Oh the joys of the Youth crime problem again. Yes, day in day out, the more victimised worry that their lives will be destroyed by marauding teens, and yes, for some it is a reality. What can we do? It’s clear nothing works… But recently, some one has come up with a novel idea, that [...]
Dis-able me?
Many of you will know, ‘cos I sure as hell have winged about it enough, about the general fucked up state of my neurophysiology at the moment… Somewhere, likely L5 or S1, though maybe in many places one or more of the Sciatic nerve roots has got… …well, a little squished. Sciatica is something I [...]
At your service Sir..?
One of the first things I learned in Sociology was all about Fordism, and Industrialism, and Post-Industrialism… And how we are, in Late Modernity moving to this situation of a Post-Industrial Society; characterised by, among other things, the decline of manufacture and the proliferation of Service Industries. OK, the Luddites saw the decline of the [...]
Paedo Alert!
But, how many men have had consensual sexual intercourse with someone below the age of consent? Put this a different way: how many have at the age of 17 slept with a girlfriend before her 16th birthday? How many therefore are guilty in Law of Statutory Rape, or in colloquial terms: A Paedophile.
Think of this when you campaign for the Gutter Press’ new Laws.
Crack open the Wife-Beater and let’s get Violent…
I ignored the fact that actually at least some of these causal factors are those that left-wing public-sector apologists (of which I am probably one, I admit), rather than society put forward when the tabloids are baying for blood. However the second part of her statement I had to challenge. This was not in a argumentative manner, but simply questioning why, when most thinking people have moved away from the Rational Choice proposition of crime (see Cornish & Clarke 1986) we were being asked to embrace this as a foundation for Best Practice.
Exploited Sluts
I in no way deny that many women are forced or coerced into the sex industry. That many make the choice when they can see no other option. But I wonder if it’s the sex that’s so distasteful…
Of course the feminists would say that it’s this Patriarchal society that leads to the exploitation of women. What about the Capitalist society that leads the the exploitation of 8 year-old Indian children making Gap hoodies?
I want an ASBO!
So here’s the deal. I need suggestions. They must be: Totally non-distressing to any reasonable person, not illegal trivial, and ideally should have a decent humour value. So maybe something a bit scatalogical?
Post your answers folks..!!
Jamie Bulger and Moral Panics
Around the same time as the Jamie Bulger case a 5 year-old was killed in Norway, by three 6 year-olds. Society there, instead of baying for blood from the spawn of Satan, accepted that societies failings had led to a tragic accident. In 1861 two 8 year-olds responsible for a similar murder, though initially demonised were given the verdict of manslaughter. The jury was widely supported in doing so. (Muncie 2004). A minor legal difference perhaps. But important.
Moody Arsed Bastid
Now of course Parsons viewed this as all well and good and necessary for the smooth functioning of the social system (as certain tutors of mine delight in reminding me when insisting I can’t bring anything vaguely related to Anarchy into the debate “because that’s Politics and this is a Sociology seminar.” So I guess here we have to give a little bit of time to the neo-Marxists, who astutely point out that this places the Doctor in a position that ultimately ensures the continuance of the capitalist machine by getting sick people back to work (Navarro 1986).
