Benefit Fraud

The council is responsible for paying out millions of pounds each year in housing and council tax benefit on approximately 8000 claims. These benefits are paid for from money collected from council and income tax. This means that every taxpayer is paying more for people who are claiming benefit when they shouldn't’t. Its estimated that benefit fraud costs the average taxpayer £70 a year, with a national cost in benefit fraud of over £1.5 billion!

Sometimes people do not give correct details, so get more benefit or reduce the amount of rent and council tax they pay. Fraud is committed when a person who is claiming benefit does not give their full circumstances when they first claim, or else don’t inform of any changes to their circumstances once a claim is made. It should be remembered all types of people, young and old, disabled or fit may commit fraud.

Having had to pay tax in a job before uni, and seeing how much it takes out of your wages, benefit fraud really annoys me! To know that we have to pay more than we should because of people who can't tell the truth really winds me up! People who benefit fraud are obviously attracted to the extra money, but their behavior is unreasonable and immoral. Other people have to suffer as a result, and can they really walk round with their heads hold high knowing they are a liar, and could be caught out at any moment?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/BenefitFraud/index.htm?cids=Google_PPC&cre=Money

http://www.benefitfraud.org.uk/

Comment on Bad rappers blog

http://in-the-river.blogspot.com/2009/02/gangster-rappers-wannabe-bad.html?showComment=1241038380000#c4201430285558739815

I agree that rappers are not bad people in themselves, but unfortunately their 'bad' music has a huge impact on the youth of today. The things that some artist rap about as mentioned glorifying guns, fighting, and stealing are bad things, and it is wrong that they are placed in such a positive light.

I don't see why they can't rap about good things, and give youngsters a positive role model. I completely agree about crosses and crucifixes representing a 'bad' life style, as a Christian also I find it immoral that it is representing something it was never attended to.

Rappers should use the influence they have on youngsters positively, rap about good things and send out positive images.

Euthanasia

Euthanasia is a question of rights. Does an individual who has no hope of recovery have the right to decide how and when to end their life?

Those who are in favour of euthanasia argue that a civilised society should allow people to die with dignity and not in pain, and others should be allowed to help them if they are not able to manage this by themselves. They argue that our bodies are our own, and so it is up to us to do what we want with them, therefore making it wrong to make people live longer than they want to.

In actual fact forcing people to continue living when they don’t want to violates their personal freedom and human rights. They consider it to be immoral to make people continue living in suffering and pain. Finally they say that as suicide Is not a crime, than euthanasia should not be a crime either.

On the other hand, religious opponents believe that Life is a gift from God, and therefore it is God who decides when to end it. Others against it fear that if euthanasia was made legal, the laws allowing it would be abused, and people who didn’t really want to die would be killed.
Euthanasia is illegal in most countries, although doctors do sometimes carry it is out even when it is illegal, is this right?

In Britain, euthanasia is illegal, to kill another person is murder, even if the person asks you to kill them.

It is also a criminal offence in Britain, punishable by 14 years' imprisonment, to assist, aid or counsel somebody in relation to taking their own life.
(Legal position stated at March 2002)

The Times (24 January 2007) reported that, according to the 2007 British Social Attitudes survey, 80% of the public said they wanted the law changed to give terminally ill patients the right to die with a doctor's help.
In the same survey, 45% supported giving patients with non-terminal illnesses the option of euthanasia. "A majority" was opposed to relatives being involved in a patient's death.

I’m against euthanasia, simply because i consider it to be murder, and i personally would never be able to assist anyone in it. However i can understand why some people would because it must be difficult to watch someone close to you in so much pain. Euthanasia is immoral and unreasonable behavior because it is not right to help someone take their lives. In euthanasias favour, often it is only commited to those who ask and are in a huge amount of pain and people are attracted to it because it helps people escape it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia/

Comment on Dave's profiteering Blog

http://davefoxbeingbad.blogspot.com/2009/03/profiteering.html?showComment=1240939800000#c8722571620203333183


This is something that winds me up as well! Especially if it is something you really want to go and see, and the only way is to pay way over the odds, because people who never really wanted to go have bought all the tickets!

