Classical Theory

looking for a class

2010-03-24T22:29:00.000-07:00

IF YOUR IN SEARCH OF A GOOD CLASS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT ART 447H Art of Mesoamerica....PROFESSOR IS GREAT AND IF YOU TAKE IT DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE FIRST DAY !!!

Take a deep breath

2010-03-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

numbers for final scantron posted <-- click

High Status Victims=Higher Sentences for Perpetrator.

2010-03-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

http://sciencebloggers.blogspot.com/2010/03/defendants-more-likely-to-be-sentenced.html

An interesting read-especially from a sociological perspective. I see some Dubois and some Marx in there...

See you around!

2010-03-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

Early Wakin', Earthshakin'

2010-03-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

Dunno about the rest of you, but I couldn't sleep for a good while after that quake.

Robert's Example

2010-03-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Robert's Example is not working from the site. I click it and an error pops up.

Creative Section

2010-03-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd understand how to do this section after I saw Tabor's example. But once I started doing it, ohman I'm not even sure I'm doing it right. Any suggestions or thoughts or anything?

Two copies of your Creative part

2010-03-13T12:32:00.000-08:00

Please bring 2 copies. Remember: one page only.

creative section

2010-03-10T21:22:00.000-08:00

is the creative section of the final suppose to be researched? or personal?

DuBois did important research

2010-03-10T01:28:00.000-08:00

We touched on his 3 most compelling concepts - the colortocracy, the veil, and two-ness. He used a combination of statistical analysis and what Weber would call "verstehen" to understand African Americans. Only since 1960s has he gotten his due respect in America. In Europe he met with Weber and other important Sociologists of the time, whereas he was more isolated or "caught" in the "color line" in America. In his case you might wish to read on past the assigned introduction because his writing is fluid and important to read as an American. I have some DuBois notes on line already and by tomorrow I will have more notes.

The Self and Reincarnation

2010-03-08T21:02:00.000-08:00

A while ago, I posted an issue about the nonexistence of the self from the Buddhism perspective, and how reincarnation is impossible. This issue is very interesting when we study Mead. But unfortunately we do not have enough time to cover Mead in this class. So, here is the brief answer of the issue of the self and reincarnation.

Consider the following situation. It is the lunch time, and you decide to eat a burrito alone. You go into one of empty classrooms and eat a burrito there. Suppose all the doors and windows are closed and the air-conditioning is not working. Obviously, the classroom is eventually filled with the smell of a burrito.

Because all the doors and the windows are closed, the smell of a burrito remains in the classroom even after you finish eating and leave the room. According to Buddhism, this residue of burrito's smell is what people label as the self. When you are alive, you have lots of emotions and desires, and such emotions and desires are something similar to the smell of a burrito. And even if you die (i.e., you move out of the classroom), the smell remains for a while. And if someone enters the room after you leave, this person "shares" the smell of a burrito, and this is what people call reincarnation.

Now, we have to understand that even if the smell of a burrito remains in the classroom, the smell is constantly changing. For instance, as time passes, the smell weakens. Or what if someone enters the room, this time, with a pizza? Then, the smell of a burrito certainly exists, but inevitably is mixed with the smell of a pizza. So, this time, we encounter the smell of the mixture of a burrito and a pizza. In real life, let's say I die "now," and someone who has my memory is born a hundred years later. Is this my reincarnation? Buddhism says no. This "second me" certainly has my memory, but it also has other influences such as the future society's influence, a different path of socialization, the "mixed" emotions like the case of a burrito and a pizza, etc. So even if there is someone who insists that he is a reincarnation of me a hundred years later, that person is not "me."

I think it will be interesting to relate Mead's theory to Buddhism's idea described above when you consider the construction of the self.

The Disappearance of Color Line

2010-03-08T18:56:00.000-08:00

I wonder what Mr. Du Bois says about this music video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmf1oyo6_WI&feature=related
This may be the indication that the color line is disappearing, or we can argue this from the perspective of globalization.

The Culture Line

2010-03-08T18:34:00.001-08:00

Du Bois talks about the Color Line. I have been in this country for a long time, but honestly speaking, I have not encountered discrimination because I am yellow. I think this is because many American people do not think Japanese and other East Asians are intellectually inferior, thanks to the extreme modernization of Japan and other Asian nations. Rather, American people tend to think I am smart once they find out that I am Japanese, and sometimes I am embarrassed when I can not meet their expectation on intellectual matters.

