en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/3548770 Comments by tmk5222 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/12/02/voices-from-the-classroom-86/#IDComment231981827 I’ve learned a lot from the scandal. Mostly I’ve learned more about empathizing with the Middle East. One of the really cool things Sam talked about in class was how we can relate how we feel about Penn State to the people who are from the Middle East, or who practice Islam. I love Penn State, and when people hate on Penn State because of the scandal, I get really defensive, and angry. I imagine this is similar to how people in the Middle East feel when ignorant people rip on Islam and the Middle East in general. I feel that I am able to empathize with Muslims a little bit better after the Penn State scandals. I grew up with really good friends who were Muslims…and I didn’t even realize we were talking about Islam when we were comparing differences in religion. I also have another friend who gets really aggravated when people are ignorant on Facebook. For example the other day there was a post on a fan page on Facebook where a lot of people were being racist, and telling Muslims to just go back where they came from or go die. She got really fired up, commenting and telling everyone she grew up here and has been an American since she was born. She really gets upset when people are ignorant and bash her religion, and I get upset when people are ignorant and bash Penn State. It obviously isn’t the same thing, but I feel that it is very similar. I also identify with how Sam understood how both sides of the conflict feel. I hope I am reaching the same place as Sam in that I understand both sides of the conflict as well. The Penn State people who defend the school and Joe PA no matter what they hear are similar to how the people who defend their religion no matter what. Any religion, not only Islam. I feel like I can identify with a lot of people’s feelings about the Penn State scandal, no matter what my own feelings are. What I think I learned the most from the scandals and from Sam’s talks was empathy. I learned to put myself in the shoes of both sides of people’s thoughts, and I really care about how different people feel. I don’t necessarily agree with either side, but I can understand where both are coming from. Sat, 3 Dec 2011 04:51:19 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/12/02/voices-from-the-classroom-86/#IDComment231981827 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/15/voices-from-the-classroom-78/#IDComment227479885 I’ve learned a lot from the scandal. Mostly I’ve learned more about empathizing with the Middle East. One of the really cool things Sam talked about in class was how we can relate how we feel about Penn State to the people who are from the Middle East, or who practice Islam. I love Penn State, and when people hate on Penn State because of the scandal, I get really defensive, and angry. I imagine this is similar to how people in the Middle East feel when ignorant people rip on Islam and the Middle East in general. I feel that I am able to empathize with Muslims a little bit better after the Penn State scandals. I grew up with really good friends who were Muslims…and I didn’t even realize we were talking about Islam when we were comparing differences in religion. I also have another friend who gets really aggravated when people are ignorant on Facebook. For example the other day there was a post on a fan page on Facebook where a lot of people were being racist, and telling Muslims to just go back where they came from or go die. She got really fired up, commenting and telling everyone she grew up here and has been an American since she was born. She really gets upset when people are ignorant and bash her religion, and I get upset when people are ignorant and bash Penn State. It obviously isn’t the same thing, but I feel that it is very similar. I also identify with how Sam understood how both sides of the conflict feel. I hope I am reaching the same place as Sam in that I understand both sides of the conflict as well. The Penn State people who defend the school and Joe PA no matter what they hear are similar to how the people who defend their religion no matter what. Any religion, not only Islam. I feel like I can identify with a lot of people’s feelings about the Penn State scandal, no matter what my own feelings are. What I think I learned the most from the scandals and from Sam’s talks was empathy. I learned to put myself in the shoes of both sides of people’s thoughts, and I really care about how different people feel. I don’t necessarily agree with either side, but I can understand where both are coming from. Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:58:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/15/voices-from-the-classroom-78/#IDComment227479885 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/10/voices-from-the-classroom-73/#IDComment220216641 acting out; because they don’t know how best to qualify their feelings about the scandal. I think these negative feelings are being expressed by the students, and we are trying to deal with still having Penn State pride in spite of what happened. Especially because the media is attacking the school in a lot of ways. I feel like this is really why Penn State students are upset, not the other way around. Rather than the negativity of the students causing the media to portray us in the way that they do, I feel like since the media is making the students feel as if they are under fire, the students are getting defensive and trying to show their support for their school in any way that they can. I’m not sure that it is the right way to express themselves, but I do feel that it is just that: expression. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:02:45 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/10/voices-from-the-classroom-73/#IDComment220216641 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/10/voices-from-the-classroom-73/#IDComment220216498 All the negative energy on campus right now is almost palpable. Whether or not anyone agrees with the decisions of the board of trustees, everyone on campus right now can agree that this is a time of sadness. The great name of Penn State is being challenged, and it has rocked us to our core. For people like the students and people living in this town, who live and breathe Penn State, there is no doubt that learning of the Sandusky scandal hurts us deeply. The hard thing is keeping our Penn State pride through the whole ordeal. Why is it being challenged? First, because JoePa is being criticized. JoePa is so ingrained in Penn State, he isn’t a “figurehead” for the football team. He represents Penn State, and what Penn State stands for. When the scandal was brought out into the open and discussed, it became evident that JoePa may not have acted to the best of his ability, and people were upset. Many Penn Staters will stand by him regardless of what the press says, and what other people say, because he represents the school and we will stand by our school no matter what. The students are upset because Penn State has a big scandal, and while these things happen, it hurts to have them happen so close to home. The betrayal is hard to deal with…especially because many look up to those people who were involved. This is why Penn State students are seemingly wild and acting out Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:02:19 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/10/voices-from-the-classroom-73/#IDComment220216498 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/03/voices-from-the-classroom-66/#IDComment217061926 no job; and people get angry with me because I want a better job than flipping burgers at McDonald’s.” This makes sense too, because if I go to college and get a degree, I won’t want to work in a field with all my school loans to pay off and the life I want to start. I know for me personally, I would be in the same position as the guy in the comic; I wouldn’t want to work at McDonalds’s or in a field somewhere picking tomatoes, I would want a job in the industry I got my major for, and I would want to make a decent salary. I think anyone at Penn State would feel the same, but many people in this country don’t go to college? So why don’t they do these jobs? Well I’m not sure, but it could just be that they are lazy. I could make more as a waiter than picking fruit in those fields…so I would pick waiting tables every time…and I’m sure many other jobs have more appeal than picking fruit in the hot sun all day. Even with all this said, if immigrants want to do the job, Americans who need the money should be just as willing to do the same jobs. It confounds me as to why they don’t. Sat, 5 Nov 2011 00:25:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/03/voices-from-the-classroom-66/#IDComment217061926 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/03/voices-from-the-classroom-66/#IDComment217061856 This is an interesting question. If Americans were willing to do the jobs that immigrants to this country do, then maybe immigration reform would have a clear solution. However, since Americans are somehow unwilling to do the jobs immigrants will gladly do, immigration won’t be changed to preserve “jobs of American workers”. I think American workers won’t do these jobs because they just can’t take it. Colbert put it well in class during the video where he said something along the lines of ‘these immigrants would walk across a desert for 400 miles to feed their children’. Americans just are not motivated enough to do the jobs immigrants wish to do. The standard of living in the US is much higher than other countries, and believe it or not, a lot of Americans have a sense of self-entitlement to certain things here. One of these things is the type of job they will work. I saw a comic on the internet recently that commented on this…it was a person talking to his therapist about being sick of being called a hypocrite. He said “I was told all my life if I didn’t want to end up flipping burgers at McDonald’s I needed to get a degree. Now I have a degree, still no job Sat, 5 Nov 2011 00:25:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/03/voices-from-the-classroom-66/#IDComment217061856 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/27/voices-from-the-classroom-58/#IDComment213712930 White people being a minority is an extremely strange feeling for me. I’ve lived all of my life in America, and I’m obviously accustomed to seeing white people as the majority. If black/brown people become a majority, I’m not sure how I would deal with it. I would like to think that it wouldn’t bother me. I would like to think that if I was part of a minority, my life would stay the same, but it wouldn’t. In general (not necessarily talking about America) I think white people are just like anyone else, but in America, we’re put above other races in a lot of different ways. I’m not sure if in America, if white people will ever be out power. I feel like money controls so much of politics, and if white people in America continue to control the money, the power will stay with white people. If other races become in power though, I’m not sure how the public will react. The remaining white people may feel animosity because they are no longer the majority…and they may react in violent or at least inappropriate ways. I’m not sure if America has ever had white people out of power, and it’s just a strange concept to think of. I mean, I don’t think I’m stereotyping when I say that I picture an “American” as a white person. Just like I picture an “Indian” a certain way, and a girl from china a different way. America is different in that it has such a large and unique group of people who all call themselves America. On a more personal note, if my race wasn’t the majority where I lived it would feel completely different. I say I don’t care about race, but I’m not sure how different I would feel if I was put into a different situation. I would probably feel afraid, because for a number of years white people have had it easier than black/brown people in America. I would be afraid of any retribution because of my ancestor’s actions…and I would not know how to act any longer. If white people were the minority, would there be less “white guilt”? Would black/brown people keep harping on white people for keeping them down? Or would white people finally be allowed to have racial pride. (Black pride rallies…why not white pride rallies?). It would be interesting to see the shoe on the other foot. Sat, 29 Oct 2011 03:16:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/27/voices-from-the-classroom-58/#IDComment213712930 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/20/voices-from-the-classroom-51/#IDComment210591503 I definitely don't think that someone who hangs out with different races is a poser. I've been friends with people of various races for most of my life, and I've never even thought if I was a poser for hanging out with them or not. Right now actually, I'm