Questionnaire!

Age? 19

Sex? female

What is your degree subject (both if joint)? English

Does ‘Being Bad’ relate well to the other modules you are taking? Not really!

If so, how? And if not, why not? My other modules are varied subjects, not really anything to do with english

Have you found ‘Being Bad’ too demanding, too easy, or at an appropriate level? I found it an appropriate level. The lectures were very easy going and it was mainly, I found, about discussing people’s own opinions. However, the assignments were a little more complex.

Do you think the list of topics covered on the module was appropriate? Yes

Are there any topics not included in the module that you would like to see included? Not that I can think of

Do you think that the format for classes has worked well? Yes

What did you think of the module team? I think they’re great

Do you think it would have been better to have had more:

Small group discussions? no

Discussion and debate among the class as a whole? no

Information and talk from lecturers? yes

The approach taken in the module is interdisciplinary (drawing on perspectives from English Literature, Film Studies, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Media Studies and Politics): do you think this a useful way of approaching the topics covered in the module? Yes

Do you think that interdisciplinary modules are a good idea? I think that this module has been very interesting and I have learnt new things. I think students are more likely to want to study these sorts of modules because they aren’t boring.

Do you think you have benefited from the interdisciplinary approach taken in the module? Definitely. I learnt things I didn’t already know.

Would you like to see more modules that cover this kind of subject matter? I think it would be good for there to be more interesting modules available.

Are you planning to take the follow-up module PH2004 ‘It Shouldn’t Be Allowed’ at level 2? I haven’t decided yet

Would you recommend ‘Being Bad’ to a friend? Definitely.

Do you think that the blogs (web logs) were a good idea? Yes. Everybody got to express their own views and it was easy to do and didn’t take long either.

What did you think of the other assessments (e.g. would it be better to have one longer assessment rather than two shorter ones?)? I think the two shorter ones are good, however it is hard to keep to a small word count when there is a lot to say about one topic. I did not like the creative writing assessment, I prefer essays.

What have you learned from the module? Lots of little facts and many reasons as to why people do certain things.

What parts of the module have you found most useful and why? Close discussions about the different topics have helped me with looking at topics for my blog.

What parts do you think were a waste of time and why? N/A

Are there any other comments you wish to make regarding ‘Being Bad’?

Gossiping

Aren't we all bad for our gossiping?! I must admit I love a good gossip whether it be about celebrities or the neighbours...I love to do it! But why do people gossip? Everyone does it, it is almost like it is human instinct to judge and talk about other people. According to one website I looked at, many people gossip out of boredom. If they've got nothing else to do they can simply gossip and make up stories to laugh about with their friends. I don't think everyone gossips because they're bored, I think that most people gossip because they want to feel part of the group...involved in all that is going on in the world. If you look at some of the things people read about in gossip columns you can sometimes laugh and think how ridiculous! Who cares what celebrities have had an argument, who cares what the best shoes on the market are?! But it does seem that almost every person gossips! I don't think it is necessarily a bad thing, but I can understand why people will see it as 'being bad'.

I was quite surprised to read an article online about women who were fired for gossiping! Obviously the person they were gossiping about had his reasons for reporting them, which is fine...but why were they fired?! It's a free country, so why can't people say what they want? I agree that made up rumours can be hurtful and unpleasant but really you should be the bigger person and ignore it, surely?

I found it very interesting that men have been found to spend more time than women gossiping! Apparently males spend about 76minutes of their time a day, gossiping with work collegues and friends and women only spend 52 minutes talking about others. I thought this was great, seeing as men always seem to think it is women who gossip more!

So, overall I think it is fair to say that there isn't many people who never gossip. Obviously some people gossip more than others but lets be fair, it happens and it is happening all the time! I think it is a healthy thing if it isn't intentionally hurting someone.

Links: http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/rumors/article4.html

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3199506

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5082866/Men-spend-more-time-gossiping-than-women-poll-finds.html

Cheating in Sports

I think cheating in sports can be considered as 'being bad' because it means the sportsman is not following the correct rules and regulations expected of them and therefore leading to serious punishment such as disqualification.


Many sportsmen take a drug known as an enhancer which makes them perform better. However, if found out they can face serious consequences. But they still take that risk. There are many reasons as to why people cheat, but I personally think that people cannot be faced with losing, and they have to be a winner. The pressure can get too much for people, so they feel the need to do anything to ensure that they win. Unfortunately most of the stories of cheating in sports involve the failure of drug tests. What I cannot understand is why the sports-person would take the drugs to enhance their performance in the first place because surely they know that they'll get found out when they fail their drug test.


I really think that people should think before they consider cheating, it isn't fair to those people who are actually trying their hardest. Cheating seems the easiest and laziest way to get somewhere you want to be.



Links: http://www.istadia.com/blog/DanPeterson/427

http://faculty.css.edu/tboone2/asep/CheatingInSports.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/5222786.stm

Drugs

Before the drug lecture I thought I was pretty clued up on drugs and had set my opinion that they were bad and should all be banned. I still do think that they are bad and that they should all be banned however I learnt things that I didn't know. Such as, I didn't realise that any drug that messes with your mind can lead to being slightly psychotic! That is a pretty scary fact! Obviously some drugs are worse than others but still...drugs are drugs.

An interesting question brought up in the lecture still puzzles me now...why do people drink alcohol to get drunk? It was discussed that alcohol is a drug, as it messes with your natural state. Therefore people who drink alcohol excessively can be said to be 'on drugs'. And I cannot pinpoint the main reason as to why a person gets drunk! It doesn't exactly feel good, especially not the morning after anyway!

