21. April 2009 by student.

         Today, through out the entire united states teenagers stand before a judge awaiting their sentencing. Today the advancement of technology has influenced our young children of society to fight, become irrate, and interagate the people around them. This Violence has made teens around American result in destruction of property, brutal beating, and gang violence. These kids are succeptible of become involved with violent action due to the influence of lyrics, video games, and even movies. Television was first brought to the US in the 1950’s. In this time  televisions for only for the people of luxury. The were very expensicve. Very few households around owned a television set. After so long it became more and more common for people to own or set out to purchase a television.

                Although some artists tend to lean more towards motivational lyrics of children taking themselves off the streets, there are still the few that elicits sexual contact, domestic violence, and gang related issues. Today the gang-related crimes ave grown substantly vs. earlier years.

                 For example, the “Colombine” incident. Reporters made it very distinct that the shooter inolved had owned a numerous amount of violent content games. He had posessed several dangerous weapons. He learned most of his agressive actions and performance tactics because the video game.

                   Nowadays we should focus more on the content of what our children are viewing. If parents more involved made the violence rates we decrease rapidly and we would have less accounts of gang violence, ditruction of property, and fights in school houses.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

21. April 2009 by student.

      Recently, actually today after I saw my Sociology grade,I started looking for good blog subjects and I happened to land on one that caught my eye. PETA’s dirty secret was the title of the article and I must say it is quite a dirty secret.

     PETA, an animal rights group known for their radical ways, advertising, and its members known to be animal lovers to an extreme, seems to be quite the hypocrite.Since 1998, PETA has opted to “put down” 21,339 adoptable dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens instead of finding homes for them. PETA’s “Animal Record” report for 2008, filed with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, shows that the animal rights group killed 95 percent of the dogs and cats in its care last year.  During all of 2008, PETA found adoptive homes for just seven pets. (PETAkillsanimals.com)

     Why though? Why would animal lovers do such a terrible thing? At first I tried to look at it from a different view like Sociology class has taught me. Maybe the PETA people thought they were helping the animals by putting them out of their misery instead of having to live a terrible life on the streets. But then I read more into the subject and found that PETA has a 32 million dollar budget used mostly on media campaigns telling Americans that eating meat, drinking milk, fishing, hunting, wearing leather shoes, and benefiting from medical research performed on lab rats are all “unethical.” This money could be put towards finding homes for homeless animals instead of putting it towards preaching to Americans about whats right to eat and whats not.

     I used to respect PETA, I’m not a vegetarian but I am an animal lover and I thought PETA was an amazing organization. But after reading about this dirty secret of theirs and realizing that PETA’s leaders care more about cutting into their advertising budget than finding homes for the nearly six pets they kill on average, every single day I can’t say I care much for them anymore.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

21. April 2009 by student.

I don’t see the big deal with preformance enhancing drugs in sports.  In baseball people don’t wont to see a low scoring game, they want to see homeruns.  I remember when all these guys were juicing up and shattering records no one was complaining.  It actully made baseball a hot sport to watch again.  I just think that they have a freedom of choice.  If athletes wish to take drugs in search of improved performance, let them do so.  They harm nobody but themselves.  Athletes already use all sorts of dietary supplements, exercises, equipment, clothing, training regimes, medical treatments, etc, to enhance their performance.  There is nothing natural about taking vitamin pills. wearing whole body cycra suits, having surgery on ligaments, spending every day in a gym pumping weights, running is shoes with spikes on the bottom.  With so many artifical advantages there is no clear way to distinguish from legitimate and illegitimate, so they should be allowed.  It also levels the playing field.  Currently suspicion over drug use surrounds every sport and every successful athlete, and those competitors who don’t take them see themselves as disadvantaged.  Some drugs can’t be tested for, and in any case, new medical and chemical advances mean that the cheats wills always be ahead of the testers.  Legalisation would remove this uncertainty and allow everyone to compete openly and fairly.  I just think it will be better for the fans.  Sports has become a branch of the entertainment business and the public demands higher, faster, stronger, from athletes.  If drug use allows world records to be continually broken, and makes football plaers bigger and more exciting to watch, why deny the public what they want, especially if the athlete wants to give it to them.

Posted in Social Problems | 4 Comments »

21. April 2009 by student.

                Many people prefer to breastfeed their newborns. But AAP just recently made it a claim of fact that breastfeeding is actually more nutritional for a newborn than infant formula. Although infant formula with provide your newborn with the all of the nutrional values that it promises, the child will continue to mantain a heathly lifestyle, whichever decision is chosen.

