Questionnaire

Age? 39
Sex? F
What is your degree subject (both if joint)? not on degree course, am associate student
Does ‘Being Bad’ relate well to the other modules you are taking? have also taken Intro to Philosophy and Intro to Sign Linguistics, so relates to other philosophy module.
If so, how? And if not, why not?
Have you found ‘Being Bad’ too demanding, too easy, or at an appropriate level? too many blogs to do.
Do you think the list of topics covered on the module was appropriate? yes
Are there any topics not included in the module that you would like to see included?
Do you think that the format for classes has worked well? format is OK.
What did you think of the module team? good to have a mixture of staff
Do you think it would have been better to have had more:
Small group discussions? yes, would get more opinions from small groups, speaking in lecture can be intimidating.
Discussion and debate among the class as a whole? see above
Information and talk from lecturers? would have liked equal information and debate balance
The approach taken in the module is interdisciplinary (drawing on perspectives from English Literature, Film Studies, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Media Studies and Politics): do you think this a useful way of approaching the topics covered in the module? it is useful way of dealing with material, but for some students with no experience of creative writing/scripts etc, making it compulsory to have 2 written assessments in different formats can be difficult. eg, I have no experience of creative writing, so am finding rationale and actual writing difficult, as a novice.
Do you think that interdisciplinary modules are a good idea? yes.
Do you think you have benefited from the interdisciplinary approach taken in the module? yes
Would you like to see more modules that cover this kind of subject matter? no
Are you planning to take the follow-up module PH2004 ‘It Shouldn’t Be Allowed’ at level 2? no
Would you recommend ‘Being Bad’ to a friend? no
Do you think that the blogs (web logs) were a good idea? yes, but marking on volume is prescriptive, could they be peer marked?
What did you think of the other assessments (e.g. would it be better to have one longer assessment rather than two shorter ones?)? happy with either 2 short or 1 long
What have you learned from the module? different ways of looking at behaviour.
What parts of the module have you found most useful and why? historical element of being bad, good to see how behaviour fits into culture or history.
What parts do you think were a waste of time and why? none
Are there any other comments you wish to make regarding ‘Being Bad’?

Even Barbie has a tattoo!

If Barbie is the ultimate in acceptable, it would seem that tattoos are now so common place, that even Barbie now has one. OK they are only stick on tattoos at the moment, but you could hardly now say that tattoos are the sign of rebellion!

Tattoos = Being Bad, I don't think so, not if Barbie has one.

This just goes to show that the definition of "Being Bad" has changed considerably over time, and habits that we used to define as "being bad" ie having tattoos is now so "the norm" that even my 65 yr old auntie has one!

OK, so tattooing is now not rebellious enough, so that people have taken piercing to new extremes, scarring etc, so can we expect Barbie 2012 to have multiple piercings, screw on horns, and maybe even be able to take her to a plastic surgeon to have a few ribs removed.

mmm when will it all stop?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2009/may/01/marina-hyde-barbie-sticker-tattoo

in response to Alex' uni diary - global warming

http://alexsunidiary.blogspot.com/

This is a topic which we should all consider, but not just in terms of global warming, but also the simple fact that the world's resources are not unlimited and it is time that we all started thinking about this. We could concentrate on saving water, electricity, recycle etc.

There is the "well it won't happen in my lifetime" attitude, which I have heard from people, oh dear, back to the responsibility issue.

We have a duty not to waste. FULL STOP.

If for no other reason, then how about just to keep our fuel bills down and save money. If we all thought about trying to reduce our use of the world resources, we would save money.

But we would all benefit from each others frugality, by conserving resources, and looking after our planet. It is our home, and will be the home for our children, but we are doing a pretty good job of destroying it.

We can't turn back time and go back to living like we did in the 50s, tv games, PCs etc, can't be uninvented, we can still live in 2009, but we can also think about what we do, and make a conscious effort to save what we have been given.

Swearing and Stand Up Comedy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7798971.stm

It is interesting to look at how comedy is closely linked with the taboo, and in particular bad language.

But Frank Skinner is among the first to try to determine whether bad language is instrumental to comedy. His conclusion was that actually its funny without the bad language.

"I don't want people using so much swearing that there's a blanket ban because there won't be then any room for the clever swearing - the beautiful, eloquent swearing," he said.

Is it because bad language has now become common place, and acceptable, that it doesn't get the laughs anymore, unless it goes that step further, infact its more the material that now has to stoop to new lows, rather than the language that is used.

