Friday, 4 May 2007
Questionnaire
A) Ouch, are you supposed to ask that? 41!!
Q) Sex?
A) Female, and yes as often as possible! Despite my age!!!
Q) What is your degree subject (both if joint)?
A) Psychology
Q) Does ‘Being Bad’ relate well to the other modules you are taking?
A) Not so much this year as it is mainly statistics, but I think it fits in with psychology in general as it teaches you about ethics, making judgements about people and critically questioning our pre-formed prejudices.
Q) Have you found ‘Being Bad’ too demanding, too easy, or at an appropriate level?
A) At an appropriate level
Q) Do you think the list of topics covered on the module was appropriate?
A) Yes, I think we have had an interesting array of topics that have really made me think.
Q) Are there any topics not included in the module that you would like to see included?
A) I would have liked at least one lecture on mass murder or similar, as I am fascinated to know what happens to make a person kill and this could fit in with psychology and personality formation.
Q) Do you think that the format for classes has worked well?
A) I think having different speakers for different lectures has kept it interesting and fresh but I haven’t liked having so many in such an unsuitable room because it has been noisy and chaotic at times. It doesn’t lend itself well to group discussion as you can’t hear people’s comments and I think it would have improved the lectures if small groups were round tables debating different sides to each lecture.
Q) What did you think of the module team?
A) The module team seem friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and informative but I have felt that some struggle to keep such a large and noisy class under control, which unfortunately has spoilt it for me at times. I think stricter rules need to be imposed on issues such as talking, mobile phones and walking in and out of lectures. Well, you did ask.
Q) Do you think it would have been better to have had more Small group discussions?
A) Personally, I would have enjoyed more small group discussions, I think it would have generated different ideas and opinions around each topic and this would have helped to expand knowledge of the topic for the blogs.
Q) Discussion and debate among the class as a whole?
A) The discussion and debate would be fine if the class was smaller or we were in a more suitable room, unfortunately it was often difficult to hear all sides of the discussion because of the size of the room and the noise levels.
Q) Information and talk from lecturers?
A) Information given out at lectures was more than adequate I felt, and I have enjoyed researching those topics of interest further.
Q) The approach taken in the module is interdisciplinary (drawing on perspectives from English Literature, Film Studies, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Media Studies and Politics): do you think this a useful way of approaching the topics covered in the module?
A) Well, I think it has worked and allowed me to gain insight and perspectives from subjects I wouldn’t otherwise look at (I became particularly drawn to religious studies during the module) I think you could incorporate some psychology too!!
Q) Do you think that interdisciplinary modules are a good idea?
A) Yes, I think it can be too easy to stay within the safety of one’s own subject but university is about broadening horizons. By making it interdisciplinary it gives students knowledge of other subjects and also helps to integrate and synthesise knowledge from different schools of thought. This creates wider perspectives about important issues.
Q) Do you think you have benefited from the interdisciplinary approach taken in the module?
A) Definitely.
Q) Would you like to see more modules that cover this kind of subject matter?
A) Yes, I think it is good to open up difficult topics for debate. It gives new perspective to things and allows you to consider other people’s ideas and viewpoints that you may not have been open to or aware of before.
Q) Are you planning to take the follow-up module PH2004 ‘It Shouldn’t Be Allowed’ at level 2?
A) I would like to but have to study all core modules in year two.
Q) Would you recommend ‘Being Bad’ to a friend?
A) Yes, I think it has been very interesting. I know some people have moaned about the relevance of topics but I think as long as you get that it’s about taking a critical look at topics and exploring with an open mind, what they mean in light of the differing perspectives you are introduced to, then it will interest you.
Q) Do you think that the blogs (web logs) were a good idea?
A) Personally, I have really enjoyed creating and maintaining my blog, it has been like a weekly diary and I shall continue with one after the module has finished. It is a great way of exchanging ideas, having a personal space, reflecting on learning and getting things off your chest. The only disappointment has been that not many others have really got into it, which means there has been few interesting exchanges, but apart from that it is good.
Q) What did you think of the other assessments (e.g. would it be better to have one longer assessment rather than two shorter ones?)?
A) Originally, I would have preferred a longer essay, but that was more about trying to avoid doing the creative writing piece! Having forced myself to do that one first out of sheer fright, I found I really enjoyed the escape from formal report writing to more creative writing. So, now I would say no; having a variety of smaller pieces not only teaches you a valuable lesson in being concise, but also takes you out of your comfort zone and introduces you to other formats. It allows more experimentation.
Q) What have you learned from the module?
A) I hope I have learnt not to judge something too hastily but to explore something in more depth before making a judgement. I have learned to respect different ideas and opinions more and I have learnt to question things more; not to automatically think something is bad just because that is the consensus, but to really question whether I find it bad or not. It has hopefully taught me to think for myself more and not take everything at face value-something I was very guilty of before.
Q) What parts of the module have you found most useful and why?
A) I have found it all useful to a degree, even topics that I wasn’t particularly interested in before; I have found it useful to gain more knowledge about them. I think on a personal level I found the religion one most useful because I was bought up as a strict catholic and had to go to church all the while. When I was a teenager I rebelled and hated the control, so I gave up going to church and had nothing to do with the topic. I wasn’t even going to attend the lecture on religion my aversion was so strong, but revisiting the topic made me reflect on my ideas. This has made me see that I miss some aspects of religion and that I do have strong beliefs but that I don’t need to belong to a church etc. to have those beliefs. It has made me more balanced in my view of religion and allowed me to evaluate my own beliefs and ideas in a more mature way.
Q) What parts do you think were a waste of time and why?
A) I don’t think any of it was a waste of time; everything we do creates a learning opportunity; even if we only learn we didn’t like it. I think all the topics were interesting and different people will have been drawn to different topics. I took what I wanted from each lecture, some I reflected on briefly others caught my imagination and I researched in more depth. I don’t consider any of it a waste because I took what I needed and made the most of it.
Q) Are there any other comments you wish to make regarding ‘Being Bad’?
A) I have truly enjoyed it. Each lecture has been interesting and each member of staff has shown a real interest and passion for the subject; which for me makes it more interesting.
Bad Comedians
I agree with Incongruity theory, i think sometimes i laugh at a joke because of that sudden shock when you hear the punchline and realise the contrast in material...that is what makes it funny and i'd never noticed that before.
Superiority Theory also raised some interesting points and i agree that as humans we like to use humour to put others down and gain that sense of superiority. When we can laugh at someone else's misfortune it makes us feel better. Though sometimes it also makes us feel better if we can laugh at our own misfortune as well; serving as a coping mechanism.
I very much agree with relief theory also. Humour serves as a defence and in my work as a counsellor i encounter it all the time. Clients will often make jokes about the difficulties in their lives; it serves as a way of coping and of broaching difficult subject material. In fact i would say it is almost essential for some people's survival; when they can no longer laugh at life, it's the time to worry. Freud spoke a lot of truth!!
Thursday, 26 April 2007
Gambling
Symptoms of problem gambling are:
1) A preoccupation with gambling
2) Reliving past gambling experiences
3) Taking time from work or family life to gamble
4) Concealing gambling
5) Feeling guilt or remorse after gambling
6) Borrowing money or stealing to gamble
7) Failed efforts to cut back on gambling
8) Lying to hide gambling
Personally, i don't see the initial idea of gambling as "bad" for most people. When it becomes an addiction however, it can be ruinous. Apparently gambling addiction is closely related to other substance abuse addictions and can occur in certain people more than others. Those at risk are:
1) Those that start gambling at a young age
2) Men are more prone than women
3) Those with biochemical abnormalities, particularly Dopamine and Seratonin have been linked to gambling addiction.
4) Those whose parent's gambled
5) Those who live close to a casino etc.
6) Those sufering other mood or personality disorders
Check out the links for more info.
http://www.ncpgambling.org/http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/286/2/260.pdf
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gambling.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/compulsive-gambling/DS00443/DSECTION=8
Friday, 20 April 2007
Fraud- when a lie becomes a criminal offence

