en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2454173 Comments by chalsea66 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/18/war-through-the-ages/#IDComment144287883 War always happens between political groups, ethnic (tribal) and nations. It is the highest form of struggle and outcome of the contradiction between two sides with totally different interests. Besides, it is also the highest settlement of disputes, the most violent approach, and the most effective and efficient solution. The opposing sides start a war or an armed combat in order to achieve certain political, economic, and territorial integrity, etc. War is a manifestation of the will of the ruler. War, in definition of class society, is a mean to resolve ethnic and national, state, national, or political struggles and conflicts between different. It is the continuation of politics by violent means, is politics with bloodshed. Since the dawn of humanity, war has never stopped. War and civilization has always been staggered, both on the development and progress of human civilization, playing a catalytic and facilitating role and also threatening the survival of mankind itself. With the graduate revolutionaries of society, war gets new patterns during the process. The ancient war between various tribes, to promote national integration and state formation, but also a direct cause of great national movement; country's internal war between different ethnic groups promote national independence and the birth of the new country; the wars of political groups within countries led to regime change, such as the Civil War. In addition, religious wars are also an important part based on the religious beliefs, such as the Crusades. But I always believe that the root of wars lies on the people’s desire to seek for more resources. Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:25:57 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/18/war-through-the-ages/#IDComment144287883 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment143137746 In my opinion, man is more a biological identity other than a sociological one. I think mature man is more close to the quality and personality of man which we glad to see and more close to a sociologically hope for men. A mature man will never go back and he will always think twice before making his own commitment to someone, trying to make his every commitment reliable. If a mature man makes a vow, he would really value, never deny that word and try his best to make it into practice. His every word makes you feel at ease and trusted. Stray, random sake of making criticisms, delayed to take no action---these would never be attached to the maturity of a man. A mature man will not only know how to accept and respect himself, but also know how to respect others. They are good at empathy, will empathize to consider the issues, and do not force others to accommodate his ideas or opinion. A mature man will ever know how to make a good cooperation with others. Mature men should not be stubborn. It should be possible for him to accept different opinions and to be good at the adoption of good suggestions. If his decisions are inappropriate or not effective, they ought to have the courage to bear the consequences, and never find an excuse to prevaricate. Once a mature man determines his own objective, he will work towards it. When he faces frustrations, he will analyze the causes and lessons learned, and take timely course corrections, but never give in. A true mature man will never go around to praise his maturity and will not deliberately seeking mature, because maturity will becomes a part of his quality when the steadfastness and wisdom are accumulated with enough experiences. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:13:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment143137746 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/4827/#IDComment140886835 The oil market is affected by multiple variables, ranging from the weather, to political upheaval. These variables, along with the speculative nature of a commodities market leads to volatile ups and downs in the market. The effect of speculators and political influence on the price of oil has already been seen in class; this was as early as the late 1800s. The progression of time only added to the complexity of the market by introducing even more variables. After globally adopting the Commodity Exchange of oil, in some degree, it leads to further complicate the oil market. For instance, using the Commodity Exchange, on one hand, traders can avoid the negative impact of fluctuations in international oil prices; on the other hand, it also encourages the speculative capital to flow into Oil Exchange market with a possibility of getting benefits from the oil trading price volatility. Besides, as the Commodity Exchange is an outcome of free economy, Oil Exchange market is now much easier to be affected by the development of economy, especially the trend of global economy. Any element of economic market can generates impacts on the future oil price, such as the buyer’s preferences, the interest rate or the inflation rate. And the influences came from political factors are also zoomed under the Commodity Exchange System. Sometimes, oil even plays as the vital factor for wars, especially for those countries which want to win the battles, for example in WWI and WWII, the capture and appropriate distributions of oil eventually determines the reslut of war. The recent uprising and UN sanctioned military action in Libya also prove the importance of oil in making decisions of a country's foreign policies and at the same time it also has created a certain degree of uncertainty in the area regarding future oil prices. Trading with intangible assets, Oil Exchange definitely increases the risk of oil business. Fri, 8 Apr 2011 02:16:48 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/4827/#IDComment140886835 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment138998812 Everybody has time of make the mistake in the life; those people will tolerate your mistakes, forgive you, and care for you rather than just blaming and scolding you mostly are your families. Just as Sam discussed in class,a family--- the basic part consisted the whole society provides very vital functions: 1.socialize the young, 2. cultural transmissions, 3. status and wealth transmissions, 4. shelter and meeting basic needs, 5.emotional support, 