Society & Culture - 25 August 2006

Could vigilantism (is that even a word...I mean someone who is a vigilante!) ever be beneficial to a society? Some of my friends are getting so sick of the anti-social (and sometimes violent) behaviour of the gangs in our town they are considering going out and dealing their own kind of justice. As far as I can understand they'll confront only those who they catch red-handed, and as we live in rural England no sort of dangerous weaponry would be employed- basically just giving people a damned hard going-over.

As I'm weak and weedy I could not join in (nor would I want to), but just wondered what you think of the proposal? Thanks guys.

2006-08-25 02:26:39 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Society & Culture

I'm looking over a maize field and houses in the distance and its raining hard...

2006-08-25 02:26:24 · 41 answers · asked by |Chris 4 in Other - Society & Culture

Lina Joy (Malaysia)
Abdul Rahman (Afghanistan)

2006-08-25 02:25:19 · 25 answers · asked by rustyshackleford001 5 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-08-25 02:24:14 · 6 answers · asked by debbie_bf 1 in Languages

For other uses, see Elite (disambiguation)

Look up elite, élite in a Dictionary.Elite (also spelt Élite) is taken from the latin, eligere, "to elect". In sociology as in general usage, the élite (the "elect," from French) is a relatively small dominant group within a larger society, which enjoys a privileged status which is upheld by individuals of lower social status within the structure of a group. When applied to an individual, as in the phrase "many elites come to this restaurant," the usage quite economically both refers to an individual within that class and establishes the speaker as non-elite.

An elite is the result of economic and political forces within a social structure. Upon formation, societies have always had the tendency to stratify due to a combination of politics and ability. The position of an elite at the top of the social strata almost invariably puts it in a position of leadership and often subjects the holders of elite status to pressure to maintain their position as part of the elite. However, in spite of the pressures borne by its members, the existence of the elite as a social strata is usually unchanged.


1 Religious elite
2 Linguistic elite
3 Class elite
4 Educational elite
5 Financial elite
6 Military elite
7 Elitism



Religious elite

In religion the Latin form "elect" is preferred over the French form "elite" in discussing Cathar or Calvinist theology, for examples, and the social structure that is theologically driven. Other religious groups may use expressions like "the saints" to describe the elect.


Linguistic elite

Some elite groups speak a language that is not shared by the commonality: in Tsarist Russia and in Vietnam the elite spoke French, in Plantagenet England the elite spoke Anglo-Norman, and in Ptolemaic Egypt the elite spoke Koine Greek. (See linguistic imperialism.) Elites establish correct usage for the language when they share one with the commonality. Elite usage is reflected in "prescriptive" dictionaries; common usage is reflected in "descriptive" dictionaries. Elites establish cultural canons, which are more widely agreed-upon within the elite and more generally ignored or resented among the non-elite. In the 1950s, the British elite spoke what linguists of the time called U English.


Class elite

American style straw hat. Complex social rules can determine when an occasion is sufficiently informal so that a man may correctly wear this hat.Elite advantages are the usual ones of a dominant social class: easier access to capital and political power, more rigorous education largely free of indoctrination, resulting in cultural influence, and leadership.

Elites may justify their existence based on claims of inherited position; with the rise in authority of science, certain 19th and 20th century elites have embraced pseudoscientific justifications of genetic or racial superiority. In Nazi Germany, genetic superiority was used as the basis of an imagined "Aryan" elite. Elite classes headed by monarchies have traditionally employed religious sanctions for their position.

Meritocracy is a facet of society that tries to promote merit as a route to the elite. Societies such as that of the United States have it in their culture to promote such a facet [see Horatio Alger]. However, while it tends to be imperfect it sheds light as to what many believe to be the "ideal" elite: an elite that is porous and whose members have earned their position as society's top class.

Aristocracy and oligarchy are social systems which feature an elite as the ruling class. An elite group, ranged round the alpha male, is a distinct feature of other closely-related social primates.


Educational elite

Elites are educated to govern. While common public education is often designed to educate the general population to produce knowledgeable and skilled citizens, the elite approach to education is often presented at a more intellectual and demanding level, and is geared to produce leaders of a sort. It is generally defined at education geared at producing an individual capable of thinking at an intellectual level more advanced than the general population, consisting of diverse philosophical ideals and theories in order to enable the elite to logically evaluate situations.