Thursday, 19 April 2007
Lying with integrity
So how do we determine what to do? I think personally circumstances count and i also believe that as humans we are more likely to accept or forgive some lies over others. For example, there are probably very few people who can say they have never lied, it is generally accepted that from time to time we all lie, what i believe makes the difference is the length and depth of the lie and also the motive. As empathic souls, we are likely to forgive someone who lied as a knee jerk reaction or through stupidity, naievety etc but then immediately felt bad for what they had done and owned up, apologising. We would, i believe, weigh up the circumstances, accept the person's mistake and forgive them, probably still believing them to be a basically honest person that made an error of judgement. I would be less likely to forgive someone who continued the deciept or lied further to conceal their mistake. I would also be more likely to forgive someone who had lied to protect someone rather than for selfish reasons.
Immanual Kant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lying prohibited lying as he believed it to lead to a breakdown in trust and therefore felt it was never acceptable to lie. I disagree that it can't ever be acceptable to lie- i believe it is evolutionary and therefore necessary to our survival; whether physically, as in the lies told by soldiers during wars, or emotionally as in the use of denial, projection and rationalisation as defence mechanisms that serve to conceal the truth, from others but also from ourselves. Agreeably, the use of defences aren't good long term but are sometimes a short term necessity to help us come to terms with traumatic experiences in our own time.
I do however, agree that lying breaks down trust and that if we all consistently lied then society would break down. We would not be able to form relationships because we wouldn't be able to believe or trust people around us. The judicial system would collapse because we would not be able to trust that people were telling the truth when on oath.
As Wallace http://www.spectacle.org/0500/lies.html puts it "I hate being lied to. Short of violence, it is the worst thing you can do to me. Not because of God, or the Ten Commandments, or any universal moral precepts. The reason that I hate lies is because, like you, I wish to navigate carefully through life, and to do so I must be able to calculate my true position. When you lie to me, you know your position but you have given me false data which obscures mine". I think this is a poignant way of looking at it. When you lie you effectively knock someone off course.
I have lied in the past and i can't put my hand on my heart and say i'll never lie again because i don't know what circumstances are around the corner. I have modified my behaviour over the years because i have regretfully hurt others with my actions and learnt some painful and valuable life lessons! On that note i would agree with Kevin...if you're going to lie, think very, very carefully about it. A good maxim may be "Do that which will do the least harm and the greatest good".
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
Abortion

Tuesday, 3 April 2007
Euthanasia-murder or mercy?
But it is a contentious issue because you have to be sure of so many things, such as whether the person is of sound mind etc. Some arguments in favour of voluntary euthanasia is choice; we all have a basic right to free choice and if that means choosing to end our life prematurely in order to end pain and suffering and die with dignity, then surely we should have that right. Arguments against are that it is a form of murder or assisted suicide and for some religions that is seen as a sin or immoral.
In some countries such as Switzerland, Belgium and the netherlands voluntary euthanasis (i.e with consent) is lawful, and family members can assist, so long as they have nothing to gain from the person's death.
Personally i think it should be an individual's choice and they should be allowed to get assistance from a medical person as this would ease the burden and sense of guilt on family members who choose to help their loved ones as an act of mercy, and then find themselves facing a lawsuit.
If i had a loved one who wanted to die because they were in immense pain or had an incurable disease, i had sought medical opinion to the fact, and they asked me to help, i would. I would take the risk because i have watched relatives die in pain and it is not nice. I think it would be inhumane to leave them to suffer.
Check out the links and decide for yourself
http://www.euthanasia.com/holland99.html
http://www.dignityindying.org.uk/
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/nov/06110601.html
Monday, 2 April 2007
Animal Cruelty- double standards

http://www.badger.org.uk/action/badger-cruelty-facts.html
Thursday, 29 March 2007
Bad Cinema- Kids (1995)
Secondly, what did i find shocking? Well, all of it really...though i didn't find it surprising, which is something else. I found the violence shocking, the fact that young people can set about a human being like he is an animal i found gut wrenching; worse was the thought that people enjoyed this, they laughed and whooped, they egged each other on and they congratulated each other on a job well done, while a person lay battered and bleeding on the floor. And we are meant to be civilised...well we have really come a long way from the barbarians and savages then haven't we.
I found it shocking that in the 21st century, with all the information and education on safe sex, that kids still sleep around without protection...it's like playing russian roulette with your life.
I found it shocking that kids were left to take drugs and alchohol with seemingly no interest or input from parents. As an older student, i probably watched it from a maternal view, and i couldn't help but think, where are their parents? Why aren't they worried? And yet it is more and more common.
Most shocking of all i guess was the fact that it is real. It is nice, customary even, to watch a scary or shocking film and then console yourself on the way home that it isn't real, that it's all going to be ok. But no, it's reality and i can't preach too much because it's exactly what i did as a kid. I went to parties where there was loads of booze and spliffs being handed round, where people slept in the bath and you had to step over the piles of sick. Where you rushed to the clinic the next morning to get the morning after pill and relayed all the close calls to your mates. Nothing's changed much, except now i'm watching it through wiser eyes and thinking, "god, did we really get away with all that, it's a wonder i'm still here". And that's what kids do, race through life at hundred mile an hour, seeing what they can get away with and waking up one day and saying "Shit, what happened" A very apt end to the film...at some point in everyone's life, for whatever reason, i reckon we all sit up and utter those very words. The biggest changes i see are the prevalence of drugs, and stronger ones than we could ever get hold of, and the levels of violence that seem totally commonplace now. I find it scary to think where it is all going to end.
Saturday, 24 March 2007
Rudeness
If people don't enjoy the lesson and don't want to be there DONT be there and give us all a break. I really can't understand why people come to a lecture and then talk all the way through it, if it is so boring then go and do something else, that way the ones who are interested, or at the very least have the manners to sit quiet and not disrupt the lesson for others, can enjoy the lecture in peace.
Sorry but i had to get that off my chest.
Here's some sites on rudeness and etiquette:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudeness
http://www.bmezine.com/news/lizardman/20040623.html
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/04/02/rude.americans/index.html
Friday, 23 March 2007
Body modification

Wednesday, 21 March 2007
Being too religious

Monday, 12 March 2007
Bandits and Outlaws

Like you i really enjoyed the Bandits and Outlaws lecture but agree it is definitely not all black and white. I think people tend to sympathise with those outlaws that attempted to help those less fortunate, even though strictly speaking they were all criminals, and largely murderers. I don't know about you but i found myself really sympathising with some of them when i read about their lives. Bonnie and Clyde particularly touched a nerve..i think it was probably the romantic element that swung it, but i also like the idea of someone really fighting for what they believe in and going down fighting. It is easy sometimes to automatically judge the underdog as the baddie, the working class hero, the kid from the wrong side of the blocks; there's often the call to bring back corporal punishment etc. But often the big businessmen, the aristocracy, the rich and famous are just as big villians but when they do anything it's a smack on the wrist. How many politicians and big businessmen have abused their power, misappropriated funds, or conducted dodgy dealings under the safety of a legitimate business? We have to remember there are always two sides to a story.
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Infidelity

Trust is almost a part of our survival and i think we have trouble coping without it. Very often a couple will try again after an affair, and when they can't it is usually the fact that the trust has been destroyed that causes them to part.
Why is trust so important? Well when you think that right from birth we need trust. We have to, as helpless babies, trust in adults to feed us, take care of us and love us. This first experience of trust can leave us with good experiences, meaning we can grow into trusting and caring adults, or bad experiences whereby we have a lifelong difficulty in forming and maintaining relationships because of a lack of trust.
We trust people in so many areas of our lives. We trust Doctors when they treat us, we trust our friends and family to be there for us, we trust people not to rob us or rip us off, we trust what advice we recieve from experts. When ever we face a situation where trust has been broken our faith in human nature is shaken a bit and we have to build up the trust again. This doesn't always affect us when the person isn't emotionally important to us; we may get ripped off and shrug this off but when the person means a lot to us it can be very hard to rebuild the trust.
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
Wednesday, 21 February 2007
Guilt
http://carlysblog-theclog.blogspot.com/
Hi Carly. Yours is an interesting question and i'm sure many women would answer yes. I think an important point you raise is that of "Guilt".Guilt appears behind so many worries and can have such a negative effect, it is certainly a very common feature in eating disorders, along with control. Together these two create a viscious cycle where, because of the rules we have ingested, we feel guilt the minute we percieve we have done something "wrong" and we then try to get back in control to compensate. Unfortunately we are human and can never live up to the expectations of others fully, so will often feel guilty if we try to.I wasted many years overeating to cope with feelings of inadequacy, then through guilt and feelings of failure i ended up feeling even more inadequate, so ate more!! It wasn't until i learnt to express my feelings in other ways and DITCH the GUILT that i was able to eat sensibly.I am glad you conquered your eating disorder and that you are a HEALTHY size 12 now. Try not to feel guilty if you treat yourself now and again, after all you're human. All the best.
Guilt. Guilt i think is born out of conscience or a sense of right and wrong. Freud would propose that it is the superego bearing down upon the ego that produces guilt, for the ego or self craves one action but the societal and parental teachings contained within the superego wishes us to take another action. Guilt is the result of us behaving in a way that we feel we "Should not" or failing to behave in a way that we feel we "Should". Guilt can very often be a negative emotion and can prevent us from living our lives in a happy or productive way, as we are constantly trying to please others and suffering when we can't.
Not that all guilt is bad. I feel without any sense of guilt we would probably have societal breakdown, guilt stops us from doing exactly what we want when we want, it maintains a civilised society. Having said that guilt can also be used to control and manipulate. Others can induce feelings of guilt when we don't fit in with their wishes and that is a form of control, which i don't think is good. I think rather than be plagued by guilt we can express appropriate regret or remorse, as we are human and therefore we all make mistakes. I think two other factors are relevant also; choice and responsibility. We have a choice to help out a friend and shouldn't feel guilty if we choose to say no. We also have our own individual responsibilities, so if something is not our responsibility we don't have to take it on- the other person needs to take on their responsibilities and then choose how they act rather than making you feel guilty for not helping them.
Check out my links and let me know your thoughts.
Monday, 19 February 2007
Stalking

Well, i can speak from experience on this one guys as i actually experienced a stalker about six years ago. It was an extremely scary and stressful experience; one of the few times in my entire life that i didn't feel safe in my own home. According to the websites stalkers are most often male, have possibly had a relationship at some point with the victim, even if it was only one date, may suffer from a personality disorder or other mental health problem and in some instances can be dangerous; even fatal.
In my case i didn't know the person, never saw him in fact. Nevertheless he had me gripped with fear. It started on a sunny day in June when i casually answered the phone "Hello, is that Sharon?" The well spoken voice asked. "No", I replied, finishing the conversation and thinking nothing of it. A few minutes later he rang back, apologising again for disturbing me. He was chatty, even breezy, somewhat amusing i thought. He explained that Sharon was his colleague and he was a policeman. That opened up a conversation as a cousin of mine was in the force. I was to find out later that phone stalkers often pretend to have jobs in positions of trust as it puts victims at ease.
So, this carried on for several months and i even began to look forward to the calls. But then as time went on and he had gleaned bits of info from me, i started to feel uneasy. He would drop things in to the conversation that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck, for example talking about wanting a new car and then describing mine in detail, even the same colour. Then he would pretend to imagine what friends or relatives of mine looked like...with chilling accuracy. One day after my parents visited, he rang. The conversation got on to cars and he said he had always wanted a maroon coloured Saab. I laughed it off but when i put the phone down i felt scared; my dad had a maroon Saab! I went upstairs and looked up the street, i felt uneasy, like i was being watched.
I spoke to my sister who suggested i phoned the police station he was supposedly based at to see if his story checked out. They had never heard of him and even checked other stations, nothing. I felt an idiot but more than anything i felt scared. My mind now raced through all our coversations; what other info had i given out? How had he found where i lived? Did he know where the children went to school? By this time i was in a blind panic. When i thought he was a policeman it seemed safe and harmless fun, now it felt sinister and dangerous.
I spoke to the police but they said there was nothing they could do as he hadn't committed a crime and i had talked with him willingly. Yes but that was when i thought he was a friendly policeman, not a raving loony.
Later on my fear turned to anger and when he phoned i confronted him and told him to leave me alone. On reflection that was possibly a bad move. For several months i had phone calls in the middle of the night, sometimes just breathing, other times taunts about him being able to see me. I had flowers delivered, meals delivered and so on. I'm guessing he was not good with rejection...ha, i can laugh now!!
Finally, there was a real policeman sitting in my house taking all the details.
I was lucky, following a phone trace the police were able to track him down and issue him with a warning. Thankfully i was never bothered again but many others aren't so lucky.
Looking back it seems a silly thing...i had recently divorced and was possibly liking the initial attention, but i was way too naive and trusting. For a good year afterwards i suffered from anxiety, depression and panic attacks. God knows how people cope when it goes on for years and the stalker gets in to their home etc.
Anyway, to answer the questions: What kind of stalking or observing is acceptable? Well, unless you are a detective or similar and you have good reason to follow someone then i don't think it is acceptable to spy, follow or observe anyone else. I feel it would be an invasion of their privacy and freedom.
Voyeurism: In a sense this is spying or observing someone and i think this is ok if all parties consent to being involved. If someone wants to undress etc. in the knowledge that people are paying to view them ect. that's fine. It's not fine to spy on the neighbour undressing at night, that's just pervy. I expect the voyeur gets more of a kick from the latter because it is more risky and naughty. I guess you could also argue that if someone undresses at night without shutting the curtains they may secretly be getting off on the idea that someone is viewing them; in that sense maybe there is an unspoken communication going on there and both parties are satisfying a need; to view and to be viewed. Still not sure if that's right though. What do you think??
For ideas, take a look at the relevant links.
Smoking

