Thursday, 7 May 2009
Comment responding to http://stripeybees.blogspot.com/ Poly pill
I think the only suitable response to this blog is SHOCKED AND APPALLED!! Given that the government are constantly banging on about the state of our health, “eat your 5 a day”, “look at this horrible picture of a smokers lung”, “all our kids are fat and dying of obesity”, you would think that they would be willing to use some of their weapons of mass destruction fund to subsidies drug companies making a pill that could save so many lives.
Comment responding to http://banana-herpes.blogspot.com/ To die or not to die? That is the..."Gunshot"
Wow, interesting read! I think your friend’s right though, an actual suicide attempt, as opposed to self harm is definitely something people turn when they think thing will never get better. I’ve never really understood why people refer to it as, “the coward’s way out”? The fact that we, as human beings aren’t physically capable of biting into our own flesh unless insane, would suggest that causing enough harm to kill yourself is no measly feat...
Comment responding to http://take-off-your-colours.blogspot.com/ Spitting
Totally right Katy, I can't think of anything that makes me feel more queasy than when people spit on the street. It's not a normal body function that just happens and you can't stop it like being sick. People purposely chose to do it for no good reason as far as I can see?
Questioner
Age? 22
Sex? Female
What is your degree subject (both if joint)?
Drama & Performance and Philosophy.
Does ‘Being Bad’ relate well to the other modules you are taking?
Not at all.
If so, how? And if not, why not?
Because the module seems to be geared more so to creative writing students than philosophy.
Have you found ‘Being Bad’ too demanding, too easy, or at an appropriate level?
Too easy to begin with and then too demanding with the same deadline for the blog and the second assessment.
Do you think the list of topics covered on the module was appropriate?
Other than smoking, yes
Are there any topics not included in the module that you would like to see included?
Do you think that the format for classes has worked well?
Not really as it did not encourage people to attend regularly.
What did you think of the module team?
Some we less interesting than others, but this could have been due to the subject content i.e. smoking
Do you think it would have been better to have had more:
Small group discussions?
Definitely. Seminars would have been much more appropriate as not everyone feels comfortable discussing certain subjects from the module in such an open way.
Discussion and debate among the class as a whole?
Not in the form of lectures.
Information and talk from lecturers?
Yes as it would have provided more information for the assessments and blogs rather than other students opinions which were often aside from the point.
The approach taken in the module is interdisciplinary (drawing on perspectives from English Literature, Film Studies, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Media Studies and Politics): do you think this a useful way of approaching the topics covered in the module?
Not of philosophy students who may prefer to focus on essay writing but have only had the opportunity to write one essay, half the size of a normal one.
Do you think that interdisciplinary modules are a good idea?
Not really as electives are supposed to give students studying one degree, a taste of another subject. It is not be a true reflection of the subject if the interdisciplinary approach is taken.
Do you think you have benefited from the interdisciplinary approach taken in the module?
Not at all.
Would you like to see more modules that cover this kind of subject matter?
Yes, but in a way which relates more to my chosen subject.
Are you planning to take the follow-up module PH2004 ‘It Shouldn’t Be Allowed’ at level 2?
It depends on the structure of the module.
Would you recommend ‘Being Bad’ to a friend?
If they were studying creative writing then yes.
Do you think that the blogs (web logs) were a good idea?
No, because they essentially forced a hobby onto people for several months, that they may not enjoy. Not everyone is comfortable with airing their opinions in a completely open forum.
What did you think of the other assessments (e.g. would it be better to have one longer assessment rather than two shorter ones?)?
For a philosophy student, one full length essay where you could actually delve into the topic without running out of words would have been much better.
What have you learned from the module?
Some interesting historical facts about thing we consider taboo.
What parts of the module have you found most useful and why?
The factual information given in lectures because it give you another way to argue something in a social situation
What parts do you think were a waste of time and why?
The seminars because they were not mandatory and so nobody attended them.
Are there any other comments you wish to make regarding ‘Being Bad’?
I think that the module code should be changed to one for creative writing because. Other than touching on a few modern ethical questions, the structure and way the course is run does not seem to have anything to do with philosophy. This was not intended as an elective for me but seems to deviate from other philosophy modules to the point that I don’t feel that this has aided me in my goal of a philosophy degree at all.
