en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2450377 Comments by Barbie_Love2333 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/23/managing-crowds/#IDComment137629217 If everyone knew each other’s evacuation plan then they can properly plan where to evacuate the people to and to make sure that they don’t evacuate the millions of people in the same place. Carefully planning things out and communicating is the best and only way a safe evacuation can occur. It will bring the large numbers of people to act together in a safe way that will benefit each one of them. Sociologically it will tie the strings together and avoid any danger to can occur. Another way is by learning from past mistakes we already have made in an event or trying to organize an evacuation. Many mistakes have happened when the evacuation out of New Orleans was taking place. A lot of people had died because the evacuation wasn’t properly planned out. The government had waited till the day before the Hurricane had hit. Too many people were crowded together and panicked. Hopefully in the event of another major evacuation the government would think properly and get the people out early and in different directions so that when they panic it doesn’t get dangerous. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:54:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/23/managing-crowds/#IDComment137629217 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/23/managing-crowds/#IDComment137629196 Wow. The article had really hit some key points. It provided a great argument to the mistakes human beings no matter what tend to fail when creating evacuation plans. My suggestion is for the government to stop educating people on the dangers that could happen in the event of an emergency. Because people know the dangers of what could happen if they didn’t evacuate they all tend to panic. This causes many more people to die from panicking then from the natural cause. If one person panics, the majority of the others would also panic. The invisible strings would tie together and cause chaos and further destruction. The article mentioned that planning for an evacuation can be too complicated to plan for or too resource-intensive to be made possible. I definitely agree to this statement. Herding thousands to millions of people together can be very dangerous. It can especially be dangerous in an event of an evacuation. The way I would suggest we motivate large numbers of people to act in ways that are in the best interests of every one as individuals is to communicate with others about their plan. This would prevent a common mistake. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:54:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/23/managing-crowds/#IDComment137629196 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/01/lighting-our-way/#IDComment134039658 The hidden structure of living in the absence of sunlight versus the presence of living with sunlight has shown how it affects the ever day lives of people and the way societies are structured in the city of Helsinki. Different activities are expressed in the sunlight than in the darkness. For example, in the darkness people are more vulnerable to spend time alone and reading a book. In the daylight people are more vulnerable to spend time accompanying others. People need each others company to survive and be happy. The more time a person spends alone, the more they are depressed and sad. It being mostly dark all the time in Helsinkin has affected the way people behave. It is a hidden structure that shapes and changes the way people live in their society. Facts are shown in the video they way people feel in the darkness versus in the lighting festival. They do not realize it because it is apart of their daily lives. I realize because I know what it feels like to be in the dark and in the light and in my experience I can say that I also agree that in the dark I feel more insecure and afraid especially when I am by myself compared to the light where there is nothing that I cannot see or hide from. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:02:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/01/lighting-our-way/#IDComment134039658 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/01/lighting-our-way/#IDComment134039567 In the presence of sun, more people spend a lot more time outside in the beach or just enjoying walks along the river edge. In the winter, people spend more time alone at home reading a book or exercising at the gym. There are a lot more activities to do in the summer than in the winter. The most importance to the necessity of having sunlight is happiness. Where ever there is more sun, people seem to be happier. So compared to the summer because winter has a lot less sunlight, people are more depressed than happy. As shown in the city of Helsinki, citizens have reported feeling more depressed. The lack of daylight has demonstrated a real mentally affect on the citizens of Helsinki. It has become an illness known as the winter seasonal affective disorder. Symptoms said by Dr. Timo Partonen, include increase in appetite, weight gain, tiredness and long hours of sleep. In fact more than 40% of the citizens of Helsinki suffer from these symptoms. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:02:19 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/01/lighting-our-way/#IDComment134039567 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/01/lighting-our-way/#IDComment134039471 Wow I can only imagine how my life would change due to the simple absence of sunlight. I myself can definitely agree that in the winter time I am more tired and seem to eat a lot more. I also spend a lot more time alone which feeds into the mood of depression. I count down the last days till summer where I can spend more time outside, enjoying the summer sun with my friends. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:01:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/01/lighting-our-way/#IDComment134039471 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment129044255 When I seen the video the first reaction was laughing. The video was very humorous in the sense that the target did everything the group did even though he knew exactly which way the elevator door would open. He probably felt very confused to why everyone else was doing the same thing but he still did it. The video perfectly also illustrates the principles of our culture and how eager we are to conform to the visions of others. I constantly hear people stressing the importance of being an individual and stressing the significance of expressing our own opinions. Even though we know what is right the principles of conformity and informational social influence shows us otherwise. Conformity is a great topic that illustrates the way our culture really is. It shows how we are very social by demonstrating what we do in situations where we might not agree with the group by agreeing anyways. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:47:18 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment129044255 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment129044164 Conformity can impact society greatly as shown in the video. This video is a great demonstration that shows the influence conformity has on society. In class we discussed that informational social influence occurs in ambiguous social situations. Informational social influence is definitely a result from conformity. Human beings are very social mammals. Most of the time when we are in a situation where we might not agree to what others do or say at the end of the day we would agree anyways. The reason why is because no one likes to feel disliked by a group or isolated from the norms of the group so even though we don’t agree on what the group does or say to ignore the situation of feeling disliked we would agree. In class Sam concluded that, “people want to be social and liked so even though in situations we might disagree on things we will agree to what the group says.” In the elevator even though the target might have felt stupid for turning with the group he did anyways to fit in and be social and liked. The target showed that the tendency to go along with the group is stronger than our rational appraisals of reality. It is proven that we will conform to the group even if we don’t believe what people are saying or doing. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:46:53 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment129044164 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment126031427 In conclusion, after the discussion in class about how social systems and people are rational it now completely makes sense to me as to why the prosecutors labeled the child as a suspect in the situation. They couldn’t bend the rules. Rules are created to control everything so that everything operates smoothly. If the rules were bent, there will be total chaos and destruction. So nothing is an exception in any situation. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 00:27:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment126031427 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment126031287 The reason why the situation treated the child as a suspect is because of the rules and laws which state how criminals should be punished in circumstances where an individual brings a loaded gun to school. So prosecutors looked at the situation and handled it the way they would treat any other criminal case and obeyed the rules. This proves my point that people and social systems are rational. Systems want stability and in order to have stability in systems, rules must be enforced and never changed. Every situation has to be treated the same with no exceptions. If people had allowed exceptions in situations than social systems will not be stable and rules would constantly be bent leading to destruction and chaos. So to avoid difficult measures, rules are never bent no matter what the circumstances of the situation are. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 00:27:10 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment126031287 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment126031230 The 5 year old child actually being stated as a “suspect” is completely ridiculous. I agree that this is a serious situation and should be handled as such, but I totally disagree that the fault should be pointed at the innocent child who probably thought it was just a toy. I agree the situation should be handled the way Sam had suggested. The parent who had allowed his child to have access to the loaded gun should take a guns safety class that he pays for and just send the child back to class. Suspending the child took the situation to extreme measures. Everyone knew that there was no way the child’s actual intention was to put any one in harm’s way, so why was the situation treated as such? It just blows my mind. Unbelievable . The situation just goes on to show how rational people really are along with social systems. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 00:26:50 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment126031230 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/suicide-in-japan/#IDComment124478631 Durkeim's theory proves the fact that people who commit suicide share sociological conditions with others who also commit suicide. As the sociological condition of the economic downturn in Japan continues to increase so does the inclination of the suicide rates which further goes to prove the theory of Durkeim in which he states that the reason why people in general feel inclined to kill themselves is not because of the fault of their own but its because of their sociological structures that take the blame. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 05:03:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/suicide-in-japan/#IDComment124478631 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/suicide-in-japan/#IDComment124478565 Many have to manage their job and if they lose it, it is believed that you also lose your position in society, even your existence seems to vanish with it.” This quote was said by a fellow japanese citizen, Yakio Sugiyama, who is a survivor of committing suicide in suicide forest due to the despair of losing his job. The economical downturn in Japan is the sociological structure that put many japanese people in the position of killing themselves. Clinical psychologist Seiei Mutou says, “ that many people in Japan especially people in the 30's age group kill themselves because of the competition at work in which they constantly have to prove themselves in order to keep their jobs which is an additional stress they cope with and the pressure at times can be too much.” As the economic hardships pile on the Japanese each year, it is expected that many more will take the dark, lonely and fearful walk to suicide forest. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 05:02:32 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/suicide-in-japan/#IDComment124478565 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/suicide-in-japan/#IDComment124478469 In class we discussed according to what Durkeim discovered that suicide varies among social groups such as religion, social class, education, race, ect. The reason why many people commit suicide is because of their sociological conditions in who they surround themselves with or even the issue of not surrounding themselves with anyone at all. The economical downturn is the reason why the suicide rate in Japan has increased by nearly 31,000 people as of the year 2010. Everyone is going through the same battle so it is an issue that they cant escape or get away from. It is in their surrondings and a constant trouble in which they all face everyday. One of the suicide classifications of Durkeim that we talked about in class is egoistic suicide. Egoistic suicide supports the factor that a person's social networks are what makes them more capable of killing themselves. Durkeim says that its not the persons fault to the reason why they want to commit suicide. Its their sociological structures that take the blame such as a person losing their job. “In Japan your occupation may take such an important weight in your life. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 05:01:50 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/suicide-in-japan/#IDComment124478469 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122677199 Part 4: . Until the day we are forced to live and behave differently we will never understand the true meaning of freedom, because it is then that we will realize its hidden structure and how important of a role it plays in our daily lives. Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:21:58 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122677199 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122677155 Part 3: The United States is a country that rings freedom. This nation has come a long way in history to be free. As the inmate says, “Many have shed blood, cried tears, and perspired sweat to be free.” Those who have lived in the era of slavery I believe know what it truly means to be free because it was not initially given to them. They had put their lives at risk and suffered many wounds by trying to break the bondage of slavery. They had to endure hardships and fight for the natural rights that they believe every human soul has the right to have. This is the meaning of freedom. It is not only to do what you please, but it is having the option to do it, when you want to do it, and how you want to do it. During the times of slavery, freedom was not a hidden structure. Even though it did shape the way they lived and behaved afterwards, since it wasn’t initially taught and built in their lives, they knew what it was like to not have freedom so when they were finally free they knew what it meant. Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:21:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122677155 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122676828 Part 2: In class we discussed about the meaning of hidden structures and how it affects our lives in a sociological manner. Hidden structures are defined as structures in the human condition in which we are taught that shape the way we live and our behaviors. Freedom itself is a hidden structure because it allows us to do whatever we please. For example, taking daily walks in the parks is freedom that we in the United States have, but because of its hidden structure we will never value the freedom we have to take those precious walks. The reason why many people will never know nor realize what it truly means to be free is because freedom has been given to us from the day we were born. We never had the opportunity since birth to know what it’s like to not be free so we will never know what it is like to have freedom. It is in our human condition and what we were taught as infants to have, but to understand it’s meaning without it we will never know nor realize its importance until its gone. It is a hidden structure in which we take for granted. Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:18:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122676828 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122676736 Part 1: In today’s society I can also agree to say that freedom is taken for granted and not appreciated. As proven in the statement provided by the prisoner who had grown to learn the values of freedom, I believe that one will never know how important and necessary freedom is in their life until the day it is taken away. Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:17:55 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122676736 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cm%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122638083 soc001 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 02:22:08 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cm%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122638083