Being Bad

During the last few months, we've looked at the different ways of being bad, and I'm ashamed to say that as a group of 'average' students, whether it be smoking, drugs, lies or masturbation, we sure know what we're doing!

However, I for one, won't think of being bad in quite the same way any more. It's all about the society in which we live, the culture which exists, and the people that we aspire to be. Being bad is at the very heart of mankind and what it means to be human.

Oh well, looks like my spot on the beach is free -

See you all after the summer!

p.s. - oh, and I'm not going to feel guilty about lazing around either - it'll take years off me - believe me!http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1210341/Being-bad-good-Playing-blaring-rock-music-skipping-housework-actually-boost-health.html

Binge Drinking in Pregnancy

A recent study compiled by Dr Jonathan Sher suggests that women who binge drink in the first three months of pregnancy can cause Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) which manifests in a malformed face and potentially fatal damage to the brain and other organs. Dr Sher said that there is too much emphasis on the misuse of alcohol generally and not enough attention being paid to the damage caused to unborn children: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article7045739.ece

Personally, I don't think it's worth the risk of drinking at all during pregnancy, let alone binge drinking. If a person wants to damage themselves with alcohol - that's one thing, but damaging someone else is way out of order!

Causes of binge drinking...

According to Andrew Mc Neil, director of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, the main factor which causes people to binge drink is the affordability, which has increased over the years. He claims that when excise duty has increased, consumption has fallen. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4306226.stm. Whilst he doesn't recommend prohibition, he feels that it would be sensible to deal more effectively with 'discounted promotions'.

One particular reader who has posted a comment on the webpage, however, feels that if a person wants to get drunk they will do it whether they can afford it or not and feels that even a mortgage would not prevent them from getting drunk if they wanted to. She goes on to say that it has more to do with the fact that society is very unfulfilling and people look to alcohol as a form of 'cheap thrills and escapism'.

Binge drinking ....why do we do it?

According to an article on the BBC News website, binge drinking is classed as more than eight units (four pints) in one session for men and more than six units (six small glasses of wine) for women: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4306226.stm

But why do we do it? Gary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University Management School, says that social and economic issues are at the heart of the problem.

He suggests that part of the problem might be to do with house prices. Whereas many young people in their 20s and 30s used to save to buy a house, nowadays young people can not afford to buy their own home. Therefore, their disposable income is spent on going out and enjoying themselves which includes the consumption of alcohol.

Tongue studs can also increase the risk of deadly brain abscesses

In 2009, the doctors of a man who died weeks after getting his tongue pierced warned that tongue piercings can cause fatal brain abscesses: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8302444.stm Despite the risks, however, tongue piercings still remain common place. A dental health site has compiled a list of the seven most common oral health hazzards associated with tongue piercings, and the most serious ones include Hepatitis and HIV infection, blood loss, nerve damage and death: http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/blog/2009/11/02/do-tongue-piercings-put-the-brain-at-risk/

Health risks associated with body modification

In 2008, a report publsihed by the Health Protection Agency revealed that more than a quarter of all people experience complications as a result of infibulations and around half of them consider them to be serious enough to seek the help of professionals:
http://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/NationalPressReleases/2008PressReleases/080613bodypiercing/
Belly button piercings are now common among young women and the British Medical Journal found that one in 10 people - and nearly half of all younger women - had a body piercing other than on the earlobe: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7451580.stm

Scarification

According to Victoria Pitts,professor of sociology at the City University, New York in New York City, scarification, in the US emerged in San Francisco in the mid 1980s as part of a new body-modification movement.

It was originally a practice which was adopted by gay and lesbian communities. By the early1990s, however, members of the 'modern primitive' movement began using it. They tried to recreate and revive rituals from around the world and obtain a kind of 'spiritual' experience:

http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/extreme-body-piercing-branding-scarification/offbeat-news .

I actually think that the pain of extreme forms of piercing is probably numbed by the release of pain-killing endorphins in the brain which is where the so called 'spiritual' experience comes from. Not for the faint-hearted, however.

Giraffe Women

It's something that I would't have associated with body modification until I listened to the lecture. Once again - it originated as another form of gender control.

Whilst younger generations have questioned the practice, however, because the Kayan communities have become dependent of the tourism which the practice attracts a cruel twist is that they have now become prisoners of tradition.

http://www.pria.org/en/mi-thematic-groups/mi-gender-mainstreaming/mi-gm-gender-news

When is body modification child abuse?

