Weeeeek threeeee.

As I explained, I make little sense, so it seems only right that my first post should be about week three of the module. Well, I did warn you.

Anyways, week three, we had an hours session whilst we were waiting to set the blog up, (which I must have done right, cos TA-DA!) and during the session, we watched three clips from different films and TV shows, then answered some questions.

The first clip was from Family Guy, (Yes, watching Family Guy in a lecture. Aah, it doesn't get much better than that) which showed Lois shoplifting. The questions that followed asked whether we thought that shoplifting was different to any other kind of theft, and why we thought people who can afford to buy things shoplift instead.

I personally think that shoplifting is the same as any other kind of theft, for you are still taking something that doesn't belong to you. People tend to think that stealing from a company or even a corner shop, is different, as they make enough profit not to notice, but this isn't always the case. There is also the fact that if people keep stealing one particular product, the price of that product will have to rise to accommodate the company's losses, making it more expensive for the consumers who actually buy the product.
I think that people who can afford to buy things tend to shoplift because they feel that it is ok to do so from large companies. It could also simply be because they can do so, so they will, as illogical as that may sound. They may also get a thrill from the thought that they are getting something they should be paying for for free instead.

The next clip was from the 1960's film Breakfast At Tiffany's, starring Audrey Hepburn. The questions that followed were:
Is it prostitution to take money from someone who is expecting sex, but then not to supply it?
If it isn't prostitution then is it more or less socially respectable?
If it is prostitution, then how much is a respectable charge?

I believe it is still prostitution, as the intention to have sex is still there. However, it depends whether the expectation is known, as if someone has taken the money not knowing the person wanted sex, for example if they bought them dinner and they believed that it was out of courtesy rather than thinking that it was because they wanted sex with them, that is not prostitution. It is a difficult question to answer, but I think it more or less hinges on whether the lady knows of the expectations.
Even though I believe it is prostitution, I think that if the itention is known, then it is even less socially repectable, as someone is being led on and spending money on something which they are not going to get, making it similar to someone offering someone something like a chocolate bar, taking their money and then not giving it them.
I can't really answer how much I feel is a respectable charge, as it could be dependant on many things, such as what WAS required.

The third clip we watched was from the tv show Peep Show. It depicted Mark trying to hack into someone's e-mail account to try and find out more about her. The questions that followed were:
When does a concerned interest in someone's activities become stalking?
Are some kinds of obvservance allowable and appropriate?
Which aren't?

I think that this is quite a difficult question to answer, as different people like different levels of privacy. For example, some people don't mind others asking about their familes, but others may see this as an intrusion. I think it depends more or less on the person and how much privacy they like, but hacking into someone's e-mail account could certainly be counted as stalking.
Again, this is a difficult question, as it depends on what is meant by observance. For example, it could mean someone watching someone walking home and following them, or watching them in their garden from a window, both of which are clearly unacceptable and inappropriate. However, it could mean checking on someone now and again to make sure that they are ok, for example watching someone who may be struggling with something that you could offer to help them with.
As for what isn't appropriate, there are too many things to list, but a few examples are things like watching someone from a window whilst they are in their garden, or following them through town.

Well, that's it for me for blog number one.

Over and out.

~Meg~