fandomhigh | Philosophy of Values - [class 3

After last week’s class, Wilson had been fairly quiet the following week caught up in his own thoughts about the class and a few other events that had come in the form of phone calls he’s never comfortable receiving. So his expression was rather distant and pensive as the class convened.

However, probably due to angelic intervention there was still a pot of tea and a spread of yummy looking pastries for the kids as they came through the door. As with his humor class, next to the pastries was the sign in sheet and then a small box for the turning in of homework. Also there were handouts on the front of the desk with instructions for the students to pick them up.

As soon as everyone was settled, Wilson gave himself a shake and his focus came completely to the class.

Lecture:

“Good morning.” He said softly, standing up and moving around to the front of the desk as was his habit. Touching the pile of paperwork, he gave a nod and then turned to look out at the class.

“Looks like excellent work on your homework, guys. Thank you. Now, today we’re going to tackle one of the oldest philosophical debates in the history of sentient beings. If you all will turn to the handout labeled History.” Pausing to give everyone a chance to get to the page he started up again.

“Nature vs Nurture. Are we all born coded with a specific genetic mapping which will dictate our actions and beliefs through our lives or are we a blank slate, affected only by the environment we are nurtured within? Or is it a bit of both and if so which one is the basic blueprint that the other builds upon? Are we born with genetic predispositions that are then either encouraged or discouraged by our environment or will our environment bring forth potential genetic components we’re born with? If you all will please turn to the second hand out…”

The second handout was the one that Wilson lectured from, laying out the historic arguments for both sides of the debate and showing how and why the debate was still going so strong without either side being shown to be right or wrong.

Class Participation:

“So, for today’s discussion. Many of you were born with gifts compared to other humans in this dimension, while others have been born with inherent magical strengths. Do you feel you’re environment has been altered by the gifts you were born with or do you feel as if you’re environment has affected your gifts?”

Homework:

“Homework this week is to give me your take on the following question. Is a sentient being predisposed to abuse the power they are born with or are they born with pure intentions and in danger of being negatively affected by their environment?”

[ooc: ~~Please wait for the~~ Wee beloved OCD threads are up, have at!!]

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Here if you need him.

Phoebe waited until everyone left, and then approached. "James," she asked softly. "Do you have a minute?"

Yeah, she needed to talk to her sib and not her teacher right now.

He was slowly packing up the homework assignments but turned towards Phoebe and smiled gently.

"Of course, Phoebe, what's up?" He asked her gently, not unaware that she'd been upset while in class.

Phoebe started to crumple. "Something really bad happened," she said. "I slapped him."

She left out the fact at this time that he had been being a huge jerk at the time.

No need to explain who him was and Wilson's eyebrows lifted in a slightly surprised expression but then he waved her to take a seat as the classroom was now fairly quiet.

"You slapped him? What was the fight about, sweetie?"

"Him kissing other people." Phoebe sat down. "He thought that kissing other people to make them flail was harmless fun. Then I aske dhim how he would feel if I did the same thing."

"Ut oh." Wilson said with a gentle wince. "I can't imagine that went over well?"

"He said I was threatening him..." She raised a hand to wipe away tears. "I tried explaining to him that I was doing no such thing... it didn't help."

"Oh sweetie." Wilson said softly, leaning forward, hands braced on his knees as he looked at her.

"Phoebe, hun... I know it might not have seemed to you that you were threatening him that in your mind you were simply trying to show him what it feels like for you but ... don't you see? You get done telling him that he's engaging in a behavior that hurts you and then you bring up doing the exact same behavior to...what...hurt him?"

Sitting back he held up his hands before she could feel that he was being unsympathetic.

"I understand, how his behavior is upsetting to you, even if he is just doing it to be an ass to others." Wilson said this with affection for Bel, really. "But the hard truth is, we can't force change upon the people we love. We can tell them when they hurt us. We can ask them to stop doing what hurts us but they have to want it themselves. Otherwise, it becomes ultimatiums and those truly have no place on a relationship."

"I don't want him to change, James. I want him to quit kissing other people. I wasn't trying to hurt him. I wanted him to understand that it hurts and the pain of it isn't an easy thing." She sighed. "I would never do that to him," she said flatly. "Even before he said that he'd kill anyone I did kiss." She looked at him sadly. "It's not just that he's hurting me with trying to make others flail. One of my friends that he kissed thought I was thhere to hurt him when I went to talk to him --- and I didn't even know about the kiss at the time."

Pushing off from the desk, Wilson went to Phoebe and wrapped his arms around her.

"Well, if nothing else you've probably succeeded and letting him know how you feel about the kissing." Wilson said ruefully, hugging her gently because at this point, there really was little more a certain older sib could do.

"Give yourself a chance to catch your breath, then talk to him, Phoebe. Don't let this sit between you two for too long."

Philosophy of Values - [class 3 - 9/21]

After Class - Talk to Wilson

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Re: After Class - Talk to Wilson

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Re: After Class - Talk to Wilson

Re: After Class - Talk to Wilson