Financial elite

Wealth is not a sure sign of elite status, as the "new rich" are frequently seen as arriving from non-elite positions. Neither does an elite necessarily show a sense of public obligation.


Military elite

A military elite is a military unit of soldiers or recruits picked for their competence and put in a special, elite unit. Elite units enjoy some benefits as compared to other units, at least in the form of higher status, but often also higher pay and better equipment. Napoléons Imperial Guard would be a good example. Note that the word elite in the military sense is fundamentally different from most other uses of the term. A social or societal elite has usually not been picked by anyone except themselves and do not necessarily make part of the elite due to their competence. Military elite units do not exercise any special leadership over other units. In the societal and social sense of the word, the elite of the army is the officer corps, not the elite units.

In the military community, it is considered doubtful if the creation of elite units are expected to do the same things as a regular military unit, only better, (as opposed to special forces that are expected to do other things than regular soldiers)is good resource manangement. Critics argue that it creates a negative "second class soldier"-feeling among the regular units. Furthermore they argue that an especially competent soldier does more good as an NCO or as just the guy who sets a good inspiring example for his comrades.

Historically many elite forces have been created and maintained as much for political reasons as for military ones. The leaders feel they need something more politically reliable than ordinary units and create elite units, hoping that the priviliges, the extra political indoctrination that such elite forces are typically given and the pride in belonging to an elite will make them more loyal. Typically, it works. Waffen-SS would be an obvious example.


Elitism

In elite theory as developed by Marxist political scientists like Michael Parenti, all sufficiently large social groups will have some kind of elite group within them that actively participates in the group's political dynamics. When a group is arbitrarily excluded from the larger society, such as in the case of the racism that was widespread in the United States prior to the success of the American Civil Rights Movement, then elite members of the excluded group may form a counter-elite to fight for their group's interests (although they may be fighting for those interests only to the extent they mesh with the counter-elite's interests). Of course, the dominant elite can neutralize the counter-elite through the classic divide-and-conquer strategy of admitting key members of the counter-elite into the elite.

Elitism usually draws envy and resentment from the lower classes and the counter-elite. There are cases where elites arguably use this resentment of an elite to maintain their position. See Communism. The Elite in the United States also use this method of control via popular culture and media influence. Author C. Wright Mills elaborates on this influence in his book The Power Elite.

Look these up (*_*)

Boston Brahmin
Brahmin
Elitism
Mandarin
Patrician
Snob
Leet

2006-08-25 02:23:01 · 6 answers · asked by Gengi$ 6 in Other - Society & Culture

2006-08-25 02:22:41 · 16 answers · asked by indrakeerthi 2 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-08-25 02:21:42 · 11 answers · asked by Me 1 in Etiquette

Why we differ in understanding our Creator?
Why we consider one stronger than the other?
why people believing in the presence of creator differ in names,prayers,sources of information,etc?

2006-08-25 02:20:36 · 18 answers · asked by berhanu_0001 1 in Religion & Spirituality

why are some people afraid to say god..they say the good lord or the man up there...if you are not a false christen ..SAY GOD WAS WITH ME he is not some man up there or just a good lord he is GOD

2006-08-25 02:20:19 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

What was the law regarding Indians owning firearms? I haven't seen any law so far but it would make sense that any colonizer would try to prevent a colonized population from owning firearms. Also, the Indian revolution was largely nonviolent with more Indians dying than British.

2006-08-25 02:20:18 · 1 answers · asked by aptical 2 in Other - Cultures & Groups

ex: where is god?; who Created God?; Why arent my prayers been answered?;.

are they depressed?

2006-08-25 02:19:43 · 5 answers · asked by BigBoy 2 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-08-25 02:19:33 · 12 answers · asked by goodbye and good luck :-) 1 in Other - Society & Culture

2006-08-25 02:19:07 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

2006-08-25 02:18:12 · 32 answers · asked by Heather_Smith 1 in Religion & Spirituality

from televison pastors like benny himm who ask money every night but never gives them to charity to tv ads that promise you will win millions of dollars if ypu sign up for their games with a fee every month to fake products like the pancake mixer that i bought but nevr work like they way they say it will on tv to drugs that promise you to lose weight in three days or remove age spots from your skin and the list goes on and on.

2006-08-25 02:18:05 · 7 answers · asked by WEEDG 3 in Other - Society & Culture

what would you like for christmas

2006-08-25 02:18:04 · 33 answers · asked by dinoman 2 in Christmas

Over the ages, many innocent people have died because of the wars caused by religious quarrels. I know religions have their own point, I am not against any religious groups or beliefs. But please let me understand a bit of this matter.