6. replace generations. In nowadays, the pressure from society, especially from peers are gradually increasing. Some unlucky people and the ill-fated juniors bearing the tyranny of their boss and having no hope of promotion are painfully grappling with their problems: coping with the child’s study and career, dealing with his wife’s petulant temper, and coming to terms with his unpleasant position. Many men have fought for years futilely against their destiny and ended up being bedridden with all sorts of debilitating diseases. It is apparent that fortitude alone is inadequate for a good life now; learning how to enjoy one's life is essential to us all. I think family also plays a role of releasing our pressure and temporarily taking the burdens off our shoulders. When I went to college and started to live far away from my families, I once noticed that importance of family to me. I always get homesick and miss them so much. I keep connections with my family, care about their health and try to share happiness as well as sorrow with them. Only by doing these things, I can get the sense that I am still a very important member of my family and the closest relationship between families can never be cut off by distance. I think the relationship between families is the most pure and long-lasting one of all human relationships. In this article, I also found the true feelings between the writer and his families. The writer mentioned his step-father's mistake and his forgiveness. He also considered family's role of inspiration in his life. Fri, 1 Apr 2011 03:08:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment138998812 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/20/frost-bitten/#IDComment137124008 It’s a sad poem but think-evoking. After reading this poem, I get a sense of the poet who may get a little bit confused to find that the current situation is in contradiction. The poet realizes that he or she may be surrounded with a group of people who live with no hope, no feelings and even no thinking, just like a group of the dead. And he considers the circumstance he lives in as a kind of hell above the earth. The reasons why he is so struggling lie on the facts the poet has a willingness to get out of his or her surroundings and live in a different way from others. He or she urged for love, for hope, for a more meaningful life. This kind desire makes the poet so contradicted, especially in the inner world. The poet tries very hard to eliminate the influences from the surroundings; however, the outside circumstance has so powerful effects on shaping the kind of human beings that the poet is also inevitably soaked in it. Just like the poet writes, “I am cold because around me are cold souls.” Fortunately, he or she is still aware of these changes or inclinations to changes on himself or herself. Thus the poet gets a strong desire to stand on the faith to live with hope, love…… I am moved by the poet’s insistence and the fantasy qualities of the inner world. It should be very challenging to keep them in such a hard circumstance. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:13:34 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/20/frost-bitten/#IDComment137124008 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134886737 Moreover, to me, freedom also stands for choices and fights. When one person faces a dilemma or a tough situation, which path to choose is actually free for everyone. However, your choice may totally differ from others. These differences accumulate and make a unique life for every individual. Freedom means fights too. If one person lives in a life which is absolutely against his or her faith, he definitely has a right to fight against the fate for a different life. These fights may turn out to be new regulations or new laws which at the same time result in new limitation. Hence, there is never an absolute freedom in the world. Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:33:02 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134886737 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134886723 Besides, freedom means accept yourself without too much emphasis on judgments from other people as well as not let anyone force you do things against your heart and believes, and not force others do things they not want and may hurt them. Just in this article, the writer wrote “I have discovered, for myself, freedom is not about location or possessions. It is striving every day to be a better person.” To live positively is important, but to live with right recognition towards oneself is even more important. If the writer give up the faith of life and hate himself as a prison, he will never gain enough courage to go on the rest of his life. If in this case, at first, the writer has lost his freedom as he trapped himself in the negative attitudes of life. Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:32:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134886723 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134886644 To me, freedom mean to be oneself, freedom mean also respect for other persons and for their choices, also for their religion, tradition, culture. As we are living in society, everyone is surrounded with some kind of limitations, like limitations by laws, limitations by personal ability, or even limitation by mentality. All these limitations can be seen as parts of the invisible strings explained by Sam during class. It is impossible for us to totally get rid of these invisible strings, even though sometimes it is possible for us to break some invisible strings when we notice their existences. With these limitations, if we want to live in harmony with other human beings on base of personal social status, we should learn how to respect others’ choices and how to get a better life according to own willing. Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:32:34 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134886644 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/the-lottery-as-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#IDComment132260868 After reading this article, I just start to think if one day I won a lottery and became a millionaire immediately, how I would feel. Definitely, at the moment that I know this news, I would be very happy. But how about later on? I guess I would a sense of confusion, a deep feeling of losing myself. Just the day before, I should go to school, work hard to finish my homework, and plan for a better future. But a day later, all the things I did before seems to be useless and unworthy as I have become a millionaire which others dream of and work for. I think this kind of ways to millionaire will not make my happiness last very long. Personally speaking, I always get happiness and feeling of self-fulfilling from rewards I got due to my hard workings and efforts. The author also talks about invest after winning a lottery. But just as the man who won the state lottery said, “I don’t feel that I have changed. I am just very secure financially.” Winning a lottery is just one special experience of one personal’s long life, it cannot change exactly who you are, especially the inner world, mental feelings and one’s knowledge. Winning a lottery make one become a millionaire does not mean that person own the abilities as the same as those who make all the money themselves. Despite one’s rich in finance, he or she in fact don’t how to invest the money in an appropriate way. Every investment has its risks, he or she may even cannot bear lose if the investment turns out to be a failure. Besides, if everyone had an incentive to buy a lottery and hope that tomorrow he or she could become a millionaire, how could the society get its driving force for development in future? Moreover, just as Sam mentioned, “my “me” would change but not my “I””. Even one wins a lottery, his or her status in the society would not change at all and so does the inner spiritual consciousness. Their social tags will remain the same as before. In my opinion, just as the old Chinese adage said, “It’s better to teach a man fishing than to give him fish.” The way to increase people living is to give them abilities of making a better life by themselves. Fri, 4 Mar 2011 02:37:50 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/the-lottery-as-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#IDComment132260868 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-much-government-do-we-need/#IDComment130491201 In this article, the author mentioned that the IRS’s announcement that nursing supplies aide in practice can be deducted from tax returns amount to a “new definition of the nanny state.” In my opinion, Obama’s promotion of breast-feeding is wrong in no ways. With the fact that breastfeeding is good for children, just like this article mentioned, breastfeeding can reducing childhood obesity, Obama’s promotion is also a kind of promotions which target at a higher standards of lifestyle. It’s a part of government’s responsibility to give the public the sense that how to live in a more healthy way. But which I don’t agree is that a promotion of personal lives had better not turn out to be seemly compulsory by imposing a kind of seductive tax returns. I think government should play its role in more macro aspects of social life, like economy of nations, tariffs, defense of security, foreign affairs. This macro aspects need the government exert varying degrees of influence and control, like subsidizing regulating, restraining, or prohibiting. The total attentions of government are limited in certain period. If the government pays too many attentions to the specific aspects of social life, it may lose the control of the whole development in terms of a nation. Just as Thomas Jefferson said, “the government that governs least governs best,” he was not talking a government that doesn’t govern at all but a government which can work on solving the main affairs the nation concerned most. Besides, a big government in every aspect of life definitely cannot contribute to a quicker improvement of living standards. In opposite, these over regulations or limitations may block the normal speed of social progress. And for individuals, there are various reasons for giving up a breastfeeding, such as due to a health problem of the mother. In these cases, a tax return will be unfair to these families. Hence, I prefer a big government which can enforce laws and regulation effectively in major issues concerning about the future directions of nation but a small government which allow more flexible ways of life in some personal issues. Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:13:14 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-much-government-do-we-need/#IDComment130491201 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/13/the-other-side/#IDComment128884810 (attached to my previous comment) Besides, I got the evidence of the power of religion. I always believe in the enormous power of faith. In my personal opinion, religion sometimes can be seen as a kind of guidance which will bring the confusing people to the right path of their lives. Religion should be considered beyond superstition. It sometimes reflects a kind of strong belief towards the positive aspects of life. And it does help. Moreover, I am rethinking the methods of punishment taken by nowadays courts which always end up with putting the criminals into prison. I think the society should emphasize the importance of the criminals’ personal justice toward themselves and their illegal actions besides the justices from the laws. And the healing process of the victims’ families and criminals’ families is necessary as well as the communication between them and the criminals. Some criminals never feel guilty may result in their ignorance of the pains of the victims’ families or unawareness of it. Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:04:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/13/the-other-side/#IDComment128884810 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/13/the-other-side/#IDComment128884607 I was attracted by this article at first sight just because this words “the other side”. Just like every coin has two sides, I think even with the worst thing happening, there still has some positive aspects of it. Like in this article, the writer killed two people when he was young, but during the long period in the prison, he got chance to thoroughly think about his life and felt guilty and regretful for what he had done not only to his own family but also to the victim’s family. I think the writer’s dawning and awakening realization of the gravity and impact of his wrong act is actually even more important than the punishment according to laws. If I was one of the victim’s families, I would be so glad to see the murderer’s regrets which was meaningful than just put him into prison which could be a relief to the pains of losing family members. Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:03:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/13/the-other-side/#IDComment128884607 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment126004940 This video apparently reveals that conformity rules the world. Just as we have talked about in the class, the conformity has a great influence on shaping personal talking, thinking, acting or the value system towards the world. In my opinion, conformity is somewhat a kind of submitting to the group which looks like the main stream is depending on the size of group or the amount of people. During class, professor has talked about informational social influence. So far as I see, conformity in some case seems to be a result of a strong informational social influence which is hardly to defy. Professor said that informational social influence occurs in ambiguous social situation. I’m just thinking that in some case, we choose conformity consciously. Like in this video, the man who at first wore his hat finally took off it as others did and turned his sides along with others. It seems funny. But with thinking deeper, I think if I was that man, I would do the same things. Because when some people are in a same space especially a small one and the majority is acting the same, you will look weird and awkward if you do the opposite way or even just a little bit different from others. And I also think about the situations in my own country—China where the conformity is so important that nobody can totally resist to it. Actually this may result from the political reasons rather than sociological reasons. But the senses beyond the fact are somewhat the same. Conformity sometimes does bring stability and continuity. Just like the “confirmation bias” talked about in class, a clearly and identically expressed opinion towards a special social issue or political problems is very critical for the Parties, like what Republicans and Democrats act. Besides, I think the overestimation of might and right is a key reason for conformity. The main stream of group always gives an individual a sense or an illusion of rightness. And based on the incentive of invulnerability, an individual will inevitably choose the seemly safest action or idea instead of personal one. Fri, 4 Feb 2011 22:22:28 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment126004940 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/suicide-in-japan/#IDComment124248114 Well…as a sociologist I feel inclined to tell you that the attempt to commit suicide is not just because of problems in one’s psychology or biology. You may cannot tell the specific reasons why choose to such a choice, thinking which can help you escape from the pressure of the complicate real world. Sometimes, you may think you are the most “special” one in the world and no one can really understand your inner feelings. But actually you’re wrong. You may think of losing jobs, the divorce. But there are tens of thousands people losing jobs. The unemployment rate and divorce rate are high not only in US but also in the rest of the world. The pressure you faced may be the same that troubled thousands people. If they choose to survive bravely, so why not you? To escape is not a way to solve the problems. As from the sociological aspect, I can provide you some suggestion that may help you get out of troubles. Find a safe place to talk with the person who you trusted and can listen attentively without judgments, and allow as much time as necessary. During this process, you should try to express your feelings freely and give some hints or reasons which may make others easier and effective to help you in time. Please admit your own concern and fear in the deepest of your heart. You should give yourself at least a chance to believe in a person who listens to you with great attentions. Ask if there is anything you can do. Talk about resources that can be drawn on to provide you supports, practical assistance, counselling or treatment. Moreover, you can try to identify your attempt of suicide is belongings to which kind of suicide in sociological meaning. Like egoistic suicide, anomic suicide or altruistic suicide. Find ways that is especially useful in solving certain kind of suicide attempts. Relax yourself, try to listen to some soft music and always think about the positive aspects of life. Besides, you can do something (of course in the legal fields) which can make you feel delightful, for instance, do some sports or play instruments. Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:41:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/suicide-in-japan/#IDComment124248114 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122893763 I think actually there's no absolute freedom on earth. Freedom always comes along with responsibilty. In all societies there has to be some kinds of laws, which do of course restrict certain freedoms. Reasonable laws will be accepted by the greater majority. Through the freedom is limited in some degree in the real life, some people can still feel that they get freedom. Personally speaking, an absolute freedom is a disaster to society. Besides, freedom is also a personal choice and an inner feeling. If you choose to do somethings that will make youself feel free or see things from a different view, then you may find actually you can get rid of the feelings of restriction. For instance, in the film " The Showshank Redemption", when Brooks received parole and started a new life in a grocery store, he still could not get a little sense of freedom and even could not adapt himself to the new life which was totally different from the life in the prison. Thus he chose to commit suicide. Moreover, freedom is sometimes also about to be yourself and accept yourself. If a person can accept himself/herself from the bottom of his/her heart, this person will never be distressed with others' false judgements or never force self do things against heart and belives and not force others do things they not want and hurt. Sat, 22 Jan 2011 01:38:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122893763 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cc%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122887822 SOC001 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:56:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cc%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122887822