Frank,s moves to reduce the swearing in his act, seems like the voice of reason, at last, or is he just getting middle aged and dull? Does comedy have to shock to be funny, I think not, some of the best jokes are just the silly ones, and the best comedians, the Tommy Coopers of this world, who get the laughs before they even say a single word, now they are the really funny men.

in response to Kate's Blog, Violent Video Game

http://katenicola89-kate.blogspot.com/2009/04/violent-video-games.html

this is also something which concerns me, the fact that the more we are exposed to things like this, allowing young children, to shot people, cut off their heads etc etc, we become desensitised to the reality of the action.

All to often it is reported in the news that violent crime has been commited after playing such games, and yet there seems to be very little control over what game companies are allowed to produce.

I guess one argument could be that this sort of over the top violence is no different to what we used to watch as kids in "Tom and Jerry" cartoons, but then it was so riduculous we knew it was fantasy, and in the next episode there they were again, right as rain.

These games are too close to reality, so that eventually the line between that and fantasy gets blurred. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/4611161/Rapelay-virtual-rape-game-banned-by-Amazon.html

There is great discussion about whether these games encourage violent behaviour in real life, and whether they should be banned or not, but no-one asks the question "What sort of sick individual thinks it might actually be fun to make a game where people rape, murder etc?" A reflection of our society. SICK

Bribery or Reward

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10566350

Not sure if I agree with the ideas reported in this article. To summarise people who are presenting health risks to themselves are being offered financial incentives to change their habits. Obese people offered bribes to lose weight, and smoking mothers given food vouchers, for giving up whilst pregnant! I reckon I could probably break my chocolate addiction if I were paid in shoe vouchers, but really is this a good use of tax payers money?

I guess either way they are costing the health service money -either by the additional expenses of treating disease associated with their bad behaviour, or we give them money to help them kick the habit.

Is this very different from the stories reported years ago of taking children who were at risk of playing truant, to theme parks if they went to school?? What did the kids get who always went to school? Nothing.

This is a very twisted way to live, when those that are looking after their health, going to school, etc, are not rewarded, but those within a risk category, offered incentives.

Doesn't this just teach us to play the system? rather than take responsibility - yes a common theme of my blogs, but it just seems so straight forward to me. You behave well, look after your health, go to school etc, because you want to, and can see the benefit of this kind of behaviour, rather than do the opposite and then wait for someone to say " if you stop doing it, we will reward you" " hey thanks very much".

Sorry, but it all stinks, quite literally. Apparently the obese put a greater strain on the transport system, we are now eating more meat, hence increasing production of greenhouse gases etc. How about a party for all the non smoking, non-obese population, who aren't draining our resources. (with lots of non-alcoholic punch of course!)

Body Modification

http://www.camdenguide.co.uk/news/bodmod.htm

It seems to me, that the biggest issue with body modification that makes it come under the heading of "being bad" is that non bodmods find the images difficult to stomach. Also the connection that has been made between people who tattoo, pierce etc and unlawful behaviour. Of course this is totally unfounded as those who break the law come from all backgrounds.

The website listed above covers the"whys" of body mods from a different angle and the photo came from a bodmod site.

If we indeed live in a free society, what people do to themselves should be their free choice, without having to be judged by those around them. It is easy to make assumptions about why people do what they do, and that includes people that choose to pierce, engage in cosmetic surgery, etc, but each person may have their own unique reasons for their behaviour.

Once I get beyond the shock of the piercings, etc, I find myself intrigued by what they have created of themselves, just like looking at a work or art. You might not like the painting or want to have it hung in your living room, but you can still admire the artist and their creativity.

As an animal humans have always pushed the boundaries, explored, etc, and some of the greatest inventions are the result of our curiosity. Is this anything different?

Dole Dossers

I know this is hardly the PC thing to say, but people that sponge off the state, and have no intention of doing a day's work are leeches on our society.


I think everyone knows of someone who is cheating the system, claiming benefit they don't deserve, or just claiming dole every week making no effort to look for a job, but we all just accept it as a way of life, in the UK, WHY?

I recently saw a Facebook group called "Get off your Ass and get a Job", but it had no postings for months and only a handful of members compared to groups for people who were fans of cherry drops, or love hearts sweets; membership goes into thousands!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/yourview/1574936/Can-David-Cameron-beat-the-something-for-nothing-culture.html

David Cameron's plans to make the long term unemployed use their time more usefully than watching daytime tv, and give something back, I think are great, and he should be applauded. If these people are genuine about getting a job, they surely won't mind doing something that contributes to society and the place that we live rather than just take, and give nothing back.

