en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2438080 Comments by muffinrex99 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/20/tent-cities-in-haiti/#IDComment145282551 The day that the guest speaker from Haiti came and talked to us about the earthquake was one of my favorite classes. I loved that for once we could hear about the event from someone who was there and personally effected, instead of hearing it from the news like usual. When I pictured Haiti now from what the guest speaker had said, I would have never imagined that they had developed tent cities and businesses. The speaker said that the government had advised everyone to build according to a plan that would keep them safe from earthquakes AND hurricanes. I know that it's going to take a long time to fix everything in Haiti but I dont think that tents are going to be very protective against earthquakes or hurricanes and hurricane season is coming soon. I wish that we could at least build every small city a safe house so that they could stay there when disaster strikes and be protected. It's great that they have developed so much when they have so little but if their government or Bill Clinton doesnt implement a plan to protect them from natural disasters soon to come then there are going to be even more causalities and they will lose everything all over again. I can not even imagine the situation that they are in right now, i dont know what i would do if my house and my neighborhood were reduced to rubble and if any of my friends or family members went missing or died at the same time as me losing all of my possessions and shelter. I can not even imagine living how they do now, dozens of people confined in an old golf course...whole families living in tents without electricity...having absolutely nothing to do...and of course wondering when mother nature is going to turn their lives upside down once again. Their lives are so different from ours, even before the earthquake. Now its unimaginable to me how they could live and preserver after losing everything, it's great that they had developed businesses and small cities but they need to prepare and anticipate what may happen next so that they will be safe. Sat, 23 Apr 2011 03:23:43 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/20/tent-cities-in-haiti/#IDComment145282551 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/11/07/%e2%80%98undercover%e2%80%99-in-hijab-unveiling-one-month-later/#IDComment143292405 Its saying my first part must be approved by the site admins before it appears again...I'll save it again in case it doesnt work. Sat, 16 Apr 2011 03:41:52 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/11/07/%e2%80%98undercover%e2%80%99-in-hijab-unveiling-one-month-later/#IDComment143292405 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/11/07/%e2%80%98undercover%e2%80%99-in-hijab-unveiling-one-month-later/#IDComment143292217 This story is very inspirational to me. She truly did try to take a step into someone elses shoes. In high school I had a friend in my class that was muslim and wore the hijab. Im sorry to say that it wasn't something I asked her about, why she wore it, how it felt, if she was ever able to take it off...all questions that I secretly wondered but never had the guts to ask because all i truly knew was that it was a part of her religion and it made her different. It was like a barrier that was between me and her that I was just too stupid and narrow minded to address because I didn't want to offend her. Instead of talking about anything important we chatted mindlessly about the weather and the gym teacher when I had a chance to learn about a whole new way of life probably very unlike my own. I assumed that because of her religion she was timid and restricted. I also thought that their culture and the domination of men in their country created this mysterious facade to them whenever they were covered with the hijab. I just stereotyped against her completely when she could have been way different than I expected. Sat, 16 Apr 2011 03:41:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/11/07/%e2%80%98undercover%e2%80%99-in-hijab-unveiling-one-month-later/#IDComment143292217 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/11/07/%e2%80%98undercover%e2%80%99-in-hijab-unveiling-one-month-later/#IDComment143292153 I could've asked if everyone in school treats her differently because looking back I realize she didn't have many friends and probably by talking about it instead of putting up a barrier and becoming guarded I wouldn’t feel so ashamed of myself like how I do now and even then. I really would like to try to do what she did and wear the hijab as well because it’s an amazing experiment but I don’t think im a strong enough person to deal with being treated differently than I am used to and having to realize and deal with the fact that I am one of those people that treat other people differently just because of their religion or because I am not used to them. Especially if I got an email like how she did, it is truly no laughing matter and terrible that people can joke about things like that. Sat, 16 Apr 2011 03:40:45 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/11/07/%e2%80%98undercover%e2%80%99-in-hijab-unveiling-one-month-later/#IDComment143292153 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/11/07/%e2%80%98undercover%e2%80%99-in-hijab-unveiling-one-month-later/#IDComment143292132 This story is very inspirational to me. She truly did try to take a step into someone elses shoes. In high school I had a friend