Bullying

'Those who can, do.
'Those who can't, bully.'

http://www.bullyonline.org/workbully/bully.htm


I have experienced bullying from different perspectives, firstly as a member of staff dealing with it, secondly as a parent when my son was bullied in primary school.

Okay folks I know I have mentioned it before (I used to work in a school) Lol.
Even though the school had a low tolerence of bullying, it still carried on. It was'nt just amongst pupils, hypocritically it was present amongst staff also.

In relation to the pupils I had to develop a non judgemental attitude when dealing with complaints about bullying. In most cases the child actually doing the bullying usually had a number of issues that were related to problems at home,feelings of inadequacy and many other reasons that contributed.

As a parent when my son was bullied, I was not so understanding purely for the fact that some little darling was making my sons life a complete misery, after all school should be the happiest times of a childs life. My son was not scared of the bully the reason behind his misery was he did not want to get into trouble for sorting the bully out.I have always raised my children with the attitude of turning the other cheek.This did not help my son, and although the school were involved the bullying persisted for most of his year 4. Until one day the jibes were really bad he actually turned on the bully, and after that it stopped. I did't agree with his methods but felt some relief that it came to an end.

What Im trying to say is that bullying is an unpleasant occurance that can have devestating effects and impacts on a persons life if not dealt with. If my son had not hit the lad and it had continued where would it have led on to.

From the view of the bully, in the incidents at my workplace amongst pupils and staff, the bullying was going on as a way of hiding feelings of inadequacy to make themselves feel better. However why they had to make another persons life a misery to do this is beyond me.

Here is a website that offers information about bullying in schools and the workplace, and how to tackle it.

http://www.antibullying.net/whatsnew.htm

Tattoos

"Tattoos have always held some significance in rituals and traditions. Throughout history tattoos have signified membership in a clan or society."

http://www.powerverbs.com/tattooyou/history.htm

Some people relate to them as a piece of artwork or symbol, others have them as a way of expressing their inner self.

My own opinion of tattoos is that they are personal, I do like them and am aware of the bad tattoos but I can also appreciate the artwork and creativity of a good quality tattoo. Yes I have got one on my lower back, it has a personal meaning and symbolises my three children, although it hurt to have it done I do not regret having it.





However there are still a large percentage of people who are disgusted by tattoos, and there is still a stigma associating them with people who are lower class, uneducated and criminals. This reflects our ability to be judgemental about appearances.

If people could just get over that stigma, I'm sure they could appreciate the artistic side and effort that has gone into the design and skill of producing a good quality tattoo.


http://www.ritual-art-tattoo.com/index.php?option=frontpage&Itemid=1

Is swearing offensive?

Who gives a s@*t!



Swearing is most commonly used as an expression of anger, however I think that modern day swearing is part of most peoples vocabulary.Children swearing is terrible. There is nothing more cringeful then hearing the words F@"* come out of a kids mouth. I worked in a primary school before starting university and it was'nt uncommon to hear this such language coming out of 5 year olds mouths in the playground and even in the classroom. Don't get me wrong I'm not a prude but I find it totally inappropriate to hear children swearing. It is obviously what they are hearing at home or on TV and it is such a shame as it spoils their innocence.

I was bought up with the belief that it was rude to swear as a child as it showed a lack of respect for the person you were talking to.To be honest I don't think until recently I have ever heard either of my parents swear. My dad has had a couple of strokes and after the first one he tended to swear quite liberally, this was apparently due to the part of the brain that had been affected it was'nt intentional on my dads part, but it was shocking to hear them spill out of his mouth , I didnt know he knew such words.



Joking apart why do we swear? Who actually decided that certain words were bad words?

Most researchers have agreed that swearing came from early forms of magic words believing that spoken words had power. This following link tells you a bit about how swearing works.

http://people.howstuffworks.com/swearing.htm

UK psychologists believe that folloeing some scientific studies that swearing can withstand some perception of pain. A group of psychology researchers at Keele university conducted a study on pain and use of offensive language follow this link to find out more.

http://www.thestudyvoxecho.co.uk/articles/93/1/when-it-is-ok-to-swear/page1.html

Under certain forms of stress I suppose we do swear and as life in modern society is a lot more stressful then it was about twenty years ago, maybe that is the reason that swearing is a part of everyday vocabulary.





