The Future of Communication

I found this video on Youtube and found some Marxian attributes within it, plus it's kind of comical in a way. Would anyone else want to analyze through the context of our other theorists?

Stimulus Plan: Food for Thought...

I actually heard a really good commentary on the opposition to the stimulus plan and the almost unanimous contention to it in the house and senate by Republican representatives (which was something we discussed in class). It was theorized that the Republican Party has quietly agreed to immediately oppose big issue bills that cross the senate and house floors for the simple reason of limiting the power of the Democrats early on and diminishing the momentum generated by BOs race to the White House. If they were to instantaneously concur with the Democratic platform it would not only solidify the perception of complete negligence in the previous administration by the American public, but effectively demolish their future bid for not only seats in the house and senate, but also for the successor to BO.

Seems probable with the way our 2 party system functions. Not even the threat of economic meltdown is enough to put aside petty differences... what do you think?

Change & Choice

These past few days I have been thinking about our discussions in class regarding change and choice (free will) and I couldn't help but look up some of my favorite quotes to look share with the class.

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.- Maya Angelou

The shape of our lives is defined by our insertion into institutions and systems whose interlocking power generates the "virtual reality" we experience. Such 'knowledge' is so thoroughly a part of our worldview that it simply would not occur to most people to question it. Yet underneath this reality is another, subinstitutional reality in which very different responses are simply acted out. This is the reality in which everyone, until very recently, lived.
- David Schwartz

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. -Thomas Alva Edison

Our Emotions!

Do you ever find yourself full of reasons to breakdown and cry? Between all of your day-to-day stresses (getting to work or school, keeping your body looking fit and healthy, paying the bills, and lets not mention your lovelife) it just is simply too much. Everyday you will find that there is something out there that will attempt to hender you from your ultimate goal- Happiness. You can't allow these things to get the best of you. Life is hard, not just for you but for everyone who is living in this overwhelming society. Instead of looking at the world like there are no ways out, begin to think about these situations as tools to improve your life, while making you a better person. For instance; a person who is given everything without hard work does not know what it feels like to struggle, and work hard to make something work for them. It is possible that this person may never know how to handle extreme challenges when presented with them in the future. I strongly believe that everything that a person goes through is simply a developmental process which allows that person to build a stronger resistance to the bad, while mentally preparing them for the good. There is nothing wrong with crying. Sometimes you'll find that releasing your emotions with tears will allow space for newer and better emotions to surface.

Era of Change or Just a Slip?

President Obama represents physical and structural change in the Unites States. But is it because America is ready to see and treat all ethnicities equally? I don’t think so. Bush’s greatest legacy is to be the "one" who f_ _ked up so bad, it made the American people willing to try anything. In this case, the people elected a black man to be the Commander and Chief of the United States. Don’t get me wrong, President Obama is an awesome man who has charisma and intelligence. I believe he is the one to prove to America you don’t have to be white to lead the United States. I also believe that he is the one to unify the people regardless of ethnicity. However, I can’t help but wonder if this new face of America symbolizes a beginning to opening doors that have been closed for centuries, or will it be a standing pillar of tokenism?

Freewill or Fantasy?

I WAS VERY INTRIGUED BY OUR CLASS DISCUSSION ON FREEWILL AND WEATHER OR NOT IT IN FACT EXISTS OR IT IS JUST AN ILLUSION. WHAT I FOUND TO BE INTERESTING WAS THE VARIOUS OPINIONS OF MY CLASSMATES, SOME BELIEVED THAT THE UNIVERSE IS DETERMINISTIC AND THEREFOR FREEWILL CANNOT EXIST, AND OTHERS (LIKE OUR PROFESSOR) BELIEVED THAT FREEWILL IS SIMPLY THE CHOICES WE MAKE, WEATHER THEY ARE INFLUENCED OR NOT BY OUTSIDE FORCES, THEY ARE NEVER THE LESS A CHOICE THAT WE ALONE DECIDE IN OUR MINDS TO MAKE. I BELIVE THAT BOTH CAN BE TRUE. ALTHOUGH IT IN INEVITABLE FOR US TO BE INFLUINECED IN OUR ACTIONS BY MANY FACTORS SUCH AS FAMILY, SOCIETY ETC. WE ARE ALSO FREE TO THINK, DECIDE AND MAKE CHOICES THAT SOMETIMES MIGHT BE CONTRARY TO WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US. ANY DECISION CAN BE SCRUTINIEZED AND GIVEN SCIENTIFIC CONNECTIONS BUT I DONT BELIEVE THAT DIMINISHES THAT FACT THAT IT IS STILL OUR WILL THAT DECIDED THE ACTION. WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

My E-mail

Hello everyone,
There is a possibility that my e-mail client has been sorting your letters and putting them in the spam folder. I've created filter that will make sure that I know I've received an e-mail from you, just make sure you have the word theory414 in the subject line of your letter. If you don't get a response from me within that day, try e-mailing me at pluu001@gmail.com.