in my class that was muslim and wore the hijab. Im sorry to say that it wasn't something I asked her about, why she wore it, how it felt, if she was ever able to take it off...all questions that I secretly wondered but never had the guts to ask because all i truly knew was that it was a part of her religion and it made her different. It was like a barrier that was between me and her that I was just too stupid and narrow minded to address because I didn't want to offend her. Instead of talking about anything important we chatted mindlessly about the weather and the gym teacher when I had a chance to learn about a whole new way of life probably very unlike my own. I assumed that because of her religion she was timid and restricted. I also thought that their culture and the domination of men in their country created this mysterious facade to them whenever they were covered with the hijab. I just stereotyped against her completely when she could have been way different than I expected. Sat, 16 Apr 2011 03:40:37 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/11/07/%e2%80%98undercover%e2%80%99-in-hijab-unveiling-one-month-later/#IDComment143292132 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/war-vets-and-ptsd/#IDComment141148130 It's so fitting to start learning about war in class this past week when my neighborhood and high school friend was just deployed to Iraq last night. He was supposed to have been able to visit home one more time before being deployed but somehow that changed at the last minute and now hes gone without really even a proper goodbye. This video is really moving in itself because we always think of soldiers as so strong and we hear about them having problems adjusting to coming back after war no matter what war it is but its never really a topic that anyone talks about in length and it seems to be pushed under the carpet. I think that the statistics on the amount of suicides that take place after coming home are definitely hushed up because it would make less people join the military and the government doesn't want that. But if the families of the soldiers knew to look out for PTSD because of how common it is then maybe they could catch it. Probably by saying that soldiers are seen as strong and disciplined I'm just adding to the stigma but it's great that the military is now having speakers to talk to the soldiers before they are deployed about PTSD so that it's hopefully more acceptable to get help and so they realize that they aren't the problem and it's the situation they were put into instead. This movie worries me because when I think of my friend Bobby who just left, he's strong and he's always wanted to be a solider but he's also funny and caring and I'm so afraid that when he comes back in 13 months he won't be the same. We've got plans for when he comes home to have a big party and be counselors for summer recreation like every summer and to play soccer...and now I don't know if he'll be the same person at all when he gets back and it's really sad because all I and anyone else can do is just be someone he can talk to if he needs to when he comes back but it's not just one person, it's thousands of soldiers out there right now who are seeing unimaginable things and being forever changed. Sat, 9 Apr 2011 02:42:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/war-vets-and-ptsd/#IDComment141148130 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/03/25/in-her-own-words/#IDComment139259401 I think men can never understand unless they experience it and thats not about to happen. Many of them think its an excuse for us to not want to have sex or for when were crabby but theyll never understand how it changes us at that time of the month. If someone wants to make plans then we have to count the days and work around it because like Sam said were not going to happy out in the wilderness during a camping trip if were bleeding and in pain. Also a lot of girls arent even regular which pretty much makes it a surprise experience once, twice or sometimes not at all, in a month. I mean, being a girl, I cant imagine what its like to be turned on even half as much as most guys are because our sex drives are so different and I know I'm definitely okay at stopping at cuddling or kissing but Sam said for guys thats just the beginning and thats just something I cant relate to at all...just how they cant relate to our hormone changes and cramps once a month. Sat, 2 Apr 2011 01:53:04 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/03/25/in-her-own-words/#IDComment139259401 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/03/25/in-her-own-words/#IDComment139259380 In response to "blopdyke"...If we all had AIDS it wouldnt make it any less of a big deal, you shouldnt ignore something just because it's not unusual, and it's different for each person, I had a best friend in high school who could NOT move out of her bed when she had her period, her cramps were insane and she went to the hospital about every other month because she couldnt handle it. Im not saying every case is extreme but they are different and maybe yours isnt as bad as other peoples, you shouldnt judge. I think that the problem isnt that girls complain about it all the time but more that it shapes our lives and decisions and causes us to think differently about the world. Laurie suggested that her life changed from a carefree confident kid to an embarrassed teenager because of her experience. Its like how Sam said in class, we pretty much get sick every single month and we have to shape our lives and plans around it....and sometimes its even worse than other times and I know I'll have days where I lay in bed in pain but I can't even predict that. Sat, 2 Apr 2011 01:52:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/03/25/in-her-own-words/#IDComment139259380 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/14/women/#IDComment137623687 it says the other half of my comment must be approved by the site admins before it will appear publicly. i will save it in case it for some reason has not worked. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:08:25 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/14/women/#IDComment137623687 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/14/women/#IDComment137623553 It is kind of really special how women have a special bond to other women that’s unlike how men are with other men. I think its how we all have the same circumstances that put us together and make us stand united as one. We all have the capability to be mothers and are nurturing by nature. We all have the same awful experience once a month which is a weird thing to bond over but about how many other occurrences happen to other very large groups on a regular basis like that? Most of all we all have to deal with the needy penis of men and just men in general. Whether we are straight or lesbian or bisexual, we experience catcalls and just disrespect that is initiated by the media and Hollywood. And no its not all the time but its happened to all of us at least once. And truthfully when im with other girls we mostly talk about guys because its just such a wide topic and so much to say, I’d say that my girlfriends and my experiences with guys is something we frequently share and totally bond over. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:07:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/14/women/#IDComment137623553 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/14/women/#IDComment137623388 It is kind of really special how women have a special bond to other women that’s unlike how men are with other men. I think its how we all have the same circumstances that put us together and make us stand united as one. We all have the capability to be mothers and are nurturing by nature. We all have the same awful experience once a month which is a weird thing to bond over but about how many other occurrences happen to other very large groups on a regular basis like that? Most of all we all have to deal with the needy penis of men and just men in general. Whether we are straight or lesbian or bisexual, we experience catcalls and just disrespect that is initiated by the media and Hollywood. And no its not all the time but its happened to all of us at least once. And truthfully when im with other girls we mostly talk about guys because its just such a wide topic and so much to say, I’d say that my girlfriends and my experiences with guys is something we frequently share and totally bond over. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:06:05 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/14/women/#IDComment137623388 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/14/women/#IDComment137623339 I don’t believe that the media accurately portrays women and I believe that it is the source for stereotypes and for making it okay and socially acceptable to stereotype against people outwardly. I mean the fat chick is always the underdog and unlovable one who has to overcome a lot of barriers to become loveable but in the beginning they are pretty much miserable and not everyone can jump through hoops proving that they are a great person inside, its not easy, especially compared to skinny girls who are given the chance to prove themselves just by first glance because of their appearances. No matter how we look we are all the same and deserve to be given the same chances by their peers. I think that we should make it a point to start to stress to women how united we really are because I think we do mostly feel as though we are alone in the world and unless we step back and relook at the relationships we share. It is very true that we are all the same and the media should start to reflect our bonds with each other. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:05:43 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/14/women/#IDComment137623339 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/14/women/#IDComment137623284 It is kind of really special how women have a special bond to other women that’s unlike how men are with other men. I think its how we all have the same circumstances that put us together and make us stand united as one. We all have the capability to be mothers and are nurturing by nature. We all have the same awful experience once a month which is a weird thing to bond over but about how many other occurrences happen to other very large groups on a regular basis like that? Most of all we all have to deal with the needy penis of men and just men in general. Whether we are straight or lesbian or bisexual, we experience catcalls and just disrespect that is initiated by the media and Hollywood. And no its not all the time but its happened to all of us at least once. And truthfully when im with other girls we mostly talk about guys because its just such a wide topic and so much to say, I’d say that my girlfriends and my experiences with guys is something we frequently share and totally bond over. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:05:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/14/women/#IDComment137623284 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/02/14/men-and-women-were-really-this-different/#IDComment135956439 Truthfully I am not really surprised after reading this article. After learning before spring break about how the media portrays women and the "dream world" of men, this innovation is just the next step. (In writing this I am just generalizing about society as a whole, I realize there are exceptions.) I wasn't the least bit offended after reading this article as I feel some women might be and think it's disrespectful, rather I thought it was kinda funny instead and I posted it on my (guy) friend's facebook wall knowing that it will become a joke between us and we can play around saying that it's his life goal to buy a mechanical girlfriend since he can't get a real life one. It's truely no laughing matter though because I know that he will actually consider it a good idea if he is lonely in the future and that's where the difference between men and women come in. There's no way I can see myself ever desiring the male version they are coming out with but I know tons of guys that would love a girl that's "no strings attached" and up for whatever they are up for and I think that image for a perfect woman to an adolescent male is developed through the media and this doll is just helping achieve that dream for men who are lonely. Sexually males and females are so different that I feel as though it leaves us both unhappy with our relationships especially if we don't understand or even attempt to understand each other. I'm not saying that a married man would prefer a mechanical woman over his wife and the article even says it is focused towards lonely men instead but how different is this doll from a hand? They both have the same result in the end and if women didn't take it personally and could accept that men are more sexually needy than us then maybe this doll could even help keep a marriage going and keep the man satisfied and less work for the woman. We truely do need to realize our differences and men not take it personally if your woman doesn't feel like sleeping with you and women not take it personally how the man gets his climax because it's really not unhealthy unless he prefers the doll over the woman. Sat, 19 Mar 2011 01:55:58 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/02/14/men-and-women-were-really-this-different/#IDComment135956439 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook/#IDComment134366613 After seeing this video I realized that i wasn't offended either...which is weird because when they asked the British girl and she paused I had expected her to say that she was and to go off on a rant about how terrible it was. I mean when you tie these video games it in with the "adolescent male dreamworld" it's only fitting. How are the music videos on mtv much better than these games? I mean yeah in the games you choose the "rape option" and you watch it and win, so I guess you could say that because you choose to do it its worse...but you choose to turn on the music videos in the first place and it was only a matter of time before the dreamworld was taken to the next level to become more interactive. I mean i know most guys watch porn (sorry to make a generalization..I dont mean to offend anyone and i realize girls watch porn too.) and when i was a kid becoming a teenager it really bothered me to learn that but after a while i just came to terms that thats how people are and thats what people do and theres no use getting upset over it because i dont even think theres any stopping it at the point its gotten to in society anymore. I have a lot of guy friends, and out of all of them I have only one that refuses to watch porn and he suffers the wrath of the rest of the guys about it almost every day because hes different. Just because it's not surprising doesnt make it right though. It's just one step closer to making it more acceptable to do these things in real life and it's definately helping put these ideas into peoples heads at least. I have friends that play world of warcraft and stuff and i swear sometimes i think thats all they think about and its awful to think of these types of video games becoming the same way. I know sex is on a lot of peoples minds almost all the time but seriously with the way society and the media obsess over it, its hard not to obsess over it too. Sat, 12 Mar 2011 05:11:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook/#IDComment134366613 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/13/whats-the-sociological-message-here/#IDComment132544766 All of my friends want relationships so badly, particularly around valentines day. They are all out "boy scouting" and its all they ever talk about...but I wonder (especially because the craze has definitely increased around valentines day) that if their sudden necessity for a relationship has to do with the "invisible strings" in life. On tv and in books, all we see are people in happy relationships...or if they aren't then they just got out of a relationship and they are sad, or they are lonely and searching for one, and if its none of those then youre watching jersey shore (which is just unbelievably unrealistic). When you are single couples its hard to imagine how you could possibly be happy but its not a personal decision, its the strings because its your environment and not you. Its more like a public problem than a personal problem thats created by the media. The saying I've heard multiple times is that "when youre single all you see is happy couples, and when youre in a relationship