But I did encounter something which should be called the Culture Line. Rather than explaining this concept, I should give you one specific example.

When I finished my B.S. in math, I once tried to be a high school math teacher. So, I went to LAUSD for an interview. This interviewer had a strange look on me, and as soon as I finished introducing myself, he asked, "Are you familiar with American culture?" I was puzzled because I was trying to be a math teacher, and math was a universal subject. But he kept saying that teaching at American high school was really difficult, and he doubted whether I was a good fit to American high school. But the fact was that I went to American high school - Gardena High School which was one of LAUSD's high schools. I told him that, but he kept saying that American high school was quite different from Japanese high school. And he kept talking about cultural difference between the U.S. and Japan. I acknowledged that there was such cultural difference, but at the same time, I kept telling him that I went to Gardena High, graduated from UCLA with Department Honor and had a valid teaching credential. But he kept saying that I was not Americanized enough, so I was not hired while my other classmates whose qualifications were very similar to mine were hired.

This interview was really uncomfortable, and after that, I stopped thinking about teaching math at high school.

It seems many White people think that we (East Asians) are competitive intellectually, but they believe there is a huge cultural difference so that East Asians are "aliens" who are incapable of sharing American ethics and values.

One Last week!

2010-03-07T19:03:00.003-08:00

One last week of actual instruction and then finals. Good luck everyone!

Furlough

2010-03-03T22:39:00.000-08:00

remember: Furlough tomorrow. See you Tuesday. I'll bring nametags so we can post our blogger names.

What Would Weber Say?

2010-03-03T08:20:00.001-08:00

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/one-quarter-germans-would-embrace-implantable-microchip

Chile

2010-02-27T06:22:00.000-08:00

live upstream

OH YEAH....SORENKERK

2010-02-25T21:58:00.000-08:00

I just always wondered where the inspiration for the name of the website came from. And the symbol..?

I dont know why but I sure would like to know if you don't mind sharing :-)

HEALTH CARE REFORM

2010-02-25T21:52:00.000-08:00

The health care reform was actually pretty interesting. I thought watching those things would be incredibly difficult since I do not keep up with current events and politics as I maybe should but it was pretty easy to pick up. The language was rather easy to understand.

Just might tune in more often.

human movement predictable

2010-02-25T06:58:00.001-08:00

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2010/02/cell-phones-show-human-movement-predictable-93-of-the-time.ars

True love

2010-02-23T20:04:00.000-08:00

"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection." -Buddha

Settle Down Age v Sex

2010-02-22T19:13:00.000-08:00

All input is valuable especially MEN please don't leave me hanging :) http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JZ67CL7

Simmel and economics

2010-02-22T13:39:00.000-08:00

Simmel argues that value arises from exchange. In fact, Marx, too, argued the origin of value. This is the famous labor theory of value (This theory was later discredited). In today's economics, value arises from marginal utility (Explanation is here). Do you think Simmel's argument on value is with flaw? Or can we make new economic theory based on Simmel's argument?

Simmel and Buddhism

2010-02-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

I think Simmel's sociology is in contrast with Durkheimian sociology. For instance, Durkheim argues the existence of "social facts" which are solid existence independent from each individual. However, Simmel places emphasis on interactions of each individual. In Buddhism, there is no solid existence in the world. Therefore, Buddhism argues against Durkheimian idea of solid social facts. According to Buddhism, even "self" does not exist: Everything in the world is "emptiness." This concept is called "sunyata." You should read this article from wikipedia here . As this article says, "sunyata" is not perfectly equal to the Western concept of "emptiness." Rather, this is the perspective that everything in the world (even self) consists of interactions and/or simultaneous causality. Thus, according to Buddhism, society of Durkheimian perspective does not exist. Rather, Buddhism sees that society is the interactions of each individual. I think this perspective is parallel to Simmel's perspective.

One of the students writes in his or her Simmel's paper that "A room is only as dark as how much light is present or absent, and conversely, the room is only as bright as how little or a lot of darkness is available." I think this is the essence of sunyata - the simultaneous causality.

