*ahem*

okay, i'd like to address the common thought that social science is not really a "science." i know people who consider themselves to be "real scientists," doing work in labs and whatnot chuckle to themselves when sociologist call themselves social "scientists," but let's consider: what is science? a systematic study of phenomena? believe me, my stats and methods class assure you that i'm studying social phenomena systematically. what we study is applied to policy (often not frequently enough) and influences how we shape our social worlds. why do biological, chemical, engineering, and other natural "scientists" think themselves as the only "scientists" around? i, personally, would think that with heads that big, it would be painful to also have them in their asses, but that's just me. i'm a social scientist and we wouldn't understand the physiological effects of heads in anal cavaties...we like to be able to see when we're studying.

of course, social science isn't "precise" like "natural sciences." we can't calculate the necessary individuals with particular characteristics that will cause a social reaction like chemists for chemical reactions nor will we ever come up with a theory of social evolution like biologists have for biology. social life is much more complex that silly little atoms or a linear theory of existence. i'd like to see a "natural scientist" tell me how workplace discrimination works. i'd like them to explain to me how disasters are a "purely natural event" if they occur in the middle of the ocean without so much as a peep. i'd like them to explain to me why civic participation has decreased in the last 100 years. i'd like them to tell me how it is that despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, there are still starving people in the U.S. (and to not use the word lazy...).

why can't you explain this? because you're in a lab study one small aspect of the natural world. what you do is important. i know this. without computer engineers, i would not have my lovely mac to enjoy. however, "natural scientists" if you got out of your little worlds, your laboratories, you might see that, hey, we can't explain the whole world with our science. perhaps without those crazy social science kids, we might still be living in the plessy era.

thank you.