Cultural Assimilation in a Card Game?

In class we did an interesting activity in which the class was seperated into groups of four in which we learned the rules of a card game. Once the rules were understood we were supposed to play the game silently. Then the groups were switched up, the winners and losers rotated to different tables leaving two of the original people at each table. After the new tables were assembled the silent games begun. It soon became apparent that some of the new groups were struggling. We found out that each table had learned different rules! The responses or in some cases the lack there of were so interesting. Some of the tables had given up on being silent where as others were motioning vigorously. Additionaly, others were silent; either paused in confusion or some of the players had given into the others rules. What was the deciding factor in these dynamics? Was it the ratio of players who knew what variation of the rules or was it simply based on the personality of the players? The activity was a great simulation of what it must be like to be in a different culture with a language barrier. An article on wikipedia discussing cultural assimilation explains models to reasons why assimilation does or doesnt occur it is interesting it contrast to the activity we did in class and our discussion of mores and taboos!

You Would....

Everyone categorizes and judges others. Inversely everyone has also been categorized and judged. In class, while discussing whether or nor it is appropriate to categorize or judge, we read a poem called "The Cookie Thief," In this poem a woman falsely characterizes a man and never stops to question her oppinion or her actions. Situations like the poem happen all the time and are so common most are not even aware. It is common to hear the words gay or retarded used in a derogatory manner. When people use these words they may just be kidding, or not. But either way the words mean something very real. Using these words in that context is generalizing a certain sexual orientation and a condition as negative. Even generalizations and judgements less obvious than that happen alll the time; it is common to hear people responding to somebody by saying "you would" this is judging them...Generalizations are going to happen no matter what but its important to not judge...the generalizations must be fair and backed by evidence.

Who Stays & Who Goes?

In class we did an activity in which people were assigned roles such as sailors, doctors, poets, athletes, etc. each role was very specific as to describing the character, their assets, and their limits. Then we were told that our characters were on a ocean liner which was struck by a left over mine from World War 2. We are on an overcrowded lifeboat designed to hold 9 but there are 16 people aboard. Now we have to decide who will be thrown overboard so we can survive and not sink in an oncoming storm.

After we had made the decisions we had to analyze why we chose to throw who we did over. This led into a discussion of macro vs. microsociology. As far as the Macrosociology perspective goes; as an American culture we seem to value health, youth, and usefulness. The people who were thrown off of the boat tended to be injured, old, or not have anything to offer or a combonation of the previously mentioned. If you thought about how this activity would have occured differently in another country such as certain asian cultures value their elders more then their youth. Micro focuses more on the ongoings of smaller areas like the classroom or the school. Were certain people volunteering to leave because there friends had left? probably!

It was so interesting to look at why we made our decisions and see how we are affected on both a large and small scale by the stuff happening around us. Additionally, it was interesting to think about how this experiment was soooo consistent in the results of who was voted off year after year.

Gang Leader for a Day...

For homework we read a passage out of this book, "Gang Leader for a Day," I had already read this book for my econoomics class. After re-reading this passage with a sociological mindset it was so interesting how much the article had to offer. When reading it previously the questions that the author kept interjecting about what he was describing seemed distracting if not pointless. Re-reading it the questions had so much to offer about how his experiment was developing and the difference between the two categories of sociologists: those that study by using quantitative and statistical techniques and those that study life by direct observation(Ethnographers). This passage also provided great information on the positives and negatives of each method of studying sociology.