I agree that it is completely unreasonable to sell tickets for such a huge profit. I think there should be some kind of law to stop people being able to do it. They should definitely limit the amount of tickets an individual can buy, I’m not sure if they do this already?

Then again if people are stupid enough to pay an obscene amount of money for something that retailed at far less than it's up to them. I certainly wouldn't!
28 April 2009 18:30

Media and Eating Disorders

Today’s society seems to have an unhealthy obsession with celebrities, in particular their weight and body shape, which is only perpetuated by the media, maybe it is even caused by the media?

The media certainly is constantly bombarding us with images of extremely thin celebrities. A current topic at the moment, seems to be celebrities having babies. After a celebrity has given birth, it appears to be a race to loose weight, and just weeks after giving birth celebrities emerge looking impossibly skinny. This only adds to pressures to ‘normal’ mums to loose weight.

Having babies aside, celebrities are expected to look nothing less than perfect. This perfect look, is unachievable for most people, and can be a result of women (and men) feelings dissatisfied with their bodies, which can result in them making unhealthy diet choices. Dieting is a contributory factor in eating disorders, the most common two being anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa.

I think celebrities endeavour to look the way they do because of the immense pressure they face from the media to look good, and it is the media that then bombards the general public with images.

So is the media responsible for eating disorders? I don’t think it’s fair to answer this with a definite yes, as it is known that eating discords, can arise from a number of interrelated complex issues. These include psychological issues, family environment, genetic factors, life transitions,and perpetuating circumstances.

However the media certainly has an important role to play in the messages that impressionable young people receive about the cultural idea of physical perfection. The media clearly sends out the wrong message to people, and adds to pressure to be slim.

I think the media's behaviour is unreasonable and immoral, because of the effects it can have on an individuals life. People who read or see something in the media, could potentially end up with an eating disorder from the pressure it presents. To me this is completely unacceptable, people should not be put under such pressure.

http://www.disordered-eating.co.uk/causes-of-eating-disorders/media-and-eating-disorders.html

http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/anorexia/ANO_causes.html

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/campaigns/changingminds/mentaldisorders/anorexiabulimia.aspx

Comment On Rach's Blog on under age drinking

http://blogstop88.blogspot.com/2009/04/under-age-drinking.html?showComment=1240846320000#c33955809661331709


I don't agree with children drinking under age, because of the effects it can have on full grown adults let alone children! I also think that it may send out the wrong signal to children, that it's ok to drink, if they are being supplied it by their own parents. Although I remember my mum, letting me try beer when i was younger maybe 14, 15,i found it disgusting and it did put me off drinking until i was older. I never had the curiosity for it because i had tasted it, so maybe it can have a positive effect?

I think peer pressure has more of a contribution to underage drinking than your parents, if your friends drink you’re more likely to, especially if it means fitting in with the crowd.

I would agree it was more of a problem in schools than drug abuse, possibly because it is more easily available, and isn’t considered as bad as drugs. I think most people will have tried drinking, where as not the same can be said about drugs.
27 April 2009 16:32

Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy is rising in the UK (those aged between 13-19) and Britain has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in any country apart from America.

Just recently in the news, a 13 year old boy was reported to have fathered a child with his 15 year old girlfriend, this only adds to the importance of the problem. The government has said that it would place an extra £20m into schemes to help teenagers get better access to contraception and information on the risks of UN protected sex. This is based on evidence that showed it helped reduce teenage pregnancies, in places it was implemented, by up to 29%.

The £20.5m government support package includes:
• £7m for a new "contraceptive choices" media campaign to raise awareness of the different contraceptive options;
• £10m for local health services to ensure contraception is available "in the right places at the right time";
• £1m to support further education colleges develop and expand on-site contraception and sexual health; services – 80% of under-18 conceptions are among 16 to 17-year-olds;
• £2.5m to help develop a healthy college programme.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/feb/26/teenage-pregnancy-rise

Some teenagers may intend to get pregnant, but for the majority, as research shows it is accidental and unplanned. Most commonly as a result of broken condoms, contraceptive pills taken incorrectly, ‘withdrawing’ too late and also completely unprotected sex.