Some people may think that sunyata is Occult Eastern philosophy, so it is nothing to do with modern social sciences. But I know a Japanese sociologist who explains Weber's Protestant ethics and the spirit of capitalism from this Buddhism perspective. Moreover, the premise of Keynesian economics can be easily understood from sunyata's perspective. In Keynesian economics, the GDP is determined from the national consumption. But various economic data suggest that the national consumption is dependent on the GDP. So, this is more like the egg or chicken argument: Which comes first? But the reality is that GDP and national consumption act each other simultaneously and create the national economy. So, there is simultaneous interaction between the GDP and national consumption, and this is at the essence of sunyata.

Lastly, as I write above, Buddhism does not believe the existence of self. But Buddhism believes in reincarnation. It seems Buddhism is contradicting: If self does not exist, there should be no reincarnation. But actually, there is no contradiction. Self does not reincarnate because it does not exist. Then what does reincarnate? It may be interesting for you to think about it.

Curve reality

2010-02-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

here is the whole curve link - beware if you are at the bottom of it - that curve was a gift. Also beware of if you are the bottom of any section, e.g., an A- might better be considered an A-/B+ and a B at the bottom is veering to a B/B- etc.
I was generous with the curve - even the As got many wrong - so we will go over all the questions before the final and you will be prepared for the kind of final it will be.
Also, keep up your presence and participation, your alertness and interest: it counts to keep you as an A- if you are at the low end of the As, a B if you are at the low end of the Bs, etc.

Question!

2010-02-18T17:47:00.000-08:00

For the Gilman section on Madness, do I quote from the "The Yellow Wallpaper" text itself or do I quote from Gilman's theory?

Ecstatic!

2010-02-17T23:48:00.000-08:00

just saw my score...totally just made my night!!! :D

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-17T19:36:00.000-08:00

Woooooooooooo hoooooooooo!!! Man I can not believe my grade, friggin sweeeeeeet :)

Man I was hoping for atleast a "D"!!! I was not confident at all!! That totally made my week

GOD IS GOOD!!!

Just Plain Confused

2010-02-16T00:09:00.000-08:00

The only way to describe it. I want the take home portion of the Midterm because I have a strong feeling I will do horrible tomorrow.

Simmel - exchange

2010-02-15T12:50:00.001-08:00

If you have the Exchange section of Simmel, read the last page first. It summarizes and makes the remainder, which is somewhat long and redundant, more clear.

Weber makes U believe!

2010-02-15T08:33:00.000-08:00

Gilman - section assignments

2010-02-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

If you have Yellow Wallpaper assigned, consider renting a movie called "The Hours". It is based on Virginia Woolf, and pertinent to Yellow Wallpaper. Also, you are to read section V of "Economic Conditions," pp 264-266. For people assigned Gilman on Economics, see website for specific section.

Confused

2010-02-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

Is anybody else as confused and stressing on the mid term?

Sequence of next papers

2010-02-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

The book puts Gilman first, but I wish to put Simmel first. Hence, as stated in class, Simmel papers are due on Thursday, Feb 18. The Gilman papers, then, are due on Tues the 23rd. CLICK here, Gilman people, to see your section

money and religion

2010-02-12T06:58:00.000-08:00

http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/millionaires-generosity-frowned-upon-by-clergyman/ a case.

To ease that midterm anxiety.

2010-02-09T21:18:00.001-08:00

Weber - religion

2010-02-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

I have only read one so far - and it was very good! We'll talk about Weber and religion on Tuesday. Come prepared - remember everyone is to read the intro sections by our contemporary editors.

Sara Kruzan: Sentenced to Life Without Parole at Age 16

2010-02-02T23:04:00.000-08:00

After briefly discussing Stanley "Tookie" Williams. Susan Kruzan crossed my mind. Not an individual who committed a crime instead a victim of society Susan is incarcerated with a sentence of Life without parole for killing her pimp at the age of 16. I am a firm believer in second chances especially for Juveniles. For many reasons 1. They are just children and cannot possess the ability to make the right choices 2. They are still developing mentally and physically and that within itself is opportunity for growth. Those are two reasons of many for which I feel that Juveniles do not deserve to be sentenced as adults in our justice system. In this video you can clearly see that she is truly remorseful for her actions and she was just a child. She had no idea what was being expressed to her with the term "moral scruples" and she had to do the research and teach herself. This within itself shows the growth from a child into an adult. Anywho enough of my jibber jabber check out this clip and tell me what you think.