Sex? Female
What is your degree subject (both if joint)?
Drama & Performance and Philosophy.
Does ‘Being Bad’ relate well to the other modules you are taking?
Not at all.
If so, how? And if not, why not?
Because the module seems to be geared more so to creative writing students than philosophy.
Have you found ‘Being Bad’ too demanding, too easy, or at an appropriate level?
Too easy to begin with and then too demanding with the same deadline for the blog and the second assessment.
Do you think the list of topics covered on the module was appropriate?
Other than smoking, yes
Are there any topics not included in the module that you would like to see included?
Do you think that the format for classes has worked well?
Not really as it did not encourage people to attend regularly.
What did you think of the module team?
Some we less interesting than others, but this could have been due to the subject content i.e. smoking
Do you think it would have been better to have had more:
Small group discussions?
Definitely. Seminars would have been much more appropriate as not everyone feels comfortable discussing certain subjects from the module in such an open way.
Discussion and debate among the class as a whole?
Not in the form of lectures.
Information and talk from lecturers?
Yes as it would have provided more information for the assessments and blogs rather than other students opinions which were often aside from the point.
The approach taken in the module is interdisciplinary (drawing on perspectives from English Literature, Film Studies, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Media Studies and Politics): do you think this a useful way of approaching the topics covered in the module?
Not of philosophy students who may prefer to focus on essay writing but have only had the opportunity to write one essay, half the size of a normal one.
Do you think that interdisciplinary modules are a good idea?
Not really as electives are supposed to give students studying one degree, a taste of another subject. It is not be a true reflection of the subject if the interdisciplinary approach is taken.
Do you think you have benefited from the interdisciplinary approach taken in the module?
Not at all.
Would you like to see more modules that cover this kind of subject matter?
Yes, but in a way which relates more to my chosen subject.
Are you planning to take the follow-up module PH2004 ‘It Shouldn’t Be Allowed’ at level 2?
It depends on the structure of the module.
Would you recommend ‘Being Bad’ to a friend?
If they were studying creative writing then yes.
Do you think that the blogs (web logs) were a good idea?
No, because they essentially forced a hobby onto people for several months, that they may not enjoy. Not everyone is comfortable with airing their opinions in a completely open forum.
What did you think of the other assessments (e.g. would it be better to have one longer assessment rather than two shorter ones?)?
For a philosophy student, one full length essay where you could actually delve into the topic without running out of words would have been much better.
What have you learned from the module?
Some interesting historical facts about thing we consider taboo.
What parts of the module have you found most useful and why?
The factual information given in lectures because it give you another way to argue something in a social situation
What parts do you think were a waste of time and why?
The seminars because they were not mandatory and so nobody attended them.
Are there any other comments you wish to make regarding ‘Being Bad’?
I think that the module code should be changed to one for creative writing because. Other than touching on a few modern ethical questions, the structure and way the course is run does not seem to have anything to do with philosophy. This was not intended as an elective for me but seems to deviate from other philosophy modules to the point that I don’t feel that this has aided me in my goal of a philosophy degree at all.
...the social networking site says noooo?
A friend of mine recently joined a group on facebook which is a petition to have the photographer Alis back onto facebook. She was recently removed from the site because the material which she posted was deemed offensive.
Being the nosey git that I am, or should I say, “voyeur” I couldn’t help but take a peak at what all the fuss was about. So I went onto the artist’s website, via the link on the facebook group and had a good old gander. I was on there for a good 10 minutes, reading her blog entries, checking out the info on the artist and browsing the different sections in the photo gallery. In all of this time however, I did not find one single word, let alone an image, that I thought was anywhere in the region of offensive.
The thought occurred to me, that if I was having to work this hard to look for something offensive, then how the hell could her facebook have caused offence to anyone? Don’t get me wrong, you could tell that it was alternative photography you were looking it, it wasn’t exactly sunshine and lolly pops kind of pictures. But still, there were no bats being beheaded, or small virginal children being sacrificed.