On the question as to whether drugs are good or bad? Well, I believe they're bad, including alcohol. However I wouldn't stand by alcohol being illegal, but I would stand by all the other drugs being made illegal. Obviously it wouldn't necessarily make people stop...as nothing rarely does stop people anymore, but still...to make them illegal must then lead to them being hard to get hold of, surely?

They are definately 'bad' because some can and have killed people, and we would overall be a better society without drugs. It can be considered that drugs are bad unless they are used sensibly, however many people use them to experiment then they become addicted. So why do people try drugs in the first place? If it's to look cool...then all I can say is there are better ways to get noticed!

Links:http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/facts/whydrugs.aspx

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfoforall/problems/alcoholanddrugs/alcoholourfavouritedrug.aspx

Comment on Claire Cramphorn's Blog 'Drinking Whilst Pregnant'.

I think that the bar lady was completely in the right to reject serving alcohol to a pregnant woman! Ok, like Claire said it could be considered as her being nosey however I cannot understand why a woman would want to drink whilst pregnant because everyone knows if you do that, it can harm the baby. So why would you take that risk?

In the website I found, apparently an 'occasional' binge drink may in fact not harm an expectant mother's baby! However, I still couldn't even consider drinking in case of harming my baby! It would be way too precious to me for me to do that. Therefore does that mean the mother to be wasn't actually that bothered about her baby, or was it just a pure impulse thinking that she could get away with it. And to then send her friend to get her a drink as well is just absurd! I fully support the decision of the bar lady to remove them! However this doesn't mean it stopped them, they could have gone into another pub and got served! I definately think drinking whilst pregnant is 'being bad'.

Links: http://claire-cee.blogspot.com/2009/04/drinking-whilst-pregnant.html

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=75573&in_page_id=34

Rude and Bad Mannered People!

It really irritates me when people are rude! And I do consider it as 'being bad' because at the end of the day as the old saying goes, people should treat people how they would like to be treated. At the weekends I work in a shop and the amount of rude people I have to serve is unbelievable. Obviously I have to stay polite and assertive towards them but when they are rude to me it really makes me want to be rude back, and why not? But I strongly follow the saying, and I do treat people how I would like to be treated, which is with respect. At the end of the day I'm only doing my job, so there's no need for people to be rude.

And it isn't just happening when I'm at work it happens during a shopping trip, whether it be for groveries or clothes, I am constantly being pushed out of the way by people or tutted at when I want to look at something, and it isn't fair!

By the amount of websites I found where people discuss how rude some people can be, it looks like I'm not alone in finding rude people really annoying! So why do people feel the need to be rude? On one of the websites I looked at it breaks rude people down into four main groups. These are:

1.Rude People Feel Disconnected From Others - people find it easier to be rude on the phone or over the internet because they are disconnected from the people they are being rude to.

2.Rude People Want You To Feel Bad Because They Feel Bad: basically they're having a bad day and decide to take it out on others.

3.Rude People Appear Stronger If They Are Rude - bullies often think they have power over their victims.

4.Rude People Build A Bigger Ego and Identify With That - people such as Simon Cowell feel the need to put others down, to make themselves feel better, which is very similar to appearing stronger!

Overall, I think that people should think before they act, and I definately believe people should treat others how they would like to be treated, it's only fair!

Links: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Quickly-and-Easily-Deal-With-Rude-People&id=22373

http://rudepeople.com/

http://shesoghetto.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/seriously-on-manners-why-are-people-rude/

Scoop the Poop!!

It is really irritating when people do not follow the law and scoop up their dog's poop! Obviously they don't feel threatened by the fines that they may face if found out that they didn't pick up the litter. Not only does it look and smell disgusting, it's really bad when people tread in it!! It shouldn't be left for everyone to view...it should be scooped!

I understand that it isn't exactly a nice job, having to pick up poo, but I personally would much rather clear up my dogs mess than paying £1000 to the council!

I didn't realise that dog poop can lead to a serious disease called toxocariasis which can cause swelling of the body’s organs and in some cases blindness. This being the case, I definately think that people should really make the effort to clean up the dog mess. They make the effort to have the responsibility to own a dog, so really they should understand that as a dog owner scooping the poop is a responsibility they have and therefore they must conform to the law.

The council hand out free poop scoop bags therefore meaning the dog owner doesn't necessarily have to buy their own, which means they should really follow the law in cleaning up after their mut. I think that people are very lazy nowadays and if they think that they can get away with it, then they are most likely going to try to. Unfortunately it is the rest of us who have to suffer for their laziness.

Links: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/education/s/2047353_dog_walkers_scoop_that_poop

http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/551-600/577_the_poop_scoop_law.aspx

Would YOU save a stranger?

I was shocked whilst watching 'Would you save a stranger' on Channel 4 last night. I could not believe that when a 12 year old girl was screaming help me because another girl was jumping on her face, chest and stomach, no one on the bus helped her. Why nobody helped the poor girl I don't know but what I hope and now am doubting is that people would help me if I was in trouble. The bus that she was travelling on was crowded with people and everyone more a less pretended that nothing was happening as if they couldn't see or hear her. Also a woman had said 'shh'. How appalling is that? It's worrying to what kind of a world we're living in now for people to not want to help others. I understand that there may be a chance that if a person intervenes then they themselves might get hurt, however I still think that people should help. Even if it is just ringing the police and an ambulance, that's helping. But to ignore it, well the people on that bus should be ashamed of themselves, it was a horrific attack and no-one helped the 12 year old.

