10. March 2009 by student.

Relationshis have a huge impact on society. Relationships whether between homosexuals, or heterosexuals have been around for as long as humans have been on this earth. Most relationships between individuals of age 13-22 do not last, and in all situations, at least one of the two individuals social life is severly impacted negatively.  I have observed many people’s relationships through middle school and high school, and every single relationship has had the same results. If people want to “date” by all means, do it. Young people need to learn about each other sexually, and emotionally, but they don’t have to be “going steady” with eachother. I have seen too many friendships broken up because of young romantic relationships because of jealousy, and insecurity. Only three percent of high school relationships make it into the future years of adulthood, an average of .002 percent of middle school relationships make it into adulthood. So I ask you, why participate in solid relationships in your teens, when you could be exploring many different people, and dating exclusively through your teen years? So when it comes time to decide on a mate for marage, you know exactly what you do want, and what you don’t want in an individual.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

10. March 2009 by student.

The military is there to protect our country from being taken over as well as acquiring land from enemies that we conquer. They are a staple of American society because they keep our way of life the way we like it. But  all is not well in the military. There are certain aspects of this social institution which makes some people’s lives harder than they need to be. I learned in class that there is a type of discharge within the military which actually hurts the soldier rather than helps him or her. It is called the 513 discharge. Basically, if you get wounded, you are entitled to certain benefits sited in the contract in the beginning of your military career. These benefits could last your entire life if the situation calls for it. By signing this discharge, this person is saying that he/she was mentally unfit for duty from the beginning. Now why would a soldier, not to mention a wounded soldier, sign such a thing? I mean, they got hurt so why negate all of that pain and suffering and get nothing for the hassle? It’s obvious; they were tricked into signing it. Someone comes up and tells them that it takes time for these benefits to take effect but if you sign this paper you could save yourself months of waiting. Guess what that paper is? This is standard practice so the government can save money and not fulfill their promises. That is morally wrong and I don’t stand for that. Many people are having hard times because they were tricked and I want that changed because they fought for my freedoms. Let them have some benefit. Ever wonder why there are so many homeless Vietnam War veterans? This is part of the problem.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 4 Comments »

10. March 2009 by student.

Corporations are horrible for society, unless you are the CEO in which case you are too rich to care. From a business prospective they are a fantastic way to get a job and make some money. But from a social standpoint they cause mayhem. The perfect example would be Wal-mart. Within the rows of endless crap that you can get but don’t really need for cheap lies an evil that needs to be extinguished. Not only does Wal-mart as well as many if not all corporations use cheap labor to produce their products that we utilize. The way these corporations treat these people in other third world countries is horrendous. It disgusts me how these people live because of the corporations they work for; a minimum of a couple of dollars a day combined with horrible working conditions along with an already harsh life in this country make for a really bad situation for these people. Basically, these corporations are taking advantage of people who are very poor and would do this atrocious because they have no choice. Obviously, we need to become more aware of these instances of “Corp. Torture” so steps can be taken to stop and prevent this from happening. As long as the ability to take advantage of these people is present, it will continue because it is a power trip. The corporations have the ability to stop this travesty right now, but the power over people is too great a luxury to give up. If you could control someone as well as their entire family and those people rely on you on a daily basis, of course you would have a power trip and not want to change anything. We need to stand together and banish this atrocity so people can be fairly treated in the workplace as well as their daily lives.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 2 Comments »