So to me the fact remains that if I, as fully grow adult, would like to peruse some make believe photographs that could cause others to squirm, don’t I have the right to? And doesn’t Alis, as an artist that clearly has a fan base, deserve to exhibit her work on a social networking site like any other artist?
Obviosly there is the possibility of someone who doesn’t like the work, or even a child coming across it. But to be honest, it’s not as though any of the overtly offensive images was easy to find. So in my opinion, that’s more than ample warning to get off the page before you stumble across something you don’t want to.
Being the nosey git that I am, or should I say, “voyeur” I couldn’t help but take a peak at what all the fuss was about. So I went onto the artist’s website, via the link on the facebook group and had a good old gander. I was on there for a good 10 minutes, reading her blog entries, checking out the info on the artist and browsing the different sections in the photo gallery. In all of this time however, I did not find one single word, let alone an image, that I thought was anywhere in the region of offensive.
The thought occurred to me, that if I was having to work this hard to look for something offensive, then how the hell could her facebook have caused offence to anyone? Don’t get me wrong, you could tell that it was alternative photography you were looking it, it wasn’t exactly sunshine and lolly pops kind of pictures. But still, there were no bats being beheaded, or small virginal children being sacrificed.
So to me the fact remains that if I, as fully grow adult, would like to peruse some make believe photographs that could cause others to squirm, don’t I have the right to? And doesn’t Alis, as an artist that clearly has a fan base, deserve to exhibit her work on a social networking site like any other artist?
Obviosly there is the possibility of someone who doesn’t like the work, or even a child coming across it. But to be honest, it’s not as though any of the overtly offensive images was easy to find. So in my opinion, that’s more than ample warning to get off the page before you stumble across something you don’t want to.
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Body talk
Whilst watching the film memento the other day I realised how much of an interesting twist it gave on modern body morphication. In western society the vast majority of body morphication is for either aesthetic or religious reasons. People have nose jobs because they don’t like their appearance, they have their children circumcised for the religion that they practice.
We do not follow the ways of tribesmen, using scarification to carve or origins into our face, and gone are the days of the Russian mafia, tattooing their life stories on themselves. We don’t tend to use our bodies as such literal carriers of messages, so i though it was quite interesting to come across a film where a man’s entire reason for being could be read on his skin.
We do not follow the ways of tribesmen, using scarification to carve or origins into our face, and gone are the days of the Russian mafia, tattooing their life stories on themselves. We don’t tend to use our bodies as such literal carriers of messages, so i though it was quite interesting to come across a film where a man’s entire reason for being could be read on his skin.
Monday, 4 May 2009
She knows what she likes, and that’s white, white, white.
I was watching an episode of hollyoaks recently where one of the younger characters has been the victim of bullying. She is being bulled because she is Asian and so she buys skin whitener to lighten her skin. Whilst I obviously don’t agree with forcing someone to change who they are by means of mental or physical abuse, neither do I have a problem with changing your appearance to fit in. Some people don’t like to stand out from the crowd but would rather blend into the background and look the same as their friends.
Because the skin whitener doesn’t work the character turns to household bleach and suffers burns on her legs. When the character’s parents found out about what she has done they berate her for being weak and dishonouring her culture. In all honestly this response surprised me as I don’t think that someone’s cultural identity is entirely linked to the colour of their skin. An albino black man to me is still a black man. Changing your appearance to make yourself more aesthetically pleasing is something all of us do all of the time, whether it’s styling your hair, dressing a certain way, or even having a nose job. So why should lightening your skin be any different to getting a tattoo?
Because the skin whitener doesn’t work the character turns to household bleach and suffers burns on her legs. When the character’s parents found out about what she has done they berate her for being weak and dishonouring her culture. In all honestly this response surprised me as I don’t think that someone’s cultural identity is entirely linked to the colour of their skin. An albino black man to me is still a black man. Changing your appearance to make yourself more aesthetically pleasing is something all of us do all of the time, whether it’s styling your hair, dressing a certain way, or even having a nose job. So why should lightening your skin be any different to getting a tattoo?
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Who’s the daddy...seriously who?