Friday, 23rd April, 2010.

I agreed with the lecturer last week when he said that the chinese custom of mothers breaking their children's feet is definitely a form of child abuse - and I can't believe that it originated as a form of gender control - to stop women running away from their husbands! Sounds like they need to be running away from their mothers instread !http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1155872

On the subject of drinking ....

Thursday, 22nd April, 2010.

Thinking back to the induction week in which we had a talk about drinking - whilst it's not a good idea to mix drinking with academic work, apparantly, alcohol also affects memory more generally. This explains the reason that we remember things in more detail before drinking rather than after, and it is also the reason that drunks forget the embarassing things that they do. Researchers at the University of Sussex claim that alcohol influences the brain's ability to form memories. Theodora Duka said that this bias towards positive memories made them more likely to got out and get drunk again as they could only remember the good things which happened to them.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/2711391/Why-drunks-forget-the-embarrassing-things-they-do.html Not a form of being bad I'd recommend!

Ooh sorry - I thought you were someone else!

I found this newspaper article rather amusing: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gr70OWSWuLTohp0Cnfe4eFbd14KwD9F8B0KO0 It's the sort of mistake that you might make after having had one too many! I think the 15 day jail sentence, however is just plain silly. Prostitution should not be considered to be a crime - it might be immoral, but at the end of the day, it's only sex - everybody does it, just in different circumstances. I don't think there is any comparison between having sex and mugging an old lady, for instance. Also, the £250 fine is ridiculous as well - but if she's any good at her job it shouldn't be long before she manages to recoup the money!

Men could now face prosecution, however, for seeking paid-for sex on the streets due to new legislation in tough new measures to curb prostitution: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/01/2010_12_thu.shtml

Response to Blog on gambling

I agree with Laura - http://laurasbeingbad.blogspot.com/. When it comes to gambling, people do it because they enjoy it and the fact that there is that rush involved. It doesn't mean to say that people become addicted to it either. We've spend many an evening whilst on holiday as a family playing the slot machines. I remember one particular year when I won two keyrings in the same night - two for £60! An absolute bargain!

Tatoos

Years ago, if a young boy was a rebel he had a tatoo, but it was completely unheard of for a woman or young girl to have one. In this day and age it's completely different, of course, with both men and women of all ages engaging in all sorts of body art. However, I do think that yesterday's tatoos have become today's piercings, with the way forward in terms of teenage rebellion being in the area of piercings rather than tatoos: http://www.faqs.org/childhood/So-Th/Tattoos-and-Piercing.html. As it says on the website, as soon as tatoos became more common, it was no longer the choice for adolescents, and body piercings took over.

Response to 'What you looking at?' blog regarding bullying

http://www.laurenh1990.blogspot.com/. I agree that bullying can be a bit nasty. When a child is bullied it should never be taken lightly. When young, it can seem as though it is the end of the world, even if it is only amounts to cruel name-calling.

However, there are sometimes when I feel that claims of bullying are just plain rediculous. For instance, it might be necessary for a boss to be firm with employees to get the job done on time, or to keep them on task, and some people do not respond to anything less than strict management. Therefore, I think it is important to keep 'bullying' claims in perspective.

More on Infidelity...

Saturday, 10th Appril, 2010.

During a week which saw Tiger Woods return to the golf course in the Masters 2010 following his infidelities, what better time to contemplate the effects of being bad. Whilst his life and relationships might be a little the worse for wear, it seems unlikely, however, that his career will suffer, just as long as he keeps hitting those balls in the right direction (if you know what I mean!): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/tigerwoods/





















However, given the gender bias which exists in relation to infidelity, it might be slightly different if he was a woman. When a woman in the public eye commits adultery, she not only has to endure slanderous comments in the press, but also derogatory name-calling as well.

Response to 'Smoking and Gender' blog

http://kalendaviesblog.blogspot.com/. I agree that the high proportion of young girls who smoke would seem to indicate a degree of emotional dependence. The fact that your friend indicated that smoking helped to 'calm her down', is surpising, however, as cigarettes are actually stimulants. Perhaps it acts in the same way as small doses of the stimulant ritalin which actually fine-tunes the prefrontal cortex (PFC) region of the brain involved in decision making, attention and impulse control. Only at higher doses does it create the effects associated with stimulants: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080624115956.htm

Response to blog entitled 'You use your left hand or your right hand for that?'

http://whenshesbadsheswicked.blogspot.com/. I was really amused when I read the comments about the opinions towards masturbation within the Christian faith, but not all together surprised by it! To my way of thinking, it would be virtually impossible to imagine something completely innocent whilst engaged in the activity - unless I'm missing something, it kind of defeats the whole object anyway!

