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The remnants of the third place. My personal observations 

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The remnants of the third place. My personal observations 

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In the book Introducing Sociology with the stuff of everyday life. At the end of chapter four it asks the about if you know any real examples of ''Third Places''.
Third Places are public spaces used to socialize that are sometimes free of charge and serves the local community as a safe comitial hub. Places like the mall, coffee shops, bars, And the library. But they seem to be fading away. Its rare nowadays to find a place to simply exist without a admission fee.

There is some genuine Third places that don't cost anything. for example the Pride center on my college campus. A nice welcoming place to relax before or after your classes. I see people from different gender identities, race, and class. They all for the most part happily socialize and sometimes play board games together. This is where I met my best friend who opened the opportunity to find another form of modern day third spaces, The Underground metal and punk show scene. Metal concerts may not be what you think of when you think of third place. But from my personal observations They have similar functions as the other places mentioned before. I observed all sorts of people from differing classes, race, genders, subcultures, age, and even locations. All coming to together in one place in the name of having a good time and listen to live music.

But it's much more than just that. It's a culture all on its own with traditions and etiquette much like some religious ceremonies. Giving people a feeling of community and a place to belong. For many people it's getting harder to find spaces that makes them feel like they belong genuinely.
The lack of third places in America has greatly affected our lives. According to an article by NPR, Youths 15-24 had 70%  less interaction with fellow peers. This could be because of covid 19 but also the use of social media as a replacement for third places.

Third places are harder to access as well. America has become extremely car dependent and if you need to go anywhere you have to drive. And the amount of young adults and teenagers who drive has declined in the last couple of years. Capitalism and the economy may also be component.

In conclusion genuine Third places have been disappearing hopefully not forever because they are important to us. Many of us have forgotten the joy of just going to the park or downtown and making new connections.

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An outsider looking in. Looking inside a strange phenomenon.

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An outsider looking in. Looking inside a strange phenomenon.

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Through my Observations I have come across a strange phenomenon. One that can be only seen if you find their secret invitations. These secret invitations can only be obtained if you know they exist in the first place. An invitation to a ritual. A ritual where groups of people come together to listen of loud noise accented by demonic growling. They will use any place to do this ritual like small rooms and even under bridges. during these performances  participants will violently thrash their heads around so hard it causes themself to get headaches. They will dance also by shoving, bumping, and even kick one another in rhythm in what they call ''music''.
Their music seems to be focused on depicting violence and themes of bodily mutilation and murder.

Despite the violence depicted in their music and behavior they don't seem to genuinely want to hurt each other. They in fact seem to have a code of honor of some kind. This code is not spoken or written down but is common knowledge to the individuals who attend. These rules can be violated by wearing certain symbols, Being too violent and unconsented touching of female participants. Breaking said rules will result in verbal and physical retaliation and forced removal from the event.

During the ritual they consume poison. Drinking the same chemicals used to remove paint off surface and they do so to alter their mind and senses.
Members of this community are very protective of one another and their spaces. Willing to take care of those who overindulged on the poison or other substances used.

Those who partake also wear distinct garments and face paint. The vast majority wore the color black and darker colors and wearing face paint that make them look like the deceased.

This community calls themselves ''Metalheads''.

(Metalheads.)

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Ah yes, Alcohol. The drink of champions and America's favorite pastime. Or so we believe. 219.2 million people 12 and older said they have drank at some point in there lives According to the National institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-use-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics

But most people don't proudly smoke crack or treat any other demonized drug with the same enthusiasm as a beer. So why is alcohol so special? People say they drink to relax from a day hard work, Or to be social. they also might just like the sensation of being drunk and to feel the ''buzz''.

Alcohol is widely accepted in not just America but other western countries too. The average legal drinking age is 18. but for us Americans we have to wait until we are 21.

You would think that because alcohol is a drug that is supposed to be used by responsible adults that people would respect someone would does not want to partake in the ritual of drinking.

But unfortunately you would be mistaken. In a video by BBC Three, Groups of various individuals from all walks of life were brought together to talk about their experiences of being sober.

In the video called Things Not to say to Someone Who  Doesn't Drink Alcohol. The individuals talked about how they were treated regardless of the reason for their sobriety that they were ''boring'' and that they needed to ''live a little''.  And they were being pushed by fellow members of society  to conform to the societal norms of drinking. Its similar to what happened to Sabrina in the book ''Introducing sociology with the stuff from everyday life''. In the book Sabrina talks about her childhood as Asian Canadian growing up. When sabrina was a little girl, The other children and even the faulty in her school would make fun of her cultural food during lunch time. Making her stop eating the food her mother made for her and instead started to eat the same food the other kids were eating. Which were boring white bread sandwiches.

Sabrina was made to comply with social norms by the ridicule of her peers. This is an example of what the Book called ''Social sanctions''.

