Blogging through Invitation to Sociology (2024)

  1) What was surprising or interesting in the video?   1 trillion is 100 times the current population and about 10 times the total number of people who have ever existed in human history. Earth's surface area is approximately 500 million square kilometers or 200 million square miles, with about a quarter of that being land. If we were to pave every area from the deepest oceans to frozen tundras, assuming a total population of 1 trillion, the population density would be only 2,000 people per square kilometer or 5,000 people per square mile. While not a small number, this is lower than the density of even the most densely populated cities in the world. If people were to live only on land excluding the sea and without multi-story buildings, each individual or average family could secure a spacious area of 1,400 square feet per person. As a child, the population of China felt truly overwhelming. The legend of the "human wave" conjured images of endless waves of zombies. Howe...

  1) What was surprising or interesting in the video?   Even if the limitless advancement of technology could make humanity the best it can be, a perfect utopia is realistically impossible. If everyone were to have the intelligence level of Einstein, that uniqueness would vanish. Similarly, if advanced plastic surgery allowed everyone to have perfect appearances, people might start desiring slight imperfections instead. This is because humans inherently seek differentiation. Additionally, despite the infinite advancement of technology, resources remain finite. Bandwidth, energy, and time are resources that cannot be provided infinitely. Efficient management and distribution of these resources still require an economic system. Therefore, even if we invent a perfect ideal system, controlling it without any intermediary is challenging. In future societies, there is also the possibility of introducing social currency systems. These systems measure and exchange reputation, trust, a...

1) What was surprising or interesting in the video? It's really interesting that loneliness strengthens defense mechanisms. But why was it naturally chosen that loneliness strengthens defense mechanisms? I think we can agree that fostering defense mechanisms and being isolated from society is rather a struggle to dispel that loneliness. These days, I also seem to try to avoid loneliness often. Knowing too much about yourself lacking social skills and preventing social relationships from forming in the first place is a very easy way to avoid real-life tragedies. But my question is, why were people like me chosen naturally? Is it because giving up social relationships and growing pessimism and hostility strengthened our ancestors' independence and viability? 2) What is the main topic of the video, and what do you think about it? Humans are inherently lonely. Such suffering stimulated our ancestors' survival, and they were able to thrive under it. However, the prevalent selfis...

 Currently, foreigners in South Korea are receiving more positive recognition and various social support compared to the past. Multicultural family support centers and legal protection policies are in place to assist foreigners and multicultural families. However, foreign workers still experience some discrimination and disadvantages, such as wage theft and poor living conditions. According to a 2021 Korea Research survey, over 60% of respondents viewed working with foreigners positively, yet 30% of foreigners reported experiencing discrimination. The popularity of the Korean Wave (Hallyu) is enhancing cultural acceptance of foreigners. South Korea needs to continue strengthening its inclusion and support for foreigners.

 Both Korea and the United States face issues with gerrymandering, but their contexts differ. In the U.S., the problem primarily arises in state legislatures and federal House elections, where the authority to redraw district boundaries allows parties to maximize their advantages by creating overly homogeneous districts to concentrate support. In contrast, Korea has seen gerrymandering issues highlighted mainly in local elections, particularly in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Critics have pointed out instances where districts were redrawn to separate densely populated areas in favor of certain parties, potentially concentrating their support and undermining overall electoral fairness. The gerrymandering problem in Korea underscores the need for efficient and fair districting processes to ensure equitable representation and uphold democratic principles. Legal regulations and transparent redistricting procedures are essential to maintain balanced representation and ensure fair competi...

 I believe there is a possibility that people may take voting less seriously with the advent of internet voting. Increased accessibility could lower the threshold for participation, potentially resulting in less careful decision-making during voting. This could mean that people might overlook the importance of their vote and not scrutinize their choices adequately. Therefore, when introducing internet voting systems, it is crucial to consider methods for educating and informing the public to encourage responsible voting behavior.

 I believe that it is possible to reconcile representative democracy and direct democracy to a certain extent, as it involves issues of definition and degree. Examining Switzerland's system is valuable in this regard. Switzerland achieves direct democracy through national referendums, enabling citizens to directly participate in major legislative and policy decisions. At the same time, it builds a representative democracy where elected officials govern the country. This balanced system strengthens popular sovereignty and maintains cooperation between central and local governments. Switzerland's approach focuses on integrating various levels of political decision-making to maintain equilibrium. Therefore, I do not think that implementing direct democracy necessarily renders politicians useless.

 I think this question is incomplete. To me, it's obvious that democracy reflects the will of the people, and it's also natural that not every decision directly reflects the people's will. Discussing to what extent democracy should reflect the will of the people is also challenging. In my view, democracy can be redefined according to our consensus. I suggest changing the question to "To what extent can democracy be seen as effectively reflecting the will of the people?"

 summarize Demography is the study of the size, structure, and distribution of populations and how they change over time due to births, deaths, migration, and aging. It is a powerful tool for explaining sociological phenomena and is useful for analyzing historical events such as World War I. Demographic analysis primarily relies on large datasets derived from censuses and vital statistics. Demographic calculations advanced in the 18th century, with censuses having a long history dating back to ancient China and Rome. However, reliable demographic data is still difficult to obtain in many developing countries. interesting Yesterday, I had a conversation with my grandfather. He talked about how there was a strong sense of community between neighbors in the old days, especially in the space between the main house and the annex beyond the fence. The story of passing pajeon  over the fence on skewers is beautiful. On the other hand, it's very unfortunate that nowadays, despite livi...

 summarize Technology encompasses methods and processes used to achieve goals like production or scientific research, ranging from knowledge to machinery and devices. It includes both the understanding of techniques and the tangible tools like computers or factories. Ultimately, technology facilitates production and aids in achieving various objectives. interesting Video games enhance visual attention and improve rapid response and concentration. In particular, action games enhance the player's ability to focus on relevant visual information. This strengthens the ability to prevent sensory overload and maintain focus in the modern world. Therefore, video games help improve flexible and accurate attention control abilities. discussion Video games can primarily enhance visual and spatial perception, problem-solving skills, and reaction time. According to some studies, certain video games like puzzles or strategy games can improve the ability to understand abstract and complex concept...

summarize Race is a human grouping primarily differentiated by morphological characteristics like skin color and is classified externally rather than by individual choice. Racial classification began in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome and developed alongside scientific attempts in the 17th century. 19th-century scientists argued that race is an objective and valid category for explaining human behavior. Modern research explores correlations between genetic data and race but often emphasizes the social construction of race over genetic differences. In biomedical research, there is active debate about considering race to improve disease prevention and treatment. interesting nterracial marriage was illegal in the United States until 1967, and violators could be imprisoned. The case that led to the repeal of this law was that of Mildred, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, who were arrested in Virginia after their marriage. Their case went to the Supreme Court, which resulted i...

 summarize Sociologists define "gender" as the social and cultural role differences between men and women, and distinguish it from "sex," which is a social category based on genetic and biological differences. Despite physiological differences, gender differences are shaped through socialization processes. There are views that biological distinctions create gender differences, and views that these differences reflect social inequalities. Gender differences are primarily driven by social factors, and gender socialization begins early in infancy. For example, women tend to live longer than men and are more susceptible to anxiety disorders and depression. Emphasizing gender differences in kindergarten education reinforces stereotypes. These studies show that gender differences are shaped by social factors as well as biological ones. interesting Cisgender refers to individuals whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. Cisgender individuals expre...

 summarize Social inequality occurs when resources are unevenly distributed, putting certain groups at a disadvantage due to factors like power, race, and gender. It is closely related to economic inequality and appears in access to public goods and services. As social complexity increases, inequality tends to grow. The difference between cultures that value social status and wealth and those that value harmony also affects inequality. interesting The LGBT movement fights to address social inequality based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This movement demands equal access to public goods, services, and legal rights for LGBT individuals, combating discrimination and exclusion. Sexual minorities often face disadvantages due to the unequal distribution of social and economic resources. The LGBT movement strives to rectify these inequalities and ensure equal rights for everyone. discussion I am not equipped to engage in a grand discussion about freedom and rights. I simply b...

