Sociology

breach fatigue

breach fatigue: the apparent lack of significant responses and countermeasures by consumers regarding safeguarding their information in the wake of well-publicized reports of huge data breaches by major companies. *** TROVELOG *** The news has been dominated lately by the failure of one company, Facebook Inc., to safeguard customer data. But Facebook isn't alone. In just the [...]

kinkeeping

kinkeeping: the activities a person uses to foster and maintain connections with and among many family members: visiting, emails, phone calls, sending gifts and cards, planning reunions, and mediating family disputes. *** TROVELOG *** But researchers exploring family affiliations point out that a so-called “matrilineal advantage” does exist. That is, daughters generally have closer ties to their own [...]

information escrow

information escrow: a confidential allegation (e.g., re sexual harassment/ assault) transmitted to a secure, online site where it is time-stamped and held for possible future reporting to appropriate authorities. *** TROVELOG *** Callisto [is] an online nonprofit startup that seeks to leverage the power of tech to fight sexual harassment and assault. Using Callisto, a victim can [...]

rage room (aka: “anger room”)

rage room (aka: “anger room”): a facility that charges customers fees to smash objects: household items, office machines, electronics, furniture, human effigies or any of the customer's personal items. *** TROVELOG *** Donna Alexander, proprietor of the Anger Room in Dallas, can barely keep her business stocked with printers for customers to crush. “Rage rooms,” as they’re [...]

lunch shaming

lunch shaming: engaging in stigmatizing practices against children who have not paid for school meals whether that is by refusing to serve them hot meals, requiring them to do chores or wear some identifying stamp or wrist band. *** TROVELOG *** What is “lunch shaming?” It happens when a child can’t pay a school lunch bill. In Alabama, [...]

Disney/ divorce

       Pity poor Hannah, who received a startling text message on her cellphone, sent from her father: "Your mom and I are going to divorce next month." After Hannah registered her alarm, her father quickly texted back: "I wrote 'Disney,' and this phone changed it.  We are going to Disney." Welcome to the world [...]

third places

  The Great Good Place, a book by the urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg, talks about the social and psychological importance of what he calls "third places."  He designates home as "first place" and work as "second place". He describes "third place" as somewhere neutral, convenient, comfortable and welcoming. It’s where regulars gather and where conversation [...]

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