Speech Comm

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

She walks in, sunglasses on, carrying a large bottle of water. She's faintly green and speaks quietly...


Ok, gang. The unit for this week is obedience. we're going to hammer out the why's and how's of obedience to authority, and how that behavior relates to trust and influence...and respect. *Looks at O'Neill and Harkness*

Why do you obey? Some of you obey better than others. Why do you defer your personal power? Is it to gain something? If so, that is, as Elizabeth explained so well week before last, hegemony. *Writes HEGEMONY on the board* This is when you do something that decreases your personal power in order to gain something, in either the short or long run.

Ok, so obedience to authority. Everybody stand up and push the desks out of the way. Quietly please.

*Watches as they do it (or at least some of them*

Good. Now question yourself...why did you just do what I told you? Why were you obedient? Is it because I'm the teacher? Is it because I'm older? Is it because you've been conditioned...*writes CONDITIONED on the board* to comply with a simple request?

You cna put the desks back if you want to sit down. I'd like to get a discussion going regarding your perceptions of obedience. Ok, go.

Comments

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

*wry smile* Wish I couldn't, but....

Let's say that being in the Dean's office, having had no experience of him before then, I found myself more afraid of the consequences if I *didn't* comply with his suggestions, than if I did. Because he volunteered me for medical research before I even saw it coming. Imagining what else he could come up with, when I had no frame of reference, made me stick to what I already knew.

And hey! Everyone! Come out to the School Beautification Drive this afternoon!

*to C.J.* Teachers are welcome too, Ms. Cregg. I think we're hosing and soaping the paint off the roof, first. Should be fun.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

*Looks at her over the top of her glasses*

Yeah...I heard about that. So what do you think? Is he scary? Worthy of respect? Still an unknown factor?

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Unknown factor.

You see, I'd just say "worthy of respect" because he found out about what we did, but the way in which he used that knowledge was ... fairly scary. Plus, the way he was dealing with Dr. House was-- weird. An authority figure dealing with an authority figure in a way you can't figure out is-- yeah, scary, but also hard to completely figure out.

Therefore he is both frightening, and still an unknown factor, because you're not sure *how* frightened you ought to be.

For what it's worth, Professor? I hope you don't have to deal with him.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Actually, Miss. Parker, I'm going to be working with him quite closely. I'm going to moderate the debates...

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

*her eyes widen fractionally*

Good luck on that, ma'am. Just want to say-- the man's sense of humor? Deadly.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Good to know. I'll put on my diplomat pants that day...

Anything else you want to say about obedience? Like how you're going to obey me and quit swapping notes there? *raises an eyebrow*

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker considers any number of smart-ass comments, then shrugs. Busted again.

"Just that it wasn't meant as disrespect, ma'am. And won't happen again."

Until the next time you're much more mellow when hungover, Parker thinks.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

I know Parker...just pay attention. I'd like compliance in my class, if not obedience. *winks at her*

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

*grins back and folds hands, looks prim*