The other day I was watching an episode of Jeremy Kyle show, as any true student does. It was a fairly average episode to be fair, “DNA tests because I’ve slept with everyone in a four mile radius but insist I’m 100% the baby is your”. There was one particular woman who was annoyed at her lay about of an ex who didn’t see the baby because he had an ASBO and wasn’t allowed in the area she lived in. Logic would say if the horse isn’t legally allowed near the water, you might have more luck with it drinking if you take a cup over to it but hey? She was also complaining that he had only paid something like £50 in maintenance for the 6 months of the baby’s life.
All seems fairly clear cut right, slacker dad that needs to step up....? Until you get to the fact that she’d cheated on him and told him the baby wasn’t his. Add to that the fact that she wouldn’t let him put his name down as the farther on the birth certificate and he understandably had alarm bells ringing!
As it turns out, even though she was 100%, the baby actually wasn’t his. The guy was suitably angry, quite upset and wanted his £50 back. And the moral of the story? Lying, even if it’ just an exaggeration of the truth, is naughty and leads to trouble. Sometimes anyways...
All seems fairly clear cut right, slacker dad that needs to step up....? Until you get to the fact that she’d cheated on him and told him the baby wasn’t his. Add to that the fact that she wouldn’t let him put his name down as the farther on the birth certificate and he understandably had alarm bells ringing!
As it turns out, even though she was 100%, the baby actually wasn’t his. The guy was suitably angry, quite upset and wanted his £50 back. And the moral of the story? Lying, even if it’ just an exaggeration of the truth, is naughty and leads to trouble. Sometimes anyways...
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
A little too peeping show
Earlier in the module we were shown clips from an episode of peep show where one of the main characters, Mark, was hacking into the e-mail account of his love interest, Sophie. He wasn’t doing this out of malice or anything, but just to see what she had been saying about him to her friends and where he stood with her. He started to take on board the things she had said about him and changed himself so that he was more like what she wanted him to be like. Now I’m all for prospective boyfriends doing a little digging and finding out your interests, or what you looks for in a guy before asking you out. If nothing else, it’s quite a good way of working out if you’re compatible. However, when it gets to the, “I’m going to invade your personal space rather than just asking your friends about you”, you know you’re fighting a losing battle.
Whether it’s a friendship or a more intimate relationship, you’re almost never going to find one where both parties are putting in equal amounts of effort. But if you start to get the feeling that the things you’re doing need to be done in secret because, other people might not agree or understand you...STOP. Because that way only stalkerness lies
Whether it’s a friendship or a more intimate relationship, you’re almost never going to find one where both parties are putting in equal amounts of effort. But if you start to get the feeling that the things you’re doing need to be done in secret because, other people might not agree or understand you...STOP. Because that way only stalkerness lies
Monday, 20 April 2009
BB-Gone
At the beginning of February Carol Thatcher was sacked from her position as a roving reporter on the BBC program The One Show. The decision was made because of a comment that she made during a private conversation in the green room. Apparently she referred to a black athlete as a “golliwog” in front of several of the show’s staff members and guests. The comedian Jo Brand found what she said so offensive that she actually left the room.
In all honesty I think there are a lot of instances where words people use can be taken out of context and found offensive. It’s very important to look at the intent behind the words too. If someone is of a generation or a culture where it is acceptable to use a term, then there is nothing to be gained from getting annoyed at them for something they don’t even realise. Most people, once you’ve explained what it is about a term that is offensive won’t continue to use it, or at least not around you anyway.
The thing that irritated me about the Thatcher incident though, was her refusal to issue an apology in spite of the fact that she knew many people across the country would find the term offensive. If she was in a place of work, where presumably there are people of all different colours and creeds, and so as not to make anyone around her uncomfortable I think she should have apologised. Maybe not so much for her intentions, but at least for using a word that was quite simply inappropriate.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7868401.stm
In all honesty I think there are a lot of instances where words people use can be taken out of context and found offensive. It’s very important to look at the intent behind the words too. If someone is of a generation or a culture where it is acceptable to use a term, then there is nothing to be gained from getting annoyed at them for something they don’t even realise. Most people, once you’ve explained what it is about a term that is offensive won’t continue to use it, or at least not around you anyway.
