Microlog
224 Microlog entries tagged with ‘society’
The way we love now: couples who meet online
Isn’t this the norm now? I know it wasn’t so much when Bee and I met, so we kinda had two stories going for a while, but come on, it’s 2012 now, this is how things are! Permalink ·
Phoney politeness and muddled messages: a guide to euphemisms
“A culture without euphemism would be more honest, but rougher.” Indeed; directness has its place, but euphemisms make life, shall we say, colourful. Permalink ·
The Information: How the Internet Gets Inside Us
Adam Gopnik elucidates the ways in which technology changes society, and how people react to this change: the clash between the Never-Betters, the Better-Nevers and the Ever-Wasers [c/o Infovore]. Permalink ·
The US schools with their own police
Why is the state criminalising normal childhood behaviour?’ Indeed, Is this not a prime example of a police state in practice? Permalink ·
The Complicated Ethics of the Unborn
“Human cloning… has proven especially troubling, ethically. The bans are fascinating, because they are effectively saying ‘we don’t know how to unravel the ethics of human cloning, so please don’t confront us with the problem.’” Permalink ·
7 billion people and you: What’s your number?
Mine’s 4,446,117,843 (or 79,030,555,906 since history began) Permalink ·
Phil Gyford on asymmetry
The notion of seeing - and judging - others differently to ourselves. In other words: “I am infinitely subtle, complex and never quite what I seem; you are predictable and straightforward, an open book.” It’s particularly evident in US politics and culture at the moment. Permalink ·
The Net Generation, 1974-83
This is where I fit in, I guess. I think I got caught between two stools as I didn’t even have a computer till the very late ’90s. Permalink ·
Don’t forget the Motor City
Can Detroit be saved? David Byrne thinks it’s too late for restoration, but maybe something better can come out of it. Permalink ·
Wikipedia on the Dunning-Kruger effect
A cognitive bias in which “people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to realize it”. In other words, the dumber you are, the more likely you are to think you’re smarter than everyone else; conversely, the truly smart ones tend to underestimate their own intelligence for fear of patronising others. The end result is a social climate where the likes of Fox News can thrive. Oy vey! Permalink ·
Israeli troops describe shooting Gaza civilians
Why am I not surprised? Permalink ·
The Guardian profiles Fray Tormenta, the Mexican wrestling priest
Published near the release of Nacho Libre, the film very loosely based on his life. The Independent also has a profile of ‘Friar Storm’ — or ‘Father Thunder’, as he was called in a documentary on lucha libre I once saw on RTE Two in the early ’90s. Permalink ·
David Byrne posits a Marshall Plan for the Middle East
I was thinking of something along these same lines when I first noted this link some months ago: some Americans love to boast about their nation’s nobility towards Europe both during and after the Second World War, but their government hasn’t demonstrated much of anything like it elsewhere in the world in the 60-plus years since. Isn’t it about time they started building things instead of destroying them? Permalink ·
What Really Causes Civil War?
In the end, it all comes down to greed, power and money. Permalink ·
How I never quite fell for South Africa
The Guardian’s Rory Carroll reflects on his tenure as Africa correspondent, giving a glimpse of the all-too-real dark side of the ‘Rainbow Nation’. Having been there (and soon to return) myself, beyond the paths where the tourists tread, I can somewhat identify with his sentiments. Permalink ·
The Brand Underground
I’m not sure how to take this article on independent fashion brands from the NYT. On one hand the author is trying to compare independent streetwear labels and associated ‘anti-brands’ with the underground cultural signifiers that came before them (graffiti taggers; record labels like SST; bands with strong visial identities like Black Flag, etc.) but on the other, the whole thing reads like an advertisement for cooler-than-thou hipster elitists (which is surely the antithesis of the genuine independent, underground spirit the author wishes were there). In the end, I’m left thinking that it’s all just commerce, and that money ruins everything worthwhile. Permalink ·
Mark Steel Lectures on YouTube
They’re only excerpts, but you’ll love them. Why can’t school be like this? [c/o Mind Hacks]. Permalink ·
Wikipedia entry on the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
No longer willing to fill this blog with more depressing/angering reports of continuing atrocities — such as the killing of UN peacekeepers despite numerous warnings — I’m filing this for future reference; I don’t think it’ll be beaten as a concise historial record of these recent events for some time. Permalink ·
Former hostage Brian Keenan gives his perspective on the current Middle East crisis
Wise words from someone who knows what he’s talking about. Permalink ·
Good comment on a MetaFilter thread about the current Middle East crisis
“…I think that regardless of whether the Israeli response is justified, it’s definitely downright stupid policy. I think it’s also very arguable that the response has been disproportionate at the very least, but like I said, I prefer not to take sides. Regardless, the onus of responsibility is on Israel to [stand down] — since they do have a professional army under governmental control, unlike Lebanon — and they’re doing everything but taking the high ground. They are actively discouraging the conditions necessary for peace.” Agreed. Israel is certainly in a difficult position — knowing that even if they stop, Hezbollah won’t — but you can’t fight fire with a flamethrower. And that’s my last word on the matter, because writing about the wrongs of the world makes me too angry and depressed. Permalink ·
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This page lists all Microlog entries by MacDara Conroy tagged with ‘society’. You will find many more entries sorted by month and by category in the Archives.
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