Ethnomethodology

I somewhat agree with symbolic interactionists in that everything is based on symbols we have created. The example given in class was about the invisible border that separates Canada from the United States. There is no physical line showing that one country is separated from the other. And yet, if you ‘cross’ that line, the rules change. What about money? It is simply pieces of paper or pieces of metal that allow you to purchase things. Who decided that it has the power to do such things? It is simply another symbol that we have created.

I also partially agree with one of the ideas of ethnomethodologists which is that people’s understandings are what drives their behaviour. If your understanding is that a green light means go, you are going to drive through the light when it’s a green. Chances are a symbolic interactionist would say you would drive through that green light because it’s a symbol that we have created. I would go in the middle and say that yes maybe it’s a symbol we have created but the understanding of that symbol is what allows you to follow through with the action. If you don’t understand the basics of golf, it is likely you won’t want to play or you will get angry when you do play because you aren’t very good. If you are having a conversation with a person, and you believe they are mad at you, you will behave according to that. Maybe they aren’t mad at you but because of your understanding of the situation, that is how you choose to react. I would say that is a pretty good methodology. It might not work for all situations or behaviours that we have, but it fits in certain places.