Sacred and Profane

2010-02-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

OK - to help you understand what Durkheim meant by the sacred and the profane: everyone knows that The Bloods' color is red and The Crips' color is blue. How do we understand what is sacred and what is profane for both the Crips and for the Bloods? When you think of your answer, what, then, is, say, green?

Well-known suicides today

2010-02-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

Altruistic Egoic Fatalistic Anomic: what type of suicide is the Columbine type (who kill and know they will be killed) or the VA Tech type? - what type of suicide are they?
Next question: are those student type suicides the same type of the Texas Fort Hood guy who didn't actually end up getting himself killed, but sure was likely to. Is he the same or different from the students as a suicide type?

The Durkheim assignment and a suggested video clip

2010-01-31T20:31:00.000-08:00

Hi. I am the TA. I just finished reading all the Durkheim papers, and I appreciate your effort. However, I need to point out something. When you write paragraphs, please make sure that you understand what you are writing about; i.e., please make sure that your grammar is correct and the logical reasoning is appropriate. Generally, it is not a good idea to rely on the grader to figure out what you are writing about. To write clear paragraphs, I recommend that you write paragraphs well before the deadline. Then, you read it again before you turn in your assignment. Or, for the proof-read, you should visit the writing center on campus and ask them to check your paragraphs. Don't try to do the assignment the day before the due date and turn them in without reading them again.

By the way, the following video clip may be useful for understanding Durkheim's Suicide: Click here.
Go to the "English" section click "Video Full Version." This is the confession of a former :Kamikaze" pilot. You get an idea of what a suicide bomber was thinking about.

HOWARD ZINN

2010-01-28T08:57:00.000-08:00

Leftist icon Howard Zinn has passed away at the age of 87. Zinn, a noted scholar and activist, was most well-known for his million-selling A People's History of the United States. http://bit.ly/W4OHZ

State of the Union

2010-01-27T13:03:00.000-08:00

Watch tonight 6PM. Read the requisite pages for Durkheim: 94, 97, 99-102
Do you see Marx or Durkheim in the State of the Union address? Comments here.

Furlough Assignment?

2010-01-26T20:53:00.003-08:00

Can anyone tell me what was the furlough assignment that was given. I was not in class today and I looked at todays overview and saw that it was mentioned.

1 Trillion Seconds

2010-01-26T12:55:00.000-08:00

~ Years 31709 and 9 1/2 months.

HERE IS MUSE...

2010-01-25T09:08:00.000-08:00

ENJOY

W.E.B. Du Bois Quote

2010-01-23T01:05:00.000-08:00

As I find myself overwhelmed with school this quarter I tend to forget the importance of organization. Taking 16 units seemed like a great idea In the fall but I'm beating myself up every day realizing that I am neglecting one course that is slipping through my fingers each day. I cant seem to focus and make sense of all the material. Having a 6 month old isn't helping either. As I read through the textbook hes ripping the pages out of another. I'm pulling my hair trying to stay positive. I guess its time to step up to the plate and understand the material. So I googled some famous quotes from one of our thinkers to sort of get an idea of what in the world I'm getting myself into and this particular quote stood out to me.

"The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line.” by W.E.B. Du Bois

And I think today this quote is still accurate.

Singing in the rain.

2010-01-23T00:43:00.000-08:00

. -

Question?

2010-01-22T23:01:00.001-08:00

Does anyone know when the paper for Durkheim is due?
Is it Tuesday or Thursday?

Enjoy Portugal. the man

2010-01-20T20:32:00.000-08:00

"Do you believe there is loyalty in man...???"

furlough assignment post 2

2010-01-19T14:14:00.000-08:00

im not too sure about what this clip was about, but from what i got, this gentleman is searching for something that is unknown but is supposed to be this great extraordinary thing that will fill in this emptyness he is supposedly experiencing. it seems he wants to escape from reality in search of this thing that will fill the emptyness in him. he doesn't even know what he is looking for!! in the end, he realizes that he had what he was searching for all along and did not know it and couldn't see it. i think he is just searching for the truths in life.

Life "As It Is"

2010-01-19T14:06:00.000-08:00

I believe the philosophy reflected here is Love. At one point or another what we seek for in our lives is love. Seeking to find the truth about love and life which one day came to life and one day will die. What Marx said fits in because only when love is found life makes sense just like religion when faith is found everything is complete.

office hours Wednesday

2010-01-19T13:54:00.001-08:00

office hours Wednesday ONLY at classroom, 15 min pre-class. NOT at King Hall. HEY! Where are all the Marx papers being emailed to Robert and me? I have a few but not all.