New research shows that chocolate is actually good for us!

Friday, 9th April, 2010.

Still on the topic of chocolate and how it affects health - according to a new study, small doses of chocolate every day could actually decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke by nearly 40 per cent: http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/033110/hea_598379813.shtml. German researchers followed nearly 20, 000 people over a period of eight years and found that those who had an average of six grams of chocolate per day (or about one square of a chocolate bar) had a 39 per cent lower risk of having either a heart attack or stroke.

Whilst previous studies have suggested dark chocolate in small amounts might be beneficial to health, this is the first study which has been done over a longer period of time, which would tend to validate the claims to a larger extent. Experts believe that it might have something to do with the flavonols which are found in chocolates.

My own hypothesis is that it also stimulates pleasure and the release of serotonin in the brain which has a beneficial effect on mind and body, thereby being beneficial generally to health. So as far as I'm concerned, it's official - chocolate is actually good for you - this is the one I'm sticking to anyway!

Response to post entitled 'Chocolates may cause violent behaviour'

http://beingbad-arebelyell.blogspot.com/. I would think that delinquency and violent behaviour being linked to chocolate is a slightly more complex issue than this article suggests. There will always be other factors at play when looking at children's behavioural patterns.

For a start, the report suggests that chocolate has not been looked at separately from other 'sweets', and therefore, it has not conclusively been identified as the single contributary cause of bad behaviour. Also, the report does not appear to have taken into consideration other contributory factors, for example, environmental issuses, living conditions, genetic predisposition, etc. Therefore, I would consider the study to be flawed and uncomprehensive in its findings.

Telling lies - when is it OK?

Thursday, 8th April, 2010

When I was a child, I was bought up to believe that lying about something was morally wrong. Therefore, as a result, if ever I did tell the odd lie, I felt so bad about it afterwards (especially if I got found out) that in later life, I have always tried to be as honest as possible.

However, I do not consider all forms of deception to be bad. When it is for the good of others and provides some sort of beneficial effect, then, as far as I'm concerned, it is perfectly legitimate and justified. Slightly kinder comments about one's apprearance, for instance, or someone's appalling taste in clothes - this type of lying is merely sparing the recipient from a certain degree of unnecessary distress.

Lying can also be the provider of something which is extremely positive. The sories surrounding Father Christmas, for example, provides a delightful contribution to childhood and much enjoyment to all concerned. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus. Every Christmas Eve, I used to tell my children that we needed to leave Santa a mince pie, drop of brandy AND the litter tray for Rhudolph (just in case he needed it - afterall, the weather was very cold!). It was a magical experience to see their faces light up each year, and well worth the pack of lies that accompanied it! It has since given my children much pleasure now that they are older, as well, in the form of happy memories. Lots of stories of this kind are told with the intention of creating pleasure and happiness - they are not necessarily true, but in this sense, it doesn't matter.

Conclusion? ...Not all lies are bad!

body piercings

Wednesday, 7th April, 2010

Oh, the joys of body piercings!

















Looks like a job for the old psychiatrist to me - I mean , you'd have to be nuts to do that - right? Well apparantly, some would tend to think NOT!

Some feel that body piercing is just another form of adornment of the body. People naturally want to stand out and be different. Also, if a person wants to belong to a particular group, then an appropriate body piercing is totally acceptable. Not surprisingly, sex is also involved. An 'attractive' body adornment might just happen to attract the attention of a potential mate, and it could also act as a useful ice-breaker! http://articles.piercingmap.com/why-people-do-the-piercing.html.

As for me, I'm not completely convinced, in the case of extreme piercings, that there's not the odd screw missing somewhere along the line, but in the end, who am I to judge?





















Well, good luck with that!

Response to blog on tatoos and body modifications

http://stellatilemachou.blogspot.com/

When it comes to tattoos and body modifications, it is all about image - in much the same way as in smoking, for instance. People will ignore any possible consequences of their actions, - just as they do in other forms of risky behaviour - binge drinking, drug-taking, etc. The desire to look in a way that we perceive to be desirable outweighs any sensible decisions or rationale.

Genes may be to blame for infidelity

Tuesday, 6th April, 2010.