I personally don’t think teenage pregnancies are a good thing; it’s basically a child looking after a child. It’s a huge responsibly for the young mum, and takes away their own childhood.It can ruin your education, and prevent you being able to work as often as you would have liked, isn't it better to wait until you are in a secure position before having a baby?

I don’t think you can be mature enough at such a young age, and you don’t realize what you have let yourself in for until it happens. I’m not suggesting that all young mums are bad mums just that more often than not they may have been better to wait. I know people in this position who have said as much. I do however applaud, anyone who has had a baby at a young age, and brought them up. I am definitely in no rush to have a baby; I love my independence to much, just being able to do what I want when I want.

There are consequences to being a teenage parent

• Pregnant teenagers have an 80% dropout rate, and schools ''neither seek nor want an active role'' in dealing with the problem, as reported by the National Institute of Education.


• Around 40% of these parents are under 18 years old. Over 75% are unmarried, and most parenting teens do not have the economic or social resources to provide for themselves or their children.


• Additionally, teenage mothers are more likely to have more children in quick succession, limiting their life options even further than having only one child. (New York Times)

It is important to remember that is not just teenage mothers who have to face up to the consequence so to do teenage fathers.

• Teenage fathers usually have lower incomes, less education and more children than men who wait until the age of 20 to have children.


• One reason for this is that a teenager who has gets his girlfriend pregnant often drops out of school. "When they leave school, they head right for a low-paying job," says Amy Williams, the executive director of the Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting Project in San Francisco. (Time magazine)

Something definitely needs to be done to prevent so many unplanned teenage pregnancies.http://www.teenissues.co.uk/TeenagePregnancy.html

Comment on Tahira's blog on rape

http://taz-tahira.blogspot.com/2009/04/rape.html?showComment=1240601400000#c686898167607299188

I agree that rape is disgusting behaviour. There is absolute no excuse or reasoning for it, it’s one of the worst things that you can do to someone, to force them to have sex, or be involved in any other form of sexual activity.

The ways that people are forced into sex, as mentioned kidnap makes the whole situation even worse. It becomes two crimes not just one.

The types of people who do this, as said have no feelings at all towards anyone else. Anyone who commits such a crime, should be locked away for a very long time.

Bad Comedians

There are all kinds of comedians who are bad for different reasons. We have those who tell racists or sexiest jokes, and those who tell jokes that are just not funny, both kinds make them bad jokes. I have to say I’m not really the sort of person who finds comedians funny, other than Michael McIntyre of course!

The most common jokes, are stupid ethnic jokes, every society has someone in it that is classed as stupid, like the example used in the lecture of the stupid Walsall blokes.
‘Why are 17 Walsall blokes standing outside a nightclub?’
You have to been 18 to enter

I know not particularly funny, but you get the idea. A lot of comedians who tell these sorts of jokes, for example about the Walsall blokes, could well be from Walsall himself. The same could go for religious jokes, if they are joking about their own religion. This seems to make it more acceptable, that you can laugh at yourself, but obviously it is just a joke, you wouldn’t be talking about yourself like it seriously would you?

People tell these sorts of jokes because inevitably stupidity flourishes in modern societies. This is based on competition, rational, calculation, and technical innovation for stupidity which means failure and downfall of yourself and others alike. Ethnic Jokes also shift the responsibility for the world’s problems on to someone else.

The question is should we feel guilty about telling or laughing at such jokes?
Well in my opinion maybe not. Jokes by definition aren’t true. Jokes create comedy not be addressing ‘truths’ but structurally by creating contrasts and shifts in logic.
As the incongruity theory suggests humour is produced by the experience of a felt incongruity between what we know or expect to be the case, and what actually takes place in the gag. Jokes also hold no opinions.