There is lots of talk about pride etc, well I for one, would rather go to work everyday, no matter what I did, and earn a living, than think I am entitled to one, but do nothing to earn it. Where does this idea come from?

I lived in Hong Kong for 5 years, and state benefits didn't exist. Consequently people went to work, and put money back into the system and economy, and the economy thrived. People didn't expect to get something for nothing, they worked and if they were too old to work they looked after the children, everyone played their part in making the whole place work and function.

But why bother, when you get fall out of bed at 10am, get dressed at 12pm, and hey presto every 2 weeks money magically appears in your bank account. What a joke!

in response to "Naughty but nice - Proud to be British"

http://beingbad01.blogspot.com/2009/04/proud-to-be-british.html

I am in total agreement with this blog re patriotism and infact it attempts to answer many of my questions about bad behaviour that stems from having no pride in the place that you live in.

And I think taking racism out of the discussion on patriotism is essential, as the two issues are so far apart.

But to throw a spanner in the works, I would go one step further to say that I am proud to be English, not British. British seems so indecisive, lets sit on the fence and not really put our allegiances in any one particular camp, but NO, English I am, and proud to be so. The Scots, Welsh and Irish all have their identities, traits, etc, and so do we.

Can anyone explain why St Patricks Day is celebrated with such gusto, but St George's Day passes without a mention? Is it a result of this association with BNP, facists etc, that the English have, are we afraid that it might be un PC to wave the St Georges Flag, for fear of upsetting someone, or is it that we just can't be bothered to make an effort.

I for one, am ready to stand up and be counted, proud to be English, and part of this rich culture.

Anti Social Behaviour

http://www.respect.gov.uk/default.aspx?id=9166

My journey home today on the bus, provoked me to investigate anti-social behaviour. a group of young people played music on their ipods/phones, for most of the journey through the speakers, (not headphones) and were generally rowdy, so that it was difficult for other passengers to concentrate on anything that they might have wanted to do; I struggled to read a book, and if I had wanted to have a conversation with one of my fellow passengers, it would have been impossible. I wanted to stand up and ask them to, at a minimum turn off the music, but fear of retaliation stopped me. I felt that I was almost being driven off away from travelling by bus because my journey has become so stressful.

I congratulate the attempt that the government is making to combat this type of behaviour, but I always come back to the same question - why is it that certain elements of our society have no conception of how their behaviour affects others.

Can anyone answer this simple question?

Famous for Being Famous

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7869431.stm

Sorry for not following the sheep, by saying "what a terrible shame etc" but at least now that she has been laid to rest, our newspapers, media etc, might concentrate on perhaps more important matters, such as world debt, terrorism, poverty - the list goes on.

I will be glad to open a newspaper soon and not see her face on the front. Yes of course it is a tragedy, but how many other women have had this experience without having to turn every day into a circus http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/cervix/

Instead of bringing to our attention the horrors of cancer, screening processes, possibly lowering minimum age of screening etc, we just got pics of her mum in her pyjamas, and stories of Jack, and whether he would or would not get a custodial sentence PLEASE

Goody tells mum to get teeth fixed to look her best at funeral”
She was ever the dental nurse to the end. (

http://www.anorak.co.uk/celebrities/204626.html) Sorry found this clip and just couldn't resist - still considering the media, even on her death bed!

Can we go back to people being famous for doing something worthwhile? Finding a cure for cancer? sporting achievements?

Growing Old Gracefully

In response to Naughty but Nice's post http://beingbad01.blogspot.com/2009/03/plastic-surgery-growing-old-gracefully.html

I too am in total agreement with the general sentiment about age, and plastic surgery. It is up to the individual to decide whether or not to have plastic surgery, but if anyone saw the Red Nose does the Apprentice and Ruby Wax she looks as though she is some sort of plastic toy - is that why they call it plastic surgery? Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

We have become a society in the West where people have started to judge each other on looks rather than the person - beauty is only skin deep etc etc, and the media bombard us with "beautiful people". What about showing us people as they really are and concentrating on what they do, rather than what they look like???

As for parents paying for plastic surgery as gifts for their kids - come on , that is just nuts! So we buy our daughters new boobs, but then they say they don't like their nose, their bum is a bit big - where does it stop?

Can't we just be happy with who we are, and concentrate on the important things in life - I will let you decide what they are.....

