Kids

This is just a quick blog, in week 7, which was bad cinema, the film we watched was called ‘kids’, and is a 1995 American drama film. I have to say this film was not what I expected at all, some of the concepts in it were quite shocking. The original version of the film was rated NC-17, in the US, but was later released without a rating. It has been described as a ‘wake-up call to the modern world’ about modern day youth, but also as ‘child pornography’.
The film is centred on relatively young teenagers, and having read several reviews, it appears that the film is very controversial, and has somewhat mixed responses to it. The movie has a lot of explicit sexual dialogue, and has scenes of date rape, physical violence, drug dealing, theft, seduction of barely post-pubertal minors, as well as the dangers of HIV.
It is saddening to think that, this is really a true interpretation of what goes on with teenagers.
I found an article on the times online, which asks the question, ‘Are you afraid of teenagers?’, which talks about modern day teenagers, and they really don’t seem as bad as they are made out http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article5348227.ece

Lying with integrity

Lying can simple be defined as not telling the truth or intentionally giving out wrong information. People lie for different reasons, mainly to protect themselves, look good, gain financially or socially and avoid punishment.
Lying is rarely a good thing to do, and more often than not nothing is gained from it. Lying can often get worse with the passage of time, when you get away with a lie; it can compel you to carry on telling them.
‘White’ lies are used by almost everyone; these types of lies normally told to protect someone’s feelings and are not a big deal at all. Lies are often told to children in particular, where they are used to either protect or entertain them, the most common example of a lie to entertain is ‘Santa Claus’.
The worst types of lies are those where people get hurt, normally innocent people. Although I do not necessarily agree the world would be a better place if everyone always told the truth, as the truth can also hurt people. The worst part of a lie is the deceit and the sense of betrayal.
Other types of lies include, lying about something bad, or sinful you’ve done (infidelity), lying in people’s best interests, political lies (propaganda), throwing a ‘sickie’, benefit fraud, and lying to protect yourself and others.
Political lies are considered a good thing, and it would be somewhat immoral for politicians not to lie. We consider the truth as a good thing, but why is telling the truth more important than preserving family life? If one partner cheats, and it’s a one off would it not be better to not say anything and save the family, only if it became compulsive, then something needs to be said?
I believe that honesty is the best policy; no-one likes a liar. Although I can’t see the harm with the odd white lie, there are other more important values than telling the truth. So should the truth always come first? Some would empirically believe that a lie should never be told, but I consider some lies understandable.

I found this article useful http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4072816/

This picture was called 'The morality of lying', so thought it would be
appropriate.

masturbation

I think people either found this lecture funny or embarrassing, there’s something about the topic which makes feel kind of taboo, even though it shouldn’t really.
Masturbation is the self stimulation of the genitals to achieve sexual arousal and pleasure. It is a very common practice, in one national study 95% of males and 89% of females reported that they had masturbated. As well as feeling good masturbation also helps relieve the sexual tension that builds up over time. Masturbation is a normal part of growing up, as children explore their body, and is something that will often be continued throughout adult life.
A common misconception is that masturbation is purely a male thing, this is not true, as was proved with the examples given in the lecture. I was surprised to learn that only in fact one was male, I thought a lot more were male! It does appear to be a more dominated thing though, think how many names guys have for it in comparison to girls.
Despite once being considered as perversion and a sign of a mental problem it is now regarded as a normal, healthy sexual activity, which is pleasant, fulfilling, acceptable and safe. In general, it is considered to be a natural and harmless expression of sexuality. It certainly does not send you blind as once suggested!
In my opinion masturbation is not really bad behaviour. I think it can only cause harm or offence to people, if someone were to do it in public, or if it were to become compulsive to an individual to the extent, that it interfered with their daily activities. As long as it’s done in people’s private space, then what’s the problem?
I mostly used this site to find my information
http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide

An example of an masturbation prevention device. It is one of a number of similar devices invented in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries to prevent masturbation. Until the early 1900s, many people regarded masturbation as harmful to a person's health, and it was blamed for a variety of ailments, including insanity.

www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/.../I025/10287396.aspx

Infidelity

Cheating can be anything from kissing someone else while in a relationship to cheating while married.

I don't agree with cheating at all, and i'd kill my boyfriend if he ever cheated on me (not literally of course) but he definately wouldn't be my boyfriend anymore, he'd be dumped!

Saying that though, i will admit to kissing other people while being in a relationship in the past, but i'd never do it again. I was younger, and i've definately grown up and realised its just not very nice!

The one thing out of the lecture i agree with though, is that if people are happy in a relationship would they cheat? The answer to me is obviously no, so there must be issues to start with. Although this in no way excuses it. problems should be discussed cheating is not the answer.

The fact is though that on most occassions nothing good can come out of cheating, adultery can jeparadize your family's safety, if your lover refuses to keep quiet, and leave you alone once you have finished with them. It was also pointed out all the bad involved in cheating

• lying


• scheming or calculating


• knowing others vulnerabilities and using them to ones advantage


• Hypocrisy


• Keeping up apperances


• Selfishness


• Taking risks

I found this link good http://www.womensinfidelity.com/ because it explained that women cheat as much as men.

general bad behaviour

A few weeks ago we had a lecture on some general things which are considered bad, where things such as shoplifting, prostitution and stalking were mentioned. So i thought i'd share my views on them.

With shoplifting, i think you get three sorts of people, those who will steal at any opportunity, those who only would if they were desperate, and those who wouldn't under any circumstance.

To some extent i think although i may not agree with it i can understand why some people steal, if its the only way to put food on the table for example. The thing i seriously don't get though is why Celebrities steal? or those who can afford to pay? Do they get some kind of good feeling, an Adrenaline rush? I found a link which asks the question, 'why do stars steal?' http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Story?id=4490812&page=1 which was pretty good.

Prostitution is another one i don't agree with but can understand why some people feel they need to do it. Again if thats the only way you can get something you need, in this case money, then people are going to do it. I do feel they should actually make this legal in some way because at least then the girls, or boys? will be safe, in a controlled secure environment.

Stalking is the one i don't agree with at all. i'd be completely freaked out if someone was following my every move, so i can imagine it would be really scary, and i don't think anyone should have to go through it! However i do think that whoever is doing the stalking should be given help, because theres obviously a reason for this behaviour. I found this site interesting http://www.stalkingbehavior.com/