Driving Deviance 2/25/16
The passenger seat is a great place to observe deviance in our world. My mom is a bit impatient when it comes to driving and on this highway through Mississsippi is no exception. She was (and most likely still is) going 80 in a 60. Were driving along when all of a sudden we pass a cop. We were prepared but not wanting to recieve a ticket as that would definitely put a damper on our trip. However as we approached and passed, the cop made no movement. We were thankful of course but I was surprised. Then I said to my mom,"He probably didnt pull you over because everyone else is going 80 as well."
That statement evoked a question. If laws are norms but its a law that everyone breaks is that a new norm? No one on the interstate (that I know) does the speed limit. Therfore is not doing the speed limit on these roadways a society created norm? Are those a thing? For cops it is even a common courtesy to let someone go five over the speed limit. So how could a law that is not genuinely enforced (all the time) and generally not followed be a norm? I believe that is a law that society has somewhat taken into its own hands. What are your opinions on this? Are society created norms a thing?
-Del
My brother is a cop, and I have to say, most of the time, he isn't going to pull over the car that is speeding but the car that has a history of being pulled over or a car that is in some way harmful to the other people driving. I think it is strange that cops don't enforce the speed limit as often as they should but most cops are looking for different form of crime.
ReplyDeleteWhat about cops who are speeding and/or do not follow the rules of the road. I am speaking of them not responding to an emergency (emergency lights off) yet driving like they are heading to one. What does that say for our society when the police do not even follow the norms??
DeleteYou make a really great point here. The norm of having children before marriage is another example of something that would have been considered deviant in the past but is generally more common now. It will be interesting to see how these norms fit into the new society in the future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with where you stand on this if everyone breaks the law is it still considered deviant?
ReplyDeleteI think a society created norm is exactly what norms are. It's unfeasible to arrest everyone so cops choose to arrest no one unless they put someone in danger. If only one car is speeding, then they are a threat to the others.
ReplyDelete