en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2443828 Comments by gagaoolala http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment143272550 The fact that a letter written by a prisoner could almost bring me to tears shows how wrong you can truly be about a person. Prisoners are usually thought out to be people that know nothing about life, because they are not actually living it. They are living a life enclosed behind bars. However, this man knows more about the qualities that I would want in a man that I do. If a man possessed nearly half of those qualities, then I would consider myself happy. And this is a lifer… Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:37:50 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment143272550 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment143272510 When I first started reading this article, I actually got pretty mad. It felt like it was simply a list of characteristics that men thought that they possessed. Being myself, the first thing that I thought was, “Are you serious? Men never possess nearly any of these qualities. Figures that a man would write this article, just going on and on about what great characteristics they have.” However, I learned something about myself when reading this article. I learned that I am the first person to jump to irrational conclusions. I almost started crying when I read that the author was simply listing a bunch of qualities that they THOUGHT a man should possess; not actual qualities that men DO possess. It was an apology. It made me feel horrible to think that I am so judgmental. However, I am simply another example of sociology in the works. This is sociology. Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:37:35 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment143272510 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment143272460 Being a woman, it is sometimes difficult to understand the role a man should take in various situations. But this is sociology. In order to understand it, you must be able to understand the viewpoint of another person. Like Sam said, in order to fully understand the way sociology operates, you must first develop empathy. This involves putting yourself in the shoes of another person. Putting yourself in the shoes of another gender is a perfect example. Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:37:16 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment143272460 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/27/family/#IDComment139251034 I believe the best part of this letter was when the author said, “So in my opinion, as long as you are able to love there will always be someone willing to receive the love that you have.” Some people believe that love can never be in their reach. However, if a man in prison says it is available to him, then it must be tangible for everyone else. As long as you put yourself out there and open your heart, someone will be willing to accept that love and love in return. Sat, 2 Apr 2011 01:21:30 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/27/family/#IDComment139251034 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/27/family/#IDComment139250945 It is comforting to know that the author of this letter still has some contact with his family and friends. If one of my family members made a mistake and committed a horrible crime, I feel that I would definitely be angry with them. However, being part of a family means sticking with your family members through the thick and thin. You must be there to support them through everything. I am glad that there are other people in the world that take the same approach to family relationships. However, it is kind of sad to think that contact decreases through the years. While this is expected, it is still upsetting. Being able to see your close family slowing slip even further and further from reach must make it extremely hard to cope with prison life. It is just another added burden. Sat, 2 Apr 2011 01:21:14 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/27/family/#IDComment139250945 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/27/family/#IDComment139250831 I really liked this article. Most of the other articles about lifers were not like this. They talked about the way being prison has changed them as a person, and how they cope with being behind bars. However, while this piece has many of these elements, it takes a primary focus on the family. Since family is something so important to me, I thought it was interesting to see how family relationships remained after being in prison. Sat, 2 Apr 2011 01:20:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/27/family/#IDComment139250831 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment137609851 I just think this is another example of how human beings are so quick to judge one another. Just because something may look a certain way, does not actually mean it is that way. Everyone has a story, and they definitely vary from person to person. The author of this piece considered suicide at one time. That is how much remorse they felt for their crime. However, prison turned their life around and made their relationship to God that much better. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:25:16 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment137609851 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment137609808 I was so happy to read this letter, B.’s Response. The author was very insightful, showing first hand that some people can receive a life sentence without killing. He showed how he was annoyed at being called a murder, but instead of lashing out and being angry, was looking to educate those who did not know any better than to assume this. The author committed a felony. However, while the felony was being committed, another individual took someone’s life. The law states that if someone is killed while a felony is being committed, the person who committed the felony is just as guilty as the person who pulled the trigger. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:25:01 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment137609808 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment137609778 In class, we have talked a great deal about the “lifers.” More often than not, these prisoners have been generalized to be murders. I often assumed that all of them were, because I never heard a specific example of a prisoner, who received life, who was there for a crime other than murder. However, in class this issue was quickly addressed. A student made a remark the other day about the fact that all the prisoners deserve to be there for life, because they took the life of another. Sam quickly defended some of the prisoners and told the student that some of them were there for other crimes, and may not deserve a life sentence. This really opened my eyes. How could someone do something so bad that they would have to spend the rest of their life in prison, without the physical act of killing? I was really hoping to find an example. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:24:46 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment137609778 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135942821 I feel like people are so far off when they think gay couples cannot raise a child properly. This video is living proof that it does not matter what the sexual orientation of your parents is. The young man in this video has been raised to become a very successful individual, and he was raised by two women. If you saw him walking down the street, you would never know it. You would only know if he told you. I think that any straight couple would be proud to say that he was their son. Gay couples are a minimally tapped resource to the thousands and thousands of children that need homes. These orphans could end up being just as successful as the speaker in this video through a homosexual couple. Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:26:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135942821 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135942786 If gay couples are allowed to adopt children, then why would they not be able to get married? By giving this couple a child, it is telling them that they are a real couple that is capable of raising a child. They will work together to provide love, support, and growth for their son or daughter. This is exactly what married couples do. There is a saying, “if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it is a duck.” So if a gay couple engages in all the acts that a married couple would, then they too should be able to get married. Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:26:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135942786 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135942755 Homophobic has never been a word that could be used to describe myself. I was brought up in an environment where people should be accepted for who they are, even if who they are involves loving another person of the same gender. One of my mom’s best friends is gay. I had a friend in high school that was gay. These friends are just like you and me. However, the law tells them that they will not be granted the same rights as everyone else- the right to be formally married. I believe that gay people should be able to get married. Society has come a long way over the years, and gay people are being accepted more and more every day. However, if the law does not change, then we will never be able to fully move forward. Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:26:23 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135942755 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134352705 Obviously time and prison can change a person. The author is a perfect example. While physical freedom may be taken away, mental and spiritual freedom is gained. Without all the distractions life gives you- work, family, etc., you have more time to work on your mental health. That is all you really have. If you take advantage of this newly found freedom, then you can really change your life around. You can come face to face with the mistakes you have made. You have time to think about them. And you have the ability to look at what you could have done differently. Although getting life will not allow you to put what you have learned to the test, it can still put your life on track. I feel that everyone has a lifelong plan, and even prisoners have the freedom to put their plan back in motion. Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:36:00 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134352705 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134352665 I still feel that people need to accept the consequences of their actions. It is simply the best way for justice to be served. However, the idea that people never change may be a bit closed minded. After reading this letter, although skeptical, I am more willing to admit that. The author of this piece is honestly one of the most insightful people I have ever encountered. Their intelligence and outlook on life is so on point, I find it difficult to believe it was written by a prisoner. However, that just goes to show how wrong you can be about people. Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:35:44 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134352665 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134352619 This piece really spoke to me, in ways I never thought a letter from a prisoner could. From a young age I can remember the adults around me always stressing the fact that if you do something wrong, then you must live with your consequences- no matter how severe they may be. You have the freedom to make choices, and if you choose wrong then it is your fault and you better be ready to take on a fitting punishment. On top of that, I have learned that people rarely change. Once people decide to live a certain life, they will almost never turn away from that lifestyle in order to seek something better. Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:35:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment134352619 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/stranger-kidnapping/#IDComment130750445 But in reality, problems with strangers only happen on very rare occasions. Parents do not prepare their children for all the other times that they might actually need the help of a stranger. However, parents just simply focus on the bad, even though it is such a rarity. But this is the way we operate as humans. No matter how common or uncommon a fear may be, we still obsess over them. We take every precaution necessary to avoid the uncommon. This is because there are so many risks that are in the world. We become so comfortable with the norm, that we are nothing but paranoid about anything that may offset the norm. Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:54:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/stranger-kidnapping/#IDComment130750445 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/stranger-kidnapping/#IDComment130750391 However, parents advise their kids not to talk to strangers on a daily basis. I know that I am victim to my mother telling me this. Every time she left me in the car to run into the store or something of the sort, she would say, “Make sure you lock the doors. Do not leave the car. And most importantly, do not talk to strangers!” It almost became a joke among me and my sisters because it became so habitual. However, my mother was only trying to protect my safety, right? Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:54:16 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/stranger-kidnapping/#IDComment130750391 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/stranger-kidnapping/#IDComment130750342 According to a news report, a stranger attempted to kidnap a child right off of the street. A woman, who was apparently the nanny to this young child, was holding the child’s hand down a somewhat busy street. All of the sudden, a man attempted to pick the child up and kidnap him. However, the nanny quickly pulled the child away. The man walked off, smiling. This act occurred in broad daylight, when many other pedestrians were around. However, the man got away without getting caught. He has still not been found. Community members believe that this man should be caught, because they have to assume that this man could do this horrible act again-and this time actually get away with it. Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:53:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/stranger-kidnapping/#IDComment130750342 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/15/social-structure-shapes-free-will/#IDComment129041207 As human beings, we have a hard time going against what we were brought up to believe. However, if you really think about it, this is what works for this particular culture. Without this practice, the entire village could be hurt deeply. Also, the current holders of this practice have become victim to the effects of the invisible strings society places on us. These people were brought up to believe that this practice is acceptable. In theory, they do not know any better. They are only doing what they think is best for their family. We must not forget that any time we experience a culture different from our own; we are going to feel uncomfortable and automatically believe that our own system is better. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:39:04 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/15/social-structure-shapes-free-will/#IDComment129041207 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/15/social-structure-shapes-free-will/#IDComment129041074 In the video, a village woman is married to three men. Her three husbands just so happen to be biological brothers. At first, this definitely threw me off. However, after hearing the reasons why this type of practice exists, it does not seem so far off. This practice acts as a sort of population controller. With one woman being married to three men, the amount of offspring produced will be less. If these three men were to each have only one wife, and they each had children, the population would be significantly higher than if it were only one wife taken into consideration. Also, with resources being so scarce, all three men can pull together to provide for the entire family. This helps cut down on poverty levels. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:38:48 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/15/social-structure-shapes-free-will/#IDComment129041074