The thing that irritated me about the Thatcher incident though, was her refusal to issue an apology in spite of the fact that she knew many people across the country would find the term offensive. If she was in a place of work, where presumably there are people of all different colours and creeds, and so as not to make anyone around her uncomfortable I think she should have apologised. Maybe not so much for her intentions, but at least for using a word that was quite simply inappropriate.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7868401.stm
Monday, 13 April 2009
Working what god gave you
Not exactly a topic of recent conversation I know, but the other day I was watching the classic “chick flick” pretty woman. Probably not what most people think when watching the film, but the thought struck me, “Why exactly is prostitution illegal”? If a woman, or man, over the legal age of consent enjoys the activity of sex and chooses to engage in it in order to support themselves financially, whose business is that other than the two people involved? What, other than a camera, is the difference between the illegal activity of prostitution and the legal one of porn? Both involve two (or more) consenting adults having sex without necessarily having the emotional involvement of a pre existing relationship, and being paid to do so.
Surely if legalised, prostitution would be much less likely to be used as a method of controlling young and venerable people, or people with drug problems? It would also mean that standards could be put in place with regards to testing for AIDS and STI’s etc. Many other countries throughout the word have legal prostitution and although it may not be a vocation that will eventually lead someone to into becoming the PM, neither are many others out there. The freedom to choose what we do with our body is a basic human right, if you can earn a living whilst doing this then I say, why not?
Surely if legalised, prostitution would be much less likely to be used as a method of controlling young and venerable people, or people with drug problems? It would also mean that standards could be put in place with regards to testing for AIDS and STI’s etc. Many other countries throughout the word have legal prostitution and although it may not be a vocation that will eventually lead someone to into becoming the PM, neither are many others out there. The freedom to choose what we do with our body is a basic human right, if you can earn a living whilst doing this then I say, why not?
Monday, 2 March 2009
Drinks promotions
Recently (ish) there was a change in legislation which lead to the ban of drinks promotions such as, “free drinks all night for women”, “£10 in, free drinks all night”. The change was supposed to discourage binge drinking and the anti social behaviour it can lead to. Given that this change took place at the beginning of the current recession I am slightly confused as to why it took place?
With what seems like one well known and loved high street store going into administration after another, it seems slightly illogical to me that the government would want to place restraints on any company when it comes to making a profit. Asides from this though, there is the fact that a lot of people rely on drinks promotions as a means of going out and enjoying themselves. If someone’s a student, has kids to care for, or is just generally living on a tighter budget than previously, being able to entice a group of friends together with the lull of free drinks can be very important.
I can understand the government’s desire to cut down on anti social behaviour and binge drinking. There are adverse effects on health, increases in assaults, criminal damage, along with I’m sure a lot more reasons I don’t have a clue about. But I don’t see as how this ban would honestly archive that. The majority of places I have been to that offer free drinks tend to get so overcrowded that you end up not being able to get to the bar and only drinking half as much as you would normally. Unless, that is, you are one of those people that will fight tooth and nail to get your £10 worth of booze, regardless of who’s foot you crush and drink you spill. Chances are though, that with people such as this are so dead set on getting drunk they would do so if it were a free bar or not.
In my humble, opinion, telling someone that they, as a consenting adult, can not do something that they have chosen to do for years is going to be about as successful as double daring a 5 year old to eat the packet of skittles there mom has hold them not to. Maybe we should be looking at our attitude towards alcohol as a whole rather than our prices as it is well know that people on the continent have less issues as because of their somewhat more relaxed and mature attitude towards alcohol.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3536821/Government--to-ban-happy-hours-and-drink-promotions.html
With what seems like one well known and loved high street store going into administration after another, it seems slightly illogical to me that the government would want to place restraints on any company when it comes to making a profit. Asides from this though, there is the fact that a lot of people rely on drinks promotions as a means of going out and enjoying themselves. If someone’s a student, has kids to care for, or is just generally living on a tighter budget than previously, being able to entice a group of friends together with the lull of free drinks can be very important.