Social sanctions are a social mechanism of sort used to make people who deviate from social norms conform to that cultures practices. Often subconsciously or even on purpose. People made uncomfortable or confused by acts of social deviance will use tactics like humiliation, Shame and alienation from their respective group to make people stop deviating.

I've personally have been on the receiving end of this phenomenon. I personally don't enjoy alcohol. The ''buzz'' some people seek is not as fun for me as it is for others.
but I drink with my family anyway, Not because I enjoy it but because that's what my family expects of me. I drink beer that I don't really even wanna drink because of the same reason Sabrina decided stop eating her cultures food at lunch time.
Even when I do drink I am still subject to being socially sanctioned. I get comments from them like ''Why are you drinking so slow?'' and ''That going to get warm if you don't drink that''.

And this is a rather common in older generations and even nowadays. People assume that there's something wrong if you decide not to drink, They will think your a alcoholic, or you can't because your religion. It's almost like people can not fathom the idea of not drinking. And in a sense they can't.

Drinking in America is so deeply ingrained in our culture that it is almost offensive to not partake. Its a social totem for most people. It's a bonding ritual for both friends and family.
And not joining in is seen as not wanting to be a part of that bonding experience. It's like being a part of a sports team and then when it's time to play you decide to walk off the field.

Unfortunately drinking culture is here to stay but the best we can do if you don't want to be a part of it is to not play.

=======REFERENCES============================================================
BBC Three's Things Not To Say to Someone Who Doesn't Drink Alcohol Video:
https://youtu.be/fnxVcJ4jSDw?si=tK_2HAkC7xVGGrHJ

National institute Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-use-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics

Josee Johnston & Kate Cairns And others, 2016, p. 43 & 44, Introducing Sociology using The stuff from everyday life.
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Everyone wants Levi Jeans and Dodge trucks!

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Everyone wants Levi Jeans and Dodge trucks!

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Today I read about The sociology behind the popularly of jeans from the the book Introducing sociology from the stuff of everyday life.
It inspired me to write about another item Americans cannot seem to get enough of. The Pickup Truck, An American status symbol like the blue jeans written in the book. We see the Truck as a vehicle for the working man, The chariot for the middle class worker. According to a article on Jalopnik, A vehicle industry newsletter website. Trucks and large SUVs make up over 80 percent all car sales. Even my Dad drives one, and My Mom drives an SUV.

Why do we Americans buy Trucks and large SUVs? Is it because they are safer? No, Not at all and they in fact are worse than cars in every way a vehicle can be. In an article written by USA Today, SUVs and pickup trucks are more likely to hit pedestrians than normal cars.

''In 2020, the last year for which complete statistics are available, 6,519 pedestrians were killed in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.''  https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/03/17/suvs-pickups-pedestrian-fatalities-rise/7075333001/

You are probably wondering where got these statistics and my sources from. Well I got them from a very Truck critical  Youtube video by Not Just Bikes called ''These stupid trucks are literally killing us''. I will be using some of his sources and a few his talking points from his video about the misplaced trust in large civilian vehicles.

Car companies have been aggressively pushing SUVs and light trucks into the market with strong advertising for the last decade. Turning them into a must have for middle class American families wanting safety and comfort. But why do companies want to sell the SUV as a family vehicle?  To dodge regulations that cars have to follow. You see SUVs are classified as '' light trucks'' which allow said companies bypass the same rules made for cars that control smog and safety regulations because ''light trucks'' were seen as commercial vehicles when they were first introduced. Car manufactures wanted to manifest a desire for large vehicles to save money.

Now that we know how bad trucks and SUVs are. Let's go back to the main question I asked you earlier. Why are we Americans buying these trucks and large SUVs?

Because we have been convinced by the manufacturer's advertising that owning Big vehicles are much cooler and superior than sedans.

People buy trucks not because they need the power.
They buy it because it is now a status symbol, A sign of wealth and makes them feel like they belong to their respective culture or it affirms their identity in some way.
For example trucks are very popular with politically right leaning people Why? Because trucks and large vehicles as a whole have been associated american patriotism.

The truck and blue jeans both started out the same way. both started out being marked as something for hard working men and then blew up into the mainstream consumers mind.

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References
Not just Bike's These stupid trucks are literally killing us video.
https://youtu.be/jN7mSXMruEo?si=rUx_XKvtX2xUySX3

USA Today article.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/03/17/suvs-pickups-pedestrian-fatalities-rise/7075333001/

Jalopnik SUVs and trucks article,

https://jalopnik.com/trucks-and-suvs-are-now-over-80-percent-of-new-car-sale-1848427797

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Why I'm taking Intro to Sociology. and Introduction 

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Why I'm taking Intro to Sociology. and Introduction 

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Im Katie, I'm in my sophomore year at Delta college.

The reason I'm taking sociology this semester is because I want to explore my career options.
I've been studying Art history, Fashion design, Printmaking, And now I'm dipping my toes into Sociology.

At First I was worried about taking this class because I have never taken a science class at college level before. But after doing basic research of the subject I'm more excited about learning sociology.