Marking Time

An action packed day for me yesterday in Cambridge; marking, listening to the radio, and putting a book on my desk.

I spent the day at an examiner’s meeting in Cambridge and am now all set up for a few weeks of Sociology marking. Amazing how many different ways students can find to answer a (fairly) simple question. Amazing too, how students can avoid answering a question with an evasive or ambiguously-worded response. Good English is vital to doing well in a subject like Sociology. I’ll try and give a few brief examples and a brief point about the skill of elaboration in the next few days.

Yesterday evening, I attended a broadcast of Any Questions in Cambridge. If you listen carefully you will be able to hear me clapping at a few - only a few - points in the programme. I think Sociology teachers and students should listen to programmes like this pretty regularly.

The only sociological insight I’ll offer is this. There was one question to the effect that Nicholas Stern has written a report which recommends that we should all eat less meat as beef production contributes significantly to global warming. The panel was asked whether they would be changing their diet. The question led to inevitable joking and I think I’m right in saying that not one of the panel said they would be changing their eating habits.

I suggest this is an example of ‘individualisation’. We are encouraged so strongly to be and think of ourselves as individuals, rather than as members of social groups, that even when something threatens our existence, we persist in carrying on with potentially harmful behaviour. Individual interests trump all others. I’m sure there is a social psychological angle too - cognitive dissonance - but I think that the sociological angle is at least equally important, if not more so.

Finally, just to let you know, my copy of ‘The Lolita Effect’ has arrived. It will take a while before I can get around to reading it, but its on the desk.