dating a chinese girl, (exchange student) and I'm white. I'm not dating her because I want to fit in with her group of friends or something, and she isn't dating me because she's a "poser". I feel that poser is entirely the wrong word to describe someone who is outgoing and open enough to ignore race and be friendly with anyone, regardless of where their ancestors came from. However, if this question is asking whether white people are posers if they have that "one token black friend", I think that the answer is different. Not always, but sometimes I feel that groups of white people feel that having a minority friend makes them more worldly. I've had experiences at work in a restaurant where we joked that our one black waiter got his job to keep corporate happy, but his personality was such that all it was was joking. I've had indian/asian friends come along with a group of white people, but not because we felt we needed a token minority, but because they were just our friends. From other people's perspectives, maybe it could have been construed otherwise, but in actuality, I've never had an experience where I or anyone else was a "poser" when it comes to race. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:34:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/20/voices-from-the-classroom-51/#IDComment210591503 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/13/voices-from-the-classroom-46/#IDComment207675324 I would say I’m definitely in stage 4.I can actually remember being in middle school and being in stage 2. When I started high school, I moved into stage 3, and towards graduation, I started stage 4. I know I’m in stage 4 because I am involved in a program that tutors first generation college students, and many students who can’t afford tutoring on their own. Mostly, these students are minorities. While I’m working with them, I have no problems at all, unless they are in a group, when I feel ostracized. The group will make racial jokes or be racist amongst themselves, and I feel awkward. Especially when they bring up things like white people being racist. I feel like it isn’t fair, that racism is completely limited to white people. Other races are just as racist as white people, but somehow, racism is okay among minorities. I feel like it is complete hypocrisy. For example, the n-word argument. It is strange, how the “n word” is okay for black people to call each other, but the second a white person thinks of saying the word it isn’t acceptable. The same is evident thing with any racial slurs, and I don’t understand it. White people get a bad rap a lot of the time, and I take things very personally when I’m called racist. I’m dating an exchange student from china who speaks fluent mandarin…and I still am assumed to be racist sometimes. Sometimes, I think that white people are victims of racism as much as minorities, but in a different way. Sat, 15 Oct 2011 02:31:44 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/13/voices-from-the-classroom-46/#IDComment207675324 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/06/voices-from-the-classroom-40/#IDComment204632322 I was actually wondering about this tonight when I was out to eat with some friends and we sat outside, so we talked about it. We were thinking it was mostly a cultural thing, but we wondered why the culture was there in the first place. The culture was definitely centered around men. Girls were drawn to parties at frat houses, and drawn to the attraction of the "scene". However, in modern times with feminism and women's rights, why do women still subject themselves to the scene? Because it has become part of the culture for both sexes. Just as for men, the culture is to get really drunk, have sex, and brag about your night, the culture for women is to go out, get drunk, get pissed off at some girls, make stupid choices, regret it the next day, and seek comfort from your friends or "sorority sisters". Getting crazy drunk and being stupid is a thing for both genders, but for girls, part of the deal is to look a certain way while doing so. This is another part of the culture, if girls see every other girl dressing a certain way, the will want to fit in with the scene. Especially in college, when away from home for the first time, many women will do just about anything to fit in and feel a sense of belonging. In terms of dressing up on the weekends, it's just part of the deal. Sat, 8 Oct 2011 03:34:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/06/voices-from-the-classroom-40/#IDComment204632322 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-26/#IDComment201486818 Additionally, I really don’t believe in the stereotype that Asian people are much smarter than other races. Again, I’ve been around average-dumb Asians as well as smart Asians. I suppose the point I’m trying to make is that in the end, it seems like throughout the different races, most of our traits as humans are similar if not the same. At least, for my purposes. Sam did talk in lecture about how runners from ONE part of Kenya were much better suited for running, or other examples like this. I think it might make a small difference in Olympic-class comparisons people from which region are best at running, but this is America. “The Melting Pot”. I feel like even though people who live here are most certainly different, we are all very much the same. More the same than most people realize. Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:01:19 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-26/#IDComment201486818 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-26/#IDComment201486801 I don't really believe in many stereotypes that are around today. One stereotype I really don't see at all is how Jewish people are stingy with money. One of my good friends is Jewish, and he is almost constantly throwing money away. In one night we'll go out and he'll come back the next day with his wallet empty, because he bought tons of useless things he won't even use. When I went with him to London, I had to almost constantly watch him if we went through any touristy gift shops, because he wanted to buy anything with the union jack on it. My friend is just one example, but on a large scale I feel like this stereotype is not very applicable. Another stereotype I think is completely false is that black people are always better at sports than white people. In gym class in high school, I wasn't the most athletic kid, but I wasn’t the most unathletic either. I could hold my own at most of the games we played. The black kids in the class weren't even close to me in terms of their skill in sports. Some were of course able to play, but it wasn't an across the board inherent gift like some people believe. Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:01:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-26/#IDComment201486801 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/20/everyone-respond-to-this/#IDComment197811582 The Haiti projects seems like it has a lot of potential. From watching the videos of the entrepreneurs in Haiti, I feel a little differently about their country as a whole. I suspect a lot of americans see the same things I do in the news; stories about tourists getting mugged or gang violence. Now however, I see a different side of Haiti. When I watched the videos about Clorene Blaise and her projects, I saw similarities with some groups in the US. Her handbags reminded me of recycled handbags and recycled grocery bags in the US, and her ideas of how to create and market a product aren't that much different from ours. However, it was disheartening to see Clorene and the other entrepreneurs in such a state of economic hardship. It looks like a lot of these people have good ideas and good intentions but lack a lot of the means to take their work somewhere. Right now I'm a chemistry major and I don't know a whole lot about economics or business, but it isn't hard'to see that with a little bit of help, some of these ideas could produce thriving and successful businesses. I hope that through the Haiti project, I can do a part in helping some of these entrepreneurs get their feet off the ground a little bit, and help them succeed in their endeavors. Sat, 24 Sep 2011 03:38:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/20/everyone-respond-to-this/#IDComment197811582 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/15/voices-from-the-classroom-15/#IDComment194323017 I would say that I believe in both (like sam wants us to!) but I tend to lean more toward determinism. I see parallels between this debate and the nature vs nurture debate of psychology, where it is discussed if a child grows up the way that they do because of biological characteristics or because of the environment during development. I think a large part of what affects people is the environment they are in. That's why I'm so different from my brothers and sisters, and why I'm so different from people who even grow up in the same environment as me. I am very different from people who grow up in different economic conditions, and I have completely different opportunities compared to them. While anyone can make choices that influence their lives, it is much easier for many people to not work too far out of their social position, ie not advance their status financially. If someone grows up in a certain culture and a certain environment, they will have different opportunities compared to people growing up in a different environment. That's not just sociology, that's psychology as well. And I think that applying this on a large scale makes perfect sense. I understand that I don’t have the same opportunities as people more well off than me, and if I grew up in a different environment, not only would I have better opportunities, but I may be a different person. If I had more money growing up, maybe I would be more confident, or maybe I would be more lazy, who knows. However, if those in power want to stay in power, they will value traits that are useful for keeping themselves in power, so it makes sense that growing up rich also changes someone’s personality and helps them maintain their wealth. In short, while choices and free will are always a factor, the majority of the time the choices available to be made at least are determined by wealth, and for a poor inner city kid to work hard enough to become president of the united states is unheard of, because choices can’t work miracles. It is easier for someone involved in politics to become president *George W Bush*. I believe determinism accounts for a large part of social standing. Sat, 17 Sep 2011 02:27:36 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/15/voices-from-the-classroom-15/#IDComment194323017 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/01/how-do-you-feel-about-interracial-dating/#IDComment189208107 I don’t really have a problem with interracial dating. I think I do prefer other white girls, but I’m not sure if that is personal preference or just what I’ve been exposed to in the area I grew up in. In truth, it is probably a little bit of both. I have definitely been attracted to girls of different races quite a bit, but very few times have I acted on the attraction. I guess I’ve usually assumed they wouldn’t be as open as I am about interracial dating, or maybe I’m self conscious about what my family would think. My extended family is a little narrow-minded in certain areas, and I am extremely close to all my extended family. I’ve even talked to my dad and asked him, “what would you say if I brought home a black girl” and he has told me that he would probably act fine, but he isn’t sure if he would be okay with it long term. My family probably influences my opinions about interracial dating for my own life, but whenever I see an interracial couple or gay couples I usually have the same reaction and think “good for them, I’m glad they aren’t afraid to be themselves”. I’ve been conflicted about these feelings though, because if race truly doesn’t matter to me I shouldn’t be having these thoughts. In this day and age though, race DOES matter, for better and for worse, and I feel like I should show my support if say a friend starts dating a significant other of a different race. If I were to be in the right situation with a girl and I thought a relationship would work, I would go for it, and I can say that I would react the same regardless of her race. I think where I would subconsciously tread lightly would be introducing her to family and friends. I know that there are some bigoted people out there, and I don’t really care for their opinions. However, I do take a lot from what my family thinks about me. In my last relationship I was convinced to break up with my ex by my family and friends, and at the time, I didn’t see why the relationship was unhealthy. If my family would be uncomfortable with my girlfriend though, I’m not sure how long the relationship would last. Sat, 3 Sep 2011 02:17:18 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/01/how-do-you-feel-about-interracial-dating/#IDComment189208107