Despite this I think, that if someone is purposely telling a racist, or a sexiest joke, which is going to clearly upset people, and this is the reasons it is being told. Then it is wrong. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that a joke told purely to make people laugh is OK, but jokes told to upset or discriminate against people, I don’t agree with at all! These types of Jokes are unreasonable, and immoral, it’s not right to make someone feel upset because of a joke, there meant to have the opposite effect. I do think that most people who tell jokes do so, only to make people laugh, it’s just the odd few who tell them for other reason’s and unfortunately ruin it for everyone.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/news/2004/10/04/14689.shtml This is a list of the funniest living comedian's.

Comment on Karens Obesity Blog

http://karen-summersun.blogspot.com/2009/03/obesity-is-child-abuse.html?showComment=1240521840000#c5656633250858318335

I also think that over feeding a child is just as bad as under feeding one. To me it’s a form of cruelty, to make a child feel as though they do not fit in, particularly at school, which can be a hard time for a child anyway, especially as there is no need for a child to feel like this.

Parents should take some responsibility if their child is overweight and i agree that they should be helped with making sure their child is living a healthy lifestyle, making sure they understand what their child should be eating, as well as making sure they get exercise. It is sad to think that parents have to be careful where they let their children out, because of the way our society is. Where's it going to end?

Speeding

Speeding drivers are one of the biggest hazards that are on the road. I think car companies are partly to blame for this. Why do they make cards that go as fast as 140 mph (or more), when the maxim speed limit in most places is between 60 and 70 mph?

There are several reasons why i consider speeding as bad for everyone. The faster you are going, the less time you have to react to a situation on the road, if you get a flat tire, you will go out of control if you are speeding. In fact in general speeding gives you much less control and traction, this is particularly made worse in wet or icy conditions. Speeding also means, that often there are times when braking is used in nerve racking situations. Speeding also uses more petrol or diesel, which as we know isn’t cheap we certainly can’t afford to waste it, not to mention the cost it will cause you if you are caught speeding by the police, or a speed camera. All this is without mentioning the accident's caused and lives it takes.

It was recently in the telegraph of new laws regarding speeding, drivers will be facing a ban
after only two speeding offences with penalty points being doubled to six for drivers who exceed the speed limit by 15mph in a 20mph or 30mph, or by 20mph in higher speed zones. The speed limit on A roads, will be reduced to 50mph, in an attempt to cut the number of road deaths by a third, and limits of 20mph on residential roads and near schools.

Research shows that pedestrians hit by a vehicle at 20mph have a far greater prospect of survival than those involved in collisions at 30mph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/5197013/More-speed-cameras-planned-for-UK-roads.html

I think these ideas are good, as anything that reduces the amount of deaths is surely a good thing. I consider speeding as an example of bad behaviour because of the effects that it has on pedestrians, other motorists and the environment. As a driver it is up to you to be aware of what is going on around you, this is not only to protect yourself but others as well. If we speed we are not only breaking the law, but also potentially putting peoples lives in danger as well as our own.

Speeding is dangerous and unreasonable behaviour. People can only be attracted to the idea, for two reasons i can think of a) They are in a hurry or b) They are showing off there car

However my opinion is that unless you have some kind of medical emergency, drive the speed limit. It's safer for everyone, and could save lives.

http://www.helium.com/items/154076-driver-safety-the-dangers-of-speeding

Comment on Claire's Blog on Drinking Whilst Pregnant

http://claire-cee.blogspot.com/2009/04/drinking-whilst-pregnant.html?showComment=1240411920000#c5462370883379810935


I agree that the woman was right to refuse to serve the pregnant woman. I don't agree with drinking while pregnant at all, can you not go 9 months without an alcoholic drink for the sake of your baby?

If it was in the woman’s pub, than it was her business, who she serves, and if she was not happy with the situation, then as far as I am concerned she was well within her rights not to serve her. I agree that she shouldn't have to accept behaviour she disagrees with.