Simply wonderful!

2010-01-19T13:47:00.000-08:00

Im not sure what philosophy this is. All i know is that "It's wonderful." Smiling faces everywhere. Just what the world needs today. :)

furlough day post

2010-01-19T12:28:00.000-08:00

first post

furlough day assignment for 412

2010-01-16T19:21:00.002-08:00

Watch this --> video. 5 people start a post on it; if you are the first to watch, start a post. If you can comment on that post, comment.If you have a different point of view, start a new post.
So ... 5 people post; everyone else comments.
Question: what kind of philosophy is this? Marx says "religion is the opiate of the masses." How does this fit in?

It's wonderful

2010-01-16T19:21:00.001-08:00

WACK

2010-01-16T17:25:00.000-08:00

This blog is not as active as 301 man...good times!

Symbolism

2010-01-14T11:48:00.000-08:00

I found this site worthy of sharing-It looks at popular culture, and the symbolism found within. Specifically within the music industry. Here is the link to an article looking at the meaning of Lady Gaga's song and video, "Bad Romance": http://vigilantcitizen.com/?p=2737
Regardless of the validity of the article, I find it interesting and mysterious. Hope you like it!

EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT

2010-01-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

HOPE SOMEONE JOINS ME ON THE BLOG!!!! C'MON GUYS AND GALS

Thinker assignments

2010-01-12T22:45:00.000-08:00

Marx for a week from Thursday - email by Tuesday 19th
email to mtabor [@] calstatela.edu and to himamada [@] hotmail.com
Durkheim for 2 weeks from Thursday - due hard copy Tues prior
Weber for 3 weeks from Thursday - due hard copy Tues prior
see YOUR section you should be on there twice ... papers always due on the session prior

check this out

2010-01-12T11:47:00.001-08:00

Check out Mr. Cartoon

2010-01-12T11:44:00.000-08:00

http://writingsoc.blogspot.com/2010/01/self-made-economy.html

click here

NOT MUSIC THIS TIME....BUT BEAUTIFUL STORY

2010-01-09T21:55:00.000-08:00

Oh no, I'm in the wrong class.

2010-01-07T23:55:00.001-08:00

Ahhhh! I thought I was taking Classical Theory because I wanted to understand Marx, Durkheim, Weber and Simmel, Dubois, and Mead - and make them pertinent to my 2010 LA life!

SEEING THEM THIS SUMMER...ONE OF MY FAVS

2010-01-07T21:38:00.000-08:00

NEW QUARTER NEW HOPES

2010-01-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

BACK TO THE GOOD OL' BLOG GOT SUM GREAT MUSIC THIS TIME PEOPLE

2010 Welcome to a new decade

2009-12-30T19:03:00.001-08:00

2010 is the year of The Tiger.

Types vs Judgements

2008-10-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

To classify social organizational types is not to judge or rank them - the purpose of classification of "types", e.g., types of social organization, is to make discussion more clear. Language conveys outright and hidden values that come from social position. This makes the job of the Sociologist a challenge. Feel free to stop "the teacher" for a correction or adjustment to language if "the teacher" appears to be in judgement rather than in analysis. It is from respectful discussion that we can put some cracks in the armour of our thinking and find a fertile ground for words that heal, maintain, and build.
Quiz: comb through the web pages and take note of the highlighted, bold, and large terms. If my notes are not clear to you, refer to the book.

Zeitgeist

2008-10-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

The word zeitgeist describes the intellectual, cultural, ethical and political climate of an era or trend. There are 2 parts to this movie. The first is the "Zeitgeist, the movie" that you should watch first (located on the bottom of the linked page) then watch the recently released "ZEITGEIST: ADDENDUM" (located on the top of the linked page). "Zeitgeist, the movie" is in 3 parts, it starts a little slow but trust me it will all make sense after you watch the whole movie. The newly released "Zeitgeist: Addendum" is very relevant to what our economy is going through at the moment. Be ready to get blown away.

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/main.htm

panic?