10. March 2009 by student.

I really do not like how are education system is set up in this country. Keep in mind that Ive never seen how other countries handle their education situation. I have met many people from other  countries who now go to school here and they have all said that our education system is pitiful. My old roommate German roommate would not shut up about how silly and sad the work and things he needed to study for over here. We do not put a lot of financial backing into the school structure in this country, and we really need to. The state and local government always cuts the money from the school system because these decisions always make the news. The headline is usually the same; “school board cuts the budget…” and I know automatically what the deal is. I for one want a better education so I have a better foundation for the rest of my life. I don’t want America to turn into china where we lose Saturdays and most of our summer which turn into school days for more education; I’m aiming for better quality, not quantity. I want teachers to receive more salary so teaching would be more of a pleasant privilege rather than a choir. This reflects upon the students because I’ve had very unpleasant teachers in my time within our education system  and I have to say that I did not learn a damn thing from them because of that. I want better books, more of them, better facilities, and more teachers for less students. Classes today are crazy when it comes to sizes; 50 kids with 30 seats and one teacher equals hard learning situations. It’s just the little things that can increase quality of education. Of course many changes would be in order for these little things to happen, but I can dream right?

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 3 Comments »

10. March 2009 by student.

Don’t get me wrong, I do support welfare because it does help people who really need financial help. That is to say, it does also help people who really do not require assistance. Let us say that there is a woman who works two to three jobs with a couple of kids and no husband. This person would obviously require welfare if she so desired it and made steps towards obtaining it. Anyone viewing her situation would definitely think that she would utilize that money in a way which would benefit her and make things easier for her overall life financially. With that said, some people who have welfare actually do not “need” it at all like this woman would. Someone could easily lie on the form and receive checks every month while at the same time pretending to live poorly. I know the welfare system is pretty good about catching abusers of this type but the idea that someone would try to take advantage of such a positive social helper is the whole social problem. Why do people do this? I personally think that they do it because they can, and probably get away with it. It is basically free money. I know if I could get free money I would do it just like any right minded person would also, but the difference is that I would not take the opportunity away from someone who could use that money a hell of a lot more than I could. Some people just don’t care and view it as a venue to take advantage of the system. It really is a shame.

Posted in Social Problems | 1 Comment »

10. March 2009 by student.

Child abuse is a huge social problem in many societies. What the major problem with it is that it mentally damages these children in some way and effects their social skills for a long period of time, if not their entire lives. It could make them doubt themselves and create low self-esteem. These are small children we’re talking about here; they don’t need this type of problem at their age or at all for that matter. This is not to mention that they are physically abused as well. I worked at a soup kitchen teaching 2^nd graders how to read and the like. One little boy that was under my care had a huge problem making friends. I just he was shy but one day he took off his shirt to go swimming at the pool within the center. His back was covered in bruises and welts from what seemed to be belt lashes. A few others and me saw this and we knew that this is why he was shy. His father would get drunk and beat him while putting him down emotionally by calling him derogatory things. We got him help but I don’t know how long it took him to emotionally recover. He was around seven so up until that time that was all he knew. I really wish that he is ok and other kid don’t have to deal with what he went through. The problem with child abuse is that you cannot prevent it, only stop it when it is knowingly occurring. That is why child abuse is one of the hardest social problems to solve.

Posted in Social Problems | No Comments »

10. March 2009 by student.

      There is a world where you can become any creature, hero, or villain. You can save the world and kill off bad guys with swords and guns, and not be charged with manslaughter. The world I speak of is that of virtual reality, better known as video games. Video games have been a cause for controversy since they were born, and the fight against them doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon. People such as Jack Thompson gave up their lives to fight the video game battle with lawsuits and protests; to his dismay, his efforts have only made the games more popular. The real question here is: Do video games really cause young people to act out, and confuse reality with virtual reality?

     Sporting themes like car jacking, prostitution, murder, and racism only spell out trouble to parents and the media. What these people fail to understand is that the player of the game does these actions by choice, knowing full well that they will be gunned down by the authorities. The control of an environment is what turns kids on to the games. Military based video games are speculated because critics believe that they will train teens to kill. “The military uses games as part of a specific curriculum, with clearly defined goals, in a context where students actively want to learn and have a need for the information being transmitted. There are consequences for not mastering those skills. That being said, a growing body of research does suggest that games can enhance learning” (Jenkins). Having goals and objections in a game, make the player strive for victory and gain a sense of satisfaction of completing tasks correctly. Despite the negative hype parents gain from the media, video games have also been dubbed as “therapeutic.”

