fandomhigh | Speech Comm

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Speech Comm

CJ walks into class wearing dark sunglasses and carrying a 20 oz coffee. She looks tired, but extremely happy. It takes her a good 5 minutes to begin talking, and then it's v-e-r-y softly.

201, it's time to get into some really meaty speech writing. I want you to pair up, this is going to be a week long project, and I want you to
1. Choose an issue
2. Take a side (one pro and one con. You do not have to agree with the side you argue)
3. Come up with a speech, a la debate.

This will be a good exercise especially for those of you running for student government.
((ooc:I go back to teaching tomorrow, so speech comm is moving to slow play))

By this time she's had her coffee and has perked up some, but she still doesn't take off her glasses.

301
Let's continue our discussion from yesterday. We had decided that sex, or rather the promise of sex, violence and the threat of violence, peer pressure and the need to conform, and fear were all tools of persuasion. All true, all true...but there are others.

Attractiveness, I mean non sexual, just plain good to look at attractiveness is another. People are more inclined to agree with and help out pretty people. Someplace I have statistics on that.

Furthermore, likability and similarity gets factored in. I suppose this all leads to the peer pressure D'anna brought up yesterday.

So, let's keep talking people!

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Sydney looks around the room, unsure of who to pair up with. She doesn't really know anyone too well, and she's not the most trusting person in the world for undisclosed reasons.

Do you mind working with

phases_of_kitty?

Jack rests his chin on his hands. "The problem with depending on attractiveness as a form of persuasion is that when it doesn't work, you don't have a backup. ~~Not that I've had painful and salutory lessions to that effect here at fandomhigh.~~ It isn't even really persuasion, because if you dazzle with your looks, you aren't offering a substansive argument. Once someone gets away from your -- general you, not specific you -- presense, the argument, such as it is, collapses. Which is why dazzling them only works for short cons.

Not that anything I'm saying is majorly earthshattering, or anything, but it's useful to point out that attractiveness is largely a short-term solution."

Good point, Jack. Beauty only gets you so far, but if it's the difference between the opportunity to ask and people running away from you in fear saying "my god what is that thing", surely you can see the value of attractivness in relation to influence?

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anextimeagent.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 16:55 (UTC) - Expand

Veronica waves to Jack as she takes her seat.

Another of the main problems with attractiveness is that if people automatically consider you beautiful, they tend to not listen to what you say. And especially in the case of pretty girls, they outright ignore you, figuring that you're attractive, and so you must be stupid as well.

Then Rory, answer me this...why is beauty and attractivness used in advertising, especially without an overt sexual implication?

Consider for a moment that the human brain is attracted to symetry...because really, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder, but that which we consider most attractive is a person with symmetrical features. Do you think intelligence or instinct is involved in that...and then, is the idea that the more attractive equals less smart; is that instinct or a learned response?

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auroryborealis.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 16:21 (UTC) - Expand

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prof-cregg.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 16:22 (UTC) - Expand

I agree with Rory.

Kitty wasn't sure who to pair up with so she just took a seat, hoping someone would talk to her or something.

I think I'll have you and Sydney work together. Do you mind?

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prof-cregg.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 21:50 (UTC) - Expand

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phases-of-kitty.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 21:54 (UTC) - Expand

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prof-cregg.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 21:55 (UTC) - Expand

201
*takes a long look around the room trying to decide who he can out-argue easiest*

301
Like they said, looking good can only help so much. It helps get people's attention, though, and sometimes that's all you need. A hook, right?

And to go with what Rory said, sometimes you've got someone so attractive (or ugly for that matter) that their appearance distracts from whatever message you're trying to get across.

A hook only gets you so far, Lindsey. Persuasion requires skill, even if attractiveness does get the ball rolling.

Persuasion is an art form, I believe. In public relations your image is tied to your ability to perform. Other jobs require this skill too...for example, lawyers, car salesmen, and tv anchors.

Ok, anything else?

It is not all about looks. Just look at some of the people on TV or something, there is more than looks that factors in. I don't think just about looks before I am interested in someone.

What else do you consider, Miss Bristow?

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http://users.livejournal.com/sydney_bristow_/ - 2005-09-20 22:21 (UTC) - Expand

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prof-cregg.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 22:26 (UTC) - Expand

*looks for a partner*

I am in this class, right?

Yep...why don't you pair up with either Sydney or Kitty...

(no subject)

wraithbaitjohn.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 22:22 (UTC) - Expand

*Elizabeth listens carefully to everyone around*

Beauty is also in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes those who aren't necessarily considered "beautiful" in society, have "something" that'll make you look twice, and listen to what they say.

Furthermore, there's sometimes a problem with sexism. Some men don't believe pretty women know what they're talking about, and they don't really listen when you're trying to talk to them about the treaty terms. *quickly adds* Or anything really.

*Smiles* yes, the inequal status of the sexes can effect persuasion.

In that case I think it rolls over to control and power...who has it, who doesn't, and who allows themselves to be in a submissive permission becasue they gain something.

This is called HEGEMONY (Heh-jeh-MUH-nee) *CJ writes it on the board*

What do you think Elizabeth?

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notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 22:37 (UTC) - Expand

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prof-cregg.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 23:03 (UTC) - Expand

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notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com - 2005-09-20 23:13 (UTC) - Expand

::listens to rest of the class, wonders if she should bring it up, but goes for it anyway::

Plus with what Jack said, it's kinda risky 'cause with nothin' to back it up with, since there's no gaurentee that the person you're trying to influence has the same, uh, standards of attractiveness. Like, the human brain might be attracted to symetry, or whatever but, uh, even on this campus you're not always dealing with just humans. You could end up with somebody who thinks, uh, that say only beings with tentacles are attractive and if you don't have somethin' else to...to fall back on, you're outta luck.

Great point, Chianna. I don't personally know anyone who likes tentacles, but I do know standards of beauty vary from culture to culture.

The ancient Mayans used to prize a linear nose and forehead, so much so they would bind boards to their babies heads.

Similarly, in China, small feet were attractive because they were a sign of status. This culminated with the foot binding that the high-status women had to endure.

Even in the animal kingdome, certain attributes are considered more attractive. Um *realizes she's rambling* It's most commonly observed in birds, but applies to all animals and fish.

One could assume that alien worlds would have alien standards of attractivness unknown and probably unimaginable to the Earth-bound human mind.

Ok, someone besides me...talk.

*Comes through the door like a whirl wind- out of breath*

Sorry I'm late, I was working on my speech for class elections and fell asleep!

*sheepishly takes her seat*

It's ok, Anya. I hope what you've been learning in class is helping your speech writing skills. *Smiles*

Piper arrives to class, quietly listening to the discussion. She finds it fascinating.

[OOC: My brain is dead right now because of my own real life classes, so I do apologize for Piper's lack of participation.]

I'm gonna go with what the grey chick said. Did you know that there are races out there who think humans are ugly boardering on offensive looking?

*Blinks. Her demeanor becomes icy*

Mr. O'Neill, we all have names. "The grey chick" is Chianna. Keep in mind it may not be a person's looks that are offensive to others.

[ooc: Damn, I so would take you up on that if my character could see him.]

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