2008-09-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

I thought Thursday night's conversation was interesting, though I had a few qualms with critiquing today's society without providing good reason and exploring all factors. First, I disagree with the idea that life was better at any point. My main argument is that we have no proof that life was better in the 50's, 1800's, pre-renaissance, you name it. A 50 year old might argue that their life was better growing up, more simple, less stressed. I would agree that at least subjectively their life felt more fulfilling at that point, but where I disagree is where you place a subjective experience as a starting point for sociological thought. Absolutely, the post-world war 2 years were great, so wholesome (sarcasm), but were people really free? What was the place of women, of African Americans, of gays and lesbians?

2nd, you could argue that life up until the industrial revolution was pretty drab for most people and you could expect to die early after working hard in the fields. Was the quality of life better? Were people happier? The only "proof" we have is the impressions of writers, artists, and other accounts, but that doesn't necessarily lead me to think that an individual was happier.

Back to the main point, has the quality of our life lessened because of technology, globalization, and sharing this space with 6.7 billion other beings? I don't think so. Hunger, violence, war still are around, but if you crack open a history book, it's nothing new. There is more and at a bigger scale because there are more of us. Overall, though, more people can read, more people can have an education, more people have access to knowledge through the internet, fine arts and music are no longer only for the elite, and, at least developed countries, we can count on a democracy (i use that term loosely in this case...).

so is my quality of life, is society today better, yes. More people are getting basic needs met thanks to advances in technology, transportation, etc. I'm never hungry, have (almost) equal rights, and can count on a job. That sounds good to me! But, I would agree, a downside is that we tend to overdo it and replace friends with a BlackBerry, but does everyone? Don't we still hang out with friends, go see movies, spend time with loved ones? I do...

To summarize, society has always had its good and its bad side. I think it's fair to examine our current society from an objective, global standpoint. There are parts that are in need of major repair, but overall, I think we're better off than we were 500, 100 or 50 years ago, cell or no cell phone.

Welcome Autumn Thinkers

2008-09-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 412 blog. Note that when you post, you can click a box to get emails in your In Box when and if anyone comments on your post. Watch the debates tonight! I think it is 5PM our time.

Reporter Gets Shot While on Air in Georgia

2008-08-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.therundown.tv/videos/wtf-files/reporter-gets-shot-while-on-air/

Offensive

2008-08-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

This is an image of the Spain's Olympic basketball posing for an ad prior to the Olympic games. All the players are slanting their eyes. A lot of people around the world are getting upset about this picture because of what they are doing. The ad is for a Spanish courier service and it has appeared in a Spanish newspaper. Even people in the states are upset over this picture because this is suppose to be a time of unity and not racism. Should us in the states care about what the Spanish team is doing? Is this racist?

Personal Responsibility vs. Just Being Honest

2008-08-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

Going back to the discussion that was had over whether or not one should take offense
to being called the "B" word...i overheard some things said this weekend
that made me think back to that conversation...

i'll spare you the gory details,
because, it might in fact offend some people, it certainly offended me

There seems to be a trend these days where people say whatever is on their mind
regardless of who it might offend, or who's feelings it might hurt and then
qualifiying it by saying, "i'm just being honest" as if taking the
old addage that "honesty is the best policy" and applying it to situations
where it might not be if you thought about it for a moment

I'm a lover of the constitution and a proponent of the 1st amendment...one of
my favorite quotes is "i disprove of what you say but i will defend with my
life your right to say it"-voltaire

HOWEVER, i feel that just because there are no laws against hurting someone's
feelings, that some people forget what it's like when your feelings do get hurt,
and despite the old addage about sticks and stones, names can hurt

i can think of more than a few that are hurtful to large numbers of people and we
all know what they are

so why is hurting someone's feelings so easily dismissed by calling the person
hypersensative or easily offended?

shouldn't we care about other peoples feelings?

Sure your neighbor might be fat, but is saying so to his face justified by the fact
that he is fat? What about how it makes him feel to hear it? Even if he is truly a plain ole lazy glutton...is it your our place to point out? What gives you the right to do so? The first amendment protects our right to free speach, not our right to be nasty towards one another.

When did insults become honesty?

We have the right to say WHATEVER we want to say in this country so long as it isn't
libelious...but should we?

Having a strong opinion is perfectly acceptable, but it seems now more than ever,
hitting below the belt is the go to move, rathter than coming up with an articulate,
educated argument

It's my humble belief that before we speak, we should consider the feelings
of the people that will be hearing what we say ...knowing your audience might be
benificial not just so that you don't hurt or offend, but your message might
reach more people if you take the time to express it in a way that is palatable
to the majority of the poeple that are hearing it.