There was another story told on the programme about a little boy who got beaten with sticks and belts on a bus, and again, it was a crowded bus and everyone pretended it wasn't happening! 10 against 1 and no one helped the poor lad. When the bus driver told them to get off, the other passengers on the bus just watched as the little lad ran for his life whilst being chased by 10 other taller, older boys. The woman who was speaking about it said something along the lines of 'we were all quite relieved when the bus driver told them to get off, we were thankful we didn't have to look at it anymore'. I could not believe what I was hearing!

I used to think that I lived in a world where there were more good people than bad people but now after having watched that television programme I'm not so sure and it's a shame that we have to live in a world like that. People can be so selfish and I hope that if ever I was in need of help that I would be lucky enough to be saved by a good person.

Link: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-nights-television-would-you-save-a-stranger-channel-4br-the-inbetweeners-e4-1660795.html

Top of the Mags

I think that Jade Goody was very clever to have married Jack Tweed in order to allow all her money to go to her two sons, Bobby and Freddy. I think she was also very clever in the way that she allowed loads of magazines and newspapers to be involved so closely with her illness in order to make the money for her sons. I don’t think it has been very clever that even when she is still with us, that her ‘final words’ were printed. It is barbaric in the sense that it is hurtful and upsetting for her family and friends and even her fans. Obviously by allowing the media such close contact within her last days, Jade knew that it would be hard for her family and friends but I doubt she expected for her final words to be published when she is still alive. It’s all a bit upsetting and thoughtless.

I can understand that people were interested in how she was and what was going on with her will etc. but it still seems so unreal that her dying was the reason for The Sun to have sold a lot more copies than normal. I think the media have really been bad here, by making money from a dying woman. However, saying that Goody knew this would happen, because it is what she wanted after all. She knew that all the media coverage would mean more money for her two boys and frankly I cannot blame her for wanting to make sure they had the best out of life, it’s just a shame that something so personal had to be splattered all over the newspapers, magazines and TV.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/mar/17/jade-goody-ok-magazine

Porn Lovers!

The other night I watched a programme on Channel 4 called 'The sex education show vs. pornography'. The programme basically was a way of teaching teenagers the truth about the body and sex, and also informing them that porn wasn't really all it was cracked up to be!

I think that watching porn can be considered as 'being bad' simply because most people do not admit to watching it and almost all kids hide it from their parents because they don't want them to find out. It can still be considered to be a taboo, even though more and more people are embracing sex shops! In this 'day and age', as the show pointed out, sex is everywhere! Ann Summers makes millions every year, so many adults are openly buying sex toys etc. and are no longer trying to hide the fact that they enjoy sex.

The show was aimed at teenagers to help them understand that everyone is different and what you see in porn actually isn't what real-life is like! Most of the teenagers admitted to having learnt lots from the education they received, therefore possibly making them see porn in a different way.

It isn't a particularly 'bad' thing to do nowadays, however I don't personally agree that children at the age of 11 should be watching porn, that is a really young age to be learning about porn. I'm sure that some of the children the show has spoken to had never heard of porn before, so it may have made them curious.

Link: http://sexperienceuk.channel4.com/sex-education

Comment on Karen Owen's Blog Entry: The Death Mobile.

I think that the chinese have got it completely right! If a person commits a crime, then surely they should suffer consequences? However, of course it does depend upon how bad the crime was that the person committed, however if for instance they killed another person, then surely it should be seen that if they are a murderer then they should be killed too.

I agree with Karen that it can appear quite cruel, but if a person is willing to commit a crime and they know it is wrong, then they will know that if found out there will be consequences, therefore they are asking for trouble from the beginning so I think that actually the chinese have every right to kill a person for committing a crime.

I can also see Karen's point that maybe they are reflecting horrible tortures that the Nazi's took part in, and so what is wrong with putting them in jail instead of killing them? 1,715 people is a huge number, and I doubt all of the crimes they committed were very bad? But that is just a guess. So my point is, I think I agree that the Chinese should be allowed to treat people in such a manner if the crime they committed is terrible such as murder however if they are killing people just for theft then there is a bigger problem which needs to be addressed.

Link to blog: http://karen-summersun.blogspot.com/2009/03/death-mobile.html

Hunting

I am against hunting and view it as being bad because I don't agree with getting pleasure out of an animals misery, upset and death. A defenceless animal has no other choice than to run from a predator and I think it barbaric for people to class hunting as a sport. It sickens me to think that people actually enjoy doing this. Even when people argue that the animals aren't hurt and are killed in a non-pain way, it still is not acceptable. I really think something needs to be done to stop this 'bad behaviour' because it is unfair to the poor, innocent animals that have done nothing, and yet get hunted for fun!

I disagree that being hunted is a natural part of wildlife. Obviously animals are predators to other animals but in the case of hunting the humans are the ones who are out to kill the harmless innocent animals. I also do not agree with the comment that hunting is a nicer way to control the animal population, I really don't think there needs to be a way to control the animal population. No-one is killing off humans because there are too many of them in the world, so why kill off animals?

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/using/hunting_3.shtml

Joyriding

I think people who hang out in their cars in supermarket car parks are lame and should find something better to do! I particularly think that when they ride around the car park like maniacs is annoying and very 'bad'.

I can understand people being bored and so they do it out of plain boredom and having nothing else to do however it isn't acceptable. It can scare the other people around, and it often does! Even though it is mostly/often done at night time,there are still other people around whom it could endanger.