     “When it says “therapy” it means what actions can cause from playing certain games everyday all day. There is no age limit because all ages have an addiction from video games. It mainly talks about how certain games can have a big impact on people’s brain keeping their mind alert and active” (Anderson 253-259). Not all games have violent connotations. Classics such as Tetris stimulate one’s thought process, and ability to solve puzzles. There are an abundance of thought provoking video games that are not under the fire. Why? Because the games actually help along with the child’s mental development. “There are some games out here that are educational too. Some games such as Madden and 2k or Live are good games that help people in sports. It gives them motivation to do better at what they do.” (772-790 ). Where is the harm in learning? Both educational and violent games are found to have positive effects on the players. Gamers are gaining basic social skills, as well as problem solving abilities. A common stereotype is one of a fat man, sitting all alone on his room with his hands glued to a controller. Research shows that most players are gaming with friends, or even family members. Multiplayer games provide the users with missions that educate the players in teamwork. The interactive nature of the games make learning entertaining to young people.

     Protesters make the argument that video games are “desensitizing,” merely molding the youth into a horde of criminals; they are wrong again. “Media reformers argue that playing violent video games can cause a lack of empathy for real-world victims. Yet, a child who responds to a video game the same way he or she responds to a real-world tragedy could be showing symptoms of being severely emotionally disturbed. Here’s where the media effects research, which often uses punching rubber dolls as a marker of real-world aggression, becomes problematic” (Jenkins). The role-playing aspect in games allows children of all ages to to “compensate for their own feelings of personal powerlessness.” Being able to kill in a game provides a young adult with an emotional outlet. The violent nature of the games can even open a child’s eye to what some parts of the country are really like. The Grand Theft Auto series is the most controversial string of games to date. In GTA: San Andreas, a player is an African American man who can steal cars, and beat up rival gangs in a slum type setting, much like a copy of Compton. Young players were asked about the game setting and 97% of them showed emotions of never wanting to live in that situation. Still, with all the facts in check, there will be those who will not accept the truth.

     Jack Thompson, a native to Ohio, is the king nay-sayer of the video game cooperation. Thompson sees violent games as a training tool for every mass murder…ever. This lawyer has tried to sue every video game provider, most very unsuccessful. His religious mindset has not allowed him to take in all of the facts clearly, thus resulting in public humiliation. Thompson has counseled many clients into believing that their son’s and/or daughters mental problems stem from playing too many video games. He claims that “scientific studies show teenagers process the game environment differently from adults, leading to increased violence and copycat behavior. If some wacked-out adult wants to spend his time playing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, one has to wonder why he doesn’t get a life, but when it comes to kids, it has a demonstrable impact on their behavior and the development of the frontal lobes of their brain”(Excerpt from ‘20/20′). Thompson is loved by video game companies like Rockstar, because his trivial squabbles lead to more games being sold. Thompson does not realize that his antics are only selling more games to teenagers. Thompson will “fight the good fight” until his dyeing day, and gaming companies hope it won’t be anytime soon.

     Educational problem-solving skills, social interaction, and self-realizations need to be banned from children, for their own safety! Video games will forever have a poor connotation, even though they help with a child’s development. Violence will not stop because a few games are banned, violence is apart of human nature, we feed off of. Whether it be for emotional morality, or entertainment, violence is here to stay. Video games do not create murders, people like Jack Thompson do.

Posted in Social Problems | 1 Comment »

10. March 2009 by student.

Body image is the perception of one’s body—how it looks, feels and moves. Whether a person accepts their body or loathes it, it all plays a toll on their emotion.

Adolescents are at high risk for problems surging from body issues because they are experiencing puberty. During puberty bodies go through a great amount of change, some good and some bad. Either way this is the time when teens are most aware of their image. For boys, puberty brings on admired characteristics such as height, speed, and strength. For girls, puberty brings with it less desirable characteristics such as a fuller figure and increased body fat. This is why more girls are dissatisfied with their figures. Going through puberty earlier or later than peers presents a big problem with healthy body image.

