Speech Comm

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

301--Friendship

All righty, gang. Sit down and shut up. This week we're working on friendship and communication. Notice how this just keeps building upon itself.

Now you might think that family would be more important in communcation, but it really isn't. Friends are chosen. Therefore the communication used with them is more carefully chosen. The things you talk about, the ways you show to one another that each is important to the other [she turns to the board and writes RECIPROCITY] The ways in which there is reciprocal respect and action. It's amazing what we say when and to whom. Have you ever told a complete stranger somethign you would only tell a close friend after a long passage of time? It's the human condition to do that. Let's talk, we'll ease in. Intimacy, trust, and platonic friendships. Whatcha think?

Comments

Before Class

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica makes it a point to get to class a little early. She wants a moment to talk to Professor Cregg about what happened on Saturday.

"Professor, do you have a minute?" she says.

Re: Before Class

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Of course, Veronica? Are you ok? I'm so sorry about Saturday...I should have thought...

Re: Before Class

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica gives her a small smile.

"I'm okay and I wanted to thank you for your concern and apologize for disrupting things. I... well...," she sighs, unsure of what the professor knows already and what she wants her to know.

After a moment's hesitation, she finally says, "Did you ever hear anything about Aaron Echolls being charged for murder?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/sydney_bristow_/]

Sydney came in and took a seat. "Sorry for my absence, I had a doctor's appointment." she told CJ quietly.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

It's fine, Sydney. Everything coming along ok?

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

I suppose there are things you can say to a complete stranger because you don't care what they think of you. Friends -- people whose opinions you respect -- you want to present yourself in the best possible way, so you hide things you think they might not like. Which isn't the best way to communicate.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Chip, are you telling me that a certain level of intimacy can actually hinder communication? I mean...why? Why do we do that?

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Well, we were talking last week about mangled communication between family members, right? It's kind of like that. Since friends are the people you choose, they can also choose to leave you -- which they might do if they see something they don't like. So you try to put yourself in the best possible light, until you know them and they know you well enough to know that even if they saw you at your worst, they're still your friends.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica thinks about all the things she could say, but settles on, "Sometimes it's easier to tell a complete stranger something meaningful because they don't have any preconceived notions about the kind of person you are."

[absolutesnark]

"I agree. And sometimes, the stranger you tell something meanful to even ends up becoming a good friend you can trust." Piper glances at Veronica when she mentions the word friend.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica smiles in response to Piper's glance.

"Hey, how's it going?" she whispers.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Right, Veronica. There is no attached pathos...it's just open. additionally, there may be the layer that you'll never see them again, removing repercussions of the truth.

Tell me about emotion and how it can be a help or a hindrence in a friendship.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"Well, I think sometimes you let your emotions get in the way of seeing the bigger picture when it comes to... people you care about. But if you didn't... care about anyone... well... maybe the bigger picture wouldn't matter as much."

She knows she's being cryptic, but there are just some things she can't talk about.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"It's easier to say things to stranger because first of all, you don't care what they think of you, usually. They won't be around to judge you later, either," Rory says, sliding into a seat.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Why might friends be judgemental, Rory?

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*Elizabeth slips quietly into the classroom, placing a coffee on CJ's desk. Her hands wrap tightly around her own; it's not her first of the day. She looks Tired*

*when she speaks, her voice is quiet*

A true friend is past trust, is past intimacy and is something else. She is one who knows you as well as you know yourself, and sometimes even better. She's the one who, as cliched as it may be, will catch you no matter how hard you're falling.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

You are wise beyond your years, E. A friendship like that is to be treasured and takes a lot of time, trust, and commitment. [She smiles gently] And a cliche is a cliche because it's true.

[miss-monochrome.livejournal.com]

::comes into class quietly and more withdrawn than usual, her mind on her next class::

Before coming here I hardly ever told anybody anything about me unless I had to. ::shrugs:: I guess it's that, talking to a stranger tends to distance yourself from the subject. I can talk to people here about things back home because I know I'm never going to have to be in that environment with them.

[allie-cameron.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes it's hard to tell someone you really like something," Allie says, a faint blush on her cheeks. "Especially if you're really emotionally invested in their response."

[other-logan.livejournal.com]

Logan wonders vaguely if there's something Allie's not telling him.

"It is hard, because you always know in the back of your mind that they could choose to end the friendship at any time, and anything you say or do could be the catalyst for that."

[http://users.livejournal.com/___lily_evans_/]

"I've always found myself in situations where I make the best friends when I skip the first several steps - when I just assume the small talk progressed and we shared common interests... When I start a friendship at a more intimate level right away, the bond seems to be deeper and more genuine because we didn't try to impress each other and hide things in the beginning."

[allie-cameron.livejournal.com]

Allie smiles at Lily.

"Hey, how'd your interview go yesterday? Are you in the peer mediator program, too?"

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

"I gotta say I agree with Harkness and Veronica, it's easier to tell a stranger something because with a friend even if you know they'll be there for you sometimes you just don't want them to know. If you tell someone you've never met something then odds are that any sort of pity you get from them is a one-time thing cause you probably won't see them again. With freinds though you see them all the time and even though you know they aren't trying to hurt you seeing that pity just kinda gnaws away at your insides."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Once again, Jack...you impress me. Do you want to tell me why it gnaws at our insides to see pity in the eyes of a friend?

[dbiers.livejournal.com]

Wearing dark glasses and cradling something that may or may not be entirely orange juice, D'anna slumped into a seat in the back. "May be it's easier to talk to strangers because we have less invested in them."