Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The usefulness of social construction

Sometimes it's handy being a sociologist. Not as in fixing plumbing or repairing the car handy, but still useful. I have a flash drive (i.e., thumb drive) that I use to take info back and forth between the computers in the house. (One isn't on the web). Well, it kept on disappearing only to be found in family members' purses, backpacks, rooms, and wherever else. So, I needed a way of keeping track of it that would say to others: Don't take.

This is social construction... what could I use to construct that the flash drive isn't something to be taken away. After thinking about it for awhile, I came upon the perfect solution: I've tied it to one of the coffee cups that I sometimes use. There is a norm to leave other peoples' coffee cups alone, and it's not too heavy to carry around.

Haven't lost the flash drive since.

1 comment:

Knumb said...

That's the Sociologist equivalent of tying the bathroom key to a hubcap at a Truck Stop.

Hey, speaking of that flash drive and internet access, we've got to get your flychart worked up for your Vario... it'd be easier if the pute were online, if only for a day.