I also agree that the woman drinking was completely irresponsible, and should be more concerned about her baby, than having a drink! I think it’s definitely worse the woman attempting to drink while pregnant, than the woman asking her to leave.
22 April 2009 15:52

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees rising is something that really rubs me up the wrong way! They are already expensive enough, about 3,000 a year, so even if the only loan we take out is for tuition fees the minimum debt we would be in is 9,000. Of course though we all know this isn’t the end of money needed to be paid out for university. If we are required to live in halls we can add another 3, ooo, shared houses can easily equal the same amount if not more. If you travel in, for your lectures, than you have to consider parking, and petrol money. You get the idea.

Vice chancellors at some top universities have called for university fees to double. A study comissioned by university UK suggests that if fees were raised to £7,000 a year, than a graduate in 2016 would have 32,400 worth of debt after three years of study. To me this is an astronomical amount of money.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/University-Fees-Rise-Students-Will-Leave-Unis-If-Fees-Double-A-Report-Says/Article/200903315242756?lid=ARTICLE_15242756_UniversityFeesRise:StudentsWillLeaveUnisIfFeesDouble,AReportSays&lpos=searchresults

There have been dire warnings that imposing fees on students would close university to poorer families. Those in favour of fees argue that it is irresistibly fairer that those who benefit from higher education should make a contribution.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7933341.stm

To me increasing tuition fees is bad behaviour, it is unreasonable behaviour. In its favour all that can be said is that education should improve, I think the idea is more attractive to those who will be making money from it, rather than the people who really matter- the students. It will prevent some people from being able to go to university, which is wrong because they are trying to do something to better their life, and now the opportunity would be taken away. Even those from more fortunate families would be left with a huge amount of debt, not something anyone wants. I can understand that we can’t expect to go to university and pay nothing, but in my opinion what we are paying is enough!

Comment on C.Scott's Incest Blog

http://chezsbadness.blogspot.com/2009/02/incest.html?showComment=1240339800000#c703716160063133691

I too can't understand how you can fancy a member of your family, it’s just wrong! You’re just not meant to look at your family in that way.

Certain things are not bad, because there are rules against them. There are rules against them because they are bad. It's a matter of cause and effect, strange birth defects, intense emotional and spiritual complications, big social problems down the road - who needs it?

The only time I can sympathise with the situation is at times when people don’t know they are related. I agree though, that someone who you have been calling family the whole of your life is completely different, and it is immoral.

Child Abuse

It was recently in the news about a volunteer who was jailed for child abuse. He was a volunteer for st. Johns ambulance, who sexually abused one girl cadet, and attempted to engage in sexual acts with two others.

I find this behaviour disgusting, especially as it was from a man who was trusted by the children, it is completely taking advantage of his position. The punishment he received was an eight month prison sentence which i don’t think is long enough, because the effects he had on them children, can last a lifetime. He also had an order to sign on the sex offenders register for 10 years, which is only right he should do. Although in my opinion it should be for life, as once you have done it once you are capable of it again. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8008965.stm

Child abuse can take four different forms, all of which cause long term damage to a child, this are
Physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and sexual abuse. Bullying and domestic violence, are also forms of child abuse.

A child may be experiencing abuse if he or she is:
· frequently dirty, hungry or inadequately dressed
· left in unsafe situations or without medical attention
· constantly "put down", insulted, sworn at or humiliated
· seems afraid of parents or carers
· severely bruised or injured
· displays sexual behaviour which doesn't seem appropriate for their age
· growing up in a home where there is domestic violence
· living with parents or carers involved in serious drug or alcohol abuse

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/HelpAndAdvice/WhatChildAbuse/whatischildabuse_wda36500.html

I find all types of child abuse completely unacceptable. Parents who treat their children in such appalling ways, don't deserve to have them, and anyone in a position of responsibility towards children (teachers, youth workers etc) should take their roles seriously, and not break trust that they build with the children.

I find child abuse bad on several levels. The behaviour is unreasonable and immoral towards an innocent child. I can only think that people who treat children in this way, either had a bad upbringing themselves, or just had children when not really wanting them. This would explain the lack of maternal instincts, or a desire to protect their children. Alternatively those who sexual abuse, must have health issues themselves to treat children in this way, this could also be the case with parents. Either way children do not deserve to be treated this way, and anyone who does should be punished.