According to one scientist, Professor Tim Spector of the Twin Research Unit, St Thomas's Hospital, London, there is a genetic factor involved in infidelity. In 2004, whilst focusing on women, he found that where one of a pair of twins was unfaithful, the other had a higher incidence of infidelity as well, of around 55%. In general, the incidence of being unfaithful amongst women is 23%: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3783031.stm. It also makes the point, however, that this is only part of the picture, and it is a lot more complex than just purely genetic predisposion alone.

And whilst, for many years, people have talked about the emotional reasons why women are unfaithful, according to marriage expert M. Gary Neuman, infidelity in men also has its roots in emotions: http://www.bbcaudiobooksamerica.com/Trade/TradeHome/NewsReviews/tabid/57/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/45/New-Research-Shows-Sex-Is-Not-the-Leading-Cause-of-Marital-Infidelity.aspx

Judging by this research, it would seem clear that infidelity all boils down to complex emotional needs. Therefore, in this respect, it differs from other forms of behaving badly.

Response to blog on lieing

Saturday, 3rd April, 2010

http://niallsbrain.blogspot.com/. I found the quote from Massachusetts University about the fact that when people's self-esteem is threatened, they will immediately begin to lie quite interesting. It merely demonstrates how lieing can be an instinctive self-preservation tactic.

I also heard as very funny quote once on the film 'A Fish Called Wanda' which said that the people who you need to be wary of are the honest ones, because they could suddenly decide, at any moment, to tell a lie, making them the most unpredictable and, therefore, dangerous. You always know that the dishonest people are going to lie, and so you know where you stand with them from the beginning!

More thoughts on prostitution...

3rd April, 2010

Saturday, 3rd April, 2010.

In the lecture about prostitution, the question posed as to whether it was still considered to be prostitution if a person received an agreed sum of money for sex but then failed to supply it received a mixed response.

Whilst some thought it was prostitution because the individual concerned would still effectively be using their body to facilitate a monetary gain, others felt that it was not technically prostitution until the biological act of sex had taken place. Personally, my feelings on the subject would tend to indicate the latter, in that there would simply have been a breach of trust or verbal contract.

In relation to what would be considered to be an appropriate sum and fair price for such a service, I'm not really sure. Apparantly, in Roman times, prosititutes charged the equivalent of eight glasses of red wine: http://askville.amazon.com/Prostitutes-Roman-times-charged-equivalent-price-glasses-red-wine/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=7068356. One person at the lecture, however, suggested that it would depend on the quality of the service!

In the event that you did feel that you had been short-changed, however, it's not really the sort of thing that you would want to pursue through the small claims courts is it?

When does a healthy interest become stalking?

Friday, 2nd April,2010

Stalking can be defined as the willful and repeated following, watching and/or harassing of another person:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalking. It differs to that of other bad behaviour because for much of the time, actions of stalking tend to be over a long period of time, as opposed to a single event which is associated with other crimes, and very often, it can consists in a number different forms, ie. phonecalls, gifts, text messages, etc., which are perfectly acceptable under normal circumstances.

So when does an interest in someone's activites become stalking?

Well, it should be probably be regarded as stalking when a person's privacy or free will is impacted by the attention or actions of another.

The BBC Inside Out website states that unsocial conduct occurring on at least two occasions in which a person is subjected to persistent and obsessive behaviour causing harassment can be dealt within the law under The Protection from Harassment Act 1997: http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/yorkslincs/series7/stalking_advice.shtml, which would seem to indicate that after only a couple of instances of unwanted attention, it could

be viewed as stalking within the law.

Also, whilst a Crime Survey back in 2007 revealed that one in 10 women in Britain said that they have been stalked during the previous year:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6300291.stm, a survey carried out a Dr Sheridan which included 1,300 stalking victims, suggests that the top three methods used by stalkers were unsolicited telephone calls, spying and threatening to commit suicide.

It also shows that the most likely victims are attractive female professionals in their mid-30s, and that most of the victims have had some sort of contact with the stalker, 50% are ex-partners, others were delusional and some were deeply sadistic. Also it is ex-partners who are the most frequently violent. Therefore, stalking also differs from other forms of crime as most of the time, the culprits are suffering from some sort of mental illness.

Whilst only a minority of cases end in fatality, studies also indicate that the majority of victims suffer deep psychological distress as a direct result of the stalking, and Dr Sheridan said that the majority of victims present with post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Given the severity of the distress experienced by the victims, 2 0r 3 episodes of unwanted attention as a result of obsessional behaviour would not be an unreasonable figure to go on, when very often, a simple police caution will suffice.