Ok, so it may not actually be defined at joyriding, because technically that involves having taken a vehicle without consent or simply stealing a vehicle. I'm sure many of the 'chavs' who drive like maniacs around car parks actually own the car, however again, this still isn't acceptable.

As the website shows (link below) many people have died from being hit by joyriders, which just goes to show that it is putting people's lives at risk. Not only the other public but even the people inside the car too. I think a main concern here is that people are only 'cracking down' on joyriders since there has been an increase in the incidents of hit and run and injuries too. Obviously for someone to respond to something, something has to happen but more should be done to stop underaged people driving a car and putting themselves and others at risk.

Links: http://www.brake.org.uk/index.php?p=816

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/joyride-fury-as-man-left-for-dead-13948542.html

Plans for Abortion Advertisements

I think the idea of having advertisements on the television promoting help with abortion information is slightly 'being bad' because it could send out the message that if a child gets pregnant then they can get help getting 'rid' of the baby. This is shocking in the first place because young children are having sex and often unprotected sex too. Why should it be 'ok' for these advertisements to be on the television, I personally think that it will encourage children to practice unsafe sex as they will think it won't matter if they get pregnant because they can always get help with an abortion.

I think the advertisements are fine if they are appealing to people over the age of 16 as obviously the law is 'no sex before 16!!' However, if it is appealing to younger children, then I do not think it will be a good thing, because as I said, it may encourage the wrong thing.

This idea of children being encouraged to practice unsafe sex also links to the news I heard on the radio the other day. Apparently the government are thinking of providing the morning after pill for children, from their school! This is in hope that if children are having unsafe sex then they can trust their teachers by texting them about getting the morning after pill. To me this is barbaric...as they shouldnt be having sex at such a young age anyway! Obviously they don't follow the 'rules' and think that they are grown up enough to be having sex. In a way that can be acceptable but when they are getting pregnant when they are children themselves is unacceptable and something needs to be done about it. I am split in opinion as to whether these advertisements will help, however I do think it could encourage children to practice unsafe sex which can lead to more obvious problems than just pregnancy.

Links: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7964826.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7961260.stm

Cyber Bullying

I heard on the news that billboards are being made to make people aware of cyber bullying and I think this could be a very good idea seeing as there is more and more bullying happening on the internet nowadays what with the growth of websites like Facebook and Myspace, it is easy to track people down and be abusive.

I don't agree with the point that sometimes people don't realise they are bullying another person. If you are bullying someone, then you know it and you have an intention. It's a shame that people are actually committing suicide over being bullied. Having experienced bullying I can understand how low it makes people feel however to commit suicide over it is unnecessary as the person being bullied will always be seen as the better person eventually. The bullies are just immature and got nothing better to do. I think the billboards will definately help to raise awareness, however I'm not so sure whether it will make things stop, hopefully it will but I also think that bullying can be seen as part of growing up. It cannot be expected that everyone will get along, everyone is different and there's always going to be 'the more popular girl/boy'. I'm in no way suggesting bullying is ok, because it's not.

I definately agree that children who are being cyber bullied need to speak up so it will stop. They should be able to go to their parents or teachers, because it is important to have that trust there. If you don't speak up then nothing can be done because people won't necessarily know it is happening. If you speak up then you can get help and I really think children should know this...however I also understand they are scared. More support should be given to children over this, as it is as we have seen in the news recently, a killer. I just hope the billboards have a positive effect and not a negative one.

Link: http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html

Comment On Laura's 'Dangerous Driving' Blog

I completely agree with Laura that people do not need to drive at 150mph! It's so dangerous, not only to the driver or passengers in the car but also to anyone who may be walking along the road. I agree with the fact that males are more likely to drive fast, and I also agree that it could be to show off their masculinity and what a great car they drive. However, why do they feel the need to impress? It isn't clever driving at such speeds, it's completely the opposite.

I think it is terrible that the majority of cases of dangerous driving involve the age range of 16 - 24! Young drivers, in my opinion, are more likely to have an accident because they are new to driving, therefore they are either without experience or being careless or even showing off to their friends that they have passed their test and no longer have to follow the speed limits.

As Laura said, not many people follow a 30mph limit, however going 35mph instead of 30mph isn't that bad, but 150mph is just not acceptable! I think that in cases like that, the person needs to get a longer sentence in jail because otherwise they'll never learn, if they get away with it!

Links: http://www.roadsafetyni.gov.uk/index/cars/dangerous-carless_driving2.htm

http://laurasbeingbadblogg.blogspot.com/

Comment on Dave Fox's Blog 'Spitting'

I agree with Dave that spitting is disgusting. Why people feel the need to spit I've no idea, and frankly I don't think there's ever a genuine, acceptable reason for doing so.

When you search for 'spitting' in Google Search, almost all of the links that appear on the first page have something to do with football and like Dave said in his blog, children could easily pick up the dirty habit from their idol footballers! They're constantly spitting during a match and we are the lucky ones who get to watch them do it...nice, NOT!

Not only is spitting in the street gross it is also a health issue. The mucous could carry lots of diseases including Tuberculosis! I read on a website (link below) that in some countries because of the health risk spitting is actually illegal. Should we maybe think of getting it made illegal here? Afterall it is dangerous for the public, and truly a disgusting habit!