·   50-88% of adolescent girls feel negatively about their body shape or size

·   49% of teenage girls say they know someone with an eating disorder

·   Only 33% of girls say they are at the “right weight for their body” while 58% want to lose weight. Just 9% want    to gain weight.

·   Females are much more likely than males to think their current size is too large (66% vs. 21%)

Body image is shaped by perception; therefore it can change in relation to mood, the environment, experiences, etc. The media plays a huge role in the lives children and adults. Media takes the form of television, movies, videogames, toys, the internet, etc; all of which convey images of ideal attractiveness, beauty, and weight. Young girls idolize the stars of their favorite television shows. Young boys idolize their favorite action figures.

·   American youth spend, on average, 900 hours a year in school and an average of 1,023 hours a year watching television

·   The average American consumes 11.8 hours per day of media of all kinds

·   Children view more than 20,000 commercials per year

The consequences can be quite severe when it comes to body image. The most obvious is extreme dieting and weight loss. These boil down to the conditions known as Anorexia and Bulimia. These are serious diseases that need medical attention. So how do we stop situations such as these? Well it’s hard to say. I do not foresee a world without media. Therefore I suppose the only thing to do is to teach our children at a young age what a healthy body image is. Teaching and explaining to the youth might give us a brighter future.

·   At eight years old, girls believe that weight control is strongly associated with self-worth and view dieting as a means of improving self-worth.

·  Poor body image is strongly associated with low self-esteem and low self-worth, both of which can severely limit the potential for youth to succeed.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

10. March 2009 by student.

               Being in traffic while on the road is a very stressful thing. You just want to get to your destination without any trouble at all. Many times it is just congestion on the highways or street that is making it, or it could be an accident, but other times it is rubber neckers. For all of you who do not know of this term, it is when people slow down their car to look at an accident that has occurred. The accident will not even be in the road to stop them or make them go slower; they will just slow down to stair and look at what happened. I have a great example is this that happened to me.

                I was in a car with my friend and we were on our way to the beach. A car came off of the exit and stared swerving in the other lanes. It went into the median and almost hit a car on the other side of the median. The cars in our lane saw this and slammed on their breaks. All of the cars crashed into each other and we hit the back of the person in front of us. It was about a 4 car crash and we were so angry. All the cars could still drive, so we moved our cars to the median so they were not in the way of the traffic. We called the cops to report the accident and while this saw happening I look back and I just see a huge line of cars backed up. No one was in the road and no parts on the ground to block these cars. Everyone just slowed down their car to just stare at us standing in the median. It was the funniest thing just to see all of these cars being backed up for about a mile just to see a few cars that got into an accident. This is the worst then you are in the traffic and you realize that there is no reason to be in it. I think people just like to look or watch things and just thank god that they are not in that situation. I hope that people will just not do this anymore because it is frustrating and just cause another accident.          

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

10. March 2009 by student.

Another thing that annoys me is how corporate and government officials get off easy. It really is true that people with connections get away clean.  For example, Nolle Bushm daughter of a governor got a slap on the wrist for being caught in possession of 2 grams of cocain, also was caught trying to buy Xanex with a fake perscription. Instead of jail, she got to enjoy a relaxing 72 hours of rehab. If it were any regular person, they would go to jail for a nice relaxing long ass time.

Bob Powell, a very rich man who owned two Private Prisons, paid 2 judges to send kids to jail for an intense amount of time just for the money per inmate system. Which is now known as the “Cash-for-Kids Scandal.” These two judges were convicted, and sent to a minimum of 10 years in prison and had a bail posted at $1 million. But Bob Powell, who BRIBED these two judges with a house and more than $2.6 Million in bribes, got away clean.

People who are above “regular” people in the Caste system of America are getting away free and it’s annoying. Paris Hilton goes against her probation and serves only a few days out of an ordered 45 days,  just because of who she is. This needs to stop, and everyone has seen this in one way shape or form.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »