Wow, I am really glad you were able to share your experience in London with us. I have known that the education system in America wasn't the greatest but I always wanted to know what other places where like. It is cool to hear about the education system in other places.

First of all, calling a guy stupid because you don't like his opinion won't get you anywhere. Second of all, don't get so offended. You obviously are not an education major or you would have heard this argument long ago. To be honest he is right. Our education system is not perfect and you seem to be the only one not realizing/accepting it. It is such an issue, actually, that there is an entire class dedicated to talking about educational theories and policies. In the class they talk about schools that don't allow students to use their mind creatively they just have to follow the rules. There is a lot to learn about the educational issues in America and maybe you should take the class to open up your mind to see that. EDTHP 115...you should look into it. :-)

I think this blog is great. It is a perfect way to see things in a different perspective. I have always found it easy to "put myself in someone else's shoes". I never really thought that it would be hard for someone else to do the same until I read this blog. The comments I glanced over were of people saying they were shocked at the letter and how compassionate and real these prisoners actually are. I personally have never met a prisoner but I had just assumed that they were only human...that they actually were human. People have feelings of all kinds no matter whom or where you are. No matter innocent or guilty, young or old.

I am not judging anyone for thinking prisoners are bad people. Actually, the other day, I was flipping through channels and saw a special on the Vegas holding facilities. They were showing gang fight, how people had to be sent into isolation and put into a chair that restricted their movement. And how even some of the nicest inmates get out of hand and attack each other. One man walked in and decided to stab a random man sitting in the waiting area three times in the back. So I can understand why people would assume the “prisoner stereotype” is actually who it is.

But, automatically assuming someone is a horrible person because they are in prison or they hate you because they are Arab hinders you from getting to know a person. It hinders you from learning the culture and their way of life. Reading this letter only proves that stereotypes affect all people. Once stereotypes are broke we can, then, truly create friendships. We can learn what other cultures have to offer without preconceived notions.

I am so glad that Sam put this on here so that people can really open up their eye to the world, "broaden their horizons". When Sam mentioned in class that he and his wife, along with some students, went to the prison I thought that it was a great idea. I actually want to go to, not by myself of course, because although some prisoners maybe nice, prison is still a scary place to go to alone.

Anyway, as I was reading the letter I was finding myself wondering what he did to be in prison. I know he said he was in prison for murder but I was hoping he would elaborate. I want to hear the stories of these men. I want to get to know why they killed...what drove them to do such a thing? These men have such a different life experience than I do. They have so much to teach and I have so much to learn in my life yet. Visiting these men would be such an educational experience and one I wouldn't take lightly.

Haha, well said. I like the example of the frat and Smirnoff Ice, it's a funny thing to picture. I think the reason women feel as though they are conforming more than men is because woman talk about it more. It is an issue for both men and women but women are the ones to openly talk about it. Some times we just assume that guys just work out because that's what they do, but it is much deeper than that and I am glad that someone on here had the guts to admit it.

Let me first say, just so I can get this out of the way, that I am a female. Wow, I feel better already. Now, I think....well I pretty much know, that guys do feel the urge and pressure to conform all the time. I actually remember when I was a freshman in high school I like this boy and I know he liked me back but he never did anything to pursue the relationship. It wasn't because he didn't know I liked him, I made that quite obvious, and it wasn't because he didn't think we would make a good couple, I know this because he liked me. It was because he was afraid of what other people would think of us. I am not at all skinny and hott but I do have a great personality. He on the other had was gorgeous with shaped muscles and a fun personality. He was also white and I am black. Now, I am not sure exactly which of these things he was afraid to be judged by, but I do know that he was so afraid to be made fun of that he never gave "us" a chance.

I read that some of you think that women feel the need to conform more than men but I am here to disagree. Men feel the pressure just like women. There are an equal amount of expectations and stereotypes for both men and women, I just think that women feel more comfortable expressing their feelings about it. But it's not just sexes is it? It is races too. The fact is that most human beings just want to fit in. People don't generally want to be looked at as "the weird kid in the class".

I think that the play is class was actually pretty accurate. People were saying in class that it is the opposite here in America, that women actually want bigger boobs rather than smaller boobs. I have to disagree. I think that a lot of girls who have smaller boobs do want to bigger one but at the same time girls with bigger boobs want smaller ones. This may be hard to understand but that is how it is. Bigger boobs are incontinent in many ways, like the guy said in class on Tuesday big boobs cause back problems. Also, there are guys who do not favor bigger breasted girls. Do I think that girls should get a breast implant or reduction though? My answer is no, of course not. Girls will get surgery for many different reasons. In class we were talking about girls changing the way they look for guys and girls changing the way they look for girls. Many people took one side or the other on what they believed exactly why girls got the surgery but I think that people were missing the point. It doesn't matter why girls changed, that fact it that they did and they did it because of what other people thought. I think that this is ridiculous.

My personal opinion is that the grass will always be greener on the other side no matter what size boobs a girl has. I completely agree with you when you said that all women are beautiful, this is so true. It doesn't matter what color skin you have or when background you come from. It doesn't matter what size jeans you wear or what brand of jeans it is.

People can be so wrapped up in the media and others opinions that they stop to smell the roses. Girls forget that we are all just women; we will never win if we are constantly worrying about the next look and what’s what and who's who. All people, men and women alike, can be small minded. They think about the now rather than later. You can go and get a breast implant now but later you will come to regret it for many different reasons. Girls may want smaller boobs and then down the road realize that they actually like their boobs the way they were before.

Like I said before the grass is and will always be greener on the other side. You always want the next best thing and once you get it you realize that it's not all hyped up to be what it was. It is time to face the facts, people want what they can't have, if they do have it they don't want it anymore. To those people I say take time to appreciate what you do have. I just feel bad for those people who actually do like what they are given, whether it is the size of their boobs or the food on their plate. These people really do like what they have but are looked down on because of it, they are considered vein or conceded.

Wow, I don't know what these people where thinking when they created a game like this. I have to honestly say that this video is so appalling it is funny. It makes me laugh at the thought of someone actually playing this game, not because I think playing it is a good idea but because just the thought of someone thinking this game is okay is...well funny. How can someone play a game like this and not feel some kind of nasty way about it later. I don't even know how this is legal. Perhaps it is a cultural thing, don't most Asians treat their women like crap? I am guessing this has a huge part to play with the creation of the game.
People say that marijuana is the gate way drug to everything else. If this is so then this game is by far a gateway "drug" to actual rape and other horrible things. I suppose, in some sick twisted way, I could maybe...perhaps...understand why men would want to play this game, maybe for the thrill or whatever but it is not right. Children, young adults, and adults should not be playing a game like this. The maker is just pretty much condoning rape, I guarantee it wasn't a women who created that shit. I want to punch whoever made that game right in the dome.
What is even more sickening though is that people would actually buy this. The person that actually made this game may have his reasons, for example money, perhaps he knew a game like this would sell. I just can’t believe that people would send their money on this game. It makes me wonder about what people are really capable of.
It is surprising that the UK couple actually approved of this game. It is quite disturbing. She said that she played the game, she saw for herself what was going on and yet she still thinks it is okay. There is something wrong with people. There is nothing right bout. Sure the game sensors private parts but nonetheless it is the thought that counts. The whole idea of the game is rape and it is not right by any means. I actually went on YouTube to see exactly what the reporter was talking about and to see exactly what the game consisted of and I still do not approve of it at all. Honestly, watching the video proved to me how wrong the game actually is. How would these people feel if their children got a hold of this game? This is teaching children that rape is okay. I honestly cannot believe that this is legal and something needs to be seriously done about this issue.

First I'd like to say that agree with you when you said a lot of the things Sam talked about it just facts, interesting, but still facts. Second, I would like to say don't be quick to judge people about their opinions not changing. People have a reason for thinking the way they think whether is be right or wrong. I, for example, have not have my opinion changed in class at all. This is because I agree with everything Sam has said in class. I have thought the way he does for quite sometime now so therefore I do not need any change of mind/thought.

This is actually a great question. I was wondering the say thing myself. I personally do not thing that he has changed my mind about any one thing. Not because I do not agree with what he is saying but it is actually opposite. I agree with everything that he is saying but I have been thinking this way for a while now, before Soc. 119. I do have to say that I love the topics he brings up and I am glad he addresses issues the way he does. Like I said though, I agree with everything he has said so if anything it just verified what I was wondering/thinking before Soc 119.

I am glad this question came up. I am black and I have lived in a white community ever since I was in the third grade. So obviously my school experience, from elementary through college, has been a bit different for me. I was forced to confront race at a very young age. I was always insecure with myself and had a really hard time liking the color of my skin, I just wanted to fit in and look like everyone else. Let me put it this way, I would have been one of those your girls to pick the white doll instead of the black one.

It took me a long time, actually college, to finally accept that it was okay to not have liked my skin color at one point. I felt ashamed that I once thought black was ugly and white was beautiful. It makes perfect sense now that I think back on it why I would have thought that way. I actually didn’t know until Soc 119 that other black people had the same feelings I once had; I thought that it was just me.

It was also hard for me to not have anyone to relate to or talk about my feeling when it came to race, when I say “all white school” that’s what I mean. I haven’t ever had a black friend, unless you count my older brother. It was hard and stressful at times to grow up and constantly try to stick up for myself and black people in general. I was comforted with racism all the time and I had no one to help me out. For me it was white all day everyday all the time. My best friends where, and still are, white, my crushes where white, my teachers where all white, and the people I fought with were white. I think it would have been nice to have people, or at least one person around, who looked like me. Friends told me that Penn State had a bunch of black people, so I came with high hope that maybe I could make some black friends, I now realize this school is almost just like my old one except with a bit more pepper in the mix.

Nonetheless, I believe growing up in a place where so many people looked like me really helped open my eyes to certain issues. I am a very open-minded person, whether it is race relations or gay marriage and I think a lot of it had to do with me growing up in the white community. I think that if people would get out of their “comfort bubble” and put themselves in other people's shoes, like I had to, they wouldn't be racist or hate gays. People would be so much more open-minded about things if they had to opportunity to live with people who were different than them, whether it is race, culture, gays, etc.

Although I was forced to live with people who didn't look like me, I know it shaped who I am today. Sometimes people need to be put in a different environment to be able to truly see that we are not all that different after all.