2006-08-25 02:17:23 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

2006-08-25 02:16:03 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Society & Culture

We make our lives easier by making use of man-made devices, phones, cars, microwaves, etc. which all contain some kind of circuitry or computer. Most people have some kind of electronics device with them, be it a cell phone, iPod, Blackberry.. are we headed towards relying entirely on technology? Is it possible that robots will eventually take care of us instead of us creating and taking care of them?

What's your take on it? Humans vs. Robots?

2006-08-25 02:16:03 · 3 answers · asked by DJ 3 in Other - Society & Culture

Last night at 2am I woke up from some noise that sounded like a cry or quiet scream....when I opened my eyes, my puppy was bounding twards me, and her crate door was wide open...how the hell did she get out of there? I let her out to pee, put her back in the crate for bed and turned on the TV, the all the lights in the room dimmed, and the TV started making a funny humming noise, it all stopped in less than a minute, when I fell back to sleep I was dreaming about a young guy who was dead, but trying to get back to his girlfriend "Olivia?" I don't even know any Olivia, and this guy in my dream was not familiar. He kept telling me that he should have married her, and now he was too late, that he could never be with her again......it was really weird, I woke up with that sad feeling of lost love, and tears in my eyes....Do you think that was a spirit trying to communicate with me? I have always had weird experiences with things like that, but nothing so extreme...Am I just nuts or what?

2006-08-25 02:15:54 · 10 answers · asked by ndussere 3 in Other - Society & Culture

here is what i would ask him

1. how do you exist?
2. why did you create us?
3.did you create any other living beings besides whats on earth?
4. why haven't you destroyed all evil forces?
5. do animals just die or our they resurrected too?
6. are there animals in heaven?
7. why dont you show your self to mankind?
8. what is your official name? since mankind calls you by many names
9. what happend to mess up the human race after the flood?
10. who in the world did Cain marry?

also check out my other question thanks

2006-08-25 02:15:16 · 12 answers · asked by unitedfaith 4 in Religion & Spirituality

The question comes from the way people talk about souls. I often see people suggest that a soul goes to heaven, or hell, or whatever, when someone dies. Who is that someone who "has" the soul? What's the difference between the person who owns the soul and the soul? Who is it that is dead if the soul is anywhere still having experiences? If there is a distinction between me and my soul, why do I care what happens to it, I'm dead?

I asked this question before and only got answers about where your soul goes, what aspects of the personality are parts of the soul, etc. I'm asking what is it that is "you" and what is it that is "soul" that sets the two apart for one (you) to own or have the other (the soul)? For those who want to say you are the soul, then the idea of "your soul" is incoherent. If the soul is some spiritual aspect of us, then I have no reason to believe it would have any similar response to things I might fear, like pain, fire, etc.

2006-08-25 02:15:12 · 11 answers · asked by neil s 7 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-08-25 02:14:26 · 6 answers · asked by deltaxray7 4 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-08-25 02:13:53 · 18 answers · asked by Mlsig 5 in Religion & Spirituality

Matthew 4 describes Jesus' time in the Wilderness, and the temptation of the devil. One of the passages I've never understood, is in verse 9 Satan offers all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus. What is this all about? Could someone explain this?

I mean, are the kingdoms of the worlds Satan's property to give? Is he referring to nations? World-leaders? And if so, what does this say about politicians...? I'd appreciate some clarity.

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'[d]"

2006-08-25 02:13:07 · 12 answers · asked by Rob 5 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-08-25 02:11:18 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Community Service

Today in my bible class we were talking about is Jesus a prophet or " son of god." What's your take?

2006-08-25 02:07:30 · 37 answers · asked by Apollos 1 in Religion & Spirituality

Hick
Redneck
Hillbilly
White Trash
Trailer Trash

2006-08-25 02:07:30 · 8 answers · asked by muchgaff 1 in Other - Society & Culture

What other choice gems of foreign tongues do we have among us?
Include translations to english please.
NO BABELFISH - CHEATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-08-25 02:06:13 · 18 answers · asked by le_coupe 4 in Languages

Two 2 year olds moved in upstairs from me. I know little kids run but I hate having my furniture and windows rattle when they do. What can I do about this situation?

2006-08-25 02:05:16 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Etiquette