                Breast feeding is also a big factor to mother because they feel as thought it is a sense of bonding between the mother and child. It is nourishing for both of them to share. Also, breastfeeding helps prevent ashtma, allergies, diabetes, obesity, and SIDS. Breast feeding is said to be “infection-fighting.” It also make the premature babies less succeptible to diherria, resportory infections, ear infections, and meningitis. This is because anit-bodies are transferred through the breast milk from mother to child. Also, many vitimans are processed in the milk to provide the child with is nutrional necessities.

                On another note, some mothers are choose infant formula for other reasons. Some mothers can not produce the breast milk that generate in the average mother. Thus, making these parent linking their child to formula. Although, there may not be bonding between both parent and child, the infant will still maintain a healthy childhood.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

21. April 2009 by student.

Today has been undoubtably one of the most bittersweet days I’ve had in a long time. When I think of bittersweet moments I think of leaving my 8th grade class to start high school, graduating high school to start a new chapter in my life, watching my brothers grow old and my parents being married for another year. Today was and is my last day of my FGCU college career. When entering FGCU my freshman year I had full intentions of leaving to go to UCF after having my associates degree, I just never imagined it being this hard. I didn’t think I would establish myself with a complete whole new group of friends, be in the most amazing sorority, and emotionally grow as woman. I was accepted into the prestigious public relations school at UCF and I just can’t pass up an opportunity like this one. I’ve doubted myself a great deal on this change and almost feel like I am betraying everyone by leaving. All I ever hear is “be the change you wish to see in the world”(Gandhi). I hope I am going to see some changes in this world and be a part them along the way of my new chapter in my life in a completely new town. Thank you FGCU for everything great you have given to me and Thank you professor Andoscia for such a great semester.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

21. April 2009 by student.

In today’s society cell phones are considered a must by a majority of the population. In fact, it’s considered to be almost blasphemic by some. In my opinion, cell phones have their time and place. In all honesty, I can’t remember the last time that I actually brought my cell with me anywhere unless I knew I’d be there for more than a day. As a matter of fact, my phone probably doesn’t leave my room for more than the time it takes for me to make a call (for some reason I don’t get service in my room). It seems as though cell phones have become somewhat of an epidemic in recent years; if someone can’t contact you when they see fit, well then there’s just something wrong with you. Even better yet, if one doesn’t respond within 5 minutes to a text, many feel the need to send the same text again and again until they get a response. God forbid anyone want to not communicate 24/7. I guess I just don’t think it’s necessary for EVERYONE to be in contact at every minute of the day.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

21. April 2009 by student.

When former roommates of mine moved out a week ago my apartment complex was suppose to collect and deactivate their keys. This past weekend I discovered that someone had been in my apartment when I was out. The only way to get in the front door is by a micro chip key that has to be programmed by the complex and my neighbor then told me that he saw my former roommates running down the stairs with their car filled with items. I then called an apartment office employee who met me at the office to reset my keys and told me that the former roommates were suppose to turn in their keys a week ago when they moved out and since they are no longer on the lease and have now broken into my apartment with keys or not, it is considered a burglary and I have to now call the sheriff department.

The next morning I called the sheriff department and had a representative come down to my complex. The officer seemed to be understanding at first but when he came back after talking to my former roommates he said this case is not considered a burglary and he has real burglaries to deal with and it is the apartment complex’s fault and I would have to bring it up them.

The following day I went down to the office to talk to a manager in which they continued to say it is a civil problem, but if the police won’t take action and now the apartment complex won’t, what is considered a burglary when people have keys to my apartment that were suppose to be turned in a week ago and have now entered without my permission and are not on the lease. If someone is not on the lease with keys or not and enter it is considered a burglary so why won’t the apartment complex take action for this issue and say they are liable for not collecting and deactivating the keys and since the former roommates are not on the lease they are considered burglars and should be arrested.

In the lease agreement it states “any serious problems with co-residents should be reported to us in writing, immediately.” I have written a letter to the complex and now awaiting a reply. But in today’s time no one can feel safe when occurrences like this happen and the fact that no one in the complex office or police department is stepping in, the situation should not be left unsolved and I will still fight to have action taken.