I can understand the government’s desire to cut down on anti social behaviour and binge drinking. There are adverse effects on health, increases in assaults, criminal damage, along with I’m sure a lot more reasons I don’t have a clue about. But I don’t see as how this ban would honestly archive that. The majority of places I have been to that offer free drinks tend to get so overcrowded that you end up not being able to get to the bar and only drinking half as much as you would normally. Unless, that is, you are one of those people that will fight tooth and nail to get your £10 worth of booze, regardless of who’s foot you crush and drink you spill. Chances are though, that with people such as this are so dead set on getting drunk they would do so if it were a free bar or not.
In my humble, opinion, telling someone that they, as a consenting adult, can not do something that they have chosen to do for years is going to be about as successful as double daring a 5 year old to eat the packet of skittles there mom has hold them not to. Maybe we should be looking at our attitude towards alcohol as a whole rather than our prices as it is well know that people on the continent have less issues as because of their somewhat more relaxed and mature attitude towards alcohol.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3536821/Government--to-ban-happy-hours-and-drink-promotions.html
Does life really imitate art?
It’s been said by many people on many occasions that violence in films leads to violent acts being committed in real life. To be honest this idea has never entirely sat comfortably with me. If we exclude children, who are generally more susceptible to imitating behaviour they see and in the eyes of the law should not be watching films above their age anyway, then why would a film change someone’s personality? Say a causation man named Fred in his mid 30’s, wife, two kids, works for a bank and drives a family car, decides one day to go into his local to support his football team with some friends. What are the chances he will start a fight with football fans from an opposing team, just because he has seen it in a film? This, to me, makes as much sense as if I were to decide, after 22years of thinking marmite is revolting, that because I like Paddington bear and have seen the new marmite adverts with him in I must now eat it. I have never been inclined to stuff my face with marmite sandwiches, and therefore the suggestion of it on television does not change my stance. Surely the situation with Fred is the same? Unless he has the inclination to start a fight, watching a film would have no effect in his behaviour at all? As long as a film does not contain anything illegal, is age appropriate and the viewer is aware of what it contains from the outset, why do we even need them to be censored? Surely the fact that there are people creating the film in the first place would imply there is some sort of demand for it? If so, who are we to stop it?
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Tasteless V’s Offensive
A local newspaper with affiliations to The University of Birmingham recently published a full page ad for commemorative china, with a twist. Instead of the usual, royal wedding, Olympic games type plates, these had the faces of serial killers and murderers on. The newspaper received several complaints on the grounds that the plates were disrespectful and or upsetting to the victims’ families. The chances that one of the victim’s family members happening across a Birmingham based paper with what I would imagine is a very limited circulation aside, would the images honestly have been more upsetting for them than any other article?
I can only imagine that every bit of media coverage about serial killers, whether it’s from a fictional or criminal psychology perspective, serves as just as big a reminder of what the victim’s families have lost as the last. The University of Birmingham previously allowed the newspaper to be distributed on campus but has now severed all ties with the newspaper in question, condemning them for running the ad. Was it really such a bad thing though? The newspaper was not advocating that what the serial killers did was commendable, merely highlighting that, if anyone were so inclined, they could send off for a plate as a novelty item. From what I gathered the ad was intended with any malice, but with a certain tongue in cheek humour that us Brits are so famed for, so that’s all I chose to see it as.
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/02/17/university-of-birmingham-students-defend-sick-spoof-child-killers-advert-97319-22939909/
17/02/09
I can only imagine that every bit of media coverage about serial killers, whether it’s from a fictional or criminal psychology perspective, serves as just as big a reminder of what the victim’s families have lost as the last. The University of Birmingham previously allowed the newspaper to be distributed on campus but has now severed all ties with the newspaper in question, condemning them for running the ad. Was it really such a bad thing though? The newspaper was not advocating that what the serial killers did was commendable, merely highlighting that, if anyone were so inclined, they could send off for a plate as a novelty item. From what I gathered the ad was intended with any malice, but with a certain tongue in cheek humour that us Brits are so famed for, so that’s all I chose to see it as.
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/02/17/university-of-birmingham-students-defend-sick-spoof-child-killers-advert-97319-22939909/
17/02/09
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