Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

if they do fred, you may be able to offset your trading losses

They say that you learn something new every day! I have just discovered the Squelch button! Bye-bye Fred!

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Down To The Wire: Students To Study US Show
2:36pm UK, Sunday May 16, 2010
Kat Higgins, Sky News Online

Television viewing is moving from the sofa to the classroom as students at a British university are offered the chance to study the US drama The Wire.

The University of York has revealed it will offer a 10-week module in the cop show as part of its sociology degree.

The HBO series, which is set in Baltimore and follows the fortunes of drug dealers and police officers, has attracted a host of dedicated followers, including Barack Obama.

But now final year students will examine issues like race, class, political process and the city in the module entitled: "The Wire as Social Science Fiction?"

Professor Roger Burrows, head of sociology at the university, said: "We look at The Wire as a form of entertainment that does the job some of the social sciences have been failing to do.

"It's a contrast to dry, dull, hugely expensive studies that people carry out on the same issues."

He hopes the new course will challenge the traditional methods of teaching social science.

He added: "It's easier to get students to use The Wire as a way of looking at the current political system than it is to get them to read a dull book on it."

In a homework assignment their peers may envy, the students are expected to watch all 60 of the one-hour episodes before the course starts in the Autumn.

The programme is already the focus of a course at Harvard University in the US and a conference on it was held in Leeds in November.

But some will see the university's decision as another example of "dumbing down" in higher education.

There has been previous criticism of other unusual courses offered in the UK which include golf management, surfing science and pop music performance.


Down To The Wire: Students To Study US Show

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Well, it may be discriminatory.

I think it would reasonable to have a valuation of general media presentation and the "subliminal" suggestions, within it.

Similar evaluations, have been carried out in the past and show "distortions" in "values" of the suggestible individuals.

I have found it interesting, to record and evaluate BBs postings, on threads such as this one.

Examination, of BBs such as this one and similar are now part of Media Studies, Psychology and Sociology courses.

Very revealing on the underlying or covert usage for manipulation of opinions


Edited.

I have found it interesting, to record and evaluate BBs postings, on threads such as this one.

What's it like on those Olympian heights you sit your self on?

Cold and lonely?

Martini,

Generally, I sit in a comfortable armchair at a reasonably normal level and
like some friends, I am interested in "everyday" pathology.

My friends seem to be on the same level.

I have found it interesting, to record and evaluate BBs postings, on threads such as this one.


Why not lead a normal life?

Personally I think that what Fred posted is actually quite close to the mark. I don't think that he is consciously conducting a big experiment on bulletin boards to prod users with random posts and note their reactions, but I do think that creating controversy, and enjoying it, has become an interest in itself for him. Perhaps you need another interest, Fred? It's bit like a toddler realising that he gets more attention by being naughty than by sitting quietly.

Did somebody mention Naughty, as in Step?

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Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said that he is honoured by his new appointment as personal fag to David Cameron. Under the arrangement, Mr Clegg will perform household chores for the Prime Minister including pressing his trousers, brushing his jacket and polishing his shoes. In return, Mr Cameron will protect Clegg from being bullied by other members of Cabinet. Of course Clegg is not a full boarder, said Cameron, he's a day boy. But rest assured, we will treat him with the respect that he deserves.

"This is a unique opportunity," said Clegg, "For some people, running around and opening doors for your fagmaster might seem demeaning. But for me, this is a price that I have to pay. That, and my lunch money."

David Cameron denied allegations that some Liberal Democrats were already being bullied after Danny Alexander was found with his head down the lavatory and Chris Huhne had to visit matron after being given a wedgie.

"This is all part of the rough and tumble of government," said Cameron, "I am sure that the new boys will soon get used to this horseplay and find their rightful place in the pecking order, at the bottom."

Meanwhile, it is understood that Vince Cable will be expected to wear a pinny and serve tea to Chancellor, George Osborne.

"This isnt exactly what I had signed up for," said Mr Cable, "and it may take a little while getting used to my new ministerial title as Scullion."

When asked whether he had sold out to the Prime Minister, Clegg replied, "I have made his bed, and he will lie in it."

TIM

The bed you describe, may be a bed of contagion, but I thought from the tory bleating, the contagion was left by the labour government.

Perhaps. Osborne is getting his excuses in before introduces his mistaken policies.

But your description does remind me of the mores, rituals and values of described by some, as Etonian.

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Kayak and NM,

I have been interested in watching people and trying to understand their motivations, responses and actions for a very long time. (Since school days.) I find it fascinating trying to understand the political development and social development of a society.


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For me, this is a repeat of an interesting quote.

Civilization (which is part of the circle of his imaginings) has spread a veneer over the surface of the soft-shelled animal known as man. It is a very thin veneer; but so wonderfully is man constituted that he squirms on his bit of achievement and believes he is garbed in armour-plate.

==============



What has interested me is, how a small group of individuals are prepared to unite in anonymity and seem to enjoy trying to denigrate. or abuse others, who have the audacity to hold different views.

Not arguing against the points, but intent on the destruction of anybody who appears different or hold different views to themselves.

At the weekend, I discussed the above with a friend, who told me that this type of discussion is appearing more and more the approach of undergraduates on the internet and general discussions. He like many of his colleagues found it saddening,

We reflected, that in the papers some years ago there were frequent reports of Internet bullying and humiliations of young school children, by their peers, which was argued to have instigated suicides in some of the those children.

We questioned who were the bullies were trying to emulate, and amongst other likelihoods , thought that the children were probably emulating their parents values, or what they picked up from the media.

To me it is sad that such a vehicle for possible mutual advance is abused.

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But it is interesting.





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But it is not simply that you are observing. You are baiting people with conflagratory posts. If you're trying to study the system, it is unlikely that you will get any meaningful data by becoming involved yourself.

Then you post that you are being got at. That is hardly surprising. Honestly held views would not be a problem here, this is a pretty civilised place. Many of your posts read as though they are either written by someone incredibly thick, or someone who is out to annoy as many people as possible. If we're talking about respect for others' views, your posts certainly don't have that. Personally I don't think you're thick.

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Kayak,

If you go back you will find that I have not been abusive to anybody, other than those who have attempted to be abusive, or defining of me, based on little actual knowledge of me.

When, that has been done, I feel no need not to respond in the same manner.

I have a strong dislike of bullying of anyone.

Intellectual provocation, is a useful form of debate and opening a "question" to evaluation.

Ideas develop, and hopefully, views can change.

Respect, has to be earned, not expected, or by pontification!

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NMh

Agree with the majority of what you have written.

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In her early days, one of one of my daughters Post P.hd. research projects, was on "Media Abuse" and the effects of TV and films on culture.

I found it fascinating, at the time, and became interested in its "intentions" or "uses".

The posting, which I made on another thread was informative, on how the media is abused in international politics.

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Again, if you don't challenge, the abuses will continue.

For Hilary!:-

http://www.thechels.tv/2010/02/glamour-girl/