Do you think honesty and freedom to say what we wants trumps peoples feelings?

Oppressive or Meaningful????

2008-08-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

Even though , both Marx and Durkheim lived secular lives, Still They defined God from different points of views. While Marx defined God as a tool of oppression; Durkheim presented God as a meaning giver to a society's existance. I think that dependant upon perspectives, both theorists have acceptable views: Marx looks at God from a socioeconomical perspective, while Durkheim looks at God from psychosocial perspective. I think that God has different meanings for different people- I assume that Weber would agree with me on this.

Did you know?

2008-07-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Karl Marx was a poet? Check out his poem. He was pretty good!!

Yearning. A Romance

"Why sighs your breast, why glows your gaze,
Why are your veins all burning,
As if Night weighs, as if Fate flays
Down into storm your yearning?"

"Show me the eyes, like ringing bells,
That glow in rainbows high,
Where brightness streams, where music swells,
Where stars go swimming by.

"I dreamed this dream, so troublesome,
Past all elucidating.
My head is void, my heart is numb,
My grave shall soon be waiting."

"What dream you here, what dream you there,
What lures to distant lands?
Here booms the Tide, here Hope rides fair,
Here's fire in True Love's bonds."

"Here naught rides fair, here is no fire,
But see what glimmers yonder,
I'm blinded, burning with desire,
And I would fain sink under."

He stares aloft, his eyes shine bright,
He shakes in every limb.
His sinews swell, his heart's alight,
His soul departs from him.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1837-pre/verse/index.htm

Restitutive Law Vs. Repressive Law

2008-07-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

Repressive Law: server punishment for crime committed.

Restitutive Law: pay for the crime committed.

In my father opinion, he believes that the best way to stop graffiti on many street in Los Angeles is to have a cop waiting at a location until a tagger shows up. Upon his arrival the cop should shoot the arm or the leg. The result of this is to warn all taggers that graffiti is a crime that has consequenses.

My fathers ideas regarding law is definitely repressive.

Thought this would help someone remember the difference.

God-what is the meaning of life ?

2008-07-27T21:31:00.000-07:00

The meaning of life is within you. Life is the same as me. You gave me a name, you shaped my rules and regulations. The meaning of life exist within you; is the same as adding a meaning to a thing. Remember that the added meaning is a consensus of morals, values, believes, ideals, and rules among the group you belong to. The meaning of life is what makes you and your group stay together. It is a form of unity and moral consensus; it is the dynamic and the differentiation of the organic solidarity. Your society creates God, therefore your society creates the meaning of life.

Suicide Bombers

2008-07-24T12:58:00.000-07:00

Hello: This is my first blog. I have been thinking about a good topic to bring up and now I have it. I wonder what type of suicide the current extremist suicide bombers fall under. Extreme Islamist who follow through on a suicide, seem to me to be isolated from the rest of the world and at the same time are oppressed but feel a great sense of community within their group. What would Durkheim have to say? What do you guys think?

How to stop Illegal Immigration!!

2008-07-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

I THINK THIS IS SO FUNNY!! LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

paper on technical rules & moral rules MORE

2008-07-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

is the technical/moral due on monday or wed? it was unclear to me. it would be a great help
Hi, Class - this is me, MT, teacher, and editor of this post: I took the *liberty* to edit this post of Ashley so you'd all look. I didn't want to bump down" that cute and brilliant video on immigration! Watch it if you have not.
Here is more on the rules paper: pick a rule, any rule. decide if it seems primarily in Durkheim's category of "technical" or primarily "moral" e.g., brush your teeth or your teeth rot seems pretty technical. Technical rule = the punishment is "built in" to the act. The technical computer rule is save a file or you lose the file. Thou shalt not kill seems pretty moral. Now, with your rule of choice and being very specific about what you mean, show how the rule you picked can also be seen as the opposite type (how is it also moral if classified as technical or how is it also technical if you pick a moral rule.) Remember, the more specific the better.

the EASY way is to take a technical rule and say how it had morality added onto it, e.g., Momma says you're a "good boy" if you do or a "bad boy" if you do not follow.
the HARDER but maybe more ENLIGHTENING route might be to pick a moral rule and explain how it actually is a "direction" on "how things do work" rather than all moral.