Link: http://davefoxbeingbad.blogspot.com/

http://www.weeklygripe.co.uk/a355.asp

Body Modification

The lecture on body modification really opened my eyes to the huge amount of ways it can be done! I was the typical person thinking it meant tattoos, piercings and plastic surgery!! I didn't realise that such things as cutting your hair, clipping your nails and painting your nails was actually classed as body modification, but it is!

I don't have a strong opinion on body modification. The way I look at it is that people can do what they want to their bodies because it is their body to do things to! If a person feels better for having breast implants, then why not? If a person wants to be different by having a tattoo then why shouldn't they? I will admit I don't particularly like the look of tattoos on a person but it is personal preference, therefore it doesn't matter what other people think!

I was particularly interested in the subject of tattoos in the lecture and on the website I found whilst researching, I found that people have tattoos because they feel it can define them as a person, and often people get a tattoo because they think it looks cool. Tattoos are more common now than they used to be. In the past, people had tattoos as a religious ritual, or practice. However, nowadays people get a tattoo because they want to be an individual. I do think it is an important issue when choosing what tattoo to have and where it is going to go because the person has to live with it for life.

I would never get a tattoo simply because I don't like to picture myself as a Grandma, and having a tattoo!! Plus I will admit, I'd be too scared of the pain!

Link: http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/exhibits/online_exhibits/body_modification/querytattoo.shtml

Young Celebrities Looking Old!

When reading the article on the website link below, I was shocked that a woman thought Miley Cyrus was a 40 year old woman! However, looking at the photograph next to the article I can see why! A 16 year old plastered in make-up, with bags under her eyes because she works so much...it's a bit disturbing, because she's leading such a busy life, not that of a typical 16 year old. I know that it was her choice to go into the celebrity industry and she was probably well aware of what waited her, however it really is making her look a lot older.

I blame the media, mostly because they always point out when celebrities don't look perfect. And why should they? They are afterall normal human beings, therefore I don't think they should be expected to look prim and proper all the time. I think the media's bad influence on the young celebrities, to be liked and followed, means that they're wearing make-up more, and working harder to get more popular, which then leads to ageing!

I think that the media should butt out of their business, and stop pressurising young celebrities like Miley, to look perfect all the time! I think this is classed as 'being bad' because what sort of message is the media sending out to every 16 year old girl in the world. That they won't be accepted in society if they are not looking perfect 24/7?! It's rubbish, and people should ignore the media!!

Link: http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/celebrity/PhotoGalleries/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=7938961&imageindex=1

Littering

Correct me if I'm wrong, but everyone knows what a bin is, right? Well you wouldn't think so walking around the streets, seeing so much litter everywhere!! It's really annoying when people stick their chewing gum to everything! What is wrong with using a bin? Does it make you uncool if you use a bin? No! So why do so many people litter? Granted, I do agree that there aren't very many bins around the place, but that is no excuse to just throw the litter on the floor!!

According to the website I found, it is: an offence for anyone to drop litter in the street or in a public open space, an offence to leave litter on a bench or street furniture and walk away and it is also an offence to throw litter from your vehicle.

If you litter you are being bad because you are breaking a law and knowing that you are doing so is just as bad. I can accept that sometimes people don't notice that they drop a wrapper out of their bag when pulling something else out of it, but what harm does it do to just pick it up and bin it?

I think that the council should use some of the money they have to place more bins around, however I still don't think it would tackle the problem of littering completely. Some people are just too lazy to wait until they pass a bin, so they just drop it on the floor! If caught, there are fines that you'd have to pay, so people should think twice before they become a litter bug!

Link: http://www.pkc.gov.uk/Planning+and+the+environment/Waste+and+recycling/Litter+and+flytipping/Litter/Littering+Offences.htm

Comment on Claire Cramphorn's Blog on 'Disability Parking Hogs'

I agree with Claire that people who are clearly not disabled park in the disabled bays because they are too lazy to walk a bit further, and they think they can get away with it, and most of the time unfortunately they can!

My little brother is disabled and whenever we park there, and are getting out of the car it is amazing to see the amount of people staring at us, to make sure one of the group actually has a disability, and it shouldn't be like that! It just goes to show that people are aware that it happens, but nothing is being done about it! People who aren't disabled should be glad they're not, therefore it shouldn't bother them to have to walk a little bit further!

Link: http://claire-cee.blogspot.com/

Animal Cruelty Needs to Stop!

Animal Cruelty is something I hate so much it is hard to express how it makes me feel. As an animal lover, I would never think to harm an innocent animal. Just because they can't speak doesnt mean they don't have feelings or thoughts.

I used to have a dog, when I was younger, and she was like my best friend. She'd wait for me to get home from school so we could go for a walk together and I will admit I spoke to her like she could hear me. It was nice to have a companion there for me, whenever I needed her. I could never imagine living with her for so long, then abandoning her or harming her. It is a horrible thought and I've no idea how people can do it. So, where am I going with all this? Well, I'm not quite sure as I cannot fully understand in my head how a person can be so horrible and cruel to an animal. I'd rather not discuss the reasons why, as it is not a nice topic to talk about, I'd rather express my feelings that it needs to stop! I don't know how to stop it, but I would love for it to stop.

It is 'being bad' to harm an animal, as they are defenceless and because they cannot speak, they cannot express how it makes them feel nor can they make it stop. I completely do not agree with animals being used in circus acts, as it is cruel for them. It is not a natural situation and I have seen many television programmes showing how cruel they can be treated.