Legalising Drugs

http://www.urban75.com/Drugs/drugten.html

While I don't agree with all of the 10 reasons that are made here for legalising drugs, there are some interesting points made.

I believe that we should all be allowed choice in our lives and that includes what drugs we take. However by having choice does not mean that we are not held responsible for our actions. Alcohol can cause people to behave in ways that are hurtful to others - is a drug addict that steals to fund a habit any worse than an alcoholic who regularly beats their loved ones whilst drunk?

However can we definitely say that when we are under the influence of drugs (and I always include alcohol under this heading) as we certain that we still retain choice - or are the drugs controlling us? If the taking of drugs leads us to behave in a way that is "bad" and we later reflect on that behaviour - if we can remember it - then we need to consider whether drugs are giving us choice or actually taking it away from us.

I have got drunk and done things that I later wish I hadn't and for that reason, stop at the "Merry Stage" so that I am still in control. This is not because I don't want to have fun, it is because I want to have choice in what I do. I see drugs as an extension of this and that is why I said I would take LSD in a controlled environment; before the experiment I could explain very clearly under what circumstances I WOULD CHOSE it to stop.

It finally comes down to responsibility, not just choice.

Bad Manners 1 - Table Manners

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/healthy-living/virginia-ironsides-dilemmas-is-using-a-mobile-phone-during-dinner-bad-manners-878557.html



The article above talks about people using their mobile phone whilst dining, and if reading whilst eating is bad manners, then texting etc, should be too.

What might be considered bad manners in one country may be acceptable in another, and infact acceptable in one house, might not be acceptable in the house next door.

So are bad table manners purely subjective, or can we say that some behaviours are unacceptable no matter what society you belong to?

Getting up from the table without first excusing yourself?
Chewing your food with your mouth open?
Sitting properly?

I guess in a culture where so many people either eat alone or watching tv, all of the above lose their meaning, as manners only seem to matter when someone else is on the receiving end of them, but I say that whether or not people are present, we should still maintain a level of behaviour that suggests we are a civilised society.

Fly-Tipping, Wrong Doings

In response to Josephine's blog on people dumping rubbish in the countryside I have a number of points to add. http://dantesinferno64.blogspot.com/2009/03/i-spy-with-my-little-eye.html

1. this is just the same sympton of a society that drops rubbish out of car windows, instead of putting it in a bag and taking it home with them. I was brought up by a mum who always took rubbish home, and wouldn't dare to drop a sweet wrapper etc, so would have my pockets full instead. Is it because people don't see their environment as being part of their "home", think its someone else's job to clear up, or don't they care? the "someone's else job" response just goes back to a number of blogs on responsibility, and people's inability to take responsibility for their own actions

2. It is more than just the view that they are spoiling, but also the danger that rubbish poses to wildlife - but hey why should they care. Hopefully our children may be better educated to understand the damage that rubbish can do.

3. Our council has an excellent rolling rubbish schedule and regularly come round to collect large rubbish that you cannot leave in the bin, furniture etc, it is well publisized, and if you don't mind the embarassment of being caught also serves as an excellent opportunity for recycling - if you get up early you can see what other people have left and save the bin men a job!

There are no excuses for it, its laziness, in a "i'm alright" society

Bad Press

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2304109.ece?CMP=KNC-FBLgoogle&HBX_PK=ashley+cole&HBX_OU=50

After reading this article in the Sun concerning the antics of Ashley Cole, it occured to me that Newspapers have a huge responsibility, and indeed power which should be exercised more carefully. The article implies that Ashley was behaving inappropriately with a blonde whilst his wife was raising money for charity, but how do most readers of newspapers know what the truth is?

We are in the habit of taking what we read to be fact, without questioning its accuracy, and then make judgements based on what we have read. Newspapers can make stars of us, or destroy us, on a whim.

They have the power to distort our view of the world - I recently read the John Sergeant's autobiography, which contained an interesting tale of him reporting in Vietnam on the war there. They ran weekly radio reports, publicised as coming from the frontline, but the reality was that he was miles from any of the action, and what he reported was only what he was told, and he had absolutely no way of verifying the facts.

We are all aware of the fact that countries such as China, etc, report what they want their citizens to hear, but is our press any better?

Music Free Buses

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6175604.stm

Why do people think that everyone wants to listen to acid/garage/house (or similar eardrum splitting melodies) at 7.30am in the morning on their way to work. I wonder if

1. they think that because it is being played through headphones no-one else can hear

2. they don't even consider the experience of their fellow travellers.

