Ethnomethodology

One of the main principles of ethnomethodology is that sociology and sociologist's should treat social facts as interactional accomplishments.


In 1964 Schutz stated that without a grasp of the intersubjective aspects of social life, sociology
"loses its basic foundations, namely its reference to the social world of everyday life and experience. The safeguarding of the subjective point of view is the only but sufficient guarantee that the world of social
reality will not be replaced by a fictional non-existing world constructed by the scientific observer" . In short that means that "sociological procedures legislate a reality rather than discover one" (Smith, Dorothy p.53. 1990).

The basic idea of everything being relative is the foundation of a lot of meme's as one of the common themes is "you're doing it wrong". however utilising the principles of ethnomethodology there is no wrong way to do something simply the way that particular person has chosen to complete this particular act.

The article "Ethnomethodology" published on Psychlopedia, gives a good explanation of ethnomethodology, its philosophical underpinnings, techniques and applications. It also critiques the theory and states that "Sometimes, ethnomethodology is regarded as a form of relativism, because no objective patterns or regularities are assumed. As a form of relativism, ethnomethodology cannot address moral issues such as inequality and power." (http://www.psych-it.com.au/Psychlopedia/article.asp?id=213)

Tales of Symphonia quote by Lloyd: "Regardless of who your real father is, you’re still you. Nothing’s changed. You just have two fathers. Just think of yourself as being lucky for having more than most people do." This quote shows how Lloyd is looking at Collete's situation from a relative point of view and not judging against preconceived rules of society. In short Lloyd is applying the rules of ethnomethodology.

Commented: http://www.natlombardo250.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/me-me-me-presentation-of-self-this.html

References:
Moss, S. (2008, 11 19). Ethnomethodology. Retrieved 8 2012, 31, from Psychlopedia: http://www.psych it.com.au/Psychlopedia/article.asp?id=213
Smith, D. (1990). The Conceptual Practices of Power.