Comments on: On the Cover of the Rolling Stone http://www.ethnography.com/2008/04/on-the-cover-of-the-rolling-stone/ A group blog on a wide variety of topics realted to anthropology Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:06:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tony Waters http://www.ethnography.com/2008/04/on-the-cover-of-the-rolling-stone/comment-page-1/#comment-276 Tony Waters Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:03:31 +0000 http://www.ethnography.com/?p=201#comment-276 P.S. The comment that Zenia Helbig submitted to ASA, and is cited here, is a good one. http://blog.wired.com/defense/files/aaa_helbig_hts.pdf It discusses both the need for social science methodology in the military, and the limitations of the military in dealing with civilian academics. There is a long way to go, but I guess you need to start somewhere. P.S. The comment that Zenia Helbig submitted to ASA, and is cited here, is a good one. http://blog.wired.com/defense/files/aaa_helbig_hts.pdf It discusses both the need for social science methodology in the military, and the limitations of the military in dealing with civilian academics. There is a long way to go, but I guess you need to start somewhere.

]]> By: Tony Waters http://www.ethnography.com/2008/04/on-the-cover-of-the-rolling-stone/comment-page-1/#comment-275 Tony Waters Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:59:28 +0000 http://www.ethnography.com/?p=201#comment-275 I was somewhat befuddled by the photo in Newsweek of an anthropologist wearing a military uniform (including helmet). This may be an excellent method to try to understand the culture of the military itself through participant observation. Indeed, after World War II, there were a number of good psychological and anthropological studies done of soldiers by soldiers. But it seems like a pretty weak way to try to deal with the Iraqi civilian population (or any civilian population). Civilians inherently do not trust guys with military uniforms, especially when they carry a gun. My general approach to police and military roadblocks has always been to warn my kids not to say anything, and then respond only to the questions asked in as brief a fashion as possible. (This is particularly the case when shared language skills are weak). In other words, just the opposite of what an anthropologist seeking field data generally wants. I was somewhat befuddled by the photo in Newsweek of an anthropologist wearing a military uniform (including helmet). This may be an excellent method to try to understand the culture of the military itself through participant observation. Indeed, after World War II, there were a number of good psychological and anthropological studies done of soldiers by soldiers.

But it seems like a pretty weak way to try to deal with the Iraqi civilian population (or any civilian population). Civilians inherently do not trust guys with military uniforms, especially when they carry a gun. My general approach to police and military roadblocks has always been to warn my kids not to say anything, and then respond only to the questions asked in as brief a fashion as possible. (This is particularly the case when shared language skills are weak). In other words, just the opposite of what an anthropologist seeking field data generally wants.

]]> By: Tony Waters http://www.ethnography.com/2008/04/on-the-cover-of-the-rolling-stone/comment-page-1/#comment-270 Tony Waters Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:33:46 +0000 http://www.ethnography.com/?p=201#comment-270 C C

]]> By: mark http://www.ethnography.com/2008/04/on-the-cover-of-the-rolling-stone/comment-page-1/#comment-267 mark Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:18:03 +0000 http://www.ethnography.com/?p=201#comment-267 Alas, the article is frustrating for people actually involved in the program to read. But, as I am not the official word on the program, I am going to have to keep my hands folded. Alas, the article is frustrating for people actually involved in the program to read. But, as I am not the official word on the program, I am going to have to keep my hands folded.

]]>