I think smoking really is a personal choice. We can debate about what starts it; peer pressure, social influences, sense of belonging, rebellion, fixation at anal stage, coping mechanism etc. etc. But whether we start, continue or give up, like you said, is down to making a choice and then having the will power to follow through with that choice. I am not going to jump on the band wagon and spout all the harmful effects of smoking as i think we all hear enough of that. I am an ex-smoker and like theresa, i gave up when i became pregnant, however i did start again later. When i finally gave up i did so following a chest infection that made me think about what i was doing to my body. I then took a visit to a hospital (Not necessarily recommended) After chatting with two cancer patients and seeing a few amputees, my mind was made up. The pleasure i got from smoking in the present was not worth the agony i may face later on; in my opinion. Having said that, we shouldn't make smoking a scapegoat, it isn't the only harmful crutch. Compulsive eating, binge drinking, taking drugs,making ourselves sick every time we've eaten too much aren't exactly brilliant for health either.If the rest of your lifestyle isn't healthy then just packing in the fags isn't going to make that much difference.
If you WANT to give up, arm yourself with ALL the information, weigh it up and then make a decision...you'll find it easier to do if it is your choice and you have clear reasons for making that choice. Good luck
Saturday, 17 February 2007
Shoplifting-what's it all about?

To answer the first question, i would say that strictly speaking it breaks a law and therefore would be classed as a crime just like any other theft. However i think there can be a wide variety of reasons and circumstances behind the crime of shoplifting that, when considered fully, would allow more leniency to be shown. For example people with mental health problems such as depression,post natal depression, drug dependency etc. may be prone. It can also be committed as a reaction to abuse and stress, for example by teenagers who "Act out" their distress and need for attention by stealing. It can also be a reaction to bereavement; I work as a counsellor in the NHS and once had a client who stole and hoarded clothes as a way of filling the emptiness she felt when her father died! She realised she wasn't coping with the loss when she could fit no more clothes in her wardrobe, and sought help. So, in some respects it may be viewed as a coping mechanism or a cry for help.
Although i have partially answered question 2, there are some other reasons why people who can afford to buy items, may instead shoplift. Anger and revenge may be one reason; anger with a particular stores policies, revenge at losing a job for example. Some people may shoplift because it is risky and therefore provides a thrill. Others may enjoy the challenge of outsmarting the security measures, or beating a friend etc.
Finally, i think sometimes shoplifting occurs due to necessity and survival. At the end of the day, if you have no home, no money and starving mouth's to feed what do you do? Steal from your family and friends and betray their trust or hit a big company who can absorb he loss a little. That is not to say i condone theft, merely to say i understand some of the reasons behind it and feel that we shouldn't really judge someone until we've walked a day in their shoes.
Well that's my thoughts on the topic for now, if you have any points to raise or other ideas then get in touch. And for further info and ideas check out the links in the shoplifting section.
On your comments about shoplifting; yes, i totally agree, i think rebellion is a big thing especially for adolescents. I know when i was around 14 i used to regularly nick sweets and stuff from the local shop. Part of it was simply cockiness and the thrill of seeing what i could get away with and some was acting out the traumas that were going on at home- i think kids find various ways of seeking help and attention, i know i did. The shopkeeper caught me the one day and asked if i would like to pay for the stuff in my pocket! luckily i was given a telling off and it scared me enough that i never did it again. when i look back i feel a bit guilty but i guess it is all part of growing up eh.
Monday, 5 February 2007
First Impressions

I needn't have worried. It was a lot of fun. The first lecture introduced the idea of what it meant to "be bad"; what things constituted being bad and how did our opinions differ? Common themes were stealing, lying, adultery, cruelty, gossip, violence, bullying etc.
There wasn't anything too serious in there, and they were things we'd probably all done-or at least considered-at some point in our lives. It was reassuring to see we were all fairly normal (although some confessions were a little strange). I guess the different reactions from people are based largely on differing experiences, cultural upbringing and morals.
We were also asked to consider somewhere for a field trip. One thought was to visit The Holocaust Centre in Nottingham; that place certainly gives you an insight in to what it means to "be bad". Another idea was visiting The Circus of Horrors in Wolverhampton (not sure i'd have the stomach though!). Can't think of anywhere else...unless getting drunk in the local pub counts??