all you see are happy single people." I told that to my friends and they said "no no no, I would be SO happy if I just had a boyfriend." I tell them to explain and they say they need someone to talk to and do stuff with, and i point out that you can do it with friends, I shoot down everything they say even when they pull out the big guns like how they have physical needs and I say just wear a short skirt to a frat. They should make their own happiness instead of relying on one person just because they are a guy and they are in a "super special relationship." My best friend is in the middle of a rocky relationship and i showed her this video hoping maybe shed get the message that there are absolutely more fish in the sea and of course shes too wrapped up in the strings to even consider it but the truth is that the guy she is with fits most of the sociological requirements that we went over in class that make him a "good match for her" so of course shes caught up in it. Hes the same age, race, religion, and social class as her but that doesnt mean that hes "the one"...even if there are "soulmates" in the world. I think the concept of having only one person meant for you is completely overrated and untrue...its more like how the song says: "you fall within a bell curve." Although maybe the idea that you have one soulmate and that the person you are with is so special that no one could possibly be better is a good thing for society. If we think that the person we are with could be replaced with someone better and that we have a ton of choices then our happiness with our relationships and searching for relationships would diminish according to sociology and the strings. Sat, 5 Mar 2011 04:48:48 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/13/whats-the-sociological-message-here/#IDComment132544766 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/15/social-structure-shapes-free-will/#IDComment129034735 This video was very educational on a subject that I definately previously knew nothing about. Even though the one lady said that she really approves of the situation, I believe that it would be very confusing and difficult. Maybe it works well for them in their secluded society but I feel as though it would never work if it just became a law is the United States. Emotionally for both the girl and the men it would never work. One relationship is hard enough, and it would be really hard to have multiple ones that know each other. Also, how would they know who's kid it is? possibly they think of it as "the families" kid, but then the child has multiple fathers, which must be a very confusing way to grow up. It is just a hard idea for me and I think anyone who is from our society to grasp about their society. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:21:37 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/15/social-structure-shapes-free-will/#IDComment129034735 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/23/how-free-are-these-90-students/#IDComment127474338 So they think it is a good idea to become pregnant and gain meaning in their lives as well. I think a good statistic to research on these teens is at what age did their parents have kids? maybe that made the teens believe that it would be okay...but that would only work for the first few of them because the idea must have just spread and since everyone else was pregnant it suddenly made it okay to become pregnant too. Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:40:07 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/23/how-free-are-these-90-students/#IDComment127474338 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/23/how-free-are-these-90-students/#IDComment127474316 The book said that these days kids are lacking meaningful teen years, it's hard for them to get a job, if they can get one it's usually at mcdonalds or the movies and they aren't working towards some goal or finished product to look back on and feel good about themselves about. They have the same job doing the same thing almost everyday and not much of an opportunity to even be promoted usually. I think that these teens were bored and searching for meaning and if their parents are of a lower income then maybe it's because they are pertaking in those kind of jobs as well and all the teens see is just how miserable they are and no hope for them to get out of it and how the only meaningful thing the parents have in their lives is probably their children....the teens see that from there parents and want it as well. Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:39:58 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/23/how-free-are-these-90-students/#IDComment127474316 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/23/how-free-are-these-90-students/#IDComment127474236 After watching this video, the first thing that came to mind was a chapter in the book for our course material that I had read maybe a week before today. I find it important that these kids are in a lower economical situation than usual. I'd also like to point out that I don't believe raising the education that the kids are getting about sex will help much, they are in a certain mentality and I don't find it possible that they didn't know to use a condom or birth control to be safe. Maybe they couldn't afford it? I don't know but I'm fairly sure theres no way all 90 of those kids didn't know to be safe. Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:39:16 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/23/how-free-are-these-90-students/#IDComment127474236