Thankfully there are corporations who are trying their hardest to stop animal cruelty for good, and this one website I found seem to be doing a pretty good job. The corporation is known as FAACE (Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe). In February 2007, they initiated an international campaign against Copenhagen rodeo and in May 2007 the rodeo was cancelled. They even wrote to the Beckhams to ask them not to attend rodeos! This is just one small example of people making the effort to stop animal cruelty, but surely this small example shows how it is 'being bad' and does need to stop.

Link: http://www.faace.co.uk/news.htm

Comment on Karen Owen's Blog 'Wacko Jacko'

I don't agree with Karen about Michael Jackson. Regardless of what has happened in the past, he still remains a legend! Everyone makes mistakes, and I think Jackson should be forgiven! I think that it is great that so many people are going to be attending his gigs, it just goes to show how big a star he is.

As for the issue of him 'being bad' doing the gigs for money...well good for him, if people are going to pay to see him do what he does best then why not? People sell themselves for money, people steal to survive so I think it is acceptable to accept money from his fans and do what he enjoys and is good at doing....performing!!

Link: http://karen-summersun.blogspot.com/2009/03/wacko-jacko.html

Plagiarism

Now that I'm in University and everything I read from a book that I think I can use, I make sure first of all that I've got every little detail about that book written down because to be honest I'm really scared of being accused of plagiarism!!

When I was in college we never had to reference our work, so when I got to University, learning how to reference properly was a right struggle for me, but I think I've managed just fine!

However, many people do copy work from books and off the internet. With the growth and expansion of the internet now, it has been made easy for people to access a website about certain topics. Therefore people think that it will never be found that they have lifted some text from a website and claimed it as their own in an essay. But this is not true, there are numerous laws about plagiarism, it is illegal, to lift text from somewhere and not cite it.

On the website (link below) I found that there are, as for everything, many reasons as to why people plagiarise, and one was because of the thrill it can bring. People think 'can I get this past my professor' and they try to claim the work as their own. Another reason for people copying work is because they have left writing their essay to the last minute, so they panic and decide the quickest and easiest option is to plagiarise.

Unfortunately, some people unintentionally plagiarise, they may be under the impression that if they change every word to their own it will not be considered as copying however, even if you paraphrase a piece of text, you still need to cite it.

I think Plagiarism can be classed as 'being bad' because people who know they are doing it, know they run a high risk of getting caught and because it is illegal, there are and can be severe consequences! 'It doesn't matter if you intend to plagiarize or not! In the eyes of the law, and most publishers and academic institutions, any form of plagiarism is an offense that demands punitive action. Ignorance is never an excuse. '

Link: http://www.plagiarism.org/

Alcohol Abuse

Everyone enjoys a drink now and then, to let off steam after a bad day at work or to simply relax and settle down. However it is becomming more and more common for people to binge drink and then cause harm to others and themselves. It is often a big hype that when the weekend comes everyone is going to go out and get 'wasted' and 'off their heads', just for 'the hell of it'. I do not have a problem with drinking alcohol but I do think that people should be more responsible, there is afterall, a difference between having a good time and drinking so much you are unable to walk.

Alcohol abuse is often the start of fights and incidents such as 'glassing'. I read an article in a magazine the other day about girls who were studying at University but they had been put in prison because they had drank too much on a certain occasion and ended up causing bodily harm to others when they glassed them. One of the girls admitted how much she regrets doing what she did, and she blamed the alcohol for her actions. Drinking too much alcohol can be dangerous, not just for the person themselves but also for others around them. It does make people act out of character and it is not always fun.

So, how much is too much? Well according to the website I found when researching the topic, 'Current UK guidelines recommend that men don't drink more than three or four units of alcohol a day, and that women limit their intake to two or three units a day. You shouldn't save up units through the week and use them to binge at the weekend, and at least one day a week should be alcohol-free.'

I didn't realise that if you drank a lot of alcohol too often, then it can increase the chance of people getting certain diseases. And excessive drinking has also been linked to:
obesity
sexual problems
infertility
muscle disease
skin problems

I understand that anyone reading this may think 'she's boring' but it isnt that. As I said, I have no objection to a drink here and there now and then, but surely life is more important than drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and suffering for it long term?!

Link: http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/alcohol_abuse.html

Swearing

I don't suppose many people would see swearing as being bad, but I do!! However, I'm not saying that I don't swear, because I do! But I wish I didnt! I feel that swearing is vulgar and the fact that it has become part of our language and used in everyday language is disappointing. People swear for many different reasons and there are so many different ways of swearing. Teenagers tend to swear a lot because they are trying to impress their friends, I swear when I'm angry, which I think is the reason most people swear, but I will admit, it is not attractive on a woman to swear. Nor is it attractive for a man to swear, but for some reason for a woman to swear seems worse than a man swearing! Am I alone on that thought?!

When looking at why people swear I was quite surprised when I read that people often swear because it is a way to releive stress like crying does for a child. I do not agree with the theory that women swear to be like men! I do agree that men swear more so to show their masculinity and power.

According to the First Amendment people have the right to say what they want when and where they want, therefore meaning that it should not really be frowned upon when a person does swear. However, as I read on I noticed that swearing falls under the category of obscenity which falls under the category of unprotected speech which is not included in the Amendment. 'The unprotected speech exclusion is one of the reasons why the FCC can create and enforce decency rules for broadcast television and radio.'

So that is mainly the beginning of the reasons why people are frowned upon for swearing. I don't like it, and as I said I wish I could stop, but I do only swear when I'm angry, so I think I'm not being too bad! But I deffinately do not agree with swearing when people swear every other word....there's no need!