Comment on Jade's Stalking Blog

http://jaydee89.blogspot.com/2009/02/stalking.html?showComment=1240263660000#c8252263402109950819

I agree that it depends how bad the stalking is, as to how bad it is. I mean if it’s just a case of going somewhere you know someone may be, or checking their face book profiles or something, it's not that bad. The other person probably won't even notice what you are doing. Not that I have done this!However if the stalking becomes obsessive, as in everywhere you go, someone is behind you. I can imagine this is very frightening, and is an invasion of privacy. I completely agree that the whole thing is a waste of time. Following someone around, is going to get you nowhere, all you will achieve is end up freaking the person out. Not to mention, as pointed out, a criminal record, and restraining order. When taken to far, stalking, is unreasonable and can be potentially be dangerous, to the victim of the stalking.

Gambling

I don’t think there is any harm in gambling now and then, the problem comes when it becomes more than just a bad habit. Gambling begins as a bad habit, something to do in your spare time, but it quickly becomes part of your routine, and becomes and all encompassing and hard to break addiction, that rules your life.

There are very few people that have any kind of understanding of the devastating impact that a habit of gambling can have. Gambling is one habit that if it gets a hold on you, it takes over your entire life. It wrecks your marriage, alienates your family, leaves you in financial ruin and destroys your life. Just as alcohol abuse is gambling is often a root cause for domestic violence and child abuse.

It is bad for your health, and the truly addicted can suffer depression, insomnia, intestinal disorders, migraine and other stress related problems, according to a new study.
For one per cent of gamblers who are hooked on their vice, this is a significant public health problem, which can even lead to suicide.

Among slot machine obsessed adolescents, the rate of problem gambling rises to two per cent, according to Mark Griffiths, a professor of gambling studies at Nottingham Trent University.
He suggests that the forthcoming changes to gambling legislation in the UK should also be accompanied by health professionals that Britain’s 300, 00 problem gamblers have health issues that need to be taken more seriously.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/15929.php

I consider gambling as unhealthy, because of the implications it can have on your health. It can also be an unreasonable and imprudent practice, particularly to those who are closest to you, and have to live with the consequences of your actions. I think people are attracted to the idea of gambling because of the thrill, and rush that it gives them, at the possibility of winning huge sums of money. In their favour, if it is controlled it can be an enjoyable experience. However if it is not the impact it has on your life can be devastating.

Sun Beds

I have to say I used to use sun beds quite a lot at one point, but I read up on them after people constantly telling me they give you cancer and stopped using them. Nowadays I am either really white, or now and again I will have a bash at the fake tan, normally resulting in a streaky mess, right before I am going out.
It has been recently discovered that the most serious type of skin cancer melanoma, which is fatal if not discovered and treated quickly, has an increased risk, in people who start using the sun beds under 35 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7620841.stm
Health organisations do not encourage the use of sun beds, because constant use can cause skin damage from the ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Tans from sun beds are considered more dangerous, than a natural tan from the sun, as the UV radiation penetrates deeper into the skin.
It is recommended that the following people avoid sun beds completely:
Those under 16
Those with very fair skin
Those who burn easily or who tan badly
Those with lots of freckles and moles
Those who have had skin cancer or have a family history of the illness
Those using medication that could make their skin oversensitive to UV light
When using a sun bed you run the risk of getting:
Certain types of skin cancer
Premature aging or wrinkles
Eye damage
A reduced immune system
Although some people may not consider sun beds to be bad, the use of sun beds is a dangerous and unhealthy practice. People are attracted to them for the obvious reasons, everyone feels better with a tan, but unfortunately other than looking brown, there is nothing else in their favour.
http://www.connexions-direct.com/index.cfm?catalogueContentID=308&pid=105&render=detailedArticle

