Sociology

[Clive Evans]

Anyone ever study this subject? It can be very controversial. Maggie Thatcher thought that graduates in this subject, didn't deserve a BSc only a BA. When I did, we spent a good few hours learning about " wolf " children. Supposedly abandoned children brought up in the forest by animals and this was used by Sociologists to measure the value of family in speech etc. Voltaire wrote about one of these kids. Latterly psychologists, say that these kids fit the model of autistic children who had probably been abandoned later in childhood. Also feminists tried to have it, that women weren't necessarily the less dominant sex in Society, by citing one or two tribes where in fact women were the hunter gathers. You weren't allowed to challenge this hockum, despite the fact that million upon million of women are subjugated by men in misogynistic cultures throughout the World. I do think that Sociology does have some value, but our social organisation is so complicated, it is nigh on impossible to formulate rules that actually work. Your views please, especially from anyone who has studied Sociology.

[Buckingham]

In my experience, people who dismiss entire fields of study either:

A. Don't actually know what the subject is
B. Lack the foresight to see that even subjects which aren't "main" subjects (e.g. Physics, Maths, Chemistry) are worth pursuing in order to further human knowledge
C. Are closed minded enough to think that only subjects which directly lead to gainful employment are worth studying and that anything else is a waste of time
D. Their application to study said subject was rejected

[bobo66]

I did Sociology in school because at the time (in the mid 70s) I thought it sounded really cool and interesting. Unfortunately I was really disappointed as it turned out to be neither. We didn't study anything interesting like you seemed to do. We spent our time learning about methods and surveys. I can't remember much else because I think I spent most of the time in class sleeping.

[Forty-Niner]

I have never studied Sociology but I have Economics. It seems they have one thing in common. Totally opposing views can be formed from the same sets of data.

[StillSpike]

I know zip all about it, but enjoyed the BT advert - "you got an ology!"

Apparently, Farage hates it, so I'm all for it, I guess

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politi ... grees.html

[Clive Evans]

My dear Buckingham....I didn't think much of your dismissive argument. You obviously have a PhD in Sociology.
For your information I have a background in Science. But have "A" Levels in Sociology, Chemistry, English, French & Spanish. I also have a qualification in another subject to a much higher level and Sociology forms a good part of that course. Unfortunately I too found that much of Sociology was about conflicting arguments on the same topic. IE should we hang 'em or re-educate them type arguments. Whilst doing the English course we read a very good article ( unfortunately I forget who wrote ), by someone who panned Sociology, said it was full of meaningless pseudo-scientific terms to try and gain kudos for it's students. This partly inspired me to study Sociology to see what it is all about.

[Buckingham]

My dear Buckingham....I didn't think much of your dismissive argument. You obviously have a PhD in Sociology.
For your information I have a background in Science. But have "A" Levels in Sociology, Chemistry, English, French & Spanish. I also have a qualification in another subject to a much higher level and Sociology forms a good part of that course. Unfortunately I too found that much of Sociology was about conflicting arguments on the same topic. IE should we hang 'em or re-educate them type arguments. Whilst doing the English course we read a very good article ( unfortunately I forget who wrote ), by someone who panned Sociology, said it was full of meaningless pseudo-scientific terms to try and gain kudos for it's students. This partly inspired me to study Sociology to see what it is all about.

I don't have a PhD in anything.

For clarification, your opinion on sociology is well formed, based on experience and knowledge. This is perfectly reasonable, logical and I have no reason to dismiss it. However, you really are an exception. Most of the times you come a across a "X subject is a load of rubbish" type, they usually know absolutely nothing about the subject they are dismissing beyond the fact that it isn't a core subject.

[Redcard]

If you binned all the sociologists and economists you would only suffer if the dustmen went on strike.
We need people that ‘do’ , not people who pontificate on why it is being done. Enough of the bullshitters who study for the sake of studying and end up contributing nothing to the real world.

[Buckingham]

If you binned all the sociologists and economists you would only suffer if the dustmen went on strike.
We need people that ‘do’ , not people who pontificate on why it is being done. Enough of the bullshitters who study for the sake of studying and end up contributing nothing to the real world.

If nobody studied anything human progress would stall.

Academics do contribute to the "real world". They contribute knowledge. If you didn't have economists you wouldn't have any dustmen because nobody would know the best way to fund public services (e.g dustmen).

Think big picture.

[Redcard]

I am not saying nobody should study anything, and I am sure I could get by readily without ever interacting with someone who had studied or made a living out of debating the best ways to run my life. I have often needed the intervention of the medically trained or craftsmen such as plumbers, carpenters, Electricians etc but have managed to stumble through life’s adversities without ever seeking the help of a sociologist or economist. I think that says it all.