Link: http://people.howstuffworks.com/swearing3.htm

Comment on Zoe Cox's Blog on Child Obesity

I definately agree with Zoe here about it being the parents fault that their children are obsese. Granted, people have busier lifestyles than they used to so setting time to make a healthy meal can be difficult however this is no excuse to just plonk a microwave meal in front of their child and as Zoe says, expect that they are just making their child happy! They are 'essentially killing them' and it isnt difficult to rustle up a salad now and again! A child needs to know the difference between healthy and unhealthy and a balanced diet should be forced upon every child. However we know this is never the case anymore. The advantages of junk food accessibility and convenience is taking over people's diets.

When children mither and mither for this that and the other and a parent knows that it is bad for them they should try and say no! By saying no may upset the child but it will also eventually help them learn the difference between yes and no and also the difference between healthy and unhealthy. I'm not saying that a treat here and there is not allowed but when a parent is conveniently and constantly feeding their children 'rubbish' is not a good thing at all! And I also agree with Zoe when she discusses the fact that when they grow up they will experience problems, because they will! There are constantly documentaries on the television about children who are severly obese and all the problems they now face, and unfortunately it is getting to the point where people no longer feel sorry for them but think it is their parents fault for feeding them so badly.

Link: http://beingnaughty.blogspot.com/

Lying

People lie every single day, whether it be a little white lie, exaggeration or ­­­­­­­­­­worse, everyone does it and there are so many different ways they do it. Some people lie to make themselves look better, some people over exaggerate a story to either make it more interesting or to make themselves look better and another reason for lying is to cover up the hidden truth.

So why do people lie?

According to a website I found there are 4 main reasons; greed, fear, acceptance and habit.

Greed

People may lie in order to gain power or money. Intentionally lying to gain something for themselves is a common event.

Fear

People can get scared to tell the truth in case something is going to happen to them. Therefore by lying they may be saving themselves.

Acceptance

Sometimes people feel the need to impress others in order to fit in. A common way of impressing people is lying to them, or rather over exaggerating the truth. So for example a person could be telling a story about how they got a certain scar on their body and instead of telling the truth like, 'I scraped my arm when I fell down the stairs', they may feel the need to tell a story about fighting with sharks. This to them is impressing their friends and they then feel they are accepted.

Habit

Unfortunately some people are what is known as a compulsive liar. They are so used to telling lies to people that it comes as a kind of second nature. They may no longer realise they are lying because they do it so often.

Lies and Gender

On the issue of whether males or females lie more, I dont think one can establish between the two. Because of the wide range of types of lies and reasons for lying, it can be said that both men and women have the capability to lie, and whether they do it more or less than each other is not really an issue. As we discussed in lecture, there are not going to be many people in the world that can say they have never lied in their whole lives.

Is lying bad? Well, in my opinion it is if it means someone is going to get hurt, but little white lies such as santa to children and 'yes you look fabulous' when really you think she looks fat, are not going to ruin a person's life forever!

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A996942

Prostitution

If prostitution was legalised then I think that it would make the people involved a lot safer and protected. I was shocked to read an article about a 14 year old girl who, for her weekend job, was a prostitute. What is the world coming to? She is not at a legal age to have sex but this has not stopped men of who knows what age, committing an offence with her. Prostitutes are well known for earning thousands of pounds a week or so, for doing what they do, so I can see the attraction there however I do not agree with prostitution at all. If it was legalised, meaning safe sex was practised and all customers and workers were of a legal age then maybe things would be different.

When newspapers report that prostitutes have been killed, such as the 5 prostitutes in Ipswich who were all killed by Steve Wright, should this not scare other girls/women who sell themselves for money? They are no longer just at risk of an STI, but they are putting themselves at risk of death. Never take sweets from a stranger? Never take money from a stranger!! They have no idea whose car they are getting into, and surely for many of the women who prostitute think about the danger they may be getting into. But this does not stop them, what will? It is quite worrying to think that more and more girls are getting involved in this just because the amount of money they could earn is such an attraction.

Links: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hWGAsKQxw3H-KNwRVNdTxW5xsq_A

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/7258115.stm

Shoplifting

This is a subject that I have mixed feelings about. I don't agree with shoplifting, I do think it's wrong however I can sympathise with some people who do it. I feel sorry for the people who steal things because they have no money and are in desperate need to eat, it's a basic human need, so I do feel sorry for them. However, I don't think people should just see it as the way it has to be. I think it's so easy nowadays to get help from people, that they should seek for help.

When looking at reasons for why people do shoplift I found a website which is a Jehovah Witness Website. They liken stealing to Robin Hood, and say that he felt the need to steal from the rich for the poor. Poverty therefore is seen as a major issue and reason for why people shoplift.

Another reason is the thrill and the sense of power it brings. To be able to pick something up and walk out of a shop without paying, for some people, is an immense feeling, and as though they have accomplished power over the people who work in the store. But that for everyone else, is not acceptable behaviour.

Peer pressure is also another reason for people, especially teenagers, stealing. They think that by stealing from a shop they are proving to their 'friends' that they are worthy enough to be a part of that certain group of friends. They may not want to do it, but feel they must in order to be accepted and not beaten up. It's a sad scenario however, once again, help can be found! People just need to open their mouths, admit what they've done and that they need help and surely someone out there will be the right person to help them.

Link: http://www.watchtower.org/e/20050622/article_02.htm

Vandalism

Vandalism represents 24% of all recorded crimes and in 1999/2000, the total costs of such incidents was estimated at £4.1 billion.