For those that were moved by Christian the lion

2008-07-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

Here's an article link with the story:

How Christian the lion became a YouTube sensation

Spirituality

2008-07-16T21:59:00.000-07:00

Someone in class brought up a great point about spirituality and how Marx and Durkheim would feel about its relation to religion, we discussed some ideas but I struggled to listen because one big thing stood out to me. Could the need to be spiritual stem from the need of religion? Although there is no institution, the need to relate to something is there. Is spirituality just a different way of relating to a religious group; one that does not have an established institution. Just wanted to see what you guys think...

Chicken or the egg?

2008-07-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

Durkheim's belief is that people are a product of society.

So did society create people or did people create society?

Marx's musicians friends

2008-06-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

This freestyle rap calls for revolution. This music expresses poverty and political issues that go hand in (or -with- I don't know idioms-but something like that) hand with Marx's revolution plan.

Immortal Technique -- The Poverty of Philosophyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Vl0peys90&feature=related

Do you live to work or work to live?

2008-06-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

That is my brothers e-mail signature. And that is exactly what Marx is telling us. In our society we have been condition to 'work to live.' If we don't work we are lazy, if we don't want to success in this materialistic world we are losers, hippies, un-American because we are not pursuing the American dream, but if we would have learn otherwise, then it will be easier to accept, understand, and agree with Marx's plan "be a fisherman in the morning, a carpenter in the afternoon, a poet at night."

What kind of music are we supposed to take for monday??

2008-06-28T19:48:00.001-07:00

we are looking for artist that express their disaproval of capitalism, right?

Did anyone attend the $28,000 dinner

2008-06-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

down at the Dorothy Chandler Hall? It was a fund raiser for Barack Obama - $28,000 a plate. He had one of these events also in Manhattan on Park Avenue. Watch for SF, Seattle, Chicago, Miami, Washington DC and Boston. In LA, he raised over $4 million in one meal. 10 cities, 10 meals - 30 million easy.

Can a candidate raise money from the bourgeoisie and then assist the proletariat? See http://theory414.blogspot.com/ from Soc 414 to see how they are using their blog.

Lost

2008-06-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I cannot attend class on Wednesday night. Can anyone let me know what I miss? Is there any homework that is due by Monday. Another question I have is that I am kind of lost about the blog. What do I suppose to do when I am in a blog? Besides asking questions and having comments.

Thank You

some help.. maybe?

2008-06-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

hi, i couldnt make it to last nights evening soc.412 class. was there any vital information that i would need to know before i come to the next class meeting? any info would be greatly appreciated. thanks

Confused

2008-06-24T22:42:00.000-07:00

What determines who I am? In so many ways I feel that God predetermines who and what I am. That's what the bible says. Marx says my society is to blame. Then I feel like my surroundings play a huge part but I think about my situtation and have to wonder. I'm not like some people who grew up in my neighborhood. Why am I different? Why did my life turn out different? So confused.

We spend 90% of our time trying to be different.

2008-06-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

When some one at school confuses me with another girl, my answer to them is, "I am unique there is no one like me." My religon taught me that people outside of my religion are worldly, therefore, we are different. I belonged to the "special group of people who will live for ever in paradise. I was different than the rest of the world." Weber explains that religion has taught their followers a status of distiction which is guarantee by conventions and laws, but specially by "religious sanctions." I don't know what he means by sanctions but I think that religion should be hold accountable for many cathastrophic political decisions that have devastated countries, that have created genosides, that have murder women and children simply because the opposite side has diffent color eyes, skin tone, different opinions, different religion!!. I seems that I am contradicting my self when I say "different religion" (is it a back fire?) But, I think that it proves that religion should be blame for making me believe that I was different than you.

To join this blog for Soc 412

2008-06-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

To get to blog, email theory412@sorenkerk.com
subject line: 414 firstname lastname (yours) blog
then you will get an email inviting you with a link ...

Then ... the steps:
*** first page>Enter valid email address (you can make a new one - e.g., www.gmail.com)

*** Enter an 8 digit password & Enter word verification

*** Read terms of service and click accept

*** Second page>Enter passwordAnd that is it. You're in the blog. Now you can post! and thanks to chimostrufia for listing the steps. Hit "New Post" or "Dashboard" - you'll find it.
any time you return to http://theory414.blogspot.com/ click "sign in" (not "create") - and again you're in.