Response to Laura's Blog 'Lies, Lies, Lies' dated Tuesday, 9th March, 2010.

Friday, 2nd April, 2010

http://laurascrazyblogs.blogspot.com/

I agree that sometimes, it might be more helpful to tell the odd white lie or two. Indeed, there are times when it might be counter-productive to tell the truth. I mean - consider the possible effect on our confidence if we were to get an honest answer to some questions: 'does my bum look big in this?', for instance. I sense that there might be a few of us who would prefer not to know the truth!!

Response to smoking blog (Being Bad lecture blog) dated 17th Feb 2010

http://www.beingbadlectureblog.blogspot.com/

I liked this blog entry because it was so honest. With reference to your inability to stick to your abstinence, having quit several times over - it is no easier the older you get either. The temptation to be bad is always there, and 'yep', it's bad for your health alright, and it takes years off your life, so they say. But aren't these years just the rubbish ones at the end anyway? .....just a thought!

Shoplifting - How is it different?

Thursday, 1st April, 2010.

During class discussions, most people thought that shoplifting was significantly different to other types of theft.

Normal theft is usually associated with some sort of monetary gain or the acquiring of possessions. However, shoplifting is all about the thrill of being able to get away with it, possibly with the added adrenalin rush associated with the risk of being caught. Once again it's considered to be something which is naughty, forbidden and risky.

Let's face it, when Winona Ryder was caught shoplifting some years ago, she was hardly short of a bob or two! http://www.theinsider.com/photos/1114190_Wynona_Ryder?&c_id=745184&c_type=news

It has also been suggested that some people shoplift as a way of dealing with some sort of

personal problem: http://www.faqs.org/abstracts/Arts-and-entertainment-industries/How-to-beat-a-bad-mood-The-naked-truth-is-weight-wrecking-your-sex-life.html

Some people can also become addicted to it in the same way that they can be addicted to any other habit: http://ruactivate.wordpress.com/2007/08/23/the-five-finger-discount/ After steeling an item the person experiences a high and for a time, all feelings of anxiety or depression are lost.

Response to Blossom's Blog (dated 13th March, 2010)

Response dated 18th March
http://blossom43.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-have-never-taken-recreational-drugs-i.html#comments

Having read your comments about drugs, I think it is interesting that you picked up on the point about contaminated drugs causing unnecessary deaths. Perhaps this is the case. However, what a lot of people also fail to realise is the fact that sometimes, uncut drugs can also be a problem. If someone takes an uncut substance, it can be much more potent and therefore, it increases the risk of overdose. So, whilst you have made a very valid point, the opposite is also true as well.

Also, I agree with your point that drugs are more dangerous than alcohol and tobacco. Whilst some might disagree with this, it would seem obvious to me.

The subject for today? Masturbation!

Wednesday, 31st March, 2010.

It's one of those subjects that never fails to raise a smile or two - yet over the centuries our attitude towards masturbation has seen complete transformation. Until quite recently and even as late as the 19th century, masturbation was considered to be a shameful disease, however, its therapeutic effects are now widely recognised and it is considered to be a very natural human activity.

Before Louis Pasteur educated us to the presence of germs in the 1870s, masturbation was blamed for just about everything from syphylis and gonorrhea to blindness: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A427204 In latter times, however, there has been a complete reversal of this thinking and it is now seen in a more positive light.

In the UK, in 2009, a leaflet carrying the slogan 'an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away' was issued by the NHS in Sheffield: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masturbation, and in fact, there are also now group masturbation events all across the globe.

Quite interestingly, it has also been suggested that women who are currently without a sexual partner tend to rely on other activities, such as bubble baths, romance novels or even chocolates to attain their emotional release: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A427204

Whilst it is a subject which has attracted plenty of attention over the years, what is clear is that society's views of what is good or bad can dramatically change over time, and masturbation serves as a useful example of this.

Anyway, that's all from me on the subject - I'm off to eat my entire body weight in chocolate - it is Easter, afterall!

Drugs - good or bad?

I was dismayed this evening at the university lecture to hear so many people say that they were in favour of the legalisation of drugs. I have had personal experience of the health problems associated with drugs, and therefore, I am acutely aware of the dangers involved, and firmly believe the fact that it is not just propaganda put out there by the government.