In the short term you could end up with dry itchy skin, burns, and in extreme cases even heat stroke. If you don't wear the protective goggles, you can also end up with eye irritation or conjunctivitis . In the long term, you could get cancer, premature ageing and cataracts. http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/dear-miriam/css/32sunbedALAMY020309.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/dear-miriam/2009/03/sunbeds-wont-give-you-a-health.html&usg=__dOtAJAIVANxJIOkOZWnnL47iKuU=&h=300&w=550&sz=37&hl=en&start=143&um=1&tbnid=hkK3O4HbDv6_XM:&tbnh=73&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsunbed%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26start%3D126%26um%3D1

Prostitution

I was watching the news last night, and the new laws regarding prostitution was on, where it will be made a criminal offence to have sex with prostitutes who are controlled by pimps. The legislation is an attempt to protect women who are forced into the trade. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7988834.stm

I think this is a good idea in theory, but doubt that it will have much success in practice, as the article suggests it will be very hard to get enough evidence.

I can see both sides to prostitution. I think that illegal prostitution is bad, because of the diseases that are transmitted, the sex slaves, and the violence, that comes with it. Legal prostitution is OK, as long as there are enough legal regulations in place (such as in Amsterdam) to keep the prostitutes disease free. They are there of their own free will, and it is violence free, I don’t see what the problem is. I also think it might stop rape, as surely people would prefer to pay rather than end up in prison. It could give thousands of people on benefits jobs, only if they wanted to do this job.

All in all, it’s one of the oldest ways of earning money, and I don’t think your going to get people to stop. So rather it been seen as seedy, it should be cleaned up, because in black and white it’s just like any other job, you provide something that people want, and get paid for it. It just needs to be safely legalised with monitored brothels etc.

Despite saying all this I personally would never be able to do this for a living, because to me you loose your dignity, and self respect. I just can understand that for some people, they either have no other choice, or enjoy it for a job, and for these people i think it needs to be made safe.
It does involve all sorts of being bad:

• Taking risks (danger and health)


• Lying to others about your job


• physical, mental and emotional violence

This article about real life prostitution http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3840977.stm put things into perspective, and just re literates the need for changes.

Comment on Sam's Stealing Blog

http://skel88.blogspot.com/2009/03/stealing_18.html?showComment=1239123420000#c2273129266525794419

I’ve never stolen anything in my life either, and I never would. I think the main reason for this is that I have too much of a fear of getting caught, and would hate to be branded a thief. I’d much rather work and save up for anything I wanted, rather than have a criminal record, or even if I got away with it, you are still left with a sense of guilt, and you will eventually get caught anyway.Stealing from family and friends is a big NO for me as well! Then again people, who do steal from family and friends, normally have some sort of problem, such as drug, or drink dependences, which is no excuse, but makes me thankful, that I am not in their desperate position, where they need these things regardless of the consequences. To me there is no positive about stealing, just earn things for yourself! Then you can proudly walk round with what you own, knowing, that you have it purely because you worked for it.

Jade Goody

As the death of Jade Goody, is a very topical subject at the moment, i decided to read up on it, and found a very relevant article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7987426.stm, in which Sir Michael Parkinson discusses the medias treatment of her. He describes her as 'property of the media', who did nothing but 'manipulate' and 'exploit' her until the day she died. This is shocking treatment of an individual, but it seemed as though Jade was happy for her life to be in the public eye. I think a step to far, was the tribute edition to Jade in OK magazine, while she was still alive! http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/mar/17/jade-goody-ok-magazine

She was described as the 'perfect victim of our times' by sir Michael Parkinson, which says a lot about our society. She grew up on a bad estate, and was subject to drugs and crimes at a young age, with a very limited education. Is this the lifestyle that Britain now has to offer? Is it right that the media is able to take advantage of vulnerable people? Or did they in fact have a positive influence, because if it were not for them, Jades life would not have been as it was, she could have still had nothing.