Peter

Song

Peter dreamwalker936@gmail.com sent this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTaIsS6ZZPY
Peter is now Administrator of the Blog and is ready to help with technical or other issues - so write Peter if you need help or direction - or post and ask here for all.

A Proud American

I am so proud to be an American today.. It has finally come... an end of an era- or should i say an Error... it is now Obama's turn to lead our country into some what of an order that we can all follow.. I am so emotional, that a country like the US has to go through so much... We as a nation have failed to secure one another in this tragic time of need. WE steal, lie, hate, and cause other chaos just to survive, i can not wait until some peacefulness arises after the storm has settled. i do not know how Obama is gonna do it... but i hope he has the patience and power to figure out how the super power of the world is going to get back on its feet. He has made very big promises and i hope he will be able to at least accomplish some of them. this nation does not need another failure, but a president that is preaching about hope, change, wisdom... as Obama has been doing! i wish him much luck and success in his 4 years in office!

detect the tone of an era

by how President frames it at the inagural. <-- Click to Writer Post
Theory 414 people also check: http://sorenkerk.com/2009/1%20theory.htm
There will be a sign up sheet for your choice of topics/writers on which to focus. We'll get that all straight next week.

Choices Really?

As systematically put by Weber, "There is no Objectivity". As simple as it gets, one gets to wonder how Weber came up with that, and then using the phrase to understand life, and choices. It really begins to sink in; how free is the the idea of freewill if we live in a society that is molded by traditions and from that environment we develop what we like to think of as freewill, and claim to make choices. Further thinking of Weber's approach only makes me begin to think that, perhaps having no objectivity is Change. I say that because given the fact that every one else is so ritually trying to squeeze change out of the ritualistic perspective of objective, of freewill and choice that has become to monotonous that the harder they try to emphasize change, the more stuck they actually are to the ritualistic perspective that they sort to change in the first place.

Multiple Traits

After giving it some thought, I would say that Durkheim is aligned with the control/formal concept due to his functionalist perspective making him more like a lion. Yet Marx a conflict theorist would be a peacock because he definitely does not go with the flow/formal model. Unlike Weber, who appears to go with the flow/informal hypothesis because he does not believe science should be a directive but should bring about consciousness, in return can provoke change. This would portray a dolphin type individual. Simmel, on the other hand is more aligned with the opposite of the control/formal theory, making the theorist more like an owl because he theorizes on the patterns and forms of groups that bring conflict rather it be good or bad. I would be considered a lion but I possess some characteristics that fall under all four types of individuals. Needless to say, I believe some of the theorist especially Simmel would not be as easily categorized as one or another.

A Little Bit of Everything

In class yesterday I was catagorized as a dolphin, which I think is mostly true, however, in certain situations I believe I am more of a lion, or a peackock, or an owl. This seems to be true of our sociologists as well. I had difficulty in finding the sociologist who is mostly a dolphin. It could be Marx, because of his passion, however, he seems to mostly have lion attributes. It could be Durkheim because Durkheim theorizes about suicide according to interpersonal relationships or lack of interpersonal relationships, however, Durkheim also theorizes about social facts and rules which aren't dolphin characteristics at all. Weber is convincing because he theorizes about ideas, believing that, "Ideas can change the world." He also is saddening by leaving the age of enchantment, (an emotional era) and entering the age of rationality. He also believes the three major characteristics we use to make a decision are tradition, charisma, and rationality, all interpersonal characteristics. You know what....as I'm writing this, I'm realizing that perhaps this catagorization isn't so hard after all, I think Weber is defenitley the dolphin of these four clasical sociologists. An intersting dolphin/Weber question for the test could be to give some of the negative outcomes of leaving the age of enchantment and entering the age of rationalization.