Firstly - take it from me - drugs are far more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco so these cannot be used as a comparison. Let's just take cannabis, for instance - it causes mental illnesses - psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, delusions - the list goes on.

The Guardian also reports on the dangers of cannabis:http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/jul/27/drugsandalcohol.drugs

A chilling fact: The mental hospitals in the UK are absolutely heaving with young people who have fallen victim to drugs - they're not in there because they are heavy drinkers or smokers - they are in there because they have used drugs - and some of the time, only cannabis - and it might not have been heavy use either. Some people simply cannot tolerate drugs, and they do not need large amounts for it to have an enormous impact on their lives, and few people realise this.

The question posed here is whether or not by banning drugs, people would be more or less attracted to it.

In this case, I think it is a double-sided issue. We all know that, as humans, we are sometimes attracted to things which we know are bad. However, there is a certain responsibility on the part of the government to put out the right message to the young. Also, if we look at Sweden, they have taken a hard stance on drugs for many years, and their rates of drug-taking are only a third of other European countries, and they also spend three times as much money on drug prevention:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arguments_for_and_against_drug_prohibition. (It might be wikipaedia, but these reports are official).

Some years ago, it used to be generally felt that cannabis was only dangerous because it led to other harder drugs, and that it was relatively harmless in its own right - remember? Now we know the truth, - although some of us knew all along anyway! We now know that Cannabis causes mental health problems -this is not an attempt by the government to demonise drugs - these are the actual facts. Health professionals are aware of the fact that there is an epidemic of mental illness today which is only because of drugs, and people whose lives have been torn apart by drugs know this stuff - they don't need proof!

So - are drugs bad? You bet!

It would be totally irresponsible to legalise drugs - we need to look after our young and educate them more fully about the harmful effects. It worked for Sweden! What's more, we can't make everything bad legal. I think that the line should be drawn at the point where there is clear evidence that people are coming to serious harm and we need to take account of the opinions of health professionals and people who have seen the results of drugs first hand (not only the government).

Yes tobacco and alcohol can be damaging, particularly if taken in large amounts but drugs are much more dangerous!

Thoughts on the film 'Kids'........

For any parents out there who've watched the film, it shouldn't be too difficult to see how easy it is for otherwise decent young people to be dragged into potentially dangerous and destructive behavioural patterns when they become involved with the not quite so decent individuals. The recognition for parental guidance in what is very often a difficult phase in a young person's life resonates throughout the film.

Drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, wild parties and AIDS - they're all in there, as Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick) and Casper (played by Justin Pierce) go out of their way to sexually exploit just about every pretty young thing that comes their way!

Whilst a review by Almar Haflidaslon's describes the film as 'shocking' suggesting that we have a lie down after watching it http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/01/30/kids_1995_dvd_review.shtml , I personally take the more realistic approach and have to admit that there was absolutely nothing about the film which surprised me in the slightest. Let's face it - most of us will have met a Telly or Casper at some point in our lives - right?

Despite the fact that there was very little about the film which I actually enjoyed I am, nevertheless, able to recognise the fact that it might serve as a useful deterrant in discouraging youngsters from becoming involved in such activities and perhaps more importantly, it might act as a wake-up call to otherwise blissfully unaware parents who might have had a somewhat less colourful youth.

To me, the film is an illustration of the naivety of youth and the dangers which are associated with it. Bad behaviour is a typical feature of the young and they don't have to be bad to be dragged into it.

To see other reviews click link : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113540/usercomments

Prostitution - why people are still attracted to it

Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010

For me, one of the best things about being a university student is that I get to be involved in so many different topical debates, many of which are quite controversial, to say the least! But although current issues are changing almost on a daily basis, there are a small number of topics which have repeatedly attracted heated discussions for as long as most of us can remember. One such subject is prostitution, and whilst it is considered to be both socially and morally unacceptable and still remains illegal in the UK, it nevertheless continues to go on behind closed doors, as it always has done.

According to statistics produced by the University College London and Home Office, nearly one in 10 men pay for sex. The figures also suggest that the age group which is most likely to use prostitutes is between 25-34 and they are also more likely to be single: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7257623.stm

Prostitution, so they say, is the oldest profession in the book, and indeed, in the Bible, Mary Magdeline is reputed to have been a prostitute in the time of Christ although the accuracy of this story remains uncertain. One thing that is clear, however, is the fact that for people in the public domain, an association with a prostitute nowadays is a very risky business, as many high profile figures have discovered to their peril.