So adults please remember the next time you stub your toe its good to swear!

Samanthas blog about abortion

I think you have made some good points here samantha about abortion. It certainly is not a very nice experience to have to face.
I strongly disagree with it being used as a form of birth control and sex selection,but think that it should be used as an option where severe abnormalities have shown following ante natal testing.In some cases it is not only the life that is growing in her tummy if a couple have other children they have to look at it from another perspective as it involves the whole family. I think abortion is acceptable in some circumstances and is a very difficult choice to have to make.

Regrets Ive had a few.....Infidelity!

Whatever the moral feelings are about cheating, it is not illegal and it is quite common. Modern society accepts it as the norm, and some surveys suggest that it happens in most marriages.

Each individual is entitled to their own view about this subject whether it be for or against. My own opinion is not too judge. I have experienced being cheated on by my ex husband,after giving him another chance it continued, and this led to me doing the cheating, obviously too much had happened (and it was'nt only cheating) to save the marriage. However not all marriages end due to infidelity in some instances it can lead to the relationship becoming stronger.




I am not saying it is right or wrong. It is almost too easy to say you would never have an affair. I also understand how easy it is to do it........As human beings we all have needs and feelings, it is also a reality that sometimes these needs are not met by the person we are with. In some instance it may not even be a sexual need, it could be something that runs much deeper. Who are we to judge?

Individuals can find themselves faced with the need to feel alive and feel something more than just existence....right or wrong this can lead to turning to someone else to satisfy those needs.


http://www.infidelity.com

http://www.2-in-1.co.uk/marriageclinic/infidelity/

I agree Emma, that if a man and woman are cheating on each other,they can,t be in love with each other. But sometimes we have to look at the reasons behind the infidelity. Yes it is devastating for the person being cheated on, but we must not be too judgemental of the person doing the cheating as there may be valid reasons. There are always two sides to a story, and no-one knows what goes on behind closed doors in any relationship.

Gambling

In the 19th century methodists thought that gambling was no better than alcohol. Opinions were that it was a threat to the moral, financial and spiritual well being of the poor. It was a pastime associated with the working class.

In modern society gambling is actually classed as a 'leisure' activity, but it also very addictive.



A couple of years ago I had a night out at a casino. I enjoyed the whole experience and was fascinated by how much cash was actually flowing. Cashiers were bringing cases full of notes to men playing at the tables, they were just as calm as anything. I had never seen so much money.
I enjoyed a few games of black jack and poker and actually won £60 at poker. I will admit to getting greedy though, and if my boyfriend had not made me realise it was time to stop playing I would of carried on. (What a spoil sport),and most probably gambled away our house,as i got a real thrill out of playing, scary really . Seriously though I can see how easy it is for a person to become a compulsive gambler, especially if they are in a vulnerable position.All sense of responsibility and perception can be lost, if in the wrong frame of mind.




http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=1558

Bandits and Outlaws

Was Jesse James a bandit with a social conscience or just a cold blooded killer?






I must admit that before Thursdays lecture I had a fantasized view of Jesse James and Robin Hood being heroic men with good reasons for committing the crimes that they did. Obviously this has come from how literature and the films have portrayed them. Really the simple hard fact is that they held such strong political views that they would kill anyone who posed a threat in stopping them from robbing their stash.
Jesse James was a hero of his time as he was rebelling against a yankee society that he didn't agree with. Also a man who was ruthless with it.







