suppose I'm here to get a better understanding of death. And to make the dreams stop.

*knocks on the door before sticking her head in the class*

Your pardon for interrupting, Grissom. Angelus, you have detention this weekend.

The next time you want a girl's attention, try to get it in a manner that won't freak her out or send teachers after your blood.

Thank you for sharing. You prefer to be called Ivanova, correct?

A written assignment will be assigned later on in the semester; I would love to see a case study on some of the cultures you have experienced, my own background being confined to Earth. I think you will find that patterns in human society are reflected in other cultures in the universe as our studies progress.

I am curious as to how your perceive violence as well, as it related to deviance in societies. If you could, keep the idea fresh for discussion. Thank you.

That's an interesting perspective, although perhaps a simplistic justification for hedonistic behavior. I look forward to your reactions to some of the other students' input. *sneer*

And I look forward to working with you as well.

Grissom gives her a soft, encouraging smile.

Thank you for sharing, Rogue. I know that this subject can be difficult, please share what you are comfortable with, and if you have any special needs or questions feel free to stop by my office anytime.

I do look forward to your participation. I've lost some friends and mentors as well, and fear of loss is something we will discuss at length.

Thank you for sharing, Callisto. It will be extremely eye-opening to have the opinion of someone in class who sees death in such a unique light.

Feel free to relate class exercises to your own experience. I believe that it tends to make all of us understand the material more thoroughly.

We will be studying death as a symbol in our society, so perhaps this class can help you.

Also, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Please, do not feel embarrassed. We all have different reactions to the concept of death, and this class should be an open forum free from the scrutiny of others.

Thank you for attending class, Westley.

"Excuse me?" Angelus gestured to the classroom around him. "I was just doing my essay, I don't know what you're talking about."

Angelus winked. "Happy to do my studies, teach."

As we CSIs would say, the evidence never lies. *a very hard smile* Show up like a good boy and I'll tell the principal to hold back the holy water this time.

"You wanna do me a favor and at least tell me what I'm being convicted of?" Angelus asked.

Daggers pinning roses and bears to doorways went out in the nineteenth century. Maia found your actions rather distressing. And I'm in the mood to give out detentions right and left. Enjoy.

*turns to leave*

Update your will, to be on the safe side.

*leaves*

"This is discrimination!" Angelus called after her, not even half-seriously. "It's an unfair bias against my species! I should call my lawyer!"

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Sociology 310 and 500 Class Meeting

Sociology 310: Death and Dying

Sociology 500: Deviance

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