en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2437594 Comments by sherbert24 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment128904585 You never truly realize the power of conformity until you are put into a situation like that. The difference between the first and the last experiment amused me. The last guy followed every move without questioning anything, he just did it. The first guy didn’t know what to do at first but eventually conformed, just like most of us would have done in this situation. Watching this video, a lot of people might say, “I would never conform like them.” However I believe that almost anyone who is put in that situation would conform one way or another. One thing that I believe I would do differently is maybe ask the person next to me, “What is going on?” Something as crazy as three random people doing circles in an elevator deserves to be questioned. On the other hand, if you look at our everyday lives, we are all conforming all of the time. Something as simple as hanging out with your friends could be conforming. Trends such as the music you listen to or the clothes you wear could change within your group of friends, and subconsciously we will change the way we do things to match those of the people we are hanging out with. I believe that in weird situations such as the elevator, if there was one person who got in and turned around the other way, I would not turn around and follow his lead. However if there were two or three people to come in and turn around the opposite way from me, then I would start to question what I am supposed to be doing. When you are put in situations like this you start to question whether what you’re doing is right or not and that is when you conform. But one can ever judge what they would conform to until they are put in a situation such as this one. Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:50:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment128904585 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment126056153 The idea of punishing a child for mistakenly bringing in a firearm that he found in the back seat of his Fathers car is outrageous. Also the idea of punishing the child for such an act not even knowing what he is doing is quite out of hand. For the parents who are “tough on crime”, they should take a look at themselves and see that they are trying to punish a five year old child for a crime that he technically he didn’t even know existed. Punishment for this crime would be harsh, cruel, and completely unnecessary. If a five year old would have enough deductive reasoning he would be able to see the seriousness of the situation and therefore take more time in concealing the weapon. He could have seen one on TV or something and thought that it would be ok, but he really has no idea. The idea of punishing the child is ridiculous, but I think that the Father should be required to attend some safety classes and be taught how to secure a firearm. Being an experienced hunter having good gun safety is one of the most important aspects of people able to handle a firearm because a number of things could happen while handling a firearm. Unthinkable things that could happen for no reason, even though if a experienced person is holding the gun. I do not think that the child should be punished at all. Anyone that thinks he should be punished takes things a little bit to seriously. Lighten up and take a look at what’s important in life. A child handling a firearm is a dangerous thing, especially at this age, but the realization that this child has no idea even how to use a firearm is important. The adult needs to be closely looked after that he is taking the required gun course safety classes. The fact that there is a police investigation going on for the crime of a five year old child is also crazy. Even that it could “take months” is a little extensive. Grow up, and look at what’s important. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 02:34:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment126056153 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122637367 In the words of Joni Mitchell, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” I believe that this quote goes hand in hand with this article. Not only with freedom but with everything in life. It is extremely hard to appreciate something until you see what life is like without it. In this inmates case, he has lost his freedom. I particularly appreciate the part where he explains, “Our daily routines are filled with so many different freedoms that many other people are not so lucky to have.” People all around the world go about their everyday lives taking for granted the freedoms that they have. The inmate also explains a few of the many freedoms that we as normal human beings posses. Activities such as taking a shower by your self or to just have down time to yourself are things that I take for granted everyday. When I first began reading this article and saw that it was written by a prisoner, I though to myself, I am glad he is in prison. Although he may be in there for a good reason, this article still touches me in a way that I thought it couldn’t have. Immediately after reading the article, I realized how much I have been taking for granted. Even living in a dormitory full of people, I can still have privacy and other things that this man may never be able to enjoy in his life. I am able to wake up in my own bed, go outside whenever I want to, play video games with my friends, and go to class to learn more about the world and what other freedoms it has to offer. However, as I said earlier, it is hard for a normal everyday teenager like myself to stop and appreciate everything that I do have. Most of us only think about what we don’t have. This prisoner doesn’t have anything anymore. However, he does explain that he still has the freedom of his own thoughts. I thought that this was beautiful. The fact that no one can change what we think is so exhilarating. To have one thing that you can cherish to yourself, whether you are a normal teenager, or a criminal sentenced to life in prison. Fri, 21 Jan 2011 02:17:20 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122637367