Covert Ethnographies

Ok so now that I'm not feeling so guilty about not studying (since I'm done school, awww yeahh), I can sit here and rant about covert ethnographies at my leisure. Except not at my complete leisure because my friends are coming over for lunch at 1:30.

I'd like to talk about covert ethnographies today because I came across them while studying for an exam, and I had actually missed the class that they were talked about in. Basically a covert ethnography is a study that takes place where the researcher immerses themselves within a group to study them, but without the knowledge of the group members. Basically it's like going undercover for research. According to my notes, this form of research is highly frowned upon and not usually seen as a legitimate form of research, because of the myriad of ethical concerns that may arise over the course of the study.

I have a pretty big issue with that. While I agree that there is no form of informed consent taking place and there is possibility of potential harm to 'participants,' I do not see any difference from the numerous studies that are deemed 'ethical.'

We have constructed a world where if people are willing to be assholes to get ahead, we let them. Why are unethical or shady practices in scientific research deemed acceptable, while a covert ethnography, a form of research that can be extremely informative is not? Numerous drugs that have been pushed out of the lab and into pharmacies every year are foisted onto patients with little knowledge of actual side effects, and this is more 'ethical' than a covert ethnography?

In both cases the participants are being duped and those that conduct the research are benefiting. With a covert ethnography, there are obviously much greater risks to the researcher. For example, if a researcher is researching the inner-workings of a gang, they are obviously putting themselves at a much greater risk (than a drug tester), particularly if their identity is unveiled.

I suppose what I'm ultimately getting at is, while there are a gajillion different forms of research, I see little if any less legitimacy in a covert ethnography than other research methods and designs. The word 'ethics' is also a pretty strong buzz word, and who exactly decides what is 'ethical' is another extremely perplexing// complex issue, perhaps for another time.

In conclusion, being a covert ethnographer would be so wick//bad ass.

Changer

SOOOOOOOOO, this week I got some interesting feedback about my blog, about how to make it more effective, and turn the quality up to 11. Maybe not 11, but at least make it a little more cohesive and sensicle, not popsicle.

So from now on I am going to employ the 5 to 1 ratio. Now I tend to be quite busy, so it likely won't happen as frequently as suggested, but still as much as I have time for. For example, this is the first time this weekend that I was actually about to be at my computer for longer than 10 minutes.

and fuck, of course i just had to go do something for the past half hour and am back again. Ok, I gotta get ready for work so my organized rant// new and improved styling will have to wait...

CERTIFIED

asdfghjkl. I am officially finished university. I just met up with a friend and yakked his ears off for 3 hours straight because I'm so excited to be finished. Now that I think about I'm quite pleased he didn't clock me in the face. I probably would have clocked me in the face.












on a totally random side note that has nothing to do with my excitement of having completed university successfully...



...To be honest, yes I am worried. And the things you said were scary and extremement confusing. But life can be really confusing. I feel kind of detached, and out of the loop, and unsure, but perhaps that's the way life is best lived. I'm here and you're there. I'm here, not there. But maybe I shouldn't be there. I don't know if it's my job yet. Or maybe it will end up never being my job. I know we've already chatted about this, but I'm going to miss you this summer, even though it's going to be the most rockin summer of life.



....Imagine if I could say all this to you IRL?

So you told me this thing about you today. This thing that I'm not sure if you actually wanted to tell me. But I was worried, so then maybe I was becoming burdensome. And you know, I think I always knew somehow. Somehow in the back of my mind I knew.

Aaaaaand Google is a Giant Zipper Today so the only Logical Explantion would be to Procrastinate

Aren't these green curly-cues wonderful? They're so green and happy looking. I like them.

Today I haven't spoken to anyone. Other than the bus driver to say good morning and thank you to the person I handed my exam to upon completion (where is everyone??). Anyway, since I had extra words to use, I had to write a song about my dog and sing it to her. More than once.

Yesterday at work I had to do an impression of a penguin (when they go slidey across the Antarctic ice) because nobody at work got what I was saying. They just don't understand the complicated intricacies of penguinisms.

Soooo I hear you set your alarm for 8:30am just to wish me good luck on my exam. 10000 points. You're amazing. My own mother didn't even wish me good luck on my exam, but you did! Gah, so impressed and smiley
right now.

I need to go on a few organized rants. But I would feel too guilty (especially since I'm nowhere near prepared for my exam on Thursday) if I typed those out now. After my exams. Spoiler alert: body building, and covert ethnographies.

Why is this site all differs now?

The basketball in my room is very orange.

Tomorrow I am going to try for the summit.

Isn't it supposed to be spring? Not extended winter?

Also, LOTR is awesome. I can't put it down. I'm already half way through the first book. And the font is pretty much size 8, or less.

This Guy

What a champ.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17765170

Poor Little Bug on the Wall

Totally just popped into my head, after being filed away for years. Oh the 90's. Oh Brownies and Girl Guides.

Poor little bug on the wall
No one to love him at all

No one to wash his clothes
No one to tickle his toes

Poor little bug on the wall

Threat Level Midnight

I am going to give LOTR another try. I plan on starting with the books.

Twas a beautiful day today.

People are so nice.

People are also mostly really idiotic.

Annie is a really dumb dog.

Today I met 4 butterflies in my outdoor business.