It was interesting to actually see these folklore heroes from a different perspective. How the view of bandits who are violent,fanatical deviants of the law, can be seen as heroic because they fight their cause bringing equality to the less advantaged. This shows how society can excuse the bad side for the good.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-jessejames.html

Jennie I have to agree with your point about consumption of alcohol having the same effects as drugs. I should imagine that alcohol is consumed in larger amounts. I have a few friends who smoke weed occasionally to help them sleep. If they went to their doctor they would most probably prescribe sleeping pills, surely they are equally as addictive and harmful. An individual has the right to govern their own body and what they put into it. Legal or not people are still going to smoke, booze or take drugs regardless of the detriments to their health and legality.

Good drugs, Evil drugs, whats the difference?

Following last weeks lecture on drugs and should they be legalised, I would like to raise the fact that there are 3 categories of drugs. Medical drugs - that make us better when ill, socially acceptable drugs such as nicotine that are most commonly over indulged in, and those shameful evil drugs that make us high,trippy or monged and are illegal. We have all taken 2 out of the 3 at some point, so what is the difference as they all can have negative effects on our bodies if taken in frequent and large quantities. Has anyone ever read the instructions in for example a box of paracetamol or ibuprofen ? some of those side effects are quite scary, and the health warnings on a box of fags go without saying, yet we still carry on regardless.

Drugscope states that the legalisation debate indicates that "whilst making drugs legal could result in more use, increasing incidence of of harnful side effects, removing a black market could raise drug related revenues to the government, save on police costs and help regulate the sale and consumption of drugs through regulated sales, as is done with alcohol."

I personally don't have much experienc of hard drugs as I have always been scared of the outcome, but I do actually think that legalisation would lead to less consumption.

http://www.drugscope.org.uk/resource/faqs/faqpages/should-drugs-be-legalized

masterbation

This subject I think will always be a social taboo. Not many people can talk about it openly, and it will always be something that goes on behind closed doors. At the end of the day it is a natural function that in some instances is healthy.What makes it a taboo is attitudes through history, for example the victorians looked on it as a dirty and sinful habit that was hazardous to your health. The most bizarre thing is that they contradict their beliefs, because masterbation was actually used to treat female hysteria at that time and right up until the 1950's.
Female hysteria or 'Womb Disease' goes right back to egyptian times, when healers realised that women did not release fluids during sex in that same way that men did.
They believed that as a result this caused all sorts of problems like headaches, irritability, fainting or impending fear of insanity.In the 1800's vibrating devices were actually used to masterbate female patients back to health. Ann Summers would have definately prospered in those times!

Liar, liar!

When I was a child, telling a lie was the worst thing I could ever do. Your nose will grow if you tell a lie, as I hate my nose we won't go there. My mother would only have to look at me and know if I was bending the truth!

I have to admit I don't think there is any harm in telling a little white lie(fudging the truth a bit, as in some instance it can prevent you from offending someone or get you out of embarrassing situations. Lets face it how many of us have corrected the cashiers if they have given us too much change? I certainly haven't.

In some instance honesty is not always the best policy!

Prostitution

In reference to your view on prostitution being associated with addiction Jodie, I totally agree. Most usually women who are selling sex are doing so in desperate measures for example to fuel a drug addiction or to pay debts, that could be down to spending or gambling addiction.

Prostitution is a last measure pathway, when they have other source of finance and at a really vulnerable position. What price could you put on selling your virtue?

Smoking

Smoking was once a 'rites of passage' to growing up. Old enought to go down pit-old enough to smoke.

Apparently,

Nicotine is a pleasurable drug,

Best known for relieving stress,

Makes people horny?

Enhance focus.

Can be used to calm down, or perk up.

Causes weight loss,

Enhances fun and pleasure,

without the intellectual impairment of weed & alcohol.

And not forgetting,

The smell that lingers,

Yellow teeth,

Bad effects on your health and bank balance.

Personally I think that if someone wants to smoke that is their choice. Live and let live.

However if a non-smoker does not like smoke around them, that should be respected also.

Definately no smoking around children.

week 12 drinking session

Maybe we could indulge in a night on the town, alcohol is another source for being bad!

Week 12 suggestion

In relation to the subjects covered in weeks 5 and 8, I would like to look at crime for example the illegal side of the sex industry, types of crimes that are committed. What are the reasons behind this type of behaviour.