Either way whether she was loved or hated by you, hundreds still attended her funeral, which was this Saturday, after loosing her battle to cancer, aged just 27.

comment on Robs abortion blog

http://robbeingbad.blogspot.com/2009/03/abortion-this-contains-image-you-might.html?showComment=1238783400000#c6977168526555231034

I too have found that I have had to debate this topic many times, but I come from a catholic school, so we was always told to argue against, an opinion I still hold. To be abortion is just as bad as murdering someone.

I agree with the idea that abortion is unforgivable, and is something I could never do. I find the image you have put up shocking, I can’t believe people are able to abort a pregnancy that has gone this far. Personally I can’t ever see a need for abortion to take place at all, especially at such a late stage. People should be responsible enough to not get pregnant, there is enough contraception around. So there is no excuse to put themselves in such a position. I believe that if abortion was made illegal it would prevent so many unwanted pregnancies, because people would be more careful, and would not use abortion as a form of contraception.

Drugs

Last nights lecture was on drugs, in particular we looked at the following types of drugs

• Narcotics - relieve pain


• Hypnotics - cause sleep and stupor


• Stimulants - cause excitement and increase mental/physical energy


• Inebriates - produce chemical synthesis: alcohol


• Hallucinogens - cause complex changes in visual/auditory

From looking at the list, many of us will have tried at least one on it. Which does go to show that not all drugs are bad, i mean drugs that relieve pain has got to be a good thing, as long as they are taken in controlled quantities right? I'd never really considered alcohol as a drug before, probably because its more accepted in society, and i don't think it's as addictive as some of the other drugs. I mean i will drink when i go out, but i can also quite easily go for months without having a single drop. In the lecture though, it was described as a powerful drug, which we should be scared of but were not.

The real question is though, why are drugs bad? After all anyone can walk into a local pharmacy and take their pick of over the counter pain killers, sleep aids, anti-histamines and illness relievers. Why are these drugs perfectly safe, but others are not?

What makes these drugs different is the ways they have been manipulated for public consumption. This can include adding chemicals and other additives, that can cause quite a lot of harm to the body.The other bad things about drugs, is the affect they can have on people when they start to wear off. They cause unnatural reactions that might feel pleasant for a while but can cause users a great deal of distress when they start to wear off.

Drugs can completely destroy an individuals life. I don't think they should be banned as this has been attempted before and has been unsuccessful, i think they should be controlled by the government, so that money stops going to drug dealers, and people know whats actually in them. I found looking on http://www.talktofrank.com/ really opened my eyes to all the types of drugs and the effects they can have.

This chart did suprise me, as it showed that more people die because of smoking, and a bad diet, than from drugs, which does suggest that something should be done about these problems, before drugs.

Tattoos and Piercings

I like tattoos, and have one myself, with the full intention of having another as soon as I decide what I want! Although, when I was having mine done, I nearly passed out at the sight of the blood, so ended up with numbing cream, which makes me wonder why I would put myself through it all again!
I was interested to learn that religion and tribal traditions have a huge part in tattoos and piercing, as well as people doing them for aesthetic reasons. It seems as though tattoos are becoming more and more popular, with many people having at least one tattoo or piercing. This includes several celebrities, which only add to heighten their popularity.
I personally don’t consider tattoos or piercings, as immoral, irresponsible, unhealthy or dangerous, as long as they are done in a well established place, where the hygiene will be of a high standard, and comply with health and safety standards. Although it is up to the individual after to make sure they look after it. I remember after having my belly button pierced it started to get infected, was very painful, although it turned out fine in the end.
I think tattoos are very personal. To me some are really tasteful and pretty, where as others are tacky and unattractive. Some are just completely over the top (see picture below). I think they allow people to be unique, and stand out from the crowd, although it won’t be long before the more unique are those without any tattoos and piercings!
Tattoos are becoming more and more socially accepted, with lawyers, doctors and so called ‘normal’ people having them, this article looks at how this change began http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7034500.stm. Although I do still think that a negative stigma can still be attached to tattoos, particularly on first impressions. Some employers still prefer none to be on display, and make employees cover them up with plasters, well I can see the reasoning for piercings to need to be taken out, and I cannot see the need for tattoos to be covered, other than a dislike and negative opinion to them.