And it's not just the matter of being caught with their trousers around their ankles either (if you'll pardon the expression) - there is also the risk of public humiliation and professional suicide, not to mention the devastating effect on family relationships. Such scandals involving prostitutes can cause untold damage to a person's life, yet surprisingly, there are still those who continue to risk everything in the face of temptation.

Most of us will remember the distraught images of Hugh Grant a few years ago when he was publicly slaughtered in the press following his arrest for lewd conduct with Hollywood prostitute Divine Brown in Los Angeles: http://www.cnbc.com/id/27653548/27459849?slide=9

(And by the way - this shot of him looking particularly pleased with himself was taken before the event - not after!). But whilst his professional career did not appear to suffer much as a result, his previously apparantly happy relationship with long-time girlfriend Liz Hurley did, and it led to their eventual split some time later.

But he's not the only high-profile figure who has succumbed to the temptation over the years either, there are plenty more where he came from!

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was forced to resign from his job after being identified as 'client 92' in a prostitution ring: http://www.cnbc.com/id/27653548/27459849?slide=2

(Mind you - with ears like that, is it any surprise?)

And religious leader Jimmy Swaggart also faced damnation after he fell into temptation! : http://www.cnbc.com/id/27653548/27459849?slide=4 But in today's advanced technological climate in which an abundance of pornographic images are so readily available at the click of a mouse button for just about anyone who might be looking for a cheap thrill, what is it about prostitution that attracts people to it to such an extent that they are prepared to risk losing everything?

Some might suggest that prostitution simply provides a useful service in order to fulfill a basic human biological need, and that it is a convenient way of aquiring sex without the emotional attachments of a relationship, and an article on the BBC website suggests that this is very often the case: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7257623.stm

However, whilst this seems to be the situation some of the time, it nevertheless, seems unlikely in others. In the case of Hugh Grant, for instance, given the fact that he was a highly successful actor and quite wealthy, a man in his position would have experienced little difficulty in obtaining sex whenever he wanted it, and indeed, there would have been no shortage of women who would have been only too happy to oblige. This would suggest the fact that he did it for reasons other than just sex alone.

However, what ever the reasons are for the fact that so meny men still use prostitutes today, whether it be for excitement, sexual gratification or to satisfy that otherwise unfulfilled biologogical need, the fact is, they will continue to do it as they always have done and the industry will continue to thrive as a result.

Perhaps it might just be another example of the fact that mankind wants to behave badly. The excitement of being caught, the physical attraction of prostitutes and the sexually-charged belief that prostitution is a bad thing, might all be just too much for some people to resist!

Week 12 - Adrenaline Junkies

For week 12, I suggest a class session on the subject of 'Adrenaline Junkies'.

To some of us, it seems a pointless and dangerous waste of time, however, there are lots of people out there who do it.

There are companies who make a living from providing the ultimate white-knuckle experience, and indeed, many of us will remember how Jack Osbourne recently hosted a television series which was actually called 'Adrenaline Junkies' which was about just that!

But what drives people to do such risky and potentially life threatening activities?

What makes them tick...?

And how does this compare with other types of behaviour which have previously been discussed...?

Who is the baddest nation on the planet?

Tuesday, 23rd February, 2010

It's Tuesday afternoon on yet another freezing cold day, and as I sit and scour the headlines on my laptop hoping to find some juicy titbits of gossip to get my teeth into, the PM's misery is once more splattered all across the news reports in every direction. Poor old Gordon - with bullying allegations and treachery in the ranks once again, it's not been a good week - no wonder he looks so miserable.


















But let's be honest - on the grand scale of one to ten - how serious is this? Is it not just possible that we, as a nation, might just be er... over-reacting ever so slightly? After all, we've all got our faults.

But seriously, during a week which has seen politicians squirming in their seats and celebrities dumping their philandering husbands right left and centre, what better time than now to reflect on how bad we are as a nation on the whole. Whether we're plagued with idleness, lustful thoughts, or just plain greed, all of us are sinners in one form or another.


















In a recent study which included separate categories for lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride, the most sinful nations of the world were revealed.

The results showed that whilst the US topped the table for gluttony, South Africa came first for wrath, South Korea was at the top for lust and Mexico scored the highest in the greed category. Meanwhile, Iceland was top of the league for pride and being bone idle, and Australia scored the highest for envy. The good news, however, is the fact that Britain failed to come top in any of the seven categories, and it was given a very respectable sixth place overall.

