Guest Abstract
The following Abstract was submitted to me by my good friend Paul Spreadbury, so I thought I would share it with everyone. Thanks to Paul for his musings
"...whilst drinking with my football buddies last week i found myself contemplating thoughts along your lines...
There is one lad in the group of 12 of us who is the butt of all jokes. he is an easy target, and in fact seems to play up if not revel in this role within the group.
I cast my mind back to our school days and the comparisons with our very own Massy were clear to see. Another who 'played up' to the role within the group.
So, after further thoughts, i came up with this deliberation..
In every group, whether it be social, work or otherwise, is there always an easy target who faces the jibes, jokes and pranks, and moreover, is this person one who likes the role, feels comfortable in this role within the group and even perhaps creates this role for themselves with their actions (not neccessarily pre-meditated)?
I would welcome your comments on my thoughts..."
2 comments:
(sharp intake of breath) You're getting into social self-fufilling prophecies here. Dodgy ground. Is the idiot an idiot because he/she is an idiot, or because they want to be percieved as an idiot?
I'd rather turn your attention to Google Ads down the side of the page. Whilst reading Buzz's (cough) highly entertaining abstract, I couldn't help but notice Google bravely trying to flog me tickets for Keith Urban gigs.
How very abstract.
Bugger - beatroute66 has beaten me to the "self- fulfilling prophecy" sucker punch...the swine. Though my explanation would differ slightly along the lines of "is the idiot an idiot becuase they are an idiot or rather, when initially singled out for a one off action they respond in a way which could be deemed "idiot-like" - thus generating more accusations of "idiot-ness" - thus generating more responses which could be deemed "idiot-like" - thus generating more responses which could be deemed "idiot-like" - thus gener.........
On a far more interesting note - the Google ad I was presented with while reading Buzz's (cough) highly entertaining abstract were flogging me identify theft protection. I find this ironic for 2 reasons:
1) The "guest" adstracter could be mistaken, by a not very observant reader, to be THE blogger Richard Cherrett, thus inadvertantly stealing his identity, and.....
2) Buzz has unarguably attempted to steal the identify of a porfessional social scientist with his populist, bully justifying rantings - an identity theft which would seldom go undetected but one which could, with the help of identity theft protection software, have been avoided.
Post a Comment