These numbers are according to the reported crimes, and just the reported crimes. There are possibly double the amount of offences taking place but because they are not reported they are not included within official statistics because they are not known of.

As from April 17th 2008 it is a criminal offence to mark graffiti on a property that is public and that you have no consent to do so. This leads me to ask once again, if it is against the law why does that not stop people from committing the offence? There must be a reason such as the thrill of getting caught which people strive off, but when they do get caught they are facing a sentence in prison, and is it really worth it?

If a person so wishes to produce graffiti 'art' then why does it have to be on a public property? Why can they not just use a piece of paper? That way they do not risk getting a sentence in prison. But as we can see by the figures, the threat of jail is not a deterrent.

Links: http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/1886.htm
http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/antisocialbehaviour/antisocialbehaviour23.htm

Comment on Laura's Drink Driving Blog Entry

I agree with Laura that drink driving is not acceptable, which everyone knows, so why do people still do it? It is against the law and every one knows that! I think the worst thing about drink driving is that people choose to do it. When they get into the car, after having a few or even one drink, they are fully aware that they are putting themselves, passengers, other drivers and pedestrians at risk, all because they are either too lazy to walk home or to get public transport! I think the money you pay for a taxi home is worth it, if it means that you are going to get home safely.

According to a website, '560(p) people were killed in drink-drive related incidents in 2005.' That figure can only leave us wondering if all of those people who died were the ones who were doing something wrong?!

I wouldn't say that drink driving has any attraction to thrill involved, I think that people are just too lazy or selfish when they decide to drink drive. However, a pattern could occur, if they've got away with it once, they'll probably keep on doing it.

Link: http://laurasbeingbadblogg.blogspot.com/

: http://www.distanthealer.co.uk/poem_3.htm

Comment on Claire Cramphorn's Blog on Smoking Being Sexy

I think I might be the first to say this but I dont find smoking sexy!!

It isnt attractive on anyone, including celebrities! It's all the same..smelly,yellow teeth and nails, and bad for you! Celebrities can do what they want, right? Well what they're doing here with their smoking habits is convincing people that it is sexy...because that's what us losers do, we look at celebrities, what they're doing and all that and we follow them, because they are so superior to us! But it's bad, we shouldnt be led to believe that smoking will make us attractive. So i agree with Claire that the everyday person walking down the street doesnt particularly look attractive but I dont see an attraction to a celebrity holding a fag either!

Link: http://claire-cee.blogspot.com/2009/02/smoking.html

Infidelity

When looking into the topic of Infidelity I was not surprised to read that 'statistically speaking, men cheat for a single primary reason: sex'.

It's commonly known that men think about sex most of the time, so it isnt necessarily surprising when you read a fact like that. But by noooo means do i agree that their sexual desire means they are allowed to cheat...no way...not at all!!

In my opinion Infidelity is soooo wrong! Marriage is a permanent thing, or so it is supposed to be. I mean, what's the point in saying for better or for worse, till death do us part, if you're just going to go and cheat later on in the relationship. Ok, so you may not be planning on cheating, but that is the frame of mind you are supposed to stay in....FOREVER! That is why marriage is such a big deal, it is a forever thing. So when you find the one....they really are the one...the one and only! Or so they should be.

I totally disagree with people when they accept infidelity and say 'well it happens'. I will never understand the logic behind the reasons people give for cheating on their wives/husbands. For a person to think it is ok to cheat confuses me, i dont think i'll ever understand it! Rant over :o)

Link: www.infidelityfacts.com

Comment on Karen Owen's Blog Entry; Alfie Patten a dad at 13!

http://karen-summersun.blogspot.com/

I agree with Karen here that something somewhere is not quite right! When I read about this 13 year old boy, who had become a Dad I felt sick. I couldnt believe it when I read that one in 14 babies is born to a teenage mum. My little brother is Alfie's age it's and the thought of him becomming a Dad - ridiculous!! In the newspaper the parents of the 15 year old Mum were saying how amazing they thought it was that she was going to raise the baby at such a young age...and I was baffled as to why or how they could be so 'ok' with the whole situation! Why has this 13 year old lad had sex?! He should be playing video games, not having sex, and becomming a Dad!

Link: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/columnists/sue-carroll/2004/11/03/underage-parents-i-blame-the-parents-115875-14827857/

To stalk or not to stalk?

When does a concerned interest in someone’s activities become stalking?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary Online, stalking is 'the action, practice, or crime of harassing or persecuting a person with unwanted, obsessive, and usually threatening attention over an extended period of time.'

If i were to define stalking i would agree that it is obsessive behaviour. Im madly in love with Justin Timberlake, I buy his calendar and all his cd's, dvd's etc. But I wouldnt call that stalking because I dont follow him around every minute of every day. People who stalk others are, I believe, obsessed and well...weird!

Are some kinds of observance allowable and appropriate?

I think to admire a person is fine, but to follow them is creepy and wrong! A peron has the right to their privacy, and acting as their shadow is not going to make them interested or talk to you, it is going to scare them.

The issue of stalking is like anything, questionable and debateable, however if someone was following me around all the time, I'd definately call them a stalker!!

Link: http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50235917?query_type=word&queryword=stalking&first=1&max_to_show=10&sort_type=alpha&result_place=1&search_id=Sjd2-qktfDV-7695&hilite=50235917

Field Trip

When i was in college we had a trip to the wolverhampton court and got to sit in on trials. So it would be good to go there, although the trials i saw were a bit more than "being bad" !!