I sit quietly trying to do the sudoku, whilst listening to 3 different people's Ipods, none of which are playing anything that I either recognise or indeed has lyrics or a tune. I guess the answer would be "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" but don't I have rights too.

Still it could be worse, I once had to suffer 2 lads playing sex videos through their mobile phones to each other, which were loud enough that you could hear the action. They had no consideration for the fact that the rest of the passengers perhaps did not want x-rated bus entertainment, nor the fact that there were children and pensioners on the bus. What happened to respect for our elders?

It seems that we live in a country where people seem so interested in their own needs/wants that anybody else's rights aren't even on the radar. They are so pre-occupied in their own lives that they don't consider anyone elses. If everyone used the simple "do unto others, as you would have them do to you" the world, (or at least the No 70 bus) would be a much happier place.

Maybe Ken Livingstone has a point.

broken trust - response to wrong doings blog

I so agree with the comments made by Josephine in this post, but it seems to be that what she is ultimately asking for is courage, which not everyone has. http://dantesinferno64.blogspot.com/2009/03/broken-trust.html

Any sort of deceipt, will hurt someone, but it takes courage for a partner to tell another that actually they don't love them anymore. Do they think it is kinder to keep these words to themselves, carry on the lie, and find happiness elsewhere, believing that this way they are not hurting anyone? Yes the truth will hurt, but lies hurt more, and we can all get over the fact that things have changed but can we recover from the lies? I think not.

I was taught as a child to admit my errors, and was punished more for not admitting to wrong doings than coming clean. So should we applaude our children for the truth, or punish them for their mistakes? Should we teach them to not be frightened of the truth, or to cover up their mistakes. I know which one I think is right, and what I teach.

Prostitution

In response to Kate's blog on prostitution,
http://katenicola89-kate.blogspot.com/2009/02/prostitution.html
and in particular whether women that accept drinks, etc from men are asking for trouble if they don't come up with the goods, I would say that if people said what they really meant rather than using non-verbal communication all the while the world would be a much easier and in fact safer place to live.

The assumption here "that if a man buys a woman a drink, he is then entitled to some sort of return on his investment" is an old fashioned and quite frankly homocentric idea of the world. What is wrong with a man buying a woman a drink, or paying for her taxi just because he can and wants to be "nice"? Have we really stooped so low that we have to look for the motive behind every act?

I guess it is not the done thing to say to someone "yes, I'd love a drink, but it doesn't mean I want to sleep with you!" Infact if us women said that to most men, they would run a mile; some men can't cope with assertive women...... and just like men wouldn't say "Do you want me to buy you drinks all night until you are too drunk to realise how unattractive I am, and so come home with me?" but its probably what they are thinking.

Sorry all of this is tongue in cheek, but really we all interpret the non-verbal signals given off during this dating/picking up ritual, and 9 times out of 10 get the signals completely wrong.

If you give anything freely in any circumstances that is exactly what it should be a gift, no strings attached, if you expect something in return then don't give in the first place - this is not the essence of giving.

So back to my first point, we ought to start a date but letting everyone know where we stand so we can spend the rest of the night having fun, rather than thinking about what he really thinks, what she really thinks, and playing silly games, all for the sake of a shag!

Infidelity - effect on the children

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1036162/Is-adultery-gene-One-woman-traces-infidelity-patterns-shaped-life.html

In our lecture on infidelity the issue of how it effects the family and especially children who find out that one of their parents has been unfaithful to the other one was not even discussed, but as someone who has first hand experience of the devastation it can cause to the family would like this to be addressed, rather than just looking at the immediate victims.

I know of a 15 yr old girl who since she found out that her father has committed adultery, (for 2 years) detests him. She is happy to have no contact with her father, and instead lives with her step mother, who she perhaps sees as being innocent.

While I can see that adultery may only be a symptom of a bad marriage, that was probably on borrowed time in the first place, isn't infidelity just "having your cake, and eating it"?

If the adulterer had any respect for their partner, they should decide who it is they want to be with and then have the courage to be honest - but there lies the rub....infidelity by definition means not truthful..... the answer is in the question.

The Mistress, is no better, as if she had any morals she would walk away from it, as soon as she found out that her lover was married, and with children. Sorry, I am not interested in the "what about my happiness" cry.... Well you don't miss what you never had, so be man enough to think about all the people involved rather than just what you want.