So who IS the most sinful country of all?

Answer: The country that was ranked first overall in the study of the seven deadly sins which included - and let's just gloat for a moment whilst we remind ourselves again - lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and last but by no means least - pride, yes folks, you've guessed it - Australia.

It's official - the Aussies are the most sinful nation in the world! (Something which might be worth considering next time you're thinking of heading down under!!).

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Australia-most-sinful-nation-in-the-world-Study/articleshow/5512210.cms

'Born to Sin .......?'

Saturday,20th February, 2010.

It's Saturday morning, 01.35 am, and as usual, after having over-indulged in the traditional Friday night Balti, consequently, I am now having tremendous difficulty in sleeping. Oh well, surely I must be entitled to let my hair down a little every now and then? OK, fair enough, so it's not just now and then - it's every weekend - I admit it! So what - I'm human, and being bad is a human condition -right?

Anyway, enough about the Balti. As I look back over the past week's events, my thoughts wander back to a little group of smokers huddled together on the edge of the footpath who I pass every morning and afternoon on my way in and out of the university. I am also conscious of the fact that it is not so very long ago, that I would have been squashed up amoungst the best of them - puffing away for England. In the immortal words of Maurice Chevalier "Ah yes, I remember it well". There I would have stood braving the freezing temperatures - and all for the sake of a few heavenly, wonderful, magnificently sensuous, drags on the old Benson & Hedges!

Anyway, that was then, and this is now. I've quit, it's as simple as that - and it was easy - I don't know what all the fuss is about - seriously - I've successfully kicked the habit loads of times!

Despite the government's continual drive to try to reduce the number of smokers in the UK, according to a report published in the Guardian dated 10th February 2010, there is an estimated 21% of the population in England who still smoke. What's more, despite a general awareness that we are actually causing ourselves harm, we as a nation, keep coming back for more time and time again. And so the debate smoulders on - sorry!)

So, why do we smoke? And what makes us do it despite the fact that we are all now fully aware of the serious health risks involved? It would seem to suggest the fact that there is a much more powerful force at work than mere common sense and rational thought alone.

A recent report 'Born to sin', written by Andy Ridgeway and Paul Parsons,( BBC Focus Magazine,February, 2010), (http://www.bbcfocusmagazine.com/feature/psychology/science-siny/science-sin), suggests that nature actually wants us to behave badly, which is why we actually enjoy the things which we know are bad. Researchers at Northwestern University, Illinois, claim that the evolutionarily ancient limbic system that is buried deep within our brains fires up when we see something we take a fancy to and certain structures, such as the nucleus accumbens, involved in pleasure and craving, are at the heart of that system. This then involves feelings of lust which the researchers claim is the enjoyable face of sin, and there's an obvious reason for this - it's Mother Nature's way of encouraging us to take an interest in procreation in order to pass on our genes.

Therefore, it would apprear that being bad is an innate human characteristic, and that the ever-powerful, all - consuming force which is at play here is NATURE. In other words, as the article suggests, we are 'wired for sin' . The research might also provide the key to why so many people, such as myself, have great difficulty in sticking to their abstinence once they have quit their nasty little habits! The answer lies deep within our brains, so guess what - it's not our fault - we were born like it! And as a result, the attraction of being bad will always be there.

Then, as if this uphill battle against Mother Nature was not difficult enough, the media has done nothing over the last few decades to stem the spread of the habit amoungst society either. For those of us who are old enough to remember, back in the 'good old days' of the 1940s when everyone smoked, we all experienced the coolness and sex appeal of Marilyn Monroe who tantalizingly puffed away on the big screen, whilst sexspot Ernie Kovacs hardly ever appeared without something seductively sticking out of his mouth.

Also, in more recent times, we have drooled over images of heart-throb Will Smith partaking in such pleasures in 'Independence Day' as a little 'reward' following his victory over the aliens in their quest to annihilate mankind.

Therefore, it comes as no great surprise that we too want to 'light up' when the 'fat lady' sings'! After all, if it's acceptable for our screen gods and goddesses to do it looking like that, then what's to stop us ordinary mortals from following suit?

The fact is, although the media does little to prevent us from falling into destructive and potentially harmful behavioural patterns, scientific advances are now just beginning to shed new light on the reasons why we, as human beings, behave in the way that we do - which brings us to ask the ultimate fundamental question of whether we are, in fact, as the article suggests, 'born to sin'.