Posted in Social Problems | 1 Comment »

21. April 2009 by student.

With the economy the way it is, schools have been cutting back on many things.  A suggestion on things to cut is taking music and art out of schools.  The way I see this is how can schools even think of cutting and removing such important topics that has molded so many of us?  For some children, it is the only way to understand them.  If we remove these subjects how will they express their feelings or express themselves.  Not everyone finds it easy to communicate, write, or speak his or her mind.  But with art and music they can do just that.  To take them out of schools could be a monumental and shameful mistake.

Posted in Social Problems | No Comments »

21. April 2009 by student.

Peer pressure in today’s society could be considered a problem among adolescents, young adults, and even in adults themselves. Peer pressure is defined as “the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behavior in order to conform to the group.”   Groups can be formed through pressuring an individual to act as the group does. This, in turn, can lead to even more peer pressure among the groups’ peers. The groups’ peers can often feel the negative side effects of the particular group simply because they aren’t in their group.            However, this isn’t to say that peer pressure is all bad. On the up side, those who associate with peer groups that strive to better themselves wind up striving to do the same. In this type of peer pressure, the pressure can actually turn into a positive influence on the individual’s life. This is especially true for those who are involved in social groups that dedicate themselves towards a sport or education.            Being in these social groups requires the individual to conform to the norms of that group, whatever they may be. It has been found that most people who are socially accepted, whatever the group, often have a higher rate of success in future endeavors. On the opposite end of the spectrum, those who aren’t socially accepted often have a very difficult time excelling in life. However, it has also been found that those who are accepted and considered as “popular” have a higher occurrence of being vulnerable to substance abuse and also deviant behavior.         As you can see, peer pressure can have both positive and negative side effects on an individual. In the end, it’s really all up to your decisions as an individual.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | No Comments »

21. April 2009 by student.

Recently there has been a craze going through the reading world with the young adult saga “Twilight.”  with four popular books it was bound to happen that a movie would be made based on these books.  This past November Twilight was brought to the big screen and started an uproar of Twilight followers.  All of a sudden girls across the nation have fallen in love with this story and the main character Edward Cullen.  his character is a vampire who falls in love with an ordinary girl named Bella.  Everyone was swooning over how Edward would devote himself for Bella.  I was curious what the big deal was about this book.  I mean so they have passion, and are in love; but why does this make it so interesting?  So I followed the crowd and began to read the series.  I would be lying if I said I was’nt addicted right away.  I could not wait to finish each book and start the next one.  I all the sudden wanted my own “Edward Cullen.”  Although I find him to be an amazing character and agree that every guy should be more like Edward Cullen; I would never be an over dramatic fan.  In some way this obsession over the stories and character has created a new cult.  The cult consist  of fans that are obsessed with the story and won’t let anyone stand in their way and tell them otherwise.  It is shocking at some of the stories I have heard regarding fans and their devotion to the books.

One story I read was about a boy who was talking with his friend while going up the stairs in his high school.  He was talking to his friend about the “rabid fan girls” and how the stories are not that well written.  Immediately following this statement a girl ran up to him and said, “F*** you, you’re just jealous because you can’t write as good as Stephanie Myer.”  After yelling this she shoved him down the stairs he had just climbed.  Luckily someone caught him and he was not hurt as bad.  It seems so crazy that this was someone’s reaction over a book.  An even crazier story is about a girl who was sitting outside her school in December waiting to get picked up.  She saw a girl walking her way clutching a Twilight book.  They started talking and the girl sitting down stated that she did’nt really like the books and wasn’t that crazy about them.  The girl clutching the book became so offended and yelled “I’m gonna get you, just you wait.”  A few days later the girl that was threatened was in Wal-mart when she found her self shoved to the ground and held down by two people while somoene beat her with a baseball bat.  The girl that yelled at her was the one that beat her with the bat just because she was not a fan of twilight.  My jaw was on the floor when i read this.  Do some people not understand that this should not be the reaction if someone does not like the same book as you.  The fact that they girl thought this was ok just because someone did not idolize Edward Cullen is appalling.  If this is not bad enough the last story I read really put me in shock.  One day a boy was in his college chemistry class when one of the girls at his lab table was reading Twilight instead of listening to the lab instructions.  He told the girl to listen because he did not want to have to explain it to her later.  When his group began the lab he was telling someone how dumb it was that so many girls are obsessed with these books.  Within seconds the girl yelled at him and threw the toxic acid they were using in the lab in the boys face.  That’s right she threw acid in his face because he dissed twilight. I just can not believe this is what some people are doing with their life.  I mean it is a good series but to let it brain wash your mind into hurting people is ridiculous.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 2 Comments »