Do you think Americans today are more isolated due to technology?

I do believe that Americans are more isolated today because of technology. We no longer have to speak to people in person, there are so many different ways to communicate. This is good and bad. It's good to be able to get a hold of someone through email, text, or social media because you are bound to get a quicker response. There is no need to go out of your way to speak to or call someone.  You don't have to call and create small talk that leads up to the purpose of why you called. That is also why it's bad.

Due to the advanced technology we use today, there is little need to speak to people in person. Because of this, we lose people skills. It becomes awkward when you try to talk to someone in person. Making a bad impress at a job interview can prevent people from getting jobs and experiencing different opportunities. We become dependent on technology and don't really have a need for other people anymore. A phone or computer can do just about the same things as a person. This isolates us from society. On a computer or phone you can find information, answers to questions, and talk/see other people.

Nature vs. Nurture

After listening to a podcast on nature vs. nurture, I agree with the nurture side of the debate. How you are raised and the environment you grow up in has a lot to do with who you become. Everyone is different because they come from different backgrounds. The lessons our parents instill within us when we are young stick with us and shape the person we become.

Someone who grew up in a high class neighborhood normally does not end up the same as someone who grew up in a lower class neighborhood with less opportunities. I think the where and how you are raised plays a big part in how turn out. It's not just because of nature.

Hugh Laurie's "America" sketch on BBC

After watching Hugh Laurie's sketch on BBC, my sociology class was told to analyze how American culture looked to the British audience. The sketch started out with Hugh Laurie dressed in plaid, hair kinda messy with something tied around his forehead. Even before he started singing the audience giggled just from their reaction to his clothing, which probably seemed somewhat silly to them due to the culture difference.

He sat at the piano, very serious looking, and started to play. By singing the same word (America) repeatedly throughout the song, it almost made it seem like Americans were "simple" when it comes to everything including music. He switched half way through the song and began to sing "The States", obviously another name for America, showing that "simple" side to the thought put into the song. While singing, Laurie made funny expressions that certain American rock groups would make. he also uses different techniques with his voice like a raspy slide/moan to emphasize the serious tone of the song. At the end of the song, he is punched, ending the sketch.

The audience reacted most to the lyrics and facial expressions made. The audience laughed at most of the little quirky things that Laurie did to poke fun at American music and culture. I, personally, did not find the sketch offensive or rude because it's just a comedy show. Shows like that make fun of most cultures. That's why they're funny! They make fun of everyone and everything.

Stanford Prison Experiment

After recently learning about the Stanford Prison Experiment for my sociology class, I think the experiment was unethical. When I first began reading about it, I thought it was ethical because they were all volunteers. The more I read and the more videos I watched, I became shocked at what was taking place in this "prison".

Once the prison guards became comfortable with their roles, things got out of hand. Prisoners were becoming numbers rather than people, guards were becoming overly aggressive, and even the doctors conducting the experiment were taking their roles too seriously. The experiment only lasted six days opposed to the intended two weeks. If the experiment was not unethical then they wouldn't have ended it so soon.