In the end the one who really loses out in this scenario is the adulterer; he has his mistress, and an easy way out of his marriage, but has lost his children as part of the deal - clever boy.

So if young children involved do you tell them

1. that Daddy has a new girl friend, and this is perfectly acceptable behaviour and teaching them that marriage has no value OR
2. explain that Daddy has a new girlfriend, but this is not what should be done, and thus alienate father from his young child
....mmm a question that the perpetrators certainly never considered, because it was their happiness that was in the forefront of their mind.

Its not cut and dry, but before you start the journey, think about where or how it might end.

Spitting

In response to Dave Fox's post on spitting, there are a number of points I would like to make. http://davefoxbeingbad.blogspot.com/2009/02/spitting.html

1. If we have something in our throat, is it not better that we spit it out, than swallow - and no inuendo intended, I mean phlegm, etc. If we cough something up, it is because our body is trying to expel such things, so by swallowing them back down again we are going against what our body is telling us to do. There must be a reason why it was coughed up in the first place. So if we agree with this assumption and not are in a place where we can find a bin, etc to spit into are we then to just let it stay in our mouth until we do find a suitable container?? Yes, we should try to spit in the gutter, etc, but spitting on all levels I do not believe to be wrong.

2. Yes, of course it is wrong to spit in someone's face, but surely spitting onto a football field, after running around for hours, is hardly going to spread disease or germs.

3. Spitting is culturally acceptable in many parts of the world. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6927361.stm however when we visit these places we think we are the civilised ones and the natives need to be educated to behave better. We have many habits that others would think uncivilised - eg, using toilet paper instead of running water, isn't it just a matter of what is culturally acceptable rather than what is right/wrong/correct/hygience. It all depends on perspective. Who are we to say that the western way to live/behave is the correct way, and everyone else should conform.

7 Deadly Sins

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7897034.stm

According to a recent survey conducted by The Vatican, women and men sin differently, and as an aside the practice of confession has diminished in popularity.

1. Does that mean that we are not commiting sins or that perhaps we don't consider them to be sins anymore, and therefore not needful of absolution.

2. How do you define sin? It would seem that sin cannot exist if God does not exist, with the most famous perpetrator being Adam, by eating the forbidden fruit.

So if you commit sins does that mean you are being bad? In the eyes of God, that would almost certainly be the case, but if there is no God, then are envy, gluttony, greed Being Bad?

I would put forward the idea that Bad is only Bad if a 3rd party is affected, and as long as we consider others in our behaviour then we cannot be thought of as being Bad.

This is more of an Eastern Philosophy than a Western one, but surely this is the ultimate responsibility that we make choices by consider their effect on others, thus taking responsibility for all.

Dad at 13

In response to the Summersun blog - Dad at 13,
http://karen-summersun.blogspot.com/2009/02/alfie-patten-dad-at-13.html
I disagree with the comments made that suggest that the 2 "children" in question, are not responsible for their own actions, and even pities them. This is the sort of attitude that has got them in to this mess in the first place (sorry, not very PC, but I say it as I see it). Children of this age ARE responsible for their actions, Sex Education in most schools occurs when the children are 11, or younger, so they were well aware that sex can result in pregnancy.

Children and indeed adults need to start taking responsibility for their actions rather than blaming their parents, society, the workplace, the government - infact anybody else who they think can be held responsible. We are all accountable for our actions, and have choices.

Blaming somebody else is the real BAD BEHAVIOUR.

Lying

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/7892457.stm

Saw this article yesterday, and whilst what this person did was illegal - which goes beyond bad, it does throw up some interesting points regarding lying generally.Is it more or less bad to lie on behalf of another, should we ask someone to lie on our behalf.Who hasn't asked someone else to answer the phone and then tell the caller that you are not around, when you are, or asked someone to call your work to tell them you are sick, when you are just hungover? Who is in the wrong here? the person doing the lying or the person who has asked their friend to lie on their behalf? These are all white lies, and won't hurt anyone ... will they??How about tradesmen who constantly tell you that they are on their way when they are still in the middle of a job, or partners/friends who say they are just having their last drink, and then come home 4 hours later? Is it less harmful to say, well actually No, I won't get to do your job til next week, or No I am not coming home, I'm here til closing time? Personally, I believe the truth is an easier pill to swallow, than finding out later that it was all lies.

Why Being Bad

I would first like to explain why I enrolled on this module - not because I have to, but I chose to, to make me more tolerant, think about behaviour, why we do what we do, and why I do what I do. Lets see if it makes a difference!