Obviously the only kid that didn't show up was the one I wrote music out for.

I was late for the work yesterday. This has never happened, and I was rattled beyond belief.

Space is vast.

Food is yum.

Harry Potter rocks.

Soooo, not tired.

I have a doctors appointment tomorrow. I haven't been to the doctor other than to get an epipen in 4 yrs. Oops.

This summer I plan on growing my coaster collection substantially.

Water is ever so quenching.

You would. So would I.

26th, then I'm free of university forEVA.

But probably not forEVA, because I quite like school. Maybe I'll go back.

Crank the pomposity up to 11.

Cold wind blows, I feel you now.

Sun on my face. Feels good man.

All I've done today is SPORTS// be really active outside, but I'm not tired at all.

In fact, I'm bouncing off the walls, with nobody to contain me!!!

Flutter.

Certified Geographist.

Certified Feminist.

Certified.

River Runs Through it

It flows through my body. It almost feels alive, as though there's something living inside of it. I close my eyes and I hear everything. I touch my face, it feels more than usual. I have to open my eyes eventually. Slowly, then I can savour it. Reality; it's back. Back as I open my eyes.

It's still flowing. I can feel it. Now my stomach is in knots, not the good knots. I close my eyes again, and I think a good thought, and I get goosebumps. The good kind of goosebumps.

Tired. Tired. Fatigue.

This post makes no sense to most.

Road Warrior

I've started biking pretty much everywhere. The thing is, its much cheaper. No bus fare, its waaaay better for the environment, it doesn't even take that much longer, and its good for you. Imagine that. But I may be preaching to the converted. Most people that choose to exclusively drive, no matter how close they are to their target destination won't listen to my silliness.

Another thing I always find kind of ironic are people that people DRIVE to the gym. These people will engage in something that is terrible for the environment, bad for their health, and wastes money (I guess in both instances the car, and the gym membership), just to go do something they could do either in their own home, or neighbourhood. Doing something inactive to get to the place where they can be active. hilarious.

Anyway, I'm thinking of getting a road bike, possibly. I need to go about it so I stay as far away from hipsterdome as possible. I think when I ride my bike I take on the super athletic look though, so I'm pretty sure I'm safe. It also surprises me how many near death experiences I've had and not even been scared at all. Maybe I'm becoming a road warrior. In my dreams...

For the Longest Time

What a happy song. I've been waking up with this Billy Joel classic in my head for awhile now so I thought I'd post it here.

Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time
Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time

If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do, I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time

Once I thought my innocence was gone
Now I know that happiness goes on
That's when you found me, when you put your arms around me
I haven't been there for the longest time

Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time
Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time

I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall
And the greatest miracle of all
Is how I need you, and how you needed me too
That hasn't happened in the longest time

Maybe this won't last very long
But you feel so right
And I could be wrong
Maybe I've gone this far
And it's more than I'd hoped for

Who knows how much further we'll go on
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone
I'll take my chances, I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there for the longest time

I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself, hold on to your heart
Now I know the woman that you are
It's wonderful so far
And you're more than I'd hoped for

I don't care what consequence it brings
I have been a fool for lesser things
I want you so bad, I think you ought to know that
I intend to hold you for the longest time

Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time
Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time

If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do, I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time

Once I thought my innocence was gone
Now I know that happiness goes on
That's when you found me, when you put your arms around me
I haven't been there for the longest time

Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time
Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time

I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall
And the greatest miracle of all
Is how I need you, and how you needed me too
That hasn't happened in the longest time

Maybe this won't last very long
But you feel so right
And I could be wrong
Maybe I've gone this far
And it's more than I'd hoped for

Who knows how much further we'll go on
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone
I'll take my chances, I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there for the longest time

I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself, hold on to your heart
Now I know the woman that you are
It's wonderful so far
And you're more than I'd hoped for

I don't care what consequence it brings
I have been a fool for lesser things
I want you so bad, I think you ought to know that
I intend to hold you for the longest time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_XgQhMPeEQ

Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't aware of that!

Seriously, stop. Seriously.

Ballin

Getting to be a bad scene

You are now not only something I can't have, but also something I want. All signs are telling me to step the fuck back and get a grip. My gut is also telling me this is a bad idea. Pretty much life itself is pointing towards a bad scene if I keep this shit up, but I am being the most adamant at ignoring it all...

Ridiculously Photogenic Guy

I'm sure most of you have seen this, since once it hit the internet about a week ago, it spread like wildfire. For those of you who haven't come across it yet, meet "ridiculously photogenic guy". He is just over half way through a ten kilometer race, and apparently extremely happy to be alive.

I just thought I'd throw this up as a runner, because over half way through a 10k race, nobody looks that good, except for this guy. I pretty much laughed for awhile once I looked up the deets on this one.

So, ridiculously photogenic guy, I salute you! I only wish I could look a third as good as that half way through a 10k race.

Will Hunting

You know that scene in Good Will Hunting when Matt Damon is at his psych sesh with Robin Williams, and he just keeps telling him it's not your fault?











How do we know if things are our fault?

1000

YAY!!! So thank you to everyone who has ever visited my blog! You guys amazing. I now have over 1000 page views, and people visiting from 15 different countries. That's so unreal, particularly since I've only been doing this for only 9 months!!