 I think we need to improve the extreme liberal thinking of the postmodern era. In the last generation, marriage had an overly patriarchal custom, but the nobility of marriage that they adhered to needs to be restored. I think sacrifice is clichéd and declaring only one's own freedom may seem like no problem, but I think we should pay attention to the relationship between men and women that is determined by raising children and the rise in human character that can be more complete accordingly. If this period continues without knowing the importance, I think everyone thinks low birth rates are a problem, but I think we will fall into a dilemma that no one can refute or take issue with and lose our freedom in the swamp of liberalism.

summarize Social stratification refers to the classification of people into groups based on socioeconomic factors such as wealth, income, education, occupation, and social status, assigning different levels of privilege within these groups. In modern Western societies, it is often divided into upper, middle, and lower classes, with each class further subdivided. Stratification becomes more apparent with greater social complexity, affecting status inequality and social mobility. Various social theorists argue that stratification either contributes to social order and stability or results in a lack of access to resources and social mobility. interesting Marx's historical materialism is a theory that understands social development through economic factors. He interpreted human history in terms of changes in the means of production and production relations. According to the theory, social development is driven by social conflicts and class struggles, ultimately leading to a communist s...

summarize Dramaturgy is a microsociological explanation developed by Erving Goffman that analyzes social interactions using theatrical metaphors. People perform specific roles, distinguishing between front-stage behavior and backstage behavior. These self-presentations are shaped by cultural values and norms, with the aim of successful self-presentation being audience acceptance. Goffman viewed identity as fluid and continuously reconstructed through interactions. This theory emphasizes the context of human interaction, with impression management and team cooperation also being key components. interesting Back stage behavior refers to how individuals act when they are out of the public eye, allowing them to relax and be themselves without societal pressures. It contrasts with front stage behavior, where people perform roles and manage impressions for an audience. This concept highlights the duality of social roles and the authenticity of personal expression in private settings. discuss...

 If there was only femininity or masculinity in the world, would it be femininity or masculinity? Are we freer in a situation where the ideology of postmodernism has expanded to infinity and the sexual notions that the older generation adheres to have been dismantled? Is the world richer in such a situation? I think the symbols that distinguish between women and men more clearly specify each individual. And when we have those concepts, we are conceptually richer. Just as the concept of a line segment is enriched by distinguishing between a straight line and a curve. An individual's identity can be enriched with countless symbols and images. Of course, you might think this is a passive bondage. On the one hand, you might think it is more obvious to use these expressions when looking at history. But I don't think there is a distinction just to train social conditioning, class struggle. I think that distinction allows us to experience gender uniqueness, that abstraction, metaphori...

Saying that poverty helps solve poverty is not much different from saying that a state of hunger makes you full. Is it a function of trash that allows you to clean up?  There is a sentence, "Give bread to the hungry, and let the breadwinners starve of justice." I feel dry in a society where matter is equally distributed arithmetically to all. Isn't the added value of bread when a person with five loaves distributes all five loaves to 10 people the meaning of poverty?

summarize Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory that examines how humans use shared language to create common symbols and meanings for communication. It views society as a product of everyday interactions among individuals, where shared understandings and meanings shape behaviors. Developed in the mid-twentieth century, it is influential in microsociology and social psychology, deriving from American pragmatism and the work of George Herbert Mead. The theory posits that individuals respond to social definitions of reality rather than reality itself, filtering their perceptions through personal perspectives. Erving Goffman emphasizes that social reality is constructed through individuals' perceptions and actions. Symbolic interactionism encourages empirical observation of these social processes. interesting Symbolic Interactionism is one approach to understanding society by analyzing the meanings and social realities formed through interactions between individuals. Unlike...

summarize Social networks are social structures composed of individuals or organizations connected through various social interactions. They are analyzed using methods from sociology, psychology, statistics, and graph theory to understand patterns and dynamics. Social network analysis, pioneered by Simmel and Moreno, became prevalent in the 1950s and is now a major paradigm in sociology and other sciences. It focuses on the relationships between social units rather than the units themselves, with ties representing social connections. Despite criticism for potentially neglecting individual agency, it is widely utilized across disciplines including anthropology, economics, and psychology. interesting The meso-level perspective is an approach to understanding social networks that focuses on intermediate-sized groups and organizations. It helps to comprehend the complexity of